Commission for Investigation and Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has said its directives have been ignored by the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) authority to implement “dress with no pockets” for loaders.

The anti-graft body had directed Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), which manages ground handling works, and other authorities concerned to issue garments to loaders with no pockets, amid complaints from travellers about theft.

In its report produced after conducting inspections at TIA, CIAA said authorities concerned informed there were no such practices internationally and trade unions had been opposing its directives.

Besides, the inspection team were informed the loaders had to wear jackets during winters and it was not feasible to implement the “dress with no pockets”. 

However, this time, CIAA has directed NAC to enforce the dress system for loaders mandatorily, dropping the “dress with no pockets” idea. 

The anti-graft body has also asked NAC to implement electronic attendance for loaders in all shifts and inform them on their duty through “duty list shift wise computer”. While deploying the loaders, they should be informed about their duty location through SMS an hour before their shift begins, said the CIAA directives. 

Meanwhile, CIAA has directed the Kathmandu Metropolitan City to stop slaughtering animals and operating meat shops within 3km radius of the airport. It said such activities increased birds’ activities at the airport. Bird strikes are significant threat to flight safety, and have caused a number of accidents in the past. The most severe case of bird-hit was the Sita Air crash on the banks of Manhora River in September, 2012, in which 19 people, including 13 foreigners, were killed.CIAA has also directed the metropolitan office to manage high-rises on the southern part of the runway that has been posing significant threat to flight safety.  

It has also directed the authorities concerned to remove the Himalayan Money Exchange’s counter at TIA’s arrival section, or not to extend its term further. CIAA has directed to give the responsibility of money exchange to state-owned Rastriya Banijya Bank.