World bank investigates nepal cable car project following indigenous community complaint over sacred forest destruction

The World Bank’s watchdog agency is formally investigating a controversial cable car project in eastern Nepal after Indigenous Yakthung (Limbu) people filed a complaint alleging the development threatens their sacred ancestral lands.

The disputed project involves constructing a cable car line to Pathibhara Devi, a mountaintop Hindu temple that serves as a popular pilgrimage destination. While the development aims to improve access for religious tourists, it has sparked fierce opposition from the Indigenous Yakthung community, who consider the area spiritually significant under their traditional beliefs. The Indigenous groups argue that clearing trees for the cable car infrastructure will diminish the spiritual power they believe the sacred site holds.

The World Bank Group’s Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO) confirmed it accepted the complaint in December 2024, filed originally in August by Yakthung representatives. The complaint targets the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector investment arm, for providing advisory support to the project. “The Nepal cable car complaint met these criteria, it is now in the assessment phase of the CAO process,” explained Emily Horgan, the CAO’s communications lead, noting the case falls within their mandate to address environmental and social impacts of development projects.

The project is being developed by Pathibhara Devi Darshan Cable Car Pvt. Ltd., part of Nepal’s IME Group. This case highlights the ongoing tension between infrastructure development and Indigenous land rights, particularly when projects affect areas considered sacred by traditional communities.