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Electrical Transformer Thefts Surge in Nepal's Madhesh Province, Impacting Farmers
🇳🇵 Nepal /Crime & Justice

Electrical Transformer Thefts Surge in Nepal's Madhesh Province, Impacting Farmers

From OnlineKhabar English · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Cases of electrical transformer theft are on the rise in Nepal's Madhesh Province, with 99 transformers stolen in the last five years.
  • The thefts are driven by the high market price of copper wire found in the transformers.
  • Farmers are suffering from disrupted irrigation due to power outages caused by the missing transformers, urging authorities to act.

Electrical transformer thefts are escalating across various districts in Nepal's Madhesh Province, posing a significant challenge to the local electricity supply and agricultural activities. According to Kali Charan Yadav, Administration Chief of the Nepal Electricity Authority Madhesh Province Office in Janakpurdham, a total of 99 electrical transformers have been stolen over the past five years.

99 electrical transformers were stolen in the last five years.

— Kali Charan YadavThe Administration Chief of Nepal Electricity Authority Madhesh Province Office provides statistics on transformer thefts.

The primary motivation behind these thefts appears to be the lucrative market value of the copper wire contained within the transformers. Yadav noted that the increasing frequency of these incidents is directly linked to the high price copper fetches. The district of Mahottari has been the hardest hit, reporting 35 transformer thefts, followed by Dhanusha with 14, Rautahat with 10, and Sarlahi and Siraha each with nine.

The theft cases have increased as the copper wire used in transformers fetches a high price in the market.

— Kali Charan YadavYadav explains the economic driver behind the rising transformer thefts.

The consequences of these thefts are particularly severe for the agricultural sector. Farmers in the affected districts are facing immense difficulties in irrigating their land due to the resulting power disruptions. The absence of functioning transformers directly impacts the availability of electricity needed for irrigation pumps, jeopardizing crop yields.

The farmers have demanded that the concerned bodies install new transformers by arresting those involved in stealing transformers.

— OnlineKhabar English (NP)The article relays the demands of farmers affected by the transformer thefts.

In response to the growing problem, farmers are demanding swift action from the concerned authorities. They are calling for the installation of new transformers and the apprehension of those involved in the theft rings. The Madhesh Province Police Office has acknowledged the issue, with Deputy Inspector General Om Prasad Adhikari stating that efforts are underway to locate the stolen transformers and address the ongoing criminal activity.

Activities are underway to search for the stolen transformers.

— Om Prasad AdhikariThe Deputy Inspector General at Madhesh Province Police Office assures action is being taken.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by OnlineKhabar English in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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