Although most parts of the country have been connected with roadways, the mid-western hilly district of Dolpa, however, remains an exception. The local residents of the district are compelled to rely on traditional methods of transportation in the absence of roadways. The locals use mules to transport daily essentials.
An endless line of mules carrying goods on the way to Dolpa is a daily scenario. According to businessmen, three thousand mules on a daily basis carry food, daily essentials and construction material daily. The mules transport the goods from Jajarkot and Rukum to the district, said Ganesh Baniya of Ragda, adding that it was the only viable means of transport in the region. Even with an airport at Juphal, it cannot be deemed reliable since the flights are neither regular nor affordable. “The airlines charge Rs 150 per kg for the same good that can be transported to Dolpa at Rs 60 on a mule,” said Ishwori Shahi of Juphal.
And despite the use of thousands of mules, locals in the region still face a shortage of daily goods, said Shahi, mentioning that it takes four days for the mules to reach Dolpa. “A cylinder of cooking gas transported by mules from Khagenkot, Jajarkot costs Rs 10,000 in the district headquarters located in Dunai,” Shahi said. Previously, when goods were transported from Rimna in Jajarkot and Chaurjahari of Rukum, locals were compelled to pay Rs 7,000 per quintal as transportation cost. However, the development of roadways in Manmai, Chaukha bazaar, Tallubagar, Jajarkot, Radi bazaar and other locations of Rukum, to an extent, have relieved the locals in Dolpa.
The government last year had declared to make the region accessible via roads. However, the project is in limbo due to budget crunch. The taskforce of the Nepal Army involved in the construction of Jajarkot, Dunai road stated that it would take two more years to complete the project if the budget were to be allotted at the same pace. Only Rs 90 million has been allocated for the project in the current fiscal year.
Meanwhile, transport services have reached Tallubagar since the NA has stepped up the construction work. According to a source, the work to cut through a terrain in Rukum is underway, stating that similar efforts are required over a dozen other rocky terrains located in Dolpa.
Biswo Bandhu Pahadi, chief of the taskforce, said that the NA had already completed 83 kms of the 116 kms lying in Jajarkot, Rukum, and Dolpa. Pahadi added that they could make Dunai accessible via road in two years if the government were to provide adequate budget.
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