Leh, Jan 14: As the government green signals Chader Trek-2024, the district administration Leh here on Sunday put in place Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the overall safety of trekkers and for protection of the environment.
The following rules and regulations are being put in place for the overall safety of trekkers and for protection of the environment.
As such the following SOPs shall be strictly followed during the Chadder Trek-2024: Procedure on arrival to be followed by all tourists should include;
Day- 1: Arrival at Leh and rest for acclimatization.
Day- 2: Rest for acclimatization.
Day- 3: Medical check-up at the designated area between 11:00 AM to 04:00 PM (boarding pass will be checked at the time of medical check-up) followed by permit at Tourist Information Centre (TIC) near J&K Bank, main branch Leh.
Day- 4: Departure for Chadder Trek after obtaining permit from Tourist Information Centre, Leh.
Secondly, Regulations for the Travel and Tour operators are as follows: Travel companies operating Chadder Trek have to be properly registered. Travel agencies need to collect the registration forms and the group numbers for their batches from ALTOA desk at TIC. Travel agencies shall ensure that the trekkers have all the necessary equipment/gears with them for chadder trekking without which trekkers shall not be allowed for Chader trek. The ALTOA shall be solely responsible for the arrangement of equipment and List of porters/helpers/cooks/guides hired alongwith the certificates of experience and trainings shall be part of the registration process.
Identity card shall be issued to each porter/cook/helper/guide by ALTOA and free medical facility shall be provided to the crew of Chadder. Detailed information of the tourists should be mandatorily maintained including blood group and address of next of kin by the tour operators. Firewood to be sent from Leh only not to be collected en-route.
ALTOA shall ensure and shall be responsible for this.
Travel companies/agencies shall provide proper accommodation/tents and foods for guides/porters/cooks/helpers.
ALTOA shall provide subsidised Adventure insurance for porters/helpers/cooks/guides.
It is mandatory for all travel and tour operators to deposit back trashes i.e., tin, bottles & plastics etc to the Wildlife Department Leh.
Cleanliness of camps and Chadder route shall be maintained by ALTOA with active participation of Wildlife and Tourism Department, Leh before and after the Chadder Trek.
Regulations to be followed by the Taxi Operators and other transporters: It will be mandatory to play the audio advisory issued by Tourism department in the vehicles (Taxis) for the benefit of tourists. Oxygen cylinder should be kept in the vehicle at all the times.
All drivers shall be trained in first aid and CPR by the Dy.SP. UTDRF.
Timing of vehicle movement as under: 09:00 A.M onwards from Leh towards trekking point. No vehicle to move towards Leh after 05:00 PM from trek point.
Roles and responsibility of the Wildlife Department, Leh: Wildlife department, Leh shall provide Green Bags for trash and shall collect security deposit from the guides. Amount shall be refunded to them upon producing all trash.
A maximum of 10 groups per day shall be allowed on the trek. A group shall consist of not more than 10 tourists. Wildlife department shall ensure this through their check points. Permit shall be issued only to tourists recommended by recognised travel companies on the production of medical certificate and permit. The wildlife department shall also maintain a register of garbage collection and disposal.
Toilets and garbage collection bins should be installed at important locations of the trek. Travel agencies/companies shall be imposed penalties or shall be black-listed for non – compliance of the SOPs.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Tourism Department, Leh: To prepare the checklist for registration of tour operators especially for Chadder Trek.
This checklist should be circulated immediately to Wildlife Department and tour operators so that they get ready accordingly for the next season. To circulate the audio advisory for safety of tourists to all taxi operators and travel agencies.
Tourism department and ALTOA shall check the availability of all the essential trekking and safety equipment which also includes disposal bags. There shall be random checking by joint team to check quality of equipment as well as food served to the tourists and guides/porters/helpers.
Toilets and garbage collection bins should be installed at important locations of the trek. Travel agencies/companies shall be imposed penalties or shall be black-listed for non –compliance of the SOPs.
Tourism Department Leh to keep close liaison with ALTOA and all other stakeholders of Chadder Trek to make the event smooth if at all it is organized /conducted.
Roles and responsibilities of the Police Department: To provide support at Wildlife Department check post a Chilling/ Phyang and creation of a new check post Lyar and Tsomotutu during the Chadder trek.
Explore the possibility of providing communication network along the route of the trek.
Miscellaneous: All the trekkers must have high altitude and trekking insurance from a recognized Insurance company, otherwise they will not be allowed to trek.
Permission for the trek shall be given only after production of the medical certificate and insurance. All trekkers need to mandatorily go through registration and premedical check-up and get a certificate from the concerned mentioning that the trekkers is physically fit for trekking.
If any provision of these regulations is contravened by any tourist, travel agencies/ companies or taxi operator, they shall be held accountable and shall be liable to a fine between Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 in the first instance. Repeated or habitual defaulters shall be liable to a fine between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000. The administration reserves the right to revoke the license of the tour operator for violating SOPs.
All the Covid-19 SOPs/guidelines issued by the Government of India and UT Administration Ladakh from time to time to contain the spread of COVID-19 shall be followed by the trekkers as well as everyone associated with the conduct of Chadar Trek 2024 in letter and spirit.
