सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. The Pathibhara Cable Car, which is being built to reach the famous religious site Pathibhara Temple in the remote Himalayan district of Taplejung in Koshi Province, has become a topic of discussion. It seems that misinformation has been spread on social media saying that the historicity and identity of the temple will be lost if the cable car is built in Pathibhara. Although the topic of building a cable car in Pathibhara was raised four decades ago, Pathibhara Devi Darshan Cable Car Pvt. Ltd. was established in 2072 BS.
This project had obtained permission for the construction of the cable car in 2075 BS as per the decision of the Nepal Government Council of Ministers. With the entry of IME Group into Pathibhara Cable Car about two years ago, the construction of this project has started to gain momentum. After obtaining all the necessary government and legal permissions from the Government of Nepal, the project was included under the National Priority Plan and the project was taken forward.
IME Group has taken a large stake in this cable car project in 2079 BS with the aim of developing tourist destinations including cable cars in all seven provinces of the country. The work of acquiring the necessary land for the cable car and providing the land in lieu of the land has been completed. The work of felling trees in the alignment area of the cable car and approving the DPR has also been completed, and the physical construction work has begun this month with the formal laying of the foundation stone of the cable car construction work.
How is the cable car being built ? ##Impact on the local economy
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## The 2.75 km long cable car will have 36 passenger gondolas and two goods gondolas from Kaflepati, Phungling Municipality 11, Taplejung district, about 700 meters west of the Pathibhara Devi Temple complex. Once the cable car is built, it will take a total of 10 minutes and 31 seconds to reach the upper station from the lower station. All the equipment and parts of the cable car will be used by the world-famous cable car company.
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## Only basic infrastructure, including water, toilets and oxygen, will be built at the upper station of the cable car for the convenience of pilgrims. Since nothing else will be built here except these basic essential structures, there will be no impact on the environment, beauty and cultural location of the temple premises and its surroundings. The construction of the cable car will be convenient for children, the elderly, the physically disabled and those who cannot walk up and down, as well as provide convenience to all pilgrims and tourists. The cable car will not cause any obstruction on the current route for those who want to walk. In addition, it is believed that the number of domestic and foreign pilgrims and tourists will increase significantly.
The estimated cost of the Pathibhara Cable Car is 3 billion rupees. After the construction of the cable car, about 300 people will be directly employed. About 80 percent of the locals will be given priority in this. In addition, like in the previous tourism infrastructure projects of the IME Group, there is talk that locals will get share and investment opportunities in the project here too.
The construction of the cable car will significantly increase the number of pilgrims and tourists and will play a major role in promoting local products (agricultural, household and handicrafts). Along with the development and expansion of economic activities, there will be a significant increase in self-employment and business expansion in many areas, including hotels, restaurants, transportation, including the Barah area of Mechi Highway and Sunsari on the Tamor Corridor. This will also increase taxes and revenue for the state.
The cable car is the safest and most environmentally friendly means of transport currently in use in the world. Since this means of electric transport does not cause any kind of pollution, it has been placed within the criteria of sustainable development. In addition, to reduce the impact on the environment, 25 trees will be planted within the cable car alignment area for every 1 tree that needs to be cut. The planted trees will be cared for and protected for 5 years and handed over to the Government of Nepal. Therefore, even when this cable car project is operated, biodiversity and the environment will not deteriorate, but will help protect it.
With the foundation stone laying of the Pathibhara cable car, some people have started activities to create obstacles in the construction work and discourage private investment. Not only that, but they have also made allegations that pollute the private sector and damage their business, personal reputation and honor. Attacking the entire private sector on the issue of the cable car project and disrespecting their contribution to the prosperity of society, economy and the country is a very sad matter.
Due to the remote geographical location, high altitude and steep uphill path, it is very difficult for pilgrims and tourists to reach the temple. Moreover, it is very difficult for those who cannot walk, the sick, the disabled, children and the elderly to reach there. Those who can afford to pay money are found to carry people and pay up to 200 rupees per kilo to reach the temple.
Pilgrims complain that in this way, one person has to pay from 10,000 to 15-20 thousand. Similarly, there is an arrangement to charter a helicopter to reach the Pathibhara temple. Therefore, the cable car is the only means of excellent transportation that will make it easier for the common citizen to visit Pathibhara Devi, bring in three to four times more pilgrims/tourists than at present, create employment and self-employment opportunities for the locals, improve the standard of living of the citizens, and protect the environment and biodiversity.
In addition, the project has also made it clear that a certain percentage of the profits earned by the cable car will be spent on health, education, local infrastructure, etc. through local bodies under corporate social responsibility.
#Disincentive to private investment and the message it gives
# IME Group became involved in the Pathibhara Cable Car Company only about two years ago. The issue of cable car construction was raised four decades ago, and work seems to have progressed after the establishment of the cable car company in 2075 BS at this holy religious site. Therefore, it is not good to nationalize the issue of building a cable car or not like it is today. After the involvement of IME Group, the issue of cable car construction has gained momentum.
We have discussed many times with local people’s representatives, political party leaders, local administration, various industrialist and business associations in the district and other stakeholders individually and in groups and have urged them to support the construction of the cable car. Many of the locals had argued that the cable car should not be built. Which seemed insignificant at first. That is why we changed our DPR as per their demands and moved forward by addressing their concerns.
However, now, it has been seen that people living outside the district or outside the country, rather than locals, have an unnatural interest in social media that the cable car should not be built in Pathibhara. Which is absolutely wrong. We are close to the feelings and needs of the project construction site and the entire Taplejung district residents. It is sad that the issue of not building a cable car outside the district and outside the country is receiving unnecessary discussion, as the locals are fully aware of the needs of the locals. It is not good to see such debates in development work. Such actions discourage private investment in the country in the future.
The issue of not allowing the work to proceed after completing all the legal and regulatory procedures by the state bodies is very sad. This has rendered the initiatives being taken by the private sector to attract investment into the country meaningless. We have felt that our campaign to attract more and more domestic and foreign tourists by developing large-scale tourism infrastructure in all seven provinces, creating countless investment opportunities, creating employment, and working together to build a prosperous Nepal has been hampered. On the one hand, the bitter reality is that locals are having to go abroad in search of employment, while on the other hand, efforts are being made to bring employment opportunities coming to their own backyards into dispute. In such a situation, I want to leave the responsibility of distinguishing what is good and what is bad to the people of the district.
I, as the Chairman of IME Group, not only the Chairman of this cable car company, but also the Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the umbrella organization of the entire private sector of the country, have been reaching various countries and urging for investment in Nepal. If this project is obstructed, its message will be negative globally. Therefore, I again urge all stakeholders not to obstruct development work under any pretext.
Finally, the cable car is only a means of cable transport. Which provides convenience to the pilgrims going to visit Pathibhara Devi. Since Pathibhara Devi is a heritage of faith for all Nepalis, the construction of a cable car here will not affect any religion, caste, or culture or the existing structures here, but will help strengthen them further.
(##The views expressed by Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at a press conference organized by Pathibhara Devi Darshan Cable Car Pvt. Ltd.##)##
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्