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INDHUPALCHOK, DEC 14 – More than a dozen of vandals representing an alliance of four political parties, including the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, on Saturday stormed the project site of Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower in Sindhupalchowk and vandalized vehicles.
The alliance, which also includes the UCPN (Maoist) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N), also vandalized a tanker transporting petroleum products to the 102MW project, and a private jeep. Tanker driver Rajaram Shrestha and his assistant have sustained minor injuries. According to the Area Police Office Barabishe, two vandals—Min Bahadur Shrestha and Dawa Tamang— were arrested. Inspector Manjil Mukarung said others involved in the act are being searched.
Eye witnesses said the vandals attacked the tanker with iron rods and stones. The alliance has been demanding they be awarded the gasoline supply contract. China’s Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau, the contractor, has awarded the contract to a local company named Serap Enterprises.
The political alliance had written to the Chinese company, asking it not to start work without its go-ahead, and to consult it before signing any sub-contract or procuring construction materials with them. The alliance has also directed the contractor to include its members in the recruitment process while hiring workers.
The alliance had earlier obstructed fuel supply twice. A total of 12,000 litres of petroleum products were sent back from Jambu on two occasions. Following the incident, the contractor informed Prime Minister Sushil Koirala through the Chinese Embassy in Nepal about the issue.
Source : eKantipur
