Maoists threaten to stop dam work

Opposition Maoists in Nepal and their sister organisations have threatened to stop work on the Saptakoshi High Dam Multipurpose Project, a joint Indo-Nepal venture in eastern Nepal.

Updated on: Jun 11, 2010, 02:19:47 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Opposition Maoists in Nepal and their sister organisations have threatened to stop work on the Saptakoshi High Dam Multipurpose Project, a joint Indo-Nepal venture in eastern Nepal.

The Maoists have demanded that work related to detailed project report of the 3000 MW venture should be stopped as the project is against interests of the local community and Nepal.

“If our voice is not heard, we will stop the project at any cost,” said Muksahang Menyangbo of Samyukta Jatiya Morcha, a Maoist-affiliated organisation.

On Wednesday, 15 organisations associated to UCPN (Maoist) had issued a fresh threat to launch a protest if their warning is not heeded.

The Ministry of Energy has requested the organizations not to disrupt DPR work and assured that all concerns would be addressed before any final decision on the project is taken.

“Benefits and negative aspects of the project would be known after the DPR is finalized. Any decision on whether to continue work or not would be taken after that,” said Anup Kumar Upadhyay, spokesperson for the ministry in a statement.

Besides generating power, the 269-metre dam is expected to irrigate 1.5 million hectares of land in eastern Nepal and India, control floods in Bihar and allow navigation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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