KATHMANDU, Dec 13: A ban is set to be imposed on commercial helicopter take-offs and landings in the Sagarmatha region. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Intermediate Area Management Committee (IAMC) and local stakeholders have decided to ban commercial helicopter take-offs and landings, after an increase in the number of helicopter take-offs and landings in the Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) area.
According to Laxman Adhikari, the ward chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-4, commercial helicopters will no longer be allowed to land or take off in the Everest region from January 1 next year. Adhikari said that the meeting of the national park, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, IAMC and local stakeholders made a joint decision to ban helicopter flights and landings.
“The meeting decided not to allow helicopters with commercial purposes except for the rescue of tourists and locals and the transportation of goods needed for infrastructure development,” Ward Chair Adhikari said, “Commercial helicopter flights had to be stopped to prevent noise and other kinds of pollution in the Sagarmatha region, to prevent criminal activities related to wildlife, and to protect the livelihoods of the locals.”
He said that the SNP, the rural municipality, IAMC and local stakeholders have taken a joint decision on this matter based on the legal system of taking prior permission for any activity in the park area.
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Due to the daily operation of 40 helicopters in the region beginning to directly affect the overall tourism, environmental, and natural areas of the Khumbu region, it has become necessary to immediately halt helicopter takeoffs and landings.
Ward Chairman Adhikari said, “Helicopter companies have started flying and landing without permission, which has created problems for the livelihood of tourism entrepreneurs in the areas and Khumbu region. Environmental and criminal activities have also been observed. Therefore, the decision has been made to impose a ban on helicopter flights, except in cases of necessity. The excessive use of helicopters has begun to threaten the livelihood of the local people.”
He further said that the Khumbu region is for high-altitude trekking, not for uncomfortable and uncontrolled helicopter flights. This decision had to be taken to protect the ecotourism of the area as helicopters began transporting people from areas without proper permission on the Khumbu route, which usually takes 18 to 20 days to travel.
The Khumbu region is also known as Everest region and is home to many mountains. It includes Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, as well as several other prominent peaks such as Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, Khumbutse Renjo.
Khumbu is located in the altitude zone of 3,300 m to 8,848.86 m. According to the 2011 census, there are 912 households in Khumbu, 347 registered hotels and teahouses in 13 villages. In the Khumbu region, there are several towns including Namche Bazaar, as well as the villages of Thame, Khumjung, Pangboche, Pheriche, and Khunde. Additionally, the famous Buddhist monastery located in Tyangboche is also part of the Khumbu region.
Similarly, the park has written letters to all helicopter companies regarding the implementation of the decision to ban commercial helicopter flights and informed them about the decision. The Sagarmatha National Park office has written to 11 helicopter companies including Air Dynasty, Prabhu Helicopters, Kailash Helicopters, Mountain Helicopters, Altitude Air, Fishtail, Shree Airlines, Simrik Air, Heli Everest and Manang Air regarding the implementation of the decision.
Similarly, the companies will also have to obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the SNP for helicopter rescue and cargo transportation. The SNP has stated that if a helicopter flight is conducted in the area contrary to the decision, actions will be taken in accordance with the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029 (1973) and Himalayan National Park Rules 2036.
The SNP has made several decisions regarding helicopter flights for rescue and cargo transportation, including the requirement to obtain mandatory permission from the SNP, designate a landing site for the helicopter, provide mandatory details of the rescued person, and mandatory delivery of rescued tourists taken for a health check-up at the Pasang Lhamu Hospital in Lukla.
