KATHMANDU: Locals of Rasuwa have stormed the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, which is under construction with foreign direct investment in Rasuwa.
A group of local youths who reached the project area also thrashed the representative of the contractor company.
An official of the project informed that two foreign technicians were injured in the assault.
Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, Nawaraj Jaisi, said that the disgruntled group had reached the project site and started squabbling alleging the project for neither employing the locals nor using local products.
Chinese contractor Sino Hydro is constructing structures including the main entrance tunnel, and cable tunnel.
However, after repeated disputes over the project, the construction company informed the Chinese and Korean embassies and the Ministry of Home Affairs, a company official said.
“The project was funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and had an ‘independent prior informed consent’, but this has led to repeated disruptions to the project,” the official said.
The official also said that there was a problem in moving ahead with the project as no one seemed prepared to move forward as per the agreement reached in the past due to the escalating disputes among the political parties.
Nine international financial institutions have agreed to invest US$ 453.2 million in the project, which is estimated to cost US$ 647.3 million (including construction period interest).
The project will generate 1.53 billion units of power annually. Out of the total annual power generated from the project, 38.75 percent will be produced in winter and 61.25 percent year-round.
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