Bhattarai reacts with anger over Khadka’s ouster

Kathmandu, August 8:

Senior leader of the ruling Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has reacted angrily to the decision of the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to oust Khum Bahadur Khadka from the cabinet.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Bhattarai said " I am dismayed and shocked to hear the dismissal of senior cabinet member and an honest leader of the Nepali Congress Khum Bahadur Khadka from the post of Minister".

Bhattarai said that Prime Minister Koirala made the decision to dismiss Khadka, an old and loyal friend, from the cabinet on wrong advise of his coteries.

" This move has stirred the hornet’s nest, which is likely to damage the balance in both the government and the party", he said.

Bhattarai has also asked Prime Minister Koirala to initiate damage control measures in order to save the party and the government.

Prime Minister Koirala dropped Khadka from the cabinet Tuesday following the latter’s involvement in the campaign to press the former to quit one of the posts he now holds—premiership or party president.

However, Koirala has clearly refused to give into his rivals’ pressure.

Nepali Congress has been clearly divided into two camps. His rival camp is seeking ouster of Koirala from premiership and party president.

Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Sher Bahadur Deuba are supporting the campaign against Koirala. Khum Bahadur Khadka, who had long been known as one of Koirala’s loyal lieutenants, jumped into the rival camp recently. Nepalnews.com yl

Legislators Demand Action Against Prince Paras

Kathmandu, Aug.8:

Members of the treasury and opposition benches Tuesday afternoon
demanded that police action should be initiated against Prince Paras Shah for his alleged
involvement in a traffic incident involving the death of a singer Sunday night in the capital.
The accident figured prominently in discussions in Parliament Tuesday.
" Everybody in equal before law, even members of the Royal family. Legal action should be
initiated against Paras Shah," said Pradip Kumar Gewali, member of the main opposition party
UML.
" Government is silent even after an irresponsible act," said Prem Bahadur Singh, another
member of Parliament.
Musician and Singer Praveen Gurung died Sunday night at Bir Hospital
after his motorcycle was hit by a vehicle driven by Prince Paras Shah, reports said Tuesday.
Gurung died within 30 minutes after being rushed to hospital, reports said.
The accident occurred in front of the south gate of the Narayanhiti Royal Palace as Gurung
was driving home from the Yak and Yeti where he worked. Gurung also worked at the
Rashtriya Nachghar.
Gurung composed music for nearly 500 songs during an illustrious career.
Paras Shah was earlier involved in another accident in which a taxi driver died.
This is the first time the actions of Prince Paras has figured in Parliament. nepalnews.co

New polarisation in NC after Khadka’s ouster from cabinet

Kathmandu, August 8:

A new polarisation has taken place in the ruling Nepali Congress party following the ouster of Khum Bahadur Khadka from the post of Minister Tuesday.

Rival camps of the Nepali Congress are busy in chalking out different strategies to cling to or grab power.

Prime Minister Koirala’s supporters gathered in the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar whereas his rivals held a separate meeting in the residence of former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai in Bhaisepathi of Lalitpur.

Although details of both the meetings were not disclosed, source close to K.P. Bhattarai said that they would register a no confidence motion against Prime Minster Koirala in the Nepali Congress parliamentary party—the same move Koirala took against Bhattarai about five months ago-- " if Koirala refused to relinquish one of the two posts he now holds".

However, Koirala’s supporters have asked him not to give in to the pressure of the rivals.

Khum Bahadur Khadka is one of the vocal leaders of the Nepali Congress to ask Koirala to quit one of the two posts—party presidency or premiership.

Koirala’s rivals claimed that they have sufficient number of lawmakers to remove him from the post of leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party.

However, Koirala has asked to follow the legal method to remove him.

Nepali Congress lawmakers have been divided into two clear camps—one headed by Koirala himself and the other former prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

Bhattarai has consistently asked to hand over the leadership of the government and the party to younger leader. Bhattarai’s preference is former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Nepali Congress has 114 members in the House of Representatives, Lower House of Parliament. Both the camps claim their majority in the parliamentary party. A total of 58 members are needed to pass the no confidence motion against the parliamentary party leader, who is automatically becomes prime minister. nepalnews.com yl

 Khadka dropped from cabinet

Kathmandu, August 8:Minister for Water Resources Khum Bahadur Khadka was dropped from the
Council of Ministers for his involvement in the campaign against PrimeMinister Girija Prasad Koirala.
His Majesty King Birendra relieved Minister Khadka from the post of Minister on the recommendation of Prime Minister Koirala.
Minister Khadka launched campaign to press Koirala to hand over leadership to the younger generation leader.
Khadka demanded that Koirala quit either premiership or party president. He put forward his view in front of Koirala Monday. Khadka's move is to support former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to
become next Prime Minister. He has also supported Sailaja Acharya for the post of party president.
However, Prime Minister Koirala has clearly refused to step down. With the ouster of Khadka from the cabinet, a new crisis has emerged in the ruling Nepali Congress. Khadka is one of the influential second generation leader of the Nepali Congress. Nepalnews.com yl

Action Against Cheats

Kathmandu, Aug.8: Officials have penalized 3,911 taxi operators and drivers of a dozen three-wheelers in the city for tampering with metres and overcharging clients in the fiscal year 2056/57, the Standards and Weights Bagmati Zonal Office, Kathmandu said. 

Tampering with metres is a frequent complaint of commuters in the capital city. The office fined four gas companies for distributing underweight cylinders while 11 cheats were fined for selling underweight cement bags.

The office fined 1,823 businessmen in eight of the kingdom's 75 districts for using irregular standards and weights. The office collected Rs.1.5 million in fines during the period. nepalnews.com br

RNAC Accident Probe Begins

Kathmandu, Aug-8: An investigation commission Monday began its probe of the July 27 Royal Nepal Airlines  Twin Otter crash that killed 25 persons, including three infants, on a 30 minute flight from Baglung to Dhangadi.

The commission has set up office at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation at Singha Durbar.

The ageing aircraft was carrying 22 passengers and three crew. This was the first major accident involving the state-owned Royal Nepal Airlines; private operators were involved in other recent accidents on domestic flights.

Speculation has ranged from improper maintenance, carrying passengers beyond allotted seats to steering away from the allotted flight path for the accident.

The commission headed by a lawyer will submit its report to government within 60 days after starting its probe. nepalnews.com br

Rain Causes Havoc In Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Aug.8: The Tukucha and the Samakushi rivers in the capital have over-flowed  banks and flooded houses in the capital after two days of incessant rains, reports said.

The evening rains Monday also  disrupted traffic after sections of the city were waterlogged following heavy downpours Sunday and Monday.

Several houses in the city have collapsed although there were no reports of casualties.

More than 108 persons have been killed or are missing and crops, property and infrastructure worth several hundred million  rupees have been damaged by the seasonal rains this year.

Reports of flood damage have also been reported from other areas on the kingdom, including Udayapur, Morang, Dhanusha, Jhapa, Sindhuli and Makwanpur.

Rains destroyed major highways cutting off Kathmandu from the Terai and Tibet for several days. nepalnews.com br

Maoist leader rejects govt proposal for talks

Kathmandu, August 7:

The underground Nepal Communist Party ( Maoist) party that has been launching an armed insurgency to overthrow the multi-party system and Hindu monarchy has rejected the proposal of government to hold talks to end the five-year old insurgency.

In a statement issued Monday, general secretary of Maoist Party Comrade Prachanda ( Puspa Kamal Dahal) said that the talks cannot be held unless the government creates a conducive atmosphere for the interaction. One of the demands the Maoist leader has put forward is immediate and unconditional release of all leaders and workers of Maoist party from the police custody.

The statement of Maoist leader was a response to a letter written by Sher Bahadur Deuba, convenor of Maoist Problem Resolution Panel, inviting the names of representatives of Maoist party to hold talks with the government.

In a statement, Comrade Prachanda said, "it was futile to send representatives for the talks with the government when it continues to resort to oppressive method against Maoists rebels and does not listen to our conditions and demands". Nepalnews.com yl

CPN-UML suggests interim govt to conduct elections

Kathmandu, August 7:

Presenting 11-point suggestions to the high-level panel headed by the Prime Minister to make necessary reforms in the electoral processes in order to ensure free and impartial elections, main opposition party CPN-UML suggested formation of interim and national government comprising representatives of all national parties to conduct general elections.

In a press conference organised to disclose its set of suggestion to the high level electoral reforms recommendation panel, chief of central election department of CPN-UML said that his party had suggested formation of interim government for the conduct of the poll in free and fair manner.

It has demanded that members of such interim government should be representatives of all national parties in parliament, who should not contest the election.

It has also suggested reform in the Election Commission and its organisational structure. " Election Commission itself should be more credible and impartial in order to conduct the election in free and fair manner," said Oli.

The main opposition party has demanded reduction of the number of election commissioner to three including the chief election commissioner.

Its suggestion includes reforms and changes in the procedures of appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioner.

It has demanded that hearing should be held in the concerned parliamentary committee about the persons to be appointed as election commissioner.

A high level electoral reforms committee headed by the Prime Minister to recommend the necessary measures to discourage and check electoral malpractice and ensure free, fair and credible election. It members include lawmakers of all political parties in parliament. Nepanews.com yl

Murdered Maoist Leader Produced Before Court

Kathmandu,Aug.7: 

A Maoist leader reportedly murdered by police in custody was produced before the district court in Siraha Sunday.

The court gave police permission to keep Dev Narayan Yadav in custody for four days for investigation into charges of murder.

Yadav, a Maoist commander for Siraha, Dhanusa and Sarlahi was arrested last month with another colleague.

Daily newspaper Samacharpatra quoting police said Yadav was murdered in custody in its Sunday editions. nepalnews.com br

Polio Drops to be Administered

Kathmandu,Aug. 7: 

As stray cases of polio were reported despite a national campaign to eradicate the disease from Nepal, polio drops will again be administered  to children below five years of age on December 9, January 20 and March 3.

But the national programme will be launched in the mountain districts on August 19, September 23 and November 4 before the onset of winter.

The campaign is part of an international campaign to eradicate the disease by the year 2001.

The crippling disease is now predominantly prevalent in South Asia and Myanmar. nepalnews.com br

Koirala returns from India; says visit was successful

Kathmandu, August 6:

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala returned to Kathmandu after completing his week-long visit to India Sunday evening.

Talking to journalists in the Tribhuvan International Airport, Prime Minister Koirala said that his trip to India was successful as both the countries have agreed to undertake joint efforts in several issues and projects.

" I do not want to say much here because I have to inform the parliament about the details of my visit to India", he said.

He, however, said that Nepal and India agreed to carry out work for the Koshi High Dam and Sunkoshi diversion projects.

" We have agreed to review all gamut of relation between the two countries in the 50 years and develop our relations in accordance with the new and changed context".

" There have been tremendous changes and development in the field of science, technology and economy in India and we have to shape our relation as per the changed context", Prime Minister Koirala said.

On Laxmanpur barrage, Koirala said that an agreement has been reached to solve the issue by the joint technical committee on the spot.

" We have agreed to include Kalapani in the total border issue and discuss accordingly", he said, when asked about the deployment of Indian army in Kalapani—Nepal-India-China tri-junction. Nepal has claimed Kalapani as its territory and asked India to withdraw its troops from that area.

Prime Minister Koirala said that foreign secretaries of both Nepal and India have been instructed to work out for the review of 1950 treaty.

Koirala had gone to India for official visit on July 31 and visited New Delhi and Banglore.nepalnews.com yl

Solid waste: No solution in sight

Kathmandu, August 6: 

Municipal officials and independent experts expressed frustration over government inaction to get anything done about what is turning out to be one of this Himalayan capital’s most talked about but never resolved problem.

“It has been about two months since the government invited private participation to manage waste,” said Bhushan Tuladhar of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). “I’m in the committee that is supposed to evaluate and decide on the proposals but we’ve failed to even meet on time,” he added at an interaction programme on Sunday.

Municipal officials first saw the waste invasion coming two years ago when they realised that Gokarna landfill was filling up fast. They then prepared a report looking at different alternative ways to manage waste, which they took to different politicians including the Prime Minister.

Several similar reports later, today the problem with waste remains is where it was. A week ago solid waste remained uncollected from the streets for almost seven days until the government and the municipal officials decided to use existing space in Teku as temporary holding site.

That provided breathing room of about three weeks after which a new move—dumping waste on along an eight-kilometre stretch of the Bagmati River bank—was announced. The plan to build a road using waste as filling was stopped only after locals opposed the move.

Now it is back to square one: the government has not decided how to go about managing waste while municipal officials say their suggestion, which they say could be a way out, seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

KMC says over 67 percent of Kathmandu’s waste is organic and can be composted. Even the remaining plastics and paper are reusable by local industry.

“Managing that is not a problem, if we do it rightly,” said Tuladhar. His plan is to allow the private sector to compost waste for which the government should provide about 10 hectares of land free of cost. “Now we have technology that allows faster composting, even means to minimise the odour at the site.”

The government does not disagree but has made the decision to enable the private sector to start work. The municipality had even short listed private proposals and picked a party to do the composting.

That was not acceptable to the government—but it did not explain why. It then went on to seek proposals again. Two months have passed since but no decision has been made.

Kathmandu produces about 300 tons of solid waste everyday, which KMC says can be realistically converted into 22,000 tons of good quality organic fertiliser.

“All we are asking from government is land to set up plant,” said Tuladhar. KMC says composting can be done at Sundarighat where the government has a wastewater-recycling system. “Even the solids left after recycling water can be composted.”    

The technology needed for this conversion is available in India where it is being used in Indian 22 cities. It not only shortens composting time from 8-9 months to about four weeks but also helps reduce the odour of decomposing waste.

 The government plan is to undertake temporary measures while it looks for a permanent sanitay landfill. The landfill search and development works have already cost taxpayers over Rs70 million rupees.

 More money is to be spent on building an access road to Okharpauwa in Nuwakot district, north-east of Kathmandu, the landfill site prevent waste from being dumped along the Bagmati banks.

 “The flood plains are very porous and the only remaining places from where water seeps into the earth for re-charging our ground water wells,” said Bharat Mani Gyawali, a geologist with the Department of Mines.

“Dumping waste along the river bank is the most unscientific thing to do because if ground water is polluted it would be very difficult to clean.”

Gyawali added that his department had done a study on the best possible sites for dumping waste in Kathmandu Valley but apparently even the government report was not consulted before deciding to dump waste on the Bagmati banks.

He warns that pollution by “leachate” from the waste would have far reaching implications despite the protective measures that the government says it would take.

The plan to dump the waste upstream of the Pashupati temple also has health implications because devotees and pilgrims use the river water to bathe and purify themselves before worship. (Nepalnews.com/NeTi)

South Asian Zoo Association Formed

Kathmandu,Aug.6:  

Five South Asian zoo directors decided Friday to from a South Asia Zoo Association to promote mutual and regional co-operation in conservation of bio-diversity.
 A body has also been formed under the convenorship of the Director of Central Zoo Nepal with representatives from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka  to register the Association and finalize all necessary formalities.
Officials from Bhutan and Maldives,the other members of SAARC, did not participate. nepalnews.com br

Bastola Leaves for China Sunday

Kathmandu, Aug. 6: Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola will fly to China Sunday to clink champagne glasses with Chinese leaders to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China.
Diplomatic relations were established on August 1, 1955.
Bastola will board a waiting Royal Nepal Airlines Boeing at the tarmac of Tribhuvan International Airport for a flight to Shanghai minutes after arriving from India, China's arch rival.
Bastola is accompanying Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who returns home Sunday at the end of an official visit to India.
Nepal and China are expected to  sign an agreement to open four more trading routes between Nepal and Tibet during Bastola's China.
Trading routes will be opened through Dingri in Sankhuawasabha, Liji in Mustang, Tinkar in Darchula and another pass in Mugu. nepalnews.com br

Nepali UN Peacekeepers Deployed In Lebanon

Kathmandu, Aug.6: 

Nepali UN peacekeepers were deployed along Lebanon's 82-kilometre-long border with a Israel Saturday after a historic and full withdrawal of Israeli troops from what it considered a security zone inside Lebanese territory, agencies said.

The Nepali peacekeepers were part of a UN contingent already deployed in other parts of Lebanon.

Mahmud Issa,40, awoke his children when  a Nepali contingent of UNIFIL troops passed their house on the edge of he Shiite village of Ramiyeh, AFP reported.

He offered figs to the soldiers, but there was otherwise no sign of any welcome.

" We are awaiting with impatience the arrival of the Lebanese army," Issa said." That's when we will slaughter the sheep."

The UN troops were given the green light to be deployed along the full border nearly after 22 years of strife when Beirut agreed  that all Israeli incursions into Lebanon had been cleared up. nepalnews.com br

Maoist Leader Dead After Arrest

Kathmandu, Aug.6: 

A body of a senior Maoist leader was found along the banks of the Kosi river nearly one week after his arrest, reports said Sunday.

Deb Narayan Yadav, the commander of the underground Maoists of Siraha, Saptari and Dhanusha districts was nabbed by police while travelling in a bus from Laxmipur to Rajbiraj on July 27 with a colleague whose whereabouts was not known.

Raj Kumar Pandit was arrested with Yadav. Police, in the past, have been accused of extra judicial killings of detainees.

Police shot dead Yadav when he snatched a weapon and attempted to flee, daily newspaper Samacharpatra said quoting an anonymous law enforcement officer. nepalnews.com br

PM Koirala Returns Home Sunday

Kathmandu, Aug.6: 

Comments- favourable or otherwise- continue even as Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala returns home Sunday after concluding the first official visit to India  by a Nepali head of government in four years.

Koirala had a darshan of Sathya Sai Baba at Pattapurthy Prashant Nilayam Saturday.

" There is no mention of SAARC or the Bhutanese refugee issue in the joint communique. After all the 100,000 Bhutanese refugees came to Nepal via India. Regional spirit should not be permitted to die " A study of the joint press statement shows that Nepal has raised all issues with India although they may not have been resolved.

" The agreement to resolve the border issue by 2003 is praiseworthy," retired diplomat Yadav Kant Silwal said.

Silwal is a a former Foreign Secretary, Secretary General of SAARC and Ambassador. India scuttled the summit of the seven nation regional South Asian grouping that was to be held in Kathmandu in November following a military take-over in Pakistan.

Koirala said his India mission was to bring wayward relations on " the right track' after the Christmas eve hi-jacking of an Indian Airlines Airbus by suspected Kashmiri militants on a regular flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi. nepalnews.com br

Maoists Reject Fresh Talks Offer

Kathmandu, Aug.8: Underground Maoists Monday rejected an offer to sit down for talks to end an insurgency that has claimed more than 1,400 lives in more than four years. " We will not sent our representatives to the talks as the government has failed to set a minimum environment.

 " But we will talk if our minimum demands are met," party strongman Comrade Prachanda said in a statement. The reaction came in response to a fresh letter from former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to Maoists sit down for talks to end the insurgency. Convenor of the negotiations Deuba fired off the letter after a backing from Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for a dialogue.

The rebels fighting for a communist state in the Himalayan kingdom said the government must account for " missing persons" and end " war crimes" before beginning talks. The Maoists for the first time condemned Koirala's  efforts to garner Indian government support to curb the activities of the rebels from bases in India during an official visit to India this month. nepalnews.com br

Singer Dies in Accident Involving Prince Paras: Reports

Kathmandu, Aug.8: Musician and Singer Praveen Gurung died Sunday night at Bir Hospital after his motorcycle was hit by a vehicle driven by Prince Paras Shah, reports said Tuesday.  Gurung died within 30 minutes after being rushed to hospital, reports said.

 The accident occurred in front of the south gate of  the Narayanhiti Royal Palace as Gurung was driving home from the Yak and Yeti where he worked. Gurung also worked at the Rashtriya Nachghar.

 Gurung composed music for nearly 500 songs during an illustrious career.  Paras Shah was earlier involved in another accident in which a taxi driver died. nepalnews.com br