It is around the time when the constitution of 2072 is promulgated. One of the leaders, who is a member of the House of Representatives, said in a meeting with me - The Chinese are also positive about making an agreement to spend the election expenses from the money that will come to build the airport. This money will also be agreed to be distributed among all the main parties. How can such a project proceed without sharing its benefits at least among the leadership of Nepali Congress, UML and CPN-Maoist?

Usually, such proposals are brought to the leaders by contracting companies and commission agents and 'lobbying'. The interesting case of the then Minister Raghuveer Mahaseth rejecting the proposal to expand the Suryavinayak-Dhulikhel road brought by the Japanese and the excessive cost proposed for it was discussed in the UML circle. Which showed how the Japanese also wanted to influence the leadership of a country like ours to get into debt and make a profit . It is said that this incident was responsible for his departure as a minister.

The context of that proposal from the Chinese side was about the commission to be taken from the grant amount. It was not about the 'modality' of taking the loan . Later, the Chinese subsidy did not come for the construction of the airport . The project was built with a loan from a Chinese bank. Project observers suspect that the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority unit, political parties and contractor companies have worked to increase the debt burden of the country. That leader is not in the parliament now. But the Public Accounts Committee under the Parliament has concluded that during the construction of Pokhara Airport, the contractor company and the project unit of the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority have colluded in corruption to put additional burden on the state. Although the project chief and other employees were demanded to take action, it did not say anything about the role of political leadership. This report itself is also in controversy. There were members with conflict of interest in the sub-committee. Two members representing UML have not signed. And, the sub-committee coordinator was RPP chairman Rajendra Lingden, who is on a declared mission to discredit the current system. Despite the

controversy, it has raised some serious questions. This report shows how the political power elites at the level of governing the state of a developing country like ours abuse foreign aid, grants or loans that come in the name of economic development. And, it also answers the question why the projects are not completed on time and at predetermined cost even when we have so many foreign grants and loans. Melamchi like Pokhara Airport, Narayangadh-Butwal road extension project, Nagadhunga tunnel route and Dhulikhel-Sindhuli road are examples of misuse of foreign aid and grants. It also indicates how the political elite of a country like ours is involved in the misuse of financial aid or assistance received from abroad and colluding with donors for short-term benefits and intending to harm the country. In this case, it is certain that the debate of the Parliament's Accounts Committee will not yield a meaningful conclusion. And, unless an organization proves it, there is no way to accuse someone of taking commission.

The long wait at the airport 

The beauty of Pokhara was definitely more attractive 50 years ago than it is now. For those who enjoy the beauty of nature, an unspoiled mountain, unspoiled physical structure of people, green hills and valleys that have not been damaged by development. Seeing the potential of its commercialization, even the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) moved to study the construction of a regional airport here. He also selected the location after studying the initial feasibility. The report was prepared after studying it in detail with German technical assistance. In 2033, more than 3,000 ropanis of land were acquired amid the strict measures of the then Gandaki District Commissioner Shankarraj Pathak. From around 2050, in cooperation with all political parties, including Pokhara's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, tourism professionals and people from civil society, there were agitations and pressure campaigns demanding the construction of an airport immediately. 

Responding to this pressure, the government started preparing to build the airport from around 2067. After receiving a medium-term loan equal to 22 billion rupees from the Exim Bank of China at an interest rate of 2 percent, after completing all the preparations, the contract was awarded to a Chinese construction company according to the bank's terms, and the foundation stone of this project was laid on 1st Baisakh 2073 . The then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, leaders of the ruling party, former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Deputy Prime Minister Vijay Gachchdar, Kamal Thapa along with Chief Minister Shashank Koirala from the main opposition party were present at the inauguration. It showed the importance of the project and it could be understood that all the political parties were trying to get hold of it. 

The project, which was affected by Corona and the lockdown, was scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2079, but it was completed in November. Even after two and a half years have passed at the airport, which was duly inaugurated on December 17, 2079, external flights have not been resumed. In recent weeks, direct flights have started from Lhasa and Chengdu airports in China, but the very limited number of such flights does not use the airport's capacity .

It is said that the use of the airport, including the above-mentioned airport in China, is aimed at various cities in India, Dhaka, Colombo and even Myanmar, except for domestic flights. The airport has not been able to pay the debt. Although the domestic flight is making some profit by raising its basic operating expenses, it is not able to contribute much to the interest payment of the loan . And it is uncertain when the hopes of Pokhara residents that the regional international airport will be operational and Pokhara and its surrounding areas will achieve economic growth based on tourism will be fulfilled.

Controversy and corruption matters 

On 30 April 2025, Dr. on a Chinese portal. Wong Chi Te's article has been published, entitled Corruption in Nepal's Airport Project. The author's concern is that if Chinese companies are unable to respond to accusations of corruption in projects involving Chinese companies in other countries, China's image will deteriorate . This should be avoided. After reading the article of this portal, I remembered the corruption committed by representatives of Chinese companies on the Pokhara-Baglung highway. I knew that the cement that came for the Chinese project was bought at a cheap price and was used for making toilets in the houses around the construction project or for other purposes. Later, I heard the news that a party member who commanded the project was executed in China. In any country, if another country gives assistance or a company of that country works under a contract, when the result is good, its "soft power" will expand . The country becomes popular. Otherwise the attitude towards it becomes negative and his 'soft power diplomacy' becomes weak . Some of my Chinese friends were interested and inquired about it . Of course, this dispute must have increased the interest in the Chinese diplomatic field . 

China's interest in the ongoing dispute over the Pokhara airport is understandable. But geopolitical reasons are as responsible for the project falling into controversy as internal. The majority of the parliamentary sub-committee has recommended action against Pradeep Adhikari, the then project chief and now Director General of Nepal Civil Aviation Authority, as the main culprit for corruption in the

project. He was already infamous . No prime minister has been able to remove him, nor has he wanted to. He challenges and reprimands the tourism ministers. This means that these officials are protected above those who hold the Ministry of Tourism. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who visited China last year, also included the topic of persuading China to waive Pokhara Airport's debt on the agenda of his visit. Before going to China, some people, including the finance minister, insisted on making this matter a matter of reputation. But China did not want to keep this proposal on the agenda of the talks. Once, in a meeting with journalists, Chinese Ambassador Chen Song clearly said that choosing a plan, asking for a loan, accepting the conditions, and now canceling it is not acceptable. There is no instance of such loans being converted into grants. China wants the airport to operate smoothly as it was built with China's loan assistance and built by Chinese contractors. But for this, he meant that Nepal should take the initiative for flights to Indian cities, not China.

strange opposition 

In the second week of August last year, a strange procession took place in Kathmandu. Twenty-two people were protesting against corruption at Pokhara Airport in the demonstration held at Babarmahal-Maitighar. A rather tall, suit-booted man was leading . All others were ordinary laborers in Kathmandu. It was clear that they had come to the procession only for that day's wages. The placards of the rally said they were opposing BRI and targeted Pokhara Airport. The people of Pokhara were not included in it and there were no familiar faces of the civil society. Clearly the protest was sponsored. The news of it was not reported by others, instead it appeared as a small news item on the front page of a daily from Pokhara the next day. When I understood, the editor of the newspaper was also in doubt as to whether the news was sponsored or not.

Why is this important, even though many people don't notice, someone is investing in creating a strong psychology that Nepal should not do anything related to the BRI project (just like the Chinese are also sponsoring many programs to prepare public opinion in favor of BRI). India's obstruction of Pokhara Airport is also an expression of this geopolitical friction. As he is obstructing the operation of Bhairahawa Airport . Before this, the threatening phone calls of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu that Nepal should take over the MCC project, which has now been cancelled, were an expression of such geopolitical confusion. Those who are playing a role in making Pokhara Airport fail.

Some grounds were already prepared that there was corruption. On 12 November 2023, the New York Times and later some other reputable news organizations wrote about it and brought it to international attention. Even after such a discussion, the main reasons are the investment of China, the investment being more than the actual cost of the project, and the airport not being operational even after the inauguration.