According to Ang Tshering Sherpa, honorary member of UIAA (World Mountaineering and Climbing Federation), the sub-committee formed under his leadership for the review under the main committee has suggested opening 166 new peaks which are of 6,000m to 8,077 m. [break]
“Of these peaks only West Yalung Khang (8,077m) is above 8,000 m,” said Sherpa, adding that 32 peaks are suggested to open immediately in the first phase while remaining peaks are suggested to be opened in a phase-wise manner in 6 to 7 months.
The panel has also urged the government to officially recognize five peaks above 8,000 m namely: Yalung Khang (8,505m), Kanchanjunga Central (8,473m), Kanchanjunga South (8,476m), Lhotse Middle (8,413m), and Lhotse Shar (8,400m).
The eight-member main committee led by Purna Chandra Bhattarai, head of Tourism Industry Division of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) and two observers recently submitted the report to the ministry.
“The report that consists of 50-point suggestions such as increasing the royalty fee for Mount Everest on individual basis to US $11,000 per person per expedition for foreign climbers, fixing royalty of other peaks based on their heights, and fixing Rs 75,000 per person per expedition for Nepali climbers or a royalty waiver through a cabinet decision.
Charging garbage management fee instead of deposit, setting up standards for records made by climbers, and pre application for making records to control illegal activities include other suggestions.
“The panel has also suggested that the climbers need to make pre-application on their record plans, regulate the promotional activities carried out by different national and international companies, among others,” Bhattarai informed.
The committee has also suggested the government to name new peaks, the peak point and base camps after the persons who have contributed to mountain tourism in Nepal like Goerge Mallory, Andrew Irvine, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, Edmund Hillary, Phu-dorjee Sherpa, Maurice Herzog, Luis Lachenal, Apa Sherpa and Harka Gurung.
“We have also suggested environment friendly measures like charging garbage management fee and using biodegradable bags for management of human waste,” said Sherpa.
According to him, US$ 80 will be charged for Everest, $60 for mountains above 8,000 m, $40 for mountains above 7,000m and $ 20 for mountains below 7,000m has been recommended for foreigners.
Fee to be charged to hoist flags in peaks
The committee has suggested the government to charge fees for the flags that are hoisted at the summits for promotional purposes such as the flag of sponsors and commercial flags.
“We have proposed the government to charge $200 per square feet for commercial flag in Everest and peaks above 8,000 m,” informed Sherpa, adding that fee should not be charged for the flag and sign posts of the expedition team, flag of Nepal and flag of climbers of different nations and religions.
For other commercial purpose, the committee has suggested the government to charge the amount for limited period under contract.
“This will not only help to regulate commercial activities but will also help solve the environmental problems caused by flags and commercial sign posts,” said Sherpa.
The suggestion is based on a report submitted by civil servant Everest expedition team led by the then Secretary of Home Ministry Leela Mani Paudyal in 2011.
Paudyal, who is now the chief secretary, urged the government to regulate the flags after his expedition observed hundreds of flags of international companies hoisted between base camp I and II.
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