Motihari, Sept. 18: Officials of the districts used to travelling to Nepal and staying at expensive resorts over weekends, would have to bid goodbye to their habit.

The Union external affairs ministry has sent a directive to the state in this regard after a team of engineers from the irrigation department of Uttar Pradesh were attacked by residents of Nawal Parasi district in Nepal in July this year.

The officials would not even be able to visit the country on official tours without the permission of seniors of their departments. A directive to this effect has been given to all the states by the external affair ministry through its official letter (number 2227/117), issued by the ministry’s joint secretary Satish Chandra Mehta in July this year, asking for its implementation to avoid Nawal Parasi-like incidents.

In compliance to the said order, a letter (number 8557/1/8/11) was sent by the general administration department of the state government to the district administration of East Champaran. The letter has asked every district of the state to strictly obey the orders.

Apart from the superintendent of police, the heads of every department have also been informed about the directive.

Meanwhile, the July order of the Centre has come as a big shock for the officers in the bordering districts who were used to putting up at expensive hotels in Nepal on the weekends. East Champaran district magistrate Abhijit Sinha confirmed that they had received the letter of the external affairs ministry. “All the officials concerned have been intimated about the Centre’s letter. They have been sternly directed to not visit Nepal without prior permission of the district administration,” he told The Telegraph.

Sources said only time would feel what kind of effect the directive has on the officers who are used to visiting Nepal at every opportunity.

Apart from the easily accessible place like Birganj in Nepal, places like Hetauda, Chitwan, Narain Ghat, Manokamna and Pokhhra are among the nearest places from Birganj in the hilly regions of the Himalayan kingdom, which have been attracting Indian visitors because of their scenic beauty.