Locals demand shares in Arun III

Claiming that they "inherit" certain rights on the proposed Arun III Hydro-electricity Project that is to be constructed in their districts, locals of Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha claimed that they must acquire certain percent of the total share of the project.

They also stressed on the need of locals' participation and investment in any project in any part of the country.

In order to exert pressures for the purpose, local youths in Khandbari also formed a Youth Concerned Group and began sensitizing locals regarding the issue.

"Such an environment so as to allow all families of the district to buy shares must be created," said chairman of the group, Dipendra Karki. They also warned that they would obstruct the project, which is all set to begin its works after a month, if they were denied certain portion of the project shares.

A team of contractor company, Sutlej, is now at the construction site of Num VDC of the district. The company has been saying that the locals should obtain the shares from the 21.9 percent shares which have been provided to the government.

According to the team members, they would begin work within a month after receiving survey license from the government. If everything goes as planned, the company aims to complete the survey within 30 months and the entire project within the same time span following the survey.

Dabindar Bardera, chairman of Sutlej Construction Committee, said that they would complete the project

within five years if the government completes processes of compensating the owners of private land encroached by the project.

The biggest ever hydro-project in the eastern region, the Arun III aims to produce 402 megawatt electricity.
Source: eKantipur