KATHMANDU, JUNE 7

Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has elected its new executive committee under the chairmanship of tourism entrepreneur Lama Kaji Sherpa.

The annual general meeting of the SPCAA held in Namche Bazaar today unanimously elected Sherpa as the chairman and Dawa Gyaljen Sherpa as its vice chairman, according to the SPCC's immediate past chairman Ang Dorji Sherpa.

Pemba Chhiring Sherpa and Ngima Tashi Sherpa have been elected as general secretary and treasurer respectively.

Ngima Doma Sherpa, Chheten Doma Sherpa, Tenjing Dorji Sherpa, Nwang Chhumbi Sherpa, Sonam Dorji Sherpa, Ngatemba Sherpa and Phulopsang Sherpa were elected as the executive committee members of the SPCC board, Sherpa said.

'I will work for the betterment of Himalayan environment through SPCC,' newly elected Chair Sherpa said, adding that he would coordinate with local stakeholders to achieve the organisation's goals.

SPCC is a local organisation established in 1991, implementing various waste management activities in the Khumbu Region.

The SPCC also works to check climbing permits, monitor illegal climbing, and implement waste management strategies at the base camps of the Khumbu area's mountains and peaks including Mt Everest. SPCC also mobilizes icefall doctors to fix a climbing route on Mt Everest.

'SPCC also manages garbage in settlements and along trekking trails in direct coordination with local communities and conducts all waste management activities including building of waste management infrastructures, waste collection, segregation and treatment/disposal.'

Currently, SPCC focuses on developing sustainable waste management strategies with a long-term goal of keeping Khumbu clean.