The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has vehemently stated that it will not comply with the Sagarmatha National Park's decision to ban commercial helicopter operations within its territory and buffer zones.
Issuing a press note on Friday, the CAAN stated that the decision to ban commercial helicopter flights will not be implemented.
Talking to Nepalkhabar, CANN's spokesperson Gyanendra Bhul said the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029, the Himalayan National Park Regulations, 2036 do not stipulate any provisions to ban commercial flights in the territory of the national parks and its buffer zones.
Bhul has asserted the CAAN is not obliged to comply with the Sagarmatha National Park's decision to ban helicopter flights arguing that it is illegal, baseless and irrelevant.
The Office of the Sagarmatha National Park on December 10 imposed a ban on commercial helicopter flights, stating that uncontrolled helicopter flights and landings had posed additional challenges to the protection and habitat of the park's wildlife, forests, and environment.
A joint meeting held between the Sagarmatha National Park Office, Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality, Sagarmatha National Park Buffer Zone Management Committee and local stakeholders, government and non-government organizations/institutions in the Khumbu region, had taken the decision to this effect on December 10 and circulated it to the 11 helicopter companies, as well as the CAAN, accordingly.
According to the decision, all kinds of commercially operated helicopters, except those used for rescuing tourists and locals and transporting goods, would be prohibited starting January 1, in order to manage helicopter flights and landings within the Sagarmatha National Park and buffer zone.
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