KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 29
This year, Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is set to hoist the national flag at Kalapathar on the occasion of its 50th year of establishment on November 1. This historic location previously hosted a Nepali Cabinet meeting on December 4, 2009, drawing attention to the pressing issue of global warming.
Speaking at a press conference held here today, Mohan Lamsal, general secretary of NMA, said the national flag will be hoisted at Kalapathar (5,644 metres), which is near the Sagarmatha base camp with the aim of conveying the message of climate change to the world and erasing any confusions in the international arena in regards to the real location of Sagarmatha or famously known as Mt Everest. A lamp of peace from Lumbini will also be taken to Kalapathar and lit during the flag hoisting ceremony as a call for world peace. Lamsal said that hoisting the national flag along with lighting the peace lamp at Kalapathar are expected to send a message about the issues that have arisen due to climate change.
Nima Nuru Sherpa, president of NMA, said the association has been taking the responsibility related to management of 27 peaks across the country and that the review process of the peaks is also currently underway.
"Of 1,900 peaks located in the country, just over 400 have been opened for climbing.
Even from those 419, more than 70 have never received proper promotion and remain virgin peaks to this day. The NMA has taken this issue very seriously and has continuously called for further promotion of the country's mountains. The association is also ready to undertake the management of more peaks and coordinate with the Nepal government to further promote adventure tourism in the country," Sherpa said.
He also said that the new Tourism Act should be brought forward by prioritising the mountaineering sector and the people involved with the mountains, while also introducing necessary policies and programmes required to further develop the entire ecosystem surrounding mountaineering and the mountains. Stating that the NMA has very limited resources to undertake all the responsibilities on its own, Sherpa shared that the Tourism Act should also include policies related to the welfare of the mountain guides and their families and added that he is positive that the act will address the shortcomings.
It was also informed that the annual general assembly of the Union of Asian Alpine Associations (UAAA), which is an umbrella organisation of alpine clubs in the continent of Asia, is also scheduled to be held here on October 31. The annual general meeting of the union, which is going to be organised under the chief hospitality of the Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Bharatmani Subedi, will be attended by the presidents, general secretaries and representatives of 18 alpine clubs of the Asian continent. It is believed that this general meeting will add strength to the promotion of Nepal's mountain tourism sector, according to NMA
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, the NMA is going to organise a special ceremony in the presence of President Ram Chandra Poudel. ministers and government officials, representatives of Union of International Alpine Association, UAAA, and various alpine clubs, renowned climbers, among others.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 30, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
