Bhaktapur, June 21
The construction of a zipline along the Ghyampedanda-Ranikot road section in Surya Binayak municipality, Bhaktapur district, has raised concerns about the potential risk of landslides to the road.
There are reports that the Yoyo Zipline has been constructed by allegedly encroaching upon the public land belonging to a community forest.
Angry at the encroachment, local residents have asked the local government to take immediate action and shut down the zipline. The road is used by locals to commute between Yarle in Kavrepalanchowk district and Panauti.
Santa Man Waiba, a local resident, expressed concerns about the local government giving a budget to construct the zipline rather than saving the forest.. Locals say the local government invested 60 per cent in the zipline.
“The wanton construction has posed a threat of landslide. The ward office has put a fence around the zipline area. What is more concerning is that a 40 feet-deep hole is dug beneath the fence which has posed a risk for landslide in the road,” said Harkaman Lama, another disgruntled local.
Amrit Lama, a local vegetable trader said commuting on the road has been an issue as people coming to the zipline park their vehicles on the road.
Rabindra Sapkota, the spokesperson and chairperson of Ward No 8 in Suryabinayak municipality, has denied the claims made by the locals.
He clarified that the allocation of the budget in a 60:40 proportion for the zipline project was intended to benefit the road section rather than the private property associated with the zipline.
