Surkhet: The locals have been outraged as the Upper Lohore Hydropower Company currently under-construction in Naumule Rural Municipality did not pay compensation for the land and water mills. They are in confusion as there is no implementation of the agreement that was reached between the people's representatives and the affected locals before the construction of the hydropower.

Khambhi Lal Kathayat, 72, a farmer affected by the Upper Lohore Hydropower project, complained that he has not got any compensation for his water mill. “Even the irrigation canals in the fields have dried up,” he lamented. “When the locals ask for the money, employees behave rudely.” According to him, though the land of the local Dalit community including Anil Kathayat has been acquired by the project, the hydropower company has not provided the compensation yet. The locals are worried after the employees of the hydropower company started ignoring their demands.

According to the locals, the company haphazardly started digging up their land using excavators at the dam site, leading to the drying up of the irrigation canals. Kathayat said that the local water mill had stopped working as the spring had dried up.

The locals are in trouble now as the hydropower project acquired their land at low prices. Chairman of Naumule Rural Municipality, Bhadre Budha Magar said that he knows about the problems of the locals affected by the hydropower project and would talk to the hydropower company and find a solution. When Republica tried to contact the staff of the hydropower company, they were not available.