Minister Shrestha Urges Public to Report Any Extra Charges Beyond Official Fees

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, has urged service recipients to immediately report any demand for payments beyond officially prescribed fees, along with evidence, through the ministry’s hotline 1151.

Since assuming office, Minister Shrestha has prioritized complaint handling and swift resolution of public grievances. Under his directive, efforts have been intensified to make service delivery within the ministry and its subordinate agencies more effective, transparent, and accountable.

As part of this initiative, the hotline service 1151, established to address electricity-related complaints and issues, has been made more active and result-oriented. According to the ministry, 13,088 complaints received through the hotline have been addressed since Minister Shrestha took charge on March 26.

The major complaints included power outages, damaged transformers, shortages of poles and electricity meters, and issues related to underground power connections. The ministry said it is focused on resolving such problems quickly and ensuring easier access to services for consumers.

The ministry has also arranged for the prompt resolution of concerns related to the energy, water resources, and irrigation sectors raised by members of the Federal Parliament and Provincial Assemblies during parliamentary sessions.

To strengthen good governance and improve service delivery, the ministry has established a Good Governance Unit in accordance with the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act, 2008. The unit has been assigned sector-specific responsibilities and is tasked with monitoring, evaluation, and performance assessment.

According to the ministry, the unit regularly reviews employees’ performance, fulfillment of responsibilities, compliance with legal deadlines, and the effectiveness of service delivery within the ministry and its subordinate bodies.

In addition, continuous monitoring is being carried out regarding the use of government resources, implementation of designated performance indicators, and timely completion of assigned tasks.

The ministry stated that it is prioritizing a delivery-based governance system, focusing on improving service delivery, effectively managing complaints, and enhancing employee accountability.