A
spate of road building projects in and around the most popular trekking
area in Nepal has sparked a battle involving local people, tourist
entrepreneurs and developers.
The Annapurna region is one Nepal's main attractions,
attracting some 40,000 to 50,000 trekkers every year who enjoy its
pristine mountain trails, valleys and spectacular scenery.
Ghandruk village could previously only be reached by a day-long trek largely uphill through beautiful rhododendron forests.
But recently, a dirt road was built linking the village to
the nearest biggest place, Kimche, which can now be reached in just one
and half hours.
Khusi Bahadur Gurung, an elderly local man, grins at the inroads made by development in his village.
"Road development is good for us people. It will lead to easier transportation," he said.
Dust and fumes
But not all locals share his enthusiasm.
Dilu Gurung is a small-time hotel operator, relying on the trekking business and tourism.
New roads throw up dust and dirt
"I fear it could affect tourism if a proper road reaches here.
The roads should be kept to some distance away from the village," he
says.
Trekkers who come here in search of serenity are not amused
at finding jeeps flying past them, leaving behind clouds of dust and
fumes.
"The reason we came here is to get away from the city of
Kathmandu, which is very busy," said Denis Ahern, an Australian trekker.
"We prefer quiet and the countryside. So, the less traffic, the better."
In many trekking regions, roads have been developed, slowly encroaching on what were once fairly remote, untouched places.
But trekkers say the roads should not be constructed, at least, not near popular trekking routes.
Rajat Agrawal, a trekker from Kathmandu, says: "We are not
against road development. But they should be kept separate so that
everybody benefits."
Karma Sherpa, a trekking guide, complains that the roads are often not even that good.
"You know what, the roads here are not even properly
developed. They are poorly managed and only add to existing problems,"
he said.
Bad for business
Traditional tea-houses along the trekking routes say they have
begun to find their businesses affected with the building of roads.
Conservation officer for the Annapurna Conservation Area
Project (ACAP) in Ghandruk, Paras Bikram Singh, believes roads have led
to a fall in the number of high-value tourists, and thus income for the
local population.
Tourists are drawn from across the world to Nepal
Officials from the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN)
have been working overtime to develop new trekking paths to continue
attracting the trekkers.
"Since we have been unable to convince the local people of
the importance of preserving the serenity of the trekking region and
since we cannot outright deny their development aspirations, we are now
focusing on developing new trekking routes," says Ramesh Prasad Dhamala,
president of TAAN.
He said that more and more trekkers have already started to use the alternative Manaslu trekking region.
But he pointed at the need for the development of sustainable practices for the long term.
Until then, the struggle to balance the needs of trekkers for
unspoilt terrain, and the needs of local people for development will
continue.
SOURCE : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26551637
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