May 7: As many as 414 people have taken permission for climbing Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), the world's highest peak, in the spring season this year.    

According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 414 climbers, including 75 women and 339 men of 41 mountaineering groups have so far been granted permits for the climbing Everest.    

Last year, 478 climbers – the highest ever – had obtained permission for climbing Mount Everest.    

Section Officer at the Department of Tourism, Chun Bahadur Tamang, told the state-owned RSS that a total of 971 mountaineers from 112 climbing group have obtained permission for climbing 30 mountains, including Mount Everest, this season.    

The government has collected royalties of Rs 674.7 million by issuing climbing permits. Around Rs 592.3 million has been raised from Mount Everest alone this season.  

The government has made it mandatory for mountaineers aspiring to climb Mt Everest to carry GPS trackers to ensure their safety.

The Department of Tourism has also made it mandatory for climbers to remove their excrement using compostable bags similar to those used for dog waste. 

The move comes amid widespread criticism that Mt Everest is turning into a dumping yard due to lack of proper regulations to manage waste in the mountains of Nepal.