CWC meet postponed as Bhattarai abstains

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Nepali Congress (NC) today met briefly but was forced to postpone after some key members did not show up.

The emergency meeting had been called to discuss the recent development in the party arising from the signature campaign against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala that led to dismissal of Khum Bahadur Khadka from the cabinet.

The meeting scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at the prime minister's official residence at Baluwatar started much later.

Senior party leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the key figure in the campaign against Koirala, was not present in the meeting along with Khadka.

"Since the meeting was called to discuss the issues and points raised by Bhattarai, it was not useful to hold the meeting in his absence so we have decided to ask him to be present on Friday," NC Spokesman Narhari Acharya told reporters after the meeting.

The meeting also appointed Yog Prasad Upadhyay, Basu Risal, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya and Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat to pursuade Bhattarai to come for the meeting.

"The issues raised by Bhattarai verbally and through the press needs to be discussed and that can only be done with his participation," Acharya said.

However, Bhattarai told the people assigned to pursuade him to join the CWC meet that he would not participate unless Koirala gave him a reply on the five points raised.

The meeting instead concentrated on the prime minister's visit to India, where Koirala briefed the members about the trip and achievements.

Since the beginning of this week, some NC lawmakers have rebelled against Koirala and begun a signature campaign against him demanding that he either let go of the premiership or the party presidentship.

The rebels want Koirala to resign as the party president and appoint former prime minister and Bhattarai supporter Sher Bahadur Deuba as the acting president.

They also want a "full fledged" reshuffle of the Central Working Committee (CWC), the party's apex body, reshuffling of the cabinet and a new government formed in consultation with Bhattarai and Deuba which means including equal number of people from the rebel camp and postpone the party's general convention scheduled for November.

The intra-party  feud had taken a turn after Koirala sacked Khum Bahadur Khadka who was the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Physical Planning that had further sparked trouble in the party.

Khadka was leading the pack of rebel NC lawmakers who have been collecting signatures from NC lawmakers on a petition demanding that Koirala opt for only one position and the party presidentship should be passed on to the second generation leaders in the party.

Eurorient hopes to start Arun III work next year

By Surendra Phuyal

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - If things go smooth, Eurorient Investment Group USA will start the construction works of the 402 MW Arun III hydel project sometime next year, the Los-Angeles-based company's Managing Director Ron Nenchimia said here today.

Nenchimia flew in here early this week, and submitted the application and other necessary documents required to get a survey licence of the 402 MW hydel project on Wednesday.  The project will be Nepal's one of the biggest when completed.

"The entire (initial) process could take some 11 months," Nenchimia told newsmen Thursday evening. "It will take another two years to construct the access road, three to four years to construct the (actual) project, and additional one year to order development specifications like turbines. We intend to finish everything within seven years."

Nenchimia, who said he had fruitful talks with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala earlier on the day, also said that the Prime Minister extended his "commitment to help this project start as soon as possible."

The Los Angeles-based group (of companies) is financing the entire project cost of which had been put at US $ 1 billion way back in the early 1990s. "We are going to finance the entire project," Nenchimia said, putting the cost of per Mega Watt power generation at approximately US $ 1.3 million.

Following a cabinet decision, the government on June 28 decided to allow the US-based company to develop Arun III project which lies in the eastern hill district of Sankhuwasabha. A 130-km road needs to be constructed to link the Arun III site with Tehrathum's Basantapur or Sunsari's Chatara.

The company has asked for a year's timeframe to carry out the survey works, Deputy Director at Department of Electricity Development (DED), Lekh Man Singh told The Kathmandu Post. "It has promised to complete the survey works within a year," he added.

According to him, the survey licence will be awarded to the company within a month. In order to receive the licence, the company is required to deposit a sum of Rs 42 million - at the rate of Rs 100 per Kilo Watt.

Aside this, Eurorient is required to sort out Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), carry out the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study, and show the source of financing within the stipulated timeframe so as to become eligible to apply for the project's power development licence.

Eurorient plans to sell the Arun III power to India. Asked when would the company sort out the PPA, Nenchimia did not give the actual date, but hinted negotiations will start soon.

He said, "We already have relationship with India. We have eight or nine (on-going) projects there." "400 MW in the magnitude of India's power need is a very trivial number. Besides, India has just recently revised one of its laws, which makes it (reaching PPA) very lucrative," he added.

According to Nenchimia , at present Eurorient is working on in some 30 power -- both thermal and hydel -- projects in China alone.  The ongoing hydro projects there will generate 3,000 and 1,500 Mega Watts of electricity when completed, he said.

Detailed design works and feasibility studies of the run-of-river hydel project had been completed in 1993. So much so that the project's tender processes were already underway. But then the government was forced to abort it after the World Bank, which had supported it for 10 years, pulled out in 1995.

Water resources experts say Arun III is a very attractive project both in terms of investment and geological setting. The run-of-river project can supply 402 MW of electricity all year round, according to them.

Nenchimia also said that his company is open to "multinational cooperation" with Nepal. "We can contribute to the country in many ways," he added. 

Officials at DED say, the government also plans to allow Eurorient to develop 335 MW Upper Arun and 308 MW Lower Arun if it works satisfactorily in Arun III.

Police claims ignorance in Paras Shah incident

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - Despite hue and cry against Prince Paras' alleged involvement in the accident that killed musician Praveen Gurung, District Police Office (DPO) has stated that it is unclear about the accident.

"We have lost one crucial chance by failing to nab the driver on the spot and interrogate him," said an officer involved in the investigation of the case.

Superintendent of Police Puskar Regmi, who is also the chief of DPO briefly commented, "We have begun the investigation of the case."

Though police denied any information regarding the accident, our sources have said that the police has prepared on-site report of the incident, recovered a wheel cover of the vehicle that hit Gurung and also a part of the leg-guard.

Advocates opine that the Royal immunity should not be valid in such a case to Prince Paras.  "The prince can not get the immunity, he should be prosecuted in the rule of law," said advocate Balram KC.

Former Comptroller General and senior advocate Sarbagya Ratna Tuladhar says it is not clear in the Law that whether the prince will get an immunity.  However, he said, if His Majesty the King feels it necessary he can strip the prince from the appellation.

Tuladhar said, the police could, however, call him for interrogation.   "It is also not mentioned in any Law that a prince cannot be taken action if he acts against the law," he added.

A Deputy Inspector General of Police, requesting for anonymity said, "Last time the police had inquired Paras Shah when he had killed a taxi driver at Putalisadak, so there is no question why they can't do the same in this case also."

NEA staff on strike, consumers suffer

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - It was yet another trial of patience for consumers today who wanted to pay their monthly electricity bill at the Nepal Electricity Authority's (NEA) office opposite Ratna Park.

The employees were on strike, following a series of protest programmes over the last 10 days. Another strike is scheduled for tomorrow. Although today was supposed to be a pen-down strike for six hours from 9 am, the employees resorted to strike, much to the discomfiture of the consumers.

"We have not been able to pay our bills for the last three days," said Maya Devi Gurung of Bagbazzar. "The agitating employees did not even inform us about the strike. At least they could have put up a notice," added Gurung.

Another consumer, Bharat Adhikari of Putalisadak was having a heated argument with two employees through the locked gate at the Bagbazzar side. The employees were asking Adhikari and others to go to the gate adjacent to the Bus Park, which too was locked a few moments later.

Adhikari said, "We are being harassed. If we do not pay in time, it is these employees who threaten to cut our power connection." Adhikari said the employees' salary should be deducted for shirking their work.

Amit Shrestha, also of Putalisadak, said, "We are really fed up with these frequent protests, sit-ins and strikes in government offices. The government has taken a right decision by cancelling the employees' allowances and deciding to privatise NEA."

The employees are protesting cancellation of allowances and privatisation move by the government. The Cabinet had, on June 5, taken a decision to cancel the allowances of the employees.

Shrestha said the government should move ahead with privatization "as this would ensure us better service".

"We had indeed put up the notice of our protest," said Bal Kumar Shrestha, leader of one of the three employees' unions, Employees Welfare Council.

Bijay Kumar Chaudhary of Employees Association (1994) said the government had annulled their allowances in the name of curtailing expenditure. "There is widespread corruption in the NEA and if this is checked, then the government can control revenue leakage," said Chaudhary. "Why hit us?"

Chaudhary also said NEA was disadvantaged due to Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Butwal Power Company's Khimti hydro-power project. "We have to purchase a minimum of 60 mw of power from Khimti even though there is a spill over from our own plants." "And the purchase is in dollars," added Chaudhary.

He also alleged that things purchased by the NEA management were over priced by more than 100 percent.

Another union leader said there was rampant misuse of NEA vehicles "by both NEA officials and their acquaintances from outside".

"Before Sunday was declared an additional weekly off, each vehicle got 120 litres of fuel per month. Even now, they are getting the same," said Shrestha.

Meanwhile, Bishnu Bam Malla, managing director of NEA refused to talk to The Kathmandu Post.

Monsoon causing further damages

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - Life continued to be thrown out of gear throughout the country due to incessant rain this week. Reports coming here from around the country speak of extensive damage to property.

Transport was disrupted on Dhangadi-Dadeldhura Bhim Dutt Pant Highway, used for travelling through Dhangadi, Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Doti and Achham due to landslides at 50-60 places in this far-western belt. Although the Road Division Office is trying to clear the blockade, continuous rain has hampered their efforts.

According to reports from Tikapur, passengers have been stranded on the highway which is the sole link to Kathmandu, Mahendranagar, Dhangadi and Nepalgunj.

Besides the highway, even fields have been damaged at Dadeldhura and Baitadi districts. Sornaya river, flowing between the two districts, has damaged thousands of ropanis of cultivated land.

Likewise, reports from Dhading say that Prithvi Highway, connecting Kathmandu and Pokhara remained blocked due to landslides that occurred Wednesday midnight at Salang Ghat.

Meanwhile, a two-day free medical camp was organised by CPN-UML district committee, Nawalparasi, for the people affected by floods in Narayani VDC.

Similarly, Save the Children, US, Siraha donated Rs 30,000 for flood affected people to the local Red Cross unit. Floods have affected 15 VDCs and Siraha municipality.

Meanwhile, a test flight of Yeti Airlines on Wednesday at Jumla airport could not take place due to damaged runway. The airport has remained unoperational for the last two months, according to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Jumla.

Parents unsure about 'the more the better'

By Amar Pradhan

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - The parents of children under five, who have already taken three doses of polio drops, are confused whether they should continue with the oral vaccine for their babies on the new dates announced by the government for this year or not.

Bijaya Pradhan who has a five year old daughter is more than perplexed whether the repeated dozes might have some negative effects. Pradhan who works in a private company became more concerned after he read a news item on 'Health' published in India Today, India's leading weekly news magazine. 

Though Chief of Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Dr BK Subedi says the policy of Health Ministry is "the more the better", health experts here also beg to differ.

The government has declared dates on August, September and October for hilly region and other dates on December, January and February (for other regions) as the immunisation day against Polio, the dreaded disease that cripples the children. According to the government, repeated doses of the polio drops would not harm children. The move would also help the government to tap each and every child under the age of five.

But, experts think excessive doses of the vaccine might be harmful to the children.  A health expert insisting anonymity told The Kathmandu Post that since Oral Polio Vaccine uses a strain of weakened but live virus, its extensive use might lead to unwanted consequences.

"When live viruses are injected into the body, the immune system is instantly alerted and a reaction takes place. But sometimes, the weak virus may mutate and become neutro-virulent, causing a serious disorder, namely vaccine associated paralytic polio (VAPP)," the expert says. Such incident is very rare and only one in two million gets VAPP.

Dr Hukum Dev Shah, Chief of Child Health Division(CHD) argues that the toxicity in OPV is almost nil so there is no harm.

But some new cases of polio have erupted in Nepal, according to unconfirmed reports coming from Terai region. However, Chief of EPI Dr Subedi strongly refutes it. "Many things should be looked upon in cases such as these - the role played by an open  border cannot be undermined."

Few months ago Nepal had drawn a conclusion that until and unless the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Bihar of India are polio free, the disease cannot be put under control in Nepal.

Out of a total of 1855 cases of polio related cases detected worldwide in 1999, India alone accounted for 1,126 cases while Uttar Pradesh detected 773 cases (India Today, July 3, 2000).

In Nepal 70 cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and 23 cases of 'suspected' polio cases were detected in 1998 while in 1999 the suspected cases were 41 and two confirmed cases. The irony is that if the lab test is not done within 14 days of attack, polio can't be confirmed because the virus causing polio disappears after two weeks.

The doubts on revival of polio also points toward equipments used to maintain the temperature of polio drops.  Since OPV is a live virus, it must be stored between minus 2 to minus 8 degree celsius. Any disturbance or break in this cold chain condition due to improper facilities could totally affect vaccine's effectiveness.  Though the specially designed ice box kit maintains the required temperature for only 24-48 hours depending on conditions, the effectiveness of the medicine in most remote places is still questionable.

Even while, polio, the crippling disease was eradicated from the western world in 1975, new odd cases erupt every year forcing the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to advise the doctors there to switch to the older and more stable injectible polio vaccine(IPV) which uses a dead virus, instead of oral polio vaccine(OPV).

Nepal aims to announce itself a polio free nation by 2005 and is "presently working towards reaching every home and children with polio drops." Currently the reach is only 80 pc which means that out of the total 800,000 infants born every year in Nepal, only 640,000 are fortunate enough.

Swoyambhu facelift not according to masterplan

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 - It was once dreamt that the hill of Swoyambhunath   with its stupa established over 1500 years ago would be restored to its full traditional glory by the year 2000.  But the action taken so far in and around the monument site is far from the actual plan.

Unplanned and ugly constructions are taking place almost  unabashed in contrast to the vision of the Swoyambhunath Conservation Masterplan (Swoyambhu 2000), recognised by the Ministry of Culture in 1989. The masterplan was prepared by Neils Gutschow and Gotz Hagmuller with Ramesh Jung Thapa and Saphalya Amatya.

The Swayambu, believed to be self-emerged and later developed into a proper stupa by King Vrishavadev in the 4th century AD, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) since 1979.

Under Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Dr Saphalya Amatya, involved in designing the masterplan, regrets that it was not being followed. "Everybody knows the masterplan's guidelines are being ignored, it is pathetic," he says.

However, Department of Archaeology (DoA), the government authority responsible for implementing the masterplan has hardly done anything. Director General of DoA Riddi Pradhan is apathetic towards her responsibility. "We don't appreciate any construction done without DoA's approval," she said.

The masterplan suggests to restrict any new constructions, and ensures retaining of the traditional character of the hill.  It accepts the existing traditional structures of Theravada and Lamaistic institutions but proposes strict control of any so-called Mane-Gumbas.

Despite the masterplan's proposal to demolish around two dozen ugly new buildings in and around the monument zone, none have been demolished. Instead, a number of new residential houses, Mane-gumbas are being constructed along with serious encroachment of public land.

Ironically, the huge concrete walls being constructed around Swoyambhu hill, which is being proclaimed as a new attraction, is completely against the spirit of the masterplan.  The wall is conceptualized in the masterplan, but much traditional looking and modest.  The case is similar for big Buddha statue being constructed on the western foot hill.

Bujung Gurung of Manang District Khangsar Society, supervising the construction of the Buddha statue refutes that such a work could be illegal.

On this, DoA Research Officer Bhim Nepal says DoA did not approve the statue. "We had approved the use of land only for a green park but not for big statue construction," he said.

Architect and Historian Sudarshan Raj Tiwari is also against the construction of such a huge wall.  He laments that in recent days DoA has become timid in implementing proper norms.

On the other hand, the chairman of Federation of Swoyambhu Management and Conservation Ratna Bahadur Bajracharya claims that all the new construction are adding beauty to the shrine. He even accepts use of cement, which is prohibited by law, as timely requirement. "We cannot always follow the old masterplan. We need timely changes."

As the monument is a world heritage site, an office of UNESCO in Kathmandu supervises it, and reports to the World Heritage Centre, Paris. A Technical Mission of UNESCO formulated  55 recommendations in March 1998, which had stated that "the scale and style of new development within the monument zone will be strictly controlled in accordance with the existing by-laws in order to protect the setting of Swoyambhu hill."

Now, like any other six world cultural heritage sites of the country, Swoyambhu is under the threat of being delisted from the prestigious list. UNESCO officials say that a High Level Delegation is coming to Nepal in September to discuss with government officials about the conservation situation.  The delegation is expected to play major role about the fate of seven cultural heritages of the Kathmandu valley.