Kathmandu, June 18

The government has said it will take necessary action against industries that have not cleared their dues for dedicated feeder only after probe report has been finalised.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), on May 6, had announced that industries being supplied electricity through the dedicated trunk line would be charged an extra 65 per cent fee for the electricity consumed.

Immediately, industrialists had also declared that they would not pay the additional fees.

As the debate heated up, the issue was brought to a parliamentary committee. Thereafter, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) held several rounds of discussions with Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barsha Man Pun and the NEA too.

In the PAC meeting today, Pun informed that NEA is conducting a detailed investigation into the matter.

“Since the probe is underway, it might not be appropriate to comment on the matter,” he said, adding that he would gladly present the findings after the report is finalised.

He further said if the probe finds that industrialists are engaged in any wrongdoing, the government will take action against them.

Earlier, NEA had forwarded a letter to more than 250 factories that have been availing additional electricity through the trunk line asking them to pay the amount for the energy consumed by those industries since fiscal year 2016-17.