Former Chairman of Lamabagar VDC Aaga Sherpa, who went abroad upon completion of his tenure, said he came back home after the hydro-power project was initiated in the area.

Like Aaga, Pemba Tshering Sherpa, who also went abroad for employment opportunity during the Maoist insurgency, has returned home and started a small business. According to Pemba, Lamabagar has changed drastically after vehicles started plying on the 68 kilometre Charikot-Lamabagar road. “The road has not only provided local people an access to transport but also opened new opportunities small-scale businesses,” he said.

Bhim Bahadur Tamang of Gaurishankar VDC said they had to carry salt from Sidhupalchowk in the past but after the project was initiated, they no longer have to reach Sindhupalchowk for a pinch of salt. He said local people also have an easy access to market for their products these days. “We no longer worry to sell our vegetables, chickens and goats nowadays,” Saiman, a local resident, said.

Besides roads and business opportunities, the project has also contributed to the development of health, education and environmental sectors.

According to Ganesh Neupane, environmental project officer of the UTHP, the hydro-power project also provided skill development training to local residents so that they no longer have to go abroad for employment opportunities. Consequently, the number of people going abroad from the region has substantially decreased of late, officials at the Dolakha District Administration Office said.

Neupane said the hydro-power will be spending around Rs 400 million in ecological development projects.

Meanwhile, as people have stopped migrating to other areas, the number of children in local schools has also increased.

“The most visible change in the education sector is that teachers are regular in schools these days,” Pasang Sherpa of Gaurishankar Primary School said.

Likewise, the project has also attracted better health services for local people.

The project in which the government has invested Rs 35.29 billion has also attracted the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal Army personnel, providing a sense of security to local residents.