KATHMANDU, May 11: The Sinohydro-Sagarmatha Power Company, the developer of the Upper Marsyangdi-A Hydropower Project, has expressed its serious concerns to the demands put forth by Jalgini-Arkhalebesi Road Upgradation Struggle Committee in the project site in Lamjung district.
Issuing a press statement, the company has appealed to the struggle committee for talks to settle the issues. The struggle committee has demanded that the local people be given 10 percent of the project shares along with the upgradation of the road section with blacktop from Jalgini to Arkhalebesi.
“Regarding the issuance of 10 percent shares to local people, the Generation License for this project was obtained in 2012, prior to the issuance of relevant laws and regulations, there were no applicable laws or regulations requiring the company to issue shares to local people,” the company claimed.
The company, however, has stated that it was willing to provide some funds to support the road upgrading drive against the struggle committee’s demand to fully invest in the road expansion task.
So far, the company implemented 200 plus social responsibility projects, mostly in schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, temples, community buildings, water supply and irrigation.
Source: Republica
