Embankment work stalled over land issue

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MAHOTTARI, June 23 - The three km long embankment work along the Ratu River has been stalled for over a month after some locals, including a National Assembly member, from the Bakadi VDC refused to provide their land for the same.

Officials at the irrigation office said that locals were not ready to sacrifice their land for the cause of embankment but want the embankment for flood control on the river that has turned several acres of fertile land into a desert.

The embankment construction has further delayed when National Assembly member Sitanandan Raye and other people filed a writ petition challenging the work in the Janakpur Appellate Court.

The court has issued a stay order against the defendants in response to the plaintiffs’ demand.

District Development Committee member from area no. 9, Kaushalendra Sharma, who is also the chairman of embankment users’ group, said that the writ petition resulted in further delay the work. Locals fear that more than 2,000 people from nine villages will be submerged during this rainy season.

An all party meeting called recently by Chief District Officer, Laxmi Prasad Bhattarai, also could not resolve the dispute over the embankment.

"This is purely an ego problem rather than the issue of land dispute," Sharma said. Divisional engineer at the irrigation office, Siddhi Pratap Rana said there was a disruption when 75 percent of the work had been finished at the cost of Rs 1.2 million.

Rana said, "Nine southern villages will be inundated unless the remaining embankment is completed before starting of the monsoon."

The Bardibas-Jaleshwor Road Project stated that the early floods on the Ratu River that came last week cut one km long section of the Bardibas road under construction.

The concerned authorities have requested the plaintiffs to withdraw their writ petition and let the work continue.

Locals in south Lalitpur yet to get electricity

LALITPUR, June 23 (RSS)- The people of south Lalitpur will have to wait for two more years to get electricity.

Although living in the periphery of the capital, people living in villages in southern Lalitpur are still deprived of electricity.

Some 70,000 people out of the population of 396,000 in the district living in this part are still deprived of the facility , according to Deepak Dahal, a member of the District Development Committee.

Approximately 60,000 people living in the 29 VDCs in the southern belt of the district have to walk for three days to the main town centre where the district headquarters are located for using telephone, health and transportation services provided by the government.

The CPN-UML’s local people’s representatives from 19 VDCs of the area have also constituted the "South Lalitpur Electrification Movement Committee" to lobby for carrying out large-scale electrification in the area with the financial assistance from His Majesty’s Government, the DDC and the 19 VDCs., according to Madhav Poudel, chairman of one of these VDCs.

There are many places of historical and religious significance in south Lalitpur. Similarly, the area also abounds in many tourist sites.

Lekhnath municipality water project signed

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POKHARA, June 23 - People from this newly-established Lekhnath Municipality will quench their thirst after the much awaited drinking water project is completed within three years to come, according to the municipality authorities.

The 120 million rupee drinking water project is being funded by the government grant, local contribution and loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

Mayor of the municipality Saligram Poudel, Director of the Urban Development Fund, Harka Bahadur Chhetri and Chief of Drinking Water and Sanitation Project Arjun Poudel signed an agreement to this effect on Friday.

Water from the upstream of the Bijayapur Khola at Diuje, located between the Mauja and Sidujure VDCs, will be diverted to the municipality, authorities said.

It is expected that the drinking water project will supply water facility to almost 20,000 population through 4,400 taps.

After the completion of the project, the project will resolve the drinking water crisis for the coming 20 years, with the supply of 2.65 million of litres of water each day (MLD).

Vice-Chairman of the project, Chandra Krishna Karmacharya, said that each household will have to pay Rs 10,000, a major local resource mobilisation for the project.

People usually suffer from the unavailability of drinking water during the dry season and depend upon wells and public taps.

Concerns raised over insurgency

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DAMAULI, June 23 - Industrialists and businessmen from the western region have raised serious concerns over the six years old Maoist insurgency, which according to them, has crippled the national economy.

They also pointed out the need for a fruitful dialogue with the rebels to resolve the crisis. The industrialists said they were ready to extend their cooperation for such a dialogue, if needed.

"Both the export and import have diminished resulting in an adverse impact in the national revenue collection," said Ananda Ram Mulmi, former chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), addressing the regional seminar of the Western Region Industry and Commerce Association here on Saturday.

Mulmi also urged the government to bring about transparency on the revenue administration to achieve the target of the budget. He claimed that the army mobilisation would not help increase revenue in any way.

"We have obtained reports of corruption even after the army mobilisation in major customs points," former FNCCI chairman Mulmi said.

Industry and Commerce Association Chairmen from all 16 districts of the Western Region were present in the seminar, chaired by Ashok Kumar Shrestha, Chairman of Tanahu Industry and Commerce Association.

Other businessmen who addressed the gathering rapped the government for carrying out raids in their stores and warehouses in the name of Value Added Tax.

Martyr’s statue unveiled

CHITAWAN, June 23 (RSS)- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist),CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal unveiled a statue of martyr Balram Kadel here on Friday.

On the occasion, Nepal said democracy was ushered in Nepal as a result of the contributions of the martyrs.

The leader of the main opposition in parliament accused the government of trying to snatch away the rights of the people by introducing Draconian regulations that is detrimental to the existence of democracy restored through the initiatives of the country’s left parties as well as the Nepali Congress.

"Violence and Anarchy has crossed its limit in the country, corruption has not been checked completely and it does not suit the Prime Minister of a majority government to remain in power as he is unpopular", he said and warned obstruction of parliament if the Prime Minister did not resign even in such circumstances.

At the programme, Nepal felicitated martyr Thapa’s father, mother and spouse as well as nine others who had actively participated in the 1990 People’s Movement by wrapping shawls around them. He also presented them with citations.

MP Kashinath Adhikari called for the scrapping of the Public Security Regulations which goes against the spirit of the constitution and democracy restored through the sacrifices of the people.

MP Rishi Babu Pariyar pointed out the need for creating an environment of national reconciliation in the country, saying it was also the duty of the opposition to help maintain peace and order in the country.

Member of the Nepali Congress General Council Sesh Nath Adhikari said that it is also the duty of the opposition parties to help maintain peace in the country by adopting peaceful ways than violent means.

He also called on the opposition to sincerely cooperate in the development process as per the people’s aspirations.

Party secretary Hari Prasad Sapkota, general secretary of All Nepal Women’s Organization Sita Poudel, Deputy Mayor of Bharatpur municipality Devi Prasad Gyawali, advocate Bishwakanta Mainali, DDC vice-chairman Jagan Nath Thapaliya and deputy chairman of the Statue Construction Committee Govinda Prasad Kadel also expressed their views on the occasion.

The programme was presided over by former MP Jagrit Prasad Bhetwal, who is also the chairman of the Statue Construction Committee.

Number of newspaper readers up by 100 pc

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SINDHULI, June 23 - The number of newspaper readers suddenly increased by 100 percent in Sindhuli after the Narayanhity Royal Palace incident, according to newspapers vendors.

Sushil Kumar Devkota of Parjuna Stationery, one of the main vendors of newspapers published from the capital says he is considerably encouraged by this sudden increase in the number of newspaper readers.

"I have not been able to cater to the needs of all my customers. I order for fewer copies fearing that they may not be sold but they are sold like hot cakes" he said. He added that even people who hardly cared to read newspapers are now buying and reading them.

Newspapers published from Kathmandu arrive here in the evening by bus. People come to the newspaper shop to get copies as early as 2 p.m. He said copies of Nepal and Himal fortnightly magazines were sold so fast that within an hour all copies were sold. When I telephoned at the offices of the newspapers to send more copies, I was told that there was no copy left, Devkota said.

The sales of Kantipur daily and Saptahik of the Kantipur Publications are six and three times more respectively in comparison to the sale of other newspapers in Sindhuli.

Similarly, Sanjay Dahal of Dahal Patrika Pasal said that readers were buying even unpopular newspapers when they failed to get a copy of their favourite newspaper.

NSU to submit 8 point demands

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KATHMANDU, June 23- Nepal Students’ Union (NSU) said Saturday that it would submit 8-point demand proposal to the Higher Secondary Education Council (HSEC) on Monday seeking regularization of the higher secondary education. Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Bishwa Prakash Sharma, President of Nepal Students’ Union said that over 600 +2 level schools in the country have neither qualified teachers nor proper physical management.

"Most teachers in +2 do not possess master’s degree," said Sharma while Rabindra Adhikari, President of All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU), student wing of CPN-ML said that only 1 per cent of the total government investment on education sector is spend in these schools.

Unraveling a bleak future for +2 due to deteriorating quality of education and a dismal performance of students, Adhikari said, "We want government to invest in +2 urgently." He also added that the future of the students studying at these schools is at stake.

Speaking to The Kathmandu Post over telephone, Dr Kamal Prakash Malla, former rector of Tribhuvan University (TU) said just a budget of 20.16 million rupees is allotted by the government for 75, 000 students of 681 +2 schools. "What quality do we expect when investment on each student per year is just Rs 217 ?" Asked Malla.

Dr Bidhya Nath Koirala, senior educationist said some of these certificate level schools charge exorbitant fee-range amounting to hundred of thousadn of rupees.

According to Rajendra Dhoj Joshi of World Bank, Education Department, Japanese grants alone provide nearly a 100 per cent of the development fund towards the certificate level and the share of the government is in lesser amount. Fixing a uniform rate of fee, physical management, enrollment of qualified teachers, increased public investment are some of the demands to be presented by Nepal Students’ Union before the Council for Higher Secondary Education Board on Monday.

Aathrai Sankranti bazaar wears a deserted look

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TEHRATHUM, June 23 - Athrai Sankranti bazaar, one of the flourishing market-places for the people of three districts including Tehrathum, Taplejung and Panchthar at one time, now wears a completely deserted look.

The once booming commercial centre where vast number of people thronged from three districts for marketing purposes is gradually being reduced to a small local market for people of a few VDCs after it has turned into a remote place due to lack of transportation.

All the government offices and banks located at this bazaar have been removed to the district headquarters not only because this bazaar was rendered as a remote place but also as a result of the Maoist activities.

The attraction of this place was so great in the past that people from as far as Olangchung Gola also used to visit this commercial centre for buying things in the past.

There was time when people from about 70 VDCs from three districts thronged this place from far and near and were seen engaged in business activities at Athrai Sankranti bazaar from morning until late in the evening. On the contrary, people from a couple of VDCs come to buy their essential goods like matches and spices these days.

The motorable road that linked Dhankuta with Dharan reached only up to Tehrathum, the district headquarters, and was not extended further toward Athrai. In the same way, the Mechi road also linked Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung districts from the east of Athrai, instead of crossing over the Tamor river to link Athrai. Thus, this place remained completely cut off from transportation, and this heralded the downfall of the once popular commercial centre of Athrai Sankranti bazaar.

Apparently, lack of modern development infrastructure has forced the businessmen to shun this bazaar and look for more viable commercial centres because with the development of road, electricity and other related amenities in other places people hardly come to this place walking long distances.

Most of the businessmen have left this place and moved to more lucrative business centres. They left this place and went to different places, such as Jhapa and Morang with the removal of government offices, which spelt a doom for the bazaar.

"That is the reason why we have also left Sankranti bazaar and have shifted to his place," Said Shankar Prasad Dhungel who is now running his business at Phidim, headquarters of Panchthar district.

"Transactions to the tune of 500 to 700 thousand rupees per day was normal in the past, but now only a few customers and some 100 to 200 students are seen in the bazaar. There is no transaction. The only activities are playing carom and passing the time," says a local businessman, Tulsi Prasad Dahal, remembering the prosperous old days.

Another businessman Krishna Prasad Thapaliya said the din and bustle of the thriving market has died down. Physical facilities are decreasing instead of increasing. People are not ready to live in the empty houses at the bazaar even free of cost.

The irony is that people of this place have to go out to buy even the essential goods today. It has caused a negative impact in the living standard of the local people, Yuva Raj Sitaula said.

Tehrathum DDC president Kishor Chandra Dulal said Athrai which is considered historic from different aspects has been abandoned due to lack of road facility. It can once again regain its lost glory if it is linked by a two-way road network : Myanglung-Athrai road and Panchthar-Athrai road, he added. Many locals still think all is not lost.

‘Democracy is in danger’

NEPALGUNJ, June-23(RSS) - Central President of National People’s Front (NPF) and National Assembly election candidate Rasmiraj Nepali has said the Maoist People’s War is a result of wrong analysis of Marxism.

Nepali, speaking at a press meet organized by the NPF, Banke district today, noted that both democracy and nationalism are now in danger. His party is opposed to the line of the Maoists, he added.

Stating that the government did not keep the people informed about the June 1 Royal Palace incident, the NPF leader accused the government of trying to snatch away democratic rights through the public security regulations.

India has encroached upon the Nepali land in 21 districts, he said adding, our political commitment is the basis of our life.

The program was chaired by front’s Banke district chairman Ved Prasad Acharya.

AGM of Nepalgunj chamber of commerce opens

NEPALGUNJ, June 23(RSS) - First Vice-President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Rabibhakta Shrestha, today inaugurated the 10th Annual General Meeting of Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In his inaugural address, Shrestha said that in view of the growing sense of insecurity among the domestic as well as foreign investors, His Majesty’s Government should devote serious attention to the security of industrial and trading houses and their owners.

FNCCI has emphasized the need for an all-party meeting in the face of the national crisis plaguing the country at present, he said, adding that the FNCCI will itself take the onus if no one is ready to take the initiative in this regard.

Third vice-president of the FNCCI Binod Bahadur Shrestha cautioned the country’s economic front will plunge into a grave crisis if the government as well as the political parties are not serious enough to ensure a secure future for the country’s trade and industry sector.

Banke DDC chairman Om Prakash Jung Rana pointed out the need for joint investment from the private sector as well as the public sector in sectors such as health and drinking water.

CDO Bal Krishna Prasai called upon the industrialists and traders to pinpoint as to what inconveniences they were facing and which particular policy and regulation is responsible for it.

Bheri zone representative at FNCCI Kumud Kumar Dugar said though Nepal is called an agrarian country, it is far from being so in the real sense of the term mainly due to confusion in government’s policy, diminishing productivity and poor farm management.

Chairman of Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Achyut Prasad Prasai requested all parties concerned to not call general strikes and market closure frequently as it would damage the already tottering national economy.

FNCCI Mahakali zonal representative Madhav Kumar Bhatta, president of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hem Bikram Thapa, president of Bardiya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ram Kumar Baishya, CPN-UML representative Govinda Bandi, members of Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Diwakar Khanal and Padma Bhattarai and senior superintendent of police Hem Bahadur Gurung also expressed their views at the Annual General Meeting.

Secretary of Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Satish Chandra Agrawal presented the annual report of the chamber.

Chief guest at the function and first vice-president of the FNCCI Rabi Bhakta Shrestha gave away letter of appreciation to the three local leading export industries trading through the Nepalgunj customs.

Among the recipients of the appreciation letters, the K.L. Dugar Group, which stood first in terms of the volume of its exports, exported foodgrain worth Rs 141,829,017 from Nepalgunj customs in the last fiscal year.

Similarly, the Puja Dal Mill, which stood second in terms of its volume of exports, exported lentils worth Rs 86,784,080 from Nepalgunj customs during the last fiscal year.

Likewise, Laxmi Rosin and Turpentine Industries Pvt. Ltd., which stood third in terms of its volume of exports, exported worth Rs 86,188,950 from Nepalgunj customs in the last fiscal year, according to the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry.