On 2 February 2024, the Supreme Court issued interim order against the Office of the Prime Minister & Council of Ministers, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure & Transport and Marsyangdi rural municipality as they have initiated the road construction project in Siuring Village, Marshyangdi Rural Municipality-3 of Lamjung district, a part of the ancestral lands of Gurung Indigenous Peoples.
The project has been initiated without due process of law and without obtaining Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Gurung Indigenous Peoples. The road construction project threatens their traditional territories, sacred sites, cultural heritage, forests, and overall livelihoods. The project is seen as a significant risk to their environment and identity.
The indigenous Gurung population, comprising 94% of the 104 households in Siuring Village, has filed a writ petition in December 2023.They have demanded to repeal the decisions made by the government regarding the project and to safeguard their constitutional rights.
They have also demanded that an Environmental Assessment be conducted with meaningful participation of the affected communities to determine a suitable and alternative route for the road.
