Pokhara International Airport Causes Construction Halt on Water Tank Project
Summary
Construction of a 31.8-meter overhead water tank in Pokhara’s Kolpatan area has been halted after the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said it poses a flight-safety risk near Pokhara International Airport. The dispute has put JICA-backed water and sewerage projects worth billions of rupees at risk and left more than 34,000 residents waiting for water supply upgrades.
Key Points
- The overhead tank under the Pokhara Water Supply Improvement Project was stopped at 20 meters after Pokhara International Airport began operating nearby.
- The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal says the tank must be cut down to protect flight safety, while the Nepal Water Supply Corporation warns that doing so could disrupt water supply to over 34,000 people.
- JICA says it may not begin new water supply and drainage projects in Pokhara until the dispute over the Kolpatan tank is resolved.
- Mayor Dhanraj Acharya says the unresolved dispute has already jeopardized a planned JICA wastewater and sewerage project worth 11 billion rupees.
