Kathmandu. Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has directed the government to immediately bring into operation the closed Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project demanding free shares in the name of Genji youths.
A team led by Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) Chairman Ganesh Karki on Wednesday apprised Home Minister Aryal about the incident. Stating that the closure of the hydropower project in the name of Genji youths was anarchy, Chairman Karki urged Home Minister Aryal to create an environment conducive for the operation of the hydropower project at the earliest.
Home Minister Aryal telephoned Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchowk Bandhu Prasad Bastola and directed him to bring the Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project into operation immediately. “Genji, young people are allowed to make demands. If there are legitimate demands, they can be met through dialogue and discussion. “If you can’t bring the project into operation, you should report what support the home ministry should provide to us,” he said. ’
Following the agitation of the 45 MW Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project in Sindhupalchowk on September 9, the youths of the 45-megawatt Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project in Sindhupalchowk should be given 10 percent free share. The project used to generate electricity worth 98 lakhs per day during the rainy season. According to Bikram Sthapit, chief executive officer of Bhotekoshi Power Company, the project has lost over Rs 270 million due to the closure of the project for the past 28 days.
The youths had sent a letter to the company threatening to stop generating electricity from the Bhotekoshi project unless they provided 10 percent free shares. Locals have sent a letter demanding 10 percent free share in other hydropower projects of Sindhupalchowk as the project could not be brought into operation even after the closure of the project for 28 days.
IPPAN senior vice-president Mohan Kumar Dangi said the state should provide security to the project as it is the national priority project. Stating that the private sector has been generating 3,000 megawatts of electricity by investing more than Rs 1500 trillion, he said the private sector would not be able to work if the state failed to ensure security.
Mohan Bikram Karki, proprietor of Upper Balefi, said that no promoter can invest more in this environment as it has demoralized the hydropower producers. The Jenji youths have threatened to halt the production of electricity from October 15 if the 22.2-megawatt Upper Chaku A Hydropower Project fails to provide 10 percent free share.
Similarly, the government has demanded 10 percent free share in the 36 MW Upper Balefi A, 7.2 MW Yambaling Khola, 990 KW Solang Khola and Ghattekhola hydropower projects that have come into operation in Sindhupalchowk.
Similarly, the government has also issued letters to Gen-G and local youths demanding 10 percent free share in other under-construction hydropower projects such as Balefi A (22.14 MW), Lower Selang (1.5 MW), Upper Balefi (46 MW), Nyasim Khola (35 MW), Dudh Khola (65 MW).
