Table of Contents
Recently, India inaugurated the newly built 80 km road connecting Dharchula to Lipulekh in Uttrakhand. This road route will help pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar yatra to avoid dangerous high-altitude routes through Sikkim and Nepal.
The route connects close to the Line of Actual Control and opens a new route for Kailash Mansarovar yatra via Lipulekh pass.
Nepal’s Protest
Nepal has objected to the inauguration of a link route contending the road passes through Nepal’s territory.
India’s Stand
India has rejected Nepal’s protest by conveying that the region is completely within the territory of India.
India has also stated that boundary delineation exercise with Nepal is already in process and India is committed to resolve outstanding issues with the neighbouring country through diplomatic dialogue.
Disputed Territory
Lipulekh pass is a far western point near Kalapani, a disputed territory between India and Nepal.
Both the countries claim Kalapani as an integral part of their territory
- India as part of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, and
- Nepal as part of Darchula district.
Nepal has quoted Sugauli Treaty(1816) between the East India Company and King of Nepal following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 according to which all the territories east of Kali(Mahakali) river, including Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani belong to Nepal.
