Providers of helicopter service to Kedarnath will fly above 600 metres through the Gaurikund to Rambada stretch which falls in the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. This will be done to prevent any undesirable effect of helicopter service on the ecology and wildlife at the wildlife sanctuary.
This and other decisions were taken in a meeting with helicopter service providers chaired by Chief Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, S Ramaswamy here on Thursday. All the service providers were directed to ensure that the helicopters are flown above 600 metres while passing through Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. This restriction will not hold at the time of take-off and landing of the helicopter. Maintaining the required flight altitude will also help lessen noise pollution and mitigate negative impact on the wildlife. The service providers were also told that the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority will monitor their flight altitude in the Kedarnath area. The service providers will install a GPS device on their choppers for monitoring of the flights. The device will record details of flights to Kedarnath and these records will not be deleted at any time without the permission of the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority. The GPS will be randomly checked and action will be taken in case of any violation of the regulation.