Mysore/Mysuru, April 18 -- Forest Department issues new SOP of trekking and eco-trails in the State

The Forest Department released a fresh SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) yesterday making it mandatory for trekking groups to have at least one certified nature guide / trek guide to enter forest or eco-trails under Karnataka Forest Department jurisdiction. SOP has been issued to ensure safety of trekkers.

According to the new SOP, each deployed guide must carry following equipment:

GPS-enabled Walkie-Talkie/Two-way radio (fully charged, tested before departure); Fully stocked First Aid Kit (as per KEDB specification), Topographic map of the trail and a compass, GPS device or GPS-enabled smartphone with offline trail maps downloaded, Pe...