One more drowned victim recovered from Trishuli

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CHITWAN, May 23 - Six days after the fatal accident of a laden truck, police on Wednesday recovered another body of a girl, one of the 12 passengers drowned into the swollen Trishuli river on Friday.

The body has been identified to be the grand-daughter of Prem Prasad Poudel, from Hetauda Municipality-9.

Eight of the 12 passengers drowned into the river were from the same family, who were travelling in the truck from Hetauda that plunged about 40 metres below the flooded river from the Narayangadh-Mugling highway at Tuhin Khola, about two km south of Mugling.

All eight people, most of them women and children, were going to Naubise, Dhading, to take part in a marriage ceremony of their relatives.

On Monday, body of Kavita, the daughter of Prem Prasad Poudel, was recovered from the swirling brown water at Simaltal. Police have been searching the
rest of the bodies still missing into the rapid current of the snow-fed river.

Despite repeated attempts, the drowned truck could not be pulled out of the water and police suspect that rest of the other bodies are laying trapped under the loaded truck.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sudeep Acharya, said manual pulleys are being brought from India to bring the truck out of the water.

Introducing Nepal to Nepalis

By Pradeep Silwal

The last Rana prime minister Mohan Shumsher invited him to find gold in Nepal in 1950. He did not find gold, however, he gave Nepal an enduring gift in the form of a book in 1961-Nepal the Mountain Kingdom, which introduced this tiny Himalayan nation to the outside world.

Forty years later, last week, translated, revised and abridged version of Tony Hagen’s book was published by Himal Book, of Himal Association opening a gold mine of information for the poor people of Nepal who had not been able to benefit from his original book because of price and language barrier.

Hagen not only paved way for geographical exploration of this maiden nation, he also made sociological observations of this multi-ethnic country. Hagen’s observations and insights are still relevant after more than four decades. Way back in the 50s he found that Nepal was an ethnic turn table of Asia. With his Swiss ingenuity, he had figured out the potential of hydropower development-which he called White Gold. The potential has not been translated into reality, that is altogether another matter.

Tony Hagan came to Kathmandu on October 1950 as a member of Swiss Forward Team when Nepal was up in arms against Rana oligarchy. He had heard about ‘revolution being made in Nepal’ but surprisingly he did not see any sign of bloodletting on the medieval streets of Kathmandu. As his love for Nepal brought him back several times to this impoverished country, he witnessed three such ‘revolutions made in Nepal’—in 1951, 1961 and 1990.

He became the first person to travel extensively on almost all the foot trails of Nepal covering more than 17,000 km in his journey from Terai, mid-hills to the high mountains. He was also involved in the rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees who fled Chinese aggression in their home country in 1959. The seed of the carpet business, which saw its heyday in the 80s, was sown by Hagen back then by providing training and support to the refugees and searching market in Europe for the products.

Hagen’s book on Nepal became an instant bestseller. Though some foreigners had written about Nepal, their observations were based in Kathmandu and nobody had traveled all over Nepal like Hagen. The book was an eye-opener also for the sedentary elite and policy makers of Kathmandu, who considered walking on foot as painful exercise. The book with a lot of pictures promoted tourism in Nepal but, in another noted geographer and planer Dr Harka Gurung’s words, "tourism was just a fallout". The most important thing was that the book aroused interest among Nepal lovers abroad. Back home, it became the stepping stone for each and every research and plan.

The Nepali version serves as an useful introductory and all inclusive book to growing number of young Nepalis who like to know about their country and its people.

Locals get access to electricity facility

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BHIMSENSTHAN, Khimti, May 23 - More than 700 households from eight village development committees of Dolakha and Ramechhap districts started enjoying electricity facility since Tuesday from the 500 kilowatts capacity Jhakre Khola micro-hydro project, one year later of the commercial production of the Khimti hydel project.

The Jhakre micro-hydro project was built for temporary consumption by Himal Power Limited, the first private power company to build the 60 megawatts Khimti hydel project, located about 188 km east of Kathmandu.

It is expected that more than 5,000 households living close to the Khimti hydel project will be provided with electricity facility within the period of five years.

Dolakha District Development Committee Chairman, Lalkumar KC, inaugurated the rural electrification plan by turning on the switch of Deepak Rice Mill at Bhimsensthan.

The micro-hydel project will currently supply power to the Thulopatal, Hanwa, Chyama and Sahare of Dolakha and Betali and Rasnalu VDCs of Ramechhap district.

Locals living close to the Khimti power plant had been launching agitations demanding electricity facility ever since the project connected its power to the national power grid for commercial consumption.

Addressing a gathering, Norwegian Councillor, Ase Seim, said that electrification process would usher in development even in the rural areas.

"About 100 years ago, Norway was not that rich as it is today. But we improved our condition of living by inviting foreign investment on power generation," said Councillor Seim.

General Manager of Himal Power Limited, Harold O’ Skar, said that electrification process was only the tip of the iceberg of the company’s number of other projects. He disclosed that his company had kept aside a fund of Rs 20 million for myriad programmes to be executed be in and around the project affected areas.

Chief of the Jhnkre Electrification Project, Khadga Bahadur Bista, said the fund allocated by the company would be utilised for the programmes such as literacy classes, health services, women empowerment, agriculture, forestry and rural road constriction.

13 injured in Tamghas road mishap

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TAMGHAS, Gulmi, May 23 - At least 13 people were injured, three of them seriously, on Wednesday when a Tansen-bound passenger bus met with an accident shortly after leaving the local buspark, police here said.

According to the police, the passengers sustained injuries after the over crowded bus (Lu 1 Kha 2550) could not climb up the rural road and reversed back, hitting a nearby house.

Nine of the injured returned home after undergoing minor treatment at a local hospital.

Locals’ support sought in road construction

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KATHMANDU, May 23 – Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Romi Gauchan Thakali has urged the people of Baglung, Myagdi and Mustang districts to cooperate for the cause of Baglung-Myagdi-Mustang roadlink, which is yet to be constructed.

"Because we want a road linking remote Mustang with Beni and Baglung, it is pointless to raise a furore over the issue," Thakali, who is also a Member of Parliament elected from Mustang, said in a statement issued here today. "I appeal to all political parties and individuals involved in the project to cooperate for the cause of the linkroad."

Plans are already afoot to upgrade the Mustang- Lizhi road linking Mustang with China’s Tibetan Autonomous Region. Thanks to the efforts put by the Mustang District Development Committee, automobiles have already started plying through the streets, ferrying necessary commodities and Chinese goods.

Once constructed, the road will link the picturesque western lake town of Pokhara with Mustang and Tibet. During Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji’s official visit to Nepal, the Chineseside agreed to open more linkroads between the two neighbors.

NC activist abducted

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BANKE, May 23- Nepali Congress chairman of Pyuthan, has been abducted by the underground Maoist rebels from his own home at a village in Pyuthan on Tuesday evening.

Family sources said that three Maoist activists took with them Chairman Mukti Prasad Sharma from his residence at Tikuri in Bijuwar, yesterday evening.

The whereabouts or the cause behind the abduction of Chairman Sharma remain unknown, police sources said.

The Maoists have not yet confirmed the abduction of the Nepali Congress leader.

Govt urged to abolish VAT on betel ingrediants

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KATHMANDU, May 23- Around 1800 representatives of Paan Entrepreneurs’ Association gathered here in the capital for a one-day national conference organized here Wednesday.

First of its kind in Nepal, the conference was attended by over 1800 representatives from around 18 districts and from the capital making it truly a historical and colorful event.

"Such a conference has not been held even in India, which accounts for astonishing number of "paan wallas," said Shiv Narayan Das, vice-president of Nepal Paan Entrepreneurs’ Association.

Speaking on the occasion, former prime minister, the chief guest of the event, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who admitted himself as a voracious and ardent paan (betel) eater outlined the historic and pauranic relevance of betels in the Hindu society.

"No religious ceremony in the Hindu society is complete without betel, " said Bhattarai, revealing his experience and close association with the paan wallas (betel sellers) of Banares. "I’m now 73 years old and I’m still consuming it," he said.

The paan entrepreneurs called on the government to abolish VAT charged on the ingredients of paan and called the attention of the government on the declining of the small and marginal enterprises due to the advent of big businesses.

The Paan Entrepreneurs’ Association also urged the UML to withdraw their bandh programmes saying it would affect their business from which they earn their income for bread.

Valli to perform in Capital

KATHMANDU, May 23 (PR)- A Bharatanatyam recital by Alarmel Valli a programme organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR) and the Embassy of India is going to be held on May 25 at the Royal Nepal Academy Hall, it was informed at a press conference today.

Alarmel Valli is a well-known classical dancer from India. This is her 4th performance in the kingdom. The programme includes Nagendra Haraya and Jeevanam Jeevanamritam among others.

"I strongly beleive that dance and music are the best forms that brings country and people together", said Valli speaking to The Kathmandu Post.

Valli said her dances portray classical dance style of South Eastern part of India with beautiful and powerful movements of dance forms which has something for everybody. The music on her show is classical Karnatic music with flute, violin and miridangam(drum).

Three abducted

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NAWALPARASI, May 23 - A group of unidentified people abducted three Nepalis from the frontier Paklihawa Village Development Committee on Sunday night, locals said.

Those abducted by the unidentified gang have so far been identified as Nepali Congress activists Ramji Joshi and Jaya Ram Pasi and another local Murari Koiri.

Koiri is a long time wanted person by the Indian state governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

All of them were abducted by the group of 20 people, including some women, from Khaireni village of Pratappur VDC-1.

Shallow tubewell installation comes to a halt in Birgunj

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BIRGUNJ, May 23 - Farmers are no longer installing tubewells, wells, lift irrigation and spring callers here after the government stopped providing subsidy to farmers in installing small irrigation facilities since the current fiscal year.

The government has stopped the subsidy under pressure from the Asian Development Bank. Its direct effect will be felt in the long-term irrigation development of the country.

Farmers were widely installing various small irrigation facilities due to the government’s policy of giving 30 per cent subsidy or grant to individuals and 60 per cent subsidy to groups who installed such facilities.

Last year, 431 shallow tubewells, 72 wells, 12 lift irrigation and 17 spring callers were installed in the five districts of Narayani zone, including Parsa, Bara, Rautahat , Makwanpur and Chitwan, providing irrigation facility to about 1,600 hectares of land because of the attraction of subsidy, according to Agriculture Development Bank, supervision and Control Office, Birgunj.

Mechanical Engineer Chuda Raj Timilsina of the bank said farmers were waiting to install irrigation facilities hoping that the government grant will be received again.

Over the past four fiscal years, a total of 1,550 shallow tubewells were installed in the five districts which have the capacity to irrigate 2,625 hectares of land as the farmers were encouraged from the government grant received by them to install them.

The impact of the government grant was so good that 12 shallow tubwells were installed in one VDC of Nirmalbasti. The agricultural produce of the village has tremendously increased, a resident of Nirmalbasti, Ram Babu Shrestha told The Kathmandu Post.

"We, the farmers, cannot install shallow tubewell by spending Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 at a time. The government must give the grant as in the past; otherwise, there is no respite from parching our agricultural land," says Chhore Lal Raya of Parsa Gadhoul VDC. Many farmers in his village were waiting to install shallow tubewells with the hope that the government grant will be received, he added.

According to Engineer Chuda Raj Timilsina, it costs Rs 40,000 to Rs 120,000 to install one shallow tubewell. He added that many farmers were waiting for the government’s decision to renew the grant to install shallow tubewells.

The Zonal Manager of Agriculture Development Bank said the system of giving subsidy to farmers in installing tubewells for irrigation must be continued as in the past if the government wanted to uplift the condition of the poor farmers.

"We have seen the impact of stopping the government grant. If we make further delay in renewing the government grant, it will have long-term adverse impact on our agriculture," he added.

Man murders neighbours

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GULMI (Tamghas), May 23 - A 45-year-old woman and her 16-year-old son of Timlepokhari in Bhanbhane VDC-1 were killed by their neighbour as their goats ate the maize plants of the neighbour.

As the maize of Ganesh Bahadur Sunar was eaten by the goats of Hum Kunwar, Sunar first took Kajiman Kunwar, son of Hum Kunwar, to his maize field and showed him the field where the maize had been eaten up by their goats. Then he murdered him with an axe and another weapon called ‘khurpa", hitting him in the neck.

When Hum Kunwar saw the man hitting her son, she also went to the maize field. She was also killed by Sunar by hitting her on the head, according to Gulmi District Police Office.

Meanwhile, Gunja Man Kunwar, brother-in-law of Hum Kunwar, came to know about the incident, he arrived at the scene. He was also attacked and wounded by the alleged murderer with his weapons. Gunja Man is undergoing treatment at the local health post.

According to Superintendent of Police Bhesh Raj Shrestha, Sunar has pleaded guilty for the charge of murdering his two neighbours.

Sunar and his wife have been arrested and kept in custody for further investigation, according to police.

Training for women held

DHANKUTTA, May 23 (PR) - A training for the women office bearers of the Village Development Committees ( VDCs ) concluded today. Women office bearers of altogether 35 VDCs had participated in the training.

The participants were imparted training on the issues like human rights, woman rights, participants of women in development, gender equality and plan formulation. The training was conducted jointly by Nepal Law Society, District Development Committee, Dhankutta and Federation of VDCs, Dhankutta with the co-operation of Fredritch Naumann Foundation.