New Delhi, May 20: Government has decided to establish a new institute for mountaineering and allied sports in the North East to commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations of the first ascent of Mount Everest. This was announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee flagging off the celebrations at a function here today.

Vajpayee said that 50 years ago, the ascent of Mount Everest prompted the first Prime Minister of the country Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to announce the setting up of the Himalayan mountaineering institute at Darjeeling.
"Today, as we commemorate the golden jubilee of that great achievement, I announce the government's decision to establish a new institute for mountaineering and allied sports in the north east. This will be funded by the ministry of defence,” he told the vast gathering which included Sir Edmund Hillary and Jamling Norgay, son of late Tenzing Norgay, who scaled the Mount Everest first.

Bureau Report