Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has underscored the importance of maintaining cleanliness on the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), stating that efforts to keep the region clean must continue as an ongoing campaign. Addressing the 72nd International Everest Day and Global Mountaineers’ Conference, the Prime Minister called for stronger policies and legal reforms to tackle the growing issue of waste in the Everest region.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Oli highlighted that the government is already in the process of amending existing legal provisions to address environmental degradation in high-altitude regions. “There must be a rule in place that requires those who generate waste on Everest to clean it up themselves,” he said, revealing that a relevant bill has already been registered in the National Assembly. He further expressed hope that stakeholders would provide valuable input to refine the legislation.
Oli emphasized the symbolic and environmental significance of Mount Everest, calling for collective responsibility to keep it beautiful, clean, and safe for future generations. He raised concerns over increasing commercialization and carelessness in high-altitude climbing. “There’s a growing misconception that anyone can climb Everest simply because Sherpas will carry them to the top,” he remarked, warning against undermining the risks and responsibilities involved.
PM Oli’S Remarks
The Prime Minister also voiced alarm over reports of climbers using narcotics during expeditions, calling such actions highly irresponsible and damaging to the reputation of Nepal’s mountaineering culture. “Climbing Everest is not a game, and such carelessness should not be tolerated,” he said.
The event honored both domestic and international record-holding climbers who have contributed to mountaineering history. Notable figures present at the event included Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, and Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, among others.
The government’s commitment to environmental protection in the Everest region comes at a time when waste management has become a pressing concern due to the increasing number of climbers. With melting glaciers and human waste becoming visible on major routes, experts and environmentalists have long urged for stricter regulations and stronger enforcement mechanisms.
As the global mountaineering community celebrates Everest Day, the government’s renewed focus on sustainable climbing practices, environmental preservation, and legal accountability sends a strong message. The clean-up of Everest, Prime Minister Oli stressed, is not just a task for a few but a shared national and global responsibility.
