Budhi Gandaki Hydel: Preparation on to dole out Rs 5b in compensation to affected people

Ramesh Lamsal / Kathmandu, Feb 5: The District Administration Offices, Dhading, and Gorkha are preparing to distribute compensation amounting to Rs 5.5 billion to the landowners whose land will be acquired by the government to build Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project.

Compensation distribution is in the last stage since the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project Development Committee had given authorization to the Financial Comptroller General Offices some days ago for the release of the fund towards this end.

According to the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Gorkha Jitendra Basnet, Gorkha has received Rs 2.25 billion for the compensation.

Similarly, Rs 2.50 billion has been released to District Administration Office Dhading which will be distributed to the locals in 13 various VDCs in the district, according to CDO of Dhading Umesh Kumar Dhakal.

CDO duo Basnet and Dhakal shared that the preparations were at the final phase to distribute the compensation that would range from Rs 525, 000 to Rs 835,000 per ropani.

The government is in the process of acquiring 60,000 ropani of private land in the first phase of developing 1200 megawatt reservoir-based Budhi Gandaki Hydel.

The compensation amount will be distributed to hydel-affected locals in Salang, Maidi, Khari VDCs in Dhading while people in Darbung, Gyalchowk and Bhumlichowk VDC in Gorkha will receive the amount in the first phase.

The process to appoint coordinator for the compensation distribution is in the final stage and the construction of the proposed mega project is slated to start within this current fiscal year, according to the Budhi Gandaki Hydel Project. RSS