Protesters force visiting NEA staffers to beat a retreat

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    upper trishuli-1NUWAKOT: Irate locals forced a team of Nepal Electricity Authority staffers, that was on its way to take stock of the situation at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydro Project site, to return.

    The NEA staffers had left for the project site after compelling the NEA board, through their agitation, to roll back its decision to upgrade Upper Trishuli 3A from 60 to 90 MW.

    Citing this development, local residents, under the banner of Trishuli 3A Concern Committee, chanted slogans and demonstrated with black flags stopping the vehicles of the touring team on the way to the project site.

    The locals have accused NEA employee unions of pushing the future of the project into uncertainty by effecting the recent annulment of the project’s upgradation.

    NEA Employee Union Chairperson Ram Prasad Rimal, Vice-chairperson Kamala Shrestha, NEA Employee Association Senior Vice-chairperson Indra Neupane, Secretary Gaurikant Adhikari, NEA Employee Welfare Council Chairperson Amrit Khapung and General Secretary Surendra Pande and others in the team were supposed to meet the contractor and pile pressure to complete the project on time.

    However, after locals protested and issued warning, the team had to return from half way to the project site.

    The NEA board had decided to upgrade the 60 MW Upper Trishuli Hydro-power Project to 90 MW on May 31 citing its attendant benefits to the state electricity monopoly, but the decision was taken back in the wake of mounting pressure and protest from NEA staffers.

    Source : The Himalayan Times