The Indian side is alleged of intervening in the operation of boats in the Mahakali River along the Nepal-India border at Tallo Swarad of Baitadi.
People of Tallo Swarad at Pancheshwor rural municipality have access to boats only to cross the river in absence of a bridge. The bridge construction has not been possible as the India side is yet to give its consent for it.
Surendra Chand who would make a living by operating boat in the Mahakali River said the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) deputed by India for the border security have created hurdles for operating the service at Haldubinayak Ghat for a year.
He added that he was awarded a contract by the local government to operate boat in Haldubinayak Ghat, but the SSB's intervention since a year has almost displaced him from his occupation. Operation of boat is the sole means of his livelihood.
He has spent over 100 thousands to build the boat. Though he visited the local government many times with the complaints about the SSB intervention, the issue remains as it is. Pancheshwor rural municipality Chair Gorakh Bahadur Chand said the District Administration Office has been apprised of the issue.
The boat operation is going on smoothly in other ghats such as Dimbar, Devtal and Doya here and the local administration had given permission for the service operation through a contract.
When approached, Baitadi Chief District Officer Suresh Panthi said the Indian security body had been apprised of the issue. "We have informed the district officials at Pithauragadh about it. The DAO is planning to raise the issue in a border coordination committee meeting scheduled to be held within the next few days."
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