NC Prez Deuba, lawmakers discuss air safety issues with PM Oli

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba and a group of party lawmakers discussed 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.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Rajendra Bajgain said that during the meeting they discussed 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 Bajgain, 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 to split the aviation body into two entities and advance towards air safety.

It is noted that the European Union has concerns over air safety in Nepal and advised Nepal to have separate bodies for the service providing and the regulation.

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 had been endorsed by the National Assembly turned deactivate upon reaching the House of Representatives, according to Bajgain.