Farmers of Bardiya and Banke started protests after electricity production is kept in first priority and irrigation in second in the new proposal for the company model of Bheri-Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project. 

Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation decided to take the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multipurpose (Irrigation/ Hydropower) Project forward by adopting the company model as its investment modality under the ‘Nepal’s Water, People’s Investment’ scheme.

The farmers of Bardiya and Banke expressed their disapproval of the Government's decision to finalize the Bheri-Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project(BBDMP) / as the proposed Bheri-Babai Diversion Hydropower Company Limited. In the initial phase of the BBDMP, the first priority was to irrigate about 51,000 hectares of land in Bardiya and Banke districts throughout 12 months. The electricity generated from the project was given second priority. Now the government proposed a company model where the power generation is given top priority this has led the farmers to protest the decision.