DARCHULA: Local residents have protested against Makarigad Hydropower Company Limited, which has completed the construction of a 10 MW capacity project in Api Himal Rural Municipality-3, 4, and 5.

The locals have put forth various demands including that shares be given to the citizens of the area affected by the project.

Locals have formed The Makrigad Share Distribution Struggle Committee and also submitted a memorandum to the company, alleging that the local people are unable to directly benefit from the project. This move of the locals comes at a time when the hydropower company is preparing to issue shares.

The memorandum signed by Devendra Singh Rokaya, coordinator of the Struggle Committee, contains the demand that shares should be made freely available to financially weak and poor local citizens, and that at least 80 percent of the shares should be ensured for the residents of the project-affected area.

The locals have also demanded the construction of concrete walls and embankments on roads affected by the project.

Similarly, the memorandum includes the demand for necessary infrastructure development in the affected areas, the construction of drinking water schemes where water sources dry up, and the construction of new water mills to replace the old displaced traditional water mills. Previously, there were traditional water mills in Makarigad.

Likewise, the company has been requested to provide the necessary equipment for the construction of school buildings and basic health institutions in the project-affected area.

The memorandum submitted to Makarigad Hydropower also contains a warning that if the demands mentioned are not addressed within three days, the hydropower plant will be shut down.

The Struggle Committee, which submitted a memorandum to the hydropower company, has also submitted a memo to Apihimal Rural Municipality, urging necessary coordination regarding share distribution and project matters.