‘Earth’ is the simple answer to quake risk mitigation

By Bikas Sangraula

KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : Panic has seized Kathmanduites after so much has been said about the vulnerability of the metropolis to seismic moods. Panicking is never a solution to any problem, despite the whole country being situated in a high-risk zone of tectonic juncture.

Most residents of Kathmandu are now aware of the fact that overcrowding of concrete structures is contributive to disaster risks. This knowledge is now not limited to the domain of urbanisation experts and seismologists.

Pawan Prasai of Biratnagar is building the house of his dreams at Dhumbarahi. His overriding concern is to seek the meticulous precision for a disaster-proof construction. He has consulted a number of engineers, each of whom, unfortunately, is always more knowledgeable than the others. This has injected more confusion into his honest effort to build the coveted ‘safe roof’ for his family in the capital.

Experts propose elaborate building structures to mitigate disaster risk. However, Howard Dickenson, design and conservation manager, and Asia Urbs project co-ordinator, and John Charles Hurd, international co-ordinator of Urban Management and Economic Diversification Project, propose a very simple approach: use earth!

Some would be surprised to know that one third of the population of this planet still live in mud houses. The surprise will be replaced by incredulity when they are told that the one-third, who could not afford the luxury of concrete, is incidentally, the safest from earthquakes.

"There are many traditional buildings, earth-built, that are three, four or even five hundred years old and still performing well in economic terms," says Dickenson.

Compare this to the life span of concrete-built houses: 50 years at most. That gives us a fair idea of the magnitude of error we are making by pulling down our grandfathers’ unfashionable ‘dens’ and building fancy, match-box type houses all over the country, and particularly in the capital.

According to Hurd, earth-built construction is not necessarily primitive. It is a highly sophisticated technology, that proves resistant to a major part of seismic shock. Furthermore, earth construction offers several advantages in the form of easy availability, cost, climatic suitability, thermal capacity, maintainability, environment-friendliness and recycle value.

During the time when the chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Shiva Bhakta Sharma is warning the Kathmanduites of the improbability of rescue efforts reaching them in case of disaster, the earth-suggestion requires some profound considerations.

The importance of earth-built constructions has reached the metropolis planners. Last week the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee (KVTDC) member-secretary Surya Bhakta Sangacche briefed a few dozens of his colleagues that ‘disaster management in the city might require a colossal dumping site and a few thousand cranes’. Quite justifiably, as a city of concrete debris is not a piece of cake for even the most determined of task force.

The length of time consumed for clearing the debris of the twin towers in New York gives us a fair idea of what we are discussing.

Many major cities in the West have already understood the risks they were assuming by getting rid of historically-built environment for concrete construction. "It is clear that the value of what was lost in terms of the historic environment far exceeds the value of what was built," says Dickenson.

Leave aside the task of encouraging people to use earth in building houses, an organised conservation effort is asking in the city of gods. Dickenson rightly points out the difficulty of conservation in a ‘democratic’ environment, where people are sole deciders of whether they want the safety of an earth-built home or the nightmares of a chic, match-box eyesore.

"Any kind of town planning, including conservation, is an intervention in the operation of a free market," says Dickenson. The Kathmanduites are definitely very particular about not letting anyone impede the dynamics of free market with ideas as overtly revolutionary as that of Dickenson and Hurd.

However, earthquakes evidently have no respect for free markets either. Maybe, we can give the ‘earth proposal’ a chance.

Interaction on proposed Community Broadcasting Act

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KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : An extensive discussion was held on the concept paper of proposed Community Broadcasting Act at an interaction programme organised by the Radio Cooperation Centre and the Nepal Environment Journalists’ Group.

Conducting the programme, senior advocate, Satish Kharel said the proposed Community Broadcasting Act is required to incorporate the rules and regulations, provision of licensing and facilities for the community and non-commercial radio stations in the country.

"This is the preliminary discussion aimed at sorting out the faulty points in the proposed Community Broadcasting Act so that we could lobby our standpoint to be incorporated in the draft bill in future. We want to pressurize the government for this, " Kharel added , who drafted the Community Broadcasting Act.

Although the Community Radio Station came into operation in the country from a few years back, the government has not been able to set criteria for non-profit community radios.

Most of them are facing financial crunch due to the lack of limited resources, with the huge lump of share going to commercial ones.

The point of objection for the community radios are that they are being treated on par with the commercial FM radios regardless of their non-profit status which they feel is unfair .

The participants on occasion discussed many issues to set up the criteria for the community radio station in Nepal and the issues relating to advertisements, legal mechanism and local participation and the need for the Constitution.

Over the years, a number of community radio stations like Swarga Dwari, Lumbini Radio have come into operation.

The community radio based in Madan-Pokhara in Palpa district has been a highly successful example in the country which is run by the community for the local community.

Decision on medicine students' seat reservations rapped

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KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : The National Association of Health Assistants, central struggle committee, has condemned the arrangements made by the Institute of Medicine (IoM) at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, which had removed the 20 seats reserved for health assistants to study MBBS. The institute has 40 seats for MBBS students, which is now all reserved for degree students.

The Association, reacting to the press statement earlier issued by Institute of Medicine at the TUTH, has stated that the move made by the institute is biased and prejudiced. The association today met with the Minister for Education Devi Prasad Ojha, to demand the reallocation of the 20-seat reservation. The association also demanded 50 per cent reservation of scholarships for the health assistants studying MBBS that are wholly provided to the Department of Medicine.

According to the press statement issued hereby, co-ordinator of the association Surya Prasad Poudel, the Minister has agreed that both degree students and health assistants from the general medicine background should be given equal opportunities.

Book on Nayaraj Pant released

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KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : The book titled "Swabhimanka Sagarmatha- Nayaraj Pant" was released amid the condolence meet organised to remember the Nayaraj Pant "Star of Asia" here today. Speaking at the programme, Dr Swami Prapannacharya, member of Raj Parishad, Standing Committee said, "Nayaraj Pant was the preserver of culture and has played a crucial role to check the influence of Western culture".

"Nayaraj Pant was an eminent personality in the field of Sanskrit literature and language and had dedicated all his life to Nepali society and the country", he said. After the release of the book, professor Gyan Mani Nepal, also a student of late Pant, received the first book by handing over the required amount. The income generated from the sales of this book will be deposited for the Nayaraj Pant Research Fellowship Fund. Shresh Raj Shivakoti, chairman of Gyan Gun Sahitya Pratisthan observed that Nayaraj Pant is as good as Lord Buddha and appealed to the government to bring out the stamp with his portrait on it.

The meet was attended by Madam Mani Dixit, former vice-chancellor, litterateurs Shri Bhadra Sharma, Dr Surendra K.C, Rajeshwar Devkota, Jagadish Chandra Regmi, Govind Tandon, and Dineshraj Pant.

SHRDC meet concludes

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KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : The SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC)’s governing board held its meeting in Islamabad on December 13 and 14 and decided to initiate trainers’ training programme, according to Pradyumna Shah, Nepal’s Director for Education, HRD, Youth Affairs and Sports in the SAARC Secretariat, who took part in the two-day meeting.

The meeting identified three areas of training: training on poverty alleviation, on gender development, and on education.

The meeting also decided to form a data directory that will provide information on poverty, education, employment and environment, among others. Shah said the aim was to reach the people at the grassroots level in the region.

Registration of biological resources stressed

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KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : With the completion of pilot project on documentation and registration of biological resources and traditional knowledge in three places representing different ecological zones, conservationists have urged the government to forward recording of bio-diversity and traditional knowledge across the country as soon as possible.

Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation began the collection and registration of bio-diversity and age-old traditional knowledge in Chaur and Maramche villages of Kaski and Kobang village of Mustang nine months ago with the objective of devising an appropriate methodology for the registration of biological resources and traditional knowledge.

The Ministry today organised a workshop to share the findings and experiences of collecting biological resources and traditional knowledge in the sites.

Presenting the experiences and findings of collecting date on the sites, K.C. Paudel, who did the job of collection along with T.B. Prajapati, said that farmers should be encouraged in the documentation of bio-diversity and traditional knowledge in the country.

Exposing the Ministry’s initiatives to conserve biological resources in the country, spokesperson of the Ministry Dr. Tirtha Man Maskey informed that the Ministry would begin data collection of biological resources and traditional knowledge in other parts of the country in the near future.

Dr. Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha, an expert in bio-diversity, demanded that the government expand the project in the country at the earliest possible time. Dr. Gyan Lal Shrestha, a senior conservationist, suggested to include concerned experts while carrying out the collection process in other places.

Dr. Rishi Ram Koirala drew the attention of the government and conservationists to keep vigil on possible piracy of biological resources and traditional knowledge.

Music Nepal felicitates various personalities

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KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : As part of its 19th anniversary celebrations today, Music Nepal felicitated twenty-eight people from the Nepali music arena. The organisation has been felicitating various musicians, singers and lyricists to promote Nepali music. Senior musician Ambar Gurung gave away the Music Nepal Awards.

Kunti Moktan was awarded for her music album Kusum, in the modern music category, whereas, folk singer Khem Raj Gurung was honoured for his music album Jeevan -2.

Other recipients were, Nepathaya, for their cassette Resham; Gopal Karmacharya, producer of film Aashirbad, based on the life story of singer Ram Krishna Dhakal; musician Sambhujeet Baskota and musician Sila Bahadur Moktan were awarded with Music Nepal’s special awards of this year.

Lyricists of Kusum album Chhetra Pratap Adhikari, Raman Ghimire, Krishna Hari Baral, Dinesh Adhikari, Buddha Bir Lama, Narendra Raj Prasai, Bhupal Rai, Madan Dibbin and M.N. Pratik were honoured with certificates.

The lyricist of Aashirbad, Anand Adhikari, Kali Prasad Rijal, Navaraj Lamsal and Sambhujeet Baskota were also felicitated at the function.

Addressing the function musician Gurung said that music should be adopted as a profession, but in the name of profession, music shouldn’t be taken as business. "Musicians have to bring out high quality music, which is the only way for contributing to the country," said Gurung.

Gurung also suggested to the younger generation that the Nepali tradition of music should not be forgotten. "We shouldn’t forget our identity and we have to portray our Nepali style in the music," he said. "There is still a lot more that needs to be done in the field of Nepali music," said Santosh Sharma, the chairperson of Music Nepal.

PABSON blamed for closing schools

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KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : The Guardians Association of Nepal Wednesday objected to what it said a "unilateral" decision of the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation of Nepal (PABSON) for forcing the closure of schools across the Valley.

"We blame PABSON for its one-sided decision to close the schools regardless of other related people," said Suprabhat Bhandary, president of the Guardians' Association of Nepal.

Bhandary blamed PABSON saying that its decision was not in the interest of parents and other associated individuals. "We are soon calling on the Prime Minister and urge him to resolve the crisis."

"PABSON is not the official authority to decide the closure. It is the government, and besides there are other organisations related to education sector," he said.

Meanwhile, a meeting called jointly by the National Private and Boarding Schools Organisation (National PABSON) and the Guardians Association of Nepal has decided to form a "task force" to resolve the indefinite strike plaguing the educational institutions in the Kathmandu Valley.

The meeting was also attended by teachers and students’ organisations.

India suspends repair works on Gandak canal

By Narayan Sharma

TRIBENI, Dec 18 : The Indian government has postponed reconstruction work on the western Gandak canal near the Gandak barrage without giving notice to the Nepali authorities. The embankment had been damaged during the monsoon this year.

Madhav Raj Sharma, Nawalparasi Chief District Officer, said that he had no knowledge about the Indian government’s decision to postpone the repair works on the canal that passes through Nepali territory.

Following the damage of about 400-metre long embankment lying between the barrage and Tribeni bazaar, paddy crops and sugarcane planted on about 300 hectares of land was submerged in water spilled from the canal.

According to the river treaty reached between the two sides about four decades ago, the Indian side has the sole responsibility of maintenance and repairs of the canal. A barrage has been built over the mighty Narayani River on the Nepal-India border, Balmikinagar. Irrigation officials had estimated around IRs 30 million for reconstruction of the damaged section of the canal.

Nepal had also warned that arable land on the Nepali side would be inundated if the repair works were not carried out before the rise of water level in the river.

Jagatananda Mishra, Water Resource Minister of the Indian State of Bihar, during his visit to the area in July, had assured of providing compensation to the Nepali farmers. "But we have not received any compensation," said Upendra Joshi, a local of Tribeni. The then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had also visited the inundated area and promised to hold high-level consultation with the Indian side.

Rebels kill policeman

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KATHMANDU, Dec 18 : A group of Maoist rebels hacked a policeman to death on while the security forces shot dead a rebel in Banke district today, police here said. The rebels captured constable Rudra Bahadur Khatri, deputed to Suketar Airport, and attacked him with khukuris at Kopche Gupte area of Hangdewa Village Development Committee.

He was rescued from the site but died on the way to the district hospital at the district headquarters, here. Police said that the policeman, a permanent resident of Lamidanda VDC, Khotang, was returning to the airport after being transferred from Sinam police post. The body of the policeman was sent to his home village by a helicopter for the last rites.

Our report from Nepalgunj states that a patrolling team of security personnel shot dead a Maoist rebel at Udharapur of Banke district. The deceased is identified as Pratima Gautam. The security force had raided a house acting upon a tip off that some rebels were hiding inside. However, three others escaped away, as informed by a security source.

Meanwhile in Rautahat a patrolling team of police personnel arrested a Maoist rebel, arms and Maoist related literature in a search operation conducted in Prempur Gonahi VDC today evening. A brief clash occurred when a patrol team from Shivanagar Area Police Post (APO) was conducting search operation cordoning the area. Police arrested a Maoist rebel, two guns, two bullets, some Maoist literature and other materials from the site of the incident. The arrested rebel was a local and police are interrogating him. Police suffered no losses but some rebels might have been injured, according to a police source.

Decentralisation implementation meet sought

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DHULIKEHL, Kavre, Dec 18 : The District Development Committee (DDC) Federation and federations of other local bodies have suggested resumption of the meeting of Decentralisation Implementation and Monitoring Committee (DIMC) to breathe life into the decentralisation train.

The call was issued at the end of the two-day workshop, which deliberated on the threats faced by decentralisation proposals in the deteriorating context.

Among others, the demand for DIMC meeting comes in the absence of any such meetings during the last one year. The rule says there must be at least three such meetings presided by the incumbent Prime Minister. Federation of DDCs and other local bodies, have also pressed for the formation of separate secretariat to look into the day to day affairs concerning decentralisation.

The workshop, which was participated by lawmakers elected by local bodies and outgoing office-bearers of local bodies, has come up with a set of 14 demands. Among others, they have demanded revocation of circulars, and directives and orders issued in the recent past, something which goes against the spirit of the Local Autonomy Act-1998.

They have also stressed the need to accomplish the task outlined at the end of the third meeting of DIMC and reorganisation of the District Infrastructure Committee (DIC) into special planning section under the DDC. Yet another demand says government must set up a new parliamentary review committee concerning decentralisation.

Yet another demand reads that the government must let the local bodies switch over to the due process of law and let them accomplish the task of revenue mobilisation, as stipulated in the governing Act. Similarly, they have also stressed the need to issue directives, which address issues concerning job accomplishment at the local level.

Moreover, they have also demanded formation of a team of outgoing office-bearers of the local bodies and members of parliament from the respective districts to look into what is being done now. The team shall also comprise members of the different federations of local bodies.

They have also issued a call to perpetuate the achievements of the 1990 movement by recording progressive reforms in the political process. Apart from this, they have also called for interaction among representatives of the people on the issue of decentralisation drive.

The federations have also issued a call to all the outgoing representatives of the local people to keep on contributing to the local causes, the way they have been doing while still in office.

Importantly, they have also issued a call to the National Planning Commission (NPC) to reconsider its policy whereby nearly 23 districts would be going without periodic planning. The districts in question had failed to meet the deadline earlier on to avail the NPC favour concerning allocation for periodic planning. The federations have also reiterated the demand concerning convening the winter session of National Assembly.

Indian police hold six ‘innocent’ Nepalis

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BANKE, Dec 18 : The Indian police have kept in custody six innocent Nepali nationals from the Nepali frontier district Banke since last Friday. The Indian police officials admitted that those arrested are innocent and that they were held to pressurise the Nepali police.

The Indian police held Ibrahim Khan, Fariuddin Khan, Mohamad Avin Khan, Murahawa Khan and Ramjan Khan from BETAHINI VDC-2 and Kanan Khan from Hiraminiha-9 last Friday. They have been kept in a police post at Nawajganj of India.

The five from Betahini were on their way to attend a marriage ceremony in India while the one from Harminiha was held as he was cutting grass on his farm. A few days back, some bicycles were stolen from India. Suspecting Nepalis, these six innocent Nepalis were taken into custody by the Indian police to force the Nepali police to return the bicycles, according to a source.

"I requested the Indian police to set free the innocent Nepalis but to no avail," said Ashik Ali Shesh , today, speaking to The Kathmandu Post. "The Indian officials are planning to file a case against the victims."

The Nepali locals in the district are planing to file a petition to the Chief District Officer (CDO) and the District Police Office requesting the prompt release of the captives.

Japanese students aid two Dolakha schools

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DOLAKHA, Dec 18 : Two secondary schools in Dolakha district now enjoy the privilege of drinking water and latrine facilities with money contributed by Japanese students.

Students from Junior Red Cross Circle in Chiwa district of Japan raised over four hundred thousand rupees to add to the facilities at Kharidhunga Secondary School and Kutidanda Secondary School of Dolakha

The Japanese students had collected the amount from money meant for their lunch expense, informed Ramesh Kumar Sharma, the Chairman at the central committee of the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS).

Expectant women’s successful operations in Baglung

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BAGLUNG, Dec 18 : The Baglung District Hospital has already conducted successful operations on 100 females since the beginning of December 1999 to the end of November this year.

Since no other districts in the Dhaulagiri zone have hospitals which have special procedures for conducting operations on expectant women, this hospital is carrying out operations on these women since 1999. According to a hospital source though sometimes foetuses die during the procedure the mothers seldom die.

According to the gynaecologist and specialist in women disease, Dr. Tarun Paudel, though proper equipment are not easily available and modern technology is lacking in this hospital, yet it has been conducting successful operations on pregnant women with complicated cases since the last three years. Dr. Paudel says that they have not heard any complaints of adverse effects post-operation.

Patients with various other diseases are often referred to some other hospitals, but 95 percent of the pregnancy cases are treated here, said a nurse of this district hospital.

It is learnt that after The Kathmandu Post published news relating to the piteous state of this hospital, it has recently seen a change in the management. At present there are four doctors working in this hospital while six posts are allotted.

Relief donation raised for Myaglung fire victims

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DAMAULI, Dec 18 : Social organisations in Damauli, headquarters of Tanahun district have raised Rs.40,000 and some 200 items of clothing for victims of a fire that devastated Myaglung, district headquarters of Terhathum, said sources at the District Red Cross Society (DRCS) Tanahun.

While the DRCS raised Rs. 23,515 in cash and 200 items of clothing, Nepal Youth Red Cross Circle at Bhanubhakta Campus has raised Rs.1,365 as relief aid to the fire victims of Terhathum. Similarly, Gandaki Muslim Service Organisation (GMSO) has collected Rs. 14,566 for humanitarian purposes. The cash and items collected have been delivered to the District Administration Office (DAO) for dispatch to Myaglung, according to Shibakaji Piya, a DRCS official. "Other organisations in the district are still raising relief aid to the fire victims", said Piya.

Meanwhile, reports from Biratnagar indicate that Lion’s Club of Urlabari has raised Rs. 51,000 as aid for the fire victims. It raised the money from CPN-UML, NC, Business Management Committee and social workers. The amount is to be utilised for the reconstruction of Myaglung Bazaar, according to Tej Kumar Rijal, the Chairman of the Lions Club.

Similarly, Everest Noodles and Pashupati Snacks Products have dispatched various food items to the victims as aid.

Payment for highway repair works yet to be made

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HETAUDA, Dec 18 : The payments for the Construction Company, the workers and the petrol pumps that were involved in the repair and maintenance of the flood and landslide dilapidated roads are still to be made.

Due to the flood and landslides of July, the section of the Mahendra Highway from Hetauda to Lothar and various sections of the Tribhuvan Highway had been destructed, which had disrupted the vehicular movement for quite some time.

The District Division Road Office, Hetauda had employed the Construction Company and the workers assuring them of payments later. Similarly, it had also borrowed petrol and diesel required in dozers, load crane for clearing the debris obstructing the road promising that the payments would be made as soon as they were available. Now they are agitated after not receiving their payments even after six months.

The engineer at the Division Road Office, Hetauda, Ramnath Mishra says that since they have no instruction from the Ministry and the Road Department for payments to those involved in the work of the Tribhuvan Highway and the section of the Mahendra Highway, it is still in a limbo. He further adds altogether Rs. 4,400,000 is to be dispatched as payments, of which Rs. 2,800,000 is needed to be disbursed to the construction company and their workers, while Rs. 1,600,000 to various petrol pumps of Hetauda. The employees at the Division Office also express their complaint that the concerned bodies have been notified from time to time to provide the payment amounts, but have failed to give attention to this matter. These employees said that they feel ashamed when these payments are not made to the workers who were made to work after lots of pleading and requesting. Many of the employees at the Division Road Office say that they stay home because of the hassle they have to go through with the workers and petrol pumps who throng to the office everyday for their payments. This Division Office owes Rs 1,200,000 to one petrol pump in Hetauda. The director of this petrol pump questions, " how can we trust the government offices when they cannot clear their debts even after a period of six months?" The story of everyday wage-earning labourers is similar.

36 houses gutted in Dhanusha

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JANAKPUR, Dhanusha, Dec 18 : About 17 families of the oppressed Mushahar community were rendered homeless when their 36 houses were caught in a blazing fire at the remote Bhaluwaha village in eastern Dhanusha district on Tuesday night. Although details of the property destroyed in the fire is yet to be evaluated, a local villager said that their clothes, food grains, cash and movable assets were reduced to cinders.

Nepali Congress District secretary, Bisheshwor Yadav said that the fire spread to the entire village from the fireplace of a thatched hut. He said that the fire victims have nothing to eat and wear.

Pond construction proves a failure

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MANTHALI, Dec 18 : What had been billed as an extraordinary pond has now proved to be a fiasco after a modern pond constructed to irrigate around 80 ropanis of land could not harness rainwater during summer in Babiyakharka VDC of Ramechhap district.

The pond is considered modern compared to others in the country as it has a bottom lined with plastic. Malfunctioning of the pond has shattered the hopes of many farmers who dreamed of upping their standard of living by growing and selling vegetables.

Some locals allege that Hiranya Prasad Poudel, the Chairman of the Malayagiri Development Centre (MDC) had personal stake in the construction of the pond.

"The MDC chairman had forced construction of the pond on the site with a view to irrigate 42 ropanis of land belonging to him and his brother," said a local. "We thought of improving our lives by growing vegetables like the locals in neighbouring villages. But our dreams are shattered now," said Pradip Kumar Shrestha, a local farmer.

The pond, which is 40 metres in length, 15 metres wide and 3 metres deep, is located on a local Malayagiri hillock. It was constructed at the cost of nine hundred thousand rupees three years ago under the joint aegis of a Canadian organisation, the DDC and VDC.

"We had consented not to construct the pond at the site. Now our prediction has come true," said Nawa Raj Ghimire, a local.

Since the pond could not collect rainwater, it is now useless. Now we are planning to fill it up with mud as our cattle can be trapped in it if it is left open, says Sudarshan Raya, another local.

Rebel-students’ call for indefinite bandh

By Sudarshan Rizal

DANG, Dec 18 : Maoist-aligned students union – All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary –today announced a strike on educational sector indefinitely in the western, mid and far-western regions beginning December 25. A secret meeting of the union decided to close down all the educational institutions indefinitely until their 13-point demand is fulfilled and the government lifts the "terrorist" tag.

Resham Pun, co-ordinator of western sub-region, announced the strike amidst the presence of the media, human rights activists and representatives of Private and Boarding Schools Organisation, Nepal (PABSON), at a Maoist hideout, located about 20 kilometres away from the district headquarters, Ghorahi today.

Pun claimed that his organisation was forced to take this harsh decision after the government labelled them "terrorist" and forced hundreds of the students affiliated with the union to go underground. He said they would not let the schools open unless the government withdrew the
terrorist tag.

When raised serious concern over the indefinite strike by the media and human rights activists, Pun said that he would take their concern up to the higher bodies but added that the government must be positive toward their demands.

Bhoksing, a potential tourist destination

By Lal Prasad Sharma

PARBAT, Dec 18 : The remote Bhoksing Village Development Committee (VDC) in Parbat district has been outstanding in the whole district. The eighth council of this VDC announced it as the brightened-up village. Since the Rural Energy Development Programme was introduced, this VDC has progressed ahead in electrification, cleanliness, awareness, and in active participation of the locals.

The Bhoksing VDC which is situated 10 miles south from the Khusma Bazar of the district headquarters has 228 houses, which have been electrified with locally generated electricity. In around 18 houses, which could not avail this electricity, solar panels have been installed. All the houses have toilets, improved technology of cooking and better washing places. One can observe drastic changes in the behaviour, speech, and food habits of the locals there, who previously used to hide if they encountered any stranger in their VDC. Numerous dustbins can be spotted at various intervals with "Use-Me" written on them and moral actions are taken against those who are found indiscriminately dirtying public places. Weekly inspections are conducted to see everything is in position around the public places. Now people have become more conscious and are driven by ‘We’ attitude , and are willing to resolve the problems communally. They are more aware of weekly savings, and indulge in income generation works. They are now more aware of the consequences brought about by the depletion of forests and persevere to protect the forest on their own.

Rural Energy Development Programme was conducted under the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1998. Energy amounting to nine kilowatts has been harnessed from two small rivers flowing across this VDC, and six kilowatts from a rapidly flowing river. Similarly, three kilowatts of electrical energy has been produced from two Peltric-sets. The chairman of the micro-hydro project reiterates that this VDC has been transformed into an exemplary one due to consorted efforts of all the villagers. The out-going president of the District Development Committee (DDC), Ganesh Prasad Timilsina says that this VDC is rightly acclaimed as the Exemplary VDC. Although being a remote region it is equipped with most of the amenities like electricity, drinking water, education, means of communication, transportation, health and many more.

It is learnt that 11 females and 11 males communal committees have been formed which have incorporated members from each household. A member of this committee, 51-year-old Premkumari Baral is thrilled to see this welcome change in her village. Comparing the same village with the present one she further adds, " now this village has become a heaven."

About two years ago potatoes were primarily grown in this VDC, but now cultivation of various other vegetables are practised. This has brought a change for the better in the livelihood of the villagers there, says a teacher Rudra Bahadur Chhetri.

It is learnt that this VDC is now linked by a motorable road, and is connected by a phone with rest of the country.

A dense forest of Rhododendrons, breath-taking hills and mountains surround this VDC. A panoramic view of snowy mountains such as Maccha-pucchurre and Dhaulagiri can be seen from this VDC, and thus holds a significant potential for local as well as foreign tourists. The outgoing chairman of this VDC, Chandra Bahadur Gurung has demanded that this unique VDC be announced as a tourist destination.