Immigration Office at Korala shut down

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi (Beni), Nov. 22: The Immigration Office established at Korala, Nepal’s border with China in Mustang, has been shut down. The closure is attributed to geographical challenges, lack of infrastructure and delays in managing human resources.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak inaugurated the office near the no man's land in Nechung, located in Lomangthang Rural Municipality-1 in October end. However, the Department of Immigration (DoI) said that the border point was shut due to cold weather, delays in staff deployment and unresolved technical issues.

The office was inaugurated without adequate infrastructure or personnel, leading to difficulties in service delivery. Despite the appointment of three staff members, including the office chief, the lack of basic amenities like accommodation and meals forced them to return to the DoI in Kathmandu.

Director of the DoI, Nirajan Shrestha, revealed that the office could be operated for only a week after its inauguration. “The cold weather, shortage of staff and lack of basic facilities for deployed employees have led to the temporary closure. We are working to address these issues and aim to resume operations within a few days,” he said. 

Preparations are underway to deploy additional staff, with the office chief being given an authorisation letter to facilitate local recruitment. “The office chief is currently in Kathmandu. We plan to send him to the Korala border within a couple of days, along with necessary recruitment permissions,” Shrestha stated. A total of eight positions, including that of the office chief, have been allocated for the Korala Immigration Office. Local recruitment is expected to ensure smooth operations at the office.

Located at an altitude of 4,650 metres above sea level, the Korala border point currently allows Mustang residents to cross with a pass issued by the District Administration Office, Mustang. The establishment of the immigration office had raised hopes of enabling all Nepali citizens to cross the border with a visa.

While a Border Outpost (BOP) of the Armed Police Force has already been set up in Nechung, infrastructure on the Nepali side remains limited to a two-lane dirt road connecting Jomsom to Korala. On the contrary, the Chinese side has developed modern facilities, including a customs office equipped with advanced technology, quarantine centres, laboratories, warehouses, staff quarters and truck parking areas.

Although the Korala border was reopened on November 13 last year after a prolonged closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of functional immigration facilities continues to hinder smooth operations. Locals who have been importing daily essentials, construction materials and clothing at lower costs through the border, are facing challenges due to the office's closure. 

Chairman of Lomangthang Rural Municipality, Tasi Nhurbu Gurung, stated that the immigration office was expected to streamline these processes but its non-operation has created difficulties.