The Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has once again asked the Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Kulman Ghising, for an explanation within 24 hours. Taking a ministerial decision on Tuesday, Khadka asked to submit an explanation within 24 hours.
It is also asked in the letter which body has taken the approval in the meeting of Nepal-India Bilateral Electricity Exchange Committee .
Minister Khadka has also asked how he got the authority to sign the memorandum of agreement prepared through bilateral negotiations to increase the financial liability without taking the consent of the ministry to submit to the Cabinet of Ministers, Government of Nepal, according to subject number 20 and 23 of the Schedule of Nepal Government (Performance) Regulations, 2064.
The 16th meeting of the Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee (PEC) held on February 12 fixed the per unit rate of import and export electricity at 8.1 bharu (12 rupees 96 paisa). On February 11, a Nepal-India secretary-level meeting was held. Sources in the authority said that the PEC meeting was scheduled with oral consent from the Ministry of Energy.
The PEC meeting was co-chaired by Ghisingh, Executive Director of the Authority and Ashok Kumar Rajput, Member of Power System, Central Electricity Authority of India. Sanjiv Rai, Senior Division Engineer of the Ministry of Energy was also present in the meeting. The price of electricity exchange through 132 KV transmission line in 2024 was 7.98 Bharu per unit (12 rupees 77 paisa) and 8.1 Bharu has been fixed for this year. The price, which will be applicable from next April, will have to be approved by the Authority Board of Directors and approved by the Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Since Khadka was appointed as the chairman of the board of directors of the authority, Ghisingh has also been asked about how many times he has gone on internal work, vacations and international trips.
Minister Khadka asked for clarification on 9 points on December 22. It is also written in the current letter that the explanation given by Ghising on December 28 was objective and not satisfactory. Energy Minister Khadka had previously asked for details on 15 points and 6 points.
