By Our Correspondent Kanchanpur, Jan. 3:

Construction works of the Chameliya Hydropower project have been disrupted virtually because of the protests staged by the workers of the project.

With a 34-point demand, the workers have been staging protests since last week. Some of their demands include professional security, minimum wages, life insurance, health facilities, and provision of identity cards and fixation of duty routines. Recently, the talks between representatives of the contractor company and workers were failed. The talks were held at the mediation of the District Administration Office. The Chief District Officer of Darchula, chief of district police office and representatives of the company and workers took part in the talks. The workers have blamed the Chinese construction contractor company—Gejuwa Water and Power Company—for not providing facilities and services as mentioned in the contract documents.

According to a worker, the company had agreed to provide Rs. 300 as daily wages for each of the workers for their 8-hour duty. But the company has been providing only Rs. 250 to workers daily. The power project has been under construction on the banks of the Chameliya river at Bitule and Balach, bordering areas of Baitadi and Darchula districts. The 30-MW project is scheduled to be completed within four years.

Source: The Rising Nepal, 4 jan 2009