Lahan, Dec 27,, The locals in Siraha have braced for protest against the Dhalkebar- Duhabi 400 Kv High Tension Power Transmission Line Expansion Project.
The government is expanding the high-tension power transmission line to proceed ahead with power trade with India.
The locals living in areas adjacent to or below the alignment of the high-tension electricity transmission line are worried that they might be displaced or might suffer from serious health issues in future owing to the structure.
They have even threatened to move court over the issue. People from various wards of Lahan Municipality, Dhangadhimai Municipality and Golbazaar Municipality have protested against the power transmission line extension project.
Works on installing poles and cables are going ahead vigorously for the extension of the power transmission line.
The locals from different wards of these municipalities today through a news conference expressed their disagreement to the power transmission line project in their area. They have demanded that the authorities concerned stop the works of power transmission line extension project.
“They have forcibly taken over the local lands for the construction of the power transmission line extension structures without any consultation with the land-owners,” complained Sarita Giri, a lawmaker and a local.
According to her, the project has not held any discussions with the owners of the land which is said to be acquired by the project. Giri said the owners of the land said to be acquired for the project have been directly notified to claim for compensation for their land, adding that no study has been done to determine the possible health hazards that the construction of the high-tension line near human settlements would have.
Lawmaker Giri said they were worried that construction of the high-tension power transmission line adjacent to the highway might cause leukemia, difficulty in child bearing and cancer as well as a big decrease in agriculture production.
Energy Minister Barshaman Pun, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)’s director general Kulman Ghising and the World Bank officials have been informed of the problems that might be faced from the power transmission line extension, parliamentarian Giri said, adding that still the construction works have not been halted and so they were preparing to move court over the issue.
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