Gajendra, Energy

In our Lohorung village we can see a lot wood fires because we cook a lot of food and also what we call 'dibbu' – local millet beer, which we have to cook in big pots so we need more than 10 to 15 kilograms of wood each day.

 

Our electricity comes from local hydropower schemes – the Hiwa Cola and Piluacola. Many of the multi-national hydropower companies are interested in the Arun river project. It’s still ongoing and the bid was won by an Indian company. I think the Indian government’s intention is to use the rivers of Nepal for hydropower because India needs thousands and thousands of megawatts within 50 years. If the Arun 3 hydropower project happens local people won't benefit. We are indigenous people demanding our rights, because if the project comes a lot of people will come here and our local environment will be chaotic, it will be damaged. Some people in Khanbari think we are against Arun 3, but we are only demanding our rights, preserving our rituals, our traditions, our geographic territory.

 

Gajendra Lohorung

Hotel worker in Kathmandu, born in Pangma

 

© Gajendra Lohorung / ODI / PhotoVoice

 

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