Rajbiraj, February 17

After Nepal Electricity Authority announced discount on electricity tariff for the months during which the Tarai agitation was on, hundreds of consumers gathered at the office to pay their bills in Saptari of late.

“As the office announced that it would grant concession on the tariff, people started coming here in hordes to clear their bills before the deadline,” said 57-year-old Johara Khatun of Saptari, Sakhada VDC-2, adding, “I’ve been queuing from 5:00 am, but have not been able to pay the bill so far.”

Mohammad Abba, 60, who had been queuing since 9:00 am today said, “NEA has taken a good decision to provide discount on tariff. But as the deadline is very short in view of the number of clients, it would’ve been better if the office extended the deadline,” he said.

Seeking deadline extension for the discount, locals met Chief District Officer Narayan Bhatta today and him to take initiatives to extend the deadline. CDO Bhatta pledged to do the needful. NEA chief Ram Udgar Sah said, “In view of the crowd, we have set up five separate counters each for men and women. However, we think that the deadline should be extended.”

NEA Saptari had decided to grant certain per cent discount on power tariff for six months since the Tarai agitation was launched.