Darchula. Locals of Apihimal Rural Municipality-3, 4 and 5 have been protesting against the construction of 10 MW Makrigad Hydropower Company Limited. Locals have been agitating demanding that the shares should be given to the people of the project-affected area.

The Hydropower Company has submitted a memorandum to the company by forming the Makrigad Share Distribution Struggle Committee, alleging that the locals could not take direct benefit at a time when the hydropower company was preparing to issue shares.

The memorandum signed by coordinator of the struggle committee, Devendra Singh Rokaya, has demanded that the government should provide free shares to the economically weak and poor locals and ensure at least 80 percent share to the people of project-affected areas.

The memorandum has demanded the construction of concrete walls and embankments on the roads affected by the project. The demands include development of necessary infrastructures in the affected areas, construction of drinking water projects in the areas where water sources dry up and construction of new water mills in place of the displaced old mills. Earlier, there were traditional mills in Makrigad.

Likewise, the company has been asked to construct school buildings and provide necessary equipment to basic health institutions in the project-affected areas. The memorandum submitted to Makrigad Hydropower has threatened to shut down the hydropower if the demands are not addressed within three days.

The struggle committee has also submitted a memorandum to Apihimal Rural Municipality urging it to distribute shares and make necessary coordination regarding the project. Submitting a memorandum to the rural municipality chair Bhakta Singh Thekare Bohara, the committee urged the government to play an effective role in ensuring the services and facilities provided to the locals.