70 per cent trees cut down for construction of Sagarmatha Domestic Airport

By Bhaktibilas Pokhrel, Gaighat, Nov. 16: Tress have been cut down in the area where the proposed Sagarmatha Domestic Airport is to be built.

The proposed construction area of the airport Jogidaha stretches in areas of wards 1 and ward 2 of Triyuga Municipality, Udayapur.

With the cutting down of the trees, preparations for the much-awaited project have started in the district.

The agreement was signed between Department of Forestry and Soil  Conservation and Civic Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) on February 22, 2022, to allow the use of forest area land for building the domestic airport and as per the agreement, trees have been cut down by construction company who won the tender issued by CAAN. 

It is stated in the agreement that trees in the 105.10 hector area of the total 156.11 hector area will be cut down, while, the rest 50.41 hector area will not be disturbed to maintain greenery. 

Khil Raj Pokhrel, a businessman, said that there is a contract for cutting down a total of 13, 637 trees of 9,280 kinds located in the 62. 30 hector area of  Motihayi Forest Consumer Group and 42. 80 hector area of Kang Forest Consumer Group and till Tuesday, 70 per cent of trees have been cut down.