Six distinguished women honoured

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KATHMANDU, March 11 : The Education Women Group (EWG) felicitated six women here today for their contribution to the field of education on the occasion of 92nd Women’s Day.

Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, the Chairperson of Rajparisad Standing Committee, felicitated Dr. Chunda Bajracharya, the first woman to achieve doctorate in philosophy in vernacular language, Purna Devi Kansakar, the first blind woman to complete Bachelor’s level, Mithai Devi Bishwokarma, the first woman from the suppressed community to complete Bachelor’s level, Sahana Pradhan, the first woman to complete Master’s degree and Shanti Malla, first woman engineer.

On the occasion, the first woman politician, Dwarika Devi Thakurani could not be present. Thakurani, also the first woman minister of Nepal, is living a retired life.

Dr. Bajracharya, who did her Ph. D. in the Newari language is engaged in teaching while others are also working in their own field.

"When I lost my eyes in 1964, I experienced a lot of difficulties," said Kansakar on her brief speech. "I want every woman to study."

Stella Tamang, the co-ordinator of EWG, said the felicitation programme was organised to encourage dedicated women in various sectors. The Group established last year felicitated four pioneer women the same year.

Reception in honour of Nepali students

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KATHMANDU, March 11 : With a view to honouring the 21 Nepali students who have recently graduated with a Master’s degree from various universities in Japan, a programme was hosted at the residence of the Royal Nepalese Ambassador, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, states a release issued here from the Nepalese Embassy in Tokyo.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Mathema lauded the achievements of a record of Nepali students studying in Japan and urged them to aim even higher.

Also addressing the students, Dr Manohar Shrestha, professor of Konan University remarked that Nepalese studying in Japan should never forget Nepal and always try to contribute in whatever ways possible for the well-being of the country.

The programme was followed by a Nepali lunch and an informal interaction among the participants.

Contributions made to PM’s Relief Fund

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KATHMANDU, March 11 : The employees at the Office of the Attorney General today decided to help the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund by giving their remuneration of certain days depending on their ranks, said a press release issued here today.

According to the press release, the Attorney General would give remuneration of 11 days to the fund whereas the Deputy Attorney General and other gazetted special first class officers would provide salary equal to seven days.

Likewise, other first-class officers at the office would help the fund by giving five-day salary. The second class and third class officers would support the fund by allocating salary equal to three-day, the release added.

Similarly, employees of non-gazetted first class and below it would help the fund by giving two-day salary whereas employees without rank would help the fund by giving a one-day salary.

The government recently established the fund to help the families of security personnel, government employees, teachers, and the cadres of different political parties who were killed, and to those who are injured, made disabled by the Maoists. The government employees at different offices have been providing their remuneration to the fund.

We help build more Kali Gandaki A-type dams: Amari

Italy and Nepal—both famous for their rich cultural heritages and monuments—share old ties. Though not as old as the world famous leaning tower of Pisa or the historic stupa of Swayambhunath, the diplomatic relations between the two countries date back to early 1940s, when the nations, divided in two poles, were painstakingly bracing for the World War II. Sixty-two years on, the relations between the two countries live on, and continue to prosper.

The relations have come a long way since. And, with the establishment of a pyramid-shaped meteorological station near the Everest Base Camp ten years ago and the involvement of Italian contractor company, Impreglio, in the nearly completed Kali Gandaki A hydroelectric project in western Nepal, they appear to have made a giant leap. With an installed capacity of 144 megawatts, Kali Gandaki A is the biggest hydel project developed in Nepal till now.

But Italian Ambassador to India and Nepal, Benedetto Amari, who was in the capital last week, says much more can happen in the field of hydropower development with Italian assistance. And more. Nepal can also restore the traditional beauty and charm of her centuries-old cultural monuments, modernize her traditional agriculture methods and develop tourism infrastructures. "But for that constant dialogues between the two governments are necessary," say Amari. He was appointed as the Italian ambassador to India and Nepal in September, 1999. While in Kathmandu, he spokes to Surendra Phuyal of The Kathmandu Post. Excerpts:

TKP: How do you view the diplomatic relations between Italy and Nepal?

Amari: Our relations are without any problem. We enjoy the relations since 1940s and they are flourishing basically in the cultural and developmental fields. Both Nepal and Italy have been supporting each other’s candidatures in the international fora. The people of Italy still remember the visit paid by Late King Birendra in 1992, and an Italian team of experts and a senator is currently in Nepal to partake in the International Year of Mountains seminar.

TKP: What are the key areas of cooperation between the two countries?

Amari: Well, there are a number of internationally important Italian projects going on here. In Pokhara, some social projects are on, and in Kathmandu Valley Italian experts are involved in some archeological projects to renovate and restore the traditional monuments of the historic city. Some ten years ago, we set up a pyramid-shaped meteorological station in the Everest Base Camp area, and an Italian company, the Impreglio, is involved with the Kali Gandaki A dam. We are waiting for the government approval here to establish one more station in Nepal.

TKP: And trade and commerce?

Amari: Well, as far as I know, Nepal imports textile and leather products from Italy and exports some agricultural products and handicrafts. The bilateral trade between Italy and Nepal amounted in 1999 at 21.2 million Euro, of which 8.9 million Euro of Italian imports from Nepal and 12.3 million Euro of Exports from Italy to Nepal.

The commercial balance was therefore positive for Italy of 3.33 million Euro. In 2000 the trade almost doubled and amounted to 42 million Euro, of which 20 million Euro of Italian imports from Nepal and 22 million of Italian exports to Nepal. But there is scope for more—especially in the areas of tourism infrastructure development, trade and commerce, modern agriculture and energy development and so on.

For example, Italy, being one of the most industrialized nations with a lot of tourists visiting it, can send in some tourism experts and help Nepal develop necessary tourism infrastructures.

TKP: But why hasn’t that happened?

Amari: For all this to happen, the situation should normalize first. Reforms are necessary to bring in more Italian investment. Italy is a very good client, but more should be done for that. We can go ahead with joint ventures and economic cooperation; we can realize other types of Kali Gandaki A dams in Nepal. That can happen only if the government requests us. If it does so then we will examine and see what we can do.

TKP: In which direction do you think our bilateral relations are heading? Do you have plans to reopen your embassy in Kathmandu?

Amari: Well, the relations are moving forward quite positively. Nepal should take initiatives tap the potential for cooperation in the areas of energy, agriculture and tourism. Before last September 11, around 10,000 Italian tourists would visit Nepal annually. More will come if there is peace. We are ready to help Nepal restore its monuments with an open spirit. And we are expecting your prime minister in Rome, Italy, during the upcoming FAO summit. May be there we can hold talks.

Well, we closed the Italian Embassy in Kathmandu in January 1997 due to financial problem. We do not have immediate plans to reopen it now. But we have the office of the honorary consul here, which helps in awarding around 12 scholarships to Nepali students keen to learn Italian Language in Italy, annually.

Maoists kidnap ex-VDC chairman

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BHOJPUR, March 11 : Maoist rebels have kidnapped former chairman of Tiwari Bhanjyang Village Development Committee (VDC), Dharma Prasad Tiwari, on Saturday.

A group of four unarmed Maoists took Tiwari to the nearby forest, said his wife. "They came and asked him to go with them, when I insisted on going with him, they told me that they would release him after a few days."

Tiwari was living in Dharan until the declaration of emergency, fearing Maoist activities.

Meanwhile, our reporter from Syangja district said that the armed Maoist rebels kidnapped, warned and released 5 people including the chairman of Chapakot Village Development Committee (VDC) in the western part of the district, on Saturday.

The victims were Chairman Tara Prasad Bhattarai, his son, Gajendra Bishwokarma and two teachers.

The rebels accused them of informing security forces about the Maoists and warned them not to repeat it before releasing them after 4 hours of kidnapping, said a victim.

The Maoist rebels have also prohibited postmen in the villages of the district. Rebels returned postmen of the District Post Office from Kitnas, according to office sources.

Minister promises to make Mechi bridge

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BHADRAPUR, March 11 : Minister for Water Resources Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar promised to construct a long-awaited bridge over Mechi river in Bhadrapur Municipality of Jhapa district to link the municipality with India Sunday.

He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of 3-day long Bhadrapur ‘Golden Festival’ here.

Gachhedar said that he was told by the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to assure the people of this district about the proposed construction of the bridge.

The construction of the bridge will start in the next fiscal year," announced the minister.

The proposed construction of the bridge has been a long-time demand of the locals ever since the municipality’s establishment in 1952. The bridge was not constructed even though the foundation stone had been previously laid twice by Manmohan Mishra, the Head of Mechi Zone in 1965 and by then Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, in 1986.

First Secretary of the Indian Embassy VV Rao, who was also invited to the ‘Golden Festival,’ announced the aid of 450 thousand rupees for the reconstruction of a road that links the municipality with India. And has also donated an ambulance.

At the ceremony, Minister Gachchhedar also felicitated former governor Bhairab Prasad Acharya, former minister Devi Prasad Lamsal, litterateur Radhika Ray, social worker Ghanashyam Khanal, politician Rankeshar Budhathoki, and Dronacharya Chettri along with 21 others for their contributions towards different sections of society.

Minister for Law and Constitutional Affairs Narendra Kumar Nemwang, Assistant Minister for Local Development Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, the acting chairperson of Nepal Sadbhawana Party Badri Prasad Mandal, Members of Parliament Hritesh Tripathi and Tarasam Yangya, and Chief District Officer Pashupati Karmacharya also spoke at the ceremony chaired by Mayor of the municipality, Bharatendu Mallik.

Security issue to affect Mahashivaratri

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KHOTANG, March 11 : The ongoing state of emergency has shown its impact upon the Mahasivaratri festival at local Halesi Mahadevsthan Temple, 20 kosh off the district headquarters.

Locals here estimate that devotees attending the fare at the festival to mark the Hindu festival of Mahashivaratri would drop by 95% this year, due to security reasons.

A local farmer, Muna Shrestha said she is not joining the fare this year for it is not guaranteed that one returns home safely from the fare.

The temple of Halesi Mahadev, is locally known as the ‘Pashupatinath of the East’.

During the Mahashivaratri day, the businessmen from the neighbouring districts Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Solukhumbu would attend the fare to sell their goods, said Radheshyam Shrestha, the Chairman of Udayapur Chambers of Commerce.

The Chief District Officer (CDO) is not in the condition of providing security to the fare as it doesn’t have enough security forces for the purpose," said Krishna Lamshal, the Chief at DEO in the district.

Dolpa to face another food shortage

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DOLPA, March 11  : The people of mountainous Dolpa district are once again threatened by a possible dearth in food as almost all the grains in their houses and in the storehouses of the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), have been consumed.

"We have requested NFC to send 3,500 quintals more rice," said Shivananda Budha, the Chairperson of District Development Committee (DDC) and Food Management Committee (FMC). A meeting of FMC was held on Sunday to discuss the dire food situation in the district. "We firmly believe that the government will act upon our request," said Budha.

The chairmen of Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Liku, Sarmi, Rimi, Kaigaon, Narku, Kalika, Sun, Tripurakot and Likan, known for its relatively fertile lands in comparison to other parts of the district, said that the food scarcity has already been observed in these VDCs.

"The suppressed communities in these districts have a long history of always suffering a food shortage, but this year, those who even got food in previous years may also suffer," said Jyoti Prasad Pahadi, the Chairman of Liku VDC.

"The produce from our cultivated fields could only feed us for 3 months," said Manbir Sarki of Sarmi VDC-3. "We used to work for rich people, but this year they say they have no rice." Sarki believes they are going to experience some real hard times this year.

The government distributes rice grains through NFC, subsidizing the transport of it for each year. But this year, NFC has consumed almost all the allotted quota. "There is only 627 quintals of rice in our store," said Harihar Prakash Shrestha, branch chief of NFC. This year the district has a very low agricultural production that shows the allotted amount in 6,700 quintals of rice.

Four rhinos translocated

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GULARIYA, March 11:The four rhinos that arrived here at Royal Bardiya National Park (RBNP) from the Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) yesterday, have been successfully set free at Chepang area of RBNP today morning, said the RBNP sources.

With the four rhinos added to the Park, now it boasts of 81 endangered one horn rhinos, said Shivakanta Lal Suman, the ranger at the park. RCNP is yet to handover six more rhinos to RBNP. Out of the total ten rhinos to be translocated from RCNP to RBNP, four are male.

According to the concerned authorities, translocation of one horn rhino from the National Park started since 1986, so as to normalize the ambience of the park that has been witnessing the gradual rise in the number of rhinos for the past few years.

"Translocating the rhinos in RBNP, in the past years has proved to be fruitful so the move is on and shall be continued in the future, until the number of rhinos in the park reaches one hundred," said Tirtha Man Maskey, the director general at the Department of National Park and Wild Life.

More than 50 technicians and 38 elephants are engaged in the task of trapping the rhinos to be translocated in RCNP.

The translocation campaign is initiated in the conjunction of the Department of National Park and Wildlife and King Mahendra Trust For Nature Conservation (KMTNC), under the sponsorship of WWF.

A census conducted three years ago showed that RCNP housed 544 rhinos with RBNP holding 68 rhinos. The RCNP shall have 498 rhinos with the ones translocated in the past as well as those to be translocated this year, excluding 21 rhinos that died this year. It is estimated that the three South Asian countries— Nepal, India and Bhutan — provide shelter to around two thousand one horn endangered rhinos.

Though the number of rhinos in RBNP has increased with the coming of ten more rhinos from the RCNP, it has witnessed the death of thirteen rhinos because of poaching or natural calamities since 1986.