Mt Everest diamond jubilee celebration underway

Of the 22 highest peaks in the world, 16 peaks above 8,000 metres are located in Nepal unlike what has been claimed, say experts.

“A recent report states that among the 22 peaks in the world there are 16 in Nepal that are above 8000 meters,” said former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association Ang Tshering Sherpa.

According to him, a report prepared by a committee led by Dr Harka Gurung claims that there are 16 peaks in Nepal that are above 8000 meters, which need international accreditation. Speaking during the Mount Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebrations programme here, Sherpa said that the peaks need to be recognised by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation.

During the programme, participants from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) informed about various programmes that will be organised to mark the diamond jubilee anniversary of the first ascent of the highest peak of the world.

Joint secretary at the tourism ministry Purnachandra Bhattarai, addressing the programme, said that the government will only approve records that it has been informed about prior to the climb. “We will authenticate records dealing with s+ummitting Mt Everest only and all activities beyond that will be considered illegal,” he said. He further made it clear that Mt Everest is more for climbing and adventure than for records.

During the programme, officiating chief executive officer of NTB Subash Nirola expressed the need to control the excessive crowd at the peak. He said that NTB along with other stakeholders and the government is trying to develop a plan to control the crowd at Everest.

“Preventing climbers at Everest is not possible as it will have a negative impact on a number of things. But Everest being a world heritage site needs to conserved, therefore, we are planning to hike the royalty,” said Nirola.

Planned activities
To mark the diamond jubilee of the first ascent of Mt Everest, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Mountaineering Association, the main executing agencies, today, during a programme informed about various programmes that will be organised to celebrate the occasion. According to the agencies, they will organise the Everest Conference in Khumjung, Tour De Lumbini — a cycle rally from Kathmandu to Lumbini and back from May 23-25, civic felicitation at Basantapur Durbar Square, and confer the Diamond Jubilee Medal to record holding Everest summitters at Narayanhiti Palace Museum. They will also hold an interaction and Sagarmatha Tourism Coordination Forum meeting, and organise a heritage marathon. The agencies also plan to issue a commemorative postal cover of the diamond jubilee and International Mountain Museum. They will also distribute the TAAN Mt Everest Journalist Award, TAAN Mt Everest Harka Gurung Award, TAAN Mt Everest Pasang Lamhu Award and Mt Everest Pema Doma Education Award. To mark the celebration, the government has also announced the year 2013 as Mt Everest Diamond Jubilee Celebration year and is also preparing to establish a Mt Everest Monument at the Dead Sea which will help promote the peak.

source: the himalayan times,22 may 2013