The Uttarakhand government is planning to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for trekking and mountaineering activities in the state.
The proposed framework, which is currently under consultation, aims to improve safety standards, strengthen oversight of trekking activities, and reduce ecological pressure on fragile Himalayan regions.
Key features of the proposed framework include mandatory registration of operators, a minimum age of 14 for high-altitude treks, compulsory mountaineering certification for guides, and quotas for hiring local residents.
The framework also proposes mandatory medical fitness certificates for trekkers, accountability mechanisms requiring operators to obtain weather updates before expeditions, and insurance cover for employees of agencies and operators.
Additionally, the proposed guidelines prescribe qualification and age criteria for trekking guides, with low-altitude guides required to be between 18 and 60 years of age and high-altitude guides between 20 and 60 years.
The framework also aims to promote local employment opportunities by making it mandatory for trekking agencies and operators to employ a certain percentage of local residents as staff.
The proposed guidelines are expected to be introduced either as a policy or a set of rules, with the final form still under consultation.
