Submit your Article

A new bill registered in the House of Representatives aims to remove the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal’s (CAAN) role as a service provider, if passed. This legislation will separate CAAN’s regulatory and service-oriented functions, allowing it to focus solely on oversight and compliance.

According to Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, CAAN will retain its authority over key regulatory responsibilities, such as granting and revoking aircraft-related permissions, overseeing registration and cancellations, and ensuring personnel qualifications. It will also be responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards for air services.

To manage airport construction, operation, and related services, a separate bill has been proposed. This new legislation, the Nepal Civil Aviation Act 2024, will replace the Civil Aviation Authority Act 1996.

Under this restructuring, CAAN will have the authority to grant licenses and permissions to organizations and service providers operating airlines, aircraft, gliders, ultralights, microline balloons, paragliding, skydiving, and other aerial activities. It will also oversee air navigation services, airport operations, and civil aviation training programs.

Additionally, the bill grants CAAN jurisdiction over aircraft and parts manufacturing, maintenance, import, storage, sale, and distribution. It will regulate commercial flights by foreign airlines in Nepal and oversee international airline operations.

The authority will also have the power to issue ‘type’ certificates for aircraft and grant licenses, certificates, and permits to personnel requiring specialized skills in civil aviation.

Further responsibilities include setting standards for air traffic services, aircraft search and rescue, fire prevention, aviation weather information, and life-saving services. CAAN will also be responsible for installing, operating, repairing, and maintaining aviation communication, air navigation, and surveillance equipment.

Moreover, the authority will enforce international aviation standards and implement recommendations from global conventions and organizations. It will also coordinate and collaborate with international regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with global aviation norms.

Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Balaram Adhikari, has said the government is working in a way that the Commission formed now to address the land-related issues would be the final one.

While inaugurating a building for the Land Revenue and Survey Office at local Chabahil today, he said the Commission has been granted the authority now unlike the previous Commissions.

He said no fake landless people will be recognized as the landless people as in this digitalized age the status of land possession of anyone will be easily known with the online entry of the citizenship certificate.

Minister Adhikari urged the Office employees to not work against rules and procedures, warning an action in case of violation of rules.

The Land Management Minister said that land that was capped during the 2021 BS Land Reform Policy, has now been registered and it should be corrected.

He also urged the Office to ensure the archiving of the details of public land across the country.

He said the Office has been established to provide the land revenue and survey services from a single venue.

Secretary at the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation, Arjun Prasad Pokhrel stressed that office employees should work with a new vision, advising them to protect the old data in a systematic way.

Reports of two bills have been tabled in today's meeting of the National Assembly.

In the 17th session of the NA, commenced from today, President of Legislative Management Committee, Tulasa Kumari Dahal, presented the Committee's reports on 'Media Council Bill, 2080' and 'Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Bill, 2081'.

Presenting the reports, Dahal mentioned that goals of maintaining professional ethics in the journalism sector as well as achieving sustainable development goals from the promotion of renewable energy through these bills have been set.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has claimed progress in ongoing development endeavors.

In his address to the fifth session of the House of Representatives that convened today, the Prime Minister said the successful completion of projects launched to achieve prosperity in the nation is among the goals of the government.

"The government is making steady progress in executing projects that contribute to a prosperous Nepal," he stated.

Citing the recent breakthrough on the Siddhababa tunnel as a significant achievement, he said that the project will help minimize travel difficulties for passengers while enhancing infrastructure sustainability.

He also referenced progress on the Dhedre tunnel in Makwanpur, part of the Kathmandu-Terai Madhesh Expressway, and the Jogbani-Kimathanka project, a project of national pride.

Similarly, construction on the Butwal-Narayangadh road section is advancing, and efforts are underway to develop the Kirtipur Cricket Ground into a stadium equipped with floodlights, according to the Prime Minister, who further said the completion of an advanced stadium in Surkhet and the resumption of several previously stalled projects are among the achievements of the incumbent government.

Regarding political stability, he said that Parliament is now free from the recurrent compulsion of the Prime Minister seeking a vote of confidence.

"In the past six months, our experience is that we are free from the repeated need to test our vote of confidence," he said.