Apa also said he would scatter the mortal remains of the late Sir Edmund Hillary atop Everest. He will also hoist a Nepali flag imprinted with the slogan of Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 on the top of the world in a bid to spread the message about the tourism campaign that aims to draw ome million tourists to Nepal in 2011. [break]
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari handed over the flag to Apa amid a function on Thursday. Apa also received the mortal remains of Hillary and an idol of Buddha from Ang Rita Sherpa, chairman of Himalayan Trust Nepal.
Hillary had wished that his ashes be scattered only in two places; in the sea near his home in Auckland and on the mountains of Nepal where he tirelessly toiled and made huge contributions to uplift the lives of the people.
Apa told the press that he will continue to climb Mt Everest till his body supports him. "Climbing Mount Everest is a tough task. But I do not bother about dangers associated with it," he said.
Bhandari, meanwhile, tagged Apa as another peak and the real legend of Nepal. He also announced waiver in expedition fee for Apa.
Dawa Steven Sherpa, the managing director of Asian Trekking Pvt Ltd that is coordinating the Eco Everest Expedition, said they would also be removing garbage from Everest. Dawa told they plan to collect seven tons of garbage from Everest this time around. The expedition will begin on May 15.
Last year, the company had collected about six tons of garbage from Everest under "cash for trash" campaign which paid Rs 100 for every kg of garbage.
Also on Thursday, Bhandari conferred Dawa Steven Sherpa with the "International Olympic Committee Award for Sports and Environment" for his contributions to the fields of sports and environment.
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