Even in the summer of Jestha, the people of Karnali are facing the problem of irregular and 'low voltage' electricity. The citizens of this region have been facing this problem for a long time.

Irregular and 'low voltage' is like a permanent problem here. This problem had reduced somewhat after the Kohalpur-Surkhet 132 kV electricity transmission line was put into operation four months ago. But less than three months after this line came into operation, the problem of electricity has arisen again after the pole collapsed.

Two towers in Banke Chisapani collapsed on Saturday, Baisakh 26, due to wind damage to the transmission line, which was charged and put into operation at the substation in Subbakuna, Birendranagar Municipality-11, Surkhet. After the collapse of the tower, electricity transmission has been completely stopped.

Electricity is directly affecting everything from households to industries and businesses, drinking water supply, information technology services and electric vehicle operation. Due to the power outage, there are also problems with telephone and internet in the provincial capital and district headquarters. Narmada Hamal, a local of Birendranagar Municipality-7, says that due to the low power of the lights, even the fans are not working properly. According to her, water is not even coming from the borehole. She said that she has been facing this problem for years. Electrical equipment including water motors have started to break down due to voltage. According to her, two motors that pull water for 3 months have broken down.

Even during normal winds, the lights go out for hours. This problem is not new, it has been going on for years. Due to low voltage and over voltage, the lights go out 40 to 50 times a day. Due to irregular electricity, machinery and equipment do not work properly.

Hikmat Badi, the president of Badi Sarokar Manch, says that two boring motors worth more than 70 thousand have broken down within a year. According to him, electrical equipment in the hostel keeps breaking down due to electricity.

The Kohalpur-Surkhet 33 kV transmission line was built in 2045 BS on the occasion of King Birendra's visit to Surkhet. The structures built in 2045 BS are now dilapidated. Electricity service has also been extended to other districts of Karnali through this line. So far, nine district headquarters, except Humla, have been connected to the national transmission line. Its source is the Kohalpur-Surkhet 33 kV line.

If there is a problem in one area, electricity is disrupted in all the remaining districts. Out of the 51 kilometers of the transmission line between Kohalpur and Surkhet, 48 kilometers are in the forest (Bardiya National Park). Due to the old and dilapidated structure, electricity poles gradually fall even when the wind blows and it rains.

Ganeshkanchan Bharti, who runs a yarsachulo in Birendranagar, said that he has to face huge financial losses every day due to the lack of electricity. He said that just a few days ago, he had lost Rs 70,000 in two days due to the electricity. ‘Now, more than Rs 40,000 is being spent on oil every day,’ he said, ‘More than Rs 40,000 is being used up in the generator every day.’ He said that there is no investment environment to do anything. He says that the state has not looked into what it should look into.

Provincial Hospital Surkhet is also facing problems due to the same low voltage electricity. Anita Gyawali, the hospital’s information officer, said that Rs 20 million is being spent annually on generators due to irregular and low voltage. According to him, everything from surgeries to other regular services of the hospital have been affected due to the electricity. Machinery and equipment break down a lot. She said, ‘We have installed an automatic chargeable system. But when the electricity goes out and the generator runs, problems arise.’

Another major reason for low voltage in Karnali is the decrease in internal production in Dailekh. 10 megawatts of electricity is generated in the state from other districts including Dailekh. That electricity is distributed in Karnali. With the onset of summer, Karnali’s production decreases rapidly. When it is supplemented from outside, the required voltage does not come due to weak infrastructure. The more the load on the system increases, the more the voltage decreases. In the summer months, the voltage decreases from Kohalpur. The 33 kV line extended from Kohalpur to Surkhet has now been extended to Jumla via Dailekh and Kalikot. It is 330 kilometers from Kohalpur to Jumla. The Electricity Authority of Karnali has stated that it is not a simple matter technically.

The same 33 KV line has been extended to another route, some parts of Salyan, Jajarkot, Rukum West via Chaurjahari to Dolpa. As the line gets longer, its voltage automatically decreases. When it comes to Surkhet, the 33 KV line drops to 25-26 KV due to its weak structure. When the same line is extended from Mugu to Dolpa, the line gets overloaded. In that case, the voltage automatically decreases. Karnali has been facing more problems with voltage from Chait to Shrawan.

Similarly, the 33 KV line in Kailali Chisapani is connected to the Budbude substation in Birendranagar via Babiyachaur and Badichaur in West Surkhet. Since most of the Chisapani water comes from the forest, this line is also not reliable. Similarly, as an alternative to the line from Dailekh, Kalikot, Jumla to Mugu in Upper Karnali, a 33 kV line has been connected from Kamal Bazaar in Achham to Rakam Bazaar in Dailekh. The condition of this line is also not good.