Everest meet to cost Rs 6m

KATHMANDU, Nov 30: The private sector is expected to spend approximately Rs 6 million for the upcoming cabinet meeting at Everest Base Camp on Friday. The budget includes payment for two MI-17 choppers and one AS 350 B3. One MI-17 and the B3 will be hired from the Nepal Army.



Several institutions like Everest Summitteers´ Association, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Trekking Agents´ Association of Nepal, Expedition Operators´ Association, Himalayan Rescue Association, 14 domestic airlines operating in Nepal, and a few other agencies have joined hands with National Trust for Nature Conservation to generate the fund for the historic cabinet meeting.[break]



Suman Pandey, the coordinator from the private sector´s side, said the cost has gone up as two choppers will be mobilized for aerial survey for transportation and emergency evacuation. "We have to ensure safe movement, navigation, landing and takeoff of the VIPs and the accompanying delegates," Pandey said at a press conference at Nepal Tourism Board on Sunday.



Pandey informed that a doctors´ team fully equipped with regulators and oxygen cylinders will be placed at Syangboche to ensure health safety and to take care of emergency cases. He added weather monitoring for the event is on in coordination with the weather bureau. "We can safely say that the weather is going to be clear for at least another 10 days. But constant monitoring is on," Pandey said, adding, "The situation is quite safe and we have enough medical back-up."







Some 27 ministers will head to Lukla on Thursday and only those who will be declared fit to travel to Kalapatthar, which lies at a height of almost 5232masl, will be allowed to move further up. A team of experienced mountaineers will accompany the ministers to Gorakshep where the meeting will be held for 20 minutes.



"The government will pass a few important resolutions in the meeting, including the government´s position paper for COP-15," Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohara said at the press meet.



Also speaking on the occasion, Tourism Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari said climate change in now affecting all sectors and the cabinet meeting will reaffirm the government´s commitment to addressing climate change issues. "Although it will be a fanfare event, the real aim is to draw the attention of the world towards the plight of the Himalayas," Bhandari said.



Environment Minister Thakur Sharma said the government is committed to formulating environment policy with special emphasis on climate change. "The government has given special focus on environment sector and our concerns have now been reflected at the international arena as well," Sharma said.

Related story

Disabled Xia to attempt Mt Everest for fifth time