Pokhara, July 9:

The Maoists have begun cultivation on a land acquired 34 years ago for airport construction

in Pokhara.

Maoists’ sister organisations — Tamuwan State Committee, Young Communist League and All Nepal Trade Union Federation — cultivated 60 ropanis out of 3,106 ropanis on commercial scale.

Local farmers have been tilling the other part of acquired land for years.

YCL Kaski president Dipak Koirala said the YCL cadres and workers’ union took up cultivation on 60 ropanis of land last year, as it had been lying barren for a long time. According to him, 50 ropanis of land covered maize plants, paddy was planted on three ropanis, and vegetables on seven ropanis. Coordinator of the ANTUF Gandaki Khagendra Kafle said the barren land was utilised last year.