President of Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) Colonel (Retd) HS Chauhan on Thursday said setting up of a mountaineering and adventure sports academy in Kashmir would help to impart skills-based training to youth and would make them employable.
Retired Colonel Chauhan who is in Kashmir to take part in the International Mountain Day being observed by Tourism Department along with J&K Mountaineering and Hiking Club (JKMHC) on December 11, while talking to us said, “IMF can set-up a center here which could work along with Tourism Department and JKMHC. The mountaineering and adventure sports institute at Himachal Pradesh is a role model for J&K.”While underlining the need to make permissions easier to access ‘restricted mountaineering areas’, Chauhan who is known for trekking from Arunanchal Pradesh to Siachen over a period of 16 months said, “Permissions for expeditions on open peaks have been made easier by the centre. The state government must take up the matter with Union Home Ministry to make mountaineering easier in restricted areas. This should be on similar lines as open peaks for which permission is granted overnight,” Chauhan said.
Chauhan, who is serving his third term as the IMF president highlighted land, aero and water based activities that could help to attract tourists to Kashmir. “Rock climbing, repelling, trekking , camping , River crossing , mountaineering and skiing are some adventure sports which can be made popular in Kashmir,” Chauhan said.
Among other activities paragliding, white water rafting and still water rafting also have a huge potential in JK, Chauhan added.
He said that any forthcoming academy based in Kashmir should also have branches across the state since ‘It is important to develop places such as Bhaderwah and Kishtwar and focus on criss- cross trekking’.
During his illustrious trekking career, Chauhan has spent three years with the army institute of mountaineering at Gulmarg. He strongly believes that a mountaineering academy would create synergy between officials and trekking professionals and help to improve ‘carrying capacity of the trekking venue’. “A mountaineering institute in the Valley has to be standardized. Structured training will give recognition to mountaineering professionals. Adventure sports can bring a huge value addition to tourism in Kashmir but we need to bring an end to negative publicity of Kashmir in mainstream media. There is also need of a mass participation from across India if we want to see mountaineering grow in J&K,” Chauhan said.
According to Chauhan, a boost to adventure sports infrastructure can also help in better preparedness for natural disasters.
