June 28: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has responded positively to the demands of the Biratnagar Airport victims who have been protesting since last week demanding compensation for the land or to allow transaction of the land plots that have been blocked by the government.

Deuba said that he would do his best to make the airport regional level after first releasing the land and then allocating the budget.

 On Sunday, a five-member team including Nepali Congress central member Amrit Aryal, former mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City and NC central member Bhim Parajuli met Prime Minister Deuba at Baluwatar and asked him to take initiative for the development of Biratnagar.

Aryal informed the prime minister that no budget has been allocated for the construction of Biratnagar Airport at the regional level and the locals have started agitation after the land was withheld without providing them compensation.

Former Mayor Parajuli complained that the contract for the terminal building of Biratnagar Airport was canceled and the development was pushed back.

Parajuli also reminded the prime minister that the ring road of Biratnagar had not been built even 40 years after its foundation stone was laid, the recurring problem of flood had not been solved, an exhibition site had not been built and a special economic zone could not be built in Amaduwa.

The prime minister said that the land reserved for the airport will be released immediately after the appointment of the new minister for civil aviation.