Bhotkhola: The District Coordination Committee has voiced strong objections to the recent permission granted for power production from the Barun River, a waterway of deep religious and historic significance. This river flows through the Bhotkhola rural municipality in the Sankhuwasabha district.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Committee Chief Suman Shakya expressed that the attention of relevant bodies has been drawn to halt the process of electricity production. The proposed 132-megawatt hydropower project, slated for construction in Bhotkhola-4, is viewed as a threat to the river’s existence and its cultural importance.
Efforts to stop the hydropower activities have involved engaging the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Department of Electricity Development, the Ministry of Forest and Environment, and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Shakya highlighted that the Barun River runs through the Makalu Barun National Park, a reserve and conservation area, making the hydropower project particularly contentious.
In its 13th meeting, the Bhotkhola rural municipality resolved to prevent power production from the Barun River, citing regulations that prohibit the construction of various structures within national parks and reserves. Despite this decision, the Energy Ministry had granted permission on November 8, 2024, to a company to proceed with power production from the river.
The local community has been adamant in their protests, firmly stating that they will not permit any power production from the Barun River. The river holds cultural significance as the site of the annual religious and ethnic Makar fair, organized on Magh 1 each year.