निर्माणाधीन तनहुँ जलविद्युत् परियोजना प्रभावित आदिवासी समुदायबाट एसियाली विकास बैंक र युरोपियन इन्भेष्टमेन्ट बैंकमा उजुरी
परियोजनाले समुदायको स्वतन्त्र पूर्व सूसुचित सहमती कायम गर्न र जग्गा र जीविकामा हुने हानिको लागि पर्याप्त मुवाब्जा तथा क्षतिपूर्ति दिन असफल भएको गुनासो
तत्काल प्रकाशनको लागि
८ फाल्गुन २०७६
तनहुँ, नेपाल – नेपालमा निर्माणाधीन तनहुँ जलविद्युत् परियोजनाबाट प्रभावित आदिवासी समुदायहरूले परियोजनासँगको समस्या समाधान गर्न स्वतन्त्र मध्यस्थताको लागि अनुरोध गर्दै परियोजनाका दुई लगानीकर्ता एसियाली विकास बैंक र यूरोपियन लगानी बैंकका उजुरी संयत्रहरुमा उजुरी गरेका छन्। “प्रत्यक्ष डुबान पिडित सामूहिक पुर्नअधिकार संरक्षण समिति”मा आबद्ध कम्तिमा ३२ प्रभावित परिवार वा जग्गाधनीहरूले जग्गाको सट्टा जग्गा र घरको सट्टा घर नै मुवाब्जा हुनुपर्ने, परियोजनाको विस्तृत सर्वेको क्रममा छुट्टिएका जग्गाको पुन: सर्वेक्षण गरिनुपर्ने र परियोजनाको प्रक्रियामा स्वतन्त्र पूर्व सूसुचित सहमती कार्यान्वयन गर्नुपर्ने सहितका १० बुँदे माग राखी गत मंगलबार (२८ माघ) मा उजुरी बुझाएका हुन्। more “निर्माणाधीन तनहुँ जलविद्युत् परियोजना प्रभावित आदिवासी समुदायबाट एसियाली विकास बैंक र युरोपियन इन्भेष्टमेन्ट बैंकमा उजुरी”…
Indigenous communities affected by the Tanahu Hydropower Project in Nepal file complaints with the Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank
Communities allege failure to uphold free, prior and informed consent and inadequate compensation for loss of lands and livelihoods
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2020
TANAHU, NEPAL — Indigenous communities affected by the Tanahu Hydropower Project in Nepal have filed complaints with independent watchdogs of the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank — two co-financiers of the project — requesting an independent mediation process. At least 32 affected families or landowners organized under the “Directly Inundation Affected Peoples Collective Rights Protection Committee” calling for ‘land for land’ and ‘house for house’ compensation; re-survey of land left out during the ‘Detailed Measurement Survey’ of the project, and free, prior and informed consent in the project process, among their ten demands, submitted the complaints on Tuesday, 11 February.more “Indigenous communities affected by the Tanahu Hydropower Project in Nepal file complaints with the Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank”…
Kathmandu: “We don’t need Outer Ring Road in Bunga and Khona. Protect agricultural lands, Stop importing food grains. Protect cultural heritage.” – such were the slogans of Khokana and Bungamati locals, who gheraoed Maitighar Mandala on Tuesday adorned in traditional costumes with a rally. The locals protested that the government was building the Fast Track by displacing the indigenous communities of Khokana and Bungamati.
Agricultural lands of Khokana and Bungamati have been under encroachment of the government to transform the Kathmandu valley into an ultra-modern city. One of the locals, Nepalman Dangol says that eight mega national projects such as Kathmandu-Terai Expressway (Fast Track) and Smart City are going to be constructed by destroying heritage settlements of Khokana and Bungamati. “Fast Track will eliminate not only the agricultural land of the areas but also the cultural heritage, Jatras (traditional fairs) and festivals. more “The Struggle to Save Khokana and Bungmati”…
काठमाडौं : ‘बोङा खोनामा वाह्य चक्रपथ चाहिँदैन। कृषि भूमि संरक्षण गर, खाद्यान्न आयात बन्द गर। सांस्कृतिक सम्पदा संरक्षण गर,’ पारम्परिक वेशभूषा र झाँकीसहित यस्तै नारा लगाउँदै मंगलबार खोकना र बुङमतीका स्थानीय माइतीघर मण्डला घेर्न पुगे। सरकारले खोकना र बुङमतीका आदिवासी जनताको उठीबास गरी फास्ट ट्र्याक बनाउन लागेको भन्दै स्थानीयले विरोध जनाए।
उपत्यकालाई अत्याधुनिक सहरमा परिणत गर्न खोकना र बुङमतीको कृषि भूमि सरकारी अतिक्रमणमा परेको हो। काठमाडौं तराई–मधेस दु्रतमार्ग (फास्ट ट्र्याक) देखि स्मार्ट सिटीजस्ता ८ ठूला राष्ट्रिय परियोजना यस्तै सम्पदा बस्ती मासेर बन्न लागेको स्थानीय नेपालमान डंगोल बताउँछन्। ‘फास्ट ट्र्याकले यी क्षेत्रको कृषि भूमि मात्र होइन सांस्कृतिक सम्पदा, जात्रापर्व नै समाप्त पार्नेछ।’
संस्कृति र परम्परा मासेर बन्न लागेको यस्तो परियोजनाबाट स्थानीय त्रसित छन्। मूर्त तथा अमूर्त सम्पदाको धनी भएकै कारण यी क्षेत्रलाई सम्पदा बस्ती घोषणा गरिएको थियो। ठूला परियोजनाले खोकना र बुङमतीको आदिम सभ्यता समाप्त पार्ने भन्दै गत मंगलबार स्थानीयले सर्वोच्च अदालतमा रिटसमेत दायर गरेका छन्। ५२ सांस्कृतिक गुठी समूहका मच्छेनारायण श्रेष्ठ लगायतले प्राचीन बस्ती बचाउन अदालत गुहारेका हु्न्। सम्बन्धित निकायमा बारम्बार निवेदन दिँदासमेत जवाफ नआएपछि न्यायको लागि अदालत पुगेको डंगोल बताउँछन्। उपत्यकाका अन्य गुठी समूहले पनि मुद्दामा ऐक्यबद्धता जनाउन थालेको उनले बताए।
वरिष्ठ अधिवक्ता तथा पूर्वमहान्यायादिवक्ता मुक्ति प्रधानले भने, ‘विकासको नाममा सम्पदा बस्तीको विनाश नगरियोस् भन्दै स्थानीयले रिट दायर गरेका छन्।’ गत बुधबार सर्वोच्चका न्यायाधीश पुरुषोत्तम भण्डारीको एकल इजालसले उक्त प्रकरणमा सरकारसँग लिखित कारण माग गर्दै बुधबार अन्तरिम आदेशमा छलफलका लागि डाकेका छन्।
सरकारले काठमाडौंको साँखु, ललितपुरको खोकना तथा बुङमती, गोरखा दरबार क्षेत्र, नुवाकोट दरबार क्षेत्र र दोलखाको भीमेश्वर मन्दिर वरिपरिको गाउँलाई सम्पदा बस्ती घोषणा गरेको थियो। मल्लकालीन सभ्यतामा ०७२ को भूकम्पले क्षति पुर्याएपछि बस्ती पुरानै शैलीमा पुनर्निर्माण गर्ने निर्णय भयो। तर सरकारको ‘सुखी नेपाली समृद्ध नेपाल’को अवधारणाभित्र प्राचीन संस्कृति र सम्पदा अट्न नसकेको स्थानीयको आरोप छ।फास्ट ट्र्याक बनाउन सेनाले पुसदेखि नै जग्गा सीमांकन गर्न थालेको छ। स्थानीयले भोगचलन गर्दै आएको जग्गामा सरकारले उचित मुआब्जा वितरण नगरेको उपत्यका सडक विस्तारपीडित संघर्ष समितिका सुमन सयामी बताउँछन्। ‘सांस्कृतिक नगरी मास्ने र यहाँ (उपत्यका) का आदिवासीलाई उठीबास लगाउने सरकारको नीति छ,’ उनले भने, ‘सरकारको यस्तो दमन हामीलाई स्वीकार्य छैन।’ सरकारको निर्णयले पुस्तौंदेखि कृषि पेसामा निर्भर स्थानीय मर्कामा परेको उनले बताए।
खोकना (खोनाः) सिकाली जात्राको लागि प्रसिद्ध छ। करिब १ हजार ३ सय ३८ वर्ष अगाडिको कोःदेशको सभ्यता बोकेको खोकना नेपालको जीवन्त इतिहास हो। तेलग्रामको रुपमा परिचित यो बस्ती प्राचीन सांस्कृतिक, वेशभूषा र परम्परामा निकै धनी छ। उपत्यकामा प्रारम्भिक मानव बस्ती यहींबाट सुरु भएको हो। सम्पदा बस्ती बुङमती (बुङः) को पनि आफ्नै मौलिक पहिचान छ। रातो मछिन्द्रनाथ (बुंगद्यः) जात्रा हुने यो स्थान राजा अंशुवर्माले विकसित गरेका थिए। खोकना र बुङमती तान्त्रिक विधिअनुसार स्वस्तिक आकारमा बनेका छन्।
सांस्कृतिक सम्पदाको विनाश
बाटो विस्तारपछि ललितपुर डुकुछापमा रहेको रातो मछिन्द्रनाथका लागि स्नान जल ल्याउने कटुवाल दह पुरिनेछ। रातो मछिन्द्रनाथ कलिगत सम्वत् ३६०० मा नेपालमा ल्याइएको थियो। मछिन्द्रनाथलाई कटुवाल दहबाट तान्त्रिक विधिले भमराको रूप दिई कलशमा राखि बुङमती प्रवेश गराइएको थियो। विश्वमै सबैभन्दा लामो रथयात्रा भनेर चिनिने मछिन्द्रनाथको रथयात्रा द्रुतमार्ग विस्तारपछि नष्ट हुनेछ। बाटोभरिका अन्य सांस्कृतिक ठाउँहरू नामेट हुने छन्।
निर्माणाधीन फास्ट ट्र्याकले बुङमतीमा रहेको कुमारी चौर (कुमारी ख्यः) पूरै अतिक्रमणमा पर्नेछ। बर्सेनि दसैंमा नवमीको रात भवानी देवीको विजय उत्सव सोही चौरमा मनाइन्छ। सो स्थानलाई जीवित देवी कुमारीको प्रांगण मानिन्छ। बुङमतीका २२ वडाका ऐतिहासिक, धार्मिक तथा सांस्कृतिक जात्रापर्वमध्ये भावी पीठको जात्रा पाहाँचह्रे अर्थात् घोडेयात्राको अघिल्लो दिन मनाइन्छ। द्रुतमार्गले जात्रा लैजाने मूलमार्ग नै समाप्त हुनेछ।
त्यहीं रहेको पर्जाखलः, बोसी खान्गी गुठी, पानेजो गुठी र भैरव गुठी विस्थापित हुने छन्। बुङमती र खोकनामा रहेका घाट तथा चिहान पुरिने छन्। खानेपानी तथा सिँचाइका मुहान, गुठीको कृषि भूमि नष्ट भई गुठी परम्परा नै समाप्त हुनेछ।
The report is prepared collectively by Indigenous Peoples’ Network for SDGs in Nepal to respond to the Voluntary National Review of Nepalese government under the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 10 – 19 July 2017. The report highlights progress of implementation of the SDGs in the country from the perspective of indigenous peoples. This includes challenges in SDGs implementation as well as recommendations from the network to the Nepalese government with regard to the realization of the SDGs. more “Report of Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples for Voluntary National Review of Nepal Under the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development”…
Tanahu Hydropower Project affected communities’ bodies organized a series of three awareness raising seminars on communities’ rights and resettlement in relation to Tanahu Hydropower Project was organized today in Bhimad municipality and Myagde and Risingh villages from 11-13 June 2017.
तनँहू जलविद्युत परियोजनाको मुआब्जा तथा क्षतिपूर्ति निर्धारण समितिको विरोधमा परियोजना प्रभावितहरूले “जग्गाको सट्टा जग्गा दे, घरको सट्टा घर दे विभेदकारी मुआब्जा तथा क्षतिपूर्ति निर्देशिका बदर गर, पुर्नवास तथा आदिवासी जनजाति निति लागू गर, ए. डि. बि सुरक्षण निति पालना गर, अर्थपूर्ण परामर्श गर” लगायतको नारा उल्लेखित प्ले कार्ड सहित ३००-३५० जना प्रभावितहरूको बृहत् ¥याली मादी पुलबाट परियोजनाको कार्यालय हुदैँ जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यलय दमौली अगाडि कोण सभामा परिणत भएको थियो ।
22 February, Tanahu
Tanahu Hydropower Project affected communities today staged a protest rally and assembly against the decision of compensation for the land acquisition and other impacts of the Project made by a governmental committee. The communities demanded land-for-land and house-for-house compensation, annulment of the discriminatory compensation directives in relation to the Project, respect for the Asian Development Bank safeguards and conduct of meaningful consultations for the implementation of the Project. Around 300-350 attended the rally that started from Madi Bridge and passed through the Project office before turning into a corner assembly in front of Tanahu District Administration office.
Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Investment Bank (EIB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are jointly financing the Project with Nepal Government, which Tanahu Hydropower Limited under Nepal Electricity Authority is implementing.
The reports in local newspapers published on 10 February 2017 that Tanahu Hydropower Project have taken forward the process of distribution of compensation to the residents of reservoir area have drawn serious attention of the concerned people of the inundation area. The compensation has been determined in a one-sided and arbitrary manner without informing and obtaining consent of the affected people or their participation despite the preliminary discussions on the issue. The bodies of affected people – Tanahu Hydropower Directly Affected Area Concerned Committee & Directly Concerned Inundation Area Conservation Committee – jointly condemn the decision in strongest terms and express our disagreement on it.
We would like to draw the attention of the concerned agencies that the affected people do not agree with the compensation determined in any way and call on to consider the following points when determining compensation:
We have the natural right to determine the value of our lands ourselves. However, the compensation determined without our consent is undemocratic, so the compensation should be determined with our consent.
The compensation should be determined on the basis of not only the traditional thinking but also the scientific analysis of the use of the lands
Discrimination in compensation fixation
Among the affected areas under the Tanahu Hydropower Project, the residents of Jhaputar were provided compensation at the rate of minimum NPR 100,000 to NPR 300,000 per anna (31.80 m²). However, as per the news reports, we learnt of the decision that the residents within the reservoir under the same project would be compensated at the rate of NPR 200,000 to 800,000 per ropani (508.72 m²). Such discriminatory decision should be annulled and compensation should be distributed as per the 26-point memorandum of the affected people
About rejecting the compensation
We notify that we will not accept the compensation determined currently until the 26-point demands are addressed.
We notify that we will even submit a complaint to the Asian Development Bank regarding the discriminatory decision of the Project.
We notify that we will undertake strong protests if the 26-point demands are not addressed and will publish the protest programmes in near future
Signed
President
Directly Concerned Inundation Area Conservation Committee
President
Tanahu Hydropower Directly Affected Area Concerned Committee
Click here to read the original press release in Nepali and here to download the unofficial English translation of the press release.
CEmSoJ organized a two-day “Dialogue Seminar on Ensuring Communities’ Rights in Nepal’s REDD+ Process in Nepal” in Bhaktapur on 12-13 January 2017 so as to enhance the awareness of the concerned stakeholders and share knowledge among them on the concept of REDD+ and associated practices and impacts.
More than 45 representatives of various stakeholder organizations, including Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), National Indigenous Women’s Federation (NIWF), Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN), Nepal Bar Association (NBA) and environmental lawyers’ groups as well as REDD+ Implementation Center of the Government of Nepal attended the seminar.
Participants of the seminar discussed practices and impacts of implementation of the concept of REDD+ in global context and the current situation of REDD+ implementation in Nepal in the context of the writ petition CEmSoJ had filed in Nepal’s Supreme Court last year for strong safeguards for the rights of indigenous peoples and forest-dependent communities as per international legal standards for designing and implementing REDD+ in Nepal.
The participants identified the need to undertake greater awareness raising on REDD+ particularly at the community levels, stronger advocacy and litigation for legal reforms to make Nepal’s relevant laws at par international human rights standards including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and put greater attention to specific impacts on indigenous women due to climate change and proposed solutions therefor, among others at the conclusion of the seminar.
Climate Change Adaptation Expert Shree Kumar Maharjan, CEmSoJ Chairperson Prabindra Shakya, National Coordinator of NEFIN Climate Change and REDD Partnership Programme Tunga Bhadra Rai, Under Secretary of REDD+ Implementation Center Dr. Mohan Prasad Poudel and Advocate Dil Raj Khanal of FECOFUN delivered paper or presentations on REDD+ Practices and Impacts, Writ Petition filed in Nepal, Climate Change and Rights of Indigenous Peoples, REDD+ Implementation in Nepal and Framework for Carbon Trade in Nepal during the seminar. Kathmandu University School of Law Prof. Prakash KC and Senior Advocate Dr. Chandra Kant Gyawali facilitated and reported on the sessions of the seminar.