Oxygen bar opens for normal people

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KATHMANDU, Jan 24: Breathing in black smog has become everyone’s destiny these days and it is not possible to get fresh air within the core city area throughout the world. Taking this problem of the public in view, oxygen bars have now come up with the idea of supplying human lungs with pure oxygen.

Oxygen bars are springing up in different parts of the world and have now been launched in Nepal, too.

Focusing on the business and tourist area Ananta Keshari Basnet is offering 94 percent pure oxygen at Om Sanjivani Oxygen Bar at Thamel.

The bar has now changed the concept of getting oxygen only by serious patients in operation theatres or only by athletes. "This is for normal people, which will help to decrease stress, clears up the mind, improves stamina and calms nerves by relieving headaches, hangovers and all sorts of tension," says Basnet, the owner of the bar.

"After taking oxygen, I feel relaxed, fresh and free of tension", says Tashi Dorge, who has been to Sanjivani bar 4-5 times. "It energises a person and I would also like others to feel it."

On being asked what made him open the bar Basnet says, "it is the increasing air pollution within the Kathmandu Valley." He says, "I learned the technique of running the bar from different angles. Besides, an oxygen supplier to different hospitals and patients encouraged him to open the bar.

This "healthy food for lungs" is prohibited to person with lung disorder (asthma or emphysema) and to those with serious medical condition. Pregnant women and children below ten years of age are also kept away from this. "We suggest those with health disorder to consult their physician before taking oxygen," says Basnet.

The atmosphere consists of 21 percent oxygen, 78 percent nitrogen and 1 percent other gases. Nonetheless, oxygen percentage has decreased up to 16 percent in different countries due to pollution.

Basnet hopes that these kinds of bars will gain popularity here in Nepal as a remedy of tension, stress, headache and depression caused by environment pollution.

During its 45 days of opening, Om Sanjivani has attracted only 65 customers, mainly foreigners and some Nepali customers.

In his/her first visit, the customers are provided reusable flexible plastic tubes with an outlet for each nostril at Rs 150, whereas in his next visit he has to pay only Rs 100 for 20 minutes.

The clients can also select oxygen along with five different flavours of aromas like – ylang ylang, lemon grass, eucalyptus, orange and sandal wood. Only the thing the client has to do is he/she has to pay Rs 50 extra.

The users are seated on big and comfortable sofas with stretched legs. After that 94 percent pure oxygen is given amid the background of music that relaxes you. The oxygen goes into the nose with the pressure of 2 PSI and the force of 3 minute per litre.

Basnet opened the bar on business motive and now is on the trial period of three months. "It is very necessary to clear the concept of taking oxygen and its importance to the Nepali people," says Basnet.

We recommend taking oxygen once a week, which is very helpful for blood circulation, increasing the power of blood purification, cell repair, elimination of bacteria both in the cell and the skin.

The oxygen cylinder costs from Rs 6000 to Rs 9000 in which the oxygen content ranges from 1.4 cum to 6.2 cum.

According to Basnet, Japan is the first country to start oxygen bars some 40 years ago. And within a decade almost every country adopted the idea. In the USA, oxygen bars are found in every street. They charge $ 18-19 in 20 minutes, which is very expensive. About a hundred years ago, pure oxygen was available in the atmosphere but now in the 21st century, pure oxygen is impossible to get. We can,however, still buy oxygen available in small cans.

Mayadevi temple to be constructed

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KATHMANDU, Jan 24: The Lumbini Development Trust today said it has decided to construct the long-awaited Mayadevi temple, covering the whole archaeological area.

"A meeting held Wednesday on Mayadevi temple construction decided that a temple will be constructed, covering the 15 chambers of the Mayadevi temple," sates a press release issued here today.

The release states that the meeting was chaired by LDT vice-chairman Omkar Prasad Gauchan and was participated by historians, archaeologists, cultural experts, architects, engineers and officials from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

However, an LDT press release issued Wednesday indicated that Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bala Bahadur KC only stressed the importance of cooperative approach to have the temple rebuilt soon.

"The experts should bring conclusion to the unsettled affairs and the government, donors and Buddhist organisations are ready to assist in the reconstruction of the temple," the earlier release states, without indicating the decision of temple reconstruction that came out on Thursday’s release.

Member of the Upper House Laxmi Das Manandhar stressed the importance of making at least a temporary temple for the idol of Mayadevi that is now lying in a small shed.

"While the shrines of Buddhagaya, Saranath and Kushinagar are welcoming thousands of pilgrims every year in India, Lumbini, the Buddhist shrine with equal historical and religious importance is lying undecided for over a decade," he said.

Prince Charles’ message to Maiti Nepal

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KATHMANDU, Jan 24: His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Her Royal Highness Princess Anne of the United Kingdom have expressed their happiness over the opening of the Women’s Rehabilitation Centre of Maiti Nepal in a message sent to Maiti Nepal.

Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah had inaugurated the centre last Sunday which has the capacity of accommodating 250 women and 180 children.

According to a press release issued from the British Embassy here in Kathmandu, Prince Charles expressed his confidence in the future prospects of Maiti Nepal.

The Prince has also appreciated Anuradha Koirala’s selfless dedication to fight against women trafficking in the country.

Likewise, in her message to Maiti Nepal, Princess Anne said that the construction of the Rehabilitation Centre would be of great help to Maiti Nepal.

Prince Charles had visited Maiti Nepal during his trip to Nepal five years ago.

Info centre to be set up

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KATHMANDU, Jan 24: The government is set to establish an information centre to bring about an end to the existing suspicion between the press and the bureaucracy, Achyut Wagle, Press Advisor to Prime Minister, said while speaking at a "Forum on Press and State of Emergency" organised by the Nepal Press Institute (NPI) on Thursday.

"Both the press and the government need to work jointly in the interest of the country but journalists must delineate their role from advocacy to reporting," he said reacting to the resentment expressed by journalists over the arrest of journalists following the 26 November declaration of emergency.

He said eight journalists were arrested for publishing "Maoist mouthpiece and for advocating Maoism rather than reporting." "Should we consider them professional journalists?", he enquired.

Gokul Pokhrel, Chairman of NPI presented a paper on "Press Freedom in Sate of Emergency -An Appraisal" during the forum suggesting the government to make arrangement of information officials possessing sufficient knowledge and skills in handling public information at all ministries and departments.

Speaking on the occasion, Gert Meinecke, Minister Counselor, Charge d’ Affairs, Royal Danish Embassy said, "Initiative for bridging the information gap between the government and the press should come from all media organisations."

In the end, the participants voiced the need of better communication between the government and the press and suggested bringing together all human rights organisations, media and the government towards the realisation of "peace initiative" in the country.

Social Welfare Ministry’s review meeting held

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KATHMANDU, Jan 24: Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and the related bodies held their first four-monthly progress review meeting of the fiscal year 2001/2002 and the review meeting of the annual report of the year 2000/2001 here Wednesday.

According to the press release issued here from the ministry, the meeting was held under the chairmanship of Rajendra Kharel, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare. He said the Ministry would give priority in the Tenth Plan and that the international community has also given much importance to these sectors.

Minister of State Sushila Swanr called for effective implementation of programmes and laid stress on the need of regularity of their evaluation.

Speaking on the occasion, National Planning Commisssion member Dr. Nirmal Prasad Pandey said the ministry should play its role in an active manner. Secretary Rabi Bahadur Bista said the ministry is committed to fulfill its responsibility of formulating programmes and policies.

Chief of the Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration Division and Joint Secretary Pratap Kumar Pathak pointed out that the annual progress rate is 86.35 percent and the first four monthly progress of the current fiscal year is 48.71 percent.

Member Secretary of the Social Welfare Council Dr. Tika Pokhrel, Joint Secretary Krishna Prasad Sharma Bhandari, President of the National Disabled Federation Muniswor Pandey, Under Secretary of the Monitoring and Evaluation Section Shanti Basnyat, Indu Pant Ghimire and Alka Rajauriya also expressed their views at the meeting.

On the occasion, the department and section heads of the Ministry and related bodies had presented their respective progress reports.

100s flee fearing KLF-Maoist recruitment campaign

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CHISAPANI, Khotang, Jan 24: A large number of men from the 13 southern VDCs of this hill district have fled their homes after the Khumbuwan Liberation Front (KLF) and the Maoist rebels jointly decided to recruit at least one member from each household in their organisations.

The KLF and the Maoists have been intensifying their recruitment campaign following the murder of Harkaraj Rai, Headmaster of Chisapani High School, about a week ago.

Chisapani, Kahule, Bopung Dambarkhu, Sivalaya, Diplung, Baraha Pokhari, Pauwaseri, Mauwabote, Suntale, Saune, Faktang and Likuwa Pokhari are the KLF- Maoists flash points. These VDCs are located about 35 to 65 kilometres away from the district headquarters, Diktel.

Chisapani VDC Chairman, Devendra Shrestha, told The Kathmandu Post that about 60 per cent men from his VDC have fled their homes to escape from the KLF-Maoists recruitment campaign. Chairman Shrestha said that of the total 2,052 men population, only seven men have been left behind.

Shrestha and the VDC Secretary Narayan Khawas have taken refuge in Diktel after the KLF-Maoists killed the Headmaster demanding security arrangement in the area, which has 30,000 population.

Dil Bahadur Khadka, a local of Chisapani VDC, said that almost all the cadres of the mainstream political parties have abandoned their homes for fear of their lives. "Each household must assign one man to our organisation, otherwise we will kill them one-by one," Khadka quoted the KLF-Maoists as saying.

Keeping in mind the grave security situation, a meeting of the district security wing held in Diktel on Monday decided to mobilise the security forces in the areas.

Chairman of the VDCs Federation, Narayan Joshi, said that the KLF-Maoists have expanded their organisational base in the absence of the security forces in the rural areas. Joshi added that both the outlawed organisations have been taking combat training, extorting money from the locals and forcibly recruiting youths in their outfits.

Chief District Officer, Krishna Prasad Lamsal, said that there are around 100 Maoist guerrillas and 200 odd KLF cadres in those VDCs. He said joint forces of the Royal Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force would be dispatched soon to maintain peace and security in the southern part of the district.

‘No need of foreign army to quell Maoists’

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POKHARA, Jan 24: Pashupati Samasher JB Rana, General Secretary of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), insisted here today that the foreign army shouldn’t be brought into Nepal to eliminate the outlawed Maoists.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had said that the foreign army would also be brought, if necessary, for the elimination of Maoists three days ago in a programme held in capital.

"To solve the problem, the government-Maoists fighting is not enough, the fight should be extended against corruption and smuggling," Rana said. He was speaking in a face-to-face programme held by Reporters’ Club of Kaski.

Rana called the government to strengthen the anti-corruption movement to cope up with the corruption. He said that the law to confiscate the property without the source for it. "The cabinet of 41 ministers is only the burden for the people," said Rana. Rana also accused the government of misusing the emergency. He said that his party hasn’t yet reached in a decision about whether to extend the emergency.

59 agriculture district census offices established

By Sudarshan Rijal

DANG, Jan 24: District Agriculture Census Offices were established in 59 districts of Terai and hilly regions on Wednesday to conduct the Fifth National Agriculture Census.

The census is being carried out in each ten years since 1960. World Agriculture and Food Organisation has also called for the worldwide agriculture census this year.

Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has divided 5,150 census area for the upcoming agriculture census in Nepal, according to the booklet published by CBS. Each area included approximately 1,30,000 families depended on agriculture.

For the census, 2,500 personnel including 100 officers of CBS, 500 supervisors and 1,500 data collectors from Agriculture Offices, will be employed.

The questionnaire containing 20 questions will seek the information such as area of land used for agriculture, situation of irrigation, agricultural habits, use of agricultural equipment, number of animals in husbandry, number of workers, production, type of soil, damage by flood or erosion, need of loan and situation of market, according to the census office of Dang.

As the first phase of the census, the co-ordination committee is meeting with the officers of all 59 district offices until February 2, said Indra Bahadur Karki, the head of District Agriculture Census Office ,
Dang.

The supervisors and data collectors will be given training for the effective census from February 3 to 11. The initial data collection will begin on February 13 and will finish on March 28, according to Karki.

The two municipalities and 39 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Dang are divided into 80 census areas.

The census in 15 mountain district will only begin after 2 and half months and the report will be published on December. The census will cost around 40 million rupees, according to CBS.

Unwanted pesticide thwarts Highway construction

By Gopal Devkota

BIRGUNJ, Jan 24: The 43 metric tons of pesticides, which is banned worldwide, stored in a store house at Amlekhgunj is the main obstacle to widen the Tribhuvan Highway, according to Division Road Office of Pathlaiya

The pesticides were put there a decade ago although they were planned to give back to the producing countries for the disposal. Nepal has 76 metric tons of such dangerous pesticides among which 60 percent is stored in Amlekhgunj Store House.

The Road Division had demolished the constructions built within the 25 metres from the centre of the highway. The store house, the only construction not demolished, is in 15 metres.

The people of Amlekhgunj want the pesticides to be disposed soon from there. "Once they tried to dispose pesticides in a ditch of nearby forest, but , dozens of animals died due to the disposal and a few people had wounds," says Kedar Sangtaj.

Agriculture Equipment Corporation, which owns the pesticides, said they were not informed to demolish the store house. "We weren’t informed by Road Division. So we will think after they officially ask to demolish it, " said Jagnnath Dulal, the District Manager.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has put the disposal of those pesticides as the condition for the Second Loan Help Program so the government is preparing to give it back to producer, according to Dulal.

The pesticides were once tried to burn in the anvil of Hetauda Cement Factory but the plan was stopped due to the protest of the workers there , said Dulal. They are packed in safe packets specially brought from India, according to Dulal.

AIDS infected women form forum

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HETAUDA, Jan 24: A group of HIV/AIDS infected women has formed a forum in order to create awareness and wipe out social stigma from the society and rehabilitate them by involving in income generating programmes.

The committee has been funded by the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) and is Co-ordinated by one of the HIV-infected patients, Jamuna Adhikari.

There are 15 members in the committee and have made self-commitment to provide self-help, involve in income generating works, awareness creating programmes, and mass campaign rallies in a consolidated way.

All the members of the committee have their own bitter story and most of them have returned from India, some of them are deceived and sold in India by their husbands, while others are forced to share the disease with their husbands.

Co-ordinator Adhikari of Hatiya VDC said, this is the only committee formed by HIV/AIDS patients for the social welfare and benefit for other young ladies of the district.

She said, the patients are very badly treated by the society instead of giving them love and affection. They not only have to live in domination but also their children are boycotted from the locality and have to live an isolated life.