TAPLEJUNG: Olangchungola border checkpoint of Taplejung district has remained closed for the past 16 months.
It has been closed since November 2020.
China had closed the movement at a border checkpoint, saying coronavirus might spread in neighboring countries.
Chairperson of Phaktanglung rural municipality-7, Chhetan Sherpa, said that Reu administration of Tibet, China on January 30, 2020, had informed the Nepali side not to allow any movement through the border checkpoint for some time.
The border checkpoint was closed after Reu administration requested to stop the movement soon after the Chinese workers arrived here for road construction, returned home.
Locals of Yanga, Thudam, Olangchungola, and Tokpegala depend on the Chinese market for daily essentials during the rainy season. The locals could not reach Phungling due to floods and landslides in the rainy season.
Eight percent of locals of Olangchungola, Yanga and Ghunsa areas of Phaktanglung rural municipality-7 depend on the Chinese market, said Sherpa.
He added, “Supply of daily essentials as well as other goods has been stopped due to closure of border checkpoint since long.” Olangchungola lies 3,200 meters above sea level.
The main profession of these areas is business and animal husbandry.
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