Since the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Rupandehi has been without international flights for the past two months, the private sector organizations here have been protesting. Demanding regular international flights, industry and business stakeholders and social organizations have started a pressing program.
Organizations that have been creating pressure for the operation of the airport through memorandums and discussions have demonstrated for an hour at the entrance of the airport.
Industry-business organization Rupandehi (Chamber of Commerce) was led by more than two dozen organizations of the district participated with banners. The participants in the demonstration demanded the government to fulfill the promises made earlier to continue the international flights.
The heads of all political parties in the country for the operation of the airport and Darpan Shrestha, President of Industry-Trade Organization Rupandehi, said that they had to embark on a pressure protest after there was no hearing even after submitting the memorandum to the former and current Prime Minister. They displayed banners and placards at the entrance of
International Airport. They demanded the necessary manpower, visas and medical center to be opened immediately for the operation of the airport.
Netra Prasad Acharya, president of Siddhartha Udyog Commerce Association, said that the government is trying to spread dust in the eyes of local residents and the private sector by repeatedly promising to operate international flights. "The private sector has been forced to take to the streets after the memorandum and the discussion program stopped getting pressure," he said. "It is not our desire to hold pressure programs on the streets in this hot sun," he said, "but the government did not listen to our demands, did not see that the business was drowning in debt, so we had to do the struggle program." He said that the government did not listen to the private sector of Rupandehi continuously demanding regular operation of the airport.
The industrialists and businessmen of Rupandehi conducted a pressing program a year ago. According to CP Shrestha, president of Siddharth Hotel Association, a sit-in was held outside the airport for 15 days at that time. When the pressure was not enough, the businessmen's delegation reached Kathmandu and put pressure on the concerned minister. "The entire Rupandehi district should unite and raise their voices to run the airport," Shrestha said, "otherwise, no one seems to be listening."
