On the banks of the Marsyangdi river in Nepal's Lamjung district, the air is thick with tension—and not just from the whir of heavy machinery. The construction of the ambitious 50-megawatt Marsyangdi Besi Hydropower Project, a cornerstone of Nepal’s energy aspirations, has ground to a halt. Local residents, alarmed by the potential risks to their culture, environment, and way of life, have taken to the streets, demanding a total stop to the project. The standoff, which erupted into full view on November 22, 2025, is more than just a local dispute; it’s a window into the complex, sometimes fraught relationship between development, ecology, and tradition in Nepal’s rapidly changing landscape.
The Marsyangdi Besi project, first spearheaded by Divya Jyoti Hydropower Limited and now helmed by Api Power Company Limited after acquiring a majority stake, was poised to be another jewel in Lamjung’s growing hydropower crown. The plan was simple on paper: build a dam on the border between Belauti Bisauna (Ward 6) and Letefant (Ward 10) of Besisahar Municipality, with a powerhouse in Saldanda. Preparations were underway—site and labor camps were set up, and official construction was to commence on November 21. But, as project manager Umesh Nepal put it, "All works have now been halted."
What happened? According to The Kathmandu Post, locals, united under the banner of the “Save Marsyangdi River” campaign, staged protests, gathered signatures, and submitted petitions to local authorities. Their rally, which wound its way from Manange Chautara to Shera Chowk on November 20, was a clear message: the river is off-limits. Ram Bahadur Thapa, coordinator of the Marsyangdi Conservation Campaign, minced no words: "No hydropower project should be allowed on the Marsyangdi river. If another project comes tomorrow, that also cannot be built. We will not compromise even an inch. We would rather give our lives than allow a project to be built on Marsyangdi."
The protesters’ concerns are many—and deeply felt. They argue that the project threatens not just the river, but the very fabric of their lives. They cite potential damage to religion, culture, and tradition, fears of dried-up water sources, loss of natural beauty, ecological disruption, increased flood risk, and the destruction of tourism and river-based livelihoods. The use of blasting and heavy machinery, they warn, will scar the landscape and kill aquatic life.
Local political support for the protest is robust. The Nepali Congress District Working Committee, Lamjung, has publicly backed the struggle committee. Besisahar Mayor Guman Singh Aryal, caught between the demands of his constituents and the authority of the federal government, said, "I have clearly told the project developers that they cannot move ahead without resolving the issues and consulting the locals. I have also told the protesting locals that once the federal government gives permission, we cannot stop it by ourselves. But we stand with our people." Chief District Officer Tokraj Pandey confirmed that residents have submitted a memorandum requesting the project’s suspension and said, "The project developers have not officially contacted us. We are reviewing the legal procedures."
From the developers’ side, there’s both a plea for dialogue and an insistence on the project’s necessity. Project manager Umesh Nepal stressed, "We want to resolve the issue through dialogue," urging locals not to obstruct development. Sanjiv Neupane, executive director of Divya Jyoti Hydropower Company Limited, acknowledged, "Some of the concerns raised by locals are valid. We are committed to minimising environmental impacts and ensuring the project benefits locals." He added, "We have followed all legal procedures. The country needs energy. Tourism and hydropower are what will make the country prosperous. We want to build the project while protecting the river, environment, and people’s lives." The project, with a budget of Rs10 billion (30 percent equity, 70 percent bank loans), was expected to feed power into Nepal Electricity Authority’s Udipur substation within two-and-a-half years.
But this isn’t just about one river or one dam. Lamjung is a hydropower hub, with 17 projects currently producing electricity and 11 more under construction—including the Marsyangdi Bensi 50MW, Super Nyadi Hydro 40.27MW, Upper Khudi 21.21MW, Nyadi Fhidi 21MW, Midimkhola-1 13.42MW, and Lower Nyadi 12.6MW. It’s estimated that Lamjung alone could produce 2,500 megawatts of electricity. For a country hungry for energy and economic growth, the stakes are high.
Yet as Nepal chases hydropower dreams, another, quieter threat looms in its high mountains. According to a warning issued on November 21, 2025, by Sharad Prasad Joshi, an expert with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), 42 glacial lakes in Nepal are at critical risk of bursting. Speaking at a discussion in Khandbari, the headquarters of Sankhuwasabha district, Joshi revealed that all 42 high-risk lakes are in Koshi province, out of a total of 2,069 glacial lakes across the country. The most vulnerable, Tallopokhari glacial lake in the lower Barun area, is a massive body of water—about three kilometers long and 206 meters deep, with surrounding depths between 15 and 25 meters.
What’s at stake if one of these lakes bursts? Joshi didn’t mince words: "A potential glacial lake outburst flood could result in massive loss of life and severe damage to infrastructure," especially in the Arun Valley. The risk isn’t confined to Nepal’s borders, either; 13 glacial lakes originating in Tibet could threaten the province’s northern areas. ICIMOD, working with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and UNDP Nepal, is developing risk-reduction measures for the four highest-risk lakes in Sankhuwasabha, including those in Bhotkhola and Makalu. A large pond in the lower Barun area is also included in the mitigation initiative.
Disaster preparedness is, of course, about more than just engineering. As ICIMOD expert Neera Shrestha Pradhan pointed out, "Women, children, and the elderly are often the most affected during disasters." The organization is rolling out programs to raise awareness and strengthen the capacity of these vulnerable groups, ensuring that communities are not just protected, but also empowered.
So, as Nepal stands at the crossroads of progress and preservation, the debates playing out in Lamjung and Koshi province are emblematic of broader dilemmas facing mountain societies. How does a country balance the urgent need for renewable energy with the imperative to protect its rivers, cultures, and communities? And how does it prepare for the unpredictable fury of nature, from glacial lake outbursts to shifting river courses? For now, the answers remain elusive, but the voices of Nepal’s people—raised in protest, in warning, and in hope—are impossible to ignore.
