Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today flagged off the Mt Kangto Exploration Arunachal Team 2017 in a simple ceremony here at his office.
The team is headed by Everester Tapi Mra with members Tame Bagang, who had also scaled Mt Everest, mountaineers Tagit Sorang and Taru Hai, a release from the CMO said.
Mt Kangto, with an altitude of 7,042 metres, is the highest peak of Arunachal Pradesh and is yet to be scaled.
Covered in snow throughout the year, the virgin peak is the source of the Pachuk river, one of the main tributaries of the Kameng river in East Kameng district.
Flagging off the expedition Khandu said this is the second attempt to explore the opening up Mt Kangto for mountaineering activities and hailed the local youths for identifying a base camp, the release said.
He directed the department of Sports and Youth Affair to call a coordination meeting of all stakeholders including the first exploration team of ITBP and IMF and prepare a road map for further exploration to open up Mt Kango for mountaineering.
Khandu said that the expedition must also be viewed from the tourism point as the area abounds in virgin flora and fauna including hot water springs as discovered by Mra and his teammates.
He also urged the department to keep in mind the necessity to construct a helipad nearer the mountain range for emergency use as well as transportation of tourists and mountaineers while framing any road map.
Khandu assured that the government will extend help to the department to facilitate exploration of similar ranges and peaks in the state, the release added.
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