Biratnagar, March 15:

Owing to the five-hour-long loadshedding ordered by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) daily, the major industrial city of Nepal, Biratnagar has been hit hard. Due to loadshedding, livelihood of around 100,000 workers have come under doubt.

Around 300 small and large industries have been compelled to reduce their production, said Morang Business Union, adding, “The industries are about to close soon.” According to the union, the industries are compelled to bear more than Rs 50 million in losses daily.

The union has asked NEA to manage loadshedding as soon as possible. Jivan Nepal, chairman of the union said, “According to the nature of these industries, they are bearing upto one million rupees of production loss daily.” He informed, Morang and Sunsari districts-based cold stores, spinning mills, jute industries, plastic industries and noodles factories are badly affected due to the loadshedding.

Each industry is compelled to bear 35 per cent production loss daily, the union said and urged NEA for improved electricity supply.

Rosit Uniuthan, manager of Arati Trips said, “Production in my industry has come down by 800 tonnes daily, which means a loss of Rs 220,000 daily.”

Similarly, Mahesh Jaju, managing director of Asian Thai Foods said, “It is difficult to provide salary to workers due to the diminishing production in the factory.” Business entrepreneurs also demanded reduction in minimum charges, imposed for industries by NEA. “If NEA does not consider revising the minimum charges, businessmen will go to the court,” said chairman Nepal.

Local officials of NEA claimed that NEA is supplying from 500 KV to 3,000 KV of electricity according to the nature of industries. Such Industries should pay a minimum charge (from Rs 25,000 to Rs 300,000) per month, irrespective of the fact whether they use power or not.

“Issuing a notice, NEA had informed all that it can not supply electricity for 150 hours a week. If NEA does not consider the issue of minimum charges, we will soon launch protests,” Nepal said. Most Industries here are being run by diesel engines. But, it costs ten rupees more per unit than electric power. So the price of products will also rise, the union said.

Arati Trips alone consumes 15 million litres of diesel per month, the factory informed. According to concerned workers, large industries use diesel generators but most of the small industries remain closed during loadshedding hours.