Save the Border Campaign releases political map: Disputed areas integral part of Nepal

REPORTERS CLUB EVENT: Members of the civil society of Nepal have released a new political map of Nepal as part of their “save the border” campaign. The new map shows Limpiadhura, Lipulek, and Kalapani in their original state as an integral part of Nepal. At a special press interaction program organized at the Reporters Club yesterday, members from the civil society released a new political map of Nepal.

“The map and places are shown as according to the source of the river and its origin and that was the main method of preparing the new map,” said Prof (Dr) Narendra Raj Khanal. Dr. Khanal further said that they had used a digital elevation model to frame the boundaries. The making of the boundaries is according to the origin and source of the river Kali he clarified.

Member of the map committee of “save the border” campaign an expert Komal Chandra Baral said that ” Limpiadhura was the western border of Nepal, and that the map would be made global. He also spoke about the process of the formation of the new political map of Nepal.

Coordinator of the save the border campaign Bhairav Risal spoke on the importance of the border dispute and its location being discussed in every Nepali household. Risal said “We have not taken anyone’s land, and we would not want any other entity taking ours, this is a principle state follow. The prepared map can be traced back to the treaty of Sugauli, and since India has misplaced places in their new map we have been made to make our map public which was a necessity”.

Former Executive Director of the Survey Department Punya Dahal thanked the committee for making the new map public. He also spoke on the evidence available of the source of the river Kali where the western border of Nepal begins. “It was our duty and we did work on this matter but since you have completed our work, I am extremely thankful to you,” he said.

Former Ambassador Hiranya Lal Shrestha said that “it was great to see a counter map being released and made public, it is important to voice out concerns regarding India’s new map, and we have to to do it together.

Former secretary and campaigner Dr. Dwarika Nath Dhungel said that the map that was prepared by the civil society should reach the government immediately. “To make the map available in all corners of the country was crucial at this stage, and it should also be sent to the United Nations,” he said.

(Save the Border Campaign press release at the Reporters Club) 

A host of senior civil society members, literary figures and civil society is part of the save the border campaign.

Last week in a program organized at the Reporters Club the campaign had released an official press statement that requested the civil society to be aware of the border encroachment issue. They had officially voiced their protest and concern regarding the map that was published by India.

This dispute brought many Nepalese into the streets with protesters right outside the gates of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The campaign committee had mentioned the need for a high-level committee including technical experts and academicians to help the government negotiate with India regarding the border dispute.

They also asked for establishing Nepalese police posts and security along the border of Limpiadhura, Kalapani and Lipulek.

They have requested a trilateral meeting between the leaders of India, China, and Nepal regarding the junction of the Lipu pass which was traditionally a business gateway. They also appealed to the masses to be aware of the issue, and have asked them to be alert until the matter is not resolved.

The committee of experts include top names such as centenarians Madhav Ghimire and Satya Mohan Joshi, others include Dr. Gauri Shankar Lal Das, Himalaya Shumsher Junga Bahadur Rana, Bhairav Risal, Prof Upendraman Malla, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Gauri Bahadur Karki, Dr. Chaitanya Mishra, Dr. Tulsiram Vaidya, Dwarika Nath Dhungel, Prof (Dr.) Narendra Raj Khanal, Dr. Pitambar Sharma, Bairagi Kaila, Shanta Shrestha, Engr. Sant Bahadur Pun, Swanam Saathi, Hiranya Lal Shrestha, Prof.(Dr.) Tri Ratna Manandhar, Rajendra Subedi, Shanta Manvi, Sushila Karki, Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, Shyam Shrestha, and Dr. Jagat Kumar Bhupal.