They said the project should move ahead by addressing the demands of the locals from Hansapur, Bijuli and Baraula areas which will be affected by the project development. They particularly demanded shares for the locals during an interaction held here on Wednesday.

Although India had agreed to develop the project during former Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal’s India visit in 2008, it later abandoned the project due to differences over components.

The Nepal government planned to irrigate land in Kapilbastu district with the project’s water, and India too sought a similar benefit. Then, the government planned to initiate the project development on its own.

However, there has not been any substantial progress on the project. The government in the annual budget has announced completing the feasibility study by this fiscal year.

“The locals should be given shares like in other hydropower projects,” said Hira Bahadur KC, a lawmaker from Pyuthan’s constituency 2. He said the locals’ welfare was overlooked during the development of Jhimruk Hydropower Project (developed by Butwal Power Company), so it should not be repeated.

Another lawmaker Dhan Bahadur Rayamajhi said the locals have expected an upgradation in their living standards after the project’s development. He said they have been lobbying with Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam, who represents Pyuthan 1, to ensure more benefits to the locals.

“We have drawn the government’s attention towards the issue and have demanded the general public be offered a 50 percent stake,” he said. “The benefits to the locals should also be clear.”

It has been 26 years since the project’s development was first proposed. The project will be developed at the juncture of Jhimruk and Madi rivers at Naumure village along the border of Pyuthan and Arghakhanchi districts.

Pitambar Saru, a local from Jaluke, said the villagers are worried about slow progress of the project despite several rounds of talks. The project’s survey was carried out in 1989. The cost of the storage-type project has been estimated at $320 million.