Regional International Airport row: Pokhara locals shut govt offices

POKHARA, SEP 17 -

Locals of Pokahra on Sunday forced several government offices to close down, protesting the government’s failure to take a decision on the construction of the proposed Regional Internat-ional Airport in the city.

However, hospitals, security agencies and courts were not affected. Although the District Administration Office was open, people were not allowed to enter.

The locals, who had put the agitation on hold after Civil Aviation Minister Post Bahadur Bogati assured to resolve the issue within 15 days, are back on streets. The 15-day timeline ended Saturday. At the call of the airport construction stakeholders’ committee, agitating locals placed protest banners at all government offices and shouted slogans against the government from early morning. Chief District Officer Chetnath Bhattarai said daily work was affected after locals barred people to enter the office. “Locals resum-ed agitation ignoring the minister’s request.”

After the 15-day timeline ended, Minister Bogati had asked locals for 10 more days, saying the issue would require some more time to settle. However, a stakeholders’ committee meeting on Saturday decided ‘not to listen to the government anymore’. Committee members said they decided to resume the protest as they could no more rely on the government’s false promises.

Business enterprises and mothers group, among others, participated in the campaign to pressure to the government. “We were compelled to close down all government offices due to the government’s negligence,” said Krishna Mohan Shrestha, president of the committee. “We will intensify our protest from Thursday, if the government continues to remain silent.”

Source: The Kathmandu Post