Deuba, NC lawmakers discuss air safety issue with PM Oli

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.