A petition was submitted to the finance minister by those affected 

Employment: Some 16 households in Dangdung village that have lost land to the Mangdechhu Hydropower Project Authority (MHPA) submitted a petition to the finance minister Namgay Dorji on October 30.

While one member from each household is currently employed by the MHPA as part of an agreement drawn between the project and the affected households, the project recently informed those employed to leave their jobs within three months. The reason is that the project is downsizing its workforce.

The jobs were given depending upon the individual’s respective qualifications and capabilities.

Their petition requests the minister to discuss the issue with the project’s management and to ensure that they can continue working with the project until its duration ends.

Dangdung tshogpa, Ugyen Nima, submitted the petition on behalf of the public. He requested the minister to accept the petition when the minister said the petition could be submitted to the Trongsa dzongdag.

Lyonpo Namgay Dorji said he would look in to the matter but could not assure anything as the decision to reduce the workforce was made by the government.

Lyonpo said that the issue would be discussed during the meeting with the project authority on October 30. Media were not granted access to the meeting.

However, it was learnt that temporary employees will have to leave the project.

The tshogpa also pointed out that the project has not been able to abide by the terms of agreement they drew with the villagers during the inception of the project. He said the project has not yet provided drinking water and irrigation facilities despite its duration coming to an end soon.

Nima Wangdi | Dangdung

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