Lower Arun Hydroelectricity Project to Impact 268 Families in Sankhuwasabha

The Lower Arun Hydroelectricity Project, a significant hydroelectric development in Sankhuwasabha district of Koshi Province, will directly affect 268 families. This 669-MW project, spearheaded by the Indian hydropower company Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, will necessitate the acquisition of approximately 65 hectares of local land, as outlined in the draft report titled Lower Arun Hydroelectricity Resettlement and Rehabilitation.

In addition to the local land, the project will also impact 70 hectares of forest land and 6 hectares of public land, according to Arun Dhiman, Chief Executive Director of the Lower Arun Power Development Company. To compensate for these disruptions, the affected residents are set to receive around NPR 1.40 billion.

Following the project's operational confirmation, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam has initiated consultations with the residents of the affected area to address their concerns and needs.

Notably, the Lower Arun Hydroelectricity Project will not involve the construction of a reservoir or dam. Instead, it will utilize a tailrace development approach linked to the Arun-III hydro project. This entails that water from the Arun-III project will flow back into the river for use by the Lower Arun project. A 17.4-kilometer tunnel will be constructed at Chewabesi, Khandbari Municipality-2, to facilitate this process.

In addition to the Lower Arun project, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam is also developing the 900-MW Arun-III Project, further expanding its investment in hydroelectric power in the region.