Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Minister Deepak Khadka has issued a fourth clarification notice to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director Kulman Ghising in an apparent attempt to remove him from his position.
The dispute over dedicated feeder and trunk line tariffs has escalated into a personal conflict between Minister Khadka and Ghising. The minister has repeatedly questioned Ghising, asking why he should not be removed for not waiving these tariffs for industrialists.
On Tuesday, Minister Khadka issued a ministerial-level decision and sent Ghising a letter demanding a response within 24 hours. Previously, he had sought clarifications from Ghising on October 8 (15-point query), October 29 (6-point query), and January 6 (9-point query). Citing dissatisfaction with Ghising’s previous responses, Khadka has now sought further clarification for the fourth time.
In response, Ghising has asserted that he had obtained government consent before increasing the tariff. He explained that electricity tariff rates are first discussed within the government and then finalised through consultations with relevant stakeholders in India. Once the NEA’s board approves the rates, they are submitted to the Electricity Regulatory Commission for final approval.
Minister Khadka also questioned how Ghising signed an agreement to raise electricity tariffs for imports from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh without prior approval from the Ministry.
Ghising responded that the recent increase in electricity tariffs was lower than in previous years, with the rate rising by only 1.5% instead of the earlier 5.5%. The revised tariff, applicable from April, sets the rate for electricity exchanged via the 132 kV transmission line at INR 8.1 per unit (Rs 12.77), up from INR 7.98 per unit in 2024.
The latest clarification letter mentions that Ghising’s response to the previous inquiry, submitted six days after the deadline, was neither objective nor satisfactory. It also references the January 23, 2022 performance agreement between the Ministry and the NEA, stating that Ghising must justify why he should not be removed under the provisions of this agreement and NEA’s service regulations.
Additionally, the letter questions Ghising’s travel records, including the number of times he has undertaken internal and international trips, as well as his use of official leave.
Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) against Energy Minister Deepak Khadka, Energy Secretary Suresh Acharya, and the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The complaint alleges that the Energy Ministry and the Regulatory Commission exerted pressure on the NEA to waive outstanding tariffs owed by industrial consumers for electricity used via dedicated feeders and trunk lines. On Tuesday, February 25, the Campaign for Prosperity through Good Governance, led by coordinator Pabitra Mani Sharma, filed the complaint against the three.
The complaint highlights a long-standing dispute regarding electricity tariffs between the Energy Ministry, the Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the NEA. It claims that the Electricity Regulatory Commission repeatedly issued directives preventing the collection of dues and instead established a so-called new regulatory body to obstruct tariff collection.
The complaint also alleges that the Electricity Regulatory Commission has been used as a tool to exert pressure on the NEA, preventing it from collecting outstanding dues. It claims that Commission Chairman Ram Prasad Dhital engaged in irregularities by repeatedly issuing letters benefiting industrialists in exchange for personal gains.
Furthermore, it accuses Minister Khadka, Chairman Dhital, and Secretary Acharya of interfering in the dismissal of Bimal Gurung, CEO of the Dudh Koshi Hydropower Project, through an unauthorized secretary-level decision. The complaint requests a thorough investigation and necessary legal action against them.
