Home ministry formulates strict guidelines on drones

KATHMANDU, Nov 2: Keeping in view of the growing security concerns with the unauthorized use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), the government has formulated strict guidelines to regulate the misuse of the miniature aircrafts, better known as drones.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has formulated the UAV Guidelines, 2072 after consultation with related stakeholders, according to Home Ministry Spokesperson Laxmi Prasad Dhakal. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles by different researchers, media, agencies and surveyors was on the rise after the disastrous 7.8 magnitude quake that hit the country on April 25.


"The unauthorized use of any UAVs, flying camera, drones is strictly prohibited and will be charged as per Civil Aviation Act, Electronic Transaction Act," Home Spokesperson Dhakal said.

As per the guidelines, the operators who want to fly UAVs need to receive permission from the Civil Aviation Authority Nepal (CAAN) and Ministry of Information. The authorities will not issue permits to fly UAVs within the periphery of religious and cultural heritage sites, sensitive areas in terms of security and along the air routes. Similarly, the guidelines also restrict drones' flight posing threat to the right to privacy, peace and security.

The drones are strictly prohibited to fly in the aerial radius of 1,000 meters of security-related agencies and other sensitive areas. The UAVs can be flown only after seeking permission from the local security agencies and need to submit the details, photos, footages and maps to the security agencies once the task is completed.

Of the three types of drones - automatic UAVs, programmable UAVs and radio transmitted UAVs - the automatic UAVs are banned in the country as per the ICAO rules. They are also not permitted to use soon after any disaster occurs and the UAVs users also have to keep in mind the pay-load capacity of the drones before they use them.

The UAVs cannot be flown closer than 300 meters of a building or a person, should be limited to 100 meters in altitude and are prohibited in the no-fly zones of international borders.

The Ministry of Home Affairs will be monitoring the use of UAVs and the respective department shall have to submit its report within a week of such use.

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