The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a task force to facilitate and coordinate the resolution of helicopter flight issues in Samagaun, Chumanubri Rural Municipality Ward No. 1, Gorkha. The task force was established following a letter sent to the ministry on Ashwin 4 after a local meeting in Samagaun decided to halt helicopter flights.
The task force is led by Undersecretary Bandana Rai from the Ministry of Home Affairs and includes representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Chumanubri Rural Municipality, the National Trust for Nature Conservation, and the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal. Sangita Koirala, a Section Officer at the Home Ministry, has been appointed as the member-secretary of the task force.
The task force is authorized to invite additional representatives, including local leaders and experts, as needed to address the complexities surrounding helicopter operations in the region. On Wednesday, residents of Samagaun blocked helicopter operations by placing stones on the helipad, allowing only rescue flights while halting all other helicopter services.
The disruption in flights has left many tourists stranded in Samagaun, a remote area in Gorkha that lacks road access. Locals initiated the helicopter flight blockade to demand more streamlined and accessible flight operations, as the current system is seen as cumbersome and inefficient.
On Ashwin 6, the locals submitted formal requests to the rural municipality office and the district administration office, urging them to simplify the process of obtaining helicopter flight permits. They expressed frustration over the lengthy one-week waiting period required for flight approval and the complex government procedures for chartering helicopters.
The community stated that they were compelled to take this action after their demands for an easier process were not addressed.
