Kathmandu, July 22 -- Several lawmakers have proposed significantly tightening the qualifications required to climb Mount Everest as Nepal's Integrated Tourism Bill enters a parliamentary committee for clause-by-clause scrutiny.

A total of 58 lawmakers have registered 263 amendments to the bill before it returns to Parliament for final debate and voting.

Although the proposals differ in detail, they share a common objective: requiring climbers to prove their experience on lower peaks before being allowed to attempt the world's highest mountain.

Lawmakers Shishir Khadka and Nitima Bhandari Karki have proposed issuing Everest permits only to climbers who have successfully climbed at least one mountain above 7,000 metres and two mountains...