BHAKTAPUR, June 21: The construction of a zipline at Ghyampe Danda along the Ranikot road section in Suryabinayak Municipality-8, Bhaktapur district, has raised concerns about the risk of landslides in the area.
The Yoyo Zipline is alleged to have been built by encroaching upon public land that belongs to a community forest. It has also encroached upon the 8-meter wide road. Local residents are furious about this encroachment and have demanded that the local authorities take action to stop it. The road section where the zipline is located is a major route for locals traveling between Yarle in Kavrepalanchowk district and Panauti.
With the onset of the monsoon season, locals are worried about potential disasters caused by the heavy rains, which could result in the loss of lives and properties, according to Santaman Waiba, a local resident.
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The frustrated locals have expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that the local authorities allocated 60 percent of the budget for the zipline construction instead of preventing such unauthorized construction, as Harkaman Lama, another disgruntled local, pointed out. Lama expressed concerns about the encroachment on the community forest land by the zipline, which poses a landslide risk. The ward office has fenced off the zipline area, but there is a 40-foot deep hole dug beneath the fence, further increasing the risk of landslides on the road.
Furthermore, the locals of Yarle and Ranikot are facing difficulties in commuting due to visitors parking their vehicles on the road near the zipline service. Amrit Lama, a local vegetable businessperson, mentioned that the road is essential for transporting locally produced vegetables, fruits, poultry, and dairy products from rural areas to Kathmandu. They fear losing their livelihood if the road gets damaged.
Amidst these concerns, Lama emphasized the need for the zipline to operate in a manner that does not harm the local ecosystem or disrupt the means of livelihood for the locals.
Responding to the claims made by the locals, Rabindra Sapkota, the spokesperson and chairperson of Ward No. 8 in Suryabinayak Municipality, denied that the 60:40 budget allocation for the zipline was intended for the private property owned by the zipline. He clarified that it was their responsibility to protect the road as a lifeline for the locals and stated that a fence was erected using rocks after landslides occurred in the area. He assured that the concerned authority had been instructed to conduct a survey of the land and demarcate the areas accordingly to resolve the dispute.
(RSS)
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