Mustang’s Korala border point will be operational: PM

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 16: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that preparations are underway to bring the Korala border point in Mustang into full operation along with the construction of required structures and infrastructures.

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Prime Minister Oli said this while addressing a discussion held last night at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar with federal parliamentarians representing Mustang and local level representatives. 

On July 8 when the Miteri Bridge over the Bhotekoshi River at Rasuwagadhi, connecting Nepal and China, was swept away by a flash flood in Gosaikunda Rural Municipality–2 , obstructing transport, Prime Minister Oli had visited the area and directed the concerned ministries to develop an alternative route and ensure full operation of the border point.

Prime Minister Oli also recalled that he had initiated the construction of the Benighat–Korala road, facilitated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Muktinath, advanced the process of operating the Muktinath cable car, and prioritised the development of an apple super zone and Chyangra (mountain goat) farming.

The delegation also urged Prime Minister Oli to reconsider the tourism royalty policy, stating that the declaration of the upper Mustang regions of Lo-Manthang and Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipalities as restricted areas by the Government of Nepal, and the imposition of a USD 500 fee per foreign tourist, had led to a decline in tourist numbers.

Furthermore, demands were made for blacktopping the Kagbeni–Korala road section of the Kaligandaki Corridor and constructing necessary infrastructure to bring the Korala border point into full operation. 

Attention was drawn to the need to construct physical infrastructure at Korala, including customs, immigration, an integrated security post, a dry port, and commercial facilities.

The representatives expressed concerns that due to the incomplete operation of the road and border point, as well as the enforcement of the restricted area status, hotels and local businesses in Upper Mustang have been incurring losses.

The delegation included federal parliamentarian Yogendra Gauchan Thakali, Chairman of Lo-Manthang Rural Municipality Tashi Norbu Gurung, and Lopsang Chomphel Bista, among others. 

The contract for blacktopping the 97-kilometre Kagbeni–Korala road section is yet to be awarded, while contracts for bridge construction over Tatopani Khola, Dana Khola, Panda Khola, and Tangbe Khola have been terminated and need to be resumed.