The government has started preparation to set up an army barrack and Border Out Post (BOP) at Nepal-China border point in Korala, Mustang district, government ministers said. Three Deputy Prime Ministers—Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, Bhim Rawal and Top Bhadur Rayamajhi—visited the bordering region on Thursday for the same purpose.

Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, State Minister for Finance Damodar Bhandari, Defence Secretary Mahesh Prasad Dahal, among other officials of the concerned ministries were in the high-level visiting delegation. 

A Nepal Army helicopter carried out the visiting team from Kathmandu to Korala via Jomsom and back to the Capital. The visit was organised by Defence Ministry.  

Informing about the Korala border, DPM and Defence Minister Rawal said the government has initiated the preparations to build barracks of security agencies for border security. “The land survey has been completed. Security barracks will be stationed in 1000 Ropanis of land,” said Minister Rawal at a press meet in Johmsom after the visit.

 “The Defence Ministry will propose the Finance Ministry regarding the budget for building the barrack and the Nepal Army headquarters will initiate the construction work, and on the other hand the government will cooperate with the Ministry of Home Affairs that has been granted the authority for border security and immediately start the work,” he said. “All the work will start from this year itself.” He added that the visit organised by the Defence Ministery was part of the government initiatives to open Korala border point with China.

DPM and Minister for Physical Planning Gachhadar said the government has allocated Rs 4 billion for the construction of road from Pokhara to Korala. “Korala is our third most important border point in the North,” he said. “The government will soon hold talks with China to open Kerala after Tatopani and Kerung. The government has accorded top priority to connect the road with Kerala.”

He further claimed that a two-lane road connecting Johmsom to Kerala would be built within the next two years.

Another DPM Rayamajhi said the high-level visit was organised to take stock of the situation after Nepal government proposed China to open Kerala border. 

Director General at the Department of Roads Madhav Kumar Karki said the department has initiated the tender among other necessary legal procedures in order complete the Kerala road within the next two-year.

Earlier in March, the government had separated land for Nepal Army and Armed Police Force with the objective to open Keralaborder. The land mapping file prepared by Department of Land Survey has been pending at the Ministry of Land Reforms. The land was selected at the initiatives of Nepal Army’s Bhimdal Battalion.

Defence Minister Rawal said the Land Reforms Ministry would be requested to process the file at the earliest to make way for building the barracks. He said that Nepal government is committed to address the security concern of Chinese government at the border point.

Earlier this year, China extended its road connectivity to the Korala border point in Mustang district in order broaden the long-term business relationship with Nepal. In the last five months, China built the 20 km road stretch connecting to Nepal.