Kathmandu, Oct. 1
The federal government has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karnali state government to construct
airports.
It is the first MoU between the
federal government with the sub-national level.
It was signed to develop, expand
and upgrade the Surkhet Airport.
State Secretary Ghanashyam
Upadhayaya and Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)
signed the MoU on Thursday at a programme organised at the Ministry of Culture,
Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA).
Minister for Tourism Yogesh
Bhattarai, Chief Minister of Karnali Mahendra Bahadur Shahi and state's
Minister for Economic Affair and Planning Prakash Jwala were present on the
occasion.
"This is the first MoU of its
kind. It is a milestone in implementing the federalism. Such agreements will be
signed with State 1 and Sudurpaschim as well," said Minister Bhattarai.
“Although the airports fall under
the domain of the federal government, state and local governments also have
their rights on them, therefore, I am hopeful of better results from the MoU,”
he said.
According to him, the state
governments can forge partnership with the Nepal Airlines Corporation in
investment and operation.
He said that the private airlines
will operate services to the profitable destinations so Nepal Airlines should
be stronger to expand its services where the air service was necessary. State
governments can make their investment in the company.
Chief Minister Shahi termed the MoU
as a historic one and will help in agriculture and tourism development in the
province.
According to the MoU, the MoCTCA
and Karnali government will coordinate in the programmes and processes, such as
taking the issue to the Cabinet for the development, expansion and upgrading of
the Surkhet Airport, identifying the additional land needed for the expansion
and recommend for the same, and implementing construction works.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 October 2020.
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