Pokhara locals shut down airport for hours; minister Bogati says works at int'l airport won't start anytime soon

Pokhara locals closed down the city's airport for hours Tuesday as part of their ongoing pressure campaign for immediate start of construction works at the Pokhara international airport.

Flights to and from Pokhara airport were halted from 8 am till noon as the protesters staged dharna (sit-in) at the entrance of the airport.

The International Airport Concern Committee of the protesters has said it will continue similar protests until October 1, demanding that the government take concrete steps for the construction of the regional international airport.

The agitation comes a day after Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who arrived in Pokhara on a 'vacation', assured that the government would do everything possible to ensure that the construction started at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Post Bahadur Bogati today said that the construction were not going to start under the existing circumstances.

Speaking at the Reporters Club, Bogati said that there were some complications, mainly the contrasting procurement policies of Nepal and the Chinese company that has bagged the contract.

"Since this is a matter concerning the two countries, there is no other way than to take decision after negotiations," he said. nepalnews.com