Nepali Times
Nation
The new silk road

PRASIIT STHAPIT


"Don't take pictures facing the Chinese side," a Nepali policeman stationed at the border village of Rasuwa Gadhi insists. "They don't allow that. We'll get into trouble."

The old trade route between Kathmandu and Tibet via Kerung is the new silk road. Traditionally used by yak caravans bartering salt for rice, the route will now be upgraded to an 18 km highway connecting Syabrubesi to Rasuwa Gadhi. That road is already connected to Kathmandu and to the Prithvi Highway, making it an alternative to the Kodari access to Tibet.

"The road has made things easier," says Nima Ghale of Timure. "The journey to Syabrubesi used to take six hours, but doesn't take more than two now."

But there are concerns among locals about long-term consequences of the road. "All the land is being bought up by people from Trisuli and further south. Soon, the whole village will be owned by them, and we'll have to resort to collecting firewood and fodder for money," she says. "The poor will just get poorer."

Local villagers are caught in a familiar dilemma in the mountains of Nepal these days: to balance the advantages and disadvantages of a new highway.

This photo story was produced for Mads Nissen's masterclass organised by photo.circle. It is part of the book 'The Constant Change- 12 photo stories from Nepal' and is being exhibited from 4 to 13 November at the Nepal Art Council, Babar Mahal.

PICS: PRASIIT STHAPIT
A girl picks berries in Timure. The road below follows the Bhote Kosi where a new hydroelectric plant is being built.

A Chinese worker at the road construction site in Ghattekhola. The banner reads: 'If you want a better market for your product you have to ensure it has a good quality.'

Cattle being taken through a forested slope to high summer pasture.A girl picks berries in Timure. The road below follows the Bhote Kosi where a new hydroelectric plant is being built.

A man performs a ritual at Dhukpo Cheju, a local festival also celebrated across the border in Kerung on a much grander scale.



1. who cares
""Don't take pictures facing the Chinese side," a Nepali policeman stationed at the border village of Rasuwa Gadhi insists. "They don't allow that. We'll get into trouble.""



tragedy!


i have never seen a single happy commie.... why do all of them have unnecessary tension?, why is all of their sole dark?



2. Vija Srestha
'A Chinese worker at the road construction site in Ghattekhola. The banner reads: 'If you want a better market for your product you have to ensure it has a good quality.'

This is the simpliest of truths ever pronounced .It is so simple that no one even would think it is a reality to be.AChinese worker just told what he was told .To boost Chinese people's wellfare,one needs to work hard as the future of China depends from this.This is just one of the examples how China is able to motivate its workers.As for Nepali side,Dahal will be at the banner to open the new roads to welcome Chinese market in the country.It it gone be a two way street?Is it gone be a road for Nepali goods?Will the Chinese import Nepali goods?The question here is,what is there for Nepal and its people?Let's just not assume that Dahal and Bhattarai are all there is in Nepal,lets just not assume that politicians who signed 7PACT AGREEMENT are everyone in Nepal.

This is how the scenario is forming?

First Bhattarai;s visit to India,the scenario and the results we saw,now Dahal's turn, and the results we will see after his return from America.Is.Dahal concern about TIBETIANS RIGHTS,is Dahal concern about farmers receiving grains for their paddies that can not withstand the nepal's climat ,is Dahal concern that millons of Nepalis have no eduction.Is Mr.Dahal and Bhattarai concern about local communities and the effects these two projects will bring to these communities.No.

As you see,no rules,no laws,no responsibilities,the result will be the way Bhattarai said.He will lead the united national concensus government.

So everybody again is on the board now,the ball will soon start rolling fast.Millions of un educated nepalis,millions of nepali farmers are not able to compete,they are not able to be heard by Nepali politicians.Does the government has poor and uneducated people's interests  at mind.No.This is where all those who signed the 7PACT AGREEMENT have come to understanding.If you look at the history of world economies,nothing has changed.Political systems in the country have changed,but politicians have always been at the steering wheel Have Dahal and Bhattarai brought an equal voice for all Nepalis?No.They have done it for themselves and their families as in general,bringing in and offering a market place ,is not doing any good to Nepali farmers,neither Nepali biznessman,it isn't improving millions of lifes.

The outsiders would not want to invest money in the country where main resources are not participating in the welcoming programme as you know the biznessman and life of all the componets of bizness are in the hands of rich people.In the end of the day,for country to move in any direction,with bad choices or good choices we need people on board with the capital.So here is the 7PACT AGREEMENT.Now ,if anything goes wrong,it is all these leaders with hands joined after signing the pact responsible for what is expected to go on in the country.Yes,we have got rid of the King,we have got rid of the old,like Dahal and Bhattarai have told ,but the first and most important question is ,what have we got instead?

The meeting dwelt on the contentious issues,the prolongation of the peace process and constitution writing can be extented without any problem now as long as parties that signed the 7 Pact Agreement are happy with the results for their parties.As for power sharing,it's gone take another 10-20 years for a power to change,or to be more precise,for a change of faces.

Practicalli,life of poor,uneducated peole have not changed.That was the result more than ten years back and the same results are here now,but with worse conditions of survival.

 



3. Lal
I don't understand why people bother writing comments which is bigger and even boring than the original article itself. I wonder if NT has any vacancy for these guys. I think it badly needs new columnists any way.


4. Vija Srestha

Lal,I believe you do not bother to clean landmines after yourself.NT  is not here to entertain you.Why not do something positive for a change,like for example,open up and write something worthwhile,but then you wouldn't,you can not even write more than two sentences.



LATEST ISSUE
638
(11 JAN 2013 - 17 JAN 2013)


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