The 102 MW hydel project had promised to spend Rs 10 million anually for the development of the five village development committees affected by the project. But the project has failed to even come up with the program and draft necessary directives for the purpose. [break]
The locals have started complaining that the project cheated them with hollow promises of development. The project had pledged the people in the affected VDCs--Marming, Gati, Ghumthang, Listi, and Maneshwora-- that it would introduce various programs for them in the areas of health, drinking water, education, irrigation and road transport.
“With the delay in introduction of the programs, people have started expressing reservations over the promises made to them by the project,” said Arjun Sapkota, adding that if the promised development programs are delayed further, local support for the project is sure to dwindle.
The proposal floated by the project promises to provide Rs 2 million to each affected VDC to carry out infrastructure development. Some months ago, the project had informed that it would introduce the programs for the affected VDCs with and implement them under a cooperative model.
But the project is yet to come up with the directive and guidelines for spending the budget earmarked for the affected VDCs. The project and the people are on opposite sides now as the former wants to invest in sustainable infrastructure while the latter is for that part of the program that provides them immediate benefits.
According to the locals, they want programs such as those being implemented in the 14 VDCs affected by the Melamchi Dinking Water Supply Project. The Melamchi project has been investing Rs 50 million under five budgetary heads--health, education, drinking water, roads and buffer zone areas--in the VDCs affected by the project.
According to a source at Middle Bhotekoshi Hydro, the delay in drafting the directives and guidelines for community upliftment is due to lack of prior working experience on the part of the expert appointed for the purpose.
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