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Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that the government will immediately move forward with the necessary budget allocation, a clear action plan, and infrastructure strengthening programs to provide a long-term solution to the electricity supply problems in Nepalgunj, the major commercial hub of western Nepal.

Speaking after a discussion held on Saturday with officials from the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Lumbini Province Office and Banke District Distribution Branch, elected representatives, local residents, industrialists, business leaders, and political party representatives, as well as an inspection of the Nepalgunj Distribution Centre, the minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to accelerating coordination and necessary initiatives to ensure a sustainable, reliable, and safe electricity supply.

During the inspection, officials reviewed the current condition of the distribution system, its technical challenges, and the rapidly growing electricity demand. It was noted that the distribution network under the Nepalgunj Distribution Centre has not undergone adequate upgrades for many years, leading to growing structural problems, while ageing infrastructure has struggled to cope with the increasing electrical load.

According to the ministry, the distribution system has not seen the expected level of improvement since the completion of the Seventh Electrification Project. Electricity demand has been increasing by around 15 percent annually, while the distribution network, located at the end of the Kohalpur national transmission line and the Tanakpur supply system, faces additional supply challenges. The lack of nearby generation sources, low voltage, feeder overloading, frequent tripping, and delays in commissioning the under-construction New Nepalgunj Substation have all affected the quality of electricity service.

Minister Shrestha said that ensuring reliable and uninterrupted electricity service in Nepalgunj, where extreme summer temperatures significantly increase electricity demand, is one of the government’s priorities. He announced that the necessary budget for upgrading the distribution system will be allocated beginning in the current fiscal year.

He further stated that the ministry will coordinate efforts to bring the under-construction New Nepalgunj Substation into operation as soon as possible. In addition, high-priority measures will include installing additional transformers with adequate capacity, expanding the distribution network, upgrading ageing transmission lines and conductors, constructing new feeders where required, and implementing more effective load management.

The ministry also said that a detailed assessment of technical issues - including feeder overloading, frequent tripping, and low voltage - will be conducted, followed by immediate decisions and implementation measures to resolve them.

Minister Shrestha reiterated that the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and the Nepal Electricity Authority will work in close coordination to ensure that the people of Nepalgunj, along with industrial, commercial, and other electricity consumers, receive reliable, safe, and high-quality electricity services.

Urjasanchar