“Access to electricity to all areas in the country in three years,” assures Energy Minister Sharma

Taplejung / Feb 4: Minister for Energy Janardan Sharma has pledged that all places in the country will be connected to the central power transmission line within three years.

Speaking at a programme organized in Taplejung’s district headquarters on Friday, Minister Sharma shared that the government was working at a war footing pace to ensure cent per cent access to electricity in all human settlements across the country in three years.

Sharma said, “As per the Rural Electrification project, the Ministry of Energy is effortful to make those electrified areas load-shedding free and extend transmission line to those areas yet to be electrified.”

There are around 40 per cent places in the country which are yet to come under the ambit of power service, according to him.

Referencing the extension of central transmission line to Taplejung, Rukum, Jajarkot and Kalikot among other rural areas since he assumed the office, the Minister reaffirmed his commitment to rope in more of his efforts towards this end.

Furthermore, sensing the lack of preparation at policy-level for power production and utilization of generated power, Minister Sharma mentioned of formulation of 37-point action-plan towards this end.

Under the action-plan, places like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal and Birjung were rid of power outage, said Minister Sharma.

He shared that the concept of constructing one hydro power project in each district in the investment of public and government was also being developed and reforms at policy level were considered to carry out the construction of the mega hydro projects through fast track method.

Studies were underway for installation of smart meters to curb the electricity leakage and enable a technology to pay the electrify tariff through mobile phone, according to Minister Sharma. RSS