KMTNC to raise level of services at Central Zoo: Prince Gyanendra

Kathmandu, Sept. 11 (RSS): The fourth meeting of the Zoo Management and Development Committee was held under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah at the Visitor Centre of the Central Zoo today to review the progress on implementation of various reform measures and discuss the master plan update and fund raising strategy for the Central Zoo.

In his opening remarks, HRH Prince Gyanendra, the chairman of the Zoo Management and Development Committee said the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) assumed the management responsibility of the Central Zoo as this project could be helpful in promoting greater awareness and education for wildlife conservation and research.

"Our effort has always been to raise the level of our services at the Central Zoo to international standard," His Royal Highness said, adding "there has been considerable improvement but there are still a lot to do in terms of improving the physical facilities and enhancing wildlife research envisioned in the master plan."

Expressing satisfaction at the achievements of the conservation education and friends of the zoo programme, His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra observed that the recent meeting of South Asian Zoo directors, the conservation breeding specialists Groups-South Asia and South Asia Zoo Education Workshop hosted by the Central Zoo have been very useful to establish a network for consultation and cooperation among the zoo of SAARC region.

At the meeting, director of the Central Zoo R.K. Shrestha presented a strategy paper on sustainability of the Central Zoo while veterinarian Dr. B. K. Jha presented a report on animal management.

Likewise, conservation education officer Ang Phuri Sherpa presented a report on conservation education activities while Dr. Sanjiv Shah presented an updated physical design of the Zoo Master Plan.

The meeting was attended by members of the Central Zoo Management and Development Committee composed of prominent personalities representating various sectors interest in wildlife conservation and sustainable development.

The Central Zoo was set up in 1932 by the then prime minister Juddha Shumshere J.B. Rana as a personal collection of wild animals.

After the political change in 1951, the Central Zoo came under the ownership of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal and was opened to the public in 1956. Since then different departments of HMG had manageed the Central Zoo.

On the auspicious Golden Jubilee birthday of His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the Central Zoo Management was formally handed over the the KMTNC on December 29. 1996.

Kathmandu Utsav kicked off

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 11: The sixth Kathmandu Utsav kicked off at Tundikhel today.

"Business fairs play a crucial role to enhance trade and industry as they assist the industrialists and the tradesmen in gathering information about the consumers’ taste," Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel said addressing the inaugural ceremony of the regular pre-Dashain business fair organised by the Everest Exhibitions.

"Nepal has been unable to gain an image of a developed nation in the international arena due to the poor state of industry," Poudel said. "We should all put in our efforts to exploit the available resources and develop the nation."

Stressing on favourable policies and their true implementation, Poudel said that the government, the private sector and the countrymen should make a common commitment to utilise the available resources and promote trade and industry.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said that such fairs not only catered to the needs of the consumers but also helped enhance trade and industry.

Shrestha said that work was underway to simplify the rules to facilitate foreign exhibitors’ participation in business fairs.

Nepal Chamber of Commerce’s second Vice-President Surendra Bir Malakar said that business fairs should be encouraged to boost economic activities in the country. Malakar stressed on the need to build an international standard exhibition site to aid such activities.

On behalf of the organisers, Everest Exhibition’s Managing Director Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar said they aimed at giving the fair a commercial dimension. Claimed to be the biggest ever business exhibition, the weeklong event has brought together over 200 exhibitors from home and abroad, more than 50 from India.

Besides having a lot to offer to the consumers, the event will feature diverse entertainment programmes for all age groups, Rajkarnikar said.

The organisers also felicitated Pashupati Giri, Hari Prasad Giri, Mahesh Lal Pradhan and Raj Bahadur Chipalu for their outstanding contributions in the field of commerce and industry.

The event has been sponsored by Tuborg beer, Nepal Bangladesh Bank, Kwality ice-cream, Nepal Samacharpatra, Gill Marry whisky and Pepsi.

Joshi stresses consensus to curb terrorism

Kathmandu, Sept. 11 (RSS): Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi has stressed the need for a understanding among all political parties to control terrorist activity.

Home Minister Joshi who was speaking at an all-party discussion programme on the law and order situation and development problems in Rolpa district here today said the conclusions of the discussions among various political parties will be acceptable for the government to expedite development process in the district.

He also informed that with the objective of initiating development works in the Maoist affected districts, the government has, as an experiment, introduced basket fund programme.

Madhav Acharya of Nepali Congress, Kumar Dasaudi of CPN-UML, Raj Kumar Kakshyapati of National People’s Front and Daljit Poon of RPP also expressed their views at the programme that was presided over by DDC chairman Amrit Gharti.

IGP Achyut Krishna Kharel, DIG of the Mid Western Region Rajendra Bahadur Singh and DIG at the police headquarters Bhuvan Chand Bhatta also took part in the programme.

Also today, Home Minister Joshi addressed the district-based office chiefs.

On the occasion, he said since the employees will be evaluated on the basis of their performance they should dedicate themselves to providing prompt services to the people.

The government will provide every possible support to the employees working in a remote place like Rolpa, he said.

Addressing a gathering of NC workers today, he asked the party workers to intensify political activities in the villages so as to familiarise the people with the NC line of thinking.

Appreciating the patience and commitment demonstrated by the people of Rolpa towards democracy, he expressed his commitment to provide due relief assistance to the Maoist affected families.

Nepal Tarun Dal president Balkrishna Khand said as the terrorists are all out to finish off democracy all the political parties should unite against the terrorist activity.

The Home Minister also inspected the Ilaka police office at Thawang Pakhapani of Rolpa today and issued directives to the police personnel.

On the occasion, the Home Minister appreciated the commitment shown by police personnel for the benefit of the nation and the people despite a threat to their own lives.

IGP Kharel asked the police personel not to deviate from their duty and continue to work as true servants of the nation.

Meanwhile, in Birendranagar, Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi has said that all the political parties should have a common view for the development of Surkhet district.

Addressing an all-party discussion programme on the law and order situation and development here today, Mr Joshi urged all the political parties to unite and face the national problem relating to terrorist activities, corruption control, law and order situation and development works.

Stating the reign of power cannot be attained by killing innocent and poor people, Mr Joshi said that the people’s faith had to be won for this purpose.

The Home Minister made it clear that the government was ready to hold talks with the Maoists within the framework of the constitution.

Addressing a gathering of the head of various offices in Surkhet district today, Home Minister Joshi said that as the employees were the mean for taking the government’s policies and programmes to the people, the employees should fulfill their responsibilities sincerely.

Laws handicap RNAC: Chataut

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 11: Existing laws have obstructed Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) to be equipped with adequate number of aircraft to operate both in the domestic and international sectors, Tarini Datta Chataut, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said here today.

Lengthy process in acquiring aircraft or even to repair them has hindered the daily function of the national airline, he said inaugurating the Half Yearly meeting of Hotel Association Nepal of (HAN) today. "As a result, RNAC is in deep soup as it does not have adequate number of aircraft to fly even during emergency situation."

Chataut referred to the recent case of landslides at Krishna Bhir section of Prithvi Highway. "Since land transportation came to a halt due to the landslide, I received calls from my higher ups to increase flights to different domestic routes. But I could do nothing since RNAC does not have the required number of aircraft."

The minister said RNAC has been suffering due to the lengthy process while leasing aircraft. "We have invited global tender for five times to lease a Boeing but we have not been able to lease an aircraft."

Citing yet another example of delay in decision making process, he said that one of the two Boeings of RNAC may be grounded any day since the process to approve the repair of its engine is taking quite some time. "A part worth 2.5 million US Dollars has to be replaced in the engine. But, the lengthy process that has to be adopted is delaying the work."

Speaking during the same meeting, Narendra Bajracharya, President of HAN said that the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA) has not been able to address the problems plaguing the tourism industry. "Ever since the ministry has been entrusted with the additional portfolio of Culture, its top officials are finding it hard to concentrate on the issue related to tourism."

He also claimed that hoteliers are paying the two per cent tourist service fee from their own pockets. "Others might be thinking that we are paying the fee collecting from tourists but we are actually paying the money from our own pockets."

Strikes and protests, according to Bajracharya, have plagued the tourism industry. "Since dirty politics in employees’ unions have disturbed tourism operators from providing services to tourists, the government should enforce the Essential Service Act to protect tourism industry."

Ajaya Sthapit, Honorary Secretary of HAN, said that Nepalese tourism industry should learn lessons from Singapore and Maldives. "Singapore has been a successful tourism story in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) while the Maldives has been so in SAARC countries."

Stressing on government’s investment for tourism’s development, Sthapit said tourist security has become a growing concern. "The incidents at Charikot, Pokhara and Gorkha — where tourists were looted recently — have pointed at the gravity of the situation."

Women empowerment for equity, says Paudel

Kathmandu, Sept. 11 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ramchandra Paudel, who is also looking after the portfolios of the Prime Minister, inaugurated a five-day national workshop of the chairpersons of women awareness and income generation programme district coordination committees at Lalitpur today.

Chairpersons of women awareness and income generation programme district committee of all the 75 districts are taking part in the workshop hosted by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare Women Development Department.

Pointing out the weaknesses and shortcomings seen in the implementation of women awareness and income generation programme, correcting them, holding extensive discussions on resolving the challenges likely to be faced in the future and formulating necessary strategy in this regard are the objectives of the workshop.

So far, 76,590 women in 8,510 groups have been associated with the programmes conducted in 940 Village Development Committees (VDCs). Under the programme, savings sum of Rs. 2.4 million has already been mobilised, it was disclosed at the workshop.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Paudel, referring to the women awareness and income generation programme introduced by HMG to uplift of women, raise their awareness and develop them economically, socially and politically, said that it did not belong to any specific party but had been introduced as a common programme for the entire Nepalese women.

He noted that the programme introduced as a campaign to raise the living standard of the impoverished women would help support in building a just and equitable society.

Mr. Paudel said, "all concerned should move ahead with enthusiasm and self-confidence to make the programme successful which aims not only to liberate women socially but also take the society towards changes".

The programme should be developed in the form of self-inspired cooperatives groups and taken ahead in an sustainable manner, he added.

Speaking from the chair, Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Mrs. Kamala Pant reaffirmed the commitment of the Nepali Congress government towards social, economic and political empowerment of the Nepalese women and said that all should work with dedication to make the programme brought to uplift the womenfolk successful.

Stating that implementation of the women awareness and income generation programme through the cooperatives would not be as easy as implementing it by forming groups, she said that gradual implementation of the programmes through the medium of cooperatives should be thought of.

Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare Urmila Shrestha said that the workshop should hold extensive discussions on resolving the problems and challenges encountered in the implementation of the programme.

Chairman of the National Cooperatives Development Board Deepak Prasad Baskota laid emphasis on institutional development of the cooperatives societies to provide continuity to the programme in an institutional manner.

Officiating director general of the Women Development Division Bishwa Prakash Pandit said that programme played a very important role in social mobilisation, rural development and building of just and equitable society.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Pratibha Devkota of the Women Awareness and Income Generation Programme and Annat Rijal shed light on the various facets of the programme.