Controversy Over Upper Karnali Hydropower Project
By KTM Metro Reporter in Kathmandu
February 13, 2010: Nepalese hydropower experts have seriously objected the government issuing licenses of hydropower plants for significantly low capacities than the potential capacities of these power projects. For example, the government has issued a license for 300 MW of the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project whereas its capacity is 4,180 MW with a reservoir and with the possibility of irrigating most of the agricultural land in far western Nepal terai. With irrigation water, farmers will be able to make three crops a year.
At the same time, the UCPN-Maoist cadres have been obstructing the construction work at the project area. The UCPN-Maoist has decided to aggressively lobbying to stop the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project believing it denies the local people rights to their natural resources according to the local media.