LEH: In a significant development, the Indian Army has decided to do away with the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for tourists to visit the Siachen Base Camp in Ladakh, the union territory administration informed on Thursday.
The base camp of Siachen glacier, the world’s highest and coldest battlefield, was opened for domestic tourists in the year 2021, two years after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had stated that the government was looking at opening up the Siachen Glacier, one of the most difficult terrains on Earth, to tourists.
However, the tourists seeking to visit the tourist facility near the base camp had to procure an NOC or Authorisation from the Indian Army.
On Thursday, the Ladakh Tourism Department notified that the tourist facility near Siachen Glacier Base Camp was now open for tourists without any authorization from the Indian Army.
“The people of Nubra in particular and all tourism related stakeholders of Ladakh in general were demanding the opening-up of Siachen Base Camp for tourists. The Ladakh Tourism Department has been pursuing this case with the concerned authorities for the last two years,” said an official notice issued by the department.
“As communicated by the Headquarters 14 Corps, visit to the civil tourist facility near Siachen Base Camp does not require any NOC/authorization,” it said.
The notice said that domestic tourists and visitors do not need any permit to visit the civil tourist facility near Siachen Base Camp.
However, the environment fee collected by the District Administration is to be paid as per information available on the website https:/leh.nic.in (https://www.lahdclehpermit.in/), it said.
“All concerned stakeholders should take note of the opening of the civil tourist facility near Siachen Base Camp for tourists/visitors with immediate effect,” it said.
With Army authorisation no longer needed, now Ladakh Police will make tourist regulation arrangements at the facility, said the department notice.
Meanwhile, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh, Tashi Gyalson has congratulated the people of the Nubra region and, in particular, the tourism stakeholders of Ladakh on the development.
He added that this decision would further promote Ladakh as a sought-after travel destination thus, creating unforgettable experiences for travellers.
