NC Gen-Secy Sharma urges govt to prioritize mountain concerns in upcoming budget

Kathmandu, May 28: Nepali Congress (NC) General-Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma urged the incumbent government to incorporate the key mountain issues in the upcoming annual budget.

The government is announcing the annual estimate of income and expenditure (budget) for the fiscal year 2025/26 tomorrow. 

In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli upon returning from the Everest Base Camp recently, leader Sharma called for budgetary provisions to support mountain communities and to conserve mountain heritage.

He requested the government to consider issues such as insurance for 'respected' porters, pension for professional climbers, establishment of a government tower at the Everest Base Camp, improved access in technology and government's presence in the Everest region in the upcoming budget. 

In the letter titled 'Mountain life, mountain tourism and expectations from the government', the NC leader drew the attention of the government towards construction of roads along the trekking route (without destroying the existing trekking trail) and construction of a suspension bridge at Thukla. 

Earlier, the leader had penned a letter to PM Oli from the Everest Base Camp prodding the current leadership to take the lead for climate action and climate justice.

During his trek from Lukla to Everest Base Camp and near Camp III of Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) this spring, the leader had observed and experienced numerous challenges, shortfalls and ordeals that he later highlighted in his maiden letter to the Head of the Government. 

Underscoring urgency to protect mountains from the adverse impact of climate change, he also emphasized the need for Nepal to expand 'Sagarmatha Sambaad' into a global leadership platform on climate change.

Nepal remains one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world despite contributing negligible (0.027 per cent) to global carbon emission. 

"Immediate direction is imperative. It is essential to strike a budgetary balance among Tarai, Hill and Mountain and while achieving balance in the budget, we must ensure that the mountains are not left without justice. Let the Himalayas be visible in this budget," Sharma appealed in the letter. (RSS)