All parties meet to solve garbage issue

Kathmandu, July 16 (RSS): An all-party meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ram Chandra Paudel to resolve the problem of waste management in Kathmandu valley decided to make available briefs of all study reports and efforts carried out by the ministry to all political parties for waste management, develop Okharpauwa as a dumping site for long-term solution of the problem and start without delay work on setting up a recycling factory.

The meeting also decided to look for options including Syuchatar and Ramkot for waste management and use the Bagmati river bank from Guheshwori to Gokarna as a land-filling site without polluting the environment whatsoever on which a road will be constructed later.

According to the Ministry of Local Development, those attending the meeting were NC’s ex- minister Chiranjivi Wagle, central members Rewatiraman Bhusal and Chandra Singh Bhattarai and MP Ram Chandra Tiwari, RPP’s Jog Mehar Shrestha, Kamal Thapa and Bikram Bahadur Thapa, and CPN-ML’s Radha Krishna Mainali, Rajendra Prasad Shrestha and Govind Krishna Adhikari.

Anil Kumar Jha of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party, Hari Acharya of the Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal, Govind Duwal of the NWPP and Sunil Prajapati, Ghanashyam Sharma Paudel of the Samyukta Janamorcha and Kathmandu acting Mayor Bidur Mainali also attended the meeting.

A joint meeting held here today on behalf of the residents of Kathmandu Valley suffering from garbage problem has demanded that HMG immediately resolve the sensitive issue of garbage disposal problem.

Despite repeated proposals for resolving the garbage problem permanently through the establishment of a private sector company and continuous follow up the government expressed no concern over the issue, it is stated in a press release.

The organiers of the joint meeting were the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Travel Agents, Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, Board of Airlines Representatives in Nepal, Chefs Association of Nepal, Handicrafts Association of Nepal, Housekeepers Association of Nepal, Himalayan Rescue Association, Lazimpat Club, Nepal Incentive and Convention Association, Nepal Freight Forwarders Association, Nepal Association of Rafting Agents, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Association of Tour Operators, Olumpus Club, PABSON, PATA Nepal Chapter, Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal, the Explorers Group, Tourist Guide Association of Nepal, Thamel Tourism Development Committee and Women Environment Conservation Committee.

Visit to further enhance Nepal-India ties: Koirala

Kathmandu, July 16 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has expressed confidence that his forthcoming goodwill visit to India will be significant for creating an atmosphere of mutual trust between the two countries.

Prime Minister Koirala made this remark while talking to the delegation of Nepal Press Union at the Prime Minister’s residence at Baluwatar, today.

Describing the resumption of Nepal-India dialogue after an interval of four years, he said the meetings of Nepal-India high level task force, the secretary level and minister level meetings can be regarded as positive steps in this connection.

Koirala said a whole gamut of mutual interest of the two countries will be discussed during his open-minded goodwill visit to India.

The parliament was informed of his visit as he wanted everything about his India visit to be transparent.

A great achievement could be made if an atmosphere of trust is created between the two countries he said, adding that our policies on foreign relations are for resolving problems by identifying them through quiet diplomacy.

Foreign affairs is not an exclusive issue of a single party, rather it covers the relations between two or more countries, he said, adding that the issue of relations between the two countries is a sensitive issue and we should work as per our national interest by comprehending the sensibilities of both the countries.

The government has adopted short term and long term policies to resolve the Maoist problems, the Prime Minister said, adding that he will Prime Minister informed that the term of the Maoist Problem Resolution Committee headed by ex prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will be extended, adding that the committee will get full cooperation from the government and it should decide on how to move ahead.

He said there have been reforms in economic policies and plans, ministries have been reduced as per the report of the administrative reform commission, due care has been given so that there will be no politicisation of the administration, adding that there are plans for uniting the civil and trade union federations and for making the administration more effective.

Koirala said a bill will be presented at the parliament for giving more authority to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, corruption control and for the formation of special court.

The delegation of the Nepal Press Union briefed the Prime Minister on the meeting of the advisors last week and demanded that Nepalese newspapers be permitted to enter India without obstruction, the Press Union be given a plot for office building and presented demands on rights to information and press freedom.

The delegation led by Union President Kul Chandra Wagle was accompanied by ex presidents Ramesh Toofan, Tara Baral, advisors Shiva Adhikari, Sri Acharya, Govinda Adhikari, Rajendra Sharma, Tej Prakash Pandit, coordinator of the Foreign Relations Department of the Union Chiranjivi Paudyal, coordinator of the training department Anandaram Acharya, union secretary Tarun Paudel, treasurer Surya Nepal, and Shiva Prasad Bhattarai.

Kishunji national personality, says PM

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 16:Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala felicitated former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Baija Nath Bhattarai and Shiva Prasad Bhattarai amidst a special function organised by Aba Kalyan Sansthan, (AKS) an organisation established to look after the welfare of the Bhattarais’ community, here today.

They were honoured for their notable contributions in the political, social and education sectors of the country.

Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was honoured for his contributions to the cause of democracy and freedom and his incessant struggle for establishing an equitable and just society.

Likewise, Pundit Baij Nath Bhattarai was felicitated as he launched social and education awareness through erudite writings and publication of various books on religion, philosophy and Nepali grammar. He is also the first writer of Bhattarais’ genealogy.

Shiva Prasad Bhattarai, a social and political worker was honoured because of his social welfare activities and struggle for political rights.

In the programme, the two septuagenarian leaders—Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai—highlighted their long friendship and pledged to work together for the cause of democracy and national development.

Addressing the function Premier Koirala observed that Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is a national personality and should not be confined within an organisation alone.

Recalling his long political career with Bhattarai, Koirala said that their relation that was established since their student days, had witnessed a series of political ups and downs. "Nobody can destroy that factor which has made us so close and intimate," he said while dwelling at length about his long friendship with Bhattarai.

He commended Aba Kalyan Sanstha for bringing the two leaders to share a forum and said it should extend its hand to the social welfare activities.

Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said that he and Koirala were never unfriendly throughout their long friendship.

Bhattarai said that Maoists who have been engaged in murdering innocent people, need to be brought into a right path.

It takes time to speed up the nation’s economic development, he added.

Highlighting the multifaceted personalities of the honoured, AKS secretary Khagendra Prasad Bhattarai said that the organisation has been contributing to social, economic and education fields.

Chandra Prasad Bhattarai, Purshotam Sapkota and Bashu Ghimire also highlighted the contributions of the honoured personalities in the function chaired by ASK president Hom Prasad Bhattarai.

REDP empowering people, institutions

Kathmandu, July 16 (RSS): Rural energy which can be generated with a small investment and locally available resources and technical expertise, seems to be very effective to achieve the goal of poverty alleviation and conservation of natural environment through the promotion of community managed rural energy systems.

Started in 1996 by Rural Energy Development Programme of UNDP and His Majesty’s Government, the Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP) has been implemented in ten districts including Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Achham, Baglung, Myagdi, Parbat, Tanahun, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalanchok and Dolakha with the objective of alleviating poverty, the major goal of the current Ninth Five Year Plan. Keeping in view the effectiveness of this programme, it has been expanded to another five districts from this year.

The Ninth Five Year Plan has the target of reducing the number of people living under the poverty line to around 32 per cent from the present 42 per cent. According to an estimate based on one dollar per person per day income, the number of poor in Nepal is around 50 per cent.

As per the sustainable development paradigm, the programme follows the social mobilisation approach with the complete participation of the local people from the selection of the projects to its implementation process which not only help produce energy but also enhance the capacity of the local level institutions and the people in the process of national development.

The success of the energy development programme in the rural areas intends not only to produce energy but also acts for the promotion of efficient end-use technologies including non-farm activities, improved quality of life especially that of women and children, restoration of the natural environment and enhancement of the capacity of the rural people which certainly paves way for the development of energy and helps reduce poverty from the country.

The number of poor in Nepal is very high in the hilly region where they have no access to public services provided by the government because they are not organised. The programme helps the poor to be organised which may be very fruitful even to have access to the government services essential for reducing poverty. The rural energy development is initiated with the active participation of the local people which is popularly known as community mobilisation and is based on organisational development, capital formation, skill development, technology promotion, environment management and women’s empowerment.

The programme is very popular and effective in the rural areas and altogether 25 micro hydro projects with the generating capacity of more than 500 kilowatts have been in operation until the end of last march enabling around 20,000 people of the rural areas to have access to electricity which has a target of generating over 1,000 kw of electricity by the end of 2000.

Similarly, 300 solar pvs have enabled 1,500 people to have access to electricity for lighting and 300 bio-gas plants and 2,658 cooking stoves installed in the rural areas of Nepal not only help to start small income-generating programmes but also save thousands of trees used for fuel every year.

In the words of member of the National Planning Commission Dr. Shankar Sharma "The holistic approach that REDP has undertaken in the promotion of micro hydro is exemplary. This will enhance the economic level of the people at the grassroots and enable them to come out from the subsistence trap. If we look from the longer perspective, the electricicity will also have impact on health and education in the rural areas which ultimately have positive impact on poverty alleviation."

It is said that improved cooking stoves are very fruitful to reduce fuelwood consumption by around 30 per cent and help to start other technology oriented enterprises including agro-processing mill, rice hauller, cereal grinder, oil extractor, battery charging, poultry farming, water pump, sawmill, furniture and paper making and milk chilling centres have also been operated.

If we look at the villages where rural energy is generated or those in the process of generation, the most important contribution of this programme seems to be the rising awareness of the people. People are forming organisations, running literacy classes, initiating clean-up campaigns, installing drinking water taps and constructing toilets which are very positive for the development of the country.

Since we got electricity, we have a lot of opportunities and I think whole of our society has changed’, says Nar Bahadur Ale of Pyughar Village Development Committee in Tanahu district. Same is the feeling of Krishna Kumari Shahi of Gumlekh VDC of the same district. She says, "Electricity has brought lots of changes in our village. It has also helped a lot to children in their studies, with the generation of electricity, now we have agro processing mill, this has saved our time and labour. With the installation of improved cooking stove, a single bundle of firewood is enough for seven days which used to be enough only for three days before we got the electricity." she is also very happy with her husband’s poultry farming. "We make a profit of Rs.7,000 every three months which is a big amount for us", she says.

As of December 1999, altogether 1,423 community organisations have been formed in ten REDP implemented districts with altogether 28,484 members. A total of 14,589 members have been united in the 715 organisations formed by women alone. This is said to be a big achievement for the development of rural energy and generating awareness without which development of the society is impossible.

These organisations have enabled savings of more than three million rupees which can be provided as loans to the members for their daily needs or to start economic activities.

Rural energy is very fruitful for the preservation of environment. By the end of last year, 61 nurseries with a capacity of producing 100,000 saplings annually have been established in the REDP-implemented ten districts and 330,071 saplings were planted, 4,012 toilets and 1,503 waste-disposal bins have also been set up. The number of drinking water taps set up and renovated have reached 200 and construction and repair of trails have crossed 100 kilometres under the programme of environment management.

Chairman of Parbat District Development Committee Ganesh Prasad Timilsina says, "creating the feeling of ownership to the programme among the communities is necessary and this programme intends to do so." the programme which is very succesful in generating energy in the rural areas and creating awareness ultimately helps reduce poverty and needs to be expanded to various parts of the country especially the Mid- Western Development Region, which lags behind in development.

National programme manager of REDP Kiran Man Singh says the programme is very succesful to generate energy in the rural areas, people’s faces seem to be changed. There is full peoples’ participation and there is a demand of this programme every where. If we work sincerely like this, we can bring about changes within a few years.

Mr. Singh says the redp programme has been successful in achieving its objectives of alleviating poverty and conservation of natural environment through the promotion of community -managed rural energy systems. District development committees have demanded introduction of REDP programmes in other districts too.

The programme is very sustainable due to the strong participation of the people and the support of HMG and the UNDP. The US dollar 4.65 million programme launched in 1996 has helped create 25 micro-hydro schemes, 31 bio-gas, and 40 solar power facilities, introduced improved cooking stoves and has organised community groups to manage forest resources and tree plantation.

In the words of resident representative of UNDP Dr. Henning Karcher, "The unique feature of this programme lies in the fact that it does not choose technology as a part of entry, but social mobilisation of communities. Being accustomed to joining hands, engaging in savings and loan schemes and jointly building irrigation systems, roads and bridges, these socially mobilised groups assume, as a matter of course, responsibilities for operational costs as well as for maintenance and repair of the system they have installed."

The programme is very successful in mobilising people in the development efforts and is therefore necessary to be included in the national level priority programmes. Poverty alleviation is impossible without people’s participation, the use of local resources and expertise for which the government needs to promote REDP programme in order to achieve the goal of poverty alleviation.

Bhanu Jayanti observed in Sikkim

Kathmandu, July 16 (RSS): The 187th birth anniversary of pioneer poet Bhanubhakta Acharya was celebrated by organizing a variety of programmes at various towns in Sikkim state of India.

A procession was taken out at Gantok, the state capital, to mark the occasion.

The two kilometre-procession displaying tableaux and singing songs and performing dances in colourful costumes converged for a mass meeting on reaching the local stadium.

Ramayan recital, poems recitation, oratory contest and various cultural programmes were presented on the occasion.

Nepali litterateurs Kamal Dixit, Bairagi Kaila and Yadav Kharel, who were invited by Sikkim literary council, were also present at the mass meeting.

A film on the pioneer poet produced by Bhanu birth place development committee was screened for the public at the Baju Cinema Hall of Gantok.

Chairman of Sikkim Legislative Assembly Mrs Kalavati Subba, some ministers, legislators and senior officials watched the film.

Meanwhile in Nepalgunj, a talk programme and a poetry symposium was organised at Kohalpur yesterday by the Chandrama Literary Family Kohalpur on the occasion of the 187 th birth anniversary of pioneer poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya.

Speaking on the occasion, litterateur Nanda Ram Lamsal said the pioneer poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya has made a historical contribution to the Nepali language and literature and judging by the age he was living in he seems to be progressive in attitude.

Litterateurs Shyamal, Reshabh Birahi and Narendra Jung Peter said the debate over the pioneer personality of Bhanu Bhakta is futile because he deserves the place for his contribution in Nepali language and literature.

On the occasion, Shyamal, Reshabh Birahi, Asdul Latif Shauk, Jhalak Bikalpa, Yagyabikram Shahi, Siraj Khan, Bhanubhakta Bhattarai and Birati Ananda recited their poems and gajals

The programme was presided over by the Kohalpur VDC chairman Lut Bahadur Raut.