Everest climbing may be banned

Press, 7 January 1987, Page 32

Everest climbing may be banned

NZPA-AFP Katmandu Nepal is considering banning mucky mountaineers and trekkers from Mount Everest and Mount, Annapurna after 1990 in a bid to protect the two peaks from becoming massive rubbish dumps.

The Government is concerned about the tonnes of rubbish left by mountaineering expeditions and

trekking groups in recent years. The Nepalese Ministry of Tourism already pursues a policy of restriction. No expeditions had been given permission to climb after 1990 when the ban was likely to come into effect, said a Ministry spokesman. The spokesman said that a ban would make the peaks off-limit “for some time till we can clean up both the mountains’ surroundings.” Tourism has become a leading foreign exchange earner for Nepal and mountaineers and trekkers are main contributors. In a bid to protect its greatest natural feature, the Himalayas, the Government has laid down strict regulations to guide mountaineers, and trekkers. Violators face hefty fines and banning from Nepal. Mountaineers and trekkers must bury or bum waste before leaving mountain camps and are forbidden from cutting trees to fuel fires. All expeditions . must carry sufficient stocks of gas or kerosene to cook their food. Killing wild animals is strictly prohibited.