08 Dec 2009 8ak: Maoist party’s mouthpiece, The Jana Disha Daily has reported that the Nepalese government has given a green signal to India to construct the airstrip for the Indian Air Force in Surkhet. It is expected that the decision in this regard was taken at a consultative meeting held between the representatives of the Government of India and Nepal, held during December 4-7, 2009 in Kathmandu.
As per the agreement the government of Nepal will have to allocate some ten hectares of lands in the area to construct the Air Strip. From the Indian perspective, Surkhet is important because it is close to the tri-junction, Kalapani, where China meets India in Nepali territory. Over the past two years, India has been opening up advanced landing grounds (ALGS) for strategic purposes. It opened the Nyoma ALG in eastern Ladakh in September this year.
Retired IAF pilot, Sqn Ldr Rajesh Kumar, who has flown in Nepal after retirement says, “the airstrip will benefit not only the IAF, but also Nepal as Surkhet airstrip is used by the Nepal government to supply basic amenities to the region, which has virtually no road connectivity and the existing airstrip is in pathetic shape, as the Nepalese government never had any money to maintain it.” It was earlier reported that India has already built air-strips deep inside Bhutan, which is an Indian protectorate.
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