Call to form reliable probe committee

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KATHMANDU, July 11:The newly unified party-People’s Front, Nepal- which sat for its meeting on Thursday called on the government to immediately form a reliable investigation committee to probe into the alleged death of pro-Maoist journalist Krishna Sen.

The party expressed its extreme disapproval of a probe committee formed by the Home Ministry to probe into journalist Sen’s death. It dubbed the Committee formed by the Ministry as "one-sided" committee.

The meeting also decided to support the proposed programme of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) to lobby the government against Sen’s death.

The meeting also discussed at length to establish its secretariat while it strongly condemned the government for the death of innocent people during the on-going security operations.

Varsity-affiliated campuses’ categorisation proposed

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KATHMANDU, July 11:Experts and educators are seeking to classify the overwhelming number of campuses affiliated with the universities in the country. They have found the affiliations to be made regardless of the minimum pre-requisites needed to grant such affiliations.

Disregarding the Tribhuvan University (TU), four other universities have been found granting affiliations to private campuses and academic programmes despite the universities themselves lack faculty and qualified teachers.

Among them, the Purbanchal and Pokhara Universities have been granting affiliations to campuses all over the country.

Presenting a paper on "Policies for affiliation of campuses and categorization of the affiliated campuses in Nepal", Dr Surya Lal Amatya, an expert, said that even TU and Mahendra Sanskrit University (MSU) have started to grant more and more affiliations to campuses due to the competition in private universities.

"There is a lack of coordination between these universities while there is a haphazard affiliation practices between them," he said.

St Xavier’s College is affiliated with TU for sciences while it is affiliated with Kathmandu University (KU) for social works and environmental sciences. Similarly, Nepal Engineering College had affiliation with TU but later on it opted out and sought affiliation with Pokhara University (PU).

The experts pointed out an urgent need to stop this practice so as to upgrade the quality of higher learning. This, they said could be solved by classifying all five universities’ affiliated campuses. "This might also help end chaotic affiliation and discriminatory fee structure to upgrade the quality of higher education."

There are currently 78 constituent campuses and 270 affiliated campuses across the country.

Among them, TU has 61 constituent campuses and 178 affiliated campuses, MSU has 12 constituent campuses and four affiliated campuses, KU has one constituent and 10 affiliated campuses, PU has two constituent and 31 affiliated campuses.

Speaking at a programme organized by the UGC here, Dr Hom Nath Bhattarai, member secretary of UGC, suggested that a regulation similar to the one that was brought by the Seventh Amendment to the Education Act is needed for the tertiary education sector as well.

Dr Prakash Chandra Mahat, a National Planning Commission member expressed his view that a standard criteria be developed for granting affiliation to the campuses by the universities.

According to Dr Suresh Raj Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of KU, universities have been blindly accepting affiliations without going into details on the master plans made by the campuses. He suggested that the future academic and financial policy be guided by vision.

HR violations in Maoist-hit districts to be assessed

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KATHMANDU,July 11: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said Wednesday that it would dispatch a team to Maoist-hit districts to investigate human rights situation following the imposition of the state of emergency.

Speaking at an interaction held here in the capital yesterday, Sushil Pyakurel, a member of NHRC, said an assessment of human rights situation would be made after making a field visit to the Maoist-affected districts.

The NHRC’s first team is scheduled to leave for Maoists-affected areas after two weeks. The Commission will impart a training to its team in the capital before it leaves for Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot and Salyan on a field visit to conduct the study.

The team will also include lawyers and journalists. " This is going to be a serious mission and its success will ultimately provide the truth to international communities and the masses seeking to know actual situation in the country," said Krishna Pahadi, president of Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES).

"The NHRC would also launch its own web-site to inform the masses about the incidents of human rights violations in the country", Gauri Shanker Lal Das, a member of NHRC, said.

Locals condemn PADT officials for hiding facts

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KATHMANDU, July 11:Locals of Pashupatinath today alleged that the officials of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) do not stick to their own words and are working under some power which is beyond legal and constitutional limits.

"The officials at PADT have never showed us the complete copy of the so-called masterplan that is going to dislodge 119 families, all related with the tradition of the Pashupatinath, in the rainy season," said Sulochan Dangol, a local, addressing an interaction programme that dealt on whether the demolition being carried out by PADT is development or destruction.

However, the representatives from PADT were absent at the programme.

He said the officials have not discussed with the locals even once and they do not listen to the locals even when they go to visit the officials.

There is no representation of the locals in the trust though there is a provision for that.

"The PADT’s scheme to turn the ancient settlement into a open ground would affect almost 40 festivals that are carried out throughout the year," Dangol added.

Former Ambassador to France and UNESCO Keshav Raj Jha said that the demolition work going around Pashupati is unplanned and being carried out without any vision of preservation of cultural heritage.

He said UNESCO did recommend the government to develop certain things in the area to keep the archaeological value of Pashupatinath intact but none has recommended to evacuate the ancient settlements."I am sure, UNESCO takes the ancient settlement around the temple as important as the holy temple itself," he added.

Hutaram Vaidya, a social worker said that there are many more modern constructions like the temple of Unmatta Bhairav, the Yagyashala, the Western Door and a Bengali temple which have disturbed the environment of the traditional art and architecture of the Kathmandu Valley.

"What is going on at Pashupati is just disorder," he said. Vaidhya said the civilian societies are either not aware or not organised to protest against the whimsy activities going around and urged all to unite for the sake of the indigenous nature of Hinduism.

"The people from the whole country should show their concern over it. Only strong, continuous lobbying can prevent the settlement from further destruction," he said.

Buildings dismantled without compensation

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KATHMANDU, July 11:The security staff of Pashupati Area Development Trust yesterday dismantled two houses of the local residents in the temple complex without providing them compensation and managing any alternative land for the displaced families.

The demolition work took place at a time when two cases are already in the Supreme Court filed against PADT decision by the locals and Yogi Naraharinath.

"I’ve not yet received the compensation they promised me but they are attacking our homes today. It seems that there is no religion and law in the country," said Madan Bhatta, a priest of the Hindu temples, whose house was dismantled the same day.

He had the realisation that his house did not follow the rules and he was willing to dismantle it on his own. "But I’m fighting for the whole settlement on which the culture, tradition and religion of the holiest shrine of the Hindu state is based," he added.

The government did not allow them the usual 45 days period that people usually get after receiving the compensation but they were thrown out of their habitat only giving three days ultimatum.

Shyam Shekhar Jha, the spokesperson of the PADT said that they would decide on the land to be sold to the displaced families by Thursday. "It will be clear by tomorrow," he said. The government has acquired 56 ropani of land by the Bagmati river, just the opposite of the airport that would be sold out to the displaced families.

UNESCO has shown concerns over the demolition work of ancient settlement, calling that the World Heritage Site of the Kathmandu Valley is comprised of temples, settlements and the people’s faith to the deities.

Seven Maoists shot dead, rebels continue extortion

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KATHMANDU, July 11:Security forces gunned down at least seven Maoists in Dang, Surkhet and Dhading districts during their search operations for the last 24 hours, according to the Defence Ministry and our reporter.

In its regular press statement, the Ministry said that three rebels known as Bijaya Basnet, Buddhiram Chaudhary and Laxman Chaudhary were killed during a confrontation with the security forces in the Kuwaghari area of Dang district in the mid-western region.

Meanwhile, our reporter in Surkhet said that three rebels known as Balram Acharya, Min and Bidesh were shot dead in Hariharpur VDC on Thursday.

Similarly, another Maoist identified as Prem BahadurTamang fell to the army action in the Kiranchowk area of Dhadhing district in the central region on Tuesday. The forces recovered firearms, explosives, socket bombs and parts to be used for electric landmines from the site.

Our Surkhet-based reporter quoting locals said that Maoist rebels have started extorting money from buses, trucks and tractors on the Surkhet-Jumla highway. Locals said that the rebels are collecting Rs. 25,000 from a bus, Rs. 20,000 from a truck and Rs. 15,000 from a tractor plying on the country road.

One of the victims said that he had to pay them the lump sum amount for fear of his life and property. He said that the rebels have warned to burn their vehicles if did not comply with rebel demands.

The statement said that two Maoists including a so-called village people’s government formed by the Maoist outfits surrendered to the local security forces in Sindhupalchowk on Thursday. Locals of Ilam district collectively handed seven guns over to the security forces on Wednesday, the ministry added.

Hetauda mini-zoo gets rare pangolin

By Pratap Bista

HETAUDA, July 11:A farmer of Padampokhari Village handed over a pangolin to Mini Zoo in Shahid Smarak on Wednesday evening. Pangolins, a rare species, can be found roaming in the jungle and fields of the villages. But the pangolin, which is one of the 26 listed conserved animals of the country, has become a burden for the administration and employees at the zoo.

Rana Bahadur Ghale saved the animal from being eaten by a dog and handed it over to the zoo for its safety without knowing what it was. The injured pangolin weighs 3 kg, is 12 cm wide and 40cm long.

Last year, different villagers brought two pangolins to the zoo, but they died because they could not provide it with an environment similar to its natural habitat, according to zoo official. Villagers hand over the animals for conservation to the zoo but they are dying as the employees lack the proper knowledge base to care for the animals.

"We could not save the animal last year," said R C Neupane, an employee. "Rana Bahadur left this pangolin here even though we refused to keep it. "Neupane added that the pangolin would be released back into the forest after proper treatment. The pangolin is being kept in a small ring filled with mud and the employees of the zoo are feeding it insects.

According to Professor Shankar Lakhe of Hetauda Forestry Study Institute, two types of pangolins are found in Nepal. The one that is found in Makwanpur district are Indian pangolins, he said. Indian pangolins are bigger than Chinese pangolins. "It is very hard to keep it alive in zoo because of its shying nature," said Lakhe.

55 pc in Kapilvastu use contaminated water

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KAPILVASTU, July 11 : About 55 per cent people of this Terai district have been consuming contaminated water, a research study revealed here recently. The research was carried by Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Cooperation run by Danish government.

The study had classified quality of water into four categories and found that firs t two categories of water were found to be useful while the third and fourth categories of waters were found to be unhealthy.

Waters extracted from wells and tube-wells less than 10 feet deep have been found to be highly contaminated and such types of waters is used by about two per cent of the total population.

The study report said that only 45 per cent of the population use water that is acceptable for consumption. The waters were divided into four categories in terms of water quality and quantity, availability, reliability and continuity.

The study also revealed that largest number (99 per cent) of people in Shivagadhi Village Development Committee use contaminated water while the least number (11 per cent) of people in Jahadi VDC depend on contaminated water.

Floods havocs in Sindhuli

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SINDHULI, July 11:The menace of the monsoon has reached over a dozen of the densely populated Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Sindhuli district once again. For the past few years, several rivers nearby the VDCs have changed their courses, washing away fertile land and houses alike.

The loss of homes and land has increased the number of squatters in the VDCs, but concerned bodies have yet to seriously address the issue.

The source of the problem has been identified as the depletion of forests in the Chure region, a long range in the hill region. The Kamala, Chadhaha and Marina Rivers that flow nearby the VDCs have their source in this region.

At this time of year the rivers, inundated with both excess sediment runoff due to forest depletion and excess rainwater, divert their course, according to Shankar Verma, a member of the District Development Committee (DDC).

The Kamala River has washed away hundreds of hectares of land at nearby Ranibas, Hatpate, Nipate, Harshahi, Sirthauli, Todi, Lavidar VDCs and some wards of Kamalamai municipality, according to sources.

Likewise, the Marina River has been causing damage to around seven VDCs in the western belt of the district. The Chadhaha River, diverted by a regular landslide at Lampantar VDC, is also creating havoc among locals, Chhatra Bahadur Dahal, the chairman of Belghari VDC said.

The sources at the District Irrigation Office (DIO) said that it does not have enough funding to control the rivers that grow out of control each year. "Controlling the rivers requires a huge investment and the government should forward a separate package for this case," Ramesh Karki, the DDC chairman said.