ISSUING A STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION of 2551 st Buddha Jayanti (on May 2), Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said sustainable peace is needed for the country to make progress and for safeguarding the overall interests of the people. Koirala said all must set aside small differences and move forward in building a new and prosperous Nepal. “ Nepal’s mountains, hills and the plains all have been nurtured by Lord Budhha’s message of peace and goodwill,” he said. Various programs are slated to be held to mark the Buddha Jayanti – the anniversary of Lord Buddha’s birth. Lord Gautam Buddha, who was born in Lumbini of Nepal, is also known as Light of Asia.
THE MAOIST VICTIMS HAVE announced that they will launch third round of agitation to press for their 15-point demands. According to Bhojraj Timalsena, coordinator of the agitation committee, as per their agitation they will stage sit-in in front of Indian Embassy, US Embassy and UN office on May 9, May 11 and May 14, respectively. They have also announced that they will hold mass meeting in Tinkune on May 16, impose valley chakkajam (traffic obstruction) on May 17 and stage sit-in in front of OHCHR office on May 21. Earlier, the Maoists had launched two rounds of agitation to press for their demands including respectful rehabilitation, compensation, employment, identity cards and so on.
THE POSITIVE TREND IN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS’ arrival figure to Nepal continues on a sharp upward curve with a staggering growth of 78.8% for the month of April 2007, according to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). 33,024 visitors came to Nepal during the period, which is a record high for the number of international visitors entering Nepal by air route in the month of April since 2002, the board states in its press release. Among the two major market segments, the Indian market rebounded strongly with 110% increase while the non-Indian market elevated by 70% on an average. This was based on the figures provided by Immigration Office, Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal.
AS ROAD CONNECTIVITY HAS BEEN established linking Jumla to the rest of the country, the prices of daily consumer goods in the place have dropped. Everyday, over ten vehicles transport various consumer goods to Khalanga – headquarters of Jumla district. According to Bishnu Kathayat, who was involved in food trading in the district for last ten years, the prices of food stuffs have come down by Rs 15 to Rs 25 per kg since they were transported by road. The per kg price of Mansuli rice has come down from Rs 65 to Rs 50. The per kg price of wheat flour has come down from Rs 7 5 to Rs 60. Price of cement has decreased from Rs 2800 to Rs 1800. Earlier, goods had to be transported by air only. As vehicles have started transporting consumer goods from Surkhet, the activities in Khalanga market have increased. Kantipur daily reports
THE STATE-OWNED NEPAL OIL CORPORATION (NOC) has informed that its losses have crossed Rs 10 billion. At an interaction organized by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, joint secretary Purushottam Ojha informed that monthly losses of NOC stand at Rs 1.9 million currently. The NOC currently needs to pay total outstanding debts of over Rs 10 billion – Rs 5.95 billion to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Rs 4.24 billion to banks. The huge loss is even more disturbing if seen in the backdrop of total authorized capital of NOC – which is just over Rs 500 million. Ojha said that cumulative losses since past many years and huge debts that create huge interest pressure on NOC have rendered its financial situation worse. At the interaction titled “Present Situation of Supplies of Petro Products: Problems and Challenges,” Rajendra Mahato, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, urged all the political parties to come up with comprehensive plans to improve NOC’s situation. However, leaders of political parties advised against any fuel price hike saying that could disturb the security situation ahead of CA elections. They asked the NOC to improve its internal management and check leakages and corruption, instead.
