Uttarakhand opens Nanda Devi, 82 other Himalayan peaks for mountaineering

Why in news ?

• Uttarakhand government opened 83 Himalayan peaks (5,700–7,756 m) for mountaineering to promote adventure tourism, expand high-value tourism segments, generate livelihoods, and attract domestic and foreign climbers.
• Iconic peaks like Mount Kamet (7,756 m), Nanda Devi East, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Shivling, Neelkanth included, signalling policy shift toward regulated access to technically challenging high-altitude mountains.
• State waived peak, camping, and environmental fees, and launched a fully digital permission system, reducing entry barriers, improving transparency, and positioning Uttarakhand as a competitive mountaineering destination.

Basics and background

• Adventure tourism involves risk, physical exertion, and natural terrains; includes mountaineering, trekking, rafting, skiing; recognised globally as a fast-growing, high-spending, niche tourism segment.
• Indian Himalayas stretch ~2,500 km across northern India; Uttarakhand’s Garhwal–Kumaon Himalayas host major glaciers, steep relief, and technically demanding peaks attractive to elite climbers.
• Earlier, many peaks remained restricted due to ecological fragility, border proximity, and complex permits, limiting India’s share in global mountaineering compared to more open regimes like Nepal.

Constitutional and legal dimensions

• Tourism is a State subject, but forests and wildlife fall in Concurrent List, requiring coordination between Union and State governments while permitting mountaineering in ecologically sensitive landscapes.
• Activities near protected areas must comply with Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, ensuring expeditions do not degrade notified ecosystems or wildlife habitats.
• Article 48A and Article 51A(g) impose duties on State and citizens to protect environment, requiring mountaineering policies to integrate conservation safeguards and sustainable use principles.

Governance and administrative aspects

• Shifting financial burden from climbers to government reduces bureaucratic friction, potentially increasing participation, but demands strong regulatory oversight to prevent misuse and ensure environmental compliance.
• The digital mountaineering permission portal improves transparency, real-time tracking, and data availability, enabling better regulation, safety monitoring, and evidence-based policy adjustments.
• Effective implementation requires coordination among Tourism, Forest, Disaster Management authorities, ITBP, and district administrations, especially for rescue operations and environmental monitoring.

Economic dimension

• Adventure tourists spend significantly higher per capita, supporting guides, porters, transporters, equipment rentals, and homestays, creating strong local economic multiplier effects in remote mountain districts.
• Tourism contributes roughly 7–8% of Uttarakhand’s GSDP (estimates), and diversification into mountaineering reduces overdependence on seasonal pilgrimage tourism like Char Dham.
• Opening premium peaks can position Uttarakhand as a high-value, low-volume destination, aligning with sustainable tourism models prioritising quality revenue over mass footfall.

Social and ethical dimension

• Mountaineering promotion can empower local youth with skills, certifications, and employment, reducing distress migration from hill districts and strengthening local mountain economies.
• Ethical concerns include ensuring fair wages, insurance, and safety protections for porters and guides who face disproportionate risks during high-altitude expeditions.
• Some Himalayan peaks hold cultural and spiritual significance, requiring sensitive tourism models that respect local beliefs and traditional relationships with sacred landscapes.

Environmental and disaster dimension

• Himalayas are geologically young, tectonically active mountains, highly prone to landslides, earthquakes, avalanches, and flash floods, making large-scale mountaineering inherently risky.
• Expedition-related waste, campsite pressure, and human disturbance can degrade fragile alpine ecosystems with slow natural regeneration rates and low carrying capacity.
• Past disasters like 2013 Kedarnath floods and 2021 Rishi Ganga flood highlight cumulative risks from climate change, glacial instability, and unplanned human activity.

Data and evidence

• India hosts ~9,500+ glaciers, many concentrated in Uttarakhand, making it hydrologically crucial but also highly vulnerable to climate-induced glacial retreat and hazards.
• Global adventure tourism market exceeds $300 billion, growing around 15–20% annually, indicating strong demand for regulated, high-quality mountain tourism destinations.
• High-altitude ecosystems exhibit low resilience and slow recovery, meaning even small-scale disturbances can have long-lasting ecological impacts.

Challenges and criticisms

• Weak enforcement of waste-return rules and Leave No Trace principles risks accumulation of non-biodegradable waste in pristine high-altitude zones.
• Limited high-altitude rescue infrastructure, weather forecasting, and trauma care reduce safety margins for climbers and local support staff.
• Fee waivers may reduce dedicated conservation funds unless government ensures compensatory environmental financing mechanisms.
• Risk of overtourism and route crowding if promotion outpaces regulation and carrying-capacity assessments.

Way forward

• Conduct scientific carrying-capacity studies for each peak and cap annual expeditions based on ecological and safety thresholds.
• Implement strict waste buy-back policies, eco-certification, and environmental bonds refundable upon compliance with green norms.
• Provide mandatory insurance, training, and safety standards for guides and porters, institutionalising mountain labour welfare.
• Strengthen mountain rescue systems, early-warning networks, and climate monitoring, integrating technology and local knowledge.
• Promote community-based eco-tourism models ensuring revenue sharing, local stewardship, and alignment with SDGs 8, 12, 13, and 15.

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