Crown Prince gives away medals, prizes

Kathmandu, Nov. 5 (RSS): On the occasion of the 52nd auspicious birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev gave away medals and prizes to the winners of the Famous Grouse International Shotgun Foursomes Golf Tournament held at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort today.

HRH the Crown Prince is patron of Nepal Olympic Committee and National Sports Council.

Wishing good health and long life to Her Majesty the Queen, HRH the Crown Prince also lit a traditional oil-fed lamp on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, chairman of Regal Business Link and tournament organising committee Siddheshwar K. Singh said golf can play an important role in tourism promotion in Nepal.

Winner of the tournament, Binod Shrestha will take part in the International Shotgun Foursomes Tournament to be held in Scotland.

Melamchi loan negotiation at ADB Headquarters

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Nov. 5: Government officials will reach the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters in the Philippines next week to negotiate a 120 million US Dollars loan the multilateral agency has assured for the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP).

Four officials, one each from Ministries of Finance, Law, Housing and Physical Planning, and the Melamchi Water Development Board (MWDB), will be at the ADB Headquarters from November 15 through 17 this month for the negotiation.

The MWSB is expecting by tomorrow an ADB letter inviting for the negotiation meeting in the Philippines. Once the letter is received, the Ministry of Finance will submit a loan-negotiation proposal to the Cabinet for the go-ahead signal.

"After the Cabinet’s approval we will be negotiating the loan with the officials at the ADB Headquarters," said Dinesh Chandra Pyakurel, Executive Director of the MWDB.

If the upcoming negotiations are any indications, the ADB appears to be in the mood to clinch the deal as soon as possible. What backs that is the deadline – December 19 next month – the bank has set for the Melamchi loan approval.

"That is the day when the ADB Board will decide on the loan," Richard Vokes, Resident Representative of ADB to Nepal, told The Rising Nepal.

The bank’s increasing willingness to fund the project had become evident last month when it decided to increase its loan component for MWSP to 120 million US Dollars from its earlier commitment of 100 million US Dollars.

Officials here have dubbed ADB’s "push" as its "determination" to endorse the biggest ever drinking water project by the end of December. "They may have newer priorities lined up for the new year. They would like to sign the Melamchi deal this year because this was the project they must have slotted to be signed for this year," they said.

Meantime, several files related to the project have gained speedy momentum in a bid to pave way for the negotiations. The Kathmandu Valley’s Water Supply Sector Strategy will be reaching the Cabinet any time now, according to Pyakurel.

"The Resettlement policy and the Environment Impact Assessment of the project are already in the process to be approved."

And there are more developments – in line with the MWSP- donors’ conditionalities — that must have shaped up ADB’s readiness to chip in money for the project. The Nepal Water Supply Corporation Act, for instance, has already been amended allowing the private sector to take charge of the management.

As conditioned by the donors, two other Acts – Regulatory Act and Drinking Water Act – will be reaching the Parliament during its upcoming winter session.

The well-abided conditions and a positive Asian Development Bank – the co-ordinator among the MWSP donors — have pooled together to inject confidence into other Melamchi Donors. The Japanese Bank of International Co-operation, said Pyakurel, has already stated its readiness to fund 54 million US Dollars for the Water Treatment Plant component of the project.

Nordic Development Fund has assured an aid of around 10 million US Dollars by December next month while Swedish International Development Agency and Norad (Norwegian Aid Agency) will jointly okay a 50 million US Dollars grant for the tunnelling part of the project by January next month.

Billed at 340 million US Dollars as the base cost, the MWSP will initially divert 170 million litres of water through a nearly 27 kilometre long tunnel from Melamchi River in the north-east Sindhupalchowk District. Calculating the interest its loan amount will incur and other physical contingencies, the project cost will shoot up to above 430 million US Dollars.

If started by the due scheduled time next year, the project is estimated to be completed by 2006. In the later years, it plans to pipe in the waters from Yangri and Larke Rivers nearby Melamchi River to supply 540 million litres of water in a day.

Germans willing to invest in Nepal: Kruger

Mr. Bodo Kruger is the Honorary Royal Nepalese Consul in the Federal State of Hessian, Germany. He was appointed as the Nepalese Consul in May this year. Born in 1942 A.D. in Berlin, he joined the German Navy after completing his schooling. From 1972 to 1976 he held the post of the Section Chief of the Foreign Affairs Office. In 1994 he established his own company Krueger Asia Affairs (Technology Transfer, Consultant and Trade}. Having had a wide range of experience, he is interested in partnership or joint venture programmes with Asian countries and Nepal has a special place in his mind because he thinks Nepal possesses great potentials. In a talk with The Rising Nepal, Mr. Kruger expressed his views on many facets of the Nepal-German relationships and how it can be further fostered specially on the economic front. This is his first visit to Nepal, with his wife, after being appointed as the Nepalese Consul. Excerpts:

What motivated you to make this particular trip to Nepal?

I had heard much about this beautiful country and there was an urge in me to visit this Himalayan Kingdom with which Germany has excellent relations. I find it a very, very beautiful country. And I felt the motivation to come to Nepal because of my position as the Nepalese Consul to see the country for myself. Moreover, there are many German companies who are willing to invest in Nepal. This is also a point. The German-Asian Economic Partnership is an association founded in 1996 and is devoted as ‘a talking shop for economic co-operation between Germany and Asia’. This association has a particular advantage which I think will also be beneficial for economic cooperation between Germany and Nepal.

Did you find any glaring problems during your visit?

After I have come, I find there are many problems here specially in Kathmandu. I am astonished at what I saw. Among the problems are that of garbage and pollution. My idea is that when I go back to Germany I will discuss these things with German institutions and also talk with the German Embassy for more funds for Nepal. There is also a need for coordination with many institutions. I need the help of all including the Nepalese Embassy in Germany and others. Yet there has to be a lot of discussions on how to go about with the work.

What specific plans do you have for promoting Nepal-German partnership?

I also have a company in Germany which specialises in mainly technology transfer. There are opportunities for German companies looking for places in Asia to work in partnership which will also amount to technology transfer. And in this effort any feelers from Nepal too would be given preference.

Any similarities or differences that you find between Nepal and Germany and its peoples?

I have better feelings here and it’s interesting discussing with people. It’s easy to interact with people here than many other Asian countries. The people really impress you more. Nepal has what other countries do not have because nature’s gifts are very prominent. The only thing is that more information about Nepal must flow into Germany. I cannot tell everything as I have been here for only a few days.

What do you think about the potentials of Nepal in taking it on the path of development?

Many times, in Germany, I have heard that Nepal is poor but ‘what is poor’? In the shops, I found that one could buy anything. Nepal has great potentials the only need is to tap them efficiently. Nepal must not look for very big industries as it is a natural country. Tourism is the industry to be tapped as it can contribute much to the economy. Eco-tourism must be given preference. This, if developed, can create many jobs. But information about Nepal must be spread not only in Germany but all over the world.

Only in one particular area I find Nepal poor is the way it looks after the children in general who are the real future of the country. So make your children capable and the country will certainly become prosperous.

How did Germany achieve such remarkable development since 1945?

We cannot compare Germany and Nepal on the same level. But after unification we have many problems because it costs a lot of money. I have seen the time when I had visited East Germany my eyes were filled with tears, before the unification, and I saw what being poor meant. On that yardstick Nepal is not poor. Yes, Germany has developed because of strong determination and sacrifices of the people.

How do you see business relations between Nepal and Germany becoming stronger?

More information has to be exchanged between the two countries that is to say information technology has to be well developed for Nepal to gain. This will mean an increase in the volume of trade and commerce. There is very big scope and more can be done to make it beneficial to both the parties. I say that Himalayas and carpet are not enough.

Economy in Europe is very good though there are some problems like the euro-currency and oil. It is also very, very good in Germany at the moment.

Which particular areas, in your view, hold great promises for greater co-operation between the two countries?

I feel that Nepal’s policy must be to stand on its own feet. It should not depend on foreign aid or assistance. Nepal and Germany can do much business together. But that will happen when there is more interaction and exchange of information. But more information on the state of economy is necessary if things are to move forward. Moreover, plans and programmes must be fixed on a long term basis so that it will benefit both the countries.

Does politics and politicians have a vital role in a country’s development and people’s well-being?

Yes, they have. The political leaders must have a long term vision. Democracy is good and works must be done for the welfare of the public. A democratic set-up works as experience has shown in Germany also. Use of force to do things cannot work. The German way of doing things is ‘Yes, I will do it’.

You need a strong government so that they can start any good work and give continuity to it. If there any problem facing the country then all the parties must come together and try to find the solution.

What the country needs is small and medium type of companies or industries. In Germany too the medium type of companies are the most successful. Nepal must do its own work and not look south to India.

Finally, what do you hope to achieve from this particular visit?

What I hope to do is to acquaint the German companies of what is happening here and what can be done to further economic co-operation between the two countries. I am fresh here so I cannot tell my mind as clearly and make the people understand as I can do it other countries where I have long been acquainted.

I would also like to talk to the Tourism Ministry in developing the tourism industry. I think Germany and Nepal together have a very good chance to make anything in the future but at the moment initiatives must come from Nepal’s side.

Nepal is an independent country so it must chart its own path without being dictated by others. This is the truth I’m speaking.

Workers strength of NC: Koirala

Biratnagar, Nov. 5 (RSS): Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala has said Nepali Congress will remain vibrant only if its workers move ahead with a renewed vigor by maintaining good conduct and character.

Addressing a gathering of party workers organised at Dharan by NC Sunsari-1 regional committee today, Prime Minister Koirala said as workers are the strength of Nepali Congress they all should become alert and united.

A big conspiracy is being hatched to wipe out the Nepali Congress, Mr Koirala said adding if the Nepali Congress is wiped out democracy will cease to exist.

Since politics without principles is useless emphasis should be given to politics of principle, Mr Koirala noted.

Nepal’s politics now is not in a good shape and it has started to affect the villages also, Prime Minister Koirala said, adding that political stability is essential for development but the country has never got a stable government.

Prime Minister Koirala said the government is sensitive to resolution of the Maoist problem and will always keep the doors open for talks with the Maoists.

Workers committed to political party should not be disturbed by pressure and a person with political commitment should never carry out any work under pressure, he added.

At the same function Prime Minister Koirala released a book named "Bandi Yatanako Sibirbata" written by NC Sunsari member Giriraj Acharya.

NC central member and chief of the Women’s’ Department Mrs Nona Koirala was also present on the occasion.

NC Sunsari-1 regional committee chairman Chandra Prasad Shrestha presided.

Govt working to empower women, says Panta

Kathmandu, Nov. 5 (RSS): Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala Devi Panta has said that the present government is actively working for employment and income generation, and women empowerment in the present context of women being looked upon as the second class citizen.

At a programme hosted by Bhotu Indira Social Welfare Institution here today, Minister of State Panta said the government has launched women awakening and income generation programme with the objective of ensuring equal participation of socially and economically backward women in political and economic activities.

Director of the cottage and Small Industries Development Board Batuk Nath Dhakal said that as the participation of women in the field of cottage industries is increasing, the board has constituted a women’s section.

President of Cottage and Small Industries Federation Manu K.C., Dr. Kashi Raj Gautam and a host of other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by chairman of the institution Indira Sapkota.

On the occasion, Minister of State Panta gave away certificates to 10 women completing training in candle making.

Religious tolerance, institution of crown symbol of unity:PM

Itahari, Nov. 5 (RSS): Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that thanks to the exemplary religious tolerance of the Hindus and the institution of the Crown serving as the symbol of unity all the people from different castes, communities and religious backgrounds are living in perfect harmony thereby making Nepal a Hindu Kingdom.

Prime Minister Koirala was speaking at the inaugural function of the week-long Barahchhetra festival at Durbasaghat today.

Highlighting the religious importance of Barahchhetra, which is an important pilgrimage of the Hindus, he said necessary instructions have already been issued to formulate and implement a master plan for integrated development of the Koshi tappu Wildlife Conservation, Bishnu Paduka and Bijayapurgadhi.

Stating that the combining of spiritual and materialistic thoughts is crucial for human civilization and peace, he said no religion discriminates against anyone; it is the aberration that the thinking of a man and the social dynamics has seen today which has precipitated violence, wars and riots in the world today. He also said that the ultimate goal of all religions is non violence, welfare of the living beings, mutual love and friendship.

The Prime Minister also expressed his willingness to develop the Koshi Tappu and the surrounding areas into a place of religious and Touristic importance as soon as possible.

Raj Parishad Standing Committee Member Dr Swami Prapannacharya highlighted the religious importance of the Barahchhetra, while chairman of World Hindu Federation Narayan Prasad Pokharel alerted all against the conspiracy being hatched to give rise to disturbances in the Hindu Kingdom.

A host of other speakers also expressed their views on the need to develop Barahchhetra.

Convenor of the Barahchhetra Festival Organising Committee and Sunsari DDC chairman Arbind Mehta presided. At the function, Prime Minister Koirala released three books on religion written by poet Laxmi Prasad Acharya and Kaviman Bajracharya.