Terminate Rickety Tuins

Amid lofty vision and assurances of development, the rural communities in Nepal continue to endure the risk of outdated infrastructure. One striking example is the ongoing reliance on ‘tuins'— makeshift cable contraptions — used to cross rivers in remote areas. This issue, long highlighted as a priority by successive governments, still remains unaddressed, leaving communities like those in Kharpunath Rural Municipality of Humla District vulnerable and frustrated. In 2019, the then-government had promised to get rid of tuins by January 2021. But now that promise sounds unfulfilled and meaningless. The intention was to replace dangerous cable crossing mechanism with safer and more reliable bridges. However, here we are in June 2024, with people from remote areas still risking their lives daily to cross the Karnali River via these precarious cable systems. The reality is distressing, with tall talks and unfulfilled promises. Like in Kharpunath, the delays in construction work have been especially acute in other parts of the country as well.