Locals of Dipu-Tega-Tembathan, affected by the project, had launched a protest a few days ago, halting construction work, with 19 demands.
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The work on the Brahmayani Hydropower Project, which had been stalled for 10 days, has resumed from Monday after reaching an agreement with the locals of Dipu, Tega, Tembathan and Sanguling areas of Jugal Rural Municipality, a remote part of the district.
After the locals affected by the Dipu-Tega-Tembathan project halted construction work a few days ago with 19-point demands, discussions were held at the District Administration Office between the project side, locals and people's representatives. According to Chief District Officer Bandhu Prasad Bastol, the project's padlocks were opened on Monday after the agreement was reached on Sunday night, and the work under construction was moved forward. 'With the 19-point agreement, the work of the Brahmayani Hydropower Project has moved forward, and discussions were held until late Sunday evening,' said Chief District Officer Bastol.
A 9-point preliminary agreement was reached after the discussion in the presence of Laxman Dong, Ward Chairman of Jugal Rural Municipality-3, and other representatives Chandrakaji Lama. The agreement was signed by Sanat Kumar Adhikari from the project side and Nim Tarke Sherpa and Nima Wangdi Sherpa from the locals. More than 100 locals from Dipu, Tega, Sanguling and Tembathan gathered at Chautara for the talks.
Locals of Jugal's Dipu, Tega, Tembathan and Ward No. 2 Sanguling had protested against the project, saying their demands were being ignored. According to Sayla Sherpa, leader of Jugal-3, an agreement has been reached on only 50 percent of the demands. 'An agreement was reached after 10 days of the protest, and that too on only 50 percent of the demands between the project and the locals,' he said.
The protest, which was started under the leadership of the Dipu-Tega-Tembathan Brahmayani Khola Hydropower Project Victims' Struggle Committee, had also disrupted the movement of tunnels, roads, structures, bridges, equipment and vehicles in the project area.
The committee had submitted 19-point demands to the company's central office on November 3 and requested a hearing within seven days. The demands include providing compensation in the agreement, construction of Gavinwalls and walls for long-term security of roads and structures, priority for locals in project contracts and work, distribution of shares to the affected, settlement protection and embankment construction, construction of schools, health units, necessary structures in Ghyang (Gumba), reconstruction of Chauri grazing areas, and assurance that locals will receive a certain share of electricity tariffs.
In this regard, Bharat Parajuli, chairman of the hydropower company, claimed that the project, which is in its initial stage, has done some of the essential work on the 19-point demands of the locals and is in the process of doing some. He said that the agitation has discouraged the project at a time when it is almost running out of steam.
The project aims to complete the construction of a 5.5-kilometer tunnel of the 45-megawatt capacity Brahmayani Hydropower Project under construction with an investment of Rs 9 billion and to tap the water of the Brahmayani River within 3 years.
