A signature campaign has been launched in Dhading with the aim of putting pressure on the work of the reservoir-equipped Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, which is considered a pride project. The Dhading Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched the signature campaign by setting up a separate stall at the Dhading Festival that began on Thursday.

Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, launched the campaign by signing it. He also urged the government to immediately proceed with the construction of the project. He also said that the private sector has informed the government that it is ready to cooperate in moving the project forward. 

The Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, which was studied for feasibility with the aim of generating 1,200 megawatts of electricity at an estimated cost of Rs 331 billion, has not moved forward with the construction phase despite the completion of important work including compensation. Different ideas have been put forward from time to time in terms of construction modality, and currently, the project, which is currently being planned to be constructed under the Companies Act, 2063, has been distributed in the affected areas by spending more than Rs 45 billion. A site office has also been opened with a flourish, saying that construction work will be carried out immediately with a large investment. 

The Budhigandaki Project is Nepal's largest reservoir-based multipurpose project. Ram Kumar Dallakoti, President of the Dhading Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the signature campaign was launched as it was seen as necessary to increase its construction immediately as it will affect the economy of not only Dhading and Gorkha but also the entire Nepal, and will help in promoting employment and all kinds of businesses. 

Dallakoti expressed regret that the dream of the common people to build the project, although it has been a major trade route in the northern part of Gorkha and Dhading, has not been realized. He said that the signature campaign was launched during the festival as a pressure to solve the problems created by the delay in the project and draw the attention of the concerned bodies to immediately implement the project. 

More than 1,000 people, including spectators who came to observe the fair and local level people's representatives, have already signed the campaign, said Rohit Bhandari, Senior Vice President of the Dhading Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Even though 50,000 residents of the 23 VDCs of Dhading and Gorkha have agreed to leave their homes, they are also deprived of other development as the government has not taken forward the construction work. They are disappointed that the government has brought them to a standstill even when they were ready to leave their homes as a pride project. Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality Chairman Yamanath Danai complained that the federal government has ignored the project.