The Indian power developer GMR, which is constructing the 300 MW project, had written to the Prime Minister´s Office, Home Ministry and Energy Ministry demanding action against those involved in the arson and security arrangements in order to resume the stalled work. The project had been operating without any government security. [break]
The Home Ministry took a decision to send an APF team led by an inspector to the project site after subsequent meetings with the Indian company. “A team led by APF inspector has already left for the project site to prepare a report on the logistic requirements,” Home Secretary Lila Mani Poudel said. The team will submit a report on arrangement for accommodation of security personnel and other facilities like drinking water and electricity. “A team of about 46 personnel led by an inspector will be stationed there once the arrangements are made,” secretary Poudel stated. GMR will have to bear the expenses of the security team as per the practiced norm.
Meanwhile, police have yet to make any arrests in the case despite the locals identifying Maoist cadres Binny Shahi of Chamunda and Dirgha Bahadur Shahi of Layanta of being involved in the arson. A group of around 25-30 persons, allegedly led by the duo, had barged into Paltada premises on May 22 chanting slogans that Upper Karnali was not in national interest and set ablaze all three office buildings of the company.
Though nobody has owned up the incident, Maoist politburo member and Seti-Mahakali state committee in-charge Dharmendra Bastola had hailed the attack on GMR. The Maoists and a few other parties have long been against the project saying the agreement was against national interest.
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