Pratibimba 2019 Pratibimba 2019 | Page 46

k|ltlaDa Nature reflects our nature Nijgadh International Airport: Boon or Bane Background By 2021, Nepal’s Annual International air traffic is expected to reach 20 million passengers which can create deadly aviation crashes. This has compelled the Nepal government to build anoth- er international airport. And after studies based on technical and geographical aspects Nigjadh (Bara) has been recommended as the best loca- tion. Civil Aviation started carrying out EIA of NIA about 2 year ago. MOFE then approved the EIA on May 23, 2018. But the EIA has not been made available to the Media, Civil Society & Conver- sationalists. Later, the Nepal Forum of Environ- ment Journalists managed to get the EIA report. Introduction Location: Kolhavi municipality, Nijgadh, Bara Province 2, Nepal. Project includes an airport city and modern road connection between Nijgadh and Kathmandu. Deadline: December 2025 It is said to be the 3rd biggest International Air- port of the World. (Source: Prachanda Jung Shah, former Captain). This will have Socio-economic, political and environmental Impacts. Environmental Impact 1) 2.4 million trees are to be chopped down in 3 phases. 2) First phase: 769,691 Trees 3) GON assured planting 25 saplings for every single tree i.e. 62 million new saplings for the whole project. 4) 90 species of mammals directly affected, among which 5 are believed to be endangered. (Source : Roshan Sharma, Researcher at RMIT university, Melbourne, Australia) 5) Disturbance in ecological functions such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water and air purification and maintenance of wildlife habitat. 6) Quality Water management to the airport is another big project. 7) Socio-cultural benefits along with artistic and philosophical values to be disturbed. 8) Southern parts of Bara and adjoining towns of India will be prone to floods. 9) 3 districts to turn into desert with frequent floods. (Source: Chandra Kishore Jha, Journalist of Birgunj) Nature and Social Concern Society 46