Kathmandu, March 2
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said a probe panel will be formed to resolve the issues facing Nyasim Khola Hydropower Project (NKHP).
Stakeholders had laid concern over the vandalism, arson, and assault on employees working at the construction site of the 35 MW NKHP by a group of people on Monday, February 27, and urged authorities concerned to launch an investigation into the matter.
Apprising Prime Minister Dahal of the incident during a meeting today, the Independent Power Producers' Association of Nepal (IP- PAN) had urged the government to prevent such criminal activities from occurring at the project site, to make proper arrangements for security, and take strict action against the criminal group involved in such incidents.
During the meeting, PM Dahal expressed sadness over the incident and pledged to form an investigation committee to resolve the issues at NKHP site.
The hydropower project is being constructed by Sita Hydropower Pvt Ltd in Jugal Rural Municipality 3 of Sindupalchowk district since 2021 after receiving permission from the Department of Electricity Development on November 23, 2020, with the target of starting commercial production from June 2024.
According to the company, over 50 people stormed the construction site after a 14-year-old child was electrocuted due to a short circuit in the distribution line at Gumba of Jugal Rural Municipality 3. Enraged by the tragic incident, the group stormed the construction site in a planned manner, vandalised, and attacked the employees.
Due to the attack, the project's residential building, and powerhouse, among other areas, suffered heavy damages and seven employees, including an engineer, were injured.
Issuing a notice, Sita Hydropower Pvt Ltd informed that the group set fire to the crusher and vandalised trucks as well as excavators. The damage from the attack is estimated to be around Rs 120 million.
"It will take at least one year to recover from the damages and resume the project, delaying the scheduled production date by another year. We believe that the energy sector, which is the backbone of the economy, will be discouraged by such criminal activities, which also give off the impression of bad investment climate in the country. Therefore, to prevent such criminal activities from happening at the project sites, we strongly request the government to make proper arrangements for security at the project site and to take strictest legal action against the criminal group involved. Expressing our condolences to the bereaved family, we also hope that the electricity authority will provide proper compensation to the victim's family and wish speedy recovery to all the employees who were injured in the attack." the statement reads.
According to Rasham Syangbo, chairman of Jugal Rural Municipality, the work of line extension and development was being carried out in Gumba of Ward 3 by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) alongside the construction of NKHP by Sita Hydropower Company Pvt Ltd near the river.
"When the child died by electrocution, a group of agitated people stormed the construction site and unleashed havoc, although it has been understood that the electricity line belonged to the NEA and not the hydropower project," he told The Himalayan Times.
Stating that the rural municipality will hold talks with NEA and the grieving parties as well as the concerned stakeholders to resolve the issue, Syangbo said that further discussions will be held to avoid such incidents in the future and to maintain the security of the investors.
"The rural municipality does not support vandalism and assault of the employees. The local authorities have been informed of the matter and things will move ahead accordingly. The agitated party should not have resorted to violence," he said.
Meanwhile, the grieving family members of the deceased Norjin Wangmu Lama (14) argued that she was electrocuted by an electric pole while heavy equipment and the crusher used by the construction company were in operation.
Lama was three metres away from the pole while working at a nearby field with two others. According to the family members, the electric poles near Gumba of Ward 3 would make buzzing noises and even let out smoke from time to time when heavy machinery was used by the company, and they had even notified the company about it. However, they claim that the company's negligence had led to the accident which claimed one life and injured two others on February 27. They have also accused Sitaram Timalsina, executive chairman of Sita Hydropower Company Pvt Ltd, of not being present at a meeting on March 1 when requested by the local authorities, but instead holding a press conference in Kathmandu.
The party has also requested the government to sincerely look into the matter to avoid such accidents and loss of life in the future as well as to provide relief and compensation to the injured as well as the grieving family of the deceased.
The NEA officials could not be contacted for comment despite repeated attempts.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
