Source::RSS
RSS
SURKHET
Preparations have started for the expansion of Surkhet Airport after the government gave permission to acquire land. Stakeholders have started all-around discussions as the issue of land acquisition is complicated in the airport expansion.
Chief of the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Surkhet Umesh Kumar Panthi said that about 25 to 30 bighas of land would be acquired. He said that a technical team is yet to conduct a detailed study in this regard. An agreement was reached between the state government and the federal government to acquire about 300 meters of land for upgrading the airport. The Karnali state government and the federal government's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will spend 50-50 percent of the budget for land acquisition. For this, the state government has allocated Rs. 500 million in the current fiscal year.
The locals have not hindered the expansion of the airport but have demanded fair compensation. Residents of Ward Nos. 10, 11 and 12 of Birendranagar Municipality have warned to stop the airport expansion work until proper compensation is guaranteed. Most of the land in the airport expansion belongs to Amarjyoti Namuna Mavic.
Local Ram Prasad Upadhyaya said that the airport could not be expanded with a budget of Rs one billion. "The project cannot move forward if the compensation is less than the current rate," he said. Similarly, Ward Chairman of Birendranagar-12 Lok Prasad Chalise said that the state and federal governments should come up with a clear plan for equitable management and compensation of the locals.
The runway of the airport, which is currently 1,255 meters, will be extended to about 1,500 meters. When the Surkhet airport is narrow, 48-seater ships take off and land. If the airport is expanded, 72-seater ships will land.
ALSO READ
