KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Deepak Khadka, has underlined the need of protecting mountains, the major source of drinking water and energy. He insisted on the need of drawing the global attention to the urgency of mitigating impacts of climate change on the mountain range.

Talking to the RSS after visiting the RSS Photo Exhibition organized by the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on the occasion of the 18th Republic Day, he said direct impacts of climate change are visible on mountains.

Now the scale of snowfall has got reduced. Some glaciers are at the constant risk of outburst, he said, stating that the government has launched study-based efforts to protect them.

As he said, the exhibition themed “Mountain Tourism: Our Pride, Our Identity” gave information of the country’s mountain tourism and the nature of peaks.

On the occasion, RSS Executive Chair Dharmendra Jha welcomed the Minister to the RSS complex and apprised him that the exhibition was organized to mark the 18th Republic Day.

RSS photo exhibition has highlighted potential of mountain tourism: Secretary Bhattarai
Similarly, observing the photo exhibition earlier today, CPN (UML) Secretary Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai remarked that the photos included in the exhibition highlighted the potential of mountain tourism in Nepal.

He stated that the 96 photographs displayed at the exhibition highlight the possibilities of mountain tourism.

“RSS has been carrying out creative works since some years, and I am very happy. This time it has highlighted the potential of mountain tourism. Ninety-six photos including photos depicting the Kanchenjunga mountain in the east to Mt Api and Saipal of Darchula feature in the exhibition and it was pleasing to see photos of Mount Everest, Annapurna, Machhapuchchhre, the waterfalls of Rukum, Sisne Himal, and various other mountains,” he added.

The UML Secretary also suggested publishing a compilation of the photos on display with additional information about the mountains, trekking routes, major mountain tourism destinations etc.