Locals and workers at Bheri-Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project have padlocked the project office putting forth various demands on Tuesday.

Issuing a press statement yesterday, the irate locals and workers said that the commitments given by the project regarding the development of the affected areas were unfulfilled and the workers were receiving unequal treatment from project officials.

“Even though one-fourth works of the project have been completed the development works in the projected area have not moved forward,” read the statement signed by consumer concerns committee Chairman Nabin Saru and Workers Union Chairman Prem Mahatara, “The people of Banke and Bardiya will get maximum benefit from the water diverted from Bheri River but the local people here will have to face only dust and smoke.”

The press statement further read that Nepali workers were relieved from their works citing various reasons and the workers were not being paid in full.

The Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project, classified the Government of Nepal as "Project of National Pride", and aiming to transfer 40 m3/s water from Bheri-River to Babai River under a head of about 150m to provide round the year irrigation to 51,000 Ha cultivation land in Bardiya and Banke districts, is under construction at Surkhet at the moment.