Before he died, he said that “the road would be
very useful for the local population because all their
supplies come from the Tibetan region”. The king
added: “People get sick and die because they cannot
get treatment in time, and the road can change this.”
While the king acknowledged the possible
benefits that the new road would bring, he also
expressed his fear that the development could have
negative consequences, such as damage to the ancient
monasteries and Buddhist monuments that are
scattered throughout the kingdom. He added that
a road in and out of the area could also bring about
illegal trade in valuable historical objects that have
been kept safe in secluded Mustang for hundreds of
years. The movement to build the road “has to be
studied very carefully”, he warned.
The Nepalese government says the road will yield
more opportunities to strengthen trade between
India and China, and benefit Nepal economically.
Bijaya Shrestha, an economics professor at Tribhuvan
University, commented: “Much of the younger
generation have migrated to other regions to seek
employment and study, so the road will bring more
opportunities for education and employment, and
could also promote tourism in the region, since it is
difficult to reach Mustang.” Shrestha adds that the
new generation wants Internet and access to Western
medicine, but that the community elders fear that the
traditions and heritage of the people will disappear as
more and more people leave the community.
The building of the new road has been greeted
with enthusiasm by some locals, as the arrival of motor
vehicles and more visitors offers an opportunity for
them to improve their economic and educational
situations. The local economy is increasingly reliant
on trade with Tibet as well as tourism, and so many
Loba people welcome increased accessibility. They add
that their more traditional modes of transport will not
disappear, as the area is still easier to navigate in the
traditional way – on horseback. agDAVID RENGEL has worked for over 15 years in the
film industry. As a documentary photographer,
he focuses on issues relating to human rights,
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