Govt plans to open 70 new peaks

The government is all set to open around 70 new peaks by 2014.

A technical team, formed under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), is preparing to recommend names of around 70 new peaks for final approval from the Cabinet.

The technical team, till date, has made a detailed study of around 40 peaks and is looking forward to recommending names of at least 70 new peaks to its main committee.

According to the coordinator of the committee and former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association Ang Tshering Sherpa, the committee is looking forward to recommending the names of around 70 new peaks to the main committee that is under coordination of joint secretary of MoCTCA Purna Chandra Bhattarai.

The 70 new peaks will also include the 23 peaks that were selected earlier by the government for formal opening during the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the first ascent of Mt Everest. “We are unaware why the government announced programme to open 23 new peaks was not implemented,” said Sherpa.

According to Sherpa, during the peak selection, the committee might also include some peaks that were listed among the 23 peaks and will forward the final recommendation list of 70 new peaks. The government had, in 2003, opened 122 new peaks, and later nine other peaks in 2004, but since then no new peaks have been opened.

Currently, 326 peaks are allowed for mountain expeditions and adventure sports. Within 10 to 15 days, the technical committee will finalise the list of new peaks that holds high tourism possibility and are technically feasible for mountaineering.

“At present, we are preparing a report based on information provided by locals of those areas and the economic contribution that can be made through the commercialisation of those mountains in their respective areas,” Sherpa added. The selection process of the mountains is based on the recommendation made by the locals of those regions and also on demand of international summiteers.

The Tourism Industry Division had earlier also received a list of applications requesting the ministry to open restricted peaks to create fresh destinations for tourists who arrive in Nepal for mountain and adventure tourism. According to it, there is a high demand for new peaks and along with the permission to open the peaks, it will definitely attract quality number of mountaineers and create new destinations.

It has been almost 10 years since the government last announced the opening of new peaks for expeditions

source: the himalayan times,3 August 2013