Kathmandu, July 18: The government has proceeded towards the implementation of the long-debated Budhigandaki Hydropower Project. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is scheduled to inaugurate the Project’s ‘field office’ on Wednesday.
The inaugural ceremony will be held at Siurenitar in Gorkha, where the Project’s environment assessment, compensation distribution, and rehabilitation unit is located, Project Chief Jagat Shrestha said. The government has already established the Budhigandaki Hydroelectricity Company with an uthorised capital of Rs 60 billion to undertake the 1200-MW Project of national pride.
The government has already distributed compensation amounting to Rs 34.3 billion for land acquisition related to the Project. The distribution process is in its final phase of completion. Around 50,000 people in Dhading and Gorkha districts will be affected by the project.
The detailed project report for the Budhigandaki was prepared by France-based Tractebel Engineering in 2014. The proposed dam will be of 263 meters high.
