Sunsari. Dharan Sub-metropolis-17, Dandaghopa (IGP), which was stalled for the past two years for the construction of an airport, has been lifted.

Former mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, Harka Raj Rai (Sampang), had decided to stop the recommendation for the sale of land in the area for the construction of the airport on August 24, 2080.

As a result of this decision, land belonging to more than 1,000 households at Dandaghopa of Dharan Sub-metropolis-17 was frozen. Acting Mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, Aindra Bikram Begha, said that the ban on land except the land of Yeti Incorporated was lifted on Tuesday following an application from local landowners. Acting Mayor Begha informed that the decision regarding the release has been sent to the Ward No 17 Office, Land Revenue and Survey Office.

Some 22 years ago, Yeti Incorporated had purchased around seven bighas of land in Dandaghopa with the plan to construct the airport. The construction of the airport had not moved ahead as there was no clear legal provision allowing private companies to build the airport. Locals who had sold their land for the construction of the airport at a cheaper price had been demanding that their land be returned as the airport was not constructed. Twenty-two years ago, Yeti Incorporated had purchased land worth Rs 28,000 to Rs 32,000 per kattha from about 29 households for the construction of the airport.

The project was in confusion after the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in course of feasibility study of the airport was not technically suitable for the construction of the airport. Lately, the study process was initiated again under the direction of the then Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati.

The NRA had formed a three-member team under the coordination of manager Nal Bikram Thapa on November 9, 2080 with senior legal officer Bimal Khanal and Chartered Accountant Anil Basnet as members. The team had carried out an on-site study of the proposed airport area on December 7, 2080.

The team carried out the study on the basis of past reports. CAAN had sent a letter to the Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City on June 15, 2017 stating that around 93.25 bighas of land would be required for the construction of the airport for ATR-42 aircraft. The team had concluded that more area would be required as 72-seater aircraft are currently in operation.