Hydropower Project Resumes Operation after Compensation Agreement

The Upper Rawakhola Hydropower Project, which had been shut down by locals of Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality demanding compensation, has resumed operations.

The project was restarted following an all-party meeting on Tuesday, initiated by Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality Chairperson Samir Rai, which agreed to provide compensation to affected landowners within 35 days.

The locals, led by the Private and Public Property Conservation Struggle Committee, had blocked the hydropower project, demanding compensation for their land. As part of their protest, they forcibly diverted water from the project dam back into the river, halting power production.

Earlier, they had announced a phase-wise protest against Rawa Energy Development Company Limited, Halesi Energy Company Limited, and the Lower Mid Rawakhola Hydroelectric Project—three hydropower companies operating along the Rawakhola River, which forms the border between Sungdel and Dipsung.

"This is an injustice," said Maitiraj Rai, coordinator of the Private and Public Property Conservation Struggle Committee, Kepilasgadhi. He accused the hydropower companies of deceiving the locals by failing to provide compensation for their land.

According to reports, the hydropower developers used approximately 5,200 meters of land for transmission line expansion and acquired 38 plots for pipeline construction.

To ensure the implementation of the compensation agreement, the all-party meeting formed a seven-member coordination committee, led by local resident Ratna Bahadur Rai, Rural Municipality Chair Rai confirmed. -- RSS