The production of the 45 MW upper Bhotekoshi hydropower project in Sindhupalchowk has been stopped for a month after pressuring it by writing to Gen-G and demanding 10 percent 'free share'. Bhotekoshi Company, Independent Power Producers Association (IPPAN) has repeatedly requested to open the closed Bhotekoshi, but the local affected, the Ministry of Energy and Home Affairs have been ignoring it.

It has been 28 days since the production of the project, which was selling electricity of nearly 10 million per day, was stopped after they entered the project area and put pressure on them saying that they are Gen-G. An official of the Ministry of Energy says that no one cares even if 1 crore is lost daily. 

Investors and IPPAN officials have complained that they have not even been able to meet government ministers and employees to express their views. The Bhotekoshi hydropower project under the Bhotekoshi Power Company, which started generating electricity in 2057, was stopped after protesting in the project area demanding that 10 percent shares be given to the affected residents for free.

Ganesh Karki, president of IPPAN, said that although it is possible to discuss the issue of giving/not giving shares, the private sector has been discouraged by stopping the production itself. He complained that the higher levels of government agencies did not listen to him. "How fair the demand for free-share is can be discussed, but we are now like without parents," President Karki said, "When the upper body of the government does not listen to anything and does not meet, who do we appeal to?" 

Ippan officials had written to the Ministry of Energy and Home Affairs to resolve the project's problems before Dasain. Even then they did not get time to meet Energy Minister Kulman Ghisingh. The representatives of Zen-G, who are protesting, met Minister Ghising before Dasain and informed them about their demands regarding 'free share'. Minister Ghising has given verbal instructions to the local administration to coordinate. Home has sent the letter instructed by the Ministry of Energy to coordinate with the District Administration Office Sindhupalchowk. 

During the Gen-G movement, the residents of the affected area had written to Bhotekoshi Company that they were Gen-G since August 25. After they entered the power house and staged a dharna, the production machine was shut down citing security reasons. In the letter written in the name of Jen-ji, it was mentioned that Bhotekoshi project itself will be responsible for the damage caused if their demands are not met. All the employees left the project after receiving the threatening letter. The project is now under the protection of the Nepali Army. 

At the behest of local political parties, Bhotekoshi Company had agreed to give 6 percent shares to project affected people in 2071. But due to earthquakes and landslides, the project could not be produced regularly until 2076. After the agreement, the production was stopped for a few years after the earthquake and landslides damaged the structure of the project. At that time, the project suffered huge losses. Even after that, the leaders who made the deal and the local people's representatives were not interested in getting the shares, so now a new situation has been created, according to the locals. The statement that the leaders of the party have neglected the implementation of the agreement due to economic temptation is being raised in public. 

After the local elections, the people's representatives did not raise the issue of shares, and now the demand has been brought forward in the name of Jen-G. Covering the opportunity of Gen-G movement, the affected people demanded 10 percent shares in exchange for 6 and stopped the production. The share of the American company that invested in the project is now only 5 percent. 95 percent of the shares belong to Nepali investors. After American investor Panda Energy Company sold its investment, Nepali businessman Siddharth Shamsher Rana's Tara Management bought the shares. When the project was built, there was no provision to give shares to the locals. Bhotekoshi is a private company. After 5 years, 50% of the project will be transferred to the electricity authority and after another 6 years to all the governments.

After not being able to withstand the pressure of dharna, gherao and slogan rally, Bhotekoshi Power Company reached an agreement to provide shares to the locals as per their demand. In order to solve the problem, an agreement was reached between the local administration, the protestors, and the voting company on October 2nd that the shares could be given as requested. For that, it was mentioned that the board of the company should pass it. During the agreement, there was also a clash between the group of Pasang Nurpu Sherpa, chairman of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, and the protestors. It is mentioned that the shares will be given as requested in the agreement, but it will be implemented after the company board accepts the agreement. It was agreed that the project will produce electricity only after accepting the agreement. The representative of the company was also present in the agreement. But the company source claims that the locals were forced to sign the agreement after being forced to do so.

The project staff were scared because even the police could not control the situation after the discussion in the Bhotekoshi rural municipality building of Sindhupalchok near the project site. There was also vandalism in the municipality. It is the understanding of the company that they were forced to sign the agreement to give away their private property free of cost while making themselves innocent due to the unusual situation in the country due to the Gen-G movement.

The company is not ready to accept the demand for 'free shares' rather than just giving shares. Bhotekoshi  Only from the date of authorization/recognition of the contract by the Company  It was mentioned in the agreement to produce electricity. In the last point of the agreement, it is said, "Regarding this agreement regarding the operation/resumption of the power plant, it has been agreed to allow the operation of the plant from the date of authorization/recognition from the second party." As Bhotekoshi is a private company, it should open a legal way to give private property shares to local people. The company had been informing for a decade that they were ready to give 6 percent shares. The company is also flexible in terms of additional 4 percent and even 10 percent. But company officials say that 'free share' cannot be given.