Chilime hydropower project locked out demanding MD’s return

RASUWA, AUG 11 - Agitating locals and the local units of the four major political parties have locked out the offices of the Chilime hydro project and two other hydro projects in Rasuwa demanding the reinstatement of Kul Man Ghising as the managing director of Chilime.

The board of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had recalled Ghising from Chilime in July after his tenure ended on June 19, citing the Company Act which prescribes a maximum term of four years. However, Ghising challenged the decision saying that the NEA board had overstepped its jurisdiction as Chilime had its own board.

Local people and cadres affiliated with the Nepali Congress (NC), UCPN (Maoist), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Sanghiya Ganatantrik Samajbadi Party and Nepal Adibasi Janajati Mahasangha padlocked the offices of the Chilime, Sanjen Lower and Sanjen Upper projects and the Rasuwa gadhi Hydropower Project office at Timure.

The protestors padlocked the dam side of the Chilime Hydropower Project after overpowering the security guards stationed there. They also held a protest meet for two hours at Thambuchet. Journalists were briefly prevented from taking pictures by the security personnel.

“The higher authorities have asked us to protect the offices from being padlocked,” said Police Inspector Dilli Mainali. According to the District Administration Office (DAO), the project staff themselves locked out the offices.

Four days ago, the political parties including the CPN-UML had made a promise at the DAO to resume operations at the projects. The issue of the removal of the managing director has divided the district.

The NC which heads the government and the UCPN Maoist, Sanghiya Samajbadi Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have been steering the protests.

According to Janak Jeevan Upadhyay, the coordinator of the NC’s water resources department, if the security personnel break into the padlocked offices, the agitation will intensify into a district “banda”. Upadhyay added that problems had started at the smooth running project after interference by the energy minister.

Meanwhile, Prem Bahadur Tamang, district leader of the UCPN (Maoist), said that Ghising’s recall from Chilime, despite his able management, pointed to the influence the water mafia had on the energy minister.

The agitators have stated that they will not allow the new chairman to enter the premises of all the three hydropower projects.

During a corner assembly, Prabhat Lama of the NC, Tembel Tamang of Samajbadi and Lhakpa Thokra of the federation had demanded that the energy minister take back the decision.

The political parties have stated that if Ghising is not reinstated by Aug 15, they will launch an indefinite strike.

Chilime Hydropower Company was incorporated in 1995 with the objective of generating electricity through optimal utilization of resources within the country. The company currently owns and operates the 22.1 MW Chilime Hydropower Project, the country’s first indigenously designed, built and financed power plant. Chilime has established three subsidiaries -- Rasuwa gadhi Hydropower Company, Madhya Bhote Koshi Jalavidyut Company and Sanjen Jalavidyut Company.

Chilime has been developing four other hydropower projects with a combined capacity of around 270 MW under Ghising’s leadership. They are the 11 MW Rasuwa gadhi, 103 MW Bhote Koshi III, 42 MW Sanjen and 14 MW Upper Sanjen. He had also played an instrumental role during Chilime’s initial public offering.

This is not the first time that Ghising was called back. Last year, the then energy minister Umakanta Jha had removed Ghising, but he backtracked following strong protests from the NEA Trade Union and locals of Rasuwa .

(Source: The Kathmandu Post)