Kathmandu. Nepal Electricity Authority has cut the lines of 18 more industries amid the trunk and dedicated line tariff disputes. The authority cut the line of that industry on Friday evening. According to Rajan Dhakal, spokesperson of the authority, all the lines of the disputed industries have been cut except for the government-owned Udaipur Cement and Hetauda Cement. Earlier, on the day after Lakshmi Puja, the lines of 6 industries namely Jagdamba Steel, Reliance Spinning Mills, Shivam Cement, Ghorahi Cement, Arghakhanchi Cement Industries and Triveni Spinning Mills were cut.

The authority warned the remaining industries to pay the first installment of the tariff immediately. However, the authority said that the line was disconnected after the payment was not made within the stipulated time. Currently, 14 of the disputed industries have already paid the first installment. Arihant Multifibre, Raghupati Jute Mills, Baba Jute Mills, United Cements, Maruti Cements and Polypax have approached the court and their lines have been kept open as per the order of the court. Spokesman Dhakal said that the lines of all others have been cut.

After the Board of Directors meeting held on October 10 decided to collect the disputed fee, the industries were given time to pay till October 2. However, the industrialists have been announcing that they will not pay the tariff set by the authority as unfair.