Starvation looms large in Upper Mustang

Baglung, July 6:

Upper Mustang has been reeling under food shortage. The Nepal Food Corporation has not been able to supply food grain to Upper Mustang for a month. The Lomanthang-based sales depot of the NFC ran out of food stuck three months ago.

Assistant chief district officer of Mustang Mohan Aryal said the locals have been surviving on satu only.

The food shortage has been observed on village development committees bordering Tibet — Ghami, Charang, Surkhang, Lomanthang, Chhonhup and Chhoser.

Last month, the NFC had planned to deliver 100 quintals of rice to Upper Mustang through the Kodari highway along the Chinese border.

But the plan could not be executed due to hassles as the Chinese government stepped up security on its border in view of the Summer Olympics, said senior officer of the NFC in Pokhara Subas Koirala.

The foreign ministry is approaching the Chinese government to sort out the matter, Koirala added.

Assistant CDO Aryal said increase in the level of water in the Kali Gandaki river has come in the way of supply of food grain to Upper Mustang from Jomsom.