NA passes two bills

A meeting of the National Assembly today endorsed the ‘ Nepal Air Service Authority Bill, 2076 BS,’ and the ‘Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2076 BS’.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai presented the documents before the session which were later accepted unanimously by the Assembly.

The minister, in his response to taking part in theoretical discussions over the bill, said the need of separate acts were realised to handle the aviation sector and so the bills were brought.

The realization was based on long experiences, as he said. ”Air service authority and civil aviation authority are distinct bodies, though are inter-disciplinary and treating them as a single entity is likely to trigger a clash of interests and confusions in regard with rights and responsibilities; that’s why separate bills are required.”

He further expressed his hope the enactment of separate acts would help further enhance operation, management, training and regulation in the related sectors.

In his reply to lawmakers about the EU still putting Nepali airlines in its blacklist, he said it was the result of a clash in duties and responsibilities in the past and it would be solved with the enactment of separate acts.