After Ghising’s removal around three months ago, the locals had shut down Chilime’s site office and halted the construction of its subsidiary projects — Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Company, Madhya Bhote Koshi Jalavidyut Company and Sanjen Jalavidyut Company.

During the 18th annual general meeting (AGM) of Chilime, the shareholders said attempts were being made to destroy Chilime’s successful operation modality.

They said the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the developer of the Chilime, under the direction of Energy Minister Radha Gyawali, curtailed the authority of the Chilime MD who also headed the boards of the subsidiary companies.

The NEA appointed its senior officials Sher Singh Bhat, Hitendra Dev Shakya and Lila Nath Bhattarai on the boards of Sanjen, Madhya Bhotekoshi and Rasuwagadhi projects, respectively.

“Those leading the NEA to its current pathetic condition and those responsible for increasing the cost of Chameliya to Rs 540 million per MW have now come to operate Chilime,” a shareholder Prem Tamang said.

“Now, the cost of Sanjen and Rasuwagadhi has also increased.”

Stating the locals hold more shares in Chilime’s subsidiary projects than those from NEA, Tamang demanded the chiefs have to be appointed from among the locals.

The shareholders called for unity to save the Chilime model, accusing the Energy Minister and NEA officials of being influenced by “mafia”.

Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, chairperson of the energy committee at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the expenditure at Chilime’s subsidiary companies has remained poor.

“That’s why it is difficult to complete these projects in time,” he said.