Upper Rawakhola Hydropower Project Resumes Operations After Compensation Agreement

The Upper Rawakhola Hydropower Project, which had been halted due to local protests overcompensation, has resumed operations following an agreement reached at an all-party meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality Chief Samir Rai, agreed to compensate affected landowners within 35 days, resolving a dispute that had led to a complete shutdown of the project.

Local residents, led by the Private and Public Property Conservation Struggle Committee, had obstructed operations by redirecting water back into the river, demanding compensation for land used during transmission line expansion and pipeline installation. Affected landowners include those whose 5,200 meters of land was utilized for transmission lines and 38 plots acquired for pipeline expansion.

To oversee the implementation of the agreement, a seven-member coordination committee has been formed under the leadership of Ratna Bahadur Rai.