- Advertisement -
Kathmandu, Nepal, May 31, 2022: Notwithstanding the Supreme Court (SC)’s order, the government has decided to move forward the construction of the Nijgadh International Airport Project (NIAP).
Though the SC had on May 26 passed a final verdict asking the government to find suitable alternatives to the NIAP, the government has decided to take forward the NIAP by preparing an investment structure through Investment Board Nepal (IBN).
Presenting the budget for fiscal year 2022/23 on Sunday, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma announced to take the project development work forward.
Responding to the writ petition filed by the environmental activists demanding the nullification of the government's decision to construct the NIAP, an extended full bench of justices Hari Krishna Karki, Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, Prakash Man Singh Rawat and Manoj Kumar Sharma had nullified all government decisions to constrict the NIAP. The SC has asked the government to find an alternative site to Nijgadh if it wants to build the facility which it envisions will put Nepal in the big league.
Some lawmakers and leaders including the chairman of the CPN (United Socialist), have protested the SC’s verdict even demanding that the court order has to be reviewed. It is said that about Rs 300 million has already been spent so far out of the total 360 million rupees allocated for NIAP. The government has even listed the project under the national pride projects.
Meanwhile, the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives has instructed the government to remove legal hurdles regarding the implementation of NIAP.
A meeting of the Committee held at the Singha Durbar on Monday reached to a conclusion that the decision to halt a large investment project initiated after a long study deemed not appropriate from each angle.
The meeting has decided to instruct the government to clear off legal obstructions and promptly resume the construction of the airport remaining as the project of a national pride, committee President Pabitra Niraula said.
Almost all the committee members that include Prakash Man Singh, Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Pushpa Bhusal, Dibyamani Raj Bhandari, Dipak Prakash Bhatta, Prem Prasad Tulachan, Sudan Kirati, Renuka Gurung, Narad Mani Rana, Chandata Kumari, Sarala Kumari Yadav, Surendra Kumar Karki and Sujita Shakya raised the voice demanding the resumption of the airport project by resolving legal hurdles.
