Kathmandu, Dec 15: The government is all set to measure the height of
Sagarmatha Himal (Mt Everest), using own resources.
The final
preparations for measuring the height of the world's tallest mountain have been
completed, according to the Survey Department which is undertaking the task.
Joint spokesman
of the Ministry of Land Reform and Management, Punya Bikram Poudel said that
the government has allocated Rs 20 million for this purpose and the Ministry of
Finance too has assured of additional money.
"The
Ministry of Land Reform and Management had proposed last year that Nepal itself
should calibrate the height of Mt Everest using own resources and manpower.
Accordingly, the government has prioritized the programme and budget for this
and we have reached the final phase of preparation for the same," the
Ministry's joint-spokesman Poudel said.
The Ministry has
held discussions on the methodology of measuring the height of the mountain
organizing an international seminar which was participated by the scientists
and representatives of the survey departments and bureaus of various countries
including India and China, before embarking on the project. The seminar was organized in Kathmandu on
December 11 and 12.
According to
Poudel, the measurement would be done in accordance with the
internationally-accepted standards.
Before this, the
Survey of India had measured the height of Mt Everest 170 years ago and
determined the height of the mountain at 8,848 metres from the mean sea level.
Various agencies measured Mt Everest's height at different times and came up
with differing measurements. But these had not been officially recognized.
The Survey
Department is all set to start the project and plans to complete it in the
coming two years.
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