KATHMANDU, Aug1: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC), has expressed serious reservation over the decision to halt the compensation distribution in some areas which are almost certain to be affected by the proposed Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project.

The party's ongoing CWC meeting on Wednesday alleged that the compensation distribution process was suddenly halted at the directive of the federal government in Aarughat Bazar, Khahare Bazar and Aarkhet Bazar area in Gorkha and Dhading districts.

While expressing concern over the government's decision to halt the compensation distribution process, the NC has asked the government to resume it without any further delay keeping in view the problems faced by locals in these areas.

Anticipating foul practices, the district land revenue offices in Dhading and Gorkha have banned selling and transferring ownership of land since five years ago. The NC said such a decision has already affected the local residents, businesspersons, industrialists and ordinary citizens.

This comes at a time when the 1200-MW reservoir-based hydropower project itself has fallen uncertain due to differences among political parties over who should be given the contract to develop the project.

In May 2017, the government had hired China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) to build the mega project under the engineering, procurement, construction and finance (EPCF) model. The decision was later revoked by the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led cabinet, saying that it was handed over to CGGC against the existing procurement rules.

 
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