In Nepal’s eastern district of Taplejung, the community has been torn apart by a $22-million government-backed project many say will destroy livelihoods and damage ancient forests they hold as sacred.
Critics accuse the government of failing to assess the environmental impact properly.
The protests calmed after promises construction would be suspended, but erupted again this week, with 14 people wounded on Thursday -- 11 of them members of the security forces.
He vowed to continue demonstrations until the project is scrapped.
In 2018, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, a businessman with powerful political ties who is also president of Nepal’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, announced the construction of a 2.5-kilometre-long (1.5-mile) cable car to the temple.
‘Butchering our faith’
The government deemed the project a “national priority”, thereby exempting it from strict planning restrictions in protected areas.
But activists fear the project may still go ahead.
“It is a brutal act,“ said protest chief Limbu. “How can this be a national pride project when the state is only serving business interests?”
The wider forests are home to endangered species including the red panda, black bear and snow leopard.
The hundreds of porters and dozens of tea stall workers that support trekking pilgrims fear for their livelihoods.
The government says the cable car will encourage more pilgrims by making it easy to visit, boosting the wider economy in a country where unemployment hovers around 10 percent, and GDP per capita at just $1,377, according to the World Bank.
‘Massive deforestation’
Beyond the Pathibhara project, the government’s environmental policy is in question -- in a country where 45 percent is forest.
“Nepal has witnessed massive deforestation in the name of infrastructure,“ said Rajesh Rai, professor of forestry at Tribhuvan University. “This will have severe long-term consequences”.
“It won’t disturb the ecology or local culture,“ Dhakal said. “If people can fly there in helicopters, why not a cable car?”
“We are fighting to save our heritage,“ he said.
“It has turned fathers and sons against each other,“ Gautam said. “Some see it as progress, others as destruction”.
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