“These are generic guidelines aimed at avoiding hazards and risks” – S A Baba.

In an interview with Dream Wanderlust, principal secretary of Youth Services dept., govt. of WB clarifies the recently imposed rules for the Bengal mountaineers aiming at high peaks.

Q. Are these guidelines applicable to all or only government aided mountaineers? 
A. The mountaineers can be divided into two categories, govt. aided and self-sponsored. The govt. aided mountaineers will have to abide by the prescribed guidelines to apply for govt. help. The self-sponsored ones can go to the Nepal govt. directly for the expedition. In that case we will inform Nepal govt about the names of those mountaineers (from WB only) whose names are present in the list prepared by the W.B govt. The Nepal tourism may ask for an N. O. C to be submitted by Self-sponsored mountaineers issued by the West Bengal govt.

Q. Well, in this connection can you please inform us whether only those mountaineers attempting 8km+ peaks will get help from the govt.? Or is it applicable to any other peak also? 
A. Obviously all top mountains are among the eight-thousanders. The rules are applicable for climbing those mountains only. Not for the low-altitude-peaks.

Q. Will you consider other Himalayan peaks which may be technically difficult to climb? 
A. No. But if any other peak of lower altitude is known to pose more challenges to a mountaineer, then in that case those may be considered too.

Q. You have led a guideline that a person needs to ascend at least 4 peaks of altitude more than or equal to 6000m. Any other guidelines regarding which specific peaks to be ascended or about the style or method of climbing? 
A. No, we have formed a committee. It is not possible to frame all the cases in one guideline. These are generic guidelines aimed at avoiding hazards and risks. Other guidelines will be framed as and when the need arises. This is just the beginning. More guidelines will be set in place as and when the need arises.

Q. Are these guidelines applicable to those attempting summits of altitude more than or equal to 8000m from outside India and Nepal also (China for example)?
A. Yes they are. The W.B govt. provides monetary assistance of Rs. 5 lakhs for each, which is not a small sum. This sum will be provided to all mountaineers attempting summit from Nepal or otherwise.

Q. Are you going to investigate into the reason behind the catastrophes occurring in the mountains, whether it is the Sherpa or the handling agencies involved?
A. No that is beyond our purview. The mountaineers will exercise their discretion while selecting their handling agency and Sherpas. We are considering this by default that aspiring mountaineers will select the best of agencies and Sherpas to handle their expedition.

Q. Do you have any plans of bringing other adventure sports in mountaineering like rafting, kayaking, trekking etc. under the purview of these guidelines?
A. No