PAC divided on CSWA case

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KATHMANDU, May 22 - The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) failed even today to reach a decision on the controversial case of leasing an aircraft belonging to China South West Airlines (CSWA) by the state-owned Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, due to conflicting opinions between its own members.

The committee, even after six hours of discussions today could not reach any solution and decided to postpone the deliberation till Wednesday morning.

In today’s meeting, members from the ruling Nepali Congress strongly objected on mentioning of the leasing of the CSWA jet, the ninth aircraft RNAC has leased, as both are "involved in irregularities and intentional." Tarani Dutta Chataut was the then the Civil Aviation Minister from the NC government.

However, all the members agreed on focussing more on the fourth and ninth leasing of the CSWA jet, when it was leased for the longest period. Bhim Bahadur Rawal of CPN-UML was the then Civil Aviation Minister in 1999 when the state airliner had leased the CSWA jet for the fourth time.

"The irregularities in the fourth deal is more serious as the RNAC leased a Boeing 757 aircraft though it had held a global tender for a 767 jet. "There are also controversies regarding hefty commission involved in this particular deal," said Bharat Bahadur Shah, a PAC member from NC.

"The ninth deal cannot be judged in similar manner to the fourth one, as it was just a continuation of the former deals. It also cannot be adjudged as leased with wrong intentions," he argued.

But PAC members of the CPN-UML are sticking to the opinion that the committee concentrate equally on the irregularities seen in both the fourth and ninth leasing as the NC government had gone overboard by sanctioning foreign currency against the suggestions made by the Commission for Investigating Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

CIAA had suggested the RNAC lease aircraft only after calling a global tender prior to the ninth deal after most of the pervious aircraft lease deals had ended up in controversies.

PAC members have also unanimously agreed now to recommend action against the government officials who have failed to provide necessary documents when the CSWA jet was leased for the first three times. They have also agreed that all of the nine deals of the CSWA aircraft lease by RNAC have been involved in some form of irregularities.

Today’s meeting had almost come to an end on the CSWA case after it agreed to form a five-member all-party group to amend the "a few wordings" on the report prepared by PAC Chairman Subash Nembang. Nembang, Hridesh Tripati, Lila Mani Pokharel, Ramesh Lekhak and Birod Khatiwada were the five group members.

However, differences arose again and members continued the debate until 8:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, PAC members from the ruling Nepali Congress have time and again accused the CPN-UML members of deliberately playing down the CSWA case, wherever any CPN-UML stalwart are seen has been involved. Analysts say that NC members are now speaking strongly against the CSWA deal to dilute the Lauda Air lease controversy over which Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has been under much pressure from the opposition parties.

Experts seek ban on old vehicles

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KATHMANDU, May 22 – South Asian experts on Tuesday called on the region’s governments to phase out old vehicles, improve the quality of gasoline fuels and promote natural gases so as to improve the deteriorating air quality of South Asia’s growing cities.

"This way they can save their people from falling ill or even dying untimely death, and economy from collapsing," said Hilal A Raza, the Director General of Hydrocarbon Institute of Pakistan, referring to Pakistan’s very high economic cost of environmental pollution – which, according to him, has been estimated US$ 1.8 billion annually.

He added, "But the problem in this part of the world is that all the vehicles older than 20 or even 30 years are running in the streets. They have to be phased out, and emphasis should be given to natural gas-run vehicles, which cause little or no pollution."

Though Compressed Natural Gas-run vehicles are already popular in Pakistan, Raza said, just recently Pakistan’s Chief Executive General Pervej Musharraf too has issued orders to convert all the vehicles into CNG modes.

In the opening day of the SASCOM Planning Meeting cum Workshop on Automobile Emission here Tuesday, petroleum and air quality experts also voiced their concerns on the condition of the roads and infrastructure in an average South Asian city, a factor triggering high concentration of dust particles in the atmosphere.

SASCOM stands for South Asia Start Committee on climate and global change.

"Bad roads and poor infrastructure are also contributing to the very high concentration of dust particles in our cities," said A.H. Khan, a Professor of Dhaka University, referring to the excessive concentration of dust particles in Dhaka, Kathmandu and other cities.

Minister of State for Science and Technology Surendra Chaudhary opened the meet, participated by about 50 experts from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. The experts called for regional cooperation to tackle South Asia’s "emerging and worsening" environmental challenges.

Among other things, the experts are scheduled to discuss and exchange the activity data, emission factors, fuel quality specifications in the region, policy issues during the three-day meet, which will come to an end on Thursday, May 22.

The experts’ suggestions come at a time when authorities in Nepal find it very difficult to check rampant adulteration of the fuel distributed by Nepal Oil Corporation, maintain cities’ dusty roads and, most importantly, ban old vehicles.

While no step has been taken to check the gasoline fuel adulteration, a move taken by the Ministry of Population and Environment to ban all vehicles older than 20 years from the Kathmandu Valley from mid-November 2001 has suffered a backlash, with transport entrepreneurs banding together and resorting to street demonstrations demanding reversal of the decision.

With more than 60 per cent of the country’s vehicles running in its streets, studies have shown that the Kathmandu Valley’s air quality is not within the permission limit of the World Health Organization (WHO), and hence it is hazardous for public health.

Government slashes expenditures

By Vijaya Babu Khatri

KATHMANDU, May 22 - Ministry of Finance has temporarily slashed the operational budgets for all ministries due to financial strain resultant of a phenomenal increment in the salaries of civil servants and increased spending for security.

The ministry, in its decision taken last month, has frozen medical allowances, paid leaves, pension and gratuity, which has invited criticism from the civil servants. The retired civil servants are feeling the heat of the decision due to the suspension of pension.

The decision enforced since April 14 has even stalled the process of procuring land and constructing buildings by different ministries, even those whose tender have already been called.

Ministry of Finance has also directed its concerned offices to use its internal fund to finance deficit salary budget as a temporary solution of the financial crunch.

Despite the need of around Rs 4 billion to bridge the deficit of the salary budget, the government has been able to sanction only Rs 2.5 billion so far. Due to the hike in the salaries of civil servants in the budget for the current fiscal year, the salary budget of civil servants has swollen remarkably to touch Rs 17.31 billion against Rs 14. 71 billion recorded last fiscal year.

The budget for the current fiscal year has an estimated expenditure of Rs 91.62 billion, out of which Rs 43.51 billion was allocated for the regular expenditure, which is over 47 per cent of the total estimated expenditure.

Though the government, with an aim to keep the total expenditure within the desired level, has decided to suspend its expenditure in some areas, which is also not free from negative impacts since all cut-backs will be borne by the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. It is expected to inflate the next budget, which is already on pressure due to soaring security expenses.

Govt favours direct talks with Maoists

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KATHMANDU, May 22 - Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel today reiterated that the government was in favour of "direct talks" with the Maoist rebels.

"The Nepali Congress government has obtained mandate from the people to rule the country for five years, so the government holds the authority to hold dialogues with the rebels," he said.

He added, "We want direct talks and not vice versa as demanded by them (rebels). It is the government’s duty to take the opposition parties into confidence - if the need so arises."

Poudel was speaking at a program organised by the Amnesty International Nepal.

He expressed concerns the people are in a state of confusion as reports of talks between the government and the Maoists continue to be reported.

"The news tell people that both parties are ready for dialogue," he said, asking why then the Maoists are not coming for straight forward dialogues?

Speaking further at a programme organised by Amnesty International Nepal, Poudel said that one reason the government introduced the Integrated Security and Development Package (ISDP) is the deteriorating security situation in the Maoist-affected districts.

Poudel, who also looks after the Home Ministry, also alleged that the Maoists have committed crimes, which are instances of human rights violation.

"But there has been mistakes from the government side too regarding human rights," he said, adding that the government would correct them.

Poudel called the upcoming three-day Nepal bandh (June 3, 4 and 5) called by the six left parties an irresponsible move, and said; "This is pointless. What are they expecting to gain from this bandh?"

Human rights activist Krishna Pahadi, left intellectual Nilambar Acharya, called on the rebels to give up violence and employ peaceful methods to resolve the crisis facing the country.

CPN-ML leader Radha Krishna Mainali said that the use of arms could not strengthen the rule of law or democratic polity. Rastriya Prajantra Party leader Prakash Chandra Lohani said there has been atrocities from both the government and the Maoist side, and called on government, abiding by the Constitution, should be more responsive and careful regarding the matter of human rights.

4 killed, two injured in road accident

KATHMANDU, May 22 (PR)- Four people were killed while 15 others sustained injuries when a passenger bus heading towards the Capital’s bus park from Panauti overturned near Babarmahal early today.

Eyewitnesses and police said three people died on the spot and one more died at Bir Hospital while receiving treatment. Two passengers have been seriously injured and are currently at the Bir Hospital, while the rest have returned home after receiving minor treatment.

Those killed in the early morning accident have been identified as, nine-month-old Suraj Karki, of Dolakha; the bus’ conductor Shree Ram Thapa, 18, of Kavrepalanchowk; Khil Bahadur Shrestha, 16, of Sindhupalchowk. Shrestha died while receiving treatment. The identity of a victim of 20s has not been known yet.

The accident occurred in front of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal office in Babarmahal at 5:10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the police. A police officer, who was at the scene, blamed high speed of the bus as the reason behind the accident.

Those seriously injured are Radhika Karki, 16, of Dolkha, and Devaki Thapamagar of Palase village in Bhaktapur.

Children’s emancipation stressed

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KATHMANDU, May 22 - For the first time in the history of South Asia, a plea for participation in policy making submitted by representatives of the communities that do not cast vote in any elections, was given due attention today.

Kelzang Dorjee, from Bhutan, one among the 17 children and young people, named as "the Change Makers", chosen from seven South Asian countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — asked the ministers of the region that they want the governments to invest more on them for their better future. "We want to draw your attention on basic issues like education, health and freedom," he said.

He was addressing the government delegation of ministers of finance and planning from the South Asian countries, headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola of Nepal at a program "Investing in Children: South Asian High-Level Meeting on Children" Tuesday.

He reminded the audience that they were not just ordinary children. "Here we are 17 ‘Change Makers’ who can change the world. With the support of ‘Save the Children’, we have had similar workshops in each of our seven countries."

Kul C Gautam, the Deputy Executive Director, United Nation’s Fund (UNICEF) said that it is not an impossible dream. "We can do that, we only need a bit of commitment which is not so burdensome."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola, as the leader of government delegations, said that co-operation among government bodies, international developmental agencies, civil society and non-government organisations is needed to achieve the goal.

Squatters threaten agitation for free land

By Razen Manadhar

KATHMANDU, May 22 - Nearly 17,000 land-less people living in various areas of the Kathmandu Valley are threatening to take to the streets if the government fails to provide them ownership certificates of land they have squatted upon for years. But, the issue being a complex one, officials are still muddled in their response.

The squatters are asking the government to let them live on the river banks legitimately where they have been doing so for the past two or three decades. "Otherwise, we will take to the streets and will even launch demonstrations," said Dipak Rai, the secretary of Nepal Settlement Protection Society (NSPS), one of several squatters’ organizations in the Kathmandu Valley.

However, government agencies have been muddled in their response. Over a dozen of government commissions have been formed to solve the squatters’ problem in the last one and a half-decade. But none of them have focused on finding a solution to the problem of Kathmandu squatters.

Member secretary of the present Squatters’ Problem Resolution Commission, Tirtha Prasad Ligal said finding solution for the squatters of the Kathmandu Valley is not their responsibility. But he does concede, "The problem is quite complicated. The squatters’ problem in the Capital is artificial and only a bold decision can solve it."

But Rai, the general secretary of Nepal Settlement Protection Society (NSPS), refutes such claims. "We left our villages because the property we had was not adequate enough to meet all our needs. It is for the government to provide us food, cloth and shelter in the city." But he admits that many are not as pathetic as they appear to be. "Many of the landless people here have lands in their villages and some of them have huts in several settlements here."

The trend of squatting on public land - generally on the river banks - started in 1960s, thanks to the quiet encouragement given by the local representatives in the hope of creating vote bank. But more than three decades later, the squatters’ problem in Kathmandu has become a ticking time bomb.

Along the banks of the Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers, several squatters’ villages have cropped up, becoming an eyesore to metropolitan authorities. NSPS volunteers say that there are nearly 17,000 landless people living in 66 settlements in the Capital city, each of them comprising of up to 186 slum households. The biggest is Pathivara Tole behind Chabahil. Other noteworthy settlements with over 100 households are Ramhiti, Bauddha, Sankhamul, Khadipakha of Maharajgunj and Jagriti Tole of Nayabazar, Balaju.

Along with the poor families, many well-off squatters live in huts or concrete houses with colour TVs and even motorcycles. They say that they work as drivers, labourers and shopkeepers. Some are even employed as government staff, teachers, soldiers, police and so on.

The squatters’ organization defines themselves as those who have had to come to the Capital displaced by natural calamities. At the same time, there are those who came in search of better opportunities leaving their parental properties behind in the villages.

The Kathmandu Mayor, Keshav Sthapit, says he is drawing up a plan to bring all the squatters under a system. "This problem is in an alarming state. We will verify the squatters first and if they are found possessing landed property in the villages, then we will confiscate their land."

The metropolitan authorities plan to provide alternative land at minimum cost to the squatters. "However, they must first abandon the river banks for this is not a proper place to live in," Mayor Sthapit said.

But the squatters are unlikely to heed his call just yet. Part of the reason is, along with the free land, they also get free basic services from well-meaning non-governmental organizations. The Lumanti Support Group for Shelter (LSGS), for instance, is providing free education, water and sanitation to squatters in several areas. Critics say, such free schemes could become a magnet to attract more squatters.

Director of LSGS Lajana Manandhar said that the organization is helping the "urban poor" community. "The government must make a policy to control the flow of people to the city and help manage the existing unmanaged settlements," she said.

22 to be sued on false citizenship charges

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BIRGUNJ, May 22 - The Parsa District Administration Office on Monday directed the District Police Office to arrest 22 Indian nationals and take actions against them on charges of obtaining Nepali citizenship certificates by unfair means.

The local administration has also ordered to file a charge-sheet against Birgunj Mayor Bimal Prasad Shrivastava and five other people on similar charges. Mayor Shrivastava had recommended an Indian engineer employed at his office for Nepali citizenship certificate.

The Home Ministry, however, has already cancelled his certificate on the recommendation of the district administration.

A total of 54 Indian nationals had obtained Nepali citizenship papers from Prasauni village development committee about four years ago, offering a handsome bribe to the concerned authorities.

The cabinet has, however, cancelled the citizenship certificates of 41 Indians on the local administration’s recommendation.

Eighteen of the 41 people, whose claims to Nepali nationality were annulled, have appealed in the Appellate Court, Hetauda, challenging the cabinet decision.

Administrative Officer Kali Prasad Parajuli said that those who did not challenge the cabinet decision were being prosecuted on the charges.

Asked to comment on the district administration’s instruction, Superintendent of Police, Arjun Jung Shahi, said, "All of the accused are at large." Locals, however, claimed that most of the accused are living in the frontier city of Birgunj.

According to the existing law, a person obtaining Nepali citizenship certificate by producing fake statement liable for imprisonment for five years or a fine of Rs 10,000.