Khimti I Hydropower Plant Closed Down

Kathmandu, Dec.5: The Khimti I Hydropower plant officially inaugurated by King Birendra several days ago, has been closed down for repairs after a leakage was discovered in the expansion joint in the pen stock pipe Monday.
" The leakage is very small amount and will cause no danger to the population living in the vicinity," an announcement on behalf of Himal Power Limited, the owners of Nepal's first hydropower plant in the private sector said.
It did not say how long the repairs will take.
The multi-million US dollar project started supplying electricity to the national power grid through the Nepal Electricity Authority which buys the power from the project mainly promoted by a Norwegian company.
Parts of the city experienced a blackout Monday night after the closure. nepalnews.com br

Mongolian President to visit Nepal

Kathmandu, Dec 5: 

President of the Mongolia Bagabandi is to pay a state visit of Nepal in the first week of January 2001 at the invitation of His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.

According to Principal Press Secretariat of His Majesty the King, Mongolian President would be accompanied by his wife Madame Bagabandi and some senior government officials.

During the visit of Mongolian President, matters of mutual interest and cooperation between Nepal and Mongolia would be discussed, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.nepalnews.com yl

Maoists overpower helicopter in Solokhumbu

Kathmandu, Dec.5: Maoists overpowered a helicopter in the popular tourist destination of Solokhumbu district at the foot of Mount Everest Monday and forced a commitment from the crew not to ferry police and army personnel.
The rebels also forced the crew, including a Russian, not to airlift firewood and consumer items in the region.
The move is to please local porters who have lost jobs after helicopter operations in the popular trekking destination. 
The agreement between the insurgents and the crew of the Asian Airlines that flies Russian choppers was signed in the presence of local politicians including representatives of the ruling Nepali Congress party.
In the past, the Maoists have targeted helicopters in their attacks to ferry goods and personnel to the insurgency affected areas.The Maoists fighting for the communist state in the kingdom did not damage the aircraft but painted it with graffiti eschewing their cause.More than 1,500 persons have died in the insurgency that enters its sixth year in February.

NECON Aircraft Develops Snag

Kathmandu, Dec.5: Flights to and from Pokhara were partially disrupted Monday when a HS-748 of Necon Air developed hydraulic leakage while taxing to the tarmac from the end of the runway forcing the closure of the airport, aviation sources said.
The aircraft developed the snag after landing at the resort town from Bhairawa with 20 passengers.The aircraft skidded about 20 metres off the end of the runway. Nobody was injured. nepalnews.com br

Polish Team to Attempt Makalu in Winter

 Kathmandu, Dec.4: A 10-member Polish expedition will attempt the difficult winter ascent of the 8463 metres high Makalu, the world's fifth tallest peak, this winter from December 1 to February15, the Ministry of Tourism said.

The expedition will be led by Krysztof Wielicki of Mount Everest fame. Two British and a South Korean team have been given permission to climb the 6812 metres high Ama Dablam, the Ministry said.

Andrew Owen and Geffrey Stanfort will lead British teams on the peak while a South Korean team led by Sang Jung- Doo will also attempt the peak's south west ridge.

Winter climbing is not popular in Nepal as the extreme cold deters climbers. Spring and autumn are the most popular climbing months in the Nepal Himalaya.     The Himalaya do not at attract climbers in the rainy climbing season as well. nepalnews.com br

Chinnalata passes away

Kathmandu, Dec 4: 

Ramola Devi Shah, better known as poetess Chinnalata, passed away at her own residence Monday. She was 77.

She had long suffering from paralysis.

She has written several poems and made a significant contribution in the filed of Nepalese literature. There are about half a dozen books, mainly collection of her own poems, to her credit.

Chinnalata instituted Chinnalata Award in her own name to be given annually to a person who makes outstanding contribution in the filed of Nepalese music.nepalnews.com yl

Kathmandu, Dec 3:

Volunteers Overseas Organisation (VSO), a British volunteer organisation, raised over 1,32,000 sterling pounds, more than 14 million rupees, for the charity works in Nepal.

VSO-Nepal organised the Nepal Trek for those who are interested to go on trekking in Nepal in order to raise fund for the charity and development activities in Nepal for the year 2001.

The estimated annual cost of VSO activities in Nepal is slightly about 2,00,000 sterling pounds, over 20 million rupees, and we have been able to collect the most part of that amount from VSO Nepal Trek programme, said Stephen Young, Programme Director of VSO-Nepal.

Two groups of British trekkers came to Nepal under VSO Nepal Trek programme. Each person collected minimum of 2,400 pounds for the trekking, out of which one third was spent and the rest was saved for the VSO fund, said Stephen.

The first group completed ten days trek in Helambu area and the second group is to start its trek to the same area on December 4.

There are altogether 83 trekkers under VSO Nepal Trek (54 in the first group and 29 in the second).

VSO sends British and overseas volunteers to Nepal on request from Nepalese government and other organisations. VSO volunteers mainly support education, health and agriculture sectors with the theme of " Sharing Skills: Changing Lives".

Currently, there are 70 VSO volunteers supporting Nepal’s different sectors in different places. The overall objective of the VSO Nepal is to contribute to an improvement in the health of the poorest and most disadvantaged members of society and in particular mother, children and the handicapped, said Programme Director Stephen.nepalnews.com yl

One killed, 28 injured in Pokhara bus accident

Kathmandu, Dec 3:

One person was killed on the spot and 28 others injured, some of them seriously, when a passenger bus plunged into Seti River in Pokhara Sunday.

Police said that the passenger bus bearing the registration No Ka 1 Kha 541 was on Bagar-Pardi route ( city bus) plunged into the Seti River in Nadipur.

According to police, one who died in the accident was Ramesh Chandra Wagle. The injured are undergoing treatment in Western Regional Hospital and Manipal Medical College, Pokhara.nepalnews.com yl

King, Queen Attend Golden Jubilee of St. Xavier's
Kathmandu, Dec.3: King Birendra Sunday morning attended the golden jubilee celebration of  St.Xavier's , Nepal's first school run by Catholic jesuits. Queen Aishwarya also attended the function at Jawalakhel in Lalitpur. American jesuits started the school 50 years ago at Godavari 8 kms southeast of the capital. The royal couple toured the school complex at Jawalakhel which is an extension of the school atGodavari.
The King gave commendation letters to Dr. Ashok Banskota and Dr.Suddha Rauniar, ex-students of St. Xavier's, for meritorious social service.
The King also awarded employees completing 25 years of service to the school.
The school has been holding year-long golden jubilee celebrations from July 1 this year with the
slogan " Honour the Past Ensure The Future."
The school has produced some politicians, technocrats and others to contribute to Nepal's development. nepalnews.com br

Gujral Stable, Flown Back to New Delhi
Kathmandu, Dec.3: Former Indian Prime Minister I.K.Gujral was in stable condition Sunday
after complaining of chest pains Sunday morning and was flown back to New Delhi in a special
aircraft, doctors and officials said.
" His condition is stable and there is no cause for concern," a doctor attending him said.
Gujral was admitted to the Norbic Heart Centre where he was put in the coronary care unit at
7.30 AM after suffering chest pains, doctors said.
Gujral was suffering from high pressure, Dr. B.S. Rawat , a heart specialist at the Centre said.
A team of doctors who arrived from New Delhi also examined Gujral and flew him back to the
Indian capital Sunday after 6 PM.
Gujral arrived in Kathmandu Friday for the first meeting of the Citizens' Commission for South
Asia which he heads.
Conference sources first said Gujral suffered a chest infection.
The former Indian Premier could not address the news conference at the end of the meeting of
21 eminent persons from South Asia to promote stagnant regional ties. nepalnews.com br

Hospital workers continue strike for 3rd day

Kathmandu, Dec 3:

Technical staff in radiology and pathology departments of government hospitals in Kathmandu Valley continued their strike for the third day Sunday demanding additional facilities as hazard allowances.

Patients had to approach private clinics to have radiology and pathology services because of the strike in the government hospitals.

The government has already banned strike in hospitals and health sector and preparing to take stern action against the striking employees, said an official at the Ministry of Health.

Padam Prasad Pokhrel, secretary at the Ministry of Health, said that strike is illegal and demands are unjust. He even warned stern action against the employees if they do not return to work Monday.

But employees said they would not give in to the threat of the government. A striking staff at Bir Hospital said, " we will stop all services including emergency if the government continued to ignore our just demands".

They have demanded that as their job involves health as well as physical hazards and risk, additional incentives should be given as hazardous allowance.

The government has already formed a one-member committee comprising member of National Planning Commission Dr Nirmal Sharma to look into the demands of the technical staff of the government’s hospital and give recommendation to the government.

Dr Sharma said that he was studying the problems and demands of the employees and soon recommend the government as to what can be done regarding the demands of the employees in radiology and pathology departments of the hospitals. nepalnews.com yl

Call for Early SAARC Summit, Gujral Ill

Kathmandu, Dec.3: The first meeting of the Citizens' Commission for South Asia Sunday called for the early resumption of the aborted summit meeting of seven nations of the region as its Chairman former Indian Prime Minister I.K.Gujral was taken ill.
Gujral was admitted to a nursing home in the capital Saturday night for observation with chest infection, conference sources said.
He had been maintaining a busy and hectic schedule since Friday.
" The Commission stresses the need to reconvene the summit and other meetings and for creating a conducive atmosphere for this purpose. The Commission is of the view that the schedule of the SAARC summit and other meetings as envisaged in the Charter should be maintained," a three page press release said said at the end of the three-day meet.
India scuttled the 11th summit of the  regional grouping November last year in Kathmandu following the military takeover in Pakistan; New Delhi is still opposed to the resumption of the summit.
Deputizing for Gujral, former Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz and co-chairman of the Commission said:" The unilateral cease-fire announced by India  during the Ramadhan in Jammu and Kashmir and the announcement of restraint by Pakistan was good news."
Twenty-one eminent personalities from Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Maldives met and unanimously adopted the three page declaration.
" The Commission shares the widespread  concern over SAARC's slow progress since its inception. SAARC has not had a summit level meeting since the Tenth Colombo Summit  in July 1998," the declaration said.
"The Commission expresses great anguish over the continuing political tensions in the region which have hampered purposeful and cohesive co-operative efforts," the statement said.
The Commission called for the finalization and operationalization of SAFTA by the agreed deadline of December 2001.
The Commission asked  member states of SAARC to " evolve common positions, where possible, on issues in a globalized economic order and a newly emerging economic architecture."
The Commission will meet once every year.
" We want to create a moral pressure by strengthening the civil society," Aziz said.
The Commission has commissioned a study on  regional cooperation in energy. nepalnews.com br

Inmates Clash in Birgunj Jail

Kathmandu, Dec.3: Several inmates were injured in clashes at a prison in Birgunj Saturday as police lobbed tear gas shells and fired in the air to bring the situation under control, published reports and officials said.

Inmates were protesting the excesses of a " naike" chosen from among the prisoners to run the jail administration, an official said.

Inmates and local officials began talks Sunday to resolve the issue as the situation around the jail returned to normal, a Home Ministry official said.

The inmates were demanding action against a " naike" who several weeks ago allegedly severely beat a prisoner leading to his death.

There are more than 500 prisoners in the Birgunj jail. Animosity has brewed between the hill and terai prisoners in the jail, one report said. nepalnews.com br

Chinese Trade Fair in December 2001

Kathmandu, Dec.3: A Chinese trade fair will be held in Nepal in December 2001 to promote bilateral trade, an announcement said.

The announcement was made at the end of fourth meeting of the Nepal-China non governmental co-operation forum in Wuxi, China, Saturday.

Separate joint venture agreements on herbal processing plants, agricultural and commercial farms, trade trough the land route and the establishment of a pharmaceutical industry in Nepal were signed.

Details were not disclosed.     FNCCI President Pradip Kumar Shrestha led the Nepali side to the talks while the Chinese side was headed by Vice-Chairman of All China Federation of Industry and Commerce Zhang Xuwu. nepalnews.com br

Nepal Welcomes Cease-fire in Kashmir

Kathmandu, Dec.3: Nepal has said the cease-fire announced by Pakistan along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir was " a welcome move to reduce tension," a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said.

" Nepal hopes it will pave the way for building trust in the region and better regional understanding," the Foreign Ministry said.

Several Nepali soldiers with the Indian army have been killed in clashes between Pakistani and Indian troops in Kashmir. nepalnews.com br

23 Students Injured in Bus Accident

Kathmandu, Dec.3: Twenty-three students were injured, three seriously, when a bus driver
tried to prevent a collision between a truck and a bullock cart near Rameshwor Jhala in Dhandagi
Saturday, police said. The bus was travelling to Tikapur from Dhangadi in west Nepal.

The driver and helper are absconding after the accident. The injured are being treated at Seti Zonal Hospital and Nepalgunj Hospital. Forty students were travelling in the bus. nepalnews.com br

Maoists Abduct Two Policemen, Other Details

Kathmandu, Dec.3: Maoists abducted two policemen at Shyalpakha village in Rukum district
in west Nepal Thursday night, police said.

They are still missing . A village chief of Markabang in Pyuthan has resigned fearing retaliation from the Maoists, reports said.

Man Bahadur Oli, an activist of the ruling Nepali Congress party, fled his village to district
headquarters Khalanga after insurgents attacked and injured him with khukuri two years ago.
Oli was working out of Khalanga. nepalnews.com br

NEPSE Index Declines

Kathmandu, Dec.3: The NEPSE index fell by a whopping 25.38 points last week after a
steady stock market growth in earlier weeks.

Trading opened at 533.96 points on the first day Monday but closed at 508.58 points Friday in
five days of transactions; trading posted a 0.41 point increase the following week and 32.77 points increase two weeks
earlier.

Altogether 92,650 shares valued at Rs.106.23 million changed hands during the week. Shares of the Bank of Kathmandu were in high demand with 21,148 of its shares sold at
Rs.34.88 million.

The NEPSE index of the manufacturing sector rose from 383.02 to 385.44 points during the
week. Securities of 34 of 47 listed companies were traded. nepalnews.com br

Hospital workers on strike

Kathmandu, Dec 3: Despite government’s ban, technical staff at the government hospitals in Kathmandu went on strike demanding hazardous allowance.

Staff working mainly in radiology and pathology departments of all government hospitals in Kathmandu have gone on strike since Friday defying governments ban on strike on health sectors and hospitals.

As hospital workers called strike, the government announced the ban on strike in hospital and health sector.

However, the technical staff continued their strike as a result no work was done in radiology and pathology departments of government hospitals. However emergency work was not disturbed.

They have demanded that as their job involves health as well as physical hazards and risk, additional incentives should be given as hazardous allowance.

Employees have warned that if the government does not pay attention to their just demands, they would stop even emergency works in hospitals.

The government has already formed a one-member committee comprising member of National Planning Commission Dr Nirmal Sharma to look into the demands of the technical staff of the government’s hospital and give recommendation to the government.

Dr Sharma said that he was studying the problems and demands of the employees and soon recommend the government as to what can be done regarding the demands of the employees in radiology and pathology departments of the hospitals.

However, Health Secretary Padam Pokhrel said that if they do not return to work, the government would take action against the striking hospital employees. nepalnews.com yl

Reserves to Meet Imports for One Year

Kathmandu, Dec.2: Nepal has a convertible currency reserve to meet imports for nearly one year, the Nepal Rashtra Bank said.

Foreign exchange holdings of the banking system increased by 28.4 percent to Rs.99,391.2 million as of mid October; 83.3 percent accounted for convertible currency and 16.7 percent was in non convertible currency, the Bank said.

During the first quarter of the fiscal year 2000/2001, exports and imports increased by 24.9 percent to Rs.13521.3 million and 7.5 percent to Rs.25538.3 million respectively as pashmina exports recorded Rs.3.03 billion.

Price index rose by 2.8 percent compared a rise of 4.2 percent during the same period last year. nepalnews.com br

WFP Assistance for Bhutanese Refugees

Kathmandu, Dec.2: Amid reports of cuts, the World Food Programme (WFP ) will provide Nepal a $3.6 million grant to feed 97,940 Bhutanese refugees living in UNHCR administered camps in east Nepal for another six  months from January 1, 2001, an announcement said.

The WFP will also introduce a supplementary feeding programme for 38,000 school going children during the three months of the dry season from March to May.

A letter of understanding was signed between the Foreign Ministry and the WFP last Friday.
WFP has  given Nepal a grant of nearly $10 million in nearly a decade for the welfare of the refugees. nepalnews.com br

Maoist Killed in Kalikot

Kathmandu, Dec.2: A Maoist youth was killed in Kalikot district in an exchange of gunfire with police Friday, police said.

The encounter took place at Malkot village in the west Nepal district one day after the insurgents killed 11 policemen in another village in the biggest operation after the army was deployed when 14 policemen were killed in Dolpo district two months earlier.

Meanwhile, many villages in Kalikot district have been cut-off from the rest of the country after the Maoists destroyed four bridges while attacking a police outpost in Thursday. nepalnews.com br

US to Mediate Bhutanese Refugee Dispute

Kathmandu,Dec.2: Two senior American diplomats will fly to Bhutan from Nepal Monday to mediate a dispute between the Himalayan kingdoms to resolve the issue of 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in UNHCR administered camps for displaces in east Nepal for a decade.

Retiring Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth and Assistant Secretary of State of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Julia V. Taft will to go Bhutan with a proposal to untangle the imbroglio after approval  of Nepal.

" We want to encourage the parties to find a way to facilitate repatriation of the refugees," Taft said in her third visit to Nepal in 14 months Friday.

Washington will urge Bhutan to work with Nepal and the UNHCR to identify the head of a nuclear family before verification of each individual for repatriation.

" The two-step mechanism will address Bhutan's concern of knowing who their people are," Taft said.

She parried questions on whether the US proposal favoured Nepal or Bhutan which wants an individual head count which would leave thousands stateless.

Inderfurth said the Bhutanese refugee issue was one of the" unfinished businesses " of the outgoing Clinton administration which must be brought to " a successful conclusion."

Taft said Nepal should work for the safe transit of fleeing Tibetans to meet their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama living in self-exile in India.

 She commended Nepal " for the assistance and patience" in helping the Tibetans cross to India via Nepal.

Nepal and the visiting American officials discussed  how to make " procedures safer"  for fleeing Tibetans at the Nepal Tibet border after reports of frequent clashes with police following language difficulties.

Inderfurth delivered Secretary of State  Madeleine Albright's letter to PM Koirala commending bilateral ties.

President Clinton's visit to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan earlier this year showed " a greater US interest in South Asia," Inderfurth said. nepalnews.com br

US Government has no Hand in Ambassador Gautam's Recall

Kathmandu, Dec.1: The US government has not hand in the abrupt recall of Royal Nepali Ambassador Damodar Gautam before the expiry of his four-year term, a senior American diplomat said Friday.

" Absolutely not. It is the decision of the government of Nepal," visiting Assistant Under Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth said in reply to a question at a news conference Friday.

He met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for 45 minutes Friday immediately after arriving on a three-day visit to Nepal as part of a four nation South Asian tour that earlier took him to Sri Lanka and India.

He visits Bhutan after Nepal. Gautam is the seventh ambassador to be recalled from the United
states without completing his assignment.

One envoy was recalled by King Birendra after he was caught lifting a book from a shop.

Others have been recalled either because a spouse could not adjust to the western society, another incurred the wrath of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, another sought reassignment to keep his wife company with  a UN job and two lost their jobs because of the changes of governments at
home.

One speculation says Niranjan Koirala, the nephew of Premier Koirala, is tipped to replace Gautam. nepalnews.com br 

Lauda jet arrives despite objection from PAC

Kathmandu, Dec 1:Despite directives of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament not to go ahead with leasing the aircraft from Lauda Air, Boeing 767 of Austrian Airlines arrived Friday as per the agreement reached with the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation.

Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation had reached an agreement with the Lauda Air to bring the Boeing 767 jet on lease for the period of 18 months.

However, the parliament’s Public Account Committee had instructed RNAC not to implement the agreement.

RNAC official said that, as the Royal Nepal Airlines had no option other than bringing the aircraft on lease if its international services are to be continued. Otherwise, RNAC would have to cancel several international flights for the indefinite time, which would cause a heavy loss to the organisation.

Hari Bhakta Shrestha, executive chairman of the RNAC, the aircraft was brought at the best interest of the organisation.

The aircraft is to come into operation from Friday.

RNAC and Lauda Air reached an agreement to lease a jet for the period of 18 months effective from December 1.nepalnews.com yl

Ex- PM Bhattarai Leaves for India

Kathmandu, Dec.1: Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai flew to New Delhi Friday at the invitation of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Bhattarai and Yajpayee are expected to discuss bilateral ties later Friday in the Indian capital, sources close to him said.

Bhattarai will meet opposition leaders including Mrs. Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. The only surviving member of the ruling Nepali Congress party, who is a devout Hindu, will visit religious shrines during his India visit.

Bhattarai could not visit India as Prime Minister because he was toppled by Girija Prasad Koirala in an intense power struggle in the party earlier this year.

" My old friend Atal Bihari Vajpayee is now the Prime Minister of India. I will discuss hurdles in bilateral ties with him.

" I have visited India in many capacities. I was a student there. Anyone who attempts to subvert our ties cannot be a friend of Nepal.

" I  intend to create a congenial atmosphere for improving ties. There have been differences in the past. Such a situation should not be permitted to last long," he told daily newspaper Naya Sadak prior to departure. nepalnews.com br