The Gandaki state government has allocated Rs 30 lakh for the road slope of Arughat Bazar, the second largest commercial center of the district, in the current financial year. But the implementation of the plan is in confusion due to the policy of not building development structures in the inundation area of ​​the Budhigandaki hydropower project.

The work of paving the mid-hill road in the Duban area has not been completed. Construction and development of private structures in this area is at a standstill. Arughat market, which has a history of almost 300 years, is becoming deserted with the talk of making 1200 MW Budhigandaki hydropower project. Before the construction of Prithvi Highway started in 2028, pedestrians from Kaski used to reach Kathmandu via Arughat Bazar via Trishuli. Buddhiprasad Shrestha of Arughat Rural Municipality-9 says that Arughat is the center of residence for pedestrians and traders. 

'We ourselves have seen traders carrying goods with 100 to 150 porters,' he said, 'After Prithvi Highway was opened in 2028, even though Arughat was in the shadow, business did not decrease. The house was not built, now it is deserted.' 

Local businessmen say that business has decreased by 70 percent in Arughat. Before the floods, local businesses in Gorkha's Chumanubri, Dharche, Arughat, Bhimsen Thapa areas used to choose Arughat not only for purchasing consumables, but also for buying goods. The market was buzzing with the tradition of children coming to Arughat for boarding and schooling. Arughat was also busy due to the tourists going to Manaslu footpath. Locals say that the market is becoming more unstable after the earthquake of 072 along with the discussion of flooding. 

Premkumar Shrestha of Tripurasundari-2 Vishalnagar in Dhading said that the business has decreased a lot compared to the past. "Gorkha market is more active than Dhadingbensi, now there is no 10 percent business," he said. He complains that the workers are not getting work due to the stalled development. "Since the land is not bought and sold, there is no way to build a house, the development work is stopped due to flooding, even those who say they are working cannot get a job," he said. 

Locals say that 70 percent of residents have left Arughat after the earthquake and Corona. Locals are saddened that the livelihood of small businessmen has been taken away when the market is deserted. "There was a lot of enthusiasm when there was no rumor of flooding. Now, even if we take a loan from the bank and expand our business, the government does not know when to go," Shrestha said. According to him, he bought land in Kathmandu, Chitwan and other areas with the compensation amount.

Local Ganesh Kumar Shrestha said that the municipality and ward will not miss the budget for development after flooding. "Development is at a standstill, there is no buying or selling," he said He said that it will be difficult to do business while going.

"At this age, what can be done by going to a new place, we had to start from scratch," Ganesh Kumar said, "It would have been easier to proceed with the project by prioritizing resettlement." He complained that even the same parcel of land has different prices. Thakur Prasad Khanal bought 5 annas of land in Vishal Nagar after selling his previous property of Manvu-1. Khanal who came to Vishalnagar in 040 made agriculture and animal husbandry the main profession. 

'Why did I come here after selling the land of my father at hand price,' he said, 'We used to earn a living by farming and animal husbandry by buying five annas of land, we used to get 100/150 per load of firewood, customers used to come to the farm to buy greens, now up to a handful of greens. It doesn't sell, it's difficult to sell buffalo milk.'' Locals say that people are surprised when they see that there is no business in the commercial center.  Locals claim that during the distribution of compensation from the

project, there was also discrimination in land classification. The affected complain that the project does not understand the feelings of the locals. "An 11 hand is worth two annas, if you buy it at the rate of 3 lakh, it is 33 lakhs. In terms of annas, the compensation for the same land is only 14/15 lakh rupees," Khanal said, "The rate of the same piece of land is different." 

Until 10 years ago, there were more than 800 houses in Arughat Bazar Wari and half of the residents have moved. Locals said that despite the promise of giving 10 percent shares to the affected people, there is no feeling of excitement as there are signs that the project is going to make a loss. Locals say that when the office of the Budhigandaki project became chaotic, the affected people were also disturbed. Buddhiprasad Shrestha of Arughat-9 says that about 150 rich people who live on Parti and Ailani land in Arughat market area and 100 rich people who built structures on rent have not received compensation. "Since the Panchayat period, there are people who have taken land consent for business and have been living on rent, our demand is that they should be heard," said Buddhiprasad. 

Shivprasad Bastakoti of Arughat Vishalnagar has received compensation for four acres of private land, but he has not received compensation for the shed built on rented land. Bastakoti said, "I have built a shed with permission of the land, it has cost over 100,000,000, but I would be happy to be compensated for it." He complains that the rumor of Budhigandaki flooding has made it difficult for people of lower status to live. "Now it is difficult to live in a new place," he said. 

Locals demand that compensation should also be provided for the structures built on Parthi/Ailani land. Punya Vikram Paudel, chief district officer of Gorkha and coordinator of the compensation determination committee, said that a conclusion will be reached from the discussion about the problem of construction of structures on waste/ilani and private land. "What kind of criteria can be made to move forward, it was a matter of discussing this matter with the project and moving forward," he said.

Hareram Dhakal, the coordinator of Budhigandaki hydropower project National Concern Committee, says that the state has done injustice to the flood victims of Budhigand. "There is still a health post, a police station, and a highway in the market area," he said.

Budhigandaki Jalvidyut Company Limited has sent a letter to the ward office asking them not to carry out development activities, Dhakal said. "The state has started land acquisition but has not completed the acquisition work," he said, "It is said that the flood affected people will be rehabilitated. In the IE (Detailed Environmental Test) report, it is said that they will be allowed to live until the water recedes. Until the time when the water recedes, the development of basic needs should be done. The resettlement work is not progressing, where will the affected go? He said that he will not leave. "The state has calculated shamefully, even in the earthquake of 072, the government gave 3 lakhs to the victims of other areas, the flood victims got only 2 lakhs as temporary housing, the temporary housing built 8 years ago is collapsing, the state did not listen to the people," he said. According to Dhakal, the IE report mentions making a ring road outside the inundation area and rehabilitating the affected people right and left. "The ring road has not been built, 500 million has been allocated for the current financial year, how will the project proceed with this amount," he said.