At least 32 indigenous Magar families affected by the Tanahu Hydropower Project in western Nepal have been protesting against the Project calling for ‘land for land’ and ‘house for house’ compensation; re-survey of land left out during the ‘Detailed Measurement Survey’ of the Project, and free, prior and informed consent in the Project process, among other demands. In this video, Til Bahadur Thapa, chairperson of the affected families’ committee, explains why they are opposing the Project.

The 140-MW Tanahu Hydropower Project is being developed by Tanahu Hydropower Limited, which is fully owned by the Nepal Electricity Authority. The Project will construct a 140 meter high concrete dam with a reservoir about 25 kilometers long on the Seti river in Tanahu District. The SinoHydro Corporation is constructing the Project-affiliated facilities. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Investment Bank (EIB), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have provided funding to the Project.

In 2020, the affected families filed their complaints with the accountability mechanisms of the ADB and the EIB requesting an independent mediation process, which is currently underway, to resolve their grievances with the Project. For more information about the affected communities’ struggles against the Tanahu Hydropower Project, see https://cemsoj.wordpress.com/tag/tana…

Source: CEMSOJ