'Indian role on Bhutanese refugees dubions'

Kathmandu, Dec. 21 (RSS): Participants at an interaction programme on the Bhutanese refugee issue: Peaceful Diplomacy or a Topic of International Concern organised jointly by "Deshprem" weekly and P.F.H.F.R.D. here today emphasised the need to ensure the participation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Indian government and the representatives of the refugee to resolve the issue stating that it cannot be resolved merely through bilateral talks.

On the occasion, former foreign minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya said that Indian role in the Bhutanese refugee issue had been dubious. While continuing with the process of dialogue, international pressure should be built up, he added.

P.F.H.F.R.D. general secretary S. K. Pradhan said that the government of Bhutan should change its stance on the refugees in principle and practice and provide amnesty to the the refugees, the land owned by the refugees should not be distributed to others and the anti-people laws should be scrapped.

General secretary of the federation of Nepalese Journalists Taranath Dahal said that the Bhutanese refugee issue could be tackled only through democracy and human rights in Bhutan.

Executive director of INHURED international Dr. Gopal Krishna Shivakoti said that as the refugee problem is an international issue, it should be dealt with through international diplomacy. At present Nepal had refugees from 16 countries, he added.

President of Nepal-Bhutan Friendship and Cultural Association Gehenath Bhattarai, spokesman of the CPN-ULM Sitaram Tamang, former Bhutanese diplomat Narayan Kattel and general secretary of Hariyali Party Chetendra Jung Himali also spoke at the programme chaired by editor of the Deshprem weekly Keshav Devkota.

ADB okays Melamchi, others to follow

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Dec. 21: Abiding by the majority votes of its board members, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) finally approved its US$ 120 million loan for the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) at the bank's headquarters in the Filipino capital, Manila, this afternoon.

"The Bank has approved the loan," Ann Quon, Assistant Chief of the Office of External Relations at the ADB Headquarters in Manila, told The Rising Nepal over the phone today. "Since the majority of our board members voted for the project, the bank feels that it is a good scheme and that it should go ahead with it."

The breakdown of the board members' votes, however, could not be known. "It cannot be revealed," said Quon.

The Bank has 24 board members as directors and alternate directors representing its 57 member countries.

Given ADB's role of a co-ordinator among the donors of US$ 440 million MWSP, its endorsement by the bank comes as a milestone in the heave-ho to concretise the project over the years.

"Now, we can say Melamchi is on," said a confident Dinesh Chandra Pyakurel, Managing Director of the Melamchi Water Development Board (MWDB).

With the air of confidence also among other donors, the ADB's approval of its loan for MWSP will now trigger fast-paced series of events.

"Now, we will approve our part of the grant for the project by January next year," said Ase Seim, Charge D' Affaires at the Norwegian Embassy here. Norway is funding a US$ 25 million grant for the tunnelling component of the project.

To fund the same tunnel, Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), is approving a soft loan of US$ 25 million by January 15 next month, according to Pyakurel.

So is the Nordic Development Fund that has allocated US$ nine million in loan for the consultancy supervision for the project.

"The Japanese Bank of International Co-operation is all set to approve its US$ 52 million loan for the water treatment plant component of the project," said Pyakurel. "Similar is the case with the World Bank."

The World Bank has assured to chip in US$ 15 million to rehabilitate the water distribution network in the Capital Valley. If satisfied, it will fund another US$ 65 million for the overall drinking water system rehabilitation in the capital.

It is these approvals by other donors that the ADB, having endorsed the project, is waiting for now. "Now we will wait for other donors to approve their share of assistance for the project," said Richard Vokes, Resident Representative of the ADB.

The wait and see game is a must for the ADB before it releases its approved loan – basically meant for the bulk distribution component of the project. "For the loan to be effective, other donors should be on the scene."

With that highly likely to happen by next month, the ADB loan, according to Vokes, will be effective by April next year.

But before they begin releasing their money, the donors would like to make sure that their conditions for the assistance are strictly met. For their aid, the donors have conditioned that the management of Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) be privatised, and two Acts – Drinking Water Act and Regulatory Act – be introduced.

With the privatisation process of the NWSC already afoot, the government is preparing to table the two Acts in Parliament during the upcoming winter session.

"It seems the preconditions are being met," said Seim at the Norwegian Embassy.

If the moves of the government and the positive response of the donors are any indications, the MWSP should be moving toward its goal: To splash the parched Capital Valley.

The biggest ever drinking water project plans to divert the waters of the Melamchi River in north-eastern Sindhupalchowk District through a 27-km long tunnel to pipe in 170 million litres of water a day.

That done, the much-talked project also plans to later divert the waters of the Yangri and Larke Rivers, flowing near the Melamchi River, to supply 510 million litres of water a day.

During the dry season, NWSC has not been able to meet even half of the Capital's demand for 180 million litres of water a day.

'Army men get salaries as per HMG rules'

Kathmandu, Dec. 21 (RSS): Royal Nepalese Army Headquarters has been distributing the salaries and allowances that the employees in army and civil service are entitled to in accordance with the relevant rules of His Majesty's Government, according to the Defense Ministry.

It has also made it clear that the army men who take part in peace keeping missions receive their salary and allowances out of the amount set aside for the missions as per the existing government rules and the rest of the amount is utilized in setting up the welfare fund for incumbent armymen, ex-servicemen and their families.

The Royal Nepalese Army Welfare Fund that is functioning with the permission of the government by exercising the powers given by clause 165 provided for by clause 163 of Military Act 2016 has benefitted all incumbent army men, ex-servicemen and their families through 26 welfare projects on education, health, housing and the like.

There is a provision for timely auditing and the audit report is published in "Sainik Aadesh", the Ministry said.

Stating that the land belonging to Tri-Chandra Military Hospital has been handed over to Bir Hospital as per a government decision, it said pension is being distributed to the ex-servicemen, who had served in India in 1971 and 1996 after making it sure that they have completed their service period.

Dalits should move ahead organised

Kathmandu, Dec. 21 (RSS): General Secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal, inaugurating a talk programme on the struggle against ethnic untouchability and its challenges organised on the occasion of the 13th founding day of the Mukti Samaj Nepal here today, said the Dalits should move ahead in an organised way for bringing about social revolution.

Mr Nepal said all the political parties should accelerate the struggle against untouchability by realising that it is a social blemish.

MP Jeewan Prem Shrestha said social awareness should be accelerated so as to eliminate the system of untouchability .

MP Shanta Manawi said the main political parties should prepare political agenda for the ending untouchability.

MP Pari Thapa said the state should declare untouchability a crime and should specify punishment.

Ex-minister Modnath Prashrit said the challenges of ethnic cleansing lies not in the laws and Constitution but in traditions and behaviours.

At the seminar presided over by president of the Mukti Samaj Chhabi Lal Biswokarma, various other speakers including members of the National Human Rights Commission Prof. Kapil Shrestha, Sushil Pyakurel, Dr. Ganesh Man Gurung, Basant Kumar Biswokarma and Ganesh Pariyar also expressed their views.

Lauda deal will be probed, PM tells PAC

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 21: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala assured the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Thursday that he would order an investigation into the irregularities, if any, committed by Royal Nepal Airline Corporation (RNAC) while leasing an aircraft from Lauda Air early this month. He asked the PAC to be patient until the process starts and said that the guilty would be duly punished.

Prime Minister Koirala was summoned to the PAC today to give his views on what it called RNAC's refusal to obey instructions not to lease the Boeing 767 aircraft. The PAC decided to invite the Prime Minister because it was not convinced by the replies given by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut.

A fortnight back, Chataut had told the PAC that the Lauda Air deal had to go through due to a compulsive situation. At today's meting, Chataut was not present, but Minister for Finance and Defence Mahesh Acharya was there.

The Prime Minister, however, said that there was confusion about the boundary of PAC's authority, hence accusing fingers were being pointed at RNAC.

Earlier, Chairman of the PAC Subash Nembang said that RNAC's refusal to follow its instruction has created misunderstanding between the parliamentary committee and the executive body. He even called it a setback to the parliamentary way of doing things.

RNAC inducted the aircraft on December 1, despite instructions by the PAC and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) not to do so.

At the meeting, MPs Gokarna Bista, Ishwor Pokharel, Buddhiman Tamang, Pari Thapa and Birodh Khatiwada demanded why the cabinet authorised the central bank to provide foreign exchange facility to RNAC without so much as a look at the PAC's directive. "The government made a grave mistake," they said.

This is the second time Prime Minister Koirala has faced the Public Accounts Committee.

Despite the Prime Minister's assurances to probe into the deal, the PAC said it would continue with its own investigation. A sub-committee formed by the PAC also presented its report today that said the deal was against the interest of RNAC.

In another development, members of the PAC who inspected the shops constructed by the Rastriya Sabha Griha (City Hall) Development Committee between the City Hall and the old bus park today found the construction to be against the approved designs.