Five-year pass to residents of the northern border from 14 points

Ministry of Home Affairs issued last month, according to the 'Procedures for providing China Travel Permits to Nepali citizens of districts bordering China', 14 checkpoints have been set aside to enter the Chinese market.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, these districts are Tiptala in Taplejung, Kimathanka in Sankhuwasabha, Falak and Lapchi in Dolakha, Tatopani and Gumba in Sindhupalchok, Lajing (Sanagaon) and Chekampar in Gorkha, Korla in Mustang, Hilsa in Humla, Nakcha in Mugu, Maringla Bhanjang in Dolpa, Tinker in Darchula and Urai in Bajhang. Banjang is . According to the Immigration Department, there is currently no provision of identity cards for traveling from Solukhumbu, Dhading and Manang, which are connected to the border, due to adverse weather and geographical difficulties.

The Chinese government has also requested the Nepal government to include a biometric security feature in the user's identity card stating that they are preparing to allow entry and exit through these checkpoints. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, by addressing the concerns and concerns raised by the Chinese side in the prevention and control of 'unwanted activities' and cross-border crime, the residents of the border districts will be allowed to pass through the traditional border crossings to the north and Chinese citizens will also be allowed to enter.

The China-Nepal border is 1,414 kilometers. Residents of the border area have been traveling 30 kilometers towards China with a 1-year temporary entry pass from the district administration office. Entry over that distance requires a visa. During the Corona period, China banned entry citing health risks.

After the corona epidemic was over, during the bilateral meetings and visits of security officials, foreign ministers and prime ministers of Nepal and China, it was agreed to facilitate the residents of border areas. After that, the Chinese side was liberal about allowing Nepalis to cross through the traditional border with conditions. Currently, the work has progressed by adopting a flexible policy on issues such as allowing locals to go to the markets of each other's markets for daily consumption goods from the traditional border, maintaining access to local products to the nearby markets of each other's countries.

According to the Director General of Immigration Department, Koshahari Niraula, last June, the department trained the administrative office and immigration office technical staff of 15 districts in the north for the purpose of issuing 5-year entry pass. Niraula said that after the training, equipment including computers and printers have been delivered to some districts and some are preparing to take them.

"According to the new provision, there is a preparation to give 5-year entry pass to the citizens of the bordering districts from October, for that, there is constant coordination and cooperation with the relevant district administration and immigration office," he told Kantipur . According to him, passes are issued from the immigration office for the movement from Kodari and Rasuwagadhi in Sindhupalchok and from the respective district administration office for others.

Border expert Buddhinarayan Shrestha said that the initiative taken by the government to provide easy access to the Chinese market for local people through a fixed border with some conditions is welcome. "If Nepalis from the border region are given easy access to the Chinese market, the situation of having to buy daily consumables at high prices and wasting local products due to geographical difficulties on Nepal's side will end," he said.

According to Shrestha, when Tibet was a separate country, the citizens of both countries could move easily. After Tibet has been established as a Chinese territory, traffic through the northern border has been restricted.

From Taplejung's Tiptala to China, Riu Bazaar is located. From Kimathanka in Sankhuwasabha to Changa and Riu, from Nangpala in Solukhumbu to Yalangtu, from Palak in Dolakha to Rongsalak and from Lapchi to Chinese market Rangmuding.

There are Khasa and Nyalam from Tatopani in Sindhupalchok to China, Kerung in Rasuwa/Timur, Lajing in Gorkha/Ruila in Sanagaon and Thapla pass in Chekampar . From Korla in Mustang to Liza (also known as Lizi), Siangra and Taklakot from Hilsa in Humla to China, Hagimara and Taklakot in Mugu from Nakcha (Nakchelagna) to China, Maringla in Dolpa from Bhanjang to Mayong and Tinker in Darchula and Taklakot market from Urai in Bajang to China .

The Chinese market is good in terms of road infrastructure and other infrastructure across the border that the government is going to facilitate in traffic. On the Nepal side, there is no reliable road network, due to adverse weather and geographical difficulties, it is difficult for Nepalese from the northern part to travel.

Although the Chinese side is adopting the flexibility to move up to 30 km from the border and in nearby pasture/grazing due to practicality and the coordination of the administration of both countries, it is uncomfortable for Nepalese to easily go to the Chinese market whenever they want. Recently, at least 40 Nepalis who had gone on pilgrimage to Mansarovar from Bajhang's Urai pass were turned back from Taklakot by the Chinese administration. Taklakot is about 27 km from Urai.

The Chinese administration has said in an informal conversation not to issue a pass to Mansarovar from Nepal. Those who came to get the pass were informed about this, but the Chinese side turned them away voluntarily,' said Bishwamitra Kuinkel, Chief District Officer of Bajhang. According to him, the Chinese administration has asked to issue entry passes only up to Taklakot.

Nepali side's leadership in border security and management seems weak. Tatopani in Sindhupalchok, Rasuwagadhi/Kerung in Rasuwa and Korla in Mustang are major points connected by road. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, there are immigration offices only in Tatopani in Sindhupalchok, Timure in Rasuwa and Hilsa in Humla, while Nepal-China border crossing is possible from 15 districts.

Border administration offices have been placed at Olangchungola in Taplejung, Hatiyakhola in Sankhuwasabha, Namche in Solukhumbu, Lamabagar in Dolakha and Byas (Changru) in Darchula. There are Border Out Posts (BOP) of Armed Police for border protection only at 10 places namely Olangchungola in Taplejung, Kimathanka in Sankhuwasabha, Lamabagar in Dolakha, Tatopani and Gumba in Sindhupalchok, Rasuwagadhi/Kerung in Rasuwa, Chekampar in Gorkha, Nechung in Mustang, Hilsa in Humla and Tinker in Darchula.

For border management and cross-border trade, movement of people, border security and cross-border crime prevention and control, more than a dozen necessary mechanisms under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Health are not deployed at the border. There are activities.