By Akanshya Shah

The Indian government has taken up the issue of Maoist threats again the GMR-ITD Consortium, which is developing the 300-MW Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project in Nepal, with the government and the central Maoist leadership.

The Unified CPN (Maoist) some four days back threatened the Consortium, which is currently carrying out a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Upper Karnali , to stop work immediately. Organizing a press conference in Surkhet on Sunday, Maoist politburo member Khadka Bahadur Bishwakarma said that his party will not let the Upper Karnali work continue at any cost and gave a January 30 deadline for halting all project-related work. The Maoists are opposing the project as part of their phase four protests, in support of ´national independence´.

The Indian ambassador to Nepal , Rakesh Sood, told myrepublica.com Friday that the Indian embassy has taken up the matter with top Maoist leaders. "The Maoist leaders have said that the trouble was created at the local initiative and the party would take a decision in this matter in the ongoing Standing Committee meeting."
Biswhwakarma had, however, clarified Sunday that the move was undertaken as per party policy.

Envoy Sood also said, "GMR took up the matter with the Government of Nepal and the Indian embassy as well."

The Indian side is hoping that the ongoing meeting of top Maoist leaders would come up with a positive decision to let GMR continue the work.

As per the terms of the agreement, agreed by the then coalition government that included the Maoists, the GMR consortium will provide 12 percent free power to the government of Nepal and 27 percent free equity to Nepal .