KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim order to not proceed with the works relating to Kaligandaki Diversion Multi-Purpose Project.

A single bench of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana on Wednesday asked the government to not take ahead with the project works. “Stay as it is the works as the change of natural river course, construction of dam, export of shaligram (precious stones) until the final hearing on the writ petition on it. The stay order had to be issued because the Kaligandaki River bears significance in terms of religion, history and ecosystem,” the order mentioned.

The beauty of Kaligandaki, one of the holiest rivers of the world, must not be tarnished, CJ Rana said in the order.

Senior advocate Prakash Mani Sharma had filed a writ petition against the diversion of Kaligandaki River to draw water from it to Tinau River of Rupandehi.