The committee on Monday has decided to mobilize the Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force personnel to guard the hydel projects along Bhotekoshi and Sunkoshi corridors for the time being. [break]
DSC also agreed to provide security to the hydro projects, which are running in the district, if need be.
As per the Committee´s decision, the security personnel would be stationed at the 102 MW Middle Bhotekoshi and 22 MW Chakuhola hydropower projects. The committee decided to post an army team under the command of a Captain at Chakukhola while a platoon of APF would provide security for the Middle Bhotekoshi project.
According to Chief District Officer, Dilli Ram Pokharel, security deployment is to ensure uninterrupted works in the projects. Lately, the Chakukhola and the Middle Bhotekoshi projects have become the target of various obstruction motivated by personal and political interests.
The Middile Bhotekoshi project being undertaken by Chilime Hydro Power Company, has held the Nepali Congress party district leadership squarely responsible for its delayed construction work. The construction work, which was scheduled to start at the beginning of 2013, has not kicked off after the land acquisition process was politicized.
Three small hydro power projects, which are under construction along the Bhotekoshi Corridor, have also been facing various obstructions from the locals. The security team to be deployed for the Chakukhola will also guard to these small projects.
Similarly, three more projects of 43 MW along the Bhotekoshi and Sunkoshi Corridors are in the process of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). A 3MW project on the corridor has started production while another 4.5MW project is under construction.
Likewise, a 40MW project, also by the name Middle Bhotekoshi, under the American investment is on the process of acquiring the PPA while the Bhairab Kunda Hydro project at Larcha in Tatopani is about to complete its construction. Furthermore, Liping Khola hydel project to be built in Tatopani has completed the detailed project report recently. According to a source at District Administration Office, the DSC decided to mobilize the security personnel in the wake of increasing incidents of obstructions, demanding forced donation in the name of establishing local clubs, drinking water project, among others. The security teams will be mobilized after the DSC decision would get approval from the Energy Ministry.
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