Editorial
Flying colors
Works to construct an international airport in Pokhara finally got underway. Although such an airport was mooted some 34 years back, for some reason or the other there had been a delay in the initiation of the building activities of the airport. They were attributed to causes like lack of budget and also political instability. Although much hue and cry has been raised for the building of other international airports besides the one at Kathmandu, the other plans have not been able to see the light of the day. Now that it has been decided to construct one at Pokhara and works to this effect have already started, it augurs well for the country and the tourism sector in particular. Pokhara is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Nepal, and every year tens of thousands of tourists visit this scenic site. As such, tourism entrepreneurs are of the view that building an international airport at Pokhara would contribute to drawing more visitors. The present airport at Pokhara is hard put to accommodate the heavy traffic of tourists, and the building of an international airport there would not only entice more tourists to visit the country but would help relieve the airport congestion of visitors.
Now that the construction works of the international airport has started all concerned should not pose obstacles in this lofty task. The country is ready to welcome at least a million visitors in the Visit Nepal Year 2011, hence the international airport at Pokhara would help in its way to attract more tourists and to also make their stay more pleasant. The international airport at Pokhara would contribute in a big way to the balanced development. Pokhara is an important centre in the Western Region with a vibrant economy. Its development, thus, would have positive impacts for development projects and people in this region. The decision to build the international airport was taken after much deliberation by the experts for this entails a lot of expenditure and consequences for the future. There are also plans to build another international airport at Lumbini which holds much potential for religious tourism. The building of more such airports in other parts of the country would, thus, allow the benefits accruing from tourism to reach the grassroots level.
Meanwhile, the airport at Pokhara is to be built in 106 ropanies of land. According to plans, as a detailed survey of the project has not been made so far, a preliminary survey and grading work would be completed as soon as possible. This would cost an estimated Rs. 1.5 million. The concerned should see that the project is completed within the time span allocated. This is important for it is according to the schedule that future plans for tourism in the country can be made through the projection of the number of guests expected. The building of such an airport is important if Nepal is to succeed in enticing more tourists to the country, it being one of the ideal tourism destinations in the world. Thus, since so much is at stake in the building of the international airport for the tourism sector which is the mainstay of the economy let the necessary cooperation be forthcoming from all the stakeholders.
Eye-to-eye
It may be unbelievable, but it is true. This refers to Nepal meeting hundred percent demands of the eye-patients. The development in the eye treatment sector has been phenomenal and even envious by all standards when we look at the other health service areas. As reports present it, an estimated 2 million people undergo eye check ups every year, while the number of those who have some sort of eye surgery stands at 200,000. To have gained the high level of sophistication in the field of ophthalmology must be acclaimed and the credit by all means must go to the eye specialists who have worked altruistically over the years in bringing succour to millions of patients with one or the other problem with their eyes.
The initiatives taken by the eye hospitals and specialists have resulted in tens of thousands getting back their sight with the corneal transplants for which Nepal’s ranking is foremost. In this area, the progress attained has been worth emulating by the other sectors in the health service domain. It gives reason to believe that the exemplary achievement in the ophthalmic sector can be replicated in the other health service delivery systems for realizing the “Health for all” goal.
