Everest height dispute continues KATHMANDU: The dispute between China and Nepal regarding the exact height of Mt. Everest is yet to be resolved. It was this dispute that led to the cancellation of the seventh joint border inspection committee meet between the two nations scheduled to be held in Kathmandu four months ago. China maintains that the height measurement needs to take only the rock into account whereas Nepal argues that the level of the snow should be included as well. The height of Mount Everest as per its rock surface is 8844 metres and 43 centemetres while the level of the snow on the peak raises the height to 8848 metres. Due to the difference of approximately 3.5 metres, Nepal refuses to accept the Chinese figure. Speaking to THT, Rabinkaji Sharma, general manager of the Department of Survey (DoS) said, "The issue of the height of Mt Everest is not settled as we don't agree with Chinese claim". The matter was taken up during the joint technical meeting between the then general director of DoS Rajaram Chhatkuli and his Chinese counterpart in Shihan Province of China in third week of November last year. Chhatkuli had also brought the issue to the attention of former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Minister for Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav, foreign secretary, secretary at the ministry of Land Reform and PM's personal secretary Shakti Bahadur Basnet. "As I have to maintain secrecy regarding the direction of the Prime Minister, I could not say anything on the issue," Chhatkuli said. "A decision was made to make the claims of both countries public and a final conclusion be made through discussion, however, no decision has been taken as the meeting of the committee has not been held," an official at DoF said. "We will not give up our stance of the height of 8848 meters as it is globally approved," he said, adding, "The Chinese side is claiming that the height was measured through GPS system." Nepal claims that the height of 8848 metres was recognised by the Indian Survey Team in 1995 and should be taken as the official height of Mt Everest. China had approved the measurement of the Indian team in 1975. However, on October 9, 2005, China announced that the height of Mt Everest was 8844 meters and 43 centimeters. The State Bureau of Survey and Mapping of China claimed that the height was confirmed after months of studies. The Bureau states that the height took into account the height of the rock surface of Mt Everest. The Chinese team said that the level of the snow over the rock surface was three metres and 50 centimetres. The actual height of Everest could not be confirmed if it is measured on the basis of the snow, the Bureau had claimed.