Irrigation subsidies to be reintroduce

By Prem Khanal

KATHMANDU, April 18 :The massively shrinking installation of shallow tube-wells by farmers following the complete withdrawal of subsidy from the ground-water irrigation schemes has forced the government to rethink seriously over the reintroduction of subsidy on shallow tube-wells.

"Since the installation of shallow tube-well, in recent year, has touched almost the bottom line jeopardizing entire agriculture production, the reintroduction of subsidy has become inevitable to maintain current pace of economic growth," said Hari Shankar Tripathi, member of the National Planning Commission, who oversees agriculture sector.

If reintroduced, this will be one of major policy shifts of the ruling Nepali Congress government since it opted for ambitious economic reform program back in 1992. The major thrust of such reform program was to gradually shrink government’s role in the economic activities, including the withdrawal of state assistance from the agriculture sector.

Tripathi also informed that the government has already started informal negotiation with the Asian Development Bank on the issue. "ADB has also realized our current difficulty, however, it is too early to say how much convinced they are."

ADB is the principle lender in Nepal’s endeavor to improve the chronically stagnated and traditional agriculture sector. Ironically it was under ADB’s "advice" that the government had decided to scrap subsidy from the agriculture sector. Gradual removal of subsidy from irrigation and chemical fertilizer was among the conditionalities tied up by the bank with the release of Second Agriculture Program Loan.

It is mainly the growing reluctance of the farmers towards installing the unsubsidized shallow tube wells - the major thrust of the twenty-year long Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) for achieving rapid irrigation - that forced the government to contemplate this major policy revision. Out of targeted expansion of 8800 shallow-tube wells last year, only about 20 percent target was met. The figure for the current year is more disturbing as only 20 tube-well has, so far, been installed against the target of 4,300.

Another reason behind this soon-to-be implemented policy revision is the widening gap in the cost of production of the Indian and Nepali farmers. Though Indian farmers are heavily subsidized in terms of basic agriculture inputs like irrigation, fertilizer and electricity, Nepali farmers enjoy non of these subsidies.

This differential in the cost of production has eroded the competitiveness of the Nepalese agriculture produce vis-à-vis Indian agriculture produce even in the domestic market.

With subsidy removal, price of shallow-tube wells has shot up sharply. In 1997, the price in installing one shallow-tube well used to cost Rs 10,000 with 80 per cent subsidy. However, with subsidy brought down to zero, now it costs Rs 50,000.

Government is contemplating reintroduction of subsidy in the underground irrigation schemes also because there were some inconsistencies in the irrigation subsidy policy, said a government official. Though the government totally scrapped subsidy from underground micro-irrigation schemes, it continues to subsidize large-scale surface water irrigation schemes, which are often expensive, time consuming and prone to misuse of funds.

Research studies have shown that the cost for irrigation of one hectare of land through shallow-tube wells is Rs 20,000 while irrigation of same piece of land by surface irrigation scheme is well over Rs 1,20,000.

The official also conceded that it was a mistake to remove the subsidy from underground micro-irrigation schemes on the assumption that ‘supply creates its own demand.’ Last three years of experience has shown that supply side alone will not work in rural Nepal where the purchasing power of farmers is depressingly low.

Verdict on Lauda Air postponed

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KATHMANDU, April 18 - The Supreme Court’s verdict on the controversial Lauda Air jet lease scheduled for today has been postponed until May 2.

The division bench, comprised of Justices Hari Prasad Sharma and Harish Chandra Upadhyaya, were to pass their much awaited verdict on the controversial Lauda on Wednesday.

Advocates Gopal Sivakoti ‘Chintan’ and Rajaram Dhakal had filed the writ petition on Nov 16.

Left parties continue mass protest

By Utpal Raj Misra

KATHMANDU, April 18 - Continuing their protest program to oust Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala from his office, the main opposition CPN-UML and the supporting smaller left parties organized a mass rally in the capital today.

The left parties also announced their call for chakka jam throughout the country from 4 to 5 pm (for one hour) on April 19 Thursday. It was also announced that on April 22, the day also commemorating 52 years of the establishment of communist party in Nepal, the left parties would organize mass rallies and protest programs in 13 different places in the country.

"These decisions were taken by the meeting of all the left parties, this morning," said Khadga Prasad Oli, an influential leader of the CPN-UML while addressing the rally in front of Padmodaya School in Putalisadak. Oli also said that the protest programs were limited at present because the left parties were concerned about the ongoing SLC exams. "Once the SLC exams are over then we will intensify our protest programs," he added.

All the leaders of various left parties who addressed the rally today lambasted Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in very harsh tone. The leaders swore to oust Koirala comparing him to Estrada, Hitler, Mussoleni and Marichman.

"If the government breaks laws and tries to crush peaceful protest programs then the people will also revolt without keeping law in their mind," said Sunil Prajapati, leader of the Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party.

He also warned that if the Nepali Congress kept on supporting Koirala then the entire party would go down along with him.

Chitra Bahadur KC, Chairman of National People’s Front said that Koirala would not be able to hold on to power with "American support".

"If he (Koirala) thinks that he can stick to his chair with the backing of the Americans then he is wrong," KC said. "No dictator ever gives resignation, the people have to force the dictator to do so and we will make Girija resign and put him on trial," he added.

General Secretary of the United People’s Front, Lila Mani Pokhrel appealed to all the people to first help the left parties remove Koirala and then bring all the corrupt politicians and officials to trial one by one.

Pokhrel also accused the Prime Minister of being a murderer who had killed more than 4000 people in last 9 years and called him a broker who sold all the national assets (water sources) to India. "Girija Prasad is a criminal and we cannot have a criminal running the country, he said.

Pokhrel also accused the American Ambassador interfering in Nepal’s internal matters. "We don’t need any consensus of the American Ambassador while working according to Nepali people’s will," he said.

Although the protest rally concluded in a peaceful way, the capital however was not entirely free from violence. At least one corporation vehicle was reportedly burnt in front of Saraswati Campus, Thamel today.

Meanwhile, leaders of the other left parties not involved in the protest program today participated in a talk program titled "Role of Left Parties in the Present Political Situation of the Country," organized by CPN-United Marxist Front, at the capital today.

The left leaders including Radha Krishna Mainali of ML, the break away group of CPN-UML, Sita Ram Tamang of Marxist, Leninist and Maoist and Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha of National People’s Movement Committee criticized Koirala and called for left unity.

While Shrestha was of the opinion that the present Constitution has to be entirely thrown out and Tamang stressed that the only solution to the present crisis was unification of all the left parties, it was RK Mainali who gave balanced analysis of the present situation.

"Our ideologies are very pure but at the implementation level it is completely a different story as there are lots of forces working in different directions," Mainali said.

Mainali added that at the present when the actual popularity of communism is increasing in the country, the inability of communist parties to stay united had prevented the communists from ruling the country.

Contrary to the extremist statements of other leaders Mainali said that the left parties at the present situation had to work under the present Constitution and not aspire for a republic.

He accused the UML for working for its vested interest and therefore weakening the left unity. "The extremists Maoist are ready to talk with the King but it is a tragedy that UML is not ready to sit for talks with the other left parties," Mainali said.

Govt to mobilise army, APF

By Pramod Poudel

KATHMANDU, April 18 - The government has started preparation to mobilise both the Armed Police Force (APF) and the Army for implementing the first phase of Integrated Security and Development Package (ISDP).

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel told The Kathmandu Post that relief will be provided to people living at Maoist-affected areas through the co-ordination of security and development packages.

"The government has started the homework for implementation of the first phase of ISDP," said Poudel who also heads the five-member political sub-committee comprising senior ministers to implement ISDP. According to Poudel, the implementation of ISDP will be carried out in two phases.

In the first phase, program will be carried out in Maoist-hit areas - Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Pyuthan and Gorkha. While the second phase covers 15 districts that include Sindhuli, Dolkha, Lamjung and other ‘B’ rated Maoist-affected areas. "We can extend the program to other areas as well if deemed necessary," said Poudel. DPM Poudel stressed that the package is intended for such Maoist-affected areas which are economically backward and where the condition of the people is miserable.

"The security must be ensured in the first place when we intend to take such developmental relief packages," said Poudel. Stressing upon the need for co-ordination between various security units and the co-ordination between security units and the development programs, Poudel said that such programmes would be under the civilian authorities.

The DPM’s categorical comment lays to rest different speculations as to who would be in command if the army is mobilised in the districts. There were reports in the past that army was not willing to stay under civilian control. Mobilisation of army, APF and carrying out development programs will be under the co-ordination of the Regional Administrator and Chief District Officers.

"Allocation of budget in these areas can be adjusted accordingly as per requirements," said Poudel.

When asked how the sub-committee intends to proceed towards dialogue and discussion with the opposition parties at a time when main opposition party along with other Left parties have taken to the streets demanding Prime Minister’s resignation, Poudel said that the current political impasse can not go on forever. "The opposition should realise that it can not go on like this and they should hold dialogue with the government to seek solution to the present crisis," said Poudel.

At Tuesday’s sub-committee meeting, the members also dwelt on the prospect of reaching a consensus with the opposition parties.

Power cuts unlikely to end soon

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 18 - Despite this week’s pre-monsoon drizzles, the dreaded daytime power cuts or the "load shedding" is unlikely to taper of anytime soon. A top official at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) today said that the present power cut session could be extended for another fortnight, thanks to the weather.

Owing to what it said reduced flow of water in the country’s snow-fed rivers which are the source of hydroelectricity being consumed by the country’s nearly 700,000 households including enterprises, NEA began "load managing" - and not load shedding as in previous years - since early April. They had hoped improvements in the situation in the second half of April.

"The power cuts may continue for another 15 days," Bishnu Bam Malla, Managing Director of NEA told The Kathmandu Post Wednesday. "This week’s rainfalls or precipitation is not enough to increase the volume of water flow in the rivers on which the power plants are situated. Either there has to be more rainfall or the temperature should rise to such extent as to pave the way for snow melting."

With the arrival of summer, NEA officials say, power generation from NEA-owned power plants - both run-of-river and reservoir-type - has plummeted drastically. While most of the projects are generating half their installed capacity, a few are generating only one third of their installed capacity and hence the load shedding, they claim.

Malla today claimed that the situation has not improved despite this week’s rainfalls. Mild rainfalls were witnessed last weekend and on the following days in the central and eastern parts of the country. Weathermen have forecast a significant rise in the temperature after a change in the present weather condition. The daytime temperature of Kathmandu stands around 25 degree Celsius as against the normal of 30 degree Celsius.

The power cuts have not only affected the households and business communities. Equally affected is the Kathmandu Valley’s water supply system, which relies mainly on the ground water resources - consumption of which requires electricity-powered pumping. The government last year declared an end to the country’s perennial load shedding after new power projects like the Khimti and Bhote Koshi came into operation.

Experts say, reservoir type project is the solution to such power cuts. At present only one such plant exists - Kulekhani. And officials are said to be contemplating constructing more such projects in future. Nevertheless, a number of run-of-river projects some of which as big as 144 megawatt are coming into operation "very soon".

Earth Day to be observed

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KATHMANDU, April 18 - Like elsewhere in the world, Earth Day is being observed in Nepal tomorrow with a call to discourage private vehicles and prevent global warming.

Altogether 16 non-governmental organizations working in the field of environment have joined hands to celebrate the day with various public awareness programs, says a press release issued here today by Earth Day Nepal Committee.

According to the release, more than 5,000 environmental organisations from 184 countries are observing Thursday as the Earth Day.

Clubs follow KMC into pay-parking business

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, April 18 -You don’t have to own a vehicle to figure out just how congested the streets of Kathmandu have become these days. Along with the narrow streets where almost 200,000 vehicles ply, parking space for these vehicles has also become scarce. This has given rise to a new business - charging for parking space.

Alongside the Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which first pioneered the idea some years ago, numerous local clubs and even private entrepreneurs are getting into the game. But the difference between the KMC and clubs is that, while the metropolitan authorities have designated roadsides as pay-parking areas, the enterprising clubs have set aside their local bahals and chowks without taking the necessary approval.

Vehicle owners complain that they just don’t see why should they be paying to clubs which are not legally authorized to collect parking fees anyway. But complaints are also aimed at KMC for high parking fees and mismanagement.

"We are tired of paying fees to KMC and the clubs," says Dan Lal Karmacharya, a small-time businessman whose old motorbike costs him Rs 50 a day in parking fees. "They issue simply meaningless tickets without serial number, date, or even area. And the rate is also not fixed."

Commuters like Karmacharya argue that the roads and streets should be free for all to use and the system of charging extra for parking their vehicles should end. "We pay taxes to the government and also to KMC every year to renew our vehicles. Where does the money go?" asks Karmacharya.

An official at Revenue Department of KMC said that pay parking earns around Rs 300,000 per month. KMC’s transportation tax depot at Sinamangal alone collects a levy of Rs 24,000 per day on the average. Still, instead of extending parking facilities, the KMC levies parking charges in core and other city roads though private parties or on its own initiation.

According to KMC’s Traffic and Transportation Section (TTS), using of roads as locations for pay parking is a means of generating KMC’s income.

KMC now levies parking charge on 2,161 sq. meters of the city roads, especially around busy market areas. The streets of local Pyukha, Anamnagar, Tridevi Marg, Kingsway, Sundhara, New Baneshwor, Kamal Pokhari and Mahankalsthan are under KMC’s control.

Meanwhile, local clubs are also aggressively pushing into the lucrative business. Several such clubs operate pay parking areas near Dharma Path (New Road), Khichapokhari, Pako Pipal Bot, Exhibition Road, Tripureshwor, Thapathali, Kantipath, Kamaladi, Tripureshwor, Teku and Ratna Park. No one knows where the money goes.

Madhusudhan Joshi, an official of KMC’s TTS, says the activities of clubs are all illegal.

"KMC has not allowed any such clubs to levy parking charges."

On the other hand, Valley Traffic Police Office (VTPO) has to face immense problem due to this haphazard parking system. Superintendent of Police Sharda Bhakta Ranjit said that allowing people to park their vehicles along the narrow street only hampers the flow of traffic and increase congestion.

"KMC might have rights over the streets but it never sticks to its limit. As far as possible, we instruct the charge collectors not to cross the space limits, " says Inspector Harishchandra Dhakal. He added that the traffic police are unaware of any agreement made by KMC with other private parties. "Neither KMC nor the clubs inform the VTPO about such arrangements."

Acting Director General at Department of Traffic Management (DoTM) Dipak Subedi said that instead of allowing vehicles to be parked along busy roads, private parties should be encouraged to lease land and offer parking services. "As the city is growing so the number of private vehicles bound to increase. This system of disturbing the traffic flow to have room for parking should be discouraged immediately," he added.

It’s not that the KMC has not tried. Some time ago, KMC authorities had called a meeting of public officials to sound out if their unused land in the city centre could be turned into a managed parking lot. All of them had rejected the proposal as many of them had their own plans to construct shopping complexes.

SC makes changes

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KATHMANDU, April 18 - The Supreme Court on Wednesday transferred 76 district judges from one district to another, appointed 15 new district judges and extended Supreme Court justice Kedar Prasad Giri’s tenure for two more years.

The Chief Justice, Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya carried out the transfer, appointment and extension on recommendation of the Judicial Council.

The 15 newly appointed judges were working as under secretary in the judicial service, stated a press release issued here.

Justice Giri’s tenure has been extended for two more years whose term as a temporary SC justice was expiring on Thursday.

Students pelt stones during SLC exam

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KATHMANDU, April 18 - Students pelted stones for making examination severe, while a student was put behind the bars for beating the controller, a report from Syangja said.

Reports from Khotang also said that students locked Harka Rai, Supervisor for his alleged act of partiality to the students, bringing the examination to a standstill.

Meanwhile, in Dang, answer sheets of 23 students were cancelled, reports from District Education Office said.

In Mahottari, the locals were lathi charged by the police after they tried to storm the examination hall seeing the examiners snatching the chits and guide papers from the students.

According to a report from the District Education Office, Controller of Examination at Mahendra Dayo Higher Secondary School, Ram Chandra Khadka was expelled for his illegal act.

In a report received from Morang, two students turning angry for not given chance to copy or get help were caught by the police after they were found pelting stones at the police and at the controllers. Police sources said they destroyed a motorcycle belonging to the examiner.

In yet another incident, relatives of a student at Sarbodaya Higher Secondary School had thoroughly beaten the student who refused to help him.

Report from Banke said that an assistant supervisor at the local Saraswoti Secondary School was wounded when one of the examinees stabbed him with a khukuri for not being allowed to copy math chit during the SLC examination

Dr Bhatta, Controller of Examination, Sanothimi said two students were barred from writing their science examination at Rautahat while one was barred for all the papers.

Examination Controller, Principal Amir Pandey was hurled with a telephone Wednesday by a group of over 20 students. The students also used fist blows to hit the Controller. "I have had three head stitches," said Pandey after his discharge from B & B Hospital, Patan.

Quack doctor case takes new turn

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KATHMANDU, April 18 – The quack doctor case took a new turn today with the latest victim of Dr Nhisitu Shrestha accusing her husband in Biratnagar of trying to kill her.

Usha Shrestha, 40, who had been operated upon by Dr Shrestha without the mandate to do so, told The Kathmandu Post that her husband Dhruba Narayan Shrestha wanted her dead and it was for this reason that she was taken to a clinic that had dubious credentials. Five weeks after her dreadful operation, Usha who had nearly lost her life, said, "My husband used to tell me occasionally that I was fat and suggested liposuction."

Initially Usha was not willing to undergo operation but when her husband convinced her that there was no danger, she agreed and thus she landed in Glamour K Pharmacy at Kalimati with an unknown lady Sumitra Bastola. It was on March 13 that she was operated upon by Dr Shrestha and had more than two dozen stitches in her stomach.

"It did not look like clinic. There was no other staff. I was in my own saree . He tried the saline needle in several places. Then I passed out and when I woke up, I saw my stomach cut from right to left and only my husband and that lady and no sign of the doctor, " Usha recounts her ordeal.

However, her husband said he took his wife to the clinic for her treatment alone. Usha’s husband, who had contested the elections against Bharat Mohan Adhikari of the main opposition CPN-UML for Morang-2, could have afforded to admit her wife to a better and competent private clinic.

Upon her husband’s complaint, the police has already taken the doctor into custody on charges of attempt to murder.

NTC to expand cellular service

By Ram Sharan Sedhai

KATHMANDU, April 18 - Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC), the state-run monopoly in telecom services, is preparing to lower the tariff of cellular mobile phones within a few months, said a highly placed NTC source.

The reduction will come into effect once the mobile phone distribution exceeds 15,000 mark. The NTC has already distributed 12,500 cellular mobile phones.

The source said it could take another two months at maximum for the tariff rebalancing going by the high demand for mobile phones. On Tuesday alone NTC distributed 100 cellular phone lines.

When asked if the NTC had decided to make the incoming calls free, Madan Kaji Shakya, Director at the New Services Directorate, NTC Pulchwok said, "We are considering different options to bring down the charges, but have not chalked out completely in what way the tariff will be reduced".

Raghubar Lal Shrestha, General Manager of the NTC also admitted that NTC would reduce the tariff of cellular mobile phones after the number of customer crossed the 15,000 mark. The Corporation began distributing additional cellular phones from February, soon after it solved the problem with billing system.

Shakya claimed that they have improved the quality of cell phone service installing additional equipment at Naikap, Gongabu, Chhauni and the New Road areas. Earlier, traffic channel-blocking rate in the New Road area was over 40 per cent, which has been brought down to less than one per cent now. So is the case of other three areas, he added.

Similarly, to improve the indoor coverage, the Corporation is going to install seven more base stations at Maharajgunj, Kalikasthan, Tyuda-Ason, New Baneshwor, Sanepa, Swatha-near Bagalamukhi and Old Baneshwor. Currently, there are 17 base stations in the Kathmandu Valley.

Anticipating higher demand for cellular mobile phones after the tariff rebalancing, the Corporation has already begun expansion of its current infrastructure. Equipment for additional base stations has arrived and the installation will be completed within three months, Shakya said.

Likewise, equipment needed for additional 10,000 lines is being installed. Distribution will continue on demand basis until the capacity is exhausted, Director Shakya added.

To meet the growing demand, NTC is planning to add 50,000 more cell phones within a year and it is evaluating the tender called for the same. "In the 50,000 mobile phones extension project, we are installing mini and micro base stations in core areas to improve indoor coverage and service quality", said Shakya.

Conservationists file lawsuit against US govt

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KATHMANDU, April 18 - Animal protection organizations and scientists have filed a lawsuit against the US government challenging its granting of import permits for imperiled argali ship killed by trophy hunters, and its failure to issue a timely final rule listing the wild ship as an endangered species throughout its range in Asia.

According to a press release issued here today by Washington DC-based The Fund for Animals, the plaintiffs include The Fund for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, The Humans Society of the United States, Earth Island Institute, Argali Wildlife Research Center in Mongolia, US scientist Ron Nowak, and Mongolian scientists Sukh Amgalanbaatar and Zundui Namshir.

The argali is the largest wild sheep in the world, and historically occupied parts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Siberia, Mongolia, Nepal and Tibet, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. According to Narayan Poudel, Senior Ecologist at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, the animal is "extremely rare and can be found sometimes in the Himalayan highlands adjoining Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. Argali hunting is legally prohibited."

According to the release, the species has experienced a significant decline in habitat range, and in 1976, the US listed a subspecies of the argali, but not the entire species, as endangered. In 1992, however, the US listed the entire species as endangered throughout most of its range, but only as threatened (a lesser protection) in the countries of Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan, issuing a special rule setting forth stringent conditions that would have to be met before import of argali trophies from those countries would be allowed.

"Subsequently, in 1993, the US proposed changing the listing from threatened to endangered because of increased concern for the survival of the species. Many years later, the proposed rule is still outstanding," the release said. "Among the threats that the argali face is hunting by foreign trophy hunters, including US citizens, who take dead argali trophies back with them. Hunters are not permitted to bring these trophies into the US without import permits.

"Remarkably, in the past five years the US has granted more than 550 permits for the importation of argali trophies, and more than 100 issued permits are still valid," it added.

"It is unconscionable that hundreds of animals in this imperiled species have been killed simply so wealthy American trophy hunters can add more heads to their collections," the release quoted Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Fund as saying: "The US has acted illegally and irresponsibly by granting hundreds of import permits and by leaving this proposed rule in limbo while argali population continues to decline."

Maoists urged to allow ISDF program

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ROLPA, April 18 - The district level leaders of the five major political parties in Rolpa have asked the underground Maoist leaders not to obstruct in the development projects being executed under the government sponsored Integrated Security and Development Fund (ISDF).

A joint press statement issued today by the district level leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), CPN-ML and Rastriya Jana Morcha (RJM) have asked the Maoists to return the confiscated survey equipment and allow the labourers to continue with the developments works in the districts.

"While holding talks with Maoist leaders, they admit that they are not against any development work," the press statement said, "But, we are surprised to hear that they have instructed the labourers not to proceed with the work."

The statement further adds that, whatever the motive they have behind halting the development projects, the funds funnelled to the district as wage will certainly help to provide relief to the people of the district.

"It is also our duty to provide relief to the people who are likely to be hit hard by the impending famine," the joint press statement said, adding that the development projects would also help supply essential commodities to various villages. The district leaders have further appealed to the Maoist leaders to foster a positive attitude towards the greater interest of the people of this famine-prone district.

The leaders have also elucidated their viewpoint that the government sponsored ISDF should be handled by the elected representatives.

The leaders issuing the joint statement include Amrit Bahadur Gharti Magar, Rolpa District Development Committee Chairman from NC; Kumar Dasaudi, CPN-UML District Secretary; Chandra Bahadur Pun, RPP’s acting District Chairman; Man Singh Dangi, CPN-ML District Committee member; Raj Kumar Kakshapati, RJM District Secretary and Dalbir Pun Magar, DDC Vice-Chairman.