Choopers advised to fly above 600 m over Kedarnath sanctuary

The Uttarakhand government today asked heli service providers in the Kedar valley to maintain an altitude of atleast 600 metres while flying over the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary area in order to not the animals residing there.
At a meeting with chopper service operators in the Kedar Valley, Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy, also the chief executive officer of Uttarakhand Civil Avitaion Development Authority, said they should ensure strict compliance of the directives which have been issued on the recommendations of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
However, the restrictions will not apply on takeoff and landing of choppers.
The stretch between Gaurikund and the Rambara falls in the sanctuary area and the sorties by choppers become too frequent during the 'Chardham' yatra season which has begun already.

In its report, the WII had pointed out that too many choppers flying close over the sanctuary were causing too much noise pollution and could adversely impact the wildlife at the sanctuary.