River Tourism Professionals demonstrate to save rafting in Trishuli River (Photo Feature)

Kuringhat: River Tourism Professionals have demonstrated against the proposed Super Trishuli Hydropower project to be built in the Trishuli River.

Businesspersons and Stakeholders related to the river tourism business organized a demonstration in Trishuli on Saturday. They said that their business was in threat, which began in the 1960s, due to Blue Energy Nepal’s proposed 100-megawatt hydropower project.

Nepal Association of Rafting Agency (NARA), Himalayan River Guide Association(HRGA), Environment Experts, Environment Jurists, Organizations concerned with water travel tourism and local stakeholders were present in the demonstration. Coordinator and Tourism Professional Megh Ale organized the ‘Save Trishuli Campaign’

According to Ale, Trishuli is the mother to tourism professionals and entrepreneurs, which is also the first choice for rafting lovers from across the world. He expressed that the hydropower project might affect the rafting business due to the hydropower project.

Tourism Businesspersons said that Trishuli was chosen for hydropower despite having alternative possibilities. Trishuli is one of the most preferred rivers for rafting among the 16 rivers allocated by the government in Nepal. They said that the construction of the hydropower project would leave about 1000 people jobless and sink the investment of businesspersons.

NARA Chairperson Shiv Adhikari said that the investment of water tourism businesspersons was in a state of downfall because of the proposed hydropower construction at Gandaki Rural Municipality 1 Buttar in Gorkha and Ichchakamana Rural Municpality-3 Chumkhola in Chitwan.

Adhikari said that Trishuli River was taken as the University of Adventure Water Tourism and the trained one can take work anywhere in the world after completing his/her training in Trishuli.

Similarly, the Tourism Buinessperson said that the proposed project would affect the tourism industries including the Rafting centric companies, hotels, resorts, etc. They felt the probability of the globe receiving a negative message regarding rafting.

The Water Tourism Professionals Campaigners demanded the Devghat River section as a heritage site to conserve it. Devghat is located at the confluence of the Trishuli and Kaligandaki rivers. The river has a huge religious, cultural, and historical significance.

(Glimpses from the demonstration)

(Photo Courtesy: Saroj Basnet)