LOGIN DASHBOARD

    Perspectives

    Opinions

    4 MIN READ

    Both economic and non-economic factors need to be considered if Nijgadh airport is to be feasible

    Uttam Babu Shrestha, May 1, 2019, Kathmandu

    Both economic and non-economic factors need to be considered if Nijgadh airport is to be feasible

      Share this article

    Development and environmental preservation are not antithetical goals

    (Google Earth)

    The environmental impact of a colossal infrastructure project like Nijgadh airport is not just about the number of trees that will have to be cut down. Infrastructures normally have two kinds of effects on the environment. First, through the ecological destruction during the construction phase and second, by depositing harmful substances in the ecosystem after operation. Carbon emissions, sound pollution and generation of a huge amount of solid waste and consumption of massive amount of energy means that the operation of airport of that size—and not just the construction—will have a significant impact on the environment and society.

    The environment is not only visible trees and greenery.  There are countless invisible substances and processes that provide the necessary ecosystem goods and services for human well-being. For instance, absorption of carbon dioxide, recharge of water sources, protection from disasters and maintenance of soil fertility and climate cycle are not visible and hard to measure, but these services are essential for human existence. Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the illusion that nature perpetually provides those service free of cost.

    The common practice of preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment reports in Nepal is ignoring these invisible aspects of ecosystems and taking these services for-granted. As a result, our developmental activities have invited environmental destruction  and pollution which could have been minimized. Such developments have not enhanced our quality of life and wellbeing but eroded them.

    Read more: Nijgadh Airport to be Catastrophic for Nepal’s Tiger and Elephant Populations

    Rampant destruction from bikas is visible in our cities as well as our villages. Fresh air, clean water, and greenery have become scarce commodities in our cities, while the dozer driven development in villages has invited environmental catastrophes such as landslides, soil erosion and deforestation. Our life support systems are dismantled in the name of bikas. Unfortunately, there is no sign that we have learnt anything from the mistakes that have been made in the name of development.

    Changes over the last 40 years

    The idea of building Nijgadh Airport as a regional hub had first been proposed about 40 years ago. In this time, aviation technology has made massive progress. For example, four decades ago, a Boeing could fly for a maximum of 12 hours non-stop. Today’s airplanes such as AirBus-350 and Boeing-787 can easily fly for 16-18 hours without stopping. Last autumn, Singapore Airlines set a record of 19 hours non-stop flight from Singapore to Newark and some 20+ hour non-stop flights are underway. This advancement in aviation technology raises a question to the idea of constructing Nijgadh, which is only four to five hours away from popular international transits like Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, as a regional hub. Perhaps, the four decade old idea of making Nijgadh a regional airport is obsolete by now.

    Nepal’s location as a small country between economic giants—China and India—also makes Nijgadh airport seem like a faulty idea. A report from the World Economic Forum predicted that China will have the biggest aviation market by 2022. China is currently building eight new big airports in strategic locations. Not only is the number of airports in China growing, Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern are expanding at an unprecedented rate. This clearly indicates China will soon emerge as a new international transit hub. Similar progress albeit at a slower pace is taking place in India. Currently, Dubai is a hub for Emirates, Bangkok for Thai Airlines, Hong Kong for Cathy Pacific, Singapore for Singapore Airlines and Doha for Qatar Airlines. On that basis, the proposed Nijgadh should be an obvious hub for Nepal Airlines—the national flag carrier. Making a hub for the incompetent Nepal Airlines, which is an epitome of mismanagement and corruption and is currently unable to find new destinations for recently purchased fleets, seems like a complete waste of resources. Furthermore, the credibility of our international airport is poor and airport security is not even trusted by our nearest neighbor, India. Given the negative reputation of our national flag carrier and the dubious security system of our international airport, making Nijgadh a major hub without rapidly transforming the negative images of our airport and airlines is not possible. The only economic rationale behind building Nijgadh is an expansion of our tourism industry— which is primarily ecotourism.

    Preserving the environment— a national obligation

    Nepal’s developmental partners and donor communities have been supporting the efforts of environmental conservation for decades, yielding some notable results. On this basis, many may seem to portray protection of the environment as a foreign agenda. But if donor involvement makes something a ‘foreign agenda’ we have to consider the peace process, constitution writing and other infrastructural development projects supported by donors as part of a foreign agenda. We cannot ignore our own long history of conserving the environment based on the traditional ecological knowledge of our own indigenous communities.

    This advancement in aviation technology raises a question to the idea of constructing Nijgadh, which is only four to five hours away from popular international transits like Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, as a regional hub. Perhaps, the four decade old idea of making Nijgadh a regional airport is obsolete by now.

    The mindset of viewing environment as an obstacle to development needs to be changed for a new international airport to be a feasible idea. Preserving environment is an inherent component of sustainable development. We can bring prosperity to the nation only if we prioritize environmental concerns. If Nijgadh is to be constructed, making it eco-friendly and branding it as one of the greenest airports in the world actually enhance profits and attract investors. These days, because of the growing urgency of addressing climate change, people are more sensitive to nature than ever before. At present, there is a race towards making things ‘green’ globally even in the aviation industry. Airplane makers are competing to make fuel-efficient and eco-friendly planes. Previously built airports such as Chiang Mai airport in Singapore are transforming by increasing greenery and reducing carbon footprint. India has recently completed the world’s first solar-powered airport. As a late comer of development, we have opportunities to learn from others. If they can, why can’t we?

    Translated by Sandesh Ghimire



    author bio photo

    Uttam Babu Shrestha  Shrestha is affiliated with the Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, a Nepal based research institute.



    Comments

    Get the best of

    the Record

    Previous Next

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    COVID19

    News

    5 min read

    Covid19 Roundup, 11 May: Cases reach 134 as MPs propose bigger health budget

    The Record - May 11, 2020

    A daily summary of Covid19 related developments that matter

    Perspectives

    6 min read

    Insights from Tilotamma Municipality on environmental governance

    Shuvam Rizal - May 17, 2022

    As Nepal readies to welcome new local leaders, dialogue with residents from Tilottama in Rupandehi reveals creative ways to champion environmental programs at the local level.  

    News

    4 min read

    When it rains, it pours

    The Record - October 21, 2021

    More than 70 lives have already been lost to this past week’s rains with the toll only expected to rise. 

    Perspectives

    8 min read

    From Darchula to Dharchula, every day for work

    Jag Bahadur Budha - March 31, 2022

    Hundreds of Nepalis cross the Mahakali border every day looking for work in India's Dharchula. There are no jobs in Nepal, they say.

    News

    4 min read

    Supreme Court reinstates Parliament again, thwarting Oli’s plans

    The Record - July 12, 2021

    The court has ordered that Sher Bahadur Deuba be appointed prime minister by Tuesday and that the reinstated House meet within a week’s time, by Sunday.

    Features

    13 min read

    Further crippling the yarsagumba economy could worsen hunger in Nepal’s mountain regions

    David Ellis Johnson - June 14, 2020

    The ban on this year’s harvest due to Covid-19 threatens livelihoods and risks furthering the nation’s food insecurity

    Features

    4 min read

    After roads and viewing towers, stadium mania grips Nepal

    The Record - October 15, 2020

    Local bodies across Nepal are funneling scarce resources into pointless projects like stadiums even as people in their constituency struggle to make a living

    Features

    5 min read

    Dawa Chiring Lapcha drives an ambulance

    Aishwarya Baidar - May 12, 2021

    As millions stay safely home, frontliners like Lapcha rush through the Valley’s empty streets, risking their own lives to save those infected with Covid-19.

    • About
    • Contributors
    • Jobs
    • Contact

    CONNECT WITH US

    © Copyright the Record | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy