Dhading, November 9

Delay in fixing compensation amount for land to be acquired by Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project  has left locals of Dhading’s Bishalnagar, Khahare and Gorkha’s Aarughat and Aarkhet perplexed.

The government has been distributing compensation to the residents of then 27 VDCs of Gorkha and Dhading for acquiring land for the Budhigandaki Project. Though compensation distribution for land has reached final stage in other places, reparation amount has yet to be determined for Bishalnagar, Khahare, Aarughat and Aarkhet.

The power project has to acquire 58,152 ropani land.

According to the Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project Concern Committee Chairman Jagannath Khanal, locals of Aarughat main bazaar have demanded Rs 2.5 million per ana land. Residents of inner roads and places shifting to residential areas have demanded Rs 1.5 million per ana in Gorkha.  Likewise, locals of Dhading’s Bishalnagar and Khahare have demanded up to Rs 2.5 million and 1.3 million respectively.

The government, however, has fixed reparation amount up to Rs 8.5 lakh per ropani.

Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project Compensation Distribution and Rehabilitation Unit Chief Krishna Bahadur Karki said locals were confused as compensation for 1,800 ropani land could not be fixed due to disagreement between locals and the project authorities.

The government has distributed compensation for more than 44,000 ropani land.

The Project Affected Concern Committee Dhading Coordinator Dinesh Dhakal said the dilemma had increased as his committee’s discussion with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and other stakeholders had failed to work out a solution related to the compensation issue.

The Detailed Project Report of the project with 1,200 megawatt capacity was prepared five years ago.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 250 billion. As much as Rs 50 billion will be spent on compensation alone.