KATHMANDU, Nepal- The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has expressed deep concern and questioned over the legality of first ever video call from the world’s roof. The Ministry asked clarification from the concerned Summit Nepal Trekking Private Limited, which held an expedition on Everest under which a British mountaineer and explorer made the video call from the peak.
Ministry’s strong reaction and concern surfaced a day after British Mountaineer Daniel Thomas Hughes made the video call through his smart phone to the British Broad Casting Corporation.
According to Purna Chandra Bhattarai, head of mountaineering division at the ministry, a letter has been sent to concerned trekking agency citing the validity of the video call. It is learnt that the Ministry has asked the agency to reply its clarification to Ministry within 3 days.
Hughes, 33, reached the top on Sunday as part of his effort to raise money for the UK based Comic Relief charity, which combat against poverty.
Meanwhile, officials at the Ministry of Information and Communication (MoIC) claimed that Jagged Globe Everest Expedition 2013, through which Hughes reached Everest, has not taken government permission to film Everest.
As per the MoIC provision, any climber, who desires to take satellite phone with him or her at Everest, has to pay Rs 120, 000 to obtain government’s permission.