Nepal Supreme Court orders limiting expedition permits to Mount Everest, other mountains to preserve ecology

Kathmandu [Nepal], Nepal Supreme Court has issued an order to the Government of Nepal directing it to impose a limit on the number of climbing permits for Nepal's peaks, including Mount Everest. A single bench comprising Justices Sapna Pradhan Mall and Sushma Lata Mathema issued the order directing the government to fix the limit in expedition permits. The bench issued a direction while replying to the writ petition on public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Deepak Bikram Mishra. Earlier this week, a brief summary was published directing the government to release the mountaintops. Permits can be issued for a specific time only after considering the capacity of the mountain.Advocate Mishra filed a PIL in the Supreme Court in September 2019 along with the Nepalese Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Sagarmatha Pollution Control. The committee, and other defendants including the Nepal Mountaineering Association, contend that the Nepal Tourism Department, which oversees permit issues for climbing Nepal's high mountains, currently has no limits on permits. The apex court's intervention comes at a time when Nepali authorities bee issuing increasing numbers of permits every year, especially in the Evergreen area, the mandamus has not given any specific number of permits to be issued, moreover, the ongoing In the spring season, as of April 30, Nepal has issued climbing permits to 990 climbers from 79 countries to climb 30 peaks, including 390 climbers allowed to climb Mount Everest. Nepal has seen an increase in the number of permits to climb Mount Everest since 2019. This year has been recorded as the year with the highest mortality rate.High traffic and short weather window for the summit. A total of 38 climbers obtained permits that year and the government collected US$11,000 for each climber as revenue. In 2021, Nepal issued 408 permits for Everest, while 325 climbers received permits in 2022 and 478 permits for Everest in 2023, the highest on record. Due to the increase in permits issued and deaths in high altitude areas, the court has ordered a limit on the number, applying this to all high mountains open to expeditions. Moreover, focusing on the ecology of Everest, the Supreme Court has also reiterated the restrictions.On the use of helicopters from base camp to the peaks, with the exception of emergency rescue purposes. In the 12-page summary judgment, the Supreme Court also stressed on the ongoing environmental and ecological concerns in Everest and other mountains. This has stressed the need for proper waste management in hilly areas to reduce adverse effects on the environment and human health. It states that anthropogenic activities have resulted in increased waste production and erosion of mountains. The court has also issued directions regarding management of dead bodies and waste.Management, fair wages and working conditions for those involved in the mountaineering sector Furthermore, the court called on the government to acknowledge the need for an improved information system, loss and damage claims from Nepal in relation to climate change and effective implementation Have also ordered. 3-Year Strategic Action Plan for Mountain Clean-up Campaign.