IMF proposes reopening of Nanda Devi Peak for mountaineering, Tourism secretary assures action

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) proposed reopening the Nanda Devi peak for mountaineering and emphasised the need to expedite the mechanism for this process. Tourism secretary and chief executive officer of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), Dheeraj Singh Garbyal assured positive action on the matter during a key meeting held to accelerate adventure tourism and streamline mountaineering activities in the State.

The IMF also recommended that mountaineering expeditions in border areas be approved and conducted swiftly in line with National Security Council (NSC) guidelines. The Tourism department requested that Gangotri National Park remain open during the winter season October to March citing the increased chances of snow leopard sightings. Hemis National Park in Ladakh was presented as a model for year-round ecotourism.

Garbyal directed the creation of a coordinated mechanism involving the Forest department, local stakeholders, tour operators and IMF to ensure safety during expeditions. The forest officials informed that an integrated single-window portal is under development to simplify and expedite registration for various trekking routes. The meeting also included discussions on classifying peaks under 6,000 metres as open peaks. These included Baljuri (5,922m), Laspadhura (5,913m), Bhanolti (5,645m) in Bageshwar, and Rudragaira (5,819m) in Uttarkashi.

Garbyal instructed the reassessment of Sandra and Bhojbasa bridges in Uttarkashi according to stakeholder expectations. He also gave instructions to prepare a list of trekking sites for reassessing their carrying capacity and to move the work forward quickly. The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) also suggested capping the number of trekkers to improve monitoring and control. Garbyal supported the idea as a step toward accountability and transparency.

The officials also emphasised the need for immediate reporting and completion of procedures in case of any incident during adventure activities. The secretary stated that delays in such matters could inconvenience those involved, and timely reporting and documentation will ensure transparency and support for affected parties. He directed to ensure active participation of ground-level officers and staff in tourism activities for effective operations and better handling of emergency situations.

He said that respective district administrations must be informed in advance about any tourism activity to facilitate timely coordination and arrangements. IMF president Vijay Singh also proposed organising an Annual Adventure Tourism Meet at the national level to bring together all tour operators, stakeholders and representatives involved in the adventure tourism sector.