PAC sub-committee studies alleged irregularities in Pokhara airport construction

POKHARA: A sub-committee formed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives has held discussions on alleged irregularities in the construction of Pokhara International Airport (PIA) with local stakeholders.

The sub-committee, led by Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Rajendra Prasad Lingden, held discussions with local stakeholders and officials of the Civil Aviation Office Pokhara on Monday and Tuesday.

The PAC formed the sub-committee after a complaint about irregularities in the construction of Pokhara International Airport was lodged with it. The sub-committee will study the reasons for the lack of international flights, as well as technical errors in the design of the airport, and submit its recommendations to the PAC within a month.

Lingden said the sub-committee will prepare its report based on an on-site study, expert discussions, and interactions with local stakeholders. “We will investigate whether there were irregularities in the airport construction and recommend action if any wrongdoings are found,” he said.

During discussions, local stakeholders expressed concern over the low runway height compared to the project’s design. They also urged the government to resolve any geopolitical issues hindering international flight operations at the airport.

Gandaki Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey expressed hope that the House panel will come up with a comprehensive report on the airport. Likewise, Pokhara Mayor Dhanaraj Acharya underlined the need to address genuine questions being raised about the airport.

Also speaking on the occasion, former FNCCI President Ananda Raj Mulmi said the length of the runway was deliberately lowered. “Instead of raising the height of the runway through earthworks, they lowered it by excavating soil and rock,” he alleged.

The airport was built using a $215.96 million soft loan from the China Exim Bank. The government has spent another Rs 4 billion on compensation for land acquired for the project and other related works. China CAMC Engineering Company Limited constructed the airport for Rs 22.61 billion.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the airport on January 1, 2023. The airport, however, has seen only five chartered flights over the past one and a half years.