Mustang, June 11: Police have seized a drone camera from an Indian tourist while flying the device without permission in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Mustang.
On Wednesday evening at 5pm, he was found flying a drone camera without permission near Syang Khola Bridge, Ward 3, Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, and the Mustang District Police Office stated that the police confiscated it.
Police inspector Santosh Basyal said that the police have seized a 240-gram drone camera produced by DGEL Company from 26-year-old Shivam Kumar from Vaishakhi district in Bihar, India.
He said that the police team mobilized from the District Police Office took control of the drone camera for necessary action according to the unmanned aerial vehicle drone camera flight procedures. The drone camera has been sent to the Jomsom branch office of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).
Drone cameras need to be registered with the CAAN for flying, and since Mustang is part of the Annapurna Conservation Area, one needs to get prior permission from the District Administration Office and the Annapurna Area Conservation Project (ACAP) for flying drones in the area.
The police said that the Indian tourist also violated the rule that prohibits flying a drone within the distance that falls under the command area of Jomsom Airport.
Anyone or any organisation wanting to use a drone camera for shooting films and documentaries in Mustang will need to get the official registration details of the drone camera and prior approval from the District Administration and ACAP.
