MUSTANG: Eighteen cargo trucks belonging to the Sino Hydro Power Company have remained stuck near the Mustang Customs Office since Tuesday.

Although the containers have already gone through customs clearance, they are unable to pass through due to the lack of a road diversion at the Ghami River in Lo-Ghekhar Damodarkunda rural municipality-2.

The Ghami River lies along the Jomsom–Korala road section, and since there is no diversion facility, the 10-wheeled trucks carrying construction materials imported from China have not been able to pass through.

Mustang’s Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Bhusal said the temporary bridge currently in use is unable to resist the weight of the heavy trucks. He added that a new diversion will be built after the Dashain festival, in coordination with the Sino Hydro Power Project and other stakeholders, to resolve the issue.

Rural Municipality Chairperson Lopsang Chhompel Bista said that although the Korala border point with China is now fully operational, the lack of diversion at the Ghami River remains a major obstacle for transporting goods.

The construction of a 40-meter single-span permanent bridge over the river started seven years ago but is still incomplete.

The project, contracted in 2018 with a budget of Rs 68 million, was awarded to Himdung & Thokar Construction (P.) Ltd. So far, it reports only about 75 percent of the physical progress.