Aruchal to get regiol mountaineering institute

Our Correspondent

Itagar, April 7: Terming Aruchal as a ‘paradise’ for adventure lovers, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju today said that he is contemplating to establish a North East Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Institute in Aruchal Pradesh to hone youths of the region.

Flagging off the expedition of ace Aruchalee mountaineer Anshu Jamsenpa to scale Mount Everest for the fourth record time here, Rijiju disclosed that the institute would likely to be completed within two or three years.

 “I will explore every possible ways to establish the institute as the state with vast resources of adventure sports is yet to be explored,” he said.

Referring to Africa and America where mountaineering has become a source of revenue, the union minister said that lots need to be done to make adventure sports a medium of sustence for the people in the state.

 “Aruchalees are adventurous but mountaineering could be commercialized in the state only when people started enjoying it. Society has to evolve to make adventure as a source of sustence,” he pointed out.

Stating that the state has large number of mountains which could be develop as mountaineering destition, he lamented that none of the peaks have been defined so far and a few are controversial with Chi.

 “I am planning to convene a meeting soon with the Survey general of India, Indian Mountaineering Institute and the Army to explore the possibilities of developing mountain peaks as mountaineering destitions besides giving them mes and defining clear-cut routes for expedition,” he disclosed.

Pointing out that Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP) deters growth of adventure tourism in the state, Rijiju said, the Centre with an aim to develop tourism in the state had relaxed restrictions in that direction.

 “We have lifted restriction on RAP and PAP and the state government should work out other issues for development of tourism in the state. I want that all the peaks in the Himalayan belt should be opened for activities so that economic development begins,” he said.

 “Any place in the state is a tourist spot but infrastructure and other facilities should be created,” he said adding, with little push, Aruchal could be transformed into a tourists paradise.

He, however, appealed all stakeholders of the state’s tourism industry to create awareness among the people to change their attitude and behavior which, he said, would boost the sector.

While wishing Anshu for a successful summit, Rijiju also lauded Tsering Wange, president of Aruchal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Association (AMASA), for being a supportive husband to her.

First Everester from the state Tapi Mra speaking on the occasion advocated for developing Mount Kanto bordering West Kameng, East Kameng and Tawang districts besides Kra Daadi in Kurung Kumey district as mountaineering destitions in the state which, he said, would generate revenue besides creating employment opportunities for the locals.

Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mama tung informed that the state government had attached priority on adventure tourism and further pleaded the Centre to extend all possible help to the state.