Taplejung, Jan. 19: A committee has been formed to engage in negotiations with the parties that are protesting against the construction of a cable car project in the Pathibhara area of Taplejung district.

A nine-member negotiation committee, led by Tshiring Lama, Chief of the District Coordination Committee in Taplejung, has been formed to address the concerns raised by the groups opposing the cable car construction project.

An all-party meeting held in coordination with the Pathibhara Area Development Committee on Wednesday decided to form a committee under the coordination of Lama. 

According to Prajin Hangmang, the Executive Director of the Pathibhara Area Development Committee, Mayor of Fungling Municipality Amir Maden, Chairperson of Pathibhara Yangwar Rural Municipality Keshar Kumar Subba, Chairperson of Siriganga Rural Municipality Lal Krishna Chauhan, Chairperson of Faktanglung Rural Municipality Rajan Limbu (Mukti), Chairperson of Pathibhara Area Development Committee Rakki Thebe, and Chief District Officer Heera Devi Poudel are members in the negotiation committee.

Hangmang informed that a decision was made to appoint Rudra Prasad Poudel, a member of Pathibhara Mukkumlung Cable Car Private Limited, as the member secretary of the committee.

The Pathibhara area spreads in Phungling Municipality, Pathibhara Yangbarak, Paktanglung and Sirijungha rural municipalities. 

The committee is tasked with the responsibility of resolving the issue through negotiations with the Mukkumlung Joint Struggle Committee and the Cable Car Project Cancellation Struggle Committee.

Under the leadership of Chandra Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries, a proposal to build the cable car project in Pathibhara was forwarded. All necessary procedures, including the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the cable car project, have been finalised.

As the process of initiating the project implementation reaches its final stage, the Mukkumlung Joint Struggle Committee and the Cable Car Project Cancellation Struggle Committee are gearing up to strongly oppose the project. In response, a negotiation committee has been established to seek a resolution to the impending issue.

On the other hand, the agitating group, which has started a protest against the cable car project, is now conducting activities to block the work in the area.

The agitating group has been circulating a message in the Pathibhara area for the past few days that they would not allow the work to begin. They have been saying that they will strongly resist the construction of the cable car project.