Two temporary Oxygen Rehabilitation Camps will be set up at the Everest Base camp by the Himalayan Expeditions (HE) in technical collaboration with RD and PE Zvezda, a Moscow based oxygen-refilling company. The period of setting up of the Camps will be from April second week to the end of May and each camp would supply oxygen equivalent to the sea level, according to information given at a press meet organized in Kathmandu, recently. Mr. Bikrum Pandey, the President of Himalayan Expeditions said "The mountaineers having problem of high-altitude-sickness, and oxygen deficiency would benefit from this scheme".

Mr. Alexander Gayman, the Bureau Chief of the foreign Business Relations of the RD and PE Zvezda, informed that a center in Kathmandu for distribution and refilling of oxygen cylinders is setting up taking in mind for the future market of the South Asia along with the Chinese Autonomous Region of Tibet. The company would supply oxygen cylinders, masks, regulators and other essential equipment for mountaineers. Till now Nepal was depend on India for refilling of oxygen cylinders.

According to Mr. Gayman, the company is also preparing to introduce an oxygen cylinder, which will contain enough oxygen for the climbers for entire expedition. Currently each with compressed oxygen cylinder weighing four litre can last for six to seven hours during Everest expedition.

OTHER NEWS

• Tourist inflow rises marginally: Via-air tourist arrivals in Nepal from third countries in January had gone up by 11 per cent against the arrivals of the same month in 2002.
  
  
• TAAN asks Govt to simplify laws: The Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) recently asked the government to simplify the rules and regulations that are affecting trekking on the hills than 6,500 metres high.
  
  
• Biodiversity meet issues Kathmandu declaration: The International Conference on Himalayan Biodiversity (ICHB-2003) concluded recently after issuing the Kathmandu declaration that calls for establishing a Himalayan Biodiversity Data Base for the sustainable development, long-term study and management of natural resources.
  
  
• Praying for lasting peace, adventure seekers cruise down white water rapids: SUKUTE (Sindhupalchok) March 2 : This isolated resort village on the banks of the Bhote Koshi River along the Arniko Highway yesterday welcomed about 200 local and international visitors, who came for rafting and kayaking - and the fun and thrill associated with the adventure sports.
  

By Hari Shrestha, Resident Representative in Kathmandu