A team of Maoists who reached the survey site of the project on Saturday issued the threat saying that if it is not stopped they will launch strong protests. [break]
The Maoists have argued that the dam is not in the interest of Nepal and should not be built without properly assessing the damage, including the possible inundation.
Earlier, the DPR work was halted for three years after Maoist-affiliated groups and stakeholders´ groups objected to the project.
The Maoist team led by Kirati Rastriya Mukti Morcha and Limbuwan Rastriya Mukti Morcha members reached the site at Aahale VDC-1 Sunakhambi in Dhankuta.
The team took update of the survey work from the project´s technical personnel and asked to stop all work. Both the ethnic fronts handed over a warning letter to the Indian senior engineer and field division in-charge, Rakesh Kashyap. Kashyap said that he will inform the higher officers about the letter.
On Friday the Maoist´ Kirat and Kochila Rajya Samiti meeting had decided to close the DPR work.
Maoist central committee member, Prahlad Budhathoki said that unless a policy is formulated to use Saptakoshi for the benefit of the country, all work of the project must be stopped.
Yayokkha´s vice-chairman, Tilak Rai, said that DPR should be stopped unless a stakeholders´ meeting at local level is not held.
Similarly, Limbuwan Mukti Morcha´s General Secretary Mukesh objected saying that the DPR process was revived unilaterally and it will not be allowed till it is clear what benefits will be there from the project.
There are 72 technical persons at work at the site from India and Nepal.
The DPR process begun in 2004 after the Saptakoshi agreement between Nepal and India in 1991. As per a DPR report prepared by the Indian side in 1981, it is planned that from a 269 m high dam about 3,000 MW energy would be generated.
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