Forget bickerings of the past, NC workers told

Kathmandu, Oct. 31 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has urged Nepali Congress workers of all levels to move ahead unitedly so as to do away with the anomalies and aberrations existing in the country.

Prime Minister Koirala was speaking at a function organized by Birnath Memorial Trust on the occasion of the 14th death anniversary of freedom fighter and former president of NC Kathmandu district committee Birnath Karmacharya here today. Stressing the need for the party workers to march ahead by maintaining united thought and voice, and demonstrating a distinct character for the protection and consolidation of the party and democracy, he said the time has come for the NC rank and file to forget the bickering of the past and move ahead honestly with a new thinking.

He also asked all to follow the path shown by freedom fighters like B. P. Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh and Bbirnah Karmacharya, and make the people aware about their contributions.

The Prime Minister also appealed to the party workers to remain alert in the present context of the Nepali Congress and democracy coming under attack from all quarters.

Since the party draws its strength from the people, it should make the people the focal point of all its activities, he said.

One should first know oneself to know others, he said, adding one who fails to know oneself cannot imbibe the ideals and values of the late leaders.

Minister of State for Health Tirtharam Dangol, president of the trust and MP Shilupyari Karmacharya, ex-minister Marshal Julum Shakya, NC Kathmandu district member Nutan Thapaliya and secretary of the Trust Shanta Lal Mulmi spoke about the contributions made by the late Birnath Karmacharya to Nepal’s pro-democracy movement.

POL price stability fund suggested

Kathmandu, Oct. 31 (RSS): Experts concerned have suggested that the consequences of change in the price of petroleum products in the international market could be minimized by setting up a price stability fund, making regular adjustment of prices and lowering the cost to be met as a result of delay at the Harbour.

They also pointed out the need for a separate body to look over the sale and distribution and proper storage of petroleum products in the country, involve the private sector by putting an end to the monopoly enjoyed by Nepal Oil Corporation and expanding the storing capacity of petroleum products from one month to three months.

Speaking at an interaction programme on price of petroleum products in Nepal organised by the Institute of Engineering, energy study centre here today, ex-general manager of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and director of Nepal Lube Oil Ltd. Amrit Nakarmi said if NOC buys kerosene at an annual average price rate then the corporation would make a profit of Rs 520 million even if it sells kerosene at Rs. 19 per litre.

Price of petroleum products started increasing in the international market in February, 1999 but no adjustment was made in the price in Nepal, he said, adding the price was increased all of sudden without sufficient analysis and planning and this had a direct effect on the consumers.

According to a working paper presented by Mr Nakarmi, the use of petroleum products in Nepal is very nominal in comparison to that of neighbouring countries. The consumption in the USA is 3170 kg per person, 2835 kg in Canada, 2185 in Japan, 1480 in Britain, 170 kg in China, 82 kg in India and 35 kg in Nepal.

Looking into statistics of the past five years, the sale of petroleum products has increased annually by 12.41 per cent. Nepal spends about 40 percent foreign exchange in the import of petroleum products.

Dr Kamal Rijal of ICIMOD said as rise in the price of petroleum products will affect the socio-economic as well as the environment sector, NOC should constitute a separate body to provide continuity to the price.

Deputy general manager of Nepal Oil Corporation Rudra Bahadur Khadka clarified that the corporation was compelled to increase the price as a result of the increase in the international market but as a relief to the general public NOC has made a provision of providing 5 litre of kerosene to a family per month. The corporation will have to bear a loss of Rs. 2.4 billion as a result of this, he further added.

According to a statistics on energy consumption by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 88 per cent of the total energy consumption is met through conventional energy, nine per cent through petroleum products, two per cent through coal and only one percent through electricity.

The cost of electricity production in Nepal has increased by 3.5 times more than the import of kerosene and two times more than L. P. gas.

‘Democratic norms need to be put into practice’

Kathmandu, Oct. 31 (RSS): Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala has said that the norms and values of a democratic system should be put into practise in every sector of the society.

Speaking at an interaction programme on "consolidation of public education for social justice" organised on the occasion of anniversary of Ratna Child Trust and Constitution Day, Mr Koirala suggested that while formulating education policy the government should consult intellectuals of the society and formulate a policy as per the aspiration of the people.

MPs Jeevan Prem Shrestha and Bijul Biswokarma pointed out the need to reform the education policy.

Speakers at the programme also pointed out the need to wipe out social discrimination, enforce compulsory education, formulate long term education projects and enhance community participation in education.

Commenting that 30 per cent of children in the country are still deprived of education even though the government allocates 14 per cent of its budget in education sector, the participants expressed the view that priority in education should be given to some particular classes of people as well as vocational and technical education.

Taking part in the programme organised by social welfare council, Ratna Child Trust were ex-MP Man Bahadur Biswokarma, Dr Tirtha Khaniya, Social Welfare Council member-secretary Dr Tika Pokhrel, Dr Madhav Bhattarai, Dr Parasar Koirala, Dr Umakant Silwal, Keshav Bhattarai and Dhananjaya Sharma.

Maithili meet to be held in Biratnagar

Biratnagar, Oct. 31 (RSS): The 8th international Maithili conference is to be hosted at Biratnagar from December 23 to 24.

At a meet the press programme hosted by the International Maithili Council here today, convenor of the organising committee Ramrijhan Yadav said that 400 to 500 Maithili speaking people from India, Canada, US and Nepal are expected to take part in the conference.

The two-day conference is slated to deliberate on the problems in preserving and nurturing the Maithili language and other various related topics. Apart from honouring litterateurs, journalists and artists making outstanding contributions for the protection and promotion of the Maithili language, a cultural festival will also be staged on the occasion.

Responding to the queries of the journalists, general secretary of the international Maithili council Nepal Umesh Kumar Jha said that this is the second time that the conference is being held in Nepal.

While the number of Maithili speaking people in Nepal and India is about 40 million, the number in Nepal is 2.1 million, it was informed on the occasion.

Two wounded as police clash with gamblers

Chautara, Oct. 31 (RSS): Kanchha Lama and Saila Lama, both residents of Lista VDC, sustained severe injuries during a confrontation between police and a group of gamblers at the dam site in Mankha VDC ward No. 1 on Friday night.

According to a report received here, police sergeant Bijaya Khadka and three other police personnel from the Lamosanghu police post intervened in Tihar gambling that was going on at the residence of Dinesh Shrestha and snatched Rs. 49,000/- along with the sea shells used for the gambling.

As a result of the police intervention, a squabble broke out and resulted in manhandling and the injuring of two gamblers.

The injured were admitted to Om Nursing Home in Kathmandu for treatment, and one of them, Kanchha Lama, has since been discharged, it is learnt.

Immediately after receiving a report about the clash, the district police office sent a police inspector to investigate matters and the Rs. 49,000/- including a torn Rs. 1,000/- note along with the shells were seized from sergeant Khadka.

Sergeant Khadka and Eka Narayan Shrestha, Dhrub Narayan Ranabhat and Bel Bahadur Thapa who accompanied him have been detained in at the quarters guard at the district police office for acting without the permission from the district police office and departmental action is being initiated against them, deputy superintendent of police Ravi Shrestha said.

According to him, following the incidence, all police personnel at the lamosanghu police post have been recalled and another team deputed there under the command of a sub-inspector.

Mountaineering federaton holds meet in France

Kathmandu, Oct 3l (RSS): The general assembly of the International Mountaineering Federation was held recently at clairemont near the French capital Paris.

Representing Nepal on the occasion was a delegation led by Nepal Mountaineering Association chairman Tashi Jangbu Sherpa and including first vice chairman Ang Chirring Sherpa and joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Shankar Prasad Koirala.

On the occasion, an official of the Basque Alpine Club in Spain handed over to chairman Sherpa old posters pertaining to Mountaieering which are worth preserving, assurances of finanical assistance from the Alpine Club in the near future were also received.

The general assembly was informed that the golden jubilee of man’s first ascent of the world’s highest mountain would be observed by Nepal Mountaineering Association from June l, 2002 to May 3l, 2003 with a diverse programme of adventure tourism and sport aimed at promoting tourism in Nepal. The general assembly considered the programme very appropirate and wished for its success.

The delegation also visited an international mountaineering exhibition in Salzburg, Austria and acquired useful information for the International Mountaineering Museum which is now under construction. During discussions with exhibition committee officials agreement was reached on holding further discussion in Nepal on extending technical help for the International Mountaineering Museum and paying a visit to the construction site in Pokhara.

Meanwhile, five members of the KF Baruntse Expedition of Japan have reached the summit of the 7129 meter high Mt. Baruntse via the south east ridge at 2:20 p.m. on October 17, it is learnt from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation today.

The summiters leader Masaki Hayashi, Osami Higashi, 32, Kazushi Takeuchi, 37, Yasushi Matsuta, 39, and Ang Phuri Lama, 51 had spent 10 minutes on top of the peak.

Likewise, four members of the Monza Club Ama Dablam expedition of Italy have scaled the 6812 meter high Mt. Ama Dablam via the south east ridge on October 18 and 19, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The summiters are leader Uusdeo Ferdinanda, 62, Erba Angelo, 53, Fumagali Raffaele, 45, Bramati Mario, 53, Castelnuovo, 44, and Bramati Mario, 53.

They had spent one hour on top of the peak.