Bejhad, Oct 20 : A festival is being organised with the objective of saving the significance of Kaligandaki river to thereby stop its diversion. The festival is being organized in order to exert pressure on the sides concerned, in protest against the plan to divert the Kaligandaki river water to Tinau.  

  
The Rambha rural municipality of Palpa is organising the festival on the occasion of Haribodhini Ekadashi festival to fall on November 8. The festival is being organised for the protection of Kaligandaki, highlighting the religious significance of Salikgram and protecting religion and culture, said the rural municipality Chair Bishnu Prasad Bhandari. A national bhajan competition will also be organised on the occasion.    

The municipality has allocated Rs. 200,000 for the festival to be held in Uttarbahini area of ward no. 1 of. The plan is to divert the Kaligandaki from Ramdi on the border of Palpa and Syangja districts.   

 
It may be noted that the federal government is presently working on a Detail Project Report to run the Kaligandai-Tinau Multi-purpose Diversion Project. However, the local governments are protesting against it. A struggle committee has also been formed representing the three districts to be affected by the project inclujding Palpa, Syangja and Tanahu.