Carpet exports on decline

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 2: Export figure of carpet has almost declined by 50 per cent in comparison to the total volume till October - December 1999. Nepal's carpet manufacturers and exporters accused the government of deterioration and warn that the export situation will further worsen if adequate measures are not taken on time. They have also sharply criticized the government for imposing 0.5 per cent tax on export of every item.

Levying tax against the Export Policy-2049 BS is totally irresponsible act of the government and it has created confusion among exporters said country's prominent carpet exporters and manufacturers in an interaction programme on "Income Tax on Earning from Export".

Infficient tax administration, lack of transparency, monopoly of tax authorities and frequent change of government policies have marred the carpet industry, they said.

Bijay Bahadur Shrestha a carpet manufacturer and exporter observed the present situation as pessimistic and says the government's decision has brought confusion among exporters and manufacturers. "The decision that was announced in the budget speech last month has discouraged investors," he said.

K.N. Thakur, President of Nepal Carpet Exporters' Association (NCEA) pointed out the need to promote carpet export. Thakur blamed the government for creating confusion among carpet exporters and urged all to be united to press the government.

The decision of the government to impose 0.5 per cent tax as service charge and an additional charge of 40 per cent in income tax and five per cent tax on dividend is not justifiable, said A.G. Sherpa, president of Central Carpet Industry Association (CCIA). He also pointed out the anomalies in the tax administration and said 'it must be rectified.' For the verification of fact concerned officials at the Department of Tax could not be contacted.

Sherpa observed that dwindling situation of carpet export as a serious one. He said the government should understand the situation and deal it carefully. At the programme all carpet exporters and manufacturers agreed to join hands to promote the industry. Ashok Bajaj a garment exporter also stressed the need of export oriented policy.

The interaction programme was organised by Nepal Carpet Exporter's Association (NCEA).

Around 100 carpet exporters had participated in the interaction programme.

Total Carpet Export for Oct. - December 1999

Sq. MT Value (US$)

669876.03 38,274,610.96

Total Carpet Export for Jan. - March 2000

Sq. MT Value (US $)

336362.72 19,782,489.6

Decreased by 50.21 per cent

Direct link bet'n bar, bench, says CJ

Janakpurdham, July 2 (RSS): Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has said that the courts have been safeguarding democratic norms, values and ideals.

Inaugurating the new building of the Nepal Bar Association, Janakpur here today, Mr Upadhyaya made it clear that as there was direct link between bar and bench in an independent judiciary, it was necessary to be more sensitive.

He emphasised the need for all concerned to work with dedication and commitment to dispense justice to the poor and helpless people.

The Chief Justice said as the people had great faith in the courts, justice had to be administered with commitment.

Attorney general Badri Bahadur Karki said that as justice could not be dispensed without legal practitioners,
enhancing the efficiency of the lawyers of new generation was necessary.

Senior advocate Krishna Bahadur Bhandari expressed the view that development activities and peace would be disrupted if justice was not provided in an impartial manner.

Senior advocate Ramji Prasad Mainali and a host of other speakers expressed their views at the programme chaired by president of Janakpur

Unit of Nepal Bar Association Thir Bahadur Karki.

The 14-room building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1,436,263 on two anna and six dhur of land.

'Govt pushing for packages of agro-schemes'

Kathmandu, July 2 (RSS): Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperatives Baldev Majgainya, replying to questions raised in course of the debate on appropriation heads pertaining to his ministry at the House of Representatives today, said the government has given priority to package programmes in order to implement the agriculture programmes laid down in the long term Agricultural Perspective Plan in an integrated manner and thereby attain the poverty alleviation goal.

Mr Majgainya said the programmes to be launched in the current fiscal year include the national bio diversity programme, natural calamities relief programme, Karnali zone special agriculture development programme, special agricultural production programme, coordinated agricultural pocket package programme, high-value agricultural products' market development programme, second irrigation sector project, small irrigation sector special programme, livestock service programme
and cooperatives sector development.

Though the ministries of water resources, local development, finance and agriculture are responsible for the implementation of one or the other component of the long term Agricultural Perspective Plan, they do not seem to have been able to implement the components as national programme, he said.

Stating that both legal and practical arrangements are being made to further improve the supply situation of chemical fertilizers, he said arrangements have also been made to check the quality of chemical fertilizers in all districts.

Arrangements have also been made to provide subsidy on seeds and chemical fertilizers under social agricultural production programme in 26 remote districts in order to ensure food security in the districts, Mr Majgainya added.

He also informed the parliament that the areas where the private sector cannot supply fertilizers will receive their share of the chemical fertilizers to be received from the Japanese govetrnment under K.R. 2 programme.

Likewise, dairy development activities will be carried out with the assistance of DANIDA.

Various MPs had sought clarifications from Minister of State Majgainya.

Poor sanitation status cause of encephalitis

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Ghorahi, Dang, July 2: Poor sanitation status has been a cause of increasing cases of encephalitis in Western Nepal's Dang district leading to the death of forty people from the dreaded disease in the district last year, 17 of them from Tribhuvan Nagar Municipality (TNM).

"Lack of awareness and poor sanitation are the main causes behind the escalation of diseases including encephalitis," Dr. Bikas Devkota said. Unscientific ways of pigs and ducks rearing in the rural as well as the urban areas of this Terai district have proved to be a threat to sanitation.

Locals say that TNM's inability to keep the town clean has resulted in the rise of encephalitis cases. TNM Mayor Amar Dangi, however, denied that, adding his office was doing what it could with the limited resources. "It has been difficult to solve this problem as much of the bank investment goes in pig farming."

Of late, the Dang residents have been suffering from the skin diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid and conjunctivitis as it is one of the districts where only a few people use toilet, Dr. Devkota said.

Low use of toilet, use of dirty water, consumption of unclean green vegetables, and no habit of washing hands properly after toilet have been the main causes of diseases in this district that faces water shortage.

According to a survey, only 22 per cent of the people in Dang wash their hands after they go the toilet, 60 per cent do not take necessary precautions while storing water. Forty-one per cent dispose the wastes haphazardly while 30 per cent dispose wastes within 50 feet of their houses.

Dang District Development Committee and Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) jointly organised a discussion recently with a view to improving the existing sanitation situation of the district. DDC Chairman Bharat K. C., Vice Chairman Khagaraj Pandey, TNM Mayor Amar Dangi and Tulsipur Municipality Mayor Dhundiraj Lamichhane made a commitment to stay away from political prejudice and controversy to make the district clean.

The meeting also constituted a Sanitation Concern Media Group, NEFEJ said.