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| Get set to scale new heights in J&K | | | Early Times Report
Jammu , Jan 6
News of the Indian government giving a nod to opening 104 peaks in Jammu and Kashmir bordering Pakistan and China has enthused tour operators organising adventure tourism packages. This move, they said, will be a big boost to mountaineers and will generate interest amongst others looking for a mountaineering experience.
Ashok Reval, a tour operator in Delhi who organises various holiday packages and styles them in accordance to the customer's needs, said this move will increase the number of people opting for an 'adventurous holiday'.
'An increasing number of people, especially youngsters, are looking at exploring mountaineering, sky diving, rappling and the likes within a stipulated time period - basically an adventure travel package. The idea of therefore exploring a new peak - or at least a part of it - will be exciting not just for the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also elsewhere,' Reval said.
Ravi Kumar who conducts mountaineering expeditions for school and college student groups and others said: 'The Ladakh region is very picturesque and the idea of scaling a mountain there is tempting. However scaling a peak may not be everyone's cup of tea.'
The Indian government has given a go-ahead to open 104 peaks in Jammu and Kashmir bordering Pakistan and China with the aim of promoting adventure tourism and mountaineering activities in the state.
The clearance was given by the defence ministry after the tourism ministry had backed the proposal to open these peaks for tourists, official sources here said.
According to sources, the tourism ministry had taken up the matter after the recommendation of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), which is the apex national body that organises and provides a base for expeditions for mountaineering, skiing, rock climbing and trekking at high altitudes.
Most of these peaks are in the restricted areas located close to the borders of China and Pakistan in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.
'The opening up of 104 peaks will boost mountaineering activities in the Laddakh region and reinforce India's standing in this specialised outdoor activity,' official sources told IANS.
Ravinder Nath, director of the IMF, however said that nothing much should be read into the news until they receive a written confirmation of the same.
'I have been hearing about this news but have not received anything in writing by the ministry of home affairs and the defence ministry. In order to plan expeditions in these peaks, we have to get approval from these ministries,' Nath said.
'Therefore until I get a confirmation of the same nothing much should be read into the news,' he added.
Talking about the peaks, Nath said that they are more than 6,000 metres in height.
'The entire Ladakh region is very beautiful and receive a number of tourists. If these peaks in the region are opened then people would love to see the place and scale the mountains too,' he said.
Tourism ministry sources said that the defence ministry's approval for opening up of these peaks is with some stipulations.
'Only routes approved by the army will be used to approach these peaks. No filming or installation of equipment will be done without prior permission from the army,' a tourism ministry official said.
Also, the expedition team would be accompanied by a liaison officer either from a government organisation or from a vetted panel.
'They will also have to get clearances from the state government and other agencies wherever such clearances are required,' the official said, adding that the home ministry will further process the proposal.
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