Kathmandu. Investors have started to be troubled after they started obstructing the construction of hydropower projects in the name of Jenji and locals, demanding free shares and separate royalties.

Although the power projects have been issuing 10 percent shares to the locals as per the law of the Government of Nepal and paying royalty as per the government’s determination, the investors of the energy sector have been surprised by the demand for free shares and millions of rupees in the name of Genji and the locals.

Along with free shares, they have also started demanding millions of rupees to the locals for the use of rivers and government land.

Ganesh Karki, president of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), said that the private sector is more worried as the private sector has been demanding free shares and money that is not mentioned in the law and the investors are demanding free shares and money that can be given to the investors.

“We have been distributing shares as per the government’s stipulation and the project has been paying royalty as per the government,” he said, adding, “Lately, various groups have started demanding free shares and money against the law. ’

According to him, the local governments of Solukhumbu and Dolakha have started demanding money by setting separate royalties in recent period. “We have written letters to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Energy Minister, Federal Affairs Minister and other government bodies to take initiatives to stop the illegal activities and for peace and security,” he said. “But the government has not taken it seriously and has ignored it. ’

IPPAN had met Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal and requested him to resolve the problem. Home Minister Aryal immediately telephoned the Chief District Officer and made meaningful efforts to resolve the problem. Stating that the government was ready to stop such activities that discourage the private sector, he urged the public to inform about such problems. Even after that, IPPAN has been writing letters to the Prime Minister, Energy Minister and Home Minister demanding resumption of the construction of the project.

Chairman Karki said that the construction of projects has increased further after the formation of the new government and the government should be serious about this. “It is the responsibility of the government to encourage the private sector, which has more than 80 per cent share in electricity generation. ’

The Bhotekoshi Genji Public Limited and Bhotekoshi Power Company Pvt. Ltd. had agreed on September 10 to give 10 percent share to the company representing the locals of Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project for 32 days with the demand of 10 percent free share in the name of the Jenji Group of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality. After resolving the problem of Bhotekoshi, 36 Balefi have asked for 10 percent share, 22 MW moonlight, 1. 5 MW service, 1. 5 MW Rising, 1. The problems of 5 MW Gaonghar, 7 MW Yambuling, 40 MW Balefi, 36 MW Upper Balefi, 41 MW Nesham Khola and 46 MW Sita Hydro were expected to be resolved.

The government had drawn the attention of the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Energy Minister, the chiefs of the security bodies and the chiefs of the local levels for the security of the electricity projects.

The meeting also requested the Government of Nepal to formulate an energy security policy and to form a special team for the security of power projects. Likewise, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, local bodies and other bodies had requested the concerned bodies for the management of security personnel in order to maintain peace and security in each project.