KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday ordered the government to put the works for the construction of the proposed Nijgadh International Airport on hold.

A single bench of Justice Tanka Bahadur Moktan made the order while responding to a writ filed by former secretary Dwariknath Dhungel, senior advocate Krishna Prasad Bhandari and former member of National Planning Commission Prabhu Budhathoki.

They had moved the court after millions of trees need to be cut for construction of the airport.

The apex court has summoned both plaintiffs and defendants for a discussion.

Environmental activists have been protesting the decision of the government to construct the airport in Nijgadh, Bara district.

It’s estimated that 2.4 million trees will have to be cut down to build the airport, which is expected to cost $3.5 billion. The planned project would also force some 500 families to move from their villages.

The protesters have been alleging that the planned airport would be an environmental disaster because it would destroy forests that are the habitat for wild animals in the area.