Shimla : An Australian national and pioneer of heli-skiing in the Indian Himalayas for the past twenty years has been ordered to leave India within two weeks for violating visa rules by the Himachal Pradesh police,Tuesday.
Roderick Mackenzie is based in the popular tourist resort town of Manali and has a business visa valid upto October 2014.
“He has a business visa and works for the Himalayan Heli Adventures(HHA) but he failed to prove his position in this company and submission of required papers related to his business,†said Abhishek Dular, police chief Kullu district.
“According to the MD of the company Mackenzie is working as a consultant on honorary basis though he has a business visa,†Dular said.
On verification he was found violating visa rules as he was found working as a consultant and not doing business.Due to this today he has been issued a notice from SP Kullu to leave India within 14 days of receiving this notice failing which he shall be liable for action under foreigners act 1946.
Mackenzie is also a well known photographer and mountaineer.He scaled mount everest in 1989 and has been living mostly in India since the past twenty years or so.
HHA claims to be the only company in Asia(outside Japan) to conduct the highly thrilling helicoper skiing adventure sport.First a chopper picks up a group of skiers and drops them on a mountain top from where they ski down hill.
Majority of the heli-skiers here are foreigners.
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
