Gorkha, June 22: According to the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project National Concern Committee, the project office has been ignoring the demands and complaints of the residents of the inundated areas. Hareram Dhakal, coordinator of the concerned committee, said the bank has withheld the compensation amount sent by the project due to various reasons.
He said that the responsible officer of the project office and bank employees could have possibly played a commission game as the bank hasn’t allowed the account holder to use the compensation amount deposited 15 days ago. “This is how the bank deals with us,” he said, “The flood-affected people should be able to use the money as they wish.”
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Locals have complained that the project office did not give them the details when they asked about the compensation amount they had received, according to the costs of their houses, cowsheds, structures and plants. As stated in the release, “It is the project’s carelessness to deny providing details about the rate of compensation amount.”
The committee has also demanded that the compensation amount be provided to those who haven’t received it. Dhakal said that the people were forced to remain silent. The National Concern Committee has demanded the government ensure compensation for those who haven’t yet received it.
Jagat Kumar Shrestha, head of Compensation, Environment, Rehabilitation and Relocation unit at Budhigandaki Hydropower Project said that false allegations were made while working. “We are still working on how we can get people to get compensation as soon as possible,” he said.
He said that there were complaints about the delay by the bank and the unit was suggested to provide the amount as soon as possible in a comfortable way. The committee has been accused of working in collusion with the bank. “Those who have accused us need to prove the allegations. False allegations shouldn’t be made. It is disheartening to get such allegations while working,” he said.
