Kathmandu, Aug 5: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba and a group of party lawmakers discussed about domestic air safety issues with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
The meeting was focused on
progressing the civil aviation bills aiming to split the existing Civil
Aviation Authority of Nepal into two entities: as a service provider and a
regulatory body.
According to Nepali Congress
lawmaker Rajendra Bajgai, in the meeting held on Sunday, they discussed about
the need to proceed ahead with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Bill and
the Air Service Authority of Nepal Bill along with other contemporary
issues.
They also touched on the issues
relating to the need to enhance the safety of Nepal's aviation sector, making
it reliable and connecting it to the development and promotion of the tourism
industry.
According to Bajgai, their (NC
lawmakers) conclusion is that the same body (CAAN) functioning as the service
provider and the regulatory simultaneously is capable of promoting the conflict
of interests. This is in contravention of the international practices as well.
That's why it is warranted that the aviation body be split into two entities and
advance towards air safety.
It is noted that the European Union
has concerns over air safety in Nepal and has advised Nepal to have separate bodies for providing services and regulations.
Deuba was accompanied by Jeevan
Pariyar, Ramesh Lekhak, Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, Ishwori Neupane, Sanjay Gautam,
Uday Shumsher Rana, Rajan KC, Pratima Gautam, Sarita Prasai, Ramkrishna Yadav,
Pushpa Bahadur Shahi, Shanti Pariyar, and Sita Mijar including Bajgai.
The twin bills that the National Assembly had endorsed turned deactivated upon reaching the House of
Representatives, according to Bajgai. (RSS)