Karnali state tourism ministry formulates drafts of three bills
-Prakash Adhikari
The Karnali Sttae Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment has formulated drafts of separate bills related to forest, environment conservation and tourism.
Among the proposed bills include the bill to conserve and manage national forest within the state, 2076, the bill related to environment conversation, 2076 and the bill to manage tourism in the state, 2076. The bill related to environment conservation has been registered with the State Assembly Secretariat. Other two bills have been sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law for approval before presenting them at the SA current sessions, it was shared.
Following approval from the Law Ministry, a Cabinet meeting gives permission to the departmental ministry to table the bills at the SA.
After the passage of the proposed bills, doors will open for the state government to collect revenues from tourism and forest and river materials and carry out environment impact assessments in the state, said Khagendra Kumar Khatri, law officer at the Law Ministry.
"There is a need to institutionalise state’s rights after making necessary laws. No bill except the Consumer Protection Act has been tabled by the ministry at the SA so far. The three bills aim to get passed from the SA’s winter session," he said.
The bill related to environment conversation has provisions of pollution control, regulation and control of plastic materials, making public the status of climate change, declaration of an organic zone, management of rivers and providing facilities to those contributing to environment protection.
Likewise, the bill related to tourism has provisions of tourism police, registration and regulation of travel and trekking agencies, tour guides, trekking, rafting, paragliding, ballooning, jungle safari, camping, hiking, bird watching, skiing, cable car, rock climbing, green fishing, catch and release, adventure tourism, sports tourism, religion tourism, registration, licensing and operation of tourism business.
Likewise, the draft has noted that the state government can run and manage museum for preserving places and properties of archeological, cultural or historical importance on its own or through other organizations as well as for promoting tourism.
The draft also includes a provision that any interested indigenous nationalities’ organizations or communities can form cultural groups as designated and submit the concept to the ministry provided they wish preserving traditional art and culture and promote tourism.
The state government can also collaborate and coordinate with private sector to run special programme and declare special tourism hotspots for tourism promotion, the draft noted.
The ministry sources said it has prepared draft bills related to business and industry, commerce and market monitoring regulation as well as is having consultations with different stakeholders.
It also shared htat the ministry has received theoretical approval on mines exploration and management bill. The working responsibilities of the ministry include forest, environment, tourism, industry, commerce, mines and minerals and contracts.
