DARCHULA, Jan 15: The Tinker transit point at Nepal-China border in Darchula district has remained largely inactive since COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, thereby affecting the local trade. This border point is considered vital for trade, cultural relations and pilgrimage for the people of both countries.
Irregular and limited opening of the border crossing has severely disrupted the local trade, livelihood and pilgrimage, locals report.
Local residents and traders bearing the brunt of economic and employment loss complain that they feel neglected by the state.
Yogesh Bohora, a local trader from Byas Rural Municipality-1 and member of the Nepal-China Himalayan Friendship Society, lamented that irregular operation of the Tinker border point has created serious problems for business.
Although the border point was partially opened for the ongoing fiscal year 2025/26, it was only opened for altogether 10 to 15 days, making the transportation of goods near to impossible.
He emphasizes that this border point, which bears religious and cultural significance, should be regularly operated.
Amit Singh Tinkari, another local trader, shared that he reached Tinker after four years to check on his goods. "If the border point had been operating regularly, sustaining our livelihoods would have been much easier," he noted.
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According to Ashok Singh Bohora, ward chairperson of ward no 1, Tinker border point is not just a trade route, it is also an important religious and cultural heritage that is linked with the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage.
Tinker and Chharung folks used to traditionally go on a pilgrimage to Manasarovar area for worshiping and performing religious rituals.
Following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, locals have not been allowed to bring back the sacred water from the holy Manasarovar Lake which Bohora said adversely affected the religious practices of the locals.
Over three dozen shops run by the locals in Byasi in Darchula remained closed for around four years.
Trader Temba Lama informed that the shops were allowed to open this year only.
"Our main business is bringing in goods from Taklakot and selling them off at fairs and markets in Nepal and India as well as local towns. In lack of regular operation of the border, our livelihood is at risk," he said.
Plans to establish Immigration Office at the border point are in limbo. Had there been a custom office, locals opine that the border point could be operated regularly.
The erstwhile government led by KP Sharma Oli had decided to set up an Immigration Office at Tinker last year.
The absence of immigration office has led the locals to assume that the state has not paid adequate attention to them and to their region.
Representatives of local communities had also submitted a memo to the previous government pressing for regular operation of the border point.
They had also appealed for diplomatic efforts and policy intervention to ensure regular operation of border points and improved access for pilgrimage but to no avail.
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