Parties agree to build Marsyangdi Hydel after redesign

By Nabin Raj Kuikel

Lamjung, Jan. 23: All political parties in the district have agreed to construct the 50-megawatt Marsyangdi Besi Hydropower Project to be built on the Marsyangdi River. 

The parties have agreed to allow the construction to proceed as the project will change its location and design. However, some leaders of the Marsyangdi Save Campaign, formed to oppose the project, are still seen opposing it. 

Earlier, local residents had been protesting, saying that the construction of the hydropower project would spoil the beauty of Besishahar and have long-term negative impacts on the town. 

The project was initially designed with a dam in Besishahar Municipality-6 and a powerhouse in Besishahar Municipality-6, Saldanda, but following opposition from the people of Besishahar, the project has changed the location and design after protests from the residents of Besishahar.

According to Chief Executive Officer of the project Sanjeev Neupane, under the new design, a dam will be built in the Bagaincha of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-9 and a power house will be built in Bhotephant, Besishahar-10. 

Previously, the design included a tunnel route, but now a penstock pipe will be used, Neupane said.  He said, “We have adopted all measures to ensure that the project has minimal impact on the local environment and people’s livelihoods. We have changed the old design.”

According to the company, after the electricity is generated from this project, the company will have to pay 2 per cent of its income and Rs. 100,000 per megawatt, a total of Rs. 35 million annually, as royalty to the government. 

There is a provision for the amount of this royalty to come to the local level affected by the project. 

In accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, the project said that it will discuss and consult with the concerned bodies for corporate social responsibility work and support the development of drinking water, monasteries, schools and road maintenance and other necessary infrastructure in the affected areas.

After the project’s design and location were changed, the Marsyangdi River will be allowed to flow through the Besishahar market area. 

Once the project agreed to change its location, political parties that had earlier opposed the project along with local residents also reached a consensus to allow its construction.

At an all-party meeting held on Wednesday at the District Administration Office, parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), Nepali Communist Party, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party expressed their support for allowing the project to be built. 

CPN (UML) Vice-Chairperson Jeet Bahadur Gurung, Nepali Congress Secretary Krishna Bahadur Adhikari, Nepali Communist Party representative Sunil Sunar, and RPP Chairperson Kebindra Jung Gurung said that the project should be allowed to proceed for construction.

Mayor of Besishahar Municipality Guman Singh Aryal and Chairperson of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality Arjun Gurung also emphasised that the project should be built. 

Chief District Officer of Lamjung Umesh Dhungana urged the locals not to obstruct the development work as the project has addressed the demands of the locals. 

Ram Bahadur Thapa, coordinator of the Struggle Committee, has argued that the project should not be built, saying that the Marshyangdi should be saved for tourism activities and for beauty.

This run-of-the-river type project has a total estimated investment of approximately Rs. 10 billion. 

Of this, 30 per cent will be equity investment from the promoter group, while 70 per cent will be financed through loans from banks. The project aims to begin commercial operation within two years and six months.

The electricity generated by the project will be connected to the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Udipur Substation, which will make a significant contribution to the national transmission system.