Kathmandu, October 8
The Nepali Congress has demanded that the government develop the 1,200 MW Budhi Gandaki hydel using domestic resources and drive to fell trees in Nijgadh be stopped immediately.
During a meeting of the top leaders of the party, the Nepali Congress has objected to the government’s decision to award the contract to develop the project to China’s Gezhouba Group without any competition. In the case of Nijgadh, where the second international airport is going to be built, the party said that the government should fell trees only after the details of the project are finalised.
“The government decision to award the Budhi Gandaki project to Gezhouba comes at a time when billions of rupees have already been collected from the people to develop the proejct. The Nepali Congress objects to the government’s surprising and condemnable move,” the party said.
The party held that the government decision has pushed the project’s fate towards uncertainty.
NC has said that the government should not start felling trees in Nijgadh immediately. It has also said that it should not fell more trees that required during the process.
The also suggested the Far-west Province government to reconsider its decision to shift its capital to Godavri. The decision is not sound if one looks at it through the environmental and infrastructure perspective, the party said.
