The subcommittee under the International Relations Committee of the House of representatives (HoR) headed by former prime minister (PM) Madhav Kumar Nepal has recommended to construct the Nijgadh International Airport a few hundred meters south to save dense parts of the forest.
"The airport can be moved a few hundred meters south. The tress are less denser toward the south if we move south leaving the highway," Nepal quoted the recommendations made in the report submitted to Chairman of the International Relations Committee Pabitra Niraula Kharel on Wednesday.
The subcommittee has clearly stated that a city adjoining the airport is not necessary though. "We have recommended to the committee saying smart city is not necessary and should not be developed," Nepal added. He said the subcommittee believes it would be appropriate to build a couple of hotels adjoining the airport.
He also said the talks about the need to chop 2.20 million trees were mere rumors. "They count even shrubs in 2.20 million. There are small bushes. We believed they were talking about big trees but even shrubs are counted. They count even shrubs smaller than these," he elaborated pointing at the plants in flowerpots. "They scared the people by inflating the number of trees."
He said the subcommittee has recommended the government to not chop old trees, and not clear the area where the forest is dense. "We have instructed to save the area used by wild animals to travel," he said.
The subcommittee has mentioned that it would be better to acquire the land needed for the airport now. "We have said through the report to acquire land thinking about the need to expand the airport in the next 50 years," he added. "We have recommended that land be acquired to make it among the largest airports in the world. There will be a single runway in the beginning. We must make preparations to gradually build the second and third runways. Land must be acquired now for that."
The subcommittee has recommended the government to form a responsible authority for construction of the airport.
The subcommittee has also recommended to determine the modality of construction soon. "We have said to expedite work in a way to derive benefits by studying approaches made by different entities," he said.
