Govt for autonomy of local bodies: Paudel

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ram Chandra Paudel has said the government is committed to remove the contradictions in the local self-governance act and the rules under it, make additional effort for the autonomy of the local bodies and move ahead the process of decentralisation more effectively towards achieving the target of local self-governance.

Furnishing replies to the questions on appropriation heads pertaining to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry of Local Development at the House of Representatives today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Paudel said as the decentralisation implementation and monitoring committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister has also issued directives to amend the contradictory provisions of the act, the ministry has already started necessary homework with the participation of the concerned institutions.

He said, "as the serious topic such as local self-governance is not within the jurisdiction of any particular ministry but the responsibility of the overall state machinery, conducive atmosphere should be created for the local bodies to shoulder the responsibility. Efforts are being made to make the office-bearers of the local bodies efficient through various participatory programmes to enable them to put the concept of good governance into practice".

Stating that the work performed by the local bodies would be monitored regularly to see whether they have shouldered their responsibilities or not, measures for improvement would be taken and institutional arrangement made to make the programmes launched by the ministry more effective by eliminating mistakes, he said that the monitoring work has been completed in 27 districts.

Making it clear that the formulated periodic plans of the local bodies would be implemented with priority from the next fiscal year to reduce the big gap between the cost and the allocation, he said that work had already been initiated for improvement in the institutional structure to remove duplication in the plans under implementation.

Deputy Prime Minister Paudel said that attention would be given to the reports of various technical committees including financial commission, decentralisation implementation and monitoring committee, local bodies classification recommendation committee and the suggestions received from associations and federations of the local bodies for the collection, allocation and utilisation of means and resources on the basis of norms prescribed by the local self-governance act and the related rules and for this purpose, timely changes would be made in the regulations concerning local bodies and action would be taken to revise the existing tax structure.

Likewise, arrangement will be made for the District Development Committees (DDC) to receive tax collected by the centre at the district itself.

He said, "studies on the number and structure of the local bodies would be undertaken on scientific basis to make them equipped with necessary means and resources and orient towards self-reliance".

The Deputy Prime Minister said that rural roads policy has already been formulated to manage the rural roads in an integrated and coordinated manner and take the agricultural produce to the market. The agricultural road, rural road and suspension bridges would be selected and implemented on the basis of this policy, he added.

Stating that provision had already been made for MPs to be members of the district level agricultural roads selection committee, he said that a fund would be set up with the participation of the local bodies from next year to undertake the repair and maintenance of the rural roads.

Mr Paudel said that policy had been pursued to extend rural community infrastructure development programme in Karnali Zone and Bajhang, Bajura and Jajarkot districts where it was difficult to supply foodgrains and the programme would be gradually reduced in the districts where the supply was comparatively better.

Mr Paudel said special attention will be given on the registration of personal events in a policy and action-oriented manner.

He said the vacancy fulfillment of VDC secretaries will be done in coordination with the Public Service Commission and the ministry for General Administration and appointments will be made from the employees deprived of deputation so far.

Joint accountants will only be provided after reviewing the number of VDCs, other technicians and employees can be appointed by the local bodies as per their own resources and work load and that a local services bill will soon be presented before the parliament, he informed.

Works are underway to increase the access of families selected from very poor families so as to raise their economic and social living standard under the B.P. with the Poor Programme, Mr Paudel said and made commitment to reach more share to the targeted group from the appropriated amount by lowering the administrative expenses and reforming organisational structures for the implementation of the poverty alleviation programme.

He informed that a bill has been registered at the parliament to set up a Janjati National Upliftment Academy to launch programmes effectively for the conservation and promotion of the language, culture and traditions of the nationalities and indigenous people by undertaking researches works.

He said the ministry is effortful to build legal basis for an autonomous body of remote areas so as to make the process of remote areas development more fruitful and effective by taking into consideration the sensitive situation, the geographical remoteness and social and economic impoverishedness of the remote districts.

Mr Paudel said arrangements have been made to preserve the records of the monasteries in different parts of the kingdom.

The Deputy Prime Minister said efforts have been made to involve the private sector in utilising garbage as a productive resource besides implementing a national policy on garbage management, providing technical assistance as per the needs of garbage management in the municipalities, and adopting short term, medium term or long term ways to utilise the garbage of the Kathmandu Valley.

Mr Paudel said the more the local bodies are capable good governance can be guaranteed and expressed hope for the active participation of all the parties including the MPs, the local bodies, the donor agencies for the effective implementation of the proposed programmes.

MPs seeking clarification from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development were Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, Narayan Prakash Saud, Pradip Kumar Gyawali, Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal, Ram Kumar Chaudhari, Raghuji Pant, Shiva Raj Joshi, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Sabitri Bogati Pathak, Suresh Kumar Karki, Hridayaram Thani, Omprasad Ojha, Gyanu K.C and Durga Linkha.

Similarly, MPs seeking clarification from the Deputy Prime Minister were Bharat Kumar Shaha, Lalbabu Pandit, Basant Kumar Nemwang, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati, Ramesh Dutta Lekhak, Chandra Bahadur Shahi, Damodar Bastakoti, Kamal Prakash Sunuwar, Keshar Man Rokka, Nara Bahadur Budhathoki, Bhadra Bahadur Thapa, Dr. Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Ratna Prasad Sharma Neupane, Til Kumar Meyangbo, Arjun Prasad Joshi, Sherdhan Rai, Nara Bahadur Hamal, Dambar Singh Sambahamphe, Pashupati Chaulagain, Bijay Subba, Som Prasad Pandeya, Kunta Sharma, Tukraj Sigdel, Homnath Dahal, Thir Bahadur Lama, Yadav Bah

adur Rayamajhi, Ananda Prasad Pokherel, Devilal Thapa, Fatik Bahadur Thapa, Krishna Prasad Dahal and Buddhiman Tamang.

Govt not to privatise postal services: Gupta

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta has said that process of privatising of the Gorakhapatra Corporation had been moved ahead through privatisation unit under the Ministry of Finance.

Responding to questions raised by MPs at the meeting of the National Assembly today, Minister Gupta said that the present government is of the conviction that the government itself should not undertake publications of news and the managerial and editorial aspect of the corporation should be strengthened; it would not be allowed to speak for any specific party or group and made competitive.

The government is not thinking of privatising the postal services, Minister Gupta said, adding that some agencies had been also performing its functions after receiving permission from the government.

He said the government is serious about constructing the telephone tower at Chharchhare of Beldhari VDC in Sindhuli district.

Goma Devkota and Ramchandra Bhattarai of the CPN-UML and Mahendra Kumar Mishra of the Nepali Congress had posed questions to Minister Gupta.

Likewise, Minister of State for Land Reforms and Management Gopal Rai said that it was the target of the government to identify the genuine landless squatters through landless squatters problems resolution commission and resolve the problem in the next three years.

Minister of State Rai disclosed that housing plots were to be provided and skill oriented training imparted to the landless squatters.

Shanta Manavi and Goma Devkota of the CPN-UML had asked questions to him.

Meanwhile, responding to queries pertaining to his ministry at the National Assembly today, Minister for Information and Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta clarified that shortcomings, if any, in dissemination of news on the Upper House on the part of government media can be resolved through discussion and that the government does not have any prejudiced feeling in this matter.

Minister Gupta also informed the Upper House that arrangements have been made to provide one vhf telephone set to the National Assembly MPs to be provided at the place or individual recommended by them.

We are firm to carry SAARC process forward, says Bastola

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 4: A two-day meeting of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) Technical Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development kicked off here this morning.

It is the first meeting of the reconstituted SAARC Technical Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development that started working in January this year.

In his inaugural speech, Foreign Affairs Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola said, ‘’Despite difficulties we (SAARC countries) are committed to carry the SAARC process forward.’’

Success in poverty alleviation schemes depends to a great extent on agriculture and rural development, he added.

State Minister for Agriculture Baldev Sharma Majgaiya said that growth in agriculture needs to be made pro-poor to uplift the standard of living.

He said that the meeting is being held to define the scope of the technical committee and strategies for promotion of co-operation under the reconstituted integrated programme of action. ‘’We should also think of benefiting through enhanced access to the body of technical knowledge in the disposal of other international agencies.’’

SAARC General Secretary Nihal Rodrigo said that the technical committee is concerned with the development of agriculture and rural sectors in the South Asian region.

‘’In contemporary South Asia, approximately 80 per cent of the people live and work and die in the rural sector. This ranges from Bhutan where the rural sector is 90 per cent to Pakistan where the rural sector is 67.4 per cent,’’ he said. ‘’In South Asia, where 45 per cent of the people are categorisedczategorised as being below the poverty line, agriculture accounts for a little over 40 per cent of the sectoral share of gross domestic product.’’

Water resource policy at final stage: Khadka

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Minister for Water Resources and Works and Physical Planning Khum Bahadur Khadka said formulation of water resources strategy for the proper development of water resources has reached its final phase.

Furnishing replies to queries raised during discussion on appropriation heads pertaining to the Ministry of Water Resources and Works and Physical Planning at the House of Representatives today, Minister Khadka said the strategy being formulated will include a long-term thinking for the integrated and overall development of water resources of the country.

Mr Khadka informed the House that a new hyroelectricity development policy is also being formulated with timely reforms in the existing policy with an objective of involving private sector participation in development of hydro electricity and making it competitive and to guarantee the fruits to be received by the country from export-oriented hydel projects.

As resources of His Majesty’s Government only is not sufficient for the development of hydro electricity special emphasis has been given to private sector participation and foreign investment, he added.

He said that maximum use of the water resources will be made on the basis of national consensus, documents of approval of the treaty relating to the integrated development of the Mahakali River have been exchanged and Indo-Nepal joint office in Kathmandu and field offices at the project sites have been set up to prepare the Detailed Project Report (D.P.R.) of Pancheswor Multipurpose Project, Sunkoshi Kamala diversion has been given high priority and 70 million unit of electricity is being received free of cost under an agreement reached with India from the Tanakpur electricity centre.

Minister Khadka also informed the House that the 14-mw capacity Modikhola project is nearing completion and will soon begin trail production, construction of the 144 mw capacity Kaligandaki "A" hydel project will be completed by July, 2001, load shedding will be stopped from next month and agreements have already been reached to purchase electricity from smaller hydel projects like Daramkhola, Piluwakhola, Chakukhola and Bhairavkunda projects.

Stating that electricity services have reached all the 75 districts and efforts are being made to improve electricity distribution and recover arrears of electricity tarriff from different government bodies, Minister Khadka said the government has also adopted a policy to give priority to irrigation projects not causing any harm to the environment and giving maximum benefit by completing them in short period and helping alleviate poverty.

Following the 20-year Agriculture Perspective Plan a target has been set to extend irrigation facilities to all arable land within the 12th five year plan and in this context His Majesty’s Government has increased budget for irrigation development by 22.28 percent in the current fiscal year budget aimed at achieving the target of the Ninth Plan, Mr Khadka said, adding that new agro-based project will be constructed as per the demand of agro consumers and with their participation.

Running and maintenance of irrigation projects like Gandakpaschim Nahar, Panchakanya and Khageri have been completed and handed over to the farmers under the irrigation management and handover programme, he added.

He also clarified that His Majesty’s Government has been making efforts at the technical as well as diplomatic level to wipe out the adverse affect on Nepalese territory due to construction of embankment and dam on the Indian side of the Rapti River.

Special efforts are being made to provide motorable roads to the district headquarters, run the road transport development programme more effectively, construct Salyan-Musikot and Hiley-Leghuwaghat section on the Koshi Highway, Katari-Okhaldhunga Highway and Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh Highway, Surkhet-Jumla, Baitadi-Darchula, Safebagar-Martari, Safebagar-Mangalsen, and Chinchu-Jajarkot roads, he added.

His Majesty’s Government has given high priority to the Melamchi Drinking Water Proejct in order to solve the increasing demand for safe drinking water in Kathmandu Valley, the "rehabilitation policy" in order to compensate those affected by the project is near approval, physical and environmental development project, integrated work-oriented project, land development project, small towns study works, etc. are being carried out to implement the concept of planned urban development, Minister Khadka said.

Minister Khadka also informed the House that the Kathmandu valley long-term development project is being formulated taking into consideration the historical, cultural, economic, social, physical and environmental aspect of the valley for the planned and systemic development of cities and other areas inside the valley.

Seeking clarification from the minister were MPs Tilkumar Meyangbo, Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, Subash Karmacharya, Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Narayan Prakash Saud, Damber Singh Sambahamphe, Kunta Sharma, Ramesh Dutta Lekhak, Nava Raj Subedi, Bir Bahadur Lama, Ram Chandra Yadav, Birodh Khatiwada, Bijay Subba, Buddhiman Tamang, Bharat Kumar Shaha, Nara Bahadur Budhathoki, Shiva Kumar Basnet, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati, Fatik Bahadur Thapa, Suresh Kumar Karki and Prakash Jwala.

Likewise, Bhadra Bahadur Thapa, Pradip Kumar Gyawali, Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Omprasad Ojha, Dilliraj Khanal, Chandra Bahadur Shahi, Krishna Prasad Dahal, Tukraj Sigdel, Ratna Prasad Sharma Neupane, Sohan Prasad Chaudhary, Basanta Kumar Nemwang, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Devilal Thapa, Tarasam Yangya, Hitkaji Gurung, Hari Acharya, Lalbabu Pandit, Arjun Prasad Joshi, Som Prasad Pandey, Pashupati Chaulagain, Ananda Prasad Pokherel, Parsuram Meghi Gurung, Tirtha Gautam, Kamal Prakash Sunuwar and Sherdhan Rai also demanded clarification from the minister.

MPs asked to be present in House

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Taking special time at the Upper House meeting today, leader of the Main Opposition Party Yubaraj Gyawali said if the National Assembly becomes weak and ineffective then this will weaken the entire parliamentary system, democracy and the constitution.

Arguing that every bill should not be forwarded as a financial bill, MP Gyawali said MPs should be present in the House and give serious attention to every proceeding.

Following this, National Assembly chairman Dr Mohammad Mohsin subscribed to the view of MP Gyawali on the role and effectiveness of the Upper House.

Jagannath Poudel of Nepali Congress pointed out the need to supply quality fertilizers, establish an agriculture university and fulfill the target set by the Ninth Plan for the development of agriculture sector.

MP Laghudhan Rai said arrangement should be made to discuss and pass the bio-diversity management bill at the parliament.

CPN-UML’s Keshav Lal Shrestha, stating that executive director and chairman of Sajha Yatayat are going to sell six ropanies of land owned by Sajha Yatayat in Lagankhel at a lower price and by reducing the area of land, urged the government stop it and take action against the guilty persons.

CPN-UML’s Devraj Ghimire urged the government to change the time of taking photos for voter identity cards and give special attention towards making genuine voter identity cards.

Shanta Manawi, also of the CPN-UML demanded that industries based on medicinal herbs should be setup in the districts, Ayurved Department should be managed properly and Ayurvedic corporation should be established.

Bijul Kumar Biswokarma of Nepali Congress requested the government to revive the airport in Dang district and run the coal mine in the district.

HMG effortful to stop killing of people by Maoists: Joshi

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi has said the government is determined to fulfilling such basic responsibilities as creating atmosphere conducive to exercising civic rights, maintaining law and order required for building a democratic society as envisaged by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 and guaranteeing people’s rights and property.

Mr Joshi, responding to various questions raised by MPs at the House of Representatives meeting today, noted that His Majesty’s Government is making every effort to stop the killing of the innocent people in some districts by the so-called Maoists, incidents of arson, lootings and beatings, kidnapping and raping of women, damaging of public undertakings and telephone towers, collection of donations with threats and other activities.

The state has made arrangements for schooling of children of the families affected by the terrorists and their rehabilitation, treatment of the injured and financial aid to families of victims, and His Majesty’s Government has also pursued the policy of helping those who are involved in terrorist activity if they want to live a normal life within the framework of the constitution, he added.

Denying the charges that arrests are politically motivated, detainees have been tortured and the people have been framed-up in false charges, the Home Minister remarked that the government is firmly committed to controlling corruption by making issues of public concern transparent and making home administration timely and service-oriented.

Stating that the special police department will be equipped with means and resources to make its work more effective, he said a computer network will be set up this year so that the presence, stay and departure of foreign tourists can be monitored in a transparent and speedy manner.

The government has already implemented the directory aimed at making facilities and services more effective in offices under the Home Ministry and monitoring committees have been formed under the chairmanship of concerned CDOs with the representation of national political parties which are represented in parliament and of the chief of the local offices.

As per the recommendations of the House of Representatives State Affairs Committee, some repair works on some prisons have been completed, available means and resources have been optimally used to improve the prisons and more facilities are being provided to inmates, he noted.

Recruitments, promotions, transfers, actions, etc have been taken in accordance with the police regulations in order to streamline the police administration, police personnel have been assigned in areas which are sensitive from security point of view as per certain standards, and the police personnel having worked in such areas, are transferred to more accessible areas, he added.

In keeping with the policy of boosting the morale of the police by rewarding those who do good work and punishing those who do bad work, 2,714 police personnel have been promoted, 1839 have given additional grades and 374 given cash prizes, while 719 have been retired, 69 suspended and 91 persons have had their grades freezed, the minister said, adding the government is determined to restructuring the national investigation department.

Noting that the government is determined to ensuring that our land is not encroached upon by any one and such problems have been solved especially in the no-man’s land through on-the-spot inspection and through talks between the officials of the two countries, the Home Minister made it clear that the drug control policy and laws have been enforced and various awareness-raising programmes are in operation to reduce the use of narcotics.

The local administration, the police and the drug control law enforcement unit are actively working to check production, distribution and trafficking of drugs, and actions have been taken against 645 persons, both natives and foreigners and narcotics have been seized, he said, adding since laws relating to girl trafficking, sexual exploitation of children and other social crimes are not adequate, works are underway to frame more stringent laws.

In the current fiscal year, a total 181 persons involved in girl trafficking are now facing action, he further said.

Stating that CDOs in some districts of the Far Western Region have already been directed to provide relief to victims of floods and landslides in coordination with agencies involved in disaster management, he disclosed that works are also underway at the centre for disaster management.

Efforts are being made at the diplomatic level to resolve the long-persisting Bhutanese refugee problem, he added.

The high-level committee formed under the chairmanship of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is working to find a solution to the Maoist insurgency which has gripped the nation and the government is determined to safeguarding the people’s life and property.

Those asking questions to the Home Minister were MPs Ishwor Pokhrel, Arjun Prasad Joshi, Pari Thapa, Ram Bahadur Bista, Fatik Bahadur Thapa, Mahendra Yadav, Sabitri Bogati, Ram Hari Dhungel, Shiva Raj Joshi, Pradip Kumar Gyawali, Suresh Kumar Karki, Ram Kumar Chaudhary, Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh, Janak Raj Giri, Bharat Kumar Shaha, Devendra Raj Kandel, Dilliraj Sharma, Harinarayan Chaudhary, Kunta Sharma, Hem Narayan Yadav and Nara Bahadur Hamal.

Similarly, Lalbabu Pandit, Hridayaram Thani, Omprasad Ojha, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati, Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi, Devilal Thapa, Nara Bahadur Budhathoki, Prakash Jwala, Bhadra Bahadur Thapa, Tilkumar Meyangbo (Limbu), Krishna Prasad Dahal, Prem Bahadur Singh, Urmila Aryal, Damber Singh Sambahamfe, Pashupati Chaulagain, Tirtha Gautam, Hitkaji, Bijay Subba, Bir Bahadur Lama, Romi Gauchan Thakali, Renu Kumari Yadav, Sherdhan Rai, N. P. Saud, Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Subas Karmacharya, Krishna Lal Maharjan, Ram Chandra Tiwari and Govinda Bahadur Shaha had also demanded clarification from the Home Minsiter.

‘Rules of Football’ released

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Minister of State for Education and Sports Dilendra Prasad Badu today released a book entitled "Rules of Football" translated into Nepali.

On the occasion, Minister of State Badu expressed the view that Nepalese football lovers would benefit from the book covering the technical aspects and rules of football, the most popular sports in the world.

Chairman of women football committee Mrs Geeta Rana, translator of the book Tikaram Shahi, committee secretary Rama Singh and former FIFA referee Mathura Ram Shrestha also expressed their views on the occasion.

MP Sukraraj Sanyok of Nepali Congress, praying for eternal peace to the departed soul of victoria cross recipient captain Ganju Lama, who died recently at his house in Sikkim, extended heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family on behalf of the ex-servicemen’s association.

CPN-UML’s Goma Devkota expressed concern over the May 19 report on women published in "Nepalipatra" arguing that it insulted women while Dr. Ramman Shrestha also of the same party demanded that the government give approval to the schools falling under the government quota.

Likewise, Bir Bahadur Singh, also of the CPN-UML urged the government to take stern action against those involved in destroying forest in Safabariya and Panchakul of Dang district while Lal Bahadur Bisworkarma of the same party drew the attention of the government to the problem faced by Khagade Khapade VDC of Kanchanpur district due to lack of banking services.

MPs Mahendra Kumar Mishra and Jeevan Prem Shrestha of Nepali Congress complained over the neglect of Upper House news by the government media.

CPN-UML’s Sitanandan Raya and Thammaya Thapa were of the view that the mike in the Upper House is not good and that the government should look over the fate of more than 100,000 Nepalese who have been stranded in a bid to go to the state of Qatar for work.

MP Chanda Shaha said government’s claim that every VDC has been provided with a VHF set is not true.

At the meeting chairman Dr Mohsin demanded that the government media should give attention to the proceedings of the Upper House and that the Minister for Information and Communications should give clarification to the House on this matter.

National interest basis for int’l relations, says Bastola

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola has said that Nepal has adopted the policy of formulating and implementing a foreign policy for developing international relations by safeguarding its national welfare, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Minister Bastola made this remark while answering questions raised by the MPs during discussions on the appropriation heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the House of Representatives today.

Implementation of a successful foreign policy plays an important role for the economic development and prosperity of a developing country like Nepal in the 21st century, Mr Bastola said.

As an active member of the SAARC, Nepal has been making efforts for the economic welfare, peace, happiness and prosperity of the people of all the SAARC member countries, Mr Bastola said, adding that as a result of the efforts being made by His Majesty’s Government, positive progress has been made organising regular meetings of the SAARC technical committees which have not been held for sometime. The meetings will contribute towards holding the postponed 11th SAARC summit conference soon on the basis of consensus among SAARC member countries, he further added.

Stating that areas of regional and multilateral cooperation would be broadened for the economic development of the country, Mr Bastola said that Nepal’s representation in the United Nations and its agencies as well as international financial institutions would be made more effective.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs said that Nepal would continue to take part in the peace keeping operations of the United Nations.

Stating that His Majesty’s Government had been raising voice from time to time to set up an international economic infrastructure under the United Nations to resolve the economic and social problems between developed and developing countries, Mr Bastola said Nepal remains committed to the principles and ideals of the non-aligned movement.

Mr Bastola stressed the need to speed up the momentum of mutual cooperation and interaction between developing countries for promotion of South South Cooperation.

Stating that His Majesty’s Government has the policy of further broadening and deepening the areas of traditional relations existing between the neighboring friendly countries, Mr Bastola said taking into account the growing economic activities of neighboring friendly country China, His Majesty’s Government has been making efforts to further expand relations and interaction with China to attain maximum benefit.

Mr Bastola said that His Majesty’s Government has been holding talks with the government of the People’s Republic of China and authorities in Hong Kong to end the system of visa for Nepalese visiting Hong Kong.

HMG is alert on managing the Nepal-India border in a scientific manner and technical teams under the joint technical committee concerning border of the two countries were working since 1981 to make the border planned and updated, Minister Bastola said, "the 22nd meeting of the technical committee concerning border held in Kathmandu in November 1999 has been undertaking repair, maintenance and reconstruction of the missing and damaged border pillars, preparing records of Dasgaja border encroachment, and making map in accordance modern technique".

Minister Bastola made it clear it has been the policy of the government to maintain the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Nepal and resolve the border disputes including that of Kalapani through dialogues.

He said the government is making effort to continue to hold talks with India to resolve the problem created by the construction of dam on the Rapti river.

Stating that HMG had requested the government of India through the Royal Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu time and again not to levy additional tax on the exports of Nepalese goods to India, Minister Bastola said that he had held talks with the Indian External Affairs Minister in this matter and he had given assurance to talk with the Indian Finance Minister on the matter.

This matter will be discussed in details during the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister to India and the problem would be resolved, he added.

Talks at ministerial and other levels have already been held to resolve the Bhutanese refugee issue, Minister Bastola said, adding that extensive discussions had been held to send a joint task force for the verification of refugees at the ninth ministerial meeting held at Thimpu from May 22 to 25, 2000. Nepal had proposed to make the head of the family as basis for the verification and initiative has been taken for the use of Indian good offices to create positive atmosphere for resolving the problem through bilateral talks.

Referring to the effort made by HMG for the increase of pension and other facilities of the retired Gurkha soldiers from the British Army and the increase of pension from 100 to 192 per cent for them with effect from April 1, 2000, Minister Bastola said that the government would always take initiatives for the just and proper pension of the Gurkha soldiers by recognising their long and significant contributions to the British Army.

In the present context of the decline in the areas of bilateral economic cooperation among the developing countries, and international commerce and trade covering these areas, it has become inevitable for us to make drastric change in our conventional foreign policy by making economic diplomacy an important part of our foreign policy, he said.

Pointing out the need to review the organisational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nepalese missions abroad to enhance their efficiency, Minister Bastola said HMG is making effort to enhance the professional skill and efficiency, make them more dedicated, honest and committed in discharging their duties, and constitute a separate foreign services in line with international practice including that of the SAARC region.

MPs Homnath Dahal, Raghuji Pant, Bharat Kumar Shaha, Kunta Sharma, Suresh Kumar Karki, Ram Chandra Tiwari, Badri Prasad Mandal, Bijay Subba, Til Kumar Meyangbo, Ram Bahadur Bista, Dambar Singh Sambahamfe, Dr. Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Nara Bahadur Hamal, Krishna Kishore Ghimire and Prakash Bahadur Gurung had sought clarifications from Minister Bastola.