SANGAM

80 Himalayan expeditions receive permits for spring

SANGAM PRASAIN

KATHMANDU, APR 20 - Eighty mountaineering expeditions have received permits to make an attempt on different Himalayan peaks during the current spring season compared to 99 teams last year.

According to the Industrial Department of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, 661 applicants (577 males and 84 females) have received climbing permits for this spring. Last year, there were 804 hopeful mountaineers (720 males and 84 females). The government has collected Rs. 194.3 million as royalty from 77 expeditions

so far. Officials said that three expeditions were yet to receive their permits.

Among the applicants, 232 mountaineers of 25 expeditions have received permits to make an attempt on Everest. Last year, 27 expeditions had applied for Everest. Officials at the department said that permits had been given to 278 applicants for Everest last spring among whom 178 including 28 women succeeded in summiting the peak.

Indra Kumar Maharjan, an official at the department, said that Everest expeditions were likely to start from May 20. However, if the weather was favourable, they could begin earlier.

Tourism entrepreneurs said that the number of climbers attempting the Nepal Himalaya had been declining every

year because of the more convenient transportation facilities provided by the Chinese government and the smaller royalty charged there.

“The cost of climbing Everest from the Tibetan side is less as there is motor transportation up to the base camp,” Maharjan said. However, mounting an ascent from the Nepal side is less risky as climbers can get acclimatized at various places on the way to the base camp. Maharjan added that starting climbing right away after reaching the base camp as happens on the Tibetan side was hazardous.

The government has offered a discount of 50 percent on the royalty in the winter and summer seasons and 75 percent in the autumn season. The royalty for the spring season is higher. No climbing royalty is charged

for mountains in the Mid-Western and Far Western development regions.

The royalty for peaks higher than 6,500 m ranges from US$ 1,000 to US$ 25,000 depending on the route and elevation. For mountains of less than 6,500 m in height, each climber is charged US$ 400.