Vehicular movement came to a complete halt as the people blocked the highways, while ambulances and vehicles carrying essential commodities used alternatives routes to supply their goods. Educational institutions, business offices and marketplace remained shut throughout the day.
Stadium construction struggle committee´s deputy coordinator Tanka Dulal said they would not withdraw their strike until the construction of the regional stadium is initiated.
According to Dulal, the two-year old proposal of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Construction to build a regional stadium in Itahari became a subject of fierce debate after locals of the neighboring towns demanded that the stadium be built in their own towns.
Of the 52 bigha land belonging to Jute Research Center, 16 bighas were allotted for the stadium in Itahari but no decision has been finalized yet.
Locals of Dharan, Itahari and Inaruwa have been demanding that the stadium be built in their towns after the government announced that the stadium would be constructed in Sunsari during the budget for fiscal 2009/10.
Biratnagar is the latest to join chorus. National players´ protection and promotion committee, Morang, argued that the stadium should be built in Biratnagar because it is the second largest city that is home to some of the most competitive and experienced players in the country.
The committee´s Chairman Rajiv Kunwar stressed the need to construct stadium in Biratnagar owing to the fact that Biratnagar, being an industrial city, has facilities of transportation, electricity, hotels and proper drinking water. It is, however, not without reason for Biratnagar to demand the stadium.
The government had bought 16 bighas of land in Morang´s Baijanathpur for the stadium some thirteen years ago. The land has turned into a grazing field now. “It is not appropriate to build a stadium elsewhere after buying land here,” argued a coach Upendra Yadav.
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