Ministry gives directives to all DDCs

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BIRGUNJ, March 2- The Ministry for Local Development has issued a new directive to all the 75 District Development Committee Chairmen and Mayors of all the municipalities in Nepal not to bypass their respective boards.

In a 3-point directive sent to the Birgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, the Ministry has directed it to present any new proposals first to the Board and then only to the Council. Otherwise, the directive warns, the only consent of the Council will not validate the decision so made.

Executive Officer of the Sub-Metropolitan City, Bhawani Parajuli told The Kathmandu Post Friday that the new directive was an effort to check the practice by Chairmen and Mayors, when they happen to be in minority, to opt for the consent of the Council directly by bypassing the Board.

According to experts, the new directive is a positive development in the sense that it ensures a more democratic exercise by inviting extensive deliberations on crucial issues. Parajuli said that the new directives will curb the tendency of making arbitrary decisions by persons like the Lahan and Birgunj Mayors, according to him who have made arbitrary decisions in the past.

However, this directive has rendered the Birgunj Sub-Metroplitan City budget, passed only by the Council, uncertain. Says Deputy Mayor Krishna Murari Rauniyar, "There is no question of implementing a budget not consented by the Board."

Finland to extend assistance

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KATHMANDU, March 2- Finland has agreed to extend a grant assistance of Rs. 4.4 million to Nepal to initiate ‘Democratic Education and Library Development Project’ in Palpa and Kavre Palanchowk districts.

Mr. Asko Luukkainnen, Charge de’ Affairs of Finish Embassy in Nepal and Mr. Ram Thapaliya, President Of Nepal-Finland Society signed an agreement on the occasion of 10th anniversary of Nepal-Finland society, Thursday.

The project, to be implemented on both the district will help to establish 10 well equipped library and aims to impart democratic education to the high level students through various interaction programme from the village to the national level, states the press release distributed on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion after signing the agreement, Luukkainen expressed his hope that the socity will further work for enhancing Nepal-Finland relation on people to people level.

Acclaiming the assistance provided by the Finnish Government on Nepal’s development process, Chitra Lekha Yadav, Deputy-Speaker of the House of Representatives urges all to work to uplift humankind.

Ram Thapaliya, President of the Society expressed his hope that newly signed agreement will help to develop democratic institutions in Nepal.

Earlier Yogendra Shakya, Past President of the Society delivered welcome speech and highlighted various activities of the Society.

The Society established a decade ago has 5 hundred members now.

‘Be honest to yourself’

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KATHMANDU, March 2 - Live for present, present shapes your future. Truth of life is that you have to die one day, tells Sudarshan Baba, a devotee of Lord Shiva and Mata Kali.

Praised by many people for his spiritual power, Sudarshan Baba, 40, wander about the hills and plains of the Indian sub-continent. Wherever he goes, he advises his disciples to be dutiful, "as it is the only way to attain salvation in your life".

Two decades into the path of religion and spiritualism, the Hindu sage has devout Hindus swooning. His admirers here say, that Baba has hordes of desciples behind him not only in India but also in Nepal, his motherland.

Says Jamuna Kayastha, a Kathmandu woman who admires Baba’s philosophy of life: "He always suggests his followers to know the importance of ‘own birth’ and to perform his duty that has been assigned not only to perform the responsibility of becoming the father, mother, son, wife, and brother".

Earlier named Bod Bikram Dhakhal, ran away from home when he was only ten years old - to gain peace. But he could get no where peace, only agitation.

For 12 years at same Kuti(hermitage) he meditated. Then gaining enlightment he was known everywhere as Sudarshan Baba. Then as well many people have appreciated him as Guru (teacher).

To his students he enlightens for "think for character building not to be rich, be good rather than being great." Said he, Only the honest has lived forever after his death too-the first thing I learned in this path as well.

Taliban decision to destroy Buddha statues condemned

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KATHMANDU, March 2 - The main oppossition party Nepal Communist Party (UML) today denounced the "whimsy" decision of the Talibans of Afghanistan to destroy two unique giant Buddha statues.

"Culturally, the statues of the leader of peace Gautam Buddha are genuinely important for the whole world and they should not be demolished at any cost," it states.

It appeals the Taliban government to withdraw its decisions.

And it also requested the Government of Nepal to directly contact Taliban movements and save the statues for Gautam Buddha was born here in Nepal.

Meanwhile, Nepal Sherpa Association (NSA) has condemned the recent decision of Afghanistan’s puritanical Taliban Islamic militia to demolish 2000 years old Buddhist statues in the country.

The press release issued by the acting chairman of the NSA Mingma Tsering Sherpa states that the decision has affected the creed of the Buddhists all around the world. It says, "This tragic decision has hurt over a billion Buddhists and it will evoke communal riots and other agitations."

The suspicious and medieval-like decision of the Talibans will eradicate the valued, historical and cultural idols with archaeological importance and will cause imbalance in the world society and culture, it adds.

NSA has also requested the Afghan government to withdraw the decision.

On Friday, Taliban Minister of Information and Culture Qudratullah Jamal told international media that the militiamen had started wrecking the almost 2,000 year-old Buddhist masterpieces in the central proving of Bamiyan, including the world’s tallest standing Buddha measuring 50 metres.

20 low level forest employees suspended

By Subodh Gautam and J Pandey

BANKE, March 2 - The District Forest Office (DFO) has suspended 20 low-level forest employees, including three Rangers but gave a clean chit to the officials who were backing the wood cutters for massive tree felling.

"I have suspended 20 employees. If found guilty, I will leave no stone unturned to take action against the higher level officials also," DFO chief, Prakash Nath Pyakurel, told The Kathmandu Post yesterday.

The DFO formed a three-member investigation committee led by forest officer, Ram Babu Sah, four days after the incident of massive tree felling near the Mahadevpuri VDC became public.

According to Sah, Ranger Hari Shankar Sah from the Dhakeri-based Ranger post, Gyanu Chaudhary from the Rohini-based Range post and Tej Bahadur Chand from the Chisapani-based Range post are among those suspended by the DFO.

However, no action has been taken against the forest officer at Kohalpur Area Forest Office from where a large number of sal trees were cut down. Only one forest guard, Damber Bahadur Khatri, has been suspended in connection with the forest scandal.

Likewise, the DFO has set free two Rangers from Kohalpur, who were found responsible for releasing 19 alleged wood cutters from their detention. Neither the investigation committee has been delegated any authority to take action against the officials if they are found responsible behind the multi-million rupee timber scam.

DFO Chief Pyakurel said that such a large scale scam was impossible to take place without a nexus between the forest employees and wood mafia.

"I recommend the Forest Department for action against the officers if the investigation committee’s report finds them responsible for the scam," Pyakurel said. Sah will submit his report within one month.

But by the time the investigation committee submits its report, high-level officers will be scot-free, an employee at the DFO expressed his doubts.

"People involved in felling trees in the past have been acquitted due to political affiliation," he said. The three member investigation team visited the forest area where invaluable sal trees were cut down. The team claimed that about 50 sal trees were felled. Two main accused for felling trees are still at large. The DFO has not been able to establish any clues from the 31 people arrested in connection with the wood scam.

"They have not disclosed the fact," Pyakurel said, "We are searching for the main accused."

The District Administration Office is closely watching the event from outside. But the local administration will not initiate its investigation immediately.

"The DFO carries out the preliminary investigation. We will do our job if need be," Chief District Office, Bal Krishna Prasain, said.

Two months ago, more trees were felled than the actual permission from the Binda Basini, the Jyoti community forestry and government-owned forest area with the involvement of forest employees. Likewise, the Shumsergunj Area Forest Office had concealed timber worth millions of rupeesy without keeping a record. But no action was taken against the officials responsible for concealing the timber.