Nepal’s government has proposed a ban on slaughterhouses and waste disposal within three kilometres of airports to enhance flight safety and mitigate the risk of bird and wildlife strikes. The new provision is included in the Nepal Air Service Authority Bill, 2083, which has been tabled in the federal parliament.
The proposed legislation specifically prohibits the “unorganised establishment of slaughterhouses or piling up waste” within the designated three-kilometre radius of any airport. This measure aims to address the serious threat posed by birds and other wildlife, which are attracted to waste and meat remnants, increasing the likelihood of collisions with aircraft engines.
According to Clause 19(3) of the bill, “no one should establish unorganised slaughterhouses or pile up waste in the area within three kilometres of the airport and the airport itself.” Violations of this standard are deemed a “serious offence” under Clause 39(f). Individuals or organisations found in breach could face fines ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 100,000, with penalties doubling for repeat offenders, as outlined in Clause 40.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Paudel registered the Nepal Air Service Authority Bill, 2083, along with the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2083, in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the federal parliament, on October 2, 2026.
Reforming Aviation Sector
These bills are part of a broader institutional reform to split the existing Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the country’s aviation regulatory body, into two separate entities. The Nepal Air Service Authority is proposed as a service provider responsible for airport operations, construction, and management, while the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority would function solely as the regulatory body.
This restructuring aligns with long-standing recommendations from international bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union (EU), which have advocated for separating CAAN’s regulatory and service-providing functions to enhance efficiency and safety standards.
Rising Bird Strike Incidents
The proposed ban comes amid a rise in bird strike incidents at various Nepali airports in recent years. For instance, Janakpur Airport experienced more than six bird strikes on August 7, 2025. Another incident involved a Kathmandu-Bhadrapur flight that had to overshoot due to a bird strike. Most recently, on August 24, 2026, a Nepal Airlines flight bound for Bengaluru, India, from Kathmandu was forced to return for inspection due to a suspected bird strike.
The issue of waste management, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley, has been a persistent challenge, contributing to the problem of waste accumulation around airport vicinities.
What Happens Next
Both the Nepal Air Service Authority Bill, 2083, and the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2083, are currently undergoing parliamentary procedures in the House of Representatives. They will be subject to discussion and debate before being passed into law. If enacted, the Managing Director of the Nepal Air Service Authority will be appointed through an open competition, requiring a postgraduate degree and at least 15 years of experience in civil aviation.
However, the full impact of the proposed law on local communities and businesses operating slaughterhouses or waste centres within the three-kilometre radius remains to be seen. Details regarding potential relocation plans or compensation for affected entities have not yet been made public, nor is there a definitive timeline for the bills’ passage through parliament.
