Damauli, August 1 The Environment and Social Study Department of Nepal Electricity Authority, Tanahun, today hosted a public hearing regarding the delayed construction of the Tanahun Hydro-power project at Jhaputar, Tanahun on Monday. The programme was held in order to make public the progress of the to-be constructed 140 MW Tanahu Hydro project and collect feedback from the residents of affected areas at Byas Municipality of the district. The locals complained about the delay in the construction of the project. “The project is being unnecessarily delayed. It has to manage relief and develop necessary policies for people in the affected zone,” said Yam Bahadur Ale of Kahu–8. Deputy Director of the project Bidur Adhikari said that they were preparing to distribute reparations to owners of the 1,300 ropani land on which the project is being constructed. The delay in the construction has been attributed to the delay in the selection of the consultant. The project’s construction is planned to start in 2017, and the project is set to be completed within 2022. Besides the locals of the eight affected VDCs of the district, Project Assistant Director Lok Prasad Nepal, Assistant Director Krishna Prasad Joshi of the Environment and Social Study Department, Ishwor Dutta Paneru of the Forest and Environment Ministry, Sabina Kharbuja of the Energy Ministry, and Hemanta Ghimire of the Electricity Development Department shed light on the importance of the project and appealed for everyone’s support.