-CB Adhikari
Kathmandu, December 22: Various stakeholders have underlined the need to immediately initiate the construction of national pride project Nijgadh International Airport. At a special discussion with stakeholders on the construction of Nijgadh International Airport yesterday, the stakeholders urged the government to speed up the construction since delay is likely to fuel controversy and dispute.
Noting that the obstruction was being created to the construction of the airport in the pretext of environmental degradation, they suggested laying emphasis on development works also keeping in mind the environmental considerations. Parliamentarians from Bara and Parsa univocally said the Nijgadh airport has no alternative and it would not be wise to protract the project in the name of ecological aspects.
The experts have also presented the facts that the construction of mega-development projects costs loss in one way or another and argued that the project having far-reaching consequences in the transformation of the country should not be obstructed from any aspects. On the occasion, mayor of Jitpur-Simara sub-metropolis Dr. Krishna Poudel pledged full support to put forward the airport construction process. Environment expert Riki Maharjan opined to take ahead the process of adopting measures to minimize deforestation.
Experts Dr. Govinda Thapa and Dr. Surendra Upreti argued that it should be constructed at any cost. Economist Dr. Shankar Sharma said that there was no option but to construct the international airport in Nijgadh. Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kedar Bahadur Adhikari shared that the process was ready to coordinate with concerned Ministries to forward the construction bid. He added that about 500,000 trees in 19 hectares of land would be cut down for the airport construction. Director General at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Rajan Pokharel also echoed the voice to put forward the process for the construction of the airport. President of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee, Laxman Lal Karna viewed that the project needs commitments from the government and stakeholders for its proceeding. “Why such a big project that would have positive effects on the country’s economy is being delayed? Debates will increase when the project prolongs. Proceed with the project or the country will suffer a loss,” he said.
This is not a time where there is a delay in the construction of the country’s big and important airport which aims to achieve a country’s economic prosperity through tourism, said Krishna Prasad Dahal, President of the finance committee under the House of Representatives. Dahal and Bimal Prasad Shreevastav, President of the Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee under the Parliament also sought help from all sides in making the project a success.
Likewise, Dil Kumari Rawal Thapa, President of the National Concern and Coordination Committee, and former ministers Uma Kanta Chaudhary and Farmullah Mansoor stressed the need for proceeding the project regardless of unnecessary debates revolving it. RSS
