Kavre, December 31:

People of Kavre district, who claim they are affected by the Melamchi Drinking Water Project (MDWP), have been restricting the entrance of the vehicles belonging to the project on the Helambu Highway since December 24.

Demanding that five VDCs in the district -- Panchkhal, Mahadevsthan, Chandeni, Jaisithok and Deupur -- be declared MDWP-affected VDCs, the locals there have been restricting the entrance of the project vehicles from Zerokilo, a point on the Araniko Highway in Panchkhal VDC from where the Helambu highway begins. Only 14 VDCs of Sindhupalchowk district have been declared affected by the multi-million dollar project.

The struggle committee decided to bar entrance of the project vehicles on the highway by organising a gathering last week, member of the committee, Amrit Sapkota, said.