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Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa has said that rescue flight permissions to airlines in 13 high hill districts would be arranged from the federal government.

Attending a meeting organized by the International Relations Committee under the House of Representatives (HoR) on Sunday, Minister Thapa argued that rescue flights permission to helicopters could not be granted by the local levels due to various reasons including security sensitivity. These 13 hilly districts were restricted for flights since 2021 BS citing security reasons. However, it could be facilitated after a thorough study, Minister Thapa said. It is said that 73 locations in these 13 districts were restricted for flights because of wild life reserve, precious medicinal herbs, rare animals and the country’ international border points. The airlines should take approval from the federal government to make flights in these regions. Minister Thapa added that existing provisions are still relevant and it could only be made easier.

The committee member and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal argued to ease the process considering the sensitivity of the restricted regions. Another member and former deputy prime minister Bhim Rawal opined to ease the rescue flights for helicopters. The committee has held discussions with Home Minister Thapa and Minister for Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai regarding the effects of pandemic on civil aviation sector and operation of rescue flights.