Earlier, places like Sangamtol and its vicinity had witnessed a power disruption up to four hours after power cables were ruptured and an electric pole was downed while clipping branches of a huge tree in the Gaighat bazaar by the Triyuga Municipality. Accusing the municipality of causing the damage by not seeking due coordination with it, the NEA office filed a complaint at the District Administration Office seeking reparation.

“The municipality is always welcome to do things for public safety but it could have coordinated with us before it launched the operation, in order to prevent any damage,” said Udyapur NEA office administrative officer Devi Thulung, adding technicians were estimating the loss from the damage. “As our technicians’ team is carrying out necessary work, the loss figure is yet to emerge,” he said.

Commenting on the issue, the municipality clarified that it had to clip the branches keeping in mind the upcoming windy season. “We’d not thought that it would damage the power cables and electricity pole but the unlooked for happened. It was not a deliberate act of damage,” said Bishworaj Bhattarai, chairperson of Triyuga Municipality-11, saying he was unaware about the compensation sought.

Mayor Baldev Chaudhary also disavowed any knowledge about the NEA’s demand for compensation. “As I’m out of station on an errand, I don’t know anything about the compensation demanded,” he clarified.