Crucial Kalikot ropeway in shreds
KALIKOT, JUL 17 -
Local people of five VDCs in Kalikot district have been affected as the only ropeway (twine) over the Karnali river in trim is in a dilapidated condition.
Cables of the seven-year-old twine at Khulalu have rusted, making it risky for around 25,000 people of Lalu, Malkot, Rupsa, Kumalgaun and Kotbada, who use the ropeway to go to the district headquarters, Surkhet and Nepalgunj.
A local resident, Jasi Bista of Lalu VDC-3, said villagers were left with no alternative, but to use another risky ropeway to cross the river. “There is not a bridge in the area nearby. The shelf life of the twine has already expired. We do not know when it may break,” he said.
People of the five VDCs use the twine. Local peoples’ repeated calls to the District Development Committee to change the rusted cables have fallen on deaf ears.
Local Development Officer Pushparaj Shahi said efforts were underway to repair the twine. An estimated budget between Rs 500,000 and Rs 700,000 is required to construct an improved twine, he said. It is said that the government had earlier decided to replace the ropeway with a suspension bridge. Ratna Bishwokarma of the VDC said despite a survey to construct a suspension bridge at Khulalu, construction work has not started yet.
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