Bhojpur locals resort to agitation for compensation

BHOJPUR: Locals held a demonstration and put forth a six-point demand, including compensation for loss caused by the under-construction Eastern Hydro power Project at Pikhuwa Khola, in Bhojpur.

Demonstrators said the project, under-construction for the last six years on the confluence of Siktel in Bhojpur Municipality, paid no heed to their demands.

As per protest committee member Shiva Kumar Karki, they have demanded that the concerned authority construct two canals, provide compensation for their land and stop extraction of sand and pebbles from nearby rivers. They have also sought 10 per cent of the project share for locals.

The committee made their demands public at a press meet organised in district headquarters Bhojpur today.

Rekh Bahadur Karki, coordinator of the committee, said they were forced to protest as the authority had ignored their issues even though they repeatedly warned about the consequences.

“We are not against development activities,” he said, adding that they had also informed the District Administration Office about their demands. He warned that they would obstruct construction work if their demands were not addressed.

Bhojpur Civil Society coordinator Parsuram Tiwari said the project was hugely beneficial for the district, so the local administration should coordinate to resolve the problems.

Construction of the hydro project is said to have affected families of Rekh Bahadur Karki, Shiva Kumar Karki, Nar Bahadur Tamang, Khadga Bahadur Lamichhane, Chandra Devi Lamichhane and Khadga Bahadur Tamang.

The project operation committee said compensation would be provided. “But the process is on hold due to some technical problems,” they said talks would be held with locals to solve the problems.