Kathmandu, February 8: The Pathibhara Cable Car, which is being built to reach the famous religious site Pathibhara Temple in Taplejung, a remote Himalayan district of Kosi Province, has become a talk of town.  It seems that misinformation has been spread on social media saying that the construction of a cable car in Pathibhara will lead to the loss of the history and identity of the temple. Though the construction of the Cable Car in Pathibhara had been discussed for the past four decades, Pathibhara Devi Darshan Cable Car Pvt. took permission for the construction of the cable car in 2075 BS as per the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Government of Nepal, the company was established in 2072 only.

With the entry of IME Group into Pathibhara Cable Car about two years ago, the construction of this project accelerated without dilly-dallying. After receiving all the government and legal permits to be obtained from the government of Nepal, this project was included under the national priority plan and the project was taken forward. IME Group has taken a large share of this cable car in the year 2079 BS with the aim of creating tourist destinations with cable cars in all seven provinces of the country. The work of obtaining the right of occupancy of the land required for the cable car and giving the land to the Government of Nepal in lieu of admission has been completed. The work of felling the trees in the alignment area of the cable car and approving the Detailed Project Report was also completed and the construction works commenced this month after the formal foundation stone of the cable car construction work was laid.

There will be 36 passenger gondolas and two goods-carrying gondolas in the 2.75 km long cable car from Fungling Municipality 11, Kaflepati to about 700 meters west of the Pathibhara Devi Temple complex in Taplejung District. After the construction of the cable car, it will take only 10 minutes and 31 seconds to reach from the lower station to the upper station. All the equipment and parts of the cable car manufactured by the world-famous cable car company will be used.

At the upper station of the cable car, only basic infrastructure including oxygen generator, water facility, and toilet will be built for the convenience of the pilgrims. As nothing else will be built there apart from these basic structures, there will be no impact on the environment, beauty and cultural milieu of the temple premises and its surroundings. The construction of the cable car will make it convenient for children, the elderly, the physically challenged and those who cannot walk up and down, as well as all the pilgrims and tourists. For those who want to go on foot, the cable car will not create any obstacles on the current route. In addition, it is believed that there will be a significant increase in the number of domestic and foreign pilgrims and tourists.
The estimated cost of the Pathibhara cable car is Rs 3 billion. About 300 people will get direct employment after the construction of the cable car. About 80 percent of the locals will be given priority. In addition, as in the previous tourism infrastructures of IME Group, here too, local people will have the opportunity to share in the project and invest. The construction of the cable car will significantly increase the number of pilgrims and tourists and it will play a major role in promoting local products (agriculture, household and handicrafts). With the development and expansion of economic activities, there will be a significant increase in self-employment and business expansion in many areas including hotels, restaurants, and transportation, from Barah area of Mechi Highway to Jhapa and Sunsari of Tamor Corridor. This will increase taxes and revenue for the state.

The cable car is the safest and most environmentally friendly means of transportation in the world. Since this means of electric transport does not cause any kind of pollution, it is kept within the standards of sustainable development. In addition to this, to reduce the impact on the environment, those trees planted at the rate of 25 trees equal to one tree to be felled within the alignment area of the cable car will be cared for and protected for five years and will be handed over to the Government of Nepal. Therefore, the operation of this cable car project will not damage the biological diversity and the environment, but will help to protect it.

With the laying of the foundation stone of the Pathibhara cable car, some people have started activities to create obstacles in the construction work and discourage private investment. Not only that, they have made accusations that pollute the private sector and damage their business, personal reputation and honor. Attacking the private sector as a whole and disrespecting their contribution to the society, economy and prosperity of the country is a very sad matter regarding the issue of the cable car project.

Due to the difficult geographical location, high altitude and steep uphill road, it is very difficult for pilgrims and tourists to reach the temple. Even those who cannot walk, the sick, the disabled, children and the elderly, it is a struggle to reach there. People who can afford to pay up to 200 rupees per kilo to reach the temple by asking people to carry them. Pilgrims complain that it costs from 10,000 to 15-20 thousand per person. There is also an arrangement to reach the Pathibhara temple by chartering a helicopter. Therefore, cable cars are the only means of transport that will facilitate the vision of Pathibhara Devi for common citizens, bring in three to four times more pilgrims/tourists compared to the present, create employment and self-employment opportunities for locals, improve the living standards of citizens, and protect the environment and biological diversity.

In addition to this, the project has made it clear that some percent of the profit earned by the cable car will be spent on health, education, local infrastructure, etc. through local bodies under corporate social responsibility.

Discouraging private investment

The IME Group was involved in Pathibhara Cable Car Company only about two years ago. It seems that the cable car company was established in 2075 in this holy religious place, where the issue of cable car construction was raised four decades ago. Therefore, it is not good to nationalize the issue of whether or not to build a cable car as it is today. After the involvement of the IME Group, the topic of cable car construction has gained momentum. We have discussed with the local people's representatives, political party leaders, local administration, associations of various industrialists in the district and other stakeholders individually and in groups, and requested them to support the construction of the cable car project. Many locals argued that the cable car should not be built. Which was insignificant at first. That's why we changed our DPR according to their demand and moved forward by addressing their concerns.

However, now, it is seen that people who live outside the district or outside the country, rather than the locals, have an unnatural interest in social media that they should not allow cable cars. Which is completely wrong. We are close to the project construction site and the feelings and needs of Taplejung district residents as a whole. As we are fully aware of the needs of the local people, it is sad that the issue of not building a cable car is getting unnecessary discussion outside the district and outside the country. It is not good to see such a debate in development work. Such actions discourage private investment in the country in the future.

The issue of not allowing the work to proceed after completing all the legal and regulatory procedures by the state agencies is quite unfortunate. This has made the private sector's initiatives to bring investment into the country futile. We have realized that our campaign to attract more domestic and foreign tourists by developing large-scale tourism infrastructure in all seven provinces, creating countless opportunities for investment, creating jobs and working hand in hand to build a prosperous Nepal has been thwarted. On the one hand, the bitter reality is seen that foreigners are going abroad in search of local jobs, while on the other hand, efforts are being made to dispute the employment opportunities coming to their own backyards. In such a situation, I request the people of Taplejung district to distinguish what is good and what is bad.

I am not only the chairman of the IME Group, the chairman of this cable car company, but also as the chairman of the Federation of Nepali Chamber and Commerce Industry, the umbrella organization of the entire private sector of the country, I am visiting different countries and asking for investment in Nepal. When this project is interrupted, its message will go negative globally. Therefore, I again request all stakeholders not to obstruct the work of development under any pretext.

Finally, the cable car is only a means of transportation. Which facilitates the pilgrims going to see Pathibhara Devi. As Pathibhara Devi is the heritage of faith of all Nepalis, the construction of the cable car here will not affect any particular religion or caste or ritual culture and the current structure, but will help to strengthen it.

Chairman Chandra Prasad Dhakal's statement at a press conference organized by Pathibhara Devi Darshan Cable Car Pvt.

People's News Monitoring Service.