CIAA to investigate into 'Transformer Explosion'

December 27, Kathmandu.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has started to investigate into the cases of blast of transformers.

It has formed a special team to look into the explosion of transformers and electronic wires after the corruption watchdog received hundreds of complaints from common people that they couldn’t even prepare their food because of weeklong power outage in their area.

Krishna Hari Pushkar, spokesperson of the CIAA, confirmed that the anti-graft body had received complaints from various locations and said that the special team would try to look into them.

According to the CIAA, the team would try to find out the causes behind the transformers' explosion and load-shedding of electricity in the places where it was supposed to be supplied as per the NEA's schedule.

The special team includes CIAA officers, engineers, lawyers, procurement specialists, security personnel and representatives from other concerned agencies.

People lodged their complaints at the CIAA after the Hello Sarkar, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Ministry of Energy and local bodies turned a dead ear to their woes.

‘Hello Sarkar’ is a special cell at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers which hears the grievances of the people and directs the concerned authorities to take necessary actions to address them.

Initially, the investigation team will probe into the cases in the valley and explore the cases in other cities as well, if required.

More than 500 transformers exploded in the past three months.

The demand of electricity has surged to 1,850 megawatt from 1,200 mw after the shortage of petroleum oil and cooking gas following the Indian blockade on Indo-Nepal border.

NEA, the electricity monopoly in the country, has extended the blackout to 77 hours per week from this week.