Numbers of Hydro dams, transmission lines projects are in operation without due process of law affecting lands, environment and livelihoods of Indigenous and local communities in Sankhuwasabha district.
A training was held from 5-7 July 2023 with the community leaders, local government members, leaders of the different political parties in the context of 400 kV Double Circuit Transmission Line Project of 900 MW Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project ( being developed by SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company (SAPDC) Pvt. Ltd. that starts from Sankhuwasabha district and passes through the Bhojpur, Khotang, Udayapur, Siraha, Dhapusha and Mahottari districts to the border of Nepal and then to india), 679-megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower project (located in Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur districts that is being developed by SJVN, India’s state-owned company) and 45 MW Kasuwa Khola Hydropower Project (located in Makalu Rural Municipality-2 and 3, and is being developed by Kasuwa Khola Hydropower Ltd) in particular.
The training was to make the participants aware on ILO-169, UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples including constitutional and existing legal and policy provisions that need to be complied with by the power development projects. International best practices to secure community consent for transmission lines, rights to Land Territories and Resources, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were the central focus of the training.
The affected community leaders and local government members came up with a common understanding to deal with the power development projects to hold them accountable towards human rights.
The Sankhuwasabha district has a capacity of producing over 5,000-MW hydro electricity. As per the Department of Electricity Development (DED), a total of 5125.75-MW-capacity hydroelectricity projects are under construction and study in the district. 15 promoter companies are constructing different hydropower projects.
