KATHMANDU, Dec. 7 -- The Supreme Court on Friday directed the authorities concerned including the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to stay construction work on the proposed Nijgadh airport in Bara district.

Responding to a public interest litigation filed by a group of lawyers including Ranju Hajur Pandey Chhetri, the single bench of Justice Tanka Bahadur Moktan ordered the government not to begin the airport construction work until a final order is issued.

Both the writ petitioners and government representatives have been summoned before the court for December 15 to discuss the issue.

A group of advocates and nature conservationists went to court on Monday, demanding that the airport be const...