Supreme Court approved government's decision to allow NMA to collect royalties

KATHMANDU, Jna 27:The Supreme Court of Nepal has approved the government's decision to allow the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) to collect royalties on 27 peaks.

On Monday, January 20, a joint bench of Honorable Judges Shree Kumar Regmi and Nityananda Pandeya dismissed the case filed by Advocate Dipak Bikram Mishra.  

The case had sought the revocation of the government's decision to allow the NMA to manage 27 peaks, including the collection of royalties. The case was registered on 21 January , 2019.

With this ruling, the NMA can continue managing the peaks, including issuing climbing permits and collecting royalties. The NMA has been carrying out these tasks based on a cabinet decision.

The Tourism Act of 2035 also clearly mentions that the NMA can be entrusted with the responsibility of managing Nepal’s peaks.

The NMA welcomes the decision. “This ruling has clarified the issue. The NMA has been dedicatedly working for the betterment of Nepal’s mountain tourism industry, exclusively contributing to the nation’s economy,” said NMA President Mr. Nima Nuru, “We believe that this decision favors Nepal’s mountain tourism.”

The NMA, the only national alpine association of Nepal, was established before the government promulgated any tourism acts and has been carrying out this responsibility since 18th January 1978. Initially, the government entrusted the NMA with only 18 peaks, ranging from 5,583 meters to 6,654 meters height. Later, on 16th September 2002, the government decided to add 15 more peaks to the list.

As a technical wing of the government, the NMA has also been assisting in emergency rescues and celebrating various jubilees of Nepal's 8,000-meter peaks. It has been working to promote Nepal’s mountain tourism, preserve the mountain environment, and protect the cultural heritage of mountain communities.

The NMA has a rich history of producing skilled human resources for mountaineering. It has trained 1,983 individuals through various programs, including Basic Mountaineering Training, Advanced Mountaineering Training, Mountain Leader Training, Mountain Guide Training, and Aspirant Guide Training. To upgrade its training standards and streamline all the training programs, the NMA has established a training institute and introduced government-approved courses for mountain guides and mountain leaders.

In close coordination with the government, the NMA has also prepared Nepal’s peak profile, containing exclusive data about the country’s mountains. The NMA is firmly committed to continuing this responsibility.

The NMA operates the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara, one of the largest mountain museums in the world. It also runs a mountaineering training school in Manang, the Mountaineers Memorial Park in Kakani, Nuwakot, and a rescue center in the Annapurna region.

As the only representative of Nepal in the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and the Union of Asian Alpine Associations (UAAA), the NMA has a strong international network. It has been exclusively promoting Nepal’s mountain tourism in international markets using these platforms. Additionally, the NMA has been supporting the education of mountaineering orphans. This year, the NMA has provided scholarships for 59 such students and medical allowances for two physically challenged mountaineers.