CAAN says Dharan Airport cannot be built; what will happen to the people’s land?

The Mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, Harka Sampang, along with the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTA), Sudan Kirati, has exerted pressure once again for the construction of an airport in Dharan. The controversy over whether to build it or not had been ongoing for 20 years.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has concluded that the construction of the airport is not feasible even after 20 years.

A special effort was made to study the possibility without causing unnecessary expenses, as stated by Pradeep Adhikari, the Director-General of the CAAN. The Authority has now presented a report including the conclusion that the construction of the airport in Dharan is not feasible, along with pressure from Mayor Sampang to Minister Kirati, which led the Authority to also study the matter.

In the past, whenever the issue of constructing the Dharan airport arose, there was ambiguity even among the leadership of the Authority about whether to proceed with the construction or not. Now, after 20 years, a decision has been made that constructing the airport in Dharan is not feasible.

However, if the airport is not constructed, there is a huge concern about the return of people’s land.

How did the issue of the airport arise?

In 2060 B.S., Yeti Incorporate Pvt. Ltd. had bought land in Dharan at a cheap price, claiming to build an airport locally.

After 20 years, the CAAN has concluded that the construction of the airport in Dharan is not feasible. Following pressure from Minister Kirati due to MoCTA ministry pressure, the Authority also studied the airport construction.

Yeti Group, including the former chairman of the group, Late Ang Chhiring Sherpa, had obtained seven bighas and five katthas of land at a cheap price by collaborating with local leaders, land businesspersons, and employees. Six bighas and 18 katthas of this land were given to a separate company named ‘Yeti Incorporate Pvt. Ltd.’ The remaining seven katthas were kept in the name of former promoter Kundan Shamsher Jabara.

During the time of land purchase, the local public and the then municipal chief Kumar Bahadur Karki agreed into conditions if the airport was not built, the purchaser would return the land at the same price. When the pressure from the locals increased, Yeti Incorporate allegedly influenced the Minister to study it repeatedly.

Recently, due to the same pressure, the Authority had also studied it. However, the study concluded that the airport construction was not possible.

Under the direction of the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, a team was formed on Kartik 23 to coordinate, consisting of Nara Bikram Thapa, senior legal officer Bimal Khanal, and chartered accountant Anil Basnet.

With the existing aviation policy of 2063, the policy provision that ‘when constructing an airport in Terai and Inner Madhes, it should be at least 40 nautical miles away from an existing airport’ would be violated, the committee concluded. Due to the easy availability of road transportation, the geographical situation of the area, and the feasibility of other various methods and operations, the committee concluded that a unilateral approach would not be possible.

Along with this, the pressure to return the land has increased and this has increased the huge concern for the then land owners. The locals now want to regain their land in the original price before 20 years however, the price of land has increased massively since then because of which Yeti Group is hesitating to return back the land.