Chopper services banned in Annapurna region

Kathmandu: Chartered chopper services have been banned in the Annapurna base camp region.

The decision to ban the chartered Chopper services in the Annapurna region was taken by the fourth council meeting of the Annapurna Rural Municipality recently. However, despite the imposition of restrictions on the operation of chartered chopper flights, the chopper rescue operations in the region are not restricted as per the directions of the Rural Municipality.

The restrictions on chopper operation in the region come after the ward office of Annapurna-11 put up a complaint at the district administration office to stop commercial flights in the region, citing its adverse effects on the tourism and ecology of the region.

“The number of chartered helicopters flying into the Annapurna base camp region has increased in recent years that has caused the environmental pollution,” said Him Bahadur Gurung, chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality Ward No. 11. Chief district officer Ramesh Kumar KC, however, said that the frequency of Chopper services in the region should be monitored and checked rather than putting a complete ban on their operation.

Currently, five helicopter companies are operating chartered flights from Pokhara Airport to the Annapurna region. At least 15,000 tourists charter chopper services in the Annapurna base camp region every year.