Manali mountaineering institute headless for 11 yrs

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, October 1

The post of Director is vacant at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mountaineering Institute, Manali, for the past 11 years (since 2007).

The institute plays a crucial role in leading rescue operations in high-altitude Himalaya region, when trekkers or tourists get stuck in tough terrains.

Sources said in the absence of any Director, the administrative structure of the institute was suffering. However, for some time, Captain DS Sahuluria, Deputy Director of the Institute, was given the additional charge of Director. But Captain Sahuluria, too, retired in January this year and now, the additional charge has been given to the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu.

Officials of the institute said the search and rescue operations such as the one conducted recently in Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba are normally headed and supervised by the head of the department of the mountaineering institute, but the post is lying vacant for the past many years. As a result, the district administration has to conduct the rescue operation.

Anup Thakur, president of Kullu-Manali Hoteliers’ Association, said: “Kullu-Manali and Lahaul and Spiti are happening places, where tourists come for trekking and sometimes get stuck. They need to be rescued. The mountaineering institute plays a crucial role in these circumstances, but it is a matter of concern that the post of Director is lying vacant since 2007.”

He said the state government should fill the post with immediate effect for its better functioning because the Deputy Commissioner cannot devote his full time to it.

About Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mountaineering Institute

• The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali (ABVIMAS) is the largest adventure sports training centre in the country. 

• Spread over 20 acres of forestland on the banks of Beas river, it can accommodate 260 people at a time in hostel and has an auditorium that has a seating capacity of 680 persons.

• It has nine sub-centres all over the state and more than 40,000 people have been trained so far.

• This institute has played a major role in inculcating the spirit of adventure among the youth of the country and promotion of adventure tourism in the state.