Road Dispute Threatens Operations at Rs 500 Million Investment Resort in Gorkha

It is a known fact that Nepal does not have a favorable environment for business. In Nepal, there is a situation where more attention must be paid to legal procedures and compliance rather than business competition and customer service.

Due to nearly two dozen regulatory bodies and dozens of legal hurdles, opening, closing, and even regularly operating a business in Nepal is like chewing iron filings. In some places, businesses are also falling prey to illegal activities such as gangsterism and extortion.

The main reason for all this is our weak social awareness. Instead of viewing a business opening in a certain area as an opportunity to gain a 'positive externality' for society, there is a tendency to view it merely as a means to secure direct profit, which benefits neither society nor the business in gaining momentum.

This is the situation facing a resort located in the Gandaki Rural Municipality of Gorkha. Operators state that the operation of the River Fun Beach Resort, which opened with an investment of nearly 500 million rupees, is currently obstructed due to a dispute over a 20/30 meter road.

• Resort Location Details

The resort is located across the Trishuli River, near Kurintar on the Prithvi Highway, on the banks of the Trishuli.

The resort, located in Buttar, Ward No. 1 of Gandaki Rural Municipality in Gorkha District, has been in operation for 13 years with the objective of developing the Trishuli River's flow as an adventure tourism and tourist hub. Resort Manager Sachin Dhamala states that more than 500 million rupees have been invested so far just for the resort and its related services.

Manager Dhamala states that no effort has been spared to make the resort, spread over 40 ropanis of land, a complete tourist destination. The resort offers facilities ranging from luxury rooms to camping. An international standard water park and swimming pool have been constructed here, targeting domestic and foreign tourists.

Furthermore, facilities for adventure sports such as rafting, zipline, and rope cycling are also available. Dhamala mentions that currently, 7 to 8 thousand tourists annually receive services from the resort, and more than 20 people receive direct employment. The resort mostly employs local people.

'We have expanded the resort's services so that all types of customers, from children to adults and the elderly, from budget-conscious to those seeking luxury, can enjoy,' says Dhamala, 'We have brought the facility of a water park, which is rarely found even in Kathmandu, to this location. But recently, a game of siege is being played that jeopardizes millions in investment and the future of many employees.'

• What is the Dispute?

When the resort began operations 13 years ago, there was only a suspension bridge there. Tourists used to come by vehicle up to Kurintar, and then cross the suspension bridge on foot to reach the resort. Those coming via rafting used to reach the resort after rafting from Malekhu or Benighat.

Now, a concrete bridge has been built there. With the construction of the bridge connecting Gorkha and Chitwan for the under-construction Super Trishuli Hydropower Project with a capacity of nearly 100 MW, all types of vehicles could easily reach the resort.

However, Resort Operator Shankar Adhikari states that due to a dispute over the road on the land adjacent to the resort, they still have to rely on a footpath. He suggests that local middlemen and brokers also have vested interests in this matter.

'There are some local leaders and brokers there who have made this road a tool for bargaining,' he says, 'They have created a dispute by selling the same piece of land in two places and are now demanding land from us. They threaten that if we don't give the land, they won't allow the road to be opened.'

• Complaint of Non-Cooperation from Municipality and Ward

It is reported that the individuals obstructing access are local cadres of the CPN (UML). And currently, elected representatives from the same party are in the Rural Municipality and the concerned Ward. Operators believe that if they facilitate, this problem can be resolved.

However, Operator Adhikari complains that they have not received the necessary support from the Rural Municipality and the concerned Ward so far. 'We requested both the Ward and the Rural Municipality to resolve the problem and create an environment for business, but we did not receive the necessary support from there either; discussions bringing both parties together have not happened yet,' says Adhikari.

The Rural Municipality also appears aware of this dispute. However, the Chairman of the Rural Municipality, Deepak Timilsina 'Sakar', states that no formal complaint has been registered yet.

'We know there is a problem there; complaints have been received during monitoring. But no application has been formally registered on our desk,' says Chairman Timalsina, 'We cannot do anything formally unless it comes to our table. We are discussing it informally. But since it is a matter of private property, we have no scope to interfere.'

Ward Chairman Topman Gurung states that an application for mediation in the dispute was registered at the Ward three months ago. However, he also states that they cannot exert pressure because it is a dispute over private land.

'An application has been filed, and we have tried to mediate. But since this is a matter of private land, we cannot pressure them,' says the Ward Chairman, 'My understanding is that this is a dispute over the exchange of land rather than giving land. Both parties want each other's land here, but they have not been able to agree.'

Operator Adhikari, however, claims that the local government can play an interventionist role in this matter. He argues that this is a traditional path and therefore does not constitute private property.

'The place where we demand the road is an area that was a canal. Moreover, this has also been the path to the cremation ground since the past. We are only saying that the path that existed before should be continued,' says Adhikari, 'By this logic, there is no need for us to dispute to get the road here. The Rural Municipality and the Ward can intervene if they wish.'