Airport strike called off

Nepalgunj, July 7:

People of the Karnali region, who had been padlocking the main gate of the Nepalgunj Airport and staging a sit-in outside it to pressure the government to meet their eight-point charter of demands, withdrew their protest after reaching a pact with the local administration.

“We withdrew the strike after the local administration pledged to meet two of our demands and inform the centre about six of our demands,” coordinator of the Karnali Rights Coordination Committee (KRCC) Narendranath Yogi said.

According to him, the agreement, among others, has pledged to implement multiple ticket system. As per the agreement, Yeti and Sita airlines will offer discounts to people of the Karnali region. Yogi said the local administration has agreed to ensure 55 per cent discount for students on air fares and lodging facilities for passengers if flights are delayed.

A seven-member panel comprising the Chief District Officer, representatives of the agitators and Air Licence Holders and officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has been formed to implement the agreement, CDO Narendra Raj Sharma said.

Coordinator of the agitators, Yogi, said locks at the offices of private airlines and cargo office will be lifted tomorrow.