The talks between the ‘No Cable Car’ group and the government have reached the next stage, with both sides agreeing to set up high-level committees to discuss the ongoing dispute over the Pathibhara cable car project.

The talks, which took place in Kathmandu on Monday, concluded with an agreement to form talks teams at the higher echelons of government and the protest groups.

According to Joint Secretary Prem Prasad Bhattarai, who now heads the government’s negotiation team, the government has agreed to push for discussions at a higher level. The agitating groups, on the other hand, will also form a team to hold talks on their behalf.

Alok Mabohang, a key member of the ‘No Cable Car’ group, explained that their primary demand remains the cancellation of the Pathibhara cable car project permit. He confirmed that the group would work to establish a new committee to continue the discussions, after the government committee made it clear that they were unable to meet the group's demands at the current level of talks.

“We are hopeful that with a higher-level committee, we will be able to address the concerns and find a solution,” Mabohang stated, adding that the next round of talks is expected to take place on March 20.

The government’s negotiation team, led by Bhattarai, pledged to continue dialogue with the cable car construction company, the protesting group, and other concerned stakeholders. This follows two earlier rounds of discussions, where no satisfactory agreement was reached.

The protesters, who have been organised under the banner of the Mukkumlung cable car cancellation struggle committee, have been vocal about their opposition to the project, citing concerns over the potential destruction of the region’s historical identity and cultural significance. They insisted that while they are open to cable car projects in other parts of the district, they strongly oppose the construction above Kanchhithan in Pathibhara, which is seen as a sacred site for the Limbu community.

The government has been faced with criticism for not addressing the protesters’ demands promptly, and 18 individuals were arrested during the course of the protests, with warrants issued for nine others.

The protestors’ key demands include the cancellation of the cable car project, the formation of a ministerial-level committee to oversee the negotiations, and the release of all detainees. They have also called for the withdrawal of security forces from the area, citing tensions surrounding the ongoing protests.

The protesters argue that large-scale infrastructure developments, particularly in sensitive areas like Pathibhara, threaten the region’s cultural and environmental integrity.