Kathmandu city to have improved road intersections

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13 - Kathmandu is getting ten modern road intersections with solar-cell operated traffic signals for the first time in Nepal, thanks to the Japanese government’s recent cooperation scheme to improve the city transportation.

The government of Japan has provided a grant assistance to improve the road intersections through the facilitating agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a press release from the Department of Road states.

"The project, which will be a landmark in the friendly relationship between Nepal and Japan, is soon to start," states the release.

The project intends to improve the intersections at Maitighar, Kalimati, Koteshwor-Tinkune, Padmodaya Turning, Keshar Mahal, Koteshwor-Ring Road, Naya Baneshwor, Singha Durbar, Dilli Bazaar-Ram Shahpath and Kalanki Chowk.

The project is scheduled to complete by March 15, 2003.

Traffic signals and street lights will be installed. Pavement works, reconstruction of pathways, drainage, flag-posts, hand rails will also be carried out. It will also improve traffic signs, motorcycle storage lanes, bus lay-byes and so on.

"Road marking and road safety education campaigns will also be taken into accounts in the project period," adds the release.

The project officials believe that the new improved intersections will decrease the rate of road accidents.

"The traffic signals will be operated by solar-cell system for the first time in Nepal. The normal city power supply will be used as backup. Similarly, instead of the conventional incandescent bulbs, light-emitting diodes (LED) will be used on the signal heads, " the release adds.

Hindus observe Balachaturdashi in the name of dead ones

By Perina Pathak

KATHMANDU, Dec 13 – Thousands of devotees from different parts of the Valley converged in the premises of Lord Pashupatinath temple today morning to observe Balachaturdashi.

People scattered sadbeau in the memory of their dead ones from early morning. Hindus observe this occasion if any of their family members had died this year.

Purna Prasad Kuinkel and his wife were among those who went around the Slesmantak forest, overlooking the famous Hindu temple, to observe the occasion.

Seventy-year-old Kuinkel came all the way from Banepa a day before and stayed at the hill overnight to scatter sadbeau in the memory of his mother, who died this year.

Kuinkel, and thousands of others, began scattering sadbeau from the temple periphery and went around Gaurighat, Guheshori and Kailash, ending at the temple.

"If we scatter sadbeau properly with sacred feeling, then pitri (soul of the dead) will give us blessings and their soul will go to heaven," Kuinkel said, shivering in the chilly morning. Kuinkel has been there four times in a decade to mourn the deaths of his father and mother.

"It is believed that once you come in the name of someone this year, then you have to repeat another year as well," says Kuinkel.

All Hindus who have been there to scatter sadbeau light oil lamps in the name of the dead soul on the eve of Balachaturdashi. "We have not eaten anything from yesterday," says Krishna Chalise from Nuwakot, who was there with his two sons, mother and wife. "Now after this puja, we will have curd and chiura (beaten rice)."

Though there is no reliable information when this tradition began, people believe that Lord Shiva first commenced the tradition. According to Pandit Hari Nath Gautam, in the sacred book of Shivapuran, the Sadbeau is the mixture of seeds like lentil, wheat, barley, maze, fruits and sweet potato, among others.

Whereas, cultural expert Hari Ram Joshi says that the tradition began after the death of Aghori (hermit who eats everything) Balasur. When this baba of Aghorpanthi community turned a man-eater, the other communities had a major tussle. Then the people from other communities convinced a barber, Balasur’s childhood friend, to kill him. After the homicide, a conflict broke out between the Aghorpanthi community and other communities, resulting in mass murder.

After the violence and murder, both groups realised their mistakes and went to Lord Shiva to forgive them. Lord Shiva then ordered them to scatter sadbeau in the name of Balasur, in every place where Balasur used to wander around.

"Thus this occasion of Balachaturdarshi began in the name of Balasur Aghori," says Joshi. "And this tradition of scattering sadbeau began."

Quiz contests organised

KATHMANDU, Dec 13 (PR) - On the occasion of 74th auspicious birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, leader of the main opposition party, Madhav Kumar Nepal gave away the "6th King Bhumibol Running Shield 2001" to winners of quiz contests held here today.

The programme organised by Children’s Forum Nepal announced Occidental Public School, Anamnagar as the winner of the Nepal-Thailand Friendship secondary level and lower secondary level quiz contests.

Blue Moon high school, Chabahil won the first prize in the primary level quiz contest. Giving away shields and certificates,Nepal said, "The Nepal-Thailand ties should be strengthened".

Activists for more rights to women

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13 - On the occasion of Human Rights Day,which was observed last Monday, a one day seminar on Women’s Rights, Human Rights was held here today. The seminar was participated by political figures and many women activists.

The seminar organised by National Women’s Association central committee, brought into focus developments and failures in terms of women’s rights,

While certain amendments have been made towards the anti-rape laws, social abuse and domestic violence, many of the women activists protested against the scrapping of the Property Rights Bill in the Upper House of Parliament and citizenship rights.

Speaking on the occasion, former prime minister and president of Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala said, "Democracy without human rights and human rights without democracy is meaningless."

Speaking on property rights, he said that the law is always complicated and thus to put it straight, property rights should not be given to anybody but it should be kept only with parents. "There are no parents in this world who will differentiate between a son and a daughter, so they can make the best decision", he said.

Meanwhile, former deputy prime minister, Ram Chandra Poudel stressed that Nepalese women need more freedom than property at this time. "Women in Nepal need to be given intellectual, social and economic freedom so that they themselves can bring about equality," he said.

Interaction on the role of UN held

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13 - An interaction programme was held here today on the role of the United Nations. The programme was organised by the Nepal Council of World Affairs (NCWA).

Presenting a paper on the subject, Dr Vernon LB Mendis, Director General of Bhandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, Sri Lanka said that the United Nations has made the development of democracies possible in the world. Mendis pointed out that UN has made a significant contribution in the social and economic areas around the globe. " The UN has played a great role," said Mendis. He also pointed out that UN should not be blamed for what is happening inside any individual country.

Speaking on the occassion, NCWA President Keshav Raj Jha said, "We should consider the evolving responsibility of the United Nations, which is the only mechanism for international peace and security. The challenges of its roles in humanitarian assistance, peace keeping and refugees need to be evaluated as the UN ‘s capacity now seems to be stretched beyond its limits".

MA in journalism

KATHMANDU, Dec 13 (PR) - Kantipur City College (KCC),a private college affiliated to Purbanchal University, formally announced the commencement of postgraduate course in Mass Communications and Journalism amidst a function held here today.

Two other colleges, viz, Ratna Rajyalaxmi College and College of Journalism and Mass Communications had recently announced their opening of the courses.

Speaking at a function, Ram Krishna Regmi, co-ordinator of the Journalism Department, announced that students graduated in any faculty are eligible to enrol for the courses.

However, it is useful to take some bridge course, which includes basic knowledge in editing, reporting and mass communications.

He further said that the college would provide a separate course on Information Technology to boost the proficiency of the students and to offer them knowledge on Cyber and Internet.

The two-year- course is likely to cost around 1,41,000 rupees per student.

Mid-term review carried out

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13 - The Bagmati Integrated Watershed Management Programme (BIWMP) has carried out its mid-term review,states a press release issued here today.

A review team inspected the project activities for 22 days. Graham Garrod, the rural development manager led the team of European Commission experts from Symonds Groups consisting of Fredrik Prins and Renate Kuchenreuther. Kapil Chitrakar, Rajendra Kaphle and Bharat Pudasaini from Nepali section were also there in the team, the release states.

At a programme organised after the inspection, Garrord said the project was heading toward its objectives with satisfactory speed though it witnessed slow motion in the initial period.

"Land slides should be prevented, the relation between government and non-government organizations and the saving programmes should be strengthened," said Garrod.

Chandi Prasad Shrestha, the secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil-Conservation, said the project was instrumental to improve the lifestyles of the local people.

NTV goes live in far-west

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MAHENDRANAGAR, Dec 13 - People of this far-western city can now watch live telecast of the state-owned Nepal Television (NTV) starting Wednesday. The locals were deprived of the national television service despite the establishment of a NTV repeater sub-station was established in Kohalpur, Banke a couple of years ago.

The NTV was made available here only after a local cable operator started its satellite channel in the city area. Around 800 households can watch NTV programmes through the cable network, said the proprietor of Shrestha Cable Service, Laxmi Bhatta.

Earlier, Kanchanpur Chief District Officer, Durga Prasad Pokharel, had asked the local cable service operators to make arrangements for airing the NTV programmes in the area within a month. The locals, especially the children, seem to be cheerful that they can also watch NTV programmes inside their rooms. Just a day ago, people had to depend on Indian and satellite channels for entertainment, national and international affairs.

Quack teacher caught in Kavre

By Khagendra Bhandari

KAVRE, Dec 13 - A teacher who has been working at a local high school here for the last three years, has been found to be holding a fake certificate, a report here said.

The teacher, Rajendra Ghimire, hailing from Durdimba VDC-1 in Panchthar district, has been giving English lessons at the Rosi high school in Katunje. But it has come to be known that he holds somebody else’s graduate degree credentials.

In fact, the photocopy of the transcript the accused submitted to the District Education Office and to the school for the record, is owned by Dilliram Dhakal with the Tribhuvan University registration number of 12056-89. Whereas Ghimire’s TU registration number is 19319-89. It was also found that the accused had only passed the proficiency certificate-level seven years ago from Dhankuta Multiple Campus.

In the copies of the transcript submitted by Ghimire, the original name and registration numbers were erased and replaced with Ghimire’s name and number. The accused was given temporary appointment as English teacher after approval from District Education Office (DEO) during the tenure of District Education Officer, Govinda Prasad Regmi.

"We were looking for an English teacher and hired him as approved by the DEO," said Headmaster Riddi Bahadur KC. "But we were doubtful about him after he failed to produce the original transcript despite our repeated requests."

Ghimire chose to stay away from the school after the DEO set a deadline for submitting original certificates of all the teachers in government-funded schools. This was what which heightened the suspicion that Ghimire did not have the necessary qualifications for the job. Later, he sent in his resignation letter through his wife and it was accepted, said District Education Officer Mahakant Jha.

Chief at the TU Records Division, Sambhu Raj Regmi, said that it was not an exceptional case. Other cases have also been filed at the Hanuman Dhoka District Police Office against holders of fake certificates. But the police have not yet informed the TU Records Division about the actions it has been taking against the accused.

Surprise check conducted

PYUTHAN, Dec 13 (PR) - More than 31 civil servants of various district offices were found absent during surprise check conducted by District Administration Office.

Deputy Chief District Officer, Uttar Kumar Khatri, said, "Action will be taken against the civil servants according to the Civil Service Act, 2049 and Civil Service Regulation, 2050".

The missing staffs and officers were from District Development Committee, local officers, 14 planning officers, 4 staffs from District Soil Conservation Office, 3 from District Drinking Water Supply Office, 7 from District Veterinary Office, 2 from Small Entreprenurship Development Programme, 1 staff from District Educational Office.

Arrests, surrenders continue

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KATHMANDU, Dec 13 - The security forces have arrested several Maoists from various districts to foil their possible attacks on government facilities, say reports received here Wednesday. Meanwhile, more number of Maoists surrendered to the authorities on Wednesday, say reports.

A report from Biratnagar says the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) has been deployed in the Biratnagar airport as a precautionary measure. Chief of the Civil Aviation Office in Biratnagar, Suresh Ajad, said the RNA soldiers were stationed at the airport, one of the busiest in the eastern region, in the wake of the Maoist attack at Tumlingtar airport a few days ago. The RNA personnel would also be maintaining vigil at the depot of the Nepal Oil Corporation and the fire department..

Police on Wednesday also seized four country-made guns hidden at a cave in Nagini jungle following a rebel ambush of a police team travelling on the Mechi Highway, said . Chief District Officer Jeevan Prasad Oli. No policemen were hurt in the incident.

Our reporter from Pokhara says the army and police arrested 10 Maoists from Kaski, Parbat, Syangja and Baglung districts. The rebels were carrying explosives and Maoist literature.

Likewise, our reporter from Jajarkot, one of the worst Maoist-hit districts in the mid-western region, quoted the police as saying that Karna Bahadur Thapa, who is the vice-president of the People’s Government formed by the rebels in Suwanauli VDC, has been arrested along with a local teacher. Locals said the rebels have warned the villagers not to leave for the district headquarters of
Khalanga, fearing that they would supply information to the army and the police about the Maoist hide-outs.

In Pyuthan, villagers of Dharampani VDC-3 have handed in a man, Lila Poudel, to the police after he warned the family members of army and police men to quit their jobs.

Meanwhile, our correspondent from Dhankuta says 65 Maoists have surrendered in the district since the declaration of the state of emergency. Chief District Officer, Shambhu Koirala, said that a "Maoist army commander" was also among those who gave themselves up.

In Kavre, officials said that over 300 Maoists have surrendered to the District Administration Office by Wednesday. Officials said that these men have been released on bail. Most of the people seeking amnesty from the authorities said that they had no knowledge of the Maoist ideology, and were inducted to the Maoist organisations at gun point.