Bhote Koshi to seek PM's intervention to end impasse

SINDHUPALCHOWK, Nov 25:

Bhote Koshi Power Company Private Limited (BKPC) has decided to seek Prime Minister Sushil Koirala´s support to resolve ongoing hurdles by locals on construction of electricity transmission towers.

Locals have obstructed works, demanding that they be given 35 percent of shares in the Upper Bhote Koshi Hydroelectric Project (45 MW) which started power generation more than a decade ago.

The company decided to seek the PM´s support to resolve the issue after local political parties, which are supposed to meditate the disputes, started to lead the protest indirectly.

"We are requesting PM Koirala to intervene in the issue as our efforts to find solution at the local level failed to reach any conclusion," Narendra Prajapati, general manager of the BKPC, told Republica. He said company officials would end PM Koirala after the SAARC Summit comes to an end.

Locals have formed a struggle committee and put forth a charter of demands including allocation of 35 percent of shares. They have been obstructing works to erect pylons for the past two months.

The company has not been able to start power generation after four of its pylons were swept away by floods and landslides on August 2.

Though officials of the company have sat in series of meetings with the locals, they have not been able to forge consensus yet. Company officials have been maintaining that existing laws do not allow a private company to issue shares to locals.

However, Dipendra Shrestha, coordinator of the struggle committee, said they won´t budge. "Allocation of 35 percent of shares to the local is our bottom line. We won´t compromise on that," he added.

Other demands of the committee include annual compensation of Rs 5 million to VDCs affected by the project and annual compensation of Rs 300,000 to VDCs where pylons have been erected. They have also said the company cannot cut facilities that locals are already getting.

A source privy to the issue said the company was ready to allocate 5 percent shares to locals of Sindhupalchowk if they come forward with an institutional setup.
Prajapati, however, denied having made any such offer.

Local leaders of political parties, however, are divided on the demands. While CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist), Rastriya Prajatantra Party and CPN-Maoist are backing the Shrestha-led committee, ruling Nepali Congress has demanded allocation of 10 percent shares.

Prajapati said the company won´t have any objection if the government introduces a policy, allowing private companies to issue shares to locals. "This is like somebody seeking ownership of a private home. This is what the company has been telling to lawmakers who are supporting the locals," he added.

According to Prajapati, the company would have already started power generation had it been allowed to install pylons as per the schedule.

Source: Republica