Talks between the ‘No Cable Car Group’ and the government are set to take place in Kathmandu on Monday morning.

The meeting was initially scheduled for Sunday but was postponed following internal discussions.

The ‘No Cable Car Group’ will be represented by a 10-member team led by Saru Singhak, including Kumar Limbu and Alok Mabohang. Home Ministry Joint Secretary Prem Prasad Bhattarai will lead the government side.

Mabohang said their immediate demand is to cancel the Pathibhara cable car project permit.

“Our first demand is to revoke the permit and formation of a ministerial-level talks team,” he said. “The release of detainees and other concerns will be discussed afterwards.”

On Friday, the government’s negotiation team called for a resumption of talks with those opposing the project. Bhattarai, the coordinator of the government’s team, sent a letter to the Mukkumlung Tangse: Chumbho and Mukkumlung Inter-party Struggle Committee in Taplejung, inviting them to return to the negotiating table.

The protesters have been demanding a ministerial-level dialogue committee, the release of arrested individuals, a halt to construction, and the withdrawal of security forces from the area. Police have filed charges against 18 individuals in Taplejung.

The ‘No Cable Car’ group has been protesting against the construction of the cable car in the Pathibhara region, citing concerns that the project would erase the area’s historical identity. The group, led by the Mukkumulung joint struggle committee, has been organising phased protests under the banner of the ‘Mukkumulung cable car cancellation struggle committee’.They claim that Mukkumlung area is the traditional Mundhumi of the Limbu community.

The agitators are against the construction of large infrastructure projects at the shrine, saying they are open to a cable car project in other parts of the district but not above Kanchhithan in Pathibhara.