Air quality at respirable limit in Valley

POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, Sept 9 : The rains caused the level of fine particles polluting the air of the Kathmandu Valley to drop to moderate level at Putalisadak and the Lagankhel area of Patan during the last week (August 31 to September 3). The places had witnessed the level of pollutants marking an unhealthy category the previous week.

According to weekly pollution results released today by the Ministry of Population and Environment, the level of particulate matter with diameter less than or equal to 10 micro-meter (PM10), as shown by air quality monitoring stations at places like Thamel, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur and Matsyagaon continued to remain in good category even during the last week.

A major threat to the valley air, PM10 is solid pollutant with diameter less than or equal to 10 micro-meter. As it remains suspended for a long time in the air, it is easily inhaled into lungs. It is hazardous to human health as hospital studies have already found the pollutant responsible for growing health damage of the people of the valley. Experts say that long exposure to the pollutant is lethal to the patients of asthma, respiratory diseases, the old and the children alike.

The reading by the air quality monitoring stations at Putalisadak and Patan, which have roadside background, showed that PM10 remained within the national standard in the week. The national standard for the pollutant is 120 microgram per cubic meter. The stations at the places recorded 118 micro-gram per cubic meter on an average. However, Putalisadak witnessed the level of the pollutant crossing the national standard on some dry days. The stations at Patan, Thamel, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur and Matsyagaon recorded the level of PM10 well below the national standard last week. The air at the places has been improving ever since the start of this year’s monsoon on June 16.

‘Children severely affected by conflict’

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 9  : Children have been adversely affected by the seven-year-old Maoist conflict in the country. They have been forced to live in the fear and trauma of war, it was revealed during a two-day workshop for Dalit children, which got underway here Tuesday. "The violence has gravely upset the peaceful environment for children," said Gopal Nepali, programme officer of Dalit Welfare Organisation. He was reading out a concept paper entitled: "Situation of Dalit Children and Our Responsibility".

"The organisation is soon launching a campaign for making the children a zone of peace", he said reading out the concept paper.

Speaking on the occasion, Bidur Biswakarma, a Dalit student, said the voice of Dalit children has failed to reach the ears of concerned people and that they continued to be marginalised. "Education is sure to end this," he said. Dalit Welfare Organisation has established six clubs for the Dalit children and has managed hostels in Kathmandu for the Dalit students wanting to pursue their higher education.

The organisation is also campaigning countrywide for free education to Dalit girls. An estimated 40 Dalit children and their guardians from 20 districts were present during the workshop, according to Pradip Pariyar of Dalits Welfare Organisation, the organiser of the event.

‘Leo of the Year’ to Shrestha

KATHMANDU, Sept 9 (PR)- The International Association of Lions Club has bestowed Leo Rajesh Shrestha of the Leo District Council, under district 325 B with the acclaimed "Leo of the Year" award.

District Governor Giridhari Sharma presented the award to Leo Shrestha at a function organised here yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Prabha Thakkar, Member Secretary of the Social welfare Council, congratulated the recipient and said, "This will be an initiative for all youth to commit their services to the community." Rajesh Shrestha, who, in 1993 was the founder president of the then Leo Club Of Kathmandu Green Valley has also served as council president of the Leo District Council and remains an active member of the club to this day.

The award was presented to Leo Shrestha in recognition of his outstanding leadership skills, superior record in implementing service projects, distinguished contributions to the community as well as for his high ethical standards and personal integrity.

Koshi Tappu valued at US $ 9 million per year

POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, Sept 9 : A recent study conducted by IUCN on Koshi Tappu and the Ghodaghodi lake estimates their annual value - biodiversity, wetland product and services, community dependence, among others - at over US $ 9 million and US $ 1.3 million respectively.

"Value of wetlands around the globe is estimated at about US$ five trillion and a recent study estimates the value of Koshi Tappu and Ghodaghodi lake to be US $ 9,039,819 and 1,397,038 per year respectively", Sameer Karki, Programme Coordinator-Water, Wetlands and High Mountains, IUCN said. "Economic valuation of wetlands is usually done by taking several factors into account like biodiversity, communities benefiting from the wetlands, wetland product and services etc.", he added. Wetlands are important from the biodiversity perspective, as these are refuge to several rare, endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna.

Besides, these are also important for the communities that directly or indirectly depend on wetland and wetland products. "There are 13 traditionally wetland dependent communities in Nepal, which constitute to about 11% of the total population of the country," he said.

IUCN is trying to develop Koshi Tappu and Ghodaghodi lake as project demonstration sites and these lakes are put in the high priority list. Koshi Tappu is the first and only Ramsar Site of Nepal. Ghodaghodi lake, including Bees Hazar lake and Jagdishpur reservoir were proposed for the Ramsar Site in February last year.

Journo’s murder denounced

RSS

KATHMANDU, Sept 9 : Press Chautari Nepal has expressed sorrow over the brutal murder of Sindhupalchok-based working journalist and teacher Gyanendra Khadka by armed Maoists on Sunday.

In a statement, Press Chautari has also urged the Communist Party of Nepal -Maoist ( CPN-M) to stop heinous acts like kidnapping, threatening and murder of innocent people who are not involved in any kind of conflict. The statement also calls upon His Majesty’s Government to not mistreat journalists for any reason.

Likewise, in a statement published yesterday, the Reporters’ Club Nepal has said that the murder of National News Agency or RSS reporter of Sindhupalchok district Gyanendra Khadka has raised a serious question over the security of Nepali Press and that the political character of the Maoists of murdering individuals has become more evident. The statement signed by the club president Rishi Dhamala says that whether it be during times of conflict or peace the politics of individual murder should never be carried out and that is a very condemnable to murder journalists for any excuse or blame.

Deforestation on rise in Morang

Post Report

BIRATNAGAR, Sept 9 : Since the breakdown of the cease-fire, there has been a sudden rise in timber smuggling. The locals around the forest region of Morang district have been complaining that 20 to 25 groups are active in timber smuggling.

The surge in the illegal deforestation is more noticeable in the Yangsila region of Morang. The locals around this region concede that land-less squatters have put up tents on the banks of Seuti River, as it is easy to transport the timber, from here to the Terai regions via Bajhogara in Dharan. According to Ramesh Kattel, a member of community forest consumers group of Yangsila-8, the locals around this region have stopped taking part in the protection of the forest after the breakdown of the peace-talks due to fear of Maoists as well as of the security patrols.

Last week’s attack from the timber smugglers had left Dallay Tamang wounded, informed Kattel. In front of armed smugglers, the locals stand no chance, he added.

However, in comparison to the community forest the depletion by timber smugglers is even more intense within national forests, says Sagar Timilsina the coordinator of the Community Forest Consumers Group of Eastern Region.

It is learnt that due to fear of Maoists eight ranger posts from the northern part of Morang had been removed two years ago.

However, Balram Adhikary, the chief of the District Forest Office of Morang, denies the allegation that forest is under extensive depletion due to timber smuggling, and says that the forest employees have been patrolling the forest regularly.

Fate of 600 students dooms as teachers flee school

By Tika Bhatta

RAMECHHAP, Sept 9 ; The immediate fate of around 600 students of the Kakaling Secondary School in Doramba of Ramechhap district is in uncertainty following an indefinite closure of the school due to security reasons, according to concerned sources.

It is reported that teachers of the school are taking refuge in Manthali, the district headquarters, following the killing of Relimai Moktan, a health worker of a health centre, near the school.

"The situation has become uncertain to resume studies in the school. Until peace is restored we are unable to carry out our duties," said Mahesh Khatiwada, the school headmaster. "Though we had been running the school during insurgency in the past, now we can no more stand the tension". Maoist rebels have become aggressive following the incident on August 17 when security personnel shot dead 19 unarmed Maoist activists holding a meeting in the school premises. Maoists allege that the schoolteachers and some locals had tipped off the security personnel and have threatened to take action against them, according to sources.

Moktan and Bhim Bahadur Shrestha were killed as the Maoist believed that the two had informed the security agencies and the other teachers left the school, added the source.

The schoolteachers have lodged a complaint at the District Education Office (DEO) stating that they would be unable to return to the school unless security is guaranteed.

Their complaint has been notified to the centre. "Once the centre responds, action will be taken accordingly," stated Durga Prasad Kafle, a School Supervisor at the DEO.

Closure of the school is having adverse impact on the students as that is the only secondary school in Doramba area.

Four rebels killed in encounter

POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, Sept 9 : Four Maoists were killed in an encounter in Mahottari district yesterday, according to a delayed report. Police in Rautahat arrested 23 suspected Maoists from different parts of the district and Indian police rounded up three Maoists along with arms from a hotel in Bairganiya town.

A report from Mahottari said that four Maoists, one man and three women, were killed last week during an encounter in remote Pipaldamar village, about 70-km north of Jaleshwor, the district headquarters. The report of the encounter was made public one week after the incident. Likewise, the rebels shot at a policeman on duty near Nepalgunj this afternoon. There were 10 policemen checking passengers on the Nepalgunj-Kohalpur road when the rebels opened fire at the policeman, who is said to be out of danger.

In Dhankuta, issuing a press statement today, the Maoists claimed to have captured the houses and property of 30 individuals, including that of Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa. The statement has warned the people against buying the captured property of those individuals and added that the property would be used for the "wellbeing of the poor people". The Prime Minister’s ancestral home is in Muga Village Development Committee.

A report from Bhairahawa said that a group of Maoist rebels made off with Rs 17,000 in cash and a computer from the banking office of Nirdhan Utthan Bank Limited in Bishnupura VDC in broad daylight today.

In Baglung, the local administration office imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew indefinitely in the adjoining VDCs of the district headquarters for security reasons.

Japanese encephalitis claims more lives

Post Report

DHANGADHI, Sept 9 : With the death of four more patients at the Seti Zonal Hospital (SZH) this week, the death toll due to Japanese encephalitis in Kailali district has reached 14. Presently 27 patients with the disease are undergoing treatment, according to the hospital sources.

The disease claimed two more patients in Tikapur Hospital this week, say concerned sources.

Meanwhile, locals complain that the disease may have developed resistance against the anti-vaccine as many children inoculated against it have caught the disease.

Initiated last June, the disease assumed epidemic proportion from mid-August, however 30 persons suffering from the disease walked home after treatment, informed the SZH sources. The disease is found mainly within the Tharu community and the poor ethnic communities dominating the district, according to health workers. A total of 47,548 children, as well as pigs and ducks were injected as a precautionary measure this year. However, many vaccinated children were still infected with the disease, according to sources.

A record at the District Public Health Office (DPHO) reveals that the disease has claimed 540 persons since 1995 and that it had assumed epidemic proportions in 1999 killing hundreds of people.

Meanwhile, our reports from Dang said that two persons died of the disease yesterday. Gopi Chandra Chaudhari of Golta Kuri VDC-4 died of the disease in the district hospital while the disease claimed Sushial BK of Gobardihan while undergoing treatment in a primary health centre in Lamahi.

A total of 45 patients are undergoing treatment in both the health institutions which are overcrowded with the encephalitis patients. The disease has claimed 24 patients in the district, according to concerned sources.

3 dead, dozen injured in two separate accidents

SINDHULIMADI, Sept 9 (PR)- Three people died while about a dozen were injured in two separate vehicular accidents today.

40 year-old Kapurdevi Thakur of Rayapur-6, Saptari, and her four year-old son Bijaya Thakur died, while being taken to Sagarmatha Zonal hospital, Rajbiraj. A jeep (Sa 1 Cha 132) heading East from Rajbiraj hit them as they stood on the roadside at Rupani bus stand along the Mahendra Highway today.

According to Ram Prasad Timilsinha the inspector of police, the driver and the vehicle are under police control and necessary action is underway.

Meanwhile, our reporter from Sindhulimadi says that in another separate accident that occurred yesterday, at the slope of Kauche in Kamalamai municipality one died and about one dozen passengers were injured. The bus, Ba 2 Kha 680, bound for Bardibas from Jagadi in Sindhuli, slid down the steep slope as its brakes did not function properly, mainly due to overloading as there were passengers sitting on the roof also.

17 year-old Thokendra Neupane, of Ranibas VDC in Sindhulimadi, who had jumped from the bus to save himself, fell under the wheels of the bus and died instantly. All injured passengers are undergoing treatment at a health post in Bhiman.

Bandh call in eight districts stalls traffic

Post Report

DHADING, Sept 9 : Due to the bandh (strike) called today, by the Tamang Rastriya Mukti Morcha, an organisation associated with the Maoists, there were no vehicles plying to Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Narayanghat from Dhading.

Most of the markets in this district including, Dhadingbeshi region remained closed. It is learnt that except for government schools all private schools in this district also remained closed today.

Prior to the bandh today, the Maoists had conducted a torch procession last night at Ijara near Dhadingbesi and its surrounding region. It is learnt that the Maoists had tried to blast a bomb at the police post in Khanikhola. They failed in their attempt to capture the post after a few rounds had been fired.

Apart from Dhading, it is learnt that Tamang Rastriya Mukti Morcha had called for the bandh in seven other districts of Rashuwa, Nuwakot, Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Ramechhap and Makwanpur.

Locals pluck elephant hair to ward off evil

RSS

INARUWA, Sept 9 : Local people plucked off the hairs of an elephant, which entered into Nepal from India and died near a house in Prakashpur. The local people plucked off all the hairs from the body of the dead elephant before a team of Koshi Tappu Wild Life Sanctuary reached the place, according to Rabin Ghimire.

The local people plucked off the hairs of the elephant not due to the anger of its destructive acts in the village but due to religious beliefs. The local people collected the hairs of elephant in the belief that the elephant hair is medicine, it is a good symbol to put at home and there is no fear of ghost at home if there is elephant hairs.

The elephant which entered into the village in a group of three other wild elephants, was found dead near the residence area of the Prakashpur.

The elephant died of its injuries. a large number of people gathered to chase the wild elephants.

However, the elephant died in the rice field. A large number of people gathered to see the dead elephant. Most of the people gathered there had plucked out the hairs from the tail and body.

The elephant was killed in the electrical ambush set by local Rana Bahadur Dahal to check it from entering into his sugarcane farming, according to the Koshi Tappu Wild Life Sanctuary.

Jogbudha-Dadeldhura link road at a standstill

By DR Panth

DADELDHURA, Sept 9 : Vehicular movement along the road linking Jogbudha with Dadeldhura has come to a standstill for quite some time.

The 40-km long gravel road connecting Budar with Jogbudha was made motorable in 1990, but there had been no repairs or maintenance since then. The road, already weakened through years of weathering gave way to incessant monsoon rains during the second week of August, which had badly damaged Sunkhola, Maurikhola and Langseri sections of this road, bringing vehicular movement to a halt.

The people living around this region have been forced to walk for two days to get to the district headquarters ever since this road became inoperative. The locals lament that it is very difficult to walk through the rugged path to the district headquarters from Jogbudha region, which is learnt to be under Maoist control.

This road which runs from Dadeldhura to Jogbudha via Itiban VDC in Budar of Doti district is the only alternative route which connects both districts with the Terai.

People around this region had been demanding that this road should be developed into an alternative highway by renovation and blacktopping it.

The Bhimdutta Highway, which connects Terai with the various mountainous districts of the Far-Western Region, had been constructed by cutting remote and precarious mountain range, and any landslide along this road can greatly hamper the vehicular movement affecting many lives in these remote districts. So, in order to curb this problem, the construction of Mahendranagar-Jogbudha-Budar road as an alternative highway was started in 1999.

The dilapidation of the Jogbudha-Budar and Betkot-Jogbudha section of the road due to heavy monsoon downpours has almost completely disrupted the vehicular movement on these sections.