KATHMANDU, APRIL 28
This spring season, authorities are planning to collect garbage from the high camp of Everest by using a sophisticated hightech delivery drone.
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in association with other agencies has been conducting test flight of cargo drone to collect garbage from Camp I to base camp on Everest this spring season.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, a secretary-level meeting had granted permission for the test flights of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPS), more commonly referred to as drones, to undertake waste collection duties in the Khumbu region. Additionally, operators have been instructed to adhere strictly to safety requirements and conditions outlined in the Drone Udaan Sambandhi Karyabidhi 2075.
However, prior to commencing flights, the Home Ministry has emphasized the necessity for relevant parties to coordinate with local authorities, security agencies, and other stakeholders. Furthermore, explicit permissions must be obtained, and precautions taken to avoid disrupting helicopter and other flight operations within the designated test area. Notably, drone test flights are strictly prohibited in areas beyond the specified flight path, given the conservation status of the region.
The designated test flights will be executed by the DJI FlyCart 30 Category-D model. This model has the weight of 65 kg(with two DB2000 batteries and has a max takeoff weight of 95 kg and has a flight distance of 28 km without payload and 16 km with 30kg weight load, with dual battery mode. Similarly, this drone that can operate in -20° to 45° C temperature can remain on air for 18 minutes on 30 kg weight load and dual battery mode, as per the specification by the DJI.
Meanwhile, as per the specification, the max flight altitude of this drone is 6000m without payload.
Earlier, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality had enacted Base Camp Management Procedure 2024 to manage human activities and manage waste in the base camps located across the foothills of various mountains in the region, including Mt Everest.
According to the procedure, climbers are required to carry a poop bag or biodegradable bag to manage and bring back their waste from higher altitudes of the mountains among others.
Similarly, Nepali Army has been conducting the Mountain Clean-up Campaign in the region. The campaign had collected a total of 35,708 Kg of waste from the peaks in 2023. Likewise, it is also planning to collect 10 tonnes of waste and as many as five dead bodies from the mountains, Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse and Mt Nuptse this year.
