Kathmandu. At a time when there has been a delay in the operation of Tatopani border point, an important land route of Nepal-China trade, the Chinese side has questioned the logic of showing the road towards Nepal as the reason.

According to Narayan Dutta Bhandari, chief engineer of the Road Division Office, Charikot, there is no major obstruction on the road on the Nepali side to operate the Tatopani border point. He said that although minor repairs and improvements are needed in some places, there is no situation to stop the vehicular movement due to this.

He said that the necessary repair and improvement work can be completed in a short time. This has raised more questions about the real reason for the delay in the operation of the checkpoint.

If the road on the Nepali side is in a suitable condition for the operation of vehicles, then there should be clear information from the Chinese side about what is still preventing the border point from coming into full operation.

The Tatopani border point is an old and important trade route of Nepal connecting Kathmandu to Tibet of China through the Araniko Highway. However, this route has been blocked time and again due to landslides, floods, river erosion and road damage.

Lately, the Nepali side has been mobilizing equipment for road maintenance, removal of landslides and improvement of necessary infrastructure. In the past, the road was opened by mobilizing dozers, excavators, loaders and tippers even when there was a major landslide in the Kodari area.

Impact of goods stopped in China

The blockage of Tatopani border point for a long time has a direct impact on Nepal-China trade. When containers coming from China to Nepal are stopped, the transportation and storage cost of traders increases.

The blockade of the border on the eve of big festivals like Dashain may also affect the supply of clothes, shoes, electrical appliances, machinery and daily consumables. Traders are worried that the impact of this may eventually be seen on the market price.

Technical grounds should be made public if there is a ‘road problem’

If the Chinese side considers road safety as the reason for the obstruction in the border operation, then it should clarify where there is a problem, what is the risk and what criteria should be met to open the border.

If the technical basis is made public, it will be easier to resolve the dispute related to the operation of the border in a fact-based manner.

The problem of the Tatopani route is not only now. The road has been blocked time and again due to natural calamities. Therefore, there is a need for a long-term and clear mechanism for border operations, emergency management and infrastructure repair between Nepal and China.

For Nepal, Tatopani is not only a border point but also an important route connected to the national trade and supply system. Therefore, to make its operation predictable, Nepal needs to further discuss with China the clear operating protocol and the criteria for border closure and reopening.

In addition, there is a need to give priority to the infrastructure development of Rasuwagadhi and Korala border points and the expansion of alternative trade routes. Due to over-reliance on a single border, natural calamities or decisions related to border management can have a big impact on Nepal’s supply system.

If the road on the Nepali side is in a viable condition, then what is the reason for the further delay in the operation of the Tatopani border point? If the road itself is the problem, then there is a clear technical description of it, and if the problem has been resolved, then the reason for the delay in the operation of the border point should be clear from the Chinese side.