Directing government to form an independent inquiry committee on aviation safety standards

KATHMANDU, Aug 13:The House of Representatives' International Relations and Tourism Committee has instructed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation to investigate whether Nepal has implemented the laws and international practices governing air standards and civil aviation.

The committee's meeting on Thursday issued such directions since there have been numerous aviation mishaps in Nepal recently, and investigating committees have been formed in response to the accidents, but the general air safety situation has not improved.

Because the air safety situation appears to be deteriorating rather than improving, the committee has been directed to convene a separate independent committee of specialists to assess whether air safety standards and international laws and regulations governing civil aviation have been implemented.

The committee has also been directed to conclude the probe within 15 days, recommend policy adjustments, and take action if found guilty.

On Thursday, the committee met with the Minister of Tourism, Minister of State, Secretary of the Ministry, and Director General of Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority.

The Committee reminded the Ministry of Tourism that the instruction issued on Poush 5 of the previous year to draft the policy has yet to be executed, since a separate policy on air flight safety is required.

 The committee has also directed the government to submit the bill amending and unifying the CAAN law, as well as the bill establishing and arranging the Nepal Air Service Authority, to the Federal Parliament as soon as possible.

Similarly, the ministry has been instructed to provide the committee with information on the status of the study and investigative reports submitted by the investigation committee and task force previously formed by the Nepalese government and the ministry regarding air accidents, safety, and regulation as soon as possible.