All-party meet held in Dang, Taplejung

Tribhuvannagar (Dang), Dec 6 (RSS): An all party meeting held at the District Administration Office under DDC chairman Bharat K.C. has decided to request all the political parties to extend cooperation to the district administration in providing peace and security to the people, the people not to wear clothes similar to the Royal Nepalese Army and Nepal Police, and the authorities concerned to take steps to reopen the offices being disrupted by he incident of November 23.

The meeting also decided that all the shops excluding medical shops and essential services should not be run during the curfew hours, the areas of curfew made clear and such meetings organised regularly.

Chief district officer Shivaraj Gelan, DSP Sharad Kumar Sharma, the representatives of the NC, CPN-UML, RPP, CPN-ML, RJM and Federation of VDCs and other distinguished persons had attended the meeting.

Similarly, in Taplejung, an all party meeting held at the District Administration Office yesterday under the chairmanship of chief district officer Krishna Prasad Poudel decided to prohibit wearing combat uniform, drinking alcohol and gambling and movement of people from 6:30 p.m. in the evening till 5:00 a.m. in the morning.

The meeting also decided to inform the people not to stay near places occupied by maoist terrorists because of the possibility of air strikes taking place there.

Fake bank notes in circulation

Kathmandu, Dec 6 (RSS): These days fake Nepalese bank notes are in circulation in the local market. One has to be alert of such fake currency in order not to be cheated as well as being arrested by the police.

Even though such fake bank notes which looks very similar to the genuine ones are not in circulation on a large scale in the market, they are still in circulation to an insignificant extent.

As the fake bank notes are produced with the help of colour photocopy machines, they have the same shape, colours, security thread and numbers of a genuine bank note which can deceive any person.

These bank notes have been in circulation in the local market since many years. As the fake bank notes mixed with the genuine ones reach the commercial bank, the officials of the commercial banks have to send the bank notes to the Nepal Rastra Bank in order to find out whether they are fake or genuine ones.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) uses ultra-violet light and micro lettering equipment to determine whether the bank notes are genuine or fake but how can an ordinary person make this distinction?

When this matter was raised with the authorities concerned, Executive Director of the NRB Department of Bank notes Upendra Keshari Poudel said that an ordinary person could make a distinction between a genuine and fake bank note by looking at the quality of the paper, the sound created by the paper, the colour of water mark in the white portion and the security thread of the bank note.

Poudel says that an ordinary person can easily find out the difference between a genuine and fake bank notes as the genuine bank notes are made out of security paper which is completely different from ordinary paper, the white portion bear the portrait of the crown or His Majesty the King in water mark colour and NRB is written on the security thread whereas these characters are not found in the fake bank notes circulating in the market.

The security paper bearing water mark colour and security thread are produced at different factories and made available to the country printing the bank notes on the recommendation of the central bank, it is not possible to copy them, he said, adding that Nepalese bank notes are printed by British, German and French companies.

At present most of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 denomination fake bank notes have been found circulating in the markets of Biratnagar, Janakpur, Bhairahawa and Hetauda and a few in the capital, it is learnt.

Even though action is being taken against persons involved in circulating fake bank notes, no one has been found involved circulating fake bank notes in a large scale in Nepal, Poudel said, adding that only a few fake bank notes are being found from time to time.

It may be recalled that a Swiss citizen had made an attempt to print fake bank notes in 2055 B.S. and the machine used by him had been brought to Nepal Rastra Bank for investigation.

A large number of fake bank notes are seized and brought to the NRB Department of Bank notes and burnt in accordance with existing regulations.

300 yrs of construction of Nyatapola temple to be marked

Bhaktapur, Dec. 6 (RSS): The heritage group, Bhaktapur is to mark 300 years of the construction of the five-storey Nyatapola temple, a renowned architectural model throughout the world for its uniqueness with a variety of programme from July 5 to 11, 2002.

According to Om Charan Amatya, chairman of the group, the programme to be held on that occasion include photos and paintings exhibition depicting the Nyatapola temple, a symposium between the historians, cultural experts and archaeologists on the heritage sites, publicity campaign on the preservation of cultural heritage and monuments and other awareness drives.

The temple which is pronounced as "Nyatapola" in the local dialect, was built three centuries ago.

A high school-level essay competition between the schools of Kathmandu valley and Kabhre district, an on-the-spot painting competition, an observation tour for students, cultural tableaux and festive illumination are slated to be organised as part of the programme designed to celebrate the week long festival.

The progeny of the architects of the temple living in Panauti in Kabhre to Panga in Kirtipur as well as architects, cultural experts and archaeologists from more than 10 countries including the USA, the UK and the Republic of Czech will be invited to attend the week long programme.

The foundation stone of the Nyatapola temple, believed to be the tallest temple in Kathmandu Valley, was laid in October, 1701 A.D. during the reign of Bhupatindra Malla, King of Bhaktapur.

Archaeologist Sukra Sagar Shrestha has mentioned in his research work concerning Nyatapola that construction work of the temple were completed within the period of six or seven months from the start of its actual construction which began two month after the foundation was stone laid.

According to cultural expert Dr. Purushottam Lochan Shrestha, "Kotyahooti", a ritual work had been carried out for 48 days on the completion of the temple which was accomplished on three phases.

About 20,000 people from Bhaktapur, Banepa, Panauti, Dhulikhel, Sanga, Nala, Khodapu, Chaukot, Chobhar, Panga, Satungal, Balambu and Patan had extended financial and material assistance for construction of the temple. Some of them had also contributed voluntary labour for the construction of the pagoda-style temple.

However, the people from Kantipur and Kirtipur were not involved in the construction work because of the bitter relations with the then ruler of Bhaktapur.

It is said that brick kilns were established at 8 different points in Bhaktapur to supply bricks for the construction of the temple. About 1,135,350 local bricks, 1,002,034 oily bricks, and 27,084 jhingati/apas were used to erect the whole edifice of the temple.

The gold plated "Gajur", topmost part of the roof contains 88 kg of copper. This alone incurred Rs. 2,055 in cash. At that time one tola of gold cost around 24 rupees, 13 annas and 3 paise.

Malla King Bhupatindra Malla had ordered construction of the temple at a time when all the three states of Kathmandu Valley were vying for demonstrating the best pieces of architectural structure within their land.

Big rocks were brought from rivers and hilly areas of Bhaktapur, Banepa, Sanga, Panauti, Khodapu, Dhulikhel and Bhaktapur to carve 10 giant structures including two Hercules, two elephants and two lions installed on each side of the stone ladder leading to the main temple.

In the temple, 168, 128, 104, 80 and 48 wind bells have been hung up in every storey respectively.

The people are still amazed with the durability of the temple which has remained intact not only in the disastrous earthquake in 1934 A.D. but also in 1988 A.D. The latest earthquake also caused no damage to the temple.

There is a popular folklore saying "there is no rooftop of the Nyatapola as the whereabouts of God Bhairab is not known."

The temple of lord Bhairab adjacent to the Nyatapola was completely damaged during the devastating earthquake in 1934 A.D.

But the 108 feet tall Nyatapola remained intact. Only slight damage took place at its five-storey rooftop.

Nyatapola is the temple of "Siddhilaxmi" which is also known as "Mahishimardini" or "Adishakti Manamaneshwari", cultural expert Dr. Purusottam Lochan Shrestha says.

Since nobody is allowed to peep into the main room of the temple other than the temple’s priest, it is still mysterious that which deity is actually lying within the temple.

On the completion of the construction work of the temple, sumptuous feast was offered at its premises to some 20,000 people involved in the construction of the temple one way or the other.

Following the construction of the Nyatapola temple, Malla King Bhupatindra Malla had also built 55-window durbar, a giant stone pillar in front of the durbar, his own statue, and a big bell at the courtyard of the Taleju temple.

Since then, His late Majesty King Mahendra had carried out renovation of the temple in 2019 B.S. while Bhaktapur Municipality further renovated it in 2054 B.S.

Student killed by terrorists

Taplejung, Dec. 6 (RSS): A gang of terrorists shot dead Tara Laiwa, son of Prem Laiwa of Thumkibas VDC-1, Taplejung yesterday, according to the district administration.

MPs Til Kumar Meyangbo and Om Prakash Jha, and DDC chairman Bijaya Raj Thebe have issued separate statements condemning the murder of Laiwa, a class eight student of Lintep Lower Secondary School.

More Maoists surrendering

Kathmandu, Dec. 6 (RSS): News reports of persons involved in Maoist terrorist activities giving themselves up to the district administrations have been received.

Itahari: Eighteen Maoists of different villages have surrendered to the Chief District Officer in Sunsari district confessing that the Maoists were terrorists and they were lured into the group without knowing anything.

According to CDO Ram Prasad Khatiwada, among those who surrendered to the administration are Navin Kafle, Vijaya Chaulagain, Govind Raut, Punya Prasad Dahal, Phulkumar Bishwokarma, Krishna Kafle, Dipak Bhandari, Totraraj Pyakurel, Devi Karki, Mahesh Khatiwada and Indra Mani Khatiwada.

Dhankuta: After the army and the police intensified their joint action against the Maoist terrorists, 13 persons have abandoned the Maoist party and surrendered to the Dhankuta District Administration promising that they would lead a normal life from now onwards.

Among those who surrendered are Mohan Das Gurung, Hikmat Thapa, Surya Bahadur Karki, Dil Bahadur Rai, Kuber Vishwokarma and Prakash Thapa.

Siraha: A total of 13 persons have surrendered to CDO Bhola Prasad Shivakoti in Siraha district.

Among those who gave themselves up to the district administration include Bishnumaya, Damber Bahadur Budhathoki, Kumar Karki, Ram Bahadur Pariyar, Mohan Kumar Karki, Prithvi Bahadur Raut and Dilip Karki.

Mahendranagar: Six students of Siddhanath Multiple Campus have abandoned the terrorist student organisation promising to lead a normal life.

The students who surrendered to the district administration are Gorakh Chand, Chandra Bahadur Kunwar, Bal Bahadur Negi, Tanka Pant, Dilip Shahi and Poornaraj Joshi.

Health Ministry’s clarification

Kathmandu, Dec. 6 (RSS): The Ministry of Health has made it clear the ministry’s intention is the legal provision requiring the administration and the concerned security agencies to be informed in connection with the medical treatment of persons involved in criminal offences is strictly followed by all bodies concerned.

The Ministry of Health is alert that no citizen is deprived of medical treatment, the Health Ministry stated in a communique adding, the ministry’s stance is that patients, especially those coming for treatment of injuries and wounds, should get prompt treatment and no prior approval is required from any agency in such kinds of treatment.

IFAD agrees on US$ 20M loan for Western region

Kathmandu, Dec. 6 (RSS): International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) has agreed to provide a loan assistance of US $ 20 million for implementing the poverty reduction programme in the next 10 years in the 11 districts of Mid Western and Far Western Development Regions of Nepal.

The 11 districts are Humla, Jumla, Bajura, Bajhang, Mugu, Dolpa, Jajarkot, Kalikot, Dailekh, Rukum and Rolpa.

For implementation of the program which require an estimated US $ 32.6 million, the World Food Programme will provide US $ 4 million for road maintenance and the rest will be borne by the SNV and local beneficiaries. Technical assistance will be provided in coordination with the local self-autonomy assistance program, a press release of the Local Development Ministry said.

The programme will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will cover four districts and on the basis of the performance of the first phase, the project will be expanded into second and third phases.

The programme aims at poverty reduction by conducting such activities as intensive and integrated agriculture farming, livestock farming, herbs collection and its production and processing, road construction, micro-credit programs, etc.

A proposal to this effect is to be presented at a meeting of the IFAD scheduled to be held in the first week of December. Once an agreement to this effect is signed, the project will take off in the middle of the next fiscal year.

His Majesty’s Government and IFAD had held talks recently in Rome. The three-member Nepali delegation was led by secretary at the Ministry of Local Development Udayaraj Soti.

Govt, CIMMYT exchange MoU

Kathmandu, Dec. 6 (RSS): His Majesty’s Government and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) exchanged a memorandum of understanding to cooperate with each other in the field of agricultural research and development amid a function held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives today.

The MOU effective from November 27, 2001 was exchanged between Ratneshwar Lal Kayastha, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Dr. Peter Hobes, Regional Representative of CIMMYT on behalf of their respective organisations. The MoU had been signed by Secretary Kayastha and Prof. T. J. Rives on behalf of the CIMMYT earlier.

CIMMYT headquarters in Mexico has been extending cooperation to Nepal in maize and wheat cropping since 1966.

CIMMYT has been carrying out its research work on maize and wheat crops in South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan after founding its regional office in Kathmandu in keeping with an understanding reached between HMG and CIMMYT for the first time in December 12, 1985.

Under the new MoU, while keeping intact all of its functions in Kathmandu, both the parties have agreed to implement its programmes in Nepal and other countries in South Asia by making arrangements for necessary residential employees at its regional office here.

HMG has expressed its sincere appreciation for the continued support of Cimmyt in the development of maize and wheat crop in Nepal.