Two NEA officials dismissed from their posts

KATHMANDU: The government has removed two officials from their posts at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Bhakta Bahadur Pun and Kapil Acharya have been dismissed following their advocacy for the settlement of arrears by industrialists through dedicated and trunk line services.

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation issued the dismissal orders after Pun and Acharya were asked on July 30 to explain their decision to cut off electricity to industries with outstanding dues. Their explanations, submitted on Aug 2, were deemed insufficient. Consequently, Minister Deepak Khadka dismissed them from their positions later that same day.

Acharya has criticized the decision, noting that they were appointed for a four-year term but were removed after just three years. He contends that their dismissal occurred despite their efforts to act in the state’s interest and has announced plans to seek legal recourse.

Both officials were appointed through quotas allocated to the CPN (Unified Socialist) and CPN (Maoist Centre) parties.