Mountaineering activities in Nepal hurting image, importance of peaks: report

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-11-10 18:07:19

A Nepali government panel formed to seek ways to improve mountain climbing expedition said in a recent report that the activities carried out in the name of making world records are damaging the image and importance of peaks.

The 10-member committee led by Purna Chandra Bhattarai, joint- secretary at Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, has submitted the report to the government containing other related problems and suggestions.

The report stated that there are problems in the regulation and monitoring of the expedition activities. "The role of liaison officer is ineffective which has created problems in the monitoring," it said.

It has also recommended setting up standards for identifying new mountain-climbing records. The report came at a time when the Nepali government is preparing to take strict measures to standardize mountain climbing expedition.

The panel made the suggestions as the number of climbers in Mt. Qomolangma, also known as Everest, and other mountains has been increasing every year and people are competing to break the world records. There are complaints that Mt. Qomolangma is being commercialized, and its dignity is being damaged.

The report said that the government should make legal arrangements for launching promotional activities for popular mountains, adding ill-trained and ill-experienced assistants to climbers have increased risks and are not helpful in minimizing accidents.

Citing other problems such as waste management and tardy rescue of climbers in danger, the panel has recommended the government open new peaks for commercial expeditions.



It has also suggested the mountaineering royalty fee is increased for Mt. Qomolangma climbers to 11,000 US dollars per person per expedition.


blog comments powered by Disqus