In a move to control climbing on the world's highest peaks, including Mt Everest, the Supreme Court (SC) has issued a mandamus directing the government to set limitations.
A bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Sushmalata Mathema on Tuesday ordered the concerned body to grant a climbing permit only after specifying the number and timeframe based on the capacity of the Mountain.
Issuing a verdict on the writ petition of public concerns filed by advocate Deepak Bikram Mishra, the Supreme Court has also banned the use of helicopters from the camp to the mountain peak except for emergency rescue.
According to the Department of Tourism, last year (2023), out of 478 people who received permission to climb Mt Everest, only 287 mountaineers successfully made it to the world's highest peak. They were assisted by 359 Sherpas. A total of 646 climbers reached the summit of Mt Everest. Sadly, 17 climbers died in the Everest region last year.
Some mountains, including Everest, have been allowed to be scaled from the Chinese side.
"The mountains need to be handed over to the next generation in this form and this is the concept of inter-generational justice," the mandamus said, "To keep the mountains dirty and to allow any number of climbers to scale the mountains in the name of royalty is to hurt and insult the mountains."
The Supreme Court has also ruled that the members of the mountaineering team should prepare a list of the items to be taken with them and note them at the departure point of the mountain climbing and ensure that the items brought back after the mountain climbing must be noted at the arrival point.
In addition to permit restrictions, the court has mandated a stricter deposit system. Climbers will now be required to provide a deposit, which will only be returned upon ensuring they bring back all the equipment they took up the mountain.
Nepal is at risk of global climate change and the rising temperature will lead to the melting of mountains and glaciers, the eruption of glaciers, and the increase in flood disasters, the Supreme Court has drawn the attention of the government for the protection and cleanliness of the mountains.
It has been pointed out that agriculture and tourism are adversely affected by natural disasters, posing risk to farmers, locals and tribal citizens.
