The ITBP has decided to remove the long-standing necessity for an inner-line permit, which prevented tourists, climbers, and hikers from accessing the Milam glacier.
The need to carry an inner-line permission to visit the Milam glacier, which is one of the most well-liked tourist attractions in this Uttarakhand area and is located at a height of around 18,000 feet, was negatively harming tourism prospects.
According to Munsiyari Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Yashbir Singh, “The ITBP has ordered its staff to let every tourist go up to the Milam glacier without carrying an inner-line pass.”
“We received a letter from Robin Kumar, Deputy Commandant of the 14th Battalion of the ITBP, informing us about its decision to do away with the restriction as it was affecting tourism,” said Singh.
In response to a request made by the Pithoragarh district administration last month, the ITBP has decided to waive the necessity of having an inner-line permit for tourists and adventure sport enthusiasts visiting the Milam glacier.
According to a letter sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in October 1993, “We had written to the ITBP on September 15 asking it to lift the restriction,” the SDM added.
However, because to safety concerns and the route’s susceptibility to landslides and roadblocks, the ITBP followed the custom of not allowing anyone to go beyond a location named Lilam, which is 12 km from Munsiyari, without an inner-line pass.
61 kilometers separate Munsiyari from the Milam glacier.
The ITBP has chosen to loosen the standard, nevertheless, in response to mounting pressure from the government, travelers, and businesspeople as well as in light of the MHA letter.
The decision will be advantageous to hikers, researchers, and regular visitors, the SDM said.
According to Puran Pandey, a hotelier in Munsiyari, “The requirement of an inner-line permit was extremely frustrating for the trekkers and researchers keen on exploring the high Himalayan region.”
