15 Nepalese civil servants all set for Everest expedition

Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Apr 6 (PTI) A 15-member expedition comprising Nepalese civil servants is set to leave for Lukla, the gateway to Mt Everest, tomorrow to promote mountain tourism as Nepal observes Tourism Year 2011.

The all-civil servant Everest expedition, led by secretary in the Prime Minister´´s office Lila Mani Poudel, will get assistance from 15 Sherpa mountain guides.

"The aim of the expedition is to boost the image of civil servants and to promote mountain tourism," Poudel said before leaving for Lukla in Kathmandu.

"We want to set an example to the civil servants of other countries to take the risk of climbing mountain and invite them in our country for the expedition in future," he said.

The team comprises one secretary, two joint secretaries and rest junior officers and clerks.

The expedition will collect garbage and wastages produced during the expedition and bring it back to Kathmandu.
"We will also have the first hand knowledge and information about the impact of climate change in the mountains," the official added.

Though the members of the expedition are not much exposed to the mountain climate, last month they had successfully climbed over 5,000 meter peak Mt.Yale in Nepal during the training period.

They will also climb over 6,000 metre Island peak on way to Everest for acclimatisation.

Tourism Secretary Kishor Thapa will lead a team of government officials toward the Everest base camp next week to make necessary arrangements for the expedition.

The team is expected to attempt on the Everest summit nearly after two months towards the end of May, coinciding with the anniversary of the first human ascent to Everest by Tenzing Sherpa and Edmund Hillary.