Mugu, May 5: Locals in Nakchenangla pass in Mugu, bordering Tibet, have demanded the government to make efforts to open the border which could make their lives easier.
The Chinese government reopened its border in Hilsa Pass on Monday, after being closed for 4 years due to the Covid. As the pass reopened in Humla, trade movement between Nepal and China has resumed.
Most of the locals of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality are entirely dependent on food items brought from Tibet. For them, Tibet is much closer. They have to walk for 5 days to reach Gamgadhi, the district headquarters.
According to the locals, the major naked barley, locally known as Uwa, is grown only once a year in the 17 villages of the rural municipality. The locals are also deprived of selling herbs at a reasonable rate.
The lack of road connectivity has added to the sadness of the locals. They have to rely on mules and horses to transport the goods to the rural villages in the area in the absence of motorable road connectivity.
12 years ago, the federal government kicked off construction of the 85 kilometres long Gamgadhi-Nakchenangla road to connect the Mugu district with Tibet. However, only an 18-kilometre track from Gamgadhi to Chhail Bazar has been constructed so far. That too, was damaged by the heavy rain in September last year, therefore, the villagers have to travel to the headquarters on foot.
