Recentfusion.com–Pokhara: Paragliding entrepreneurs and pilots from touristy town Pokhara are in dilemma as their business might be displaced following the operation of new international airport which is going to be built in this lake city.
There are all total 75 Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) authorized paragliding companies in Nepal and most of them are based in Pokhara. There are also 107 CAAN certified license holder paragliding pilots in Pokhara. So, the issue is whether the business would remain as it is or will be displaced because of the new airport, said Nepal Air Sports Association (NAA) General Secretary Basanta Raj Dawadi.
However CAAN and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (Nepal) officials said that the entrepreneurs need not to be worried since the issue of displacement is still uncertain. Tourism ministry joint secretary Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane said that the issue of displacement would be finalized as the new airport would be ready for operation. Similarly CAAN Deputy Director General Rajan Pokhrel asked entrepreneurs not to be worry as the issue of paragliding replacement was due to finalized.
CAAN has postponed issuing the license for new Paragliding Company basically in Pokhara because there is high number of paragliding flights in Pokhara, informed Devendra Pandey, Chief of Flight Safety Standard Department of Nepal. He however suggested the entrepreneurs and pilots to find the new and alternative locations for paragliding.
Pilot Club President Khum Bahadur Gurung demanded the CAAN to issue the permanent license to the 107 pilots who had received temporary license. NAA acting president Sobit Baniya urged to amendment the existing rule issued by CAAN. National Tourism Council executive member Basu Dev Tripati urged to end the syndicate in paragliding business, in an interaction organized by NAA in Pokhara on Saturday.
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