Pathibhara cable car talks falter, protesters demand high-level negotiations

Kathmandu, February 9 — The ongoing talks between the government and protesters regarding the construction of the Pathibhara (Mukkumlung) cable car project in Taplejung have faltered.

Earlier, on Februay 4, an agreement was reached through a six-point deal, and another meeting was scheduled for today.

However, the two-party talks held today failed, as informed by Santosh Mehta, a leader of the Rashtriya Mukti Party of Nepal.

The Inter-Party Mukkumlung Conservation Struggle Committee has now demanded a ministerial-level or high-level negotiation team.

The committee stated that issues cannot be resolved through staff-level talks, and therefore, they have decided not to engage further with the current government negotiation team.

During the meeting, the government team proposed discussing issues such as solving problems in cable car construction and providing employment opportunities for locals.

However, the protesters refused to allow any discussions apart from halting the cable car project itself.

As a result, with the breakdown of the current government committee, Mehta stated that if a high-level negotiation team is not formed, the protesters will begin the next phase of their movement starting tomorrow.