Nanda Devi Sanctuary, investigative expedition. The...

Nanda Devi Sanctuary, investigative expedition. The president o f the Indian M ountaineering Foundation , N Vohra, organized an expedition in June-July 2001 to investigate w hether the Sanctuary should be opened to clim bers, trekkers, and scientific research (the Sanctuary has been closed since 1983 and even local villagers have been banned entry to their traditional graz­ing rights). The team was given clearance by the M inistry o f Environm ent and Forest, and the Governm ent of Uttaranchal, a legal requirem ent as the area has been designated a National Park under an act o f Parliam ent. The IMF expedition studied the area and subm itted a 100-page report, which recom m ended controlled opening o f the Sanctuary. This is also the wish o f the U ttaranchal State. No decision has yet been taken by the G overnm ent, though from a press report it appears that lim ited access to scientific expeditions may possibly be granted. D uring their stay in the area three m em bers o f the expedition reached the Sunderdhunga Col (5550m) on the southern rim o f the Sanctuary, east o f Maiktoli (6803m). The only o ther recorded visit to this col was m ade by Shipton and Tilm an 67 years earlier.

H a r i s h K a p a d ia , H o n o r a r y Editor, The Himalayan Journal