The process of constructing the 50.5 MW Beni Kaligandaki Hydropower Project at Jaljala of Myagdi and Parbat districts has been pushed forward.

Locals are excited after the process to build hydropower project in Jaljala began.

The Department of Electricity Development has proposed the project by constructing a dam on the border of Beni Municipality-6, Thulakhola, and Jaljala Rural Municipality-2, 1.2 kilometers below the Galeshwor Temple, by taking the water of Kaligandaki through a 3,537-metre-long tunnel and pumping it to a power house to be built at Sheraphant in Jaljala Rural Municiplaity-4 to generate electricity.

The Department of Electricity Development under the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has sought expressions of interest (EOI) from Nepali hydropower companies or joint investors for the development of the project.

The department has called for investment in the project under the Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model.

The department published a 30-day public notice in the Gorkhapatra Daily on May 10 and invited proposals for investment in the Beni-Kaligandaki Hydropower Project.

Badri Kuikel, Information Officer of the Department of Electricity Development, said that after studying all aspects of the project, an Expression of Interest (EOI) has been sought for the project to be constructed in the BOOT model.

Bhim Gautam, Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN) Secretariat, said that the project provides an investment opportunity for private companies, financial institutions and contractors companies.

He said, “This project is also an investment opportunity for the locals. When the project is constructed, it will directly create investment opportunities at the local level, create employment and help in accelerating economic activities.”

He said that this project will be attractive for long-term investors as project ownership, operation and profit will be ensured under the BOOT model.

Meanwhile, political parties in Myagdi and residents of Beni Bazaar have been saying that the hydropower project to be built on the Kaligandaki River flowing through Beni should not proceed under any circumstances as it will endanger the religious and cultural aspects, life and civilisation of Beni.

Political party leaders have requested not to proceed with the project construction as it is likely that the construction of the hydropower project by drying up the Kaligandaki River will affect religious rituals such as funerals on the banks of the river.

Residents are concerned that importance of the Kaligandaki River will be lost once the water in the river dries up.

Beni Municipality and the District Coordination Committee, Myagdi, have also jointly drawn the attention of the government to stop the construction of the project.

Meanwhile, locals of Jaljala Rural Municipality in Parbat have been arguing that the construction of the project should not be obstructed.

The residents of Jaljals said that the Beni locals should not obstruct the construction of the project by releasing 30 per cent of the water into the river.

By Thakur Prasad Acharya