Villagers and people affected by the 444 MW Vishnugad Peepalkoti hydroelectric project recently approached officials of the World Bank yet again to complain about incomplete rehabilitation work in this project being funded by the Bank. The locals pointed out that tunneling work and overall development of this project is exerting detrimental impacts on the ecology while officials maintain that the issues have been resolved.
According to Vimal Bhai of Matu Jansangathan, residents of various villages affected by this project have been accosting the World Bank officials whenever they visit the area. He said, “They remained mostly silent and deflected questions raised by villagers regarding resolution of problems related to rehabilitation, ecological damage and environmental concerns. During their recent visit on March 2, the bank officials faced strong opposition from the villagers complaining about flaws in the developmental project and the promises made by the government and bank. The discontent resulting from this project has spread across many villages in this area including Palla, Jakhola, Huon, Pokhni, Tirosi, lanjhi, Harsari, Urgam, Matth, Jaretha, Bajni, Gangot and Durgapur village.
The tunneling has been questioned by various environmentalists who state that the tunneling work has made the mountains more vulnerable to landslides and ecological devastation of water, forest and land in the area. Though officials have repeatedly claimed that the mountainous area above the tunnel will not experience destruction, the THDC itself has not set up an office here which shows that the villagers have been left in vulnerable area while officials have remained safe away from the affected area,” he said.