Darchula, 03 Sep: Because of the Kalapani, Lipulek, and Limpiyadhura region, Darchula’s Byas Rural Municipality is one of the most talked-about places. Within Ward No. 1 of this municipality lie the villages of Changru and Tinkar.
However, despite being under Nepal’s jurisdiction, Changru and Tinkar have neither foot trails nor communication facilities such as telephone service. Even today, the residents of these two villages reach their homes via Indian roads. With foot trails blocked and no communication services available, daily life in the area has become extremely difficult.
It is 10 kilometers from Chhangru to Tinkar village. The footpath from Chhangru to Tinkar village is currently blocked. The flood on 13 August cut off communication between Chhangru and Tinkar. The road from Chhangru to Tinkar village has been washed away in places by the flood. In Mangsir, when the people of Tinkar move down to Khalanga, they are worried about how they will return.
Binod Singh Budhathoki, ward secretary of ward number 1, says that it is difficult to transport food to the village because the road has been washed away by the flood. Currently, the locals are eating the old food stock. If the road condition continues like this, there will be a food shortage in the village.
“There is no immediate budget for the road from any region. If the road is not constructed, not only the citizens here but also the security personnel will have difficulty in moving around. If they get sick, there will be no way to bring them,” said Secretary Budhathoki.
According to local resident Aastik Tingkri, communication in Tinkar village has been down for more than three weeks. The village has no network coverage. At present, locals are compelled to use security personnel’s communication sets just to contact their relatives. It takes a three-hour walk one way from Tinkar to reach Chhangru. While Nepal Telecom’s Namaste mobile service works in Chhangru, residents of Tinkar remain deprived of communication facilities, says local Birendra Tingkri.
There are 70 households in Tinkar of Byas–1. The residents had relocated to Kuncha last Jestha (May/June). Security forces, including an Armed Police Border Outpost (BOP) and Nepal Police, are stationed at Chhiyalek, which lies above Tinkar. With telecom services disrupted, even the security personnel have been unable to speak with their families.
Last year, under a special federal government grant, 20 kilometers of road were constructed and repaired from Dumling in Byas–2 to Tambaku, Malpa, Ghatibagad, Bayali, Dopkhe, Pola, Girkisse, Budi Apikhola, and Kuntisau. Even so, the foot trails available to citizens are still not in good condition.
According to Rural Municipality Vice Chairperson Binod Singh Kunwar, the Tinkar road immediately requires budget allocation, as well as provisions for supplying food to locals and security forces through Nepal’s own land routes. “Otherwise, there must be arrangements for helicopters for the citizens,” he said. “When the state cannot meet the basic needs of citizens but repeatedly stirs up border issues, it is the people who have to suffer.”
Tourism activist Himalaya Bhatt Nepal stressed that to make Nepal’s claim—from Om Parvat to Limpiyadhura—practical, rapid infrastructure development up to Changru and Tinkar is essential. According to him, only if development projects gain momentum will Nepal’s presence in those territories be proven.
Currently, three wooden bridges leading from Changru to Tinkar village were built through voluntary labor contributions by security personnel, elected representatives, and locals, according to Ward Chairperson Ashok Singh Bohara. He said makeshift wooden bridges have now been installed across Nampa Khola and Tinkar Khola, allowing movement to resume.
Bohara added that some sections of trails have been cleared for pedestrians, but roads capable of supporting livestock movement are still lacking. “Road construction requires a huge budget,” he explained. “Two years ago, the rural municipality had called for bids and built a foot trail, but after it was completely washed away by floods, the people of Tinkar have been facing serious difficulties.”
