By Narayan Tumbapo
Phidim, Dec. 25: The Investment Board Nepal has urged the concerned offices of Panchthar, Terhathum and Taplejung districts to restrict the transaction of the land that lies in the Tamor Hydropower Project area.
The Investment Board--Nepal wrote the district administration and land revenue offices of the three districts urging them to impose a ban on the transaction of the land of all types in the project site.
In a letter bearing the signature of Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board Maha Prasad Adhikari, the concerned offices are asked to restrict the transaction of land in Ward Nos. 1,2,4,5 and 6 of Hilihang Rural Municipality, Ward No. 4 of Phidim Municipality and Ward Nos. 1, 3 and 5 of Kummayak Rural Municipality of Pancthar, Ward Nos. 3 and 4 of Pauwakhola Rural Municipality in Tapeljung district, and Ward No 4 of Chhathar Rural Municipality, Ward Nos. 1 and 10 Myanglung Municipality, Ward No 1 of Fedap Rural Municipality and Ward Nos. 3,4,5,6 and 7 of Athrai Rural Municipality in Terhathum district.
“If the transaction of land of these areas is not stopped, the genuine landowners may be deprived of the compensation to be provided by the project,” the Investment Board said.
The Investment Board had stated November 10, 2018 as the starting date for the development of the project and the land purchased thereafter would not be entitled for any compensation.
After receiving the letter from the Investment Board, the land revenue office Panchthar has drawn the attention of the concerned local levels, according to the chief of the revenue office Baburam Pokharel.
Likewise, chiefs of the land revenue offices of Terhathum and Taplejung, Dhurba Kumar Katwal and Sundar Rai, said they were preparing to restrict the transaction of the land in said areas after consulting with the concerned district administration offices.
A news story stating that the transaction of the land of the project site around the Tamor River had increased was published in the Gorkhapatra on November 9 this year.
Transaction of land in Kummayak Rural Municiplaity where the main dam will be located had increased.
A reservoir type powerhouse with a capacity of 756MW is being built there in the joint investment of Nepal and China.