KATHMANDU: Founder of the Shram Sanskriti Party and newly elected lawmaker Harka Sampang is raising funds to replace a ropeway over the Mahakali River in Darachula with a suspension bridge.
Shortly after his victory from Sunsari-1, Sampang appealed on social media for contributions starting from Rs 10, sharing a contact number to support the project in line with his announcement to replace the ropeway.
Following his call, supporters from both Nepal and abroad have begun contributing. However, local officials say the actual situation in Darachula is more complex.
Currently, only one ropeway is operational in Byas Rural Municipality-2, Dumli, Darachula. About 70 meters long, the ropeway connects Dumli and Rapla in Nepal with Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, India, crossing the Mahakali River at the Nepal–India border.
Nine suspension bridges have already been constructed over the Mahakali River linking Darachula with India, serving as alternatives to ropeways. However, the ropeway connecting Dumli and Pithoragarh has not yet been replaced by a bridge.
Ganesh Singh Thagunna, elected to the House of Representatives from Darachula in the March 5 polls, said the ropeway could not be removed because the Indian government’s approval has not been obtained.
According to Thagunna, the Nepal government has already approved the budget for the bridge, which is recorded in the official budget document, known as the ‘Red Book.’ However, construction has not advanced due to the lack of Indian consent.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly sought permission from India, but approval has not been granted. The border’s sensitive geography is another factor in the delay, he noted.
Thagunna said the area near Dumli is close to Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura, making it sensitive with respect to Nepal–India–China borders. He suggested that launching a fundraising campaign without proper study and diplomatic initiative is inappropriate, and recommended support for long-term development projects like the Darachula–Tinker road instead.
Locals welcomed the initiative for bridge construction, but Thagunna highlighted that both Nepal and India’s consent is necessary to remove the ropeway and build a bridge at the site.
Comment