Nakchelagna border crossing to open for three weeks

By Our Correspondent

Mugu, Aug. 8: The Nakchelagna border crossing on the Nepal-China border in the northern part of Mugu district is all set to open for three weeks. 

The border, which was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, will remain open from August 10 to 26.

According to Chief District Officer Kamal Prasad Pandey, as per the letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Hajimar area of Nakchelagna, Mugu, will be opened for a bilateral trade fair from August 10 to 26 this year.

The office's statistics show that 500 people have so far renewed and obtained new border passes to enter the Hajimar in Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Chief District Officer Pandey said that security arrangements have been made by the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police on the Nepal side during the period when the border crossing will remain open.

Locals from the neighbouring districts of Jumla and Humla use the Nakchelagna checkpoint to go to the market in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Hajimar, to purchase essential household items. 

Pemajung Lama, a local of Mugumkarmarong Rural Municipality-4, said that the Nakchelagna checkpoint is opened only once a year. 

He said that the Nakchelagna checkpoint should be opened for at least six months a year to facilitate the citizens of this place and the weekly market should be operated regularly, which will provide convenience to the local citizens and provide employment to them.

According to Tshiring Kyapne Lama, Chairman of Mugumkarmarong Rural Municipality, wooden materials, shoes, herbs, cement, zinc sheets, rice, Chhurpi, tea, ghee, and clothes are being bought and sold at the market in Hajimar.

He complained that even after three years of writing to the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nepal, requesting them to facilitate the operation of the border crossing for six months for the convenience of the citizens, Mugumkarmarong Rural Municipality has not received any information from these bodies. 

There is no road facility on the Nepal side. Locals and traders are using horses, mules and cattle to carry goods. 

This border falls under Mugumkarmarong Rural Municipality. Ward Chairman of Mugumkarmarong Rural Municipality-1, Chhyawa Lama said that once the border is opened, it will be easier to buy and sell daily necessities. 

The construction of the 87-kilometer road from the district headquarters Gamgadhi to the Nakchelagna border has started since 2006. The work of opening 17 kilometers of the road track on the Gamgadhi-Nakchelagna has been completed so far. Nakchelagna is a border connecting Mugu and Naji in Zhongba County in Tibet.