Kathmandu, January 15:

Nepal government is planning to institute an international award in honour of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary, the first persons to set foot atop Mt Everest.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prithvi Subba Gurung today said he would forward a proposal to the cabinet to set up a $25,000 Tenzing-Hillary International Award, to be given annually to a mountaineer, from across the world, showing special competence in mountaineering.

He said this while addressing a condolence meeting organised by Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) to pay tributes to late Sir Edmund Hillary.

He said he would propose to the cabinet to name one of the famous route leading to the Sagarmatha National Park as Tenzing-Hillary route and to erect statues of Tenzing and Hillary in the Mountain Museum in Pokhara. "Hillary was a great humanitarian and environmentalist. People in the Himalayan region will remember him for what he did for their welfare," he said. Zamling Norgay Sherpa, the son of Tenzing Norgay, said Sir Edmund was a father figure for the whole Sherpa community .

Consul of New Zealand Elizabeth Hawley said Sir Edmund was a great friend of Nepal.

Chairman of TAAN Jyoti Adhikari said the association would propose the government to mark May 29, the day when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa conquered Mt Everest, as International Everest Day and Tenzing-Hillary Day. He also proposed to offer Tenzing-Hillary Documentary Award, Tenzing-Hillary Research Award, among others.