खोकना–बुङमती बचाउन संघर्ष

February 12, 2020
खोकना–बुङमती बचाउन संघर्ष
खोकना बुङमती बचाऊ अभियानमा माइतीघर मण्डल घेर्न पुगेका स्थानीय। तस्बिर : दिपेन श्रेष्ठ

सपना महर्जन
समाज

२९ माघ २०७६ ०७:३९:००

 

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।

साभार: अन्नपुर्ण पोस्ट

Tanahu Hydropower affected communities express concerns on formation of local consultation forum and plan further advocacy actions

July 22, 2017

22 July 2017

Tanahu Hydropower Project affected communities have expressed concerns on the formation of local consultation forum as operational-level grievance mechanism for the project for lack of adequate mandate and effective representation of the communities. They have also planned further advocacy actions against the project, including litigations and complaints. more “Tanahu Hydropower affected communities express concerns on formation of local consultation forum and plan further advocacy actions” …

Report of Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples for Voluntary National Review of Nepal Under the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

July 7, 2017

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” …

Awareness raising seminars organized on communities’ rights and resettlement in relation to Tanahu Hydropower Project

June 13, 2017

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.

The seminars were organized in coordination with Community Empowerment and Social Justice Foundation (CEmSoJ) together with Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group (INWOLAG). more “Awareness raising seminars organized on communities’ rights and resettlement in relation to Tanahu Hydropower Project” …

तनँहू जलविद्युत परियोजना प्रभावितद्वारा विरोध प्रदर्शन | Tanahu Hydropower Project affected communities stage protests

February 23, 2017

बुधवार ११ फाल्गुन, तनहुँ

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 ।

received_948044341998942

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.

 

ADB co-financed Tanahu Hydropower Project affected communities reject compensation

February 11, 2017

*Please note this is an unofficial translation

To editors of all media agencies
10 February 2017

Press release

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. About rejecting the compensation
    We notify that we will not accept the compensation determined currently until the 26-point demands are addressed.
  5. We notify that we will even submit a complaint to the Asian Development Bank regarding the discriminatory decision of the Project.
  6. 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.

Dialogue Seminar on Ensuring Communities’ Rights in Nepal’s REDD+ Process organized

January 13, 2017

13 January 2017, Bhaktapur

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.

15965270_1455236567819843_8356581494854122670_nThe 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.

Tanahu Hydropower Project affected communities submit 26-point memorandum to Energy Minister

December 19, 2016

18 December 2016
Kathmandu

Affected communities of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Tanahu Hydropower Project today submitted a 26-point memorandum to Nepal’s Energy Minister Janardan Sharma informing on their concerns with the Project impacts and setting forth their demands.

In the memorandum, the Tanahu Hydropower Directly Affected Area Concerned Committee and Directly Concerned Inundation Area Conservation Committee have welcomed the Project for the sake of the country’s prosperity even though it has great impacts on their traditional lands, livelihoods and socio-economic life. They have alleged that the Project has deprived them of their right to formal information and misled the ADB by reporting up to 12 consultations when there has not been any meaningful consultation and not obtained consent though required by the ADB.

The memorandum calls on the Project, with copies furnished to relevant government authorities as well as the Project financiers –the ADB, European Investment Bank (EIB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to immediately fulfill their demands, which include provide a copy of the Resettlement and Indigenous Peoples Plan of the Project as well as ADB Safeguards Policy applicable to the Project, conduct meaningful consultations with the affected communities and include their representation in compensation fixation committee as well as to provide compensation for traditional lands of the communities to which the affected families do not hold legal title, among other demands.

After listening to the demands, Minister Sharma (not to be quoted) assured that the Project was for the people and our development, so the Nepal’s Government was always ready to help the local communities. He also said that though all the demands would not be fulfilled, their rights would also not be curtailed.

Parliamentarian of Tanahu district from Nepali Congress, the largest party in Nepal, Jhul Bahadur Ale (not to be quoted) was also present in the meeting and positive to the demands of the affected communities.

After meeting the Minister, the affected communities’ representatives went to the Project office in Kathmandu to submit their memorandum. However, since the CEO of Tanahu Hydropower Ltd was out of country, they filed their memorandum with the Deputy Manager, Chanda Ananda Raj Vaidya (not to be quoted). He informed about the works ongoing with the Project and took the demands positively and promised to respond to them shortly.

Earlier in November, the two bodies of the affected communities had submitted their memorandum to the local office of the Project.

You can read the original memorandum in Nepali here and the draft translation in English here (personal identities and pictures kept confidential).

तनहुँ जलविद्युत् परियोजनाबाट प्रभावितद्वारा ऊर्जा मन्त्री समक्ष २६ बुँदे ज्ञापन पत्र पेश

December 18, 2016

२०७३ पौष ३, काठमाडौं

एसियली विकास बैंकको (एडिबी) संयुक्त लगानीमा निर्माणाधीन तनहुँ जलविद्युत् परियोजनाबाट प्रभावित समुदायका प्रतिनिधिहरुले आज ऊर्जा मन्त्री जनार्दन शर्मालाई परियोजनाले समुदायमा पारेका प्रभावको जानकारी र प्रभावित समुदायका मागसहितको २६ बुँदे ज्ञापनपत्र बुझाएका छन् ।

तनहुँ जलविद्युत प्रत्यक्ष प्रभावित क्षेत्र सरोकार समिति र प्रत्यक्ष सरोकार डुबान क्षेत्र संरक्षण समितिले बुझाएको ज्ञापनपत्रमा तनहुँ जलविद्युत् परियोजनाले समुदायको पुख्र्यौली जग्गा जमिन, जिविकोपार्जन र सामाजिक( आर्थिक जीवनमा ठूलो असर पर्ने भएतापनि देशको समृद्धिको लागि परियोजनाको स्वागत गरेको छ । प्रभावित समुदायको औपचारिक सूचना पाउने हक वञ्चित भएको र एडिबीको सुरक्षण नीतिअनुसार अर्थपूर्ण परामर्श नगरिएपनि परियोजनाले १२ पटकसम्म परामर्श लिएको भनी बैँकलाई भ्रमित गरेको र परियोजना निर्माण गर्नु पूर्व प्रभावित समुदायको स्वीकृति लिनु पर्नेमा सो समेत नलिएको ज्ञापनपत्रमा उल्लेख गरिएको छ ।

प्रभावित समुदायले ज्ञापनपत्रमा सम्बन्धित सरकारी निकायलगायत परियोजनाका लगानीकर्ता एडिबी, युरोपेली लगानी बैंक र जापान अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सहयोग निकायलाई आफ्ना माग तुरुन्तै सम्बोधन गर्न आव्हान गरेका छन् । परियोजनाद्वारा निर्मित पुनर्वास तथा आदिवासी जनजातिसम्बन्धी योजनाको मस्यौदाको प्रतिलिपि र एडिबीको सुरक्षण नीति नेपाली भाषामा उपलब्ध गराउने, प्रभावित समुदायसँग अर्थपूर्ण परामर्श गर्नुपर्ने र मुआब्जा निर्धारण समितिमा तिनको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्नुपर्ने तथा जग्गाधनी पुर्जा नभएको तर पुस्तौ पुस्तादेखि भोगचलन गदैँ आएका जग्गाको पनि क्षतिपूर्ति दिनुपर्ने लगायतका मागहरु ज्ञापनपत्रमा राखिएका छन् ।

प्रभावितका माग सुनेपछि उर्जामन्त्री शर्माले सो परियोजना जनताको लागि र तिनको विकासको लागि भएको र त्यसैले नेपाल सरकार स्थानीय समुदायलाई सहयोग गर्न सदैव तयार रहेकोमा सुनिश्चित पार्नुभयो । सबै मागहरू पूरा नहुन सक्ने भएपनि जनताका अधिकार पनि हनन नहुने उहाँको कथन थियो ।

उर्जामन्त्रीसँगको भेटमा नेपाली काँगे्रसबाट तनहुँ जिल्लाका सभासद् झुल बहादुर आले पनि उपस्थित हुनुहुन्थ्यो । उहाँ पनि प्रभावित समुदायका मागहरू प्रति सकरात्मक हुनुहुन्थ्यो ।

उर्जामन्त्रीसँगको भेटपछि प्रभावित समुदायका प्रतिनिधिहरू ज्ञापनपत्र बुझाउन तनहुँ जलविद्युत् कम्पनीको काठमाडौँस्थित कार्यालयमा पुगेका थिए । तथापि कम्पनीका प्रमुख कार्यकारी अधिकृत देशबाहिर भएकोले तिनले उपप्रमुख चन्द« आनन्द राज वैद्यलाई आफ्नो ज्ञापनपत्र बुझाए । उपप्रमुख वैद्यले परियोजनाको कार्यप्रगति बारे जानकारी गराउँदै कम्पनी प्रभावितका मागहरूप्रति सकारात्मक भएको र चाडैँ नै सम्बोधन गरिने प्रतिबद्धता गर्नुभयो ।

प्रभावित समुदायले मंसिर ५ गते स्थानीय परियोजना कार्यलयमा सो ज्ञापनपत्र बुझाएकोमा परियोजनको तर्फबाट हालसम्म कुने प्रतिक्रिया आएको छैन भने मंसिर ८ गते तनहुँ जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालयले प्रभावितका समितिलाई बैठकमा बोलाएको भएतापनि माग सम्बोधनप्रति कुनै कार्य भएको छैन ।

ज्ञापनपत्र पढ्नको लागि यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस्।