- After reaching a 19-point agreement with the local residents affected by the Brahmayani Hydropower Project, the project work has resumed after 10 days.

- The construction work, which had been halted due to local protests, was restarted from Monday following the agreement.

- The agreement includes demands such as compensation, construction of structures, prioritization of locals, and share distribution.

After reaching an agreement with the local residents of Dipu, Tega, Tembathan, and Sanguling areas of the remote Jugel Rural Municipality, work on the Brahmayani Hydropower Project, which had been stalled for 10 days, resumed on Monday.

By Sunday evening, the local residents affected by the Dipu–Tega–Tembathan project, who had halted construction a few days earlier by presenting a 19-point demand, held discussions with the project authorities and local representatives at the District Administration Office. According to Chief District Officer Bandhu Prasad Bastola, following the agreement reached on Sunday night, the project’s gates were reopened on Monday, and construction work resumed. “With the 19-point agreement, work on the Brahmayani Hydropower Project has progressed. Discussions continued until late Sunday evening,” said CDO Bastola.

A preliminary agreement of 9 points was reached after discussions 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 of the project side and Nim Tarke Sherpa and Nima Wangdi Sherpa of the locals. More than 100 locals from Dipu, Tega, Sanguling and Tembathan gathered at Chautara for the talks.

Locals from Dipu, Tega, Tembathan and Ward No. 2 Sanguling of Jugal had protested against the project, saying their demands were 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 movement, which began under the leadership of the Dipu-Tega-Tembathan Brahmayani Khola Hydropower Project Victims’ Struggle Committee, had also brought the movement of tunnels, roads, structures, bridges, equipment, and vehicles in the project area to a standstill.

The committee had submitted 19-point demands to the company’s central office on November 3, requesting a hearing within seven days. The demands include providing compensation in the agreement, construction of Gavin walls and walls for the long-term security of roads and structures, priority for locals in project contracts and work, distribution of shares to the affected, protection of settlements and construction of embankments, construction of schools, health units, necessary structures in Ghyang (monastery), reconstruction of the Chauri grazing area, and ensuring that locals receive a certain share of the electricity bill.

Regarding this, Bharat Parajuli, chairman of the hydropower company, claimed that the project, still in its initial phase, has addressed some of the locals’ 19-point demands and is in the process of addressing others. He added that the protest had discouraged the project at a stage when it was barely progressing.

The 45-megawatt Brahmayani Hydropower Project, under construction with an investment of NPR 900 crore, aims to divert water from the Brahmayani River through a 5.5-kilometer tunnel and complete the project within three years.

Kantipur