Though officials at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) said the purpose of Magar´s visit was to inspect the possibility of resuming flights to Doti, sources disclosed that top Maoist leaders including UCPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Supplies Minister Lekh Raj Bhatta were on board, and they flew to Doti to conduct a ´cadre orientation´ program organized secretly by the Maoist establishment faction.[break]
The minister´s highhanded move kept the aircraft away from regular flight throughout the day and left passengers headed to and from Kangel Danda in Solukhumbu and Pokhara high and dry. It also inflicted a monetary loss of over Rs 336,000 on the ailing national flag carrier, according to a NAC source.
"NAC´s Twin-Otter 9N-ABO was scheduled to fly to Kangel Danda at 9 a.m. and to Pokhara at 3 p.m. Monday. Tickets were already sold out. But the minister took the plane to Doti, causing inconveniences to the passengers," said a NAC source.
The airport at Doti, which Magar purportedly went to inspect, has not been in operation for the last 15 years.
Though NAC had plans for resuming regular flights to Doti, sources said there was no notice whatsoever till Sunday night of the minister´s flight plan. "We got the minister´s message only in the morning," said the source.
Sources further disclosed that Magar had pressured NAC Chairman Manarup Shahi early Monday morning to arrange an aircraft for him to fly to Doti. Shahi, though reluctant at first, gave in.
"Not surprisingly, the 15 Maoist leaders flew without paying airfare or airport tax," said the source. The one-way fare for Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Doti is Rs 10,496.
NAC currently operates only two Twin Otters, for flights to more than a dozen destinations -- most of them in remote areas.
"The flight to Kangel Danda operates only once a week. The rash move by the minister has left the passengers planning to fly to and from Kathmandu today stranded for a week," said the source.
NAC Spokesperson Raju KC, however, said the flight to Doti was arranged as per a plan to resume services on the Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Doti route. "It is true the arrangement has left some of the passengers stranded at Kangel Danda. We will arrange some other flights for them in a few days," he stated.
According to MoTCA officials, Minister Magar had told NAC to arrange an aircraft for him at 7 a.m. However, this was postponed for two hours as Maoist Chairman Dahal turned up late.
After leaving Tribhuvan International Airport, the flight was scheduled to refuel at Nepalgunj. However, on direct instruction from Magar, it refueled at Surkhet, where, interestingly, Maoist leader Lila Mani Pokharel was waiting. Pokharel boarded the plane there.
"This is extreme abuse of power," said a senior MoTCA official, requesting anonymity. "It shames us all," he added.
Meanwhile, Minister Magar, talking to the press after the Maoist function, said NAC will start Katmandú-Nepalgunj-Doti flights once a week from next week.
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