|
|
‘Make education free from politics’ Nepalgunj, Mar 11 (RSS) Addressing the concluding session of the seminar,
Banke DDC chairman Omprakash Jung Rana called on the teachers to free themselves of
political prejudices and parochialism and to strive for their professional development and
service. NNTO district president Dambar Subedi presided over
the programme. Nepal Intellectuals’ Council, Banke district
convenor Diwakar Sharma, regional convenor of INSEC Tanka Bhattarai and former NNTO
district president Sarada Prasad Koirala presented separate working papers on the first
day of the seminar which was inaugurated by NNTO central vice-president Madhav Neupane. In their working papers the presenters have
stressed the need of a timely education policy and the need to resolve teachers problems. Some 200 persons including teachers and chairmen of
various schools in the district took part in the seminar. Meanwhile in Kathmandu, a meeting of the “Dikshya-Daksha
Sewa “ award trust has constituted a nine-member working committee under the
chairmanship of founder member of the trust Deep Raj Gurung. The award has been instituted
with the objective of encouraging individuals and institutions working in the field of
prevention and control of tuberculosis in Nepal. The nine-member working committee
comprises of Dr. Dirgha Singh Bam as the vice-president, Hemanta Dangi as secretary and
Mrs. Devi Gurung as the treasurer. Similarly other members of the committee are Bhim
Bahadur Adhikari, B N Sharma, Subhash Aryal, Shivaji Shrestha and Bhoj Bahadur Shaha.
The “Dikshya-Daksha Sewa Award” with a revolving fund of Rs 100,000 and
set up by National Taekwando instructor Deep Raj Gurung is given every year on
March 24, the International Anti-Tuberculosis Day. Concrete steps to check pollution
urged Kathmandu, March 11 (RSS): Thirty science teachers from government schools
from 16 districts across the kingdom are taking part in the training which aims to impart
the trainees on-the-spot theoretical and practical knowledge on geology and environment. On the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Shaha observed
that since mankind was primarily responsible for environmental degradation, it was also
his responsibility to initiate concrete steps to reduce environmental pollution. Regional chief of the UNESCO for the saarc region
Prof. Mugiyadi said that the society, natural resources, economic development and
education were interrelated issues and training programmes such as this one were very
important in this regard. Prof. Mugiyadi also appreciated His Majesty’s
Government for introducing environmental education in the school curriculum. Programme coordinator, Prof. (Dr.) Bishal Nath
Upreti of the Department of Geology, Trichandra college, said that during the training 26
experts from various institutions and organisations would be impart training on topics
about geology and the environment. From the chair, secretary at the Ministry of Population
and Environment Dr. Govinda Bhatta said that even the general day-to-day human activities
could have a large scale impact on the environment. Campus Chief Dr. Siddhibir
karmacharya, coordinator of the Environmental Education Programme of the IUCN Dr. B D
Pandey and chief of the National Education Development Centre, Ministry of Education,
Ramavtar Yadav also expressed their views at the programme. Likewise in Kathmandu, the Ministry of Population
and Environment organised a day-long workshop seminar on “Population and Environment”
in Gulariya, the headquarters of Bardiya district, recently. Inaugurating the seminar, chairman of Bardiya
District Development Committee (DDC) Bharat Bahadur Shaha said that since population
growth has emerged as a big challenge for the country, seminars like this would go a long
way in addressing some of the issues associated with population growth and environmental
degradation. From the chair, Mayor of Gulariya Municipality
Govinda Pandey said that everyone should show the same degree of keen interest on
development concepts and the messages and conclusions of such seminars should be taken at
the people’s level. Joint secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment
Ananta Raj Pandey shed light on the objective of the seminar. Chief District Officer Khom Raj Nepal, Deputy Mayor
of Gulariya Municipality Hari Prasad Gyawali and under secretary at the Ministry of
Population and Environment Upendra Prasad Adhikari also expressed their views on the
occasion. A total of 55 persons including local people’s
representatives, representatives of various governmental and non-governmental
institutions, journalists and teachers took part in the seminar. Meanwhile in Kathmandu, the Ministry of Population
and Environment has directed all the vehicles using cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG) as fuel to compulsorily install the “In-built tank” within the time fixed
by the Ministry of Works and Transport since such vehicles were required to compulsorily
install the in-built device for security reasons. A press release issued by the Ministry
recently said work was being carried out expeditiously for setting up a gas-filling
station for vehicles being run by using LPG gas and such vehicles to be operated in the
coming days. The Ministry also said once the gas-filling station comes into operation, no
such vehicles would be allowed to use the general LPG cylinders. Similarly in Mahendranagar, the Environment
Conservation Camp, Mahendranagar, organised a district level inter-secondary school art
contest on the topic of tiger conservation Friday with the objective of raising public
awareness on the conservation of the tiger and its genetic species for future generations.
The topic for the art competition was “ I, the tiger in the park and the clean
environment around me”. Altogether 41 students from 23 schools had taken part in the
art contest. Sundar Bahadur Thapa of the Ganesh Secondary
School, Mursha, came out first, Santosh Agri of the Saraswati Secondary School, Ultakham,
second and Ratna Prajapati of the Bhrikuti Secondary School third in the competition. Hem Raj Joshi of Purna Secondary School, Airi, got
the consolation prize on the occasion. Deputy-Mayor of Mahendranagar Municipality Ishwari
Prasad Kharel, programme officer of the Environment Conservation Club Binod Shrestha and
club’s district coordinator Rajendra K.C. gave away prizes and certificates to the
winners of the competition. Lack of fund hits development
works Rautahat, Mar. 11 (RSS):Developmental work at Gaur
Municipality has been interrupted since the past two months due to a freeze on the funds
of the Municipality on the ground of irregularity. A controversy had arisen over the attempt of Gauri
Shankar Prasad Yadav, Mayor of the Municipality, to purchase 5 kattha 19 dhur of land in
the name of the Municipality for Rs. 550,000. The site was considered a convenient
location for the Municipality. In response to a complain lodged, the release of
funds has been interrupted and an investigation is going on into whether the land was over
evaluated, Chief District Officer Chandra Bahadur Karki said. The land reform and revenue office has been ordered
to hold up the land ownership certificate issued at the time of purchase of the land which
was in the name of the Mayor’s son, the CDO said. However, the Municipality has been permitted to
spent Rs 570,000 per month for administrative expenses including remuneration and
allowances, he elaborated. About 70-80 percent of the development work
has been interrupted due to withholding of the budget, the mayor said and made it clear
that he was ready to face any consequences in case irregularities and misappropriation of
funds are detected. Meanwhile in Nepalgunj, a drinking water supply and
sewerage programme is planned for the district in fiscal year 2000/2001 at a total cost of
Rs 14 million, the District Water Supply Office, Banke has stated. As per the programme, drinking water projects would
be constructed in Baijapur VDC, Kohalpur VDC and Beriya and Sunkhare of Khas Kushma
VDC while sewerage improvement project would be implemented at various wards in Nepalgunj
Municipality. According to the district water supply office, the
construction of these projects will be completed by fiscal year 2004/2005. Plants dying at Lumbini Garden Butwal, Mar 11 (RSS):Tree saplings at the Lumbini
garden are on the verge of extinction due to lack of proper steps for their
preservation. Out of 500,000 trees planted as per the master plan
prepared by the Japanese architect Prof. Kenjo Tange in 1979, only 191,000 survive. According to the master plan, sisau (dalbergia
sissu) trees of 40 species were planted in 1979 to develop 60 per cent of the 770 hectare
plan area. Most of the sisau trees planted in six phases in
three separate plots have already died. Out of 36,000 saplings planted from a nursery
developed from seed taken from the forest in 2036 B.S. as part of a new technique, only
5,300 have survived. According to the garden officer at the Lumbini
Development Trust Shabbir Ahamad Khan, the plants have died as the afforestation was done
without keeping in mind the nature of the soil in the region. The soil here is more alkaline and not porous
thereby causing the water to accumulate at roots which then die. The soil is therefore not
appropriate for the sisau tree. The depletion of the trees is also caused by
noncompliance with the advise of technicians and lack of security, Khan adds. He said if other evergreen species instead of sisau
had been planted there would not have been this problem. The trees are not growing well because of
infrequent pruning, only twice in 20 years. According to the Forest Officer of Rupandehi
Krishna Prasad Dhakal, the afforestation at Lumbini is monoculture (using a
single species only), fungus accumulates as the soil is not suitable and this causes the
plants to die. Dhakal also says trees should be planted after
breaking the hard surface soil. The significance of Lumbini forest is directly
associated with Lord Buddha as he was born there while his mother was resting on her way
to her maternal home. The Lumbini Area has frequently seen forest fires
and the villagers also habitually take timber and firewood from there. The
preservation of Lumbini forest is considered to be essential from the environmental
point of view as it possesses rare storks and about 300 species of birds. Tribhuvan Nagar (Dang), March 11 (RSS): A girl was
seriously injured when an explosive device went off at a field at Ward No. 4, Lalaura of
Manpur VDC recently. It is learnt that the thirteen-year-old Sabitri
Chaudhari who was collecting fodder at her landlord’s field was injured when a round
object planted at the edge of the field exploded. The girl who was found in an unconscious state
after the blast was taken to the Ayurved Hospital, Bijauri. The girl is out of danger but she has been referred
to be taken to some big hospital for further medical examination, according to the doctors
at the hospital. It is learnt three other girls who were collecting
fodder with her however escaped unhurt. Police
are investigating the incident. Nepalgunj,
March 11 (RSS): A fire at the house of one Jamil Ahmed in Ranjha
VDC here recently gutted property worth Rs 50,000. The fire was fanned out by strong wind. Earlier, three houses were damaged by strong wind
in Thakeri and Khajura VDCs. Meanwhile, a week-long disaster management training
has been held here for the fire brigade staff. Meanwhile in Chautara, two houses were gutted when
a fire broke out at Kalika village here recently. The fire which broke out from the two-storey house
of Maya Thapamagar destroyed property worth Rs 170,000 and a goat and a buffalo
belonging to Keshar Bahadur Thapamagar perished in the inferno, it is learnt from the VDC
office. Govt values art, culutre: Wagle Bhaktapur, Mar. 11 (RSS):The Department of Archaeology and Bhaktapur
Municipality jointly organised a two-day national workshop seminar with the objective of
collecting suggestions on preserving the historical 55-window palace of Bhaktapur. A total of 150 persons including historians, archaeologists, architects,
conservationists and other experts from other sectors are taking part in the seminar. The seminar basically aims at collecting suggestions on preserving the palace
by saving its unique woodcraft and frescos. Minister for Women and Social Welfare and Local Development Chiranjivi Wagle,
inaugurating the seminar, said it is our art and culture, the precious heritage of the
country, that makes us proud. Stating that society and government are equally responsible for preserving
the art and culture handed down to us by our predecessors, Mr Wagle noted that the
government has given top priority to preserving such art and cultures which form the main
basis of our national pride. The government is ready to help in preserving the 55-window palace listed in
the world heritage list, he added. MP Narayanman Bijukchhe complained that the government is delaying to declare
the historic city of Bhaktapur a cultural town. Mr Bijukchhe also underlined the need for the government to allocate more
budget to the Department of Archaeology entrusted with the responsibility of preserving
temples and other historic heritage and to take necessary steps to set up the Ministry of
Culture as a separate body. Bhaktapur mayor Prem Suwal, from the chair, disclosed that the municipality
had in the past garnered suggestions from archaeologists, conservationists, masons, etc in
preserving the artistic windows and frescos of the palace. Director general of the department Mrs Rhiddibaba Pradhan remarked that
unique architecture, heritage and art have helped Bhaktapur find a place in the world
heritage list. DDC chiarman Govinda Duwal demanded that timber should be provided free of
royalty for repairing mathas and temples in Bhaktapur. The 55-window palace built by the Malla King Bhupatindra Malla some 300 years
ago is now in dilapidated condition. Qualitative lab management stressed Kathmandu, Mar. 11 (RSS): The conference, which began with the slogan of ‘Quality assurance
in clinical laboratory for the twenty first century’, was
inaugurated by director general of the Department of Health Services Dr. B. D. Chataut. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Chataut said as qualitative laboratory services
are crucial for proper diagnosis of diseases, experts in this sector must ensure that
their services are reliable. On the occasion, Dr. Chataut also gave away certificates to life members of
the association. Dr. Chataut said the medical science laboratory sector lacks adequate
manpower and added that the department is trying its best for career development of the
existing manpower. At the function presided over by the president of the association Dr.
Nhuchchhelal Tuladhar, various other speakers including chairman of the Nepal Health
Services Council Bharat Jha, director of Bir Hospital Dr. Ram Prasad Shrestha, Dr.
Govind Prasad Shrestha of the National Public Health Laboratory and secretary of the
association Keshav Parajuli also expressed their views. At the conference, chief of the T.U Teaching Hospital public health lab and
reader Dr. Jiwan Bahadur Sherchan spoke on the cyclospora cayentaenensis which he
himself discovered recently, reader Dr. S.S. Malla on the qualitative lab
management, Basu Dev Sharma on blood bank and safe blood transfusion and director of the
Department of Microbiology/Bir Hospital Jyotsna Shrestha on the safety measures to be
observed by the laboratory staff. Two hundred members of the association working in the health science labs at
various government and private hospitals, clinics and non government
organisations’ medical science labs took part at the conference. President of the association Dr. Tuladhar said the association was
established with the objective of career development of the lab staff,
increasing the quality of works and reliability of diagnosis. The association has currently more than 200 members. Govt, Maoists should prepare for talks: Thapa Kathmandu, Mar. 11 (RSS): Replying to queries raised by
journalists at a party workers meeting organised by the rpp Kaski here today, Mr Thapa
said that it is not appropriate to think of fresh elections just because of differences in
the ruling party addidng that it is the duty of both the ruling party and the government
to do away with the uncertainly prevailing in the country. Pointing out that the rpp has
presented its views about the Maoist problem clearly before the committee formed under the
chairmanship of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, he said both the government and
the Maoists have to prepare the basis for talks and come forward. He further said it is laudable that
the government is holding talk seriously with India for the resumption of commercial
fights to Nepal. As the rpp (Chand) has joined up
with the rpp through a majority decision of the working committee it should be considered
a merger, but some technical matters have yet to be sorted out in this connection, he
said. Vice-chairman of the party Dr.
Prakash Chandra Lohani said that a liberal economic policy and privatisation are only the
means and not ends in themselves, and there should be no mistake about this. On the occasion, Bhuvan Pathak
disclosed that the central convention of the national democratic youth organisation will
be held in Pokhara on April 6. Meanwhile, in Pokhara, rpp central
president and former prime minister Thapa has said youths being the catalyst for change
must be disciplined and morally upright. Mr Thapa was inaugurating the first
Kaski district convention of the Rastriya Democratic Youths Organisation here today. Observing that country’s
national security is in danger and it is because of politicians that corruption has
increased, the rpp chief remarked that the call for national consensus made by the Nepali
Congress can have takers only if it creates an atmosphere of trust for other parties. Rpp central vice president Dr
Prakash Chandra Lohani stressed the need for the student organisation to act as a vanguard
for safeguarding of national interests. Youths should be vigilant against
those who exploit the poor and give protection to smugglers, he added. Various other speakers including
central president of the organisation Bhuwan Pathak also expressed their views at the
function chaired by Kaski district president organisation Balaram kc. Mahendranagar, Mar 11(RSS): The country has seen a great deal of development works after the
restoration of democracy, he said, adding that there is a need to move the backward
nationalities ahead by giving them opportunities. At the function presided over by the central president of the Nepal
Magar Association Gore Bahadur Khapangi, various other speakers including CDO of
Kanchanpur district Kaushal Dev Joshi, central president of the Nepal Women Magar
Association Bam Kumari Budhamagar, Dodhara VDC chairman Bal Bahadur Rana, social
worker Manav Sunar, district president of the association Bir Bahadur
Budhathoki and a host of speakers called for unity for the development of the Magar
community by maintaining their cultural identity. About 200 working committee members, representatives and observers from 50
districts of the kingdom have been participating at the conference. On the occasion, ex-assistant minister Pun honoured the elders from the
Magar community by wrapping shawl around them. |
|Headline| |Editorial| |Economy| |Features| |Sports| |Letter| |Past| |Home|
| Send your comments and letters to the
editor at gopa@mos.com.np 1999 © Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. P.O. Box 876, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, NEPAL. Tel : 977 1 220 773, 243566, Fax: 977 1 225 407. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without prior permission. No part of the articles which appear in the internet version on THE RISING NEPAL may be reproduced without the permission of Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. For reprinting rights, please write to us. Send us your feedback: contact us. |
