Ministerial-level talks on Pathibhara Cable Car dispute set for Monday

KATHMANDU: A ministerial-level meeting has been scheduled for Monday to address issues surrounding the construction of the Pathibhara cable car in Taplejung.

According to Yogesh Bhattarai, a Member of Parliament elected from Taplejung, the government will hold discussions with the protesting group on Monday evening.

Bhattarai shared the update on Facebook, stating, “From 10 AM to 12 PM today, I had a cordial discussion with representatives of the protesting group regarding the under-construction Pathibhara cable car. I listened to their concerns and shared my views. They expressed their wish to meet the Home Minister to present their demands. At their request, I coordinated with the Home Minister, who has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow, Feb 10, at 6 PM.”

He further emphasized the need for a resolution through continued dialogue with the government’s negotiation team.

To settle the dispute, the government had earlier formed a negotiation team led by Home Ministry Joint Secretary Prem Prasad Bhattarai.

The team also includes representatives from the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Urban Development.

However, as the talks failed to yield a conclusion, a higher-level ministerial discussion has been arranged.

Meanwhile, protests against the Pathibhara cable car construction have intensified.

Demonstrators are demanding a complete halt to the project, arguing that it should not proceed in its current form.