Although trade has gradually returned to normal following the 2072 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic, exports and movement of people are still at a near standstill. Currently, border residents can only buy household items by visiting about two dozen small shops near the Miteri Bridge.
What you should know
Life in the northern part of Sindhupalchowk is slowly returning to normal as the smoke from the week-long wildfire last month has cleared.
As the smoke clears, the movement of people and small businesses around the Tatopani border crossing has increased. With the influx of vehicles in Liping and Tatopani markets, there is a faint hope among locals that the border crossing will be operational again.
Amidst this hustle and bustle, political activity has intensified in the border area under Sindhupalchowk-1, targeting the House of Representatives elections to be held on Falgun 21. The preference of the voters here is clear - vote for the candidate who will make the Tatopani border crossing easier and completely open the Khasa. 'We will vote for the candidate who will open the Khasa and make the border crossing as grand and functional as before the earthquake,' said Chinni Sherpa of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-2.
Agricultural production is limited in the geographically remote upper reaches of Bhotekoshi and Barhabise. Due to the lack of employment opportunities, the residents here are forced to limit themselves to foreign employment or small businesses dependent on the border. Although trade activity has increased for some time, the border has not yet been fully opened as the Chinese Khasa market has not been fully operational.
Although trade has gradually returned to normal after the 2072 earthquake and the Corona pandemic, exports and movement of people are still almost at a standstill. Currently, border residents can only buy household items by reaching about two dozen small shops near the Miteri Bridge.
According to locals, entry into the Chinese territory is only allowed for household purposes. The Khasa market, which suffered heavy damage after the earthquake, is currently being rebuilt according to the concept of a mini city in the East Khasa (Zhangmu Port) area under the Nyalam district of Tibet.
Large buildings, wide roads, bridges and organized parking are being constructed, which locals understand has increased the pressure for infrastructure expansion on the Nepal side as well.
Former foreign advisor Dr. The locals had asked Rupak Sapkota to vote for the one who would facilitate the trade in Khasa. After the fire in Khasa, the Jholepoke trade was closed. The Chinese side wanted to open it only after February 25. Because the Chinese are on the verge of the Spring Festival. Sapkota had facilitated the trade with the Chinese side as it was a matter of livelihood for the border residents.
Tatopani checkpoint on the agenda all the time
Madhav Sapkota of the NCP, Jung Bahadur Lama of the Congress, Saresh Nepal of the UML and Bharat Parajuli of the Rastriya Swatantra Party are in competition in Sindhupalchowk-1. They have all made facilitating the Tatopani checkpoint, creating employment, operating magnesite and overall development the main election agenda.
Along with the checkpoint, roads, drinking water, education, health, tourism and employment have been prioritized. In the district with two House of Representatives constituencies, 36 candidates are in the fray from both constituencies, including Congress, UML, and NCP.
Agni Prasad Sapkota of the then Maoist party won the 2007, 2017, and 2018 elections from this constituency. He has made the issue of opening the Tatopani border crossing a major issue in every election.
NCP candidate Sapkota claims that many road and bridge projects have been taken forward during his 33-month tenure. 'Work is being done on the Kodari road with a contract worth about three billion.' The border crossing has been operational, and now there is a plan to develop it as a transit hub,' he said.
Congress candidate Jung Bahadur Lama, however, says that the border crossing has never been convenient for the general public. 'Businessmen here are suffering as China arbitrarily closes the border crossing. My main agenda is to make the border crossing operational in a systematic and permanent manner,' he said.
UML's Nepal and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's Parajuli have also made the reconstruction of the Tatopani checkpoint and the end of the blockade the main agenda of the election.
There have been repeated calls in parliament for the reconstruction of the Araniko Highway and the smooth operation of the checkpoint. Construction of a 26-kilometer road from Barhabise to Liping has begun with a budget of nearly three billion rupees.
Although this activity that has opened up after the fire shows the potential of the Tatopani-Khasa region, a coordinated initiative to fully operate the checkpoint, expand infrastructure, and create local employment seems indispensable for sustainable benefits. The border residents have one message - this time, vote for those who open Khasa and make Tatopani operational.
