No hiking beyond snowline?

The Himachal government is considering the possibility of restricting mountaineering activities beyond the snowline in Himalayan states and introducing checks on expeditions to eco-sensitive areas.

The move came after the Trans-Himalayan Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) urged the state government to reduce human interference in ecologically sensitive areas.

An INTACH delegation today met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and raised concern over the deterioration of environment around Himalayas and the effect of unregulated human interference.

After listening to the concerns raised by INTACH,

I directed the departments concerned to look into the possibilities of implementing the suggestions. The government is always open to ideas from citizens for saving the environment, said Dhumal.

Convenor of INTACH,P S Negi,said urgent measures required for regulation include allowing only those expeditions that are assigned with the task of geo-scientific investigation,to draw and map glacier and snowfield inventory,monitor ice-movements and water lakes and streams.

INTCAH has suggested the state government to allow special expeditions of students and climbers for removing non-biodegradable garbage beyond the snowline.

Base camps of expeditions should not be allowed within 5 km from the snowline and an inventory of non-biodegradable material being carried by expeditions should be maintained and checked on their return, Negi said.

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The organisation has also advocated banning of adventure tourism activities beyond a certain limit in Himalayas and initiating talks with China for undertaking protective measures along Satluj,Indus and Brahmaputra river basins to save the ecology in downstream in India.

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