Voices of opposition to the Arun 3rd hydropower project, which was launched 32 years ago as an ambitious plan to end load shedding and expand electrification in the country, were echoing in the streets, houses and assemblies. In particular, the Left Party in the House and various social organizations in the name of stakeholders were taking up anti-Arun activities vigorously on the streets.

Regarding Arun, Gopal Sivakoti and others raised the issue of environment deterioration, negative impact on local people's life, increasing country's debt and project construction not being in the interest of the country. An agreement was reached with the World Bank to take a loan for the construction of the project. A tender was already made to make the entry way of the project. 

In this background, in January 2050, the Supreme Court issued a show cause order regarding the project. After the Supreme Court issued the order, more confusion was added to proceed with the project . In particular, the authority was accused of hiding the environmental report of the project. The subject of the drawing of the entrance road construction was also brought into dispute. 

After issuing a show cause order from the court, on January 14, 2050, the Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Ajitan Rayansingh Thapa, said that due to the order of the Supreme Court, Nepal should lose 300 million in revenue . He said that the revenue loss will ultimately fall on the common people.

project started on time and completed in 2001, the government had set the goal of earning 4 billion annually. According to him, negotiations were being held with an Italian company for the construction of a 117 km access road. But the campaigners had conveyed the information that an agreement had been reached with the Italians for the construction of the said road . Thapa informed that although there was an agreement for road construction, there was no agreement. The critics of the

project said that the construction of the project will cause losses to the country and emphasis should be placed on the construction of small power projects. But the authority said that it is planning to invest not only in Arun but also in Gandak, Trishuli, Hetounda, Devighat and other projects.

Although Arun was repeatedly brought into controversy, the government side did not back down from its commitment to advance Arun . According to the engineer of the project, Vishwadhwaj Joshi, he said that since there are glaciers in the upper part of Arun, it will help more in the power generation of the project. The authority said that the project will produce electricity even in the rainy season and will not allow shortage in the dry season.  It was estimated that the electricity generation of the

project would cost 3,800 US dollars in the first phase. The target was to produce 198 MW in the first phase. According to the authority, the main investment in the project was from World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan, German Bank, Sweden, Finland.

Nepal should provide 100 million US dollars for the project. The remaining 764 million were said to come from France and other countries. Despite the support and opposition, the Supreme Court issued an order asking various questions about the Arun Project. The order made Arun's opponents more excited.