SC gives mandamus order not to carry out physical works in Mistrykhola hydel project

KATHMANDU, JANUARY 29: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a mandamus order to immediately halt the physical infrastructure of the under-construction Mistrykhola-2 hydel project in the Myagdi district. A division bench of justices Kumar Regmi and Mahesh Sharma Poudel issued the order yesterday stating that the construction works of the hydel project would pose an irreparable loss to Tatopani Kunda (a hot water spring).

Earlier, the court had scrapped the preliminary environmental impact assessment citing that the project would have a direct impact on the source of the hot water spring. Eighteen local people including Rum Lal Pun, Khimmaya Tilija and others had filed a petition at the SC stating that the development of the project there would result in the drying up of the hot water spring and would cause serious environmental impacts there.