The Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed serious concern over increasing unannounced power cuts and irregular electricity supply in the Birgunj–Pathlaiya Industrial Corridor and surrounding areas.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Chamber’s President Hari Prasad Gautam said the industrial corridor is currently facing up to eight hours of unannounced load shedding daily, along with frequent power trips — 10 to 12 times per day.
“It is alarming that just a few years after Nepal was declared load-shedding free — for households in 2016 and for industrial areas in 2018 — the situation has once again deteriorated,” the statement said.
The Bara–Parsa Industrial Corridor is home to cement, iron, steel, animal feed, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Due to electricity shortages, these industries are currently operating at only 30–35 percent of their production capacity, according to the Chamber.
“Lack of adequate power supply has not only reduced output but also damaged equipment worth millions, while pushing production costs higher — all of which are negatively impacting the national economy,” said Senior Vice-President Madhav Rajpal.
“It is ironic that while news reports highlight Nepal Electricity Authority’s electricity exports to India and Bangladesh, the domestic industrial sector continues to suffer from inadequate supply,” the Chamber stated.
The Chamber warned that if this negligence in power management continues, it will become impossible to keep industries running and the government will be forced to bear responsibility for the fallout.
It has urged the Nepal Electricity Authority and concerned agencies to immediately resolve the problem and make alternative arrangements to ensure reliable power supply to the industrial corridor.
