Clear confusion over Budhigandaki project, locals ask officials
ARUGHAT (GORKHA), Nov 17:
Locals have said that they will cooperate with the authorities for the construction of Budhigandaki Hydropower Project (1200 MW) if confusion about the project is cleared.
Locals of seven village development committees (VDCs) have not been cooperating with the project expressing concerns over confusion regarding the project even 21 months after the beginning of feasibility study, lack of transparency in the works of consultant, and indifference of the project developer Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project Development Committee´s toward their demands.
Most of those VDCs have dominance of ruling Nepali Congress (NC).
Locals say the project officials even do not know how many people will be affected and displaced by the project. Speaking at two separate meetings held in Arughat on Thursday and Darbang on Friday with the project officials and the project consultant, locals of more than 30 VDCs demanded clarity on every aspects of the project.
They also suggested to the developers to go ahead with the project works only after clearing the doubts like the actual capacity of the project, when the construction will begin, and whether the Arughat town will be displaced. They have also asked the officials to come clear on compensation to be provided to the affected people.
The meetings were held in the initiation of locals themselves.
According to locals, if the Arughat town is submerged in the proposed reservoir of the project, it will affect people of other 40 VDCs as Arughat is the trading hub in the area. "We have some common questions like whether Aarughat will submerge in the reservoir, when the project will be completed, how much compensation are we getting, and on what basis will the compensation amount be calculated," Dinesh Kumar Dhakal, chairman of Budhigandaki Hydropower Project Concern Committee, said in the meeting.
Speaking at the program, Laxmi Devkota, chairman of Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project Development Committee (BHPDC), said they have decided to upgrade the project capacity to 1200 MW from 630 MW based on the consultant´s report. "We have not taken any decision on the compensation modality yet," he told the locals, adding, "But I would like to assure you that the compensation package that we will offer will ensure you a happy life."
Following rumors that Arughat will be submerged in the reservoir, land and housing transactions in the town have come to a halt. Construction of houses, however, has not stopped.
"Locals are continuing their construction works as they do not have clear information about the project," Buddhi Prasad Shrestha, a local trader, said.
Earlier, locals had obstructed the consultant from collecting data for feasibility study, saying that they have not been informed about the project.
According to BHDC, the project being developed at the cost of Rs 250 billion is expected to complete within eight years. The project´s reservoir which will spread over 63 square kilometer is expected to generate 3.4 billion units of electricity.
BHDC officials said they were yet to conduct environmental impact assessment and social impact assessment of the project.
"We will be in a position to answer all your genuine questions after nine months once we come up with the detailed report," Ram Kumar Sharma, a representative of the consultant firm hired by the project, said.
Source: Republica
