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Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that the government is preparing to introduce seasonal electricity tariffs and concessional rates for high electricity-consuming customers to encourage greater domestic consumption of surplus electricity generated during the monsoon season.

Speaking at a discussion held in Biratnagar on Sunday with representatives of the Morang Industry and Trade Association and the Morang Industry Organization, Minister Shrestha said the government is focused on making necessary improvements to the tariff structure so that the increased electricity generation during the monsoon can be utilized to the maximum extent by industries and other sectors.

He said the government is working to make electricity tariffs more practical with the objectives of reducing industrial production costs, increasing electricity consumption, and utilizing surplus electricity available in the system within the country. As part of this effort, the government plans to add nine new substations in the Sunsari–Morang area. Once these substations come into operation, electricity supply in the region is expected to become more reliable and sustainable.

Calling the electricity-related problems faced by industrialists and businesspeople a serious issue, Minister Shrestha said the government was committed to providing industries with a continuous and reliable supply of quality electricity. He also said the government was sensitive to adjusting tariffs so that industries would not face unnecessary additional financial burdens because of their electricity consumption.

He said there should be a system through which industries can obtain clear information about the availability of required electricity capacity, transmission lines and supply infrastructure before establishing a new industry. He added that the Nepal Electricity Authority is preparing to develop a system to regularly inform industrialists about the electricity infrastructure available in different areas.

Participating industrialists and businesspeople said immediate improvements to the electricity supply system were necessary to enhance the competitiveness of the industrial sector. They called for a regular and quality electricity supply, the speedy completion of the under-construction Barju and Keraun substations, and expansion of electricity infrastructure in the Katahari industrial area.

Investment in Irrigation Alone Is Not Enough

According to our Urlabari correspondent Hariprasad Koirala, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that investment in irrigation alone is not sufficient and that an environment must be created to increase agricultural production and farmers’ incomes.

He made the remarks after inspecting the Sunsari–Morang Irrigation Project and listening to the concerns of local residents and water users.

Stating that increased agricultural production and employment could help reduce migration from rural areas, Minister Shrestha urged that irrigation should not be viewed merely as a matter of constructing canals.

Minister Shrestha said the Sunsari–Morang Irrigation Project alone contributes to agricultural production worth more than Rs. 14 billion annually, demonstrating that investment in irrigation infrastructure is generating tangible returns in the agricultural sector.

The Sunsari–Morang Irrigation Project is one of Nepal’s major and important irrigation projects. The canal provides irrigation throughout the summer and winter seasons to approximately 68,000 hectares of land in Sunsari and Morang districts. Its main canal stretches 52 kilometers from the intake on the Koshi River to Keraun. The irrigation project was constructed between 1964 and 1975 with assistance from the Government of India, and most of its structures have now deteriorated.

In particular, the availability of water at the intake area of the Sunsari–Morang irrigation system has been affected by the large quantities of sediment - including sand and gravel - carried by the Koshi River at Chatara, as well as changes in the river’s course. Khanglal Sah, secretary of the Chatara Main Canal Water Users’ Committee of the Sunsari–Morang Irrigation Project, said the water level at the eastern intake had declined after the main flow of the river shifted westward following construction of the Chatara Bridge. During the dry season, the amount of water available at the intake can fall to around 10–15 cubic meters per second. Sah said the problem could be addressed by bringing in a dredger to remove sand and sediment and increase the water flow into the intake.

In this context, Minister Shrestha said immediate and long-term solutions should be integrated into a single plan. He said the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation should prepare and obtain approval for an integrated action plan incorporating short-, medium- and long-term measures.