Four Nuwakot local levels reject meeting called for land compensation under MCA project

Trishuli, April 11 : Four local levels of Nuwakot district have boycotted the meeting related to land compensation for installation of power transmission line going to be constructed under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project.

Only Likhu rural municipality participated in the meeting called by Chief District Officer of Nuwakot, Kiran Thapa, on Monday at the request of Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Nepal Development Committee under MCC. People’s representatives of the local levels which would be mostly affected due to construction of the transmission line rejected the meeting called to forward the compensation process of the land required in Nuwakot. The transmission line would be extended from Belkotgadhi municipality-7 via Lapsiphedi of Kathmandu and further extended to Butwal via Hetauda and Tanahu. Belkotgadhi municipality, and Shivapuri, Panchakanya and Tarkeshwor rural municipalities would be mostly affected from the construction of the transmission line. Mayor of Belkotgadhi municipality, Jagat Bahadur Gurung, said although they received a letter asking for their participation in the meeting, they did not participate as it was now not necessary to participate in the land acquisition discussion for transmission line. He explained that they rejected the meeting after the MCA-Nepal did not pay attention on the demands put forth by the local levels. The locals have been putting forth demands including the demand that the road construction programme of the project should be in Nuwakot.

Eighteen wards of five local levels of Nuwakot district would be affected in course of expanding around 53-kilometres electric cables in Nuwakot in course of transmission line construction, said Executive Director of MCA-Nepal, Khadga Bahadur Bista. It would be necessary to construct 147 pylons in Nuwakot, he added.