Dr Chandran felicitated

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, April, 17: Nepal Kidney Care Foundation (NKCF) felicitated Dr. P. Rabi Chandran of MIOT, Chennai, India, recognising his significant medical support to noted literary figure Yagya Nidhi Dahal amidst a function organised here this afternoon.

Dr. Rabi Chandran, 35, had successfully transplanted kidney to Dahal just a few months back in MIOT, India. Out of the total 350 patients whom Dr. Rabi Chandran has transplanted the kidney so far there are 50 from Nepal.

Grateful Dahal, other kidney patients and their relatives felicitated Dr. Rabi Chandran by offering him garlands and presenting him some token of souvenir. At the programme organised in association with Khotang Sewa Samaj and Yagya Nidhi Dahal Health Care Committee, Dr. Rabi Chandran said that he would visit Nepal every three months to follow up his Nepalese patients.

Talking about the kidney transplantation facility in Kathmandu the most famous visiting doctor from India said that it was not manpower and technical support but commitment and willingness which were a must for the establishment and successful operation of any health institution. Dr. Rabi Chandran has 99 per cent success story with him in his field of kidney transplantation.

Hailing the contribution made by Dr. Rabi Chandran, president of NKCF Bharat Lal Shrestha said, "It is the sense of service that makes the family, society and the country exist."

Meanwhile, he said that along with the NKCF the government should also launch awareness generating programmes to help people become aware of kidney disease. But he criticised the government for not giving any subsidy to the kidney patients. "Why should they not be given a small amount of money when victims of political oppression and others are given a certain sum of money?," he asked.

NC Lalitpur dist panel constituted

Lalitpur, Apr. 17 (RSS): A 21-member Nepal congress Lalitpur district executive committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Mr Sagar Shumsher J. B. Rana.

Rudra Sharma, Jagat Raj Shakya, Dwarikanath Khanal and Kedar Bahadur Amatya are the vice-president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer respectively of the NC district executive committee.

Mukunda Shrestha and Rishiram Ghimire of constituency No. 1, Chandralal Chitrakar and Chandra Bahadur K.C. of constituency No. 2, and Govinda Maharjan and Krishna Bhakta Maharjan of constituency No. 3 are members of the NC district executive committee.

Japanese team felicitated in Pokhara

Pokhara, Apr. 17 (RSS):

A 31-member delegation from Komagana municipality, Japan now on a visit here to establish sisterly bonds with Pokhara sub-municipal corporation, was heartily felicitated by the Tamu Ghi, Kaski, here today. The delegation is headed by mayor of Komagana municipality Masajumi Nakahara.

The delegation was welcomed with bouquets and garlands and presented gifts by the president of Tamu Ghi, Karma Tamu, and other functionaries.

At the function, Pokhara mayor Krishna Thapa said that the friendly ties between Komagana and Pokhara would continue for ages to come.

Mayor Nakahara said that if institutions and organisations in Japan and Nepal could join hands, the pace of development would accelerate.

A cultural programme was also staged on the occasion.

Power cut is here to stay another fortnight

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, April 17: With the mercury not rising considerably yet and thus the snow-fed rivers still running low, the ongoing load-shedding may continue for another fortnight, officials at Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said.

"It looks like the load-shedding will go on for another 20 days," said Govinda K.C., Generation chief at NEA. "Once the temperature rises the glaciers will melt and our rivers will have enough water paving way for the run-of river plants to generate enough power." The recent rainfall, according to K.C., did not help the authority to increase its generation, though. "The rainfall was almost negligible."

It has been around one month NEA has resorted to power cut at daytime since its generation went down due to the dry weather. The authority has managed to supply power in the night and in the evening with the help of load-shedding at daytime. Collecting water in some of the run-of-river projects like Trishuli, Modi, Marshyangdi, during daytime, NEA has been meeting the power demand at the peak hours in the evening and night.

"There have been slight improvement in the flow of rivers like Sunkoshi River," said K.C. "That is the reason why Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project is now generating around 30 MW power – up from 27 MW until few days back." Run by an Independent Power Producer, Bhotekoshi’s installed capacity is 36 MW.

According to its current schedule, any given area has to undergo without power for six hours a day – between seven a.m. to seven p.m. During holidays and strikes, however, the duration of load-shedding is less. "That is because during these days factories and other utilities do not consume electricity and we have surplus power," said KC. "At such times, we become lenient and supply more power than what was scheduled."

And what about the frequent power cuts besides the declared routine power-outage? "That could be because of technical faults," said K.C. "We have some sub-stations going out of order due to lightning and that could be the reason of the power outage even during the non-scheduled times."

The ongoing power cut is basically due to the shrunk output of the run-of-river projects – both of NEA and Independent Power Producers – that account to almost 75 per cent of the around 400 MW installed capacity in the national grid. As a result of the double trouble — no adequate rain and insufficient heat not melting the Himalayan glaciers — NEA’s installed capacity has gone down to 300 MW.

In terms of energy, the country needs 3600MWh (Mega Watt hour) of electricity in a year, while it is short of 240 MWh now.

During dry weather like this the run-of-river project’s capacities drop to their lowest as rivers have significantly low flow while wet season has the snow-fed rivers and rivulets swelling and gushing down thus allowing the run-of river power plants operate to their maximum capacity.

During monsoon, NEA has to buy the surplus power from the IPDs even as the extra electricity goes down the drain.

With the run-of-rivers proving to be insufficient during dry season, NEA officials are considering one more storage type project. So far, NEA has only one storage type hydroelectric plant – the combined 60 MW Kulekhani I and 32 MW Kulekhanin II. In the wake of inadequate rain of late, even these two power plants are under-working.

"Under the present circumstances, we need to have at least one more storage type project," Devi Bahadur Thapa, Development Chief at NEA had told The Rising Nepal last week. "Therefore, we are already working toward that end," he had said.

ACA helping Nepal

Kathmandu, Apr. 17 (RSS):

A.C.A., an international non-governmental organisation of Japan has been providing assistance to Nepal for the development of education and agriculture sectors as well as for carrying out cultural and afforestation programmes.

The organisation which started its programmes in Nepal since 1993 has constructed a number of school buildings in Kirtipur, Goldhunga, Kabhre, Parvat, Dolakha, Lalitpur, Dhading and Nuwakot.

It has also been providing scholarships, launching afforestation programme and installing wireless sets in remote areas of various districts, chairman of the organisation Sugahiko Sugimoto informed the press meet organised here the other day.

According to Mr. Sugimoto, Nepalese farmers have been sent to Japan for training from time to time and musical instruments provided for enhancing cultural relations between the two countries.

A.C.A. has been meeting 70 per cent of the total cost for the project in which local people contributes 30 per cent voluntary labour.

Cattles affected by foot and mouth disease

Dhanding, Apr. 17 (RSS): The cattles of Maidi Village Development Committee located about 12 kilometers away from Dhadingbesi, the headquarters of Dhading district, have been affected by foot and mouth disease.

Altogether 683 cattles (cows, bulls, buffaloes and goats) of Maidi VDC have been affected by the disease, according to field report.

The number of cattles affected by foot and mouth disease is expected to rise above 1,000, according to chief of the district livestock services office Dr. Guru Prasad Khakurel

At present 450 cattles have already been vaccinated against the disease, Dr. Khakurel said.

The foot and mouth disease is caused by lack of minerals in the livestock feed as well as cleanliness in the cattle sheds.

Dr Khakurel said that green pastures should be developed and attention to cleanliness given in order the check the spread of the disease in future.

Assistant exam controller expelled

Rajbiraj, Apr. 17 (RSS): An assistant examination controller has been expelled from the examination centre for his misconduct in conducting the SLC examination in the district.

According to district education officer Ram Briksha Shah, assistant examination controller Kamalesh Tiwari of Raj Devi Secondary School examination centre and some invigilators of Kachandaha examination centre Khadga Lal Chaudhari and Jagadish Yadav were expelled for their misconduct.

Fourteen persons who were involved in illegal activities at Bhagawatpur examination centre had been taken into police custody and released three hours later, superintendent of police Narayan Acharya said.

A total of 3,344 regular students and 746 exempted students are appearing in SLC examination from the district. Of these students, 42 students are said to have been absent.

Nepal Night organised in Singapore

Kathmandu, Apr. 17 (RSS): Nepal night was organised by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and RNAC in Singapore with the objective of promoting Nepalese tourism.

During the Nepal night programme, the visitors were provided information about wildlife reserves, trekking, rafting, mountain sightseeing and other aspects of Nepalese tourism.

Folk dances reflecting Nepalese culture were also staged on the occasion.

Executive chairman of Nepal Tourism Board Pradip Raj Pandey and director of RNAC external and public relations department Mohan Prasad Khanal shed light on Nepalese art, culture and literature.

Likewise, Tourism Entrepreneurs of RNAC and the Nepalese private sector had taken part in the PATA Travel Mart organised in Singapore.

Panchatantra fables to go on show at Vajra

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 17: Studio 7 is presenting a dramatisation of some selected fables from "The Panchantatra", a well-known collection of ancient tables, from April 20 to May 6 this year at Hotel Vajra.

Panchantatra is preaches of a wise conduct of life. Its message is as true, relevant and valuable as it was 500 years ago when it was composed.

The show will be organised on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7.15 P. M.

Agro-industries vital: Minister

Itahari, Apr. 17 (RSS): Manakamana cold storage has been set up at Itahari municipality Ward No 9 Balaha at a cost of Rs 36 million for storing and marketing agricultural produce of the local farmers.

The cold storage has the total capacity of storing 4,000 metric tons of vegetables and fruits.

At present the Manakamana Cold Storage has built a cold store building with the capacity of storing 2,000 metric tons of vegetables and fruits by mobilising Rs 17.6 million, according to chairman of the Manakamana Cold Storage Makum Mehta.

Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Prakash Koirala inaugurated the Manakamana Cold Storage at a function here yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion Koirala said the main reason for increase in underground Maoist activities is lack of employment opportunities in the country.

Koirala expressed the view that the Maoist problem could be solved by setting up industries which provide job opportunities.

Stating that job opportunities could be increased by setting up big industries in the country, Koirala said that development of agro-industries would strengthen the national economy.

At the inaugural function chaired by chairman Mehta, NC Sunsari district president Ram Bahadur Basnet, secretary of the RPP Sunsari district committee Gopal Koirala, president of the Sunsari district NSP committee Kishore Chandra Biswash, chief district officer Baman Prasad Neupane, regional agriculture research officer Chittaranjan Yadav, Sitaram Mehta, Buddhi Katuwal and Narayan Thapaliya also expressed their views.

Meanwhile in Rautahat, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Koirala said that further investigation is undergoing after finding guilty the forest secretary and Timber Corporation Nepal (TCN) general manager by the investigation team formed after popular discontent arising on the sales through direct order of timber fallen after storms as well as irregular felling of trees in various districts.

Koirala made this remark while talking to local journalists at Chandranigahapur of Rautahat, yesterday.

He said he has not yet received the report of the investigation team on the irregularities and that further investigation will be made and decision taken on the report received, adding that he has been giving special priority on protection and promotion of the forests.

Minister Koirala directed the forest officers, assistant forest officers, rangers and other employees of Bara, Parsa, Makwanpur, Rautahat, and Sarlahi districts to work honestly after meeting them separately and took stock of the district forest offices.

Minister Koirala went to the house of NC worker and chairman of the Gamhariya VDC Parsa Mahammad Fulwak and Mohammad Gayasuddin and consoled the victimised families for the loss made in the attack by a group of masked men.

He also took stock of the overall situation of the district after meeting NC party workers in various part of the district.