Nepal court orders limit on Everest climbing permits

The Himalayan republic is home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks andwelcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are warm andwinds are typically calm.
The verdict was issued in late April but a summary was only published thisweek.
Lawyer Deepak Bikram Mishra, who had filed a petition urging permits to becurtailed, told AFP that the court had responded to public concerns aboutNepal's mountains and its environment.
"It has ordered a limit to the number of climbers... and also givenmeasures for waste management and preservation of the mountain's environment,"Mishra said.
The verdict's summary said that the mountains' capacity "must be respected"and an appropriate maximum number of permits should be determined.
The full text of the verdict has not been published and the summary doesnot mention any specific limit to the number of permits issued.Nepal currently grants permits to all who apply and are willing to pay$11,000 to scale Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,850 metres (29,035feet) above sea level.
Last year, the country issued 478 permits for Everest, a record high.      
A massive human traffic jam on Everest in 2019 forced teams to wait hoursat the summit in freezing temperatures, risking depleted oxygen levels that canlead to sickness and exhaustion.
At least four of the 11 deaths on the peak that year were blamed onovercrowding.
 - 'Give it some respite' -             
"We are pressuring the mountain too much and we need to give it somerespite," Mishra said.
The court decision also orders restrictions on the use of helicopters foremergency rescues only.
Helicopters have in recent years been frequently used to airliftmountaineering teams to base camps and across hazardous terrain.
Nepal Mountaineering Association president Nima Nuru Sherpa said that suchdecisions need to be made after a proper study and consultation with thestakeholders.
"It is not clear right now how it will impact the industry. We don't knowon what basis the limits will be made and how will this be divided amongexpedition operators," Sherpa said.
"Our focus should instead be on how we can make the mountains safer."      
Nepal has issued permits to 945 climbers for its mountains so far thisyear, including 403 for Everest, reports BSS.