Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju today mooted the idea of setting up a North East Mountaineering, Adventure Sports Institute (NEMASI) in Arunachal Pradesh to help tap its vast potential commercially, while at the same giving a boost to tourism.
Rijiju described adventure as feeling beyond explanation as the Everester alone knows the meaning of 'at top of the world' after conquering the peak before flagging off the Everest mission of Anshu Jamsenpa, who holding the record of only woman and mother to scale Everest thrice, would attempt a new world record for a double ascend to the highest peak of the world for the fourth time in April-May next, at tourism directorate here.
He lamented that the Defence and Home ministries by imposing Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP) have been obstructing opening up of the Himalayan peaks which are yet to be surveyed, identified and named to woo mountaineers, unlike China which has opened its peaks to the adventurers.
"I have made it clear to Defence ministry that forces alone cannot guard by restricting the border but by its opening up for various activities to enrich the local communities to secure it", he said, adding the PAP regime, imposed under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958, was relaxed by him by delegating power to resident commissioner and deputy resident commissioners located at Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati to issue the permit to woo foreign tourists.
"I shall convene a meeting of the Army, mountaineering institutes and Surveyor General of India authorities soon to give a shape to NEMASI for it to come up within two to three years, he said to the applause of the gathering that included state sports secretary Dani Salu, tourism director Karma Leki, state's first Everester Tapi Mra, Arunachal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Association president and Anshu's husband Tsering Wange, host of tour operators led by Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operators' Association president John Panya and senior officers.
He disclosed that there are at least two 7,000-metre tall peaks and many between 5,000 to 7,000 metres in the state which are majestic but are not surveyed and unnamed leading to dispute and detracting mountaineers.The meeting would chalk out ways to conduct survey of all peaks and fascinating but unexplored valleys like snow-capped Tato and Lal Ane in West Kameng and Papum Pare district respectively, give them local names, identify safe and unsafe routes, Rijiju said.
When India receives only 6.7 million tourists annually, the US city of Orlando, known as 'The Theme Park Capital of the World', attracts about 150 million tourists annually for its most attractive but artificially created Walt Disney World Resort set up in 1971, and mountaineering activities going on in lower reaches of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, why not Arunachal Pradesh, wondered Rijiju, who has toured 154 nations.
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Pointing out that Tawang or Mechuka or Tirap are unique for tourism, he called upon the people to change their behaviour and attitude as the NEMASI would create employment avenues, including for the stat Everesters and boost tourism which was beyond the jurisdiction of the National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (NIMAS), set up as a joint venture of the Defence ministry and the state government at Dirang in West Kameng district in 2013.
Responding to plea of Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mama Natung for support to boost tourism sector and open up the mountaineering and adventure sports activities, Rijiju said that was why he had facilitated sanction of highest grant to state's tourism sector.
While Mra, who had conquered Everest on May 21, 2009, described Mount Kra Dadi in Kurung Kumey district and Mount Kangto (7,060 metres) in Tawang, West and East districts along China border as hidden diamonds and sought the Centre's support to open them up to benefit the state, Wange described the mission a pan-Indian project supported by many sponsors including tourism department, adding former state governor Gen (Retd) JJ Singh will flag her off at the base camp for the final climb.
"My attempt aims at spreading global awareness on environment protection, leadership and youth empowerment, particularly women," said Anshu, who received best wishes from all for her success, but Rijiju added "I am confident to flag you in".
"I shall also carry the message of Swachh Bharat Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attempt to complete the mission in less than 11 hours, she had taken in her first attempt," she added.