TRADE TALKS EXTENDED
Final agreement on crucial agenda today

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 4: The trade talks between Nepal and India scheduled to be finalised today got extended till Sunday as the two sides differed on certain agenda.

"We held extensive discussion on various agenda and are at the final stage," Commerce Ministry’s Joint Secretary Pusurhottam Ojha told the reporters after the officials from the two countries closed today’s meeting with an agreement to have concluding talks Sunday. "The talks will resume tomorrow morning to be followed by the final agreement."

Ojha denied controversies over any issues, adding that the two sides are yet to reach the final agreement on Nepal’s agenda of railroad extension to Birgunj and recognition of NS quality standard mark in India. Another issue that required more discussion was what the Indian side has called the excessive export of certain Nepali products to their country. Such Nepali items, according to them, include vegetable ghee, copper wire, zinc oxide, acrylic yarn, iron and zinc pipes.

Indian side has been saying that the export of these items to India has ‘surged’ over the years threatening the Indian industries and demanded for 30 per cent value addition in the import of these items into their country. The Nepalese side, however, has maintained that it was a natural growth and not a surge. The 1996 Trade Treaty allows duty-free access of Nepalese goods to India.

Nepal’s main agenda, besides railroad agreement and recognition of NS mark in India, include improvement of physical infrastructure at land-border customs points and co-operation between the two countries to establish export processing zones in Nepal. Nepal had put forward a 17-point agenda to discuss with the Indian officials.

The regular meeting between the officials of the two neighbouring countries began Friday under the provision of Nepal-India Trade Treaty 1996 with a view to identify the problems that have surfaced in process of its implementation and solve them bilaterally. The last regular meeting was held in 1999 in New Delhi, India.

The ongoing meeting that is taking place five months before the Treaty completes its five years of enforcement has been attached special importance by both the countries although the bilateral accord has a provision of an automatic renewal in every five years unless one of the parties gives a three-month advance notice seeking amendments in it.

In the talks, the Nepalese side is led by Commerce Secretary Bhanu Prasad Acharya while the Indian side is led by Indian Commerce Secretary Prabir Sengupta who flew to Kathmandu from New Delhi Friday.

Nepalese officials are hopeful that the meeting would benefit both the countries as it will help resolve the trade related problems between the two countries.

MaHa duo, others feted

Kathmandu, Aug. 4 (RSS): Chairperson of Sushma Koirala Memorial Trust Sujata Koirala inaugurated the 12th anniversary of the Natyasheswor (dance) Art Training Center and a reception here today.

On the occasion, Ms Koirala presented the Stambha Puraskar (or award)- 2057 BS to humorist actors Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya. Mr Acharya received the award for Mr Shrestha also since he could not attend the function due to illness.

Similarly, artists and directors Yubaraj Lama, Robert Sharma, Ananda Karki, Bhupendra Rayamajhi, Sachin Rauniyar, Chiranjivi Basnet, Reshraj Acharya, Narayan Puri, Simanta Udas and Pitambher Pokhrel received the Samman Puraskar.

The Shraddeya Puraskar went to Pushkar Jangam, Navind Shrestha, BK Giri, Manohar Thapa, Bishnu Rasal, Tanka KC, Anil Sangraula, Rama Mandal and Sagar Thapaliya in recognition of their contribution to the field of singing, music and art.

Likewise, artists Mahendra Budhathoki, Birendra Jha, Binod Pudasaini, Santosh Kumar Jha, Santosh Thapaliya, Krishna Rasal and Sagar Shaha received the Nava Pratibha Puraskar, while Pratikshya Ojha, Anuradha Rajak and Shikha Rathi received the Prerana Puraskar.

On the occasion, chief guest and social worker Ms Koirala said that development does not mean only providing road facility and electricity, it also means promotion of art, literature and culture.

Artists command great respect in western countries and we also need to emulate their tradition, she added.

Award recipient Acharya recalled the torture they underwent during the Panchayat regime for the sake of political and press freedom and said lack of proper exercise of democratic rights is taking its toll on art and culture even after the restoration of democracy.

A host of other speakers including founding director of the center Kameshwor Jha and programme organiser Mrs Ganga Subedi also spoke at the function.

Janai Purnima observed

Kathmandu, Aug. 4 (RSS) : Throughout the Kingdom today, the "Tagadhari" (or those who wear the "Janai" or sacred thread on their bodies) change the "Janai" after having a haircut and a ritual bath on the occasion of Janai Purnima, also known as "Rishi Tarpani".

This festival observed by the Hindus, especially of the Shaiva sect, on the full moon of August is also popularly known as "Gunhu Punhi" in the Newar community.

According to time honoured tradition, people receive the "Rakshya Bandhan" thread tied around the wrist. The yellow thread is purified by the chanting of mantras by Brahmins as a symbol of protection from fear and disease. They also observe the occasion as "Kwati Purnima".

Kwati, a soup prepared from nine different beans is a special addition to the Nepalese menu today.

The "Kulabarna Tantra" Tantrik text says that the soup is highly nutritious and keeps diseases at bay.

In the Terai region, sisters tie an attractive "Rakhi" around the wrists of their brothers wishing them long life and success.

Today, thousands of devotees worship Lord Shiva at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and at Kumbheswor in Lalitpur and take holy dips in ponds and lakes.

Religious fairs are held at Gosaikunda, an Alpine area in Rasuwa district, and at Dansangu Triveni in Jumla district to observe the festival with offerings of worship to Lord Shiva.

A big religious fair takes place at Gosaikund lake.

On the occasion, worshippers come from far places to take a ritual holy dip in the Gosaikund lake and other nearby lakes.

Peace march in Rolpa

Ropla, Aug. 4 (RSS): A peace-rally was taken out in Rolpa under the aegis of the community service committee, Liwang to pressurize HMG and the Maoists who have agreed to sit for a talk that both sides become serious and honest towards the talks and that no one dare to upset the talks.

The rally was participated in by Rolpa DDC president, vice president and ilaka members, CDO, Local Development Officer, police, government employees, industrialists, hoteliers, representatives from various political parties, social workers, farmers and teachers.

The peace march commenced from Tudikhel at the district headquarters and went through Liwang Bazaar, Pipal Chautari, Satatale and Bal Mandir.

During the rally, about 800 participants chanted slogans like "we hate violence", "we want peace", "stop killings", "may the peace talks be a success" and "no one dare to vitiate the peace talks."

Speaking at the mass meeting held at the end of the peace march, Sher Bahadur Pun of Jana Mukti Party, Raj Kumar Kakshyapati of Rastriya Jana Morcha, Man Bahadur Batha of CPN-ML, Hari Oli of CPN-UML, Kamal Prasad Budha of NC, Rolpa DDC president Amrit Bahadur Ghartimagar and Dal Bir Pun Magar of RPP and chairman of the community service committee Hari Prasad Acharya wished that peace may prevail.

They also wished success for the talks to be held between the government and Maoists.

Policy emphasised for wetland management

Kathmandu, Aug. 4 (RSS): The Ministry of Forests and Soil-Conservation, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the World Conservation Union-IUCN jointly organised a workshop on "Draft national policy on collaborative management of wetlands in Nepal" here on Friday.

Generally swampland, marsh, riverine flood-plain, lake, pond, water storage areas and agriculture land constitute the wetland.

The wetlands are taken to be fertile land in terms of agriculture production and rich in bio-diversity. There are altogether 242 wetland areas in Nepal including 163 in the Terai region and 79 in the hilly and mountain region.

Of the 242 wetland areas in Nepal, the Koshi Tappu area has been listed under the Ramsar convention. The Ramsar convention is the foremost international code on environment laws and a concrete international law with regard to wetlands conservation and management.

Nepal became a signatory to the Ramsar convention on April 17, 1998. At present 124 countries are signatory to the Ramsar convention which was signed and adopted at a place called Ramsar in Iran in 1971.

As per a decision of His Majesty’s Government, Ministry of Forest and Soil-Conservation, a seven-member task force had been constituted under the chairmanship of the director general of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation for the implementation of the Ramsar convention in Nepal and accordingly, the taskforce has prepared a draft national policy on the community-based collaborative management of wetlands in Nepal.

The draft national policy on wetlands has emphasised the need to include the wetlands of international importance in Nepal such as the Bishajari lake, Ghodaghodi lake and Jagdishpur lake areas in the Ramsar convention and developing them into protected areas.

The draft national policy also stresses the conservation and prudent management of other wetland areas in the country.

Similarly, the draft national policy has emphasised community participation in the conservation, management and the prudent utilisation of wetlands in keeping with guidelines given by the conference of nations party to the Ramsar convention held in 1996 which calls for the direct and active participation of local and indigenous people in the management and conservation of wetland areas and catchment areas by the use of appropriate infrastructure.

Gaijatra fest being marked today

Kathmandu, Aug. 5 (RSS): The traditional Gaijatra or cow festival is being observed in the three cities of Kathmandu Valley and some other places outside the valley amidst fun, gaiety, humour, satire and entertainment.

The festival beginning on the first day of the waning moon of the month of Bhadra lasts for a week.

During this time honoured tradition, people of all ages in the guise of cows and lunatics go round the city wearing odd costumes to commemorate those who died during the past year.

Family members of those who died during the past year offer fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd and money to those participating in the procession including the cows.

As the saying goes, the festival derives its name from the religious belief that the deceased during their journey to heaven cross the river by holding onto the tail of a cow.

This festival is believed to have started during the reign of King Pratap Malla who in a bid to appease his queen much grieved at the death of her son in smallpox epidemic, ordered his people to organise humour and satire programmes in various comic postures.

This tradition has been given continuity in the form of the Gaijatra festival during which people also give vent to pent-up feelings towards social and political anomalies, human follies and other contemporary affairs through comic skits, cartoons and the like.

Hold dialogue with India to halt construction: Leftists

Kathmandu, Aug. 4 (RSS): President of Nepal Communist Party (Marxist) Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari, general secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (United) Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar and spokesman of Nepal Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist and Maoist) Sitaram Tamang have called on His Majesty’s Government to immediately hold dialogue with the Indian government to halt the construction of the Rasiyawal Khurdalotan Barrage in the southern border of Rupandehi district.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the three left parties have alleged that the barrage was being constructed by India in disregard to the international rules and laws.

The leaders of the three communist parties also urged the government to immediately withdraw its decision to hike electricity tariff effective from August 17, besides demanding to eliminate the problem of corruption and electricity leakage and to save the people from spiraling market prices.

Strongly denouncing the incident that took place on August 1 in Attariya of Kailali district, they demanded stern action against the culprits, proper scrutiny of the landless settlers and making provision for their resettlement, their employment and prevent the encroachment of forests and clamp down on timber smuggling.

They also called for the release of five Nepal Communist Party (Marxist) workers including central member of the party Chandra Bahadur Bhadai who are under detention since June 25 by withdrawing cases against them.

Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life and property due to floods and landslides in various districts across the Kingdom, the leaders of the three communist parties urged the government to provide adequate relief to the affected families without any kind of bias.

‘Implement building-code’

Kathmandu, Aug. 4 (RSS): The second plenary session of the district level school earthquake safety programme advisory committee, Kathmandu, under the school earthquake management safety programme run by the National Society of Earthquake Technology (N-SET) was held under the chairmanship of committee chairman Sanu Kumar Shrestha at the DDC office in Sinamangal today.

At the meeting, an assessment was made of the earthquake prevention promotion activities carried out during the last eight months with technical assistance from the N-SET at the Bal Bikas Primary School, Alapot and Baishnav Secondary School, Kirtipur, out of the five schools in the Kathmandu Valley.

The meeting appreciated the good aspects of the programme like the development of appropriate earthquake technology and its transfer to the community and the large-scale participation of people in earthquake risk reduction and transparency of the programme.

Likewise, the meeting also decided to request the Kathmandu District Development Committee (DDC) for the strict implementation of the building code in order to make all the structures to be constructed under the DDC earthquake-resistant.

The meeting also requested the National Society for Earthquake Technology to prepare a draft policy for this purpose, incorporating all aspects including the mode of training.

Similarly, the meeting approved of all the activities carried out under the school earthquake safety programme in the Kathmandu valley last year.