Far-West Nepal Lacks Road Connectivity in Many Local Levels

Dhangadhi. There are 88 local levels in the Sudurpaschim Province. Some of these local levels have not yet been connected by road networks.

Although the government has made plans to connect all local levels by road networks, work has not been done accordingly. In the hilly and mountainous regions of the province's 9 districts, most local residents are forced to walk for hours even at this time. In some places, roads do not reach at all, and in some places, the existing roads are useless during the monsoon.

The Apihimal Rural Municipality in Darchula has not yet been fully connected by road networks. Locals here are seen carrying heavy loads on steep inclines. While carrying loads earns them a little money, they believe that having roads would provide convenience and reduce hardship.

Rupa Dhami of Apihimal Rural Municipality-3 says that if the produce here finds a market, it would generate income from there as well.

Due to the lack of roads, locals here have to carry food grains and supplies on their backs or rely on mules. In case of illness, people have to be carried to the hospital. There are many incidents where some patients have lost their lives on the way due to not reaching the hospital on time.

Bיתangadi's Saipal Rural Municipality is another remote area in Sudurpaschim. A dozer reached here for the first time after the 2079 elections. So far, about 10 kilometers of track have been opened, but Saipal is still not connected to the national road network.

So far, roads have only reached Gaudyakhola, which is 23 kos away from the district headquarters Khalanga. Track has been opened from Ward No. 5's Makkarigad a little ahead to Bhattar, but vehicles do not run there.

"Due to the lack of roads, we have been relying on our backs and mules for years. If roads are built, it would be easier to transport patients and goods when sick, which is a great hope," said local resident Manisha Manyal.

According to the rural municipality chairman Bhaktasingh Thekare Bohara, the goal is to bring the road to the center of the municipality within this financial year. Although work is being done by cutting through hard rock, the work is slow due to budget and geographical difficulties.

Similarly, Saipal Rural Municipality in Bajhang is another remote area in Sudurpaschim. A dozer reached here for the first time after the 2079 elections. So far, about 10 kilometers of track have been opened, but Saipal is still not connected to the national road network.

The biggest impact of the lack of roads here is faced by the locals in terms of food grains. Transporting food grains brought by vehicle from Dhangadhi to the village by mule costs up to Rs 150 per kg in transportation costs alone. The Vice-Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, Dolpa Tamang, said that mules do not operate when the roads are closed during the monsoon.

"For patients here, there is no option other than a helicopter to take them to the hospital, which costs lakhs of rupees. It would be so good if roads could be built with the lakhs of rupees spent on patient rescue," said local Bire Bohara.

Sunita Lama of Gumba village in Himāli Rural Municipality-3, Bajura, also wants to see vehicles running in her village. Due to the lack of roads, there is a big problem in transporting food grains here. In some hilly areas of Sudurpaschim, local levels have dug roads with grants from the province and the center, but these roads are not technically safe. As soon as the monsoon begins, landslides occur on these roads, and the situation of walking on foot arises again.

In Byas Rural Municipality of Chula, due to the lack of roads, residents here are forced to obtain permission (pass) from India to travel from one place to another in their own country. Citizens of Byas-1 cannot reach their village without using Indian territory. Even the footpath built by the government at a cost of crores is so risky that people are afraid to walk by risking their lives.

According to the Vice-Chairman of the Rural Municipality, Binod Singh Kunwar, due to the lack of roads, the tuins cannot be removed. The Tinkar road under the Mahakali Corridor aims to connect to the Chinese border, but the work is very slow due to lack of budget. "With a budget of 10-12 crore per year, when will this 413 km long road be completed? This time too, with the new government allocating less budget to this road, there is no sign of getting road facilities here," said Kunwar.

Sunita Lama of Gumba village in Himāli Rural Municipality-3, Bajura, also wants to see vehicles running in her village. Due to the lack of roads, there is a big problem in transporting food grains here. In some hilly areas of Sudurpaschim, local levels have dug roads with grants from the province and the center, but these roads are not technically safe. As soon as the monsoon begins, landslides occur on these roads, and the situation of walking on foot arises again.

Meena Kunwar of Bajhang said that the condition of the roads in the hilly districts of Sudurpaschim is very precarious. "We need safe roads where vehicles can run all year round, the government should look into it," she said.
Locals in these remote settlements of Sudurpaschim say that education, health, and trade have all lagged behind due to the lack of roads.