Kathmandu, August 22

The Nepal Electricity Authority resumed power supply to Mahendra Manjil, the residence of former queen mother Ratna, this evening.

NEA took the step after Ministry of Energy wrote to it to do so, said Deputy Executive Director of NEA Gopal Babu Bhattarai.

The NEA had disconnected power supply to Mahendra Manjil yesterday for non-payment of bills that amounted to Rs 3.7 million.

Earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Civil Aviation and Tourism wrote to Ministry of Energy, requesting it to resume power supply to Mahendra Manjil.

“We have written to Ministry of Energy stating that we have sought budget from Ministry of Finance and the moment we get it we will clear the bills,” Spokesperson for MCCAT Ghanashyam Upadhyay told THT.

He said it was the government’s responsibility to pay the electricity bills for Mahendra Manjil as it was government’s property.

“We have sent reminders to Ministry of Finance but so far we have not received the budget to pay the electricity bills for Mahendra Manjil,” he said.

Former queen mother’s Personal Secretary Shambhu Adhikari said the MCCAT swung into action after media reported the incident and Narayanhiti Palace Museum, which also faced difficulties due to disconnection of power supply to Mahendra Manjil, urged the ministry to resume power supply. “The ministry responded positively,” Adhikari added.

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• NEA cuts power supply to former queen mother’s residence