Govt panel to find site for shifting Himal Cement

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 27: His Majesty’s Government has decided to shift the Himal Cement Factory, one of the polluting factories in the Kathmandu Valley, outside the valley. The decision taken today is being done according to the policies to translocate the polluting factories from the Valley.

A 4-member working committee with Nanda Ram Sthapit, Director General of Department of Geology and Quarry as coordinator, has been formed to oversee the shifting of the factory. Other members of the committee are Purna Prasad Manandhar, Director General of Measurements and Quality Department, Tej Kanta Jha, Deputy General Manager of Udayapur Cement Factory and Uddhav Adhikari, General Secretary of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply.

The committee has been given one-month time to find out a suitable place for the translocation. The committee will look into the availability of raw materials, physical infrastructure, technical feasibility, assess environmental and social impacts and economical aspects before presenting the recommendation.

The government has also given the committee the responsibility to analyze the present situation of the Hetauda Cement Factory and present recommendations for its improvement.

SAARC Summit important regional event of the new millennium
Emphasis on meeting commitments: Dr. Mahat

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 27: Nepal is all set to host the forthcoming summit of the heads of state and government of the seven South Asian nations beginning next week, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat told the press here this afternoon.

"We have already completed all preparations -- physical, logistic and substantive, that is, paper works for the summit," said Dr. Mahat, who will represent Nepal in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers.

The 11th SAARC Summit, slated for 4-6 January 2002, is important because it is reactivating the stalled process after a gap of three and a half years, Dr. Mahat said, adding, that it will now have to be "forward-looking and business-like, our emphasis will be on implementing our past commitments."

Explaining the agenda of the Summit, Dr. Mahat said, "This is the first such event of the new millennium in the region, so we will need to go into the thrust areas and make some tangible achievements."

Nepal believes that the regional economic process should be accelerated, Dr Mahat said and added that the fourth round of negotiation for the South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement should begin fast. "Then the treaty framework for the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) should be finalised as early as the year 2002 or 2003."

He elaborated that the region should go into the free trade regime as soon as possible so that it will be possible to realise the vision of Economic Union as recommended by the Group of Eminent Persons or experts' group formed by the 9th SAARC Summit in Male. This is the age of regionalisation, which is the stepping stone for globalisation, Dr Mahat maintained.

"We have unparalleled human and natural resources which we should pool together for the welfare of the one-fifth of humanity living in the region," the Minister said. "But we are beset with the largest concentration of poverty and illiteracy and our share in the global trade is a dismal 1 per cent."

So, another theme of the Summit will be poverty alleviation--we need to prepare poverty profiles of the nations, Minister Mahat said. On the social agenda, Dr. Mahat said, two conventions relating to combating trafficking of women and children for prostitution and protecting children will be signed. "In the present global, regional and national contexts, terrorism will also figure in the discussion."

As a run up to the Summit, several meetings at different levels will begin from tomorrow. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gyan Chandra Acharya will lead the Nepalese delegation to the programming committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow. A secretary level meeting will take place on Saturday and the SAARC Foreign Ministers will meet for two days before the Summit. Most delegates have arrived for the preparatory level meetings.

Dr. Mahat also informed of a full-proof arrangement for the security during the Summit.

To a question whether the bilateral sticking points will affect the Summit, Dr Mahat said: "I don't think that is going to affect the Summit. Bilateral issues are outside the purview of SAARC."

Dr. Mahat said that SAARC did not rule out sub-regional cooperation. "That can go along simultaneously."

Three terrorists killed, Bombs, explosives seized

BY A SAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 27: Under the ongoing search operations, army personnel killed three terrorists, arrested about a dozen suspects and recovered a large quantity of explosives in different parts of the country Wednesday.

Two terrorists, Ram Prasad Parajuli alias Dinesh and Chuda Dahal, were killed in military action in Phanlate, Khamsuk, Losko and Ratagaon of Solukhumbu district, according to a Defence Ministry press release. It is learnt that Parajuli was the commander and Dahal the coordinator of the terrorist group in the area. Security forces have also arrested eight suspects from the area and are investigating on them.

Similarly, security forces seized 270 bombs, about 70 kg of explosives, 50 sacks of gunpowder, a number of police uniforms, 100 pairs of terrorists’ dresses and some communication equipment and government documents looted by the terrorists. Most of the explosives buried underground for a long time were damaged due to bad weather and were unsafe for transportation. So the army’s bomb disposal unit defused them at the site, the Defence Ministry said.

Likewise, another terrorist Krishna Bahadur Pakhrin was shot dead in an army action at Chanwan of Makawanpur district Wednesday.

In their search operation in other areas, security forces have arrested one terrorist possessing gun and four suspects from Siddheswor of Palpa. The security forces also recovered Rs. 19,34,712 from the house of an active member of the terrorist group, and are investigating into the matter, said the Ministry.

Meanwhile, security forces have arrested two terrorists from Anbu Khaireni of Gorkha.

The forces have also taken into custody three suspects from Samakhusi of Kathmandu, two from Mehalkuna of Bardiya, one from Sanischare of Jhapa and one from Pang of Parbat.

According to a press release of the Home Ministry, 64 terrorists surrendered to the district administration offices today in different parts of the country. Seven surrendered in Dolakha, three in Nuwakot, five in Myagdi, 37 in Palpa, one in Dolpa, five in Dailekh and 6 in Dadeldhura.

Meanwhile, former chairman of Nagin VDC of Panchthar Ambika Neupane has been airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment. He was injured in a lethal attack by Maoists on Wednesday. However, Tel Bahadur Gurung of Machhapuchre VDC of Kaski district died today of the attacks by the terrorists. The police is looking for the attackers.

No alternative to democracy
Parties stress unity to rid nation of crisis

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 27: Leaders of major political parties today called for national unity among all the democratic forces to rid the nation of the crisis it is in and to lead the country towards prosperity. They also showed agreement on the need to amend the Constitution to ensure democratic rights to all.

"The major political parties need to forge a national consensus with the consent of His Majesty for value-based politics," Nepali Congress spokesman Arjun Narshing K.C. told an interaction on ‘Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990, Democracy and the State of Emergency’ organised by University Teachers’ Academic Group here this afternoon.

"We need to review our behaviour of the last twelve years, rectify them, and work together to nurture democratic culture and consolidate democracy."

KC said the NC was ready to sit with other parties to make forward-looking amendments in the Constitution. "The NC, however, won’t accept any proposals that seek changes in the guiding principles of the Constitution."

KC said the party-less system, one party rule or the dictatorship could not replace the democratic system. "Only an improved multi-party democratic system can be an alternative to the existing democratic dispensation."

He said the NC was watchful to check atrocities and violations of laws during the state of emergency.

Speaking earlier, UML standing committee member and lawmaker Ishwor Pokharel said the state of emergency was declared according to the provisions of the Constitution. "Our opinion about it will depend on how the government works to resolve the problem," he said clarifying the stance of the party about the state of emergency.

Pokharel stressed on extensive reforms in political, economic, social and electoral process to permanently resolve the problem that led the country to a state of emergency. "The problem will resurface in another form unless steps are taken to check corruption and reform governance."

He demanded a ‘powerful tribunal’ to investigate into the cases of corruption during the last 12 years and called for severe action against the guilty.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s general secretary Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana, like NC spokesman KC, stressed on a disinterested broad national alliance among the democratic forces, including the King, to rid the nation from the current crisis. "It’s not a time to blame each other; our only concern now should be how the nation can be relieved from the state of emergency."

Rana said the government should take measures to combat corruption, smuggling and mafia and launch programmes to uplift the backward communities. "Like the army is deployed to restore order, the government should also take democracy and development to the villages."

ML central member Kamal Chaulagain also called for socio-economic development programmes for the nation to sail out of the state of emergency. He said the major political parties needed to analyse their course of action and appealed to all the nationalist forces to work together to resolve the problem facing the country.

Former Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista demamded that the government take a bold measure to contain corruption, adding the corrupt--whether they are from post-democratic period or the Panchayat era--should be punished. "The nation should also brace for an economic crisis that is likely to hit the nation in the near future."

RPP leader Lokendra Bahadur Chand said talks could bring a permanent solution to the problem. "The government should not rule out the possibility of dialogue; the Maoists have to lay down their arms and come to the table."

Journalist Shrish Shumsher Rana said the political parties should ask themselves whether they were responsible for the state of emergency.

Support to improve water facilities
Japan gives Rs 1.5 bn grant

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 27: The government of Japan has agreed to extend a grant assistance of over 1.5 billion rupees to His Majesty’s Government of Nepal for the execution of the project for improvement of Kathmandu water supply facilities, debt relief measures and increase of food production.

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Zenji Kaminaga and Dr Bimal Koirala, secretary at the Finance Ministry signed the deal and exchanged three different notes today on behalf of their respective governments, according to a press release of the Japanese Embassy here.

Under the first note, the government of Japan will provide a grant of Rs. 611.52 million rupees to Nepal for the implementation of a project related to the improvement of water supply facilities in the capital.

The aid will be spent to improve the water supply services in the target areas including southeast part of Kathmandu, Madhyapur, west of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur of the Kathmandu Valley.

According to the agreement, intake facilities, water treatment plant, transmission facilities and elevated tanks will be constructed at Manahara site while transmission facilities and a reservoir will be constructed at Shainbu site.

"This project is expected to contribute to reducing the leakage and improve the water supply capacity in quantity as well as quality in the target areas," states the press release.

The project will play an important role in improving the water supply services in the above mentioned places even after the Melamchi Water Supply Project is materialises, the press release says.

Under the second note, the Nepalese government will spend the Japanese grant of about Rs. 492.771 million rupees in debt relief measures of the country.

This aid will go in the heading of development expenditure of the country. It aims at procuring commodities such as construction materials, petroleum products, medicines, transportation related equipment and other materials to carry out the development activities, the press release adds.

According to the third note, Japanese aid will be spent in the agriculture sector. About Rs. 411.6 million will be used to purchase fertilisers and boosting agricultural production to meet the growing demand for food under the heading of Increase of Food Production.

After signing the deals, Japanese Ambassador Kaminaga expressed the hopes that the continued support of Japan to Nepal in its development endeavours would certainly help socio-economic development of Nepal and improve the well being of the Nepalese people. "It will further help consolidate the existing cordial and friendly relationship between the two countries," added the Japanese envoy.

United efforts must to solve national problems: Koirala

Kathmandu, Dec. 27 (RSS): President of the Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala has made it clear that he had moved ahead the concept of broader democratic alliance to solve the problem of the country and not for change in government.

Speaking at an interaction programme on the role of the youth force in promotion of democracy organised by the Nepal Tarun Dal here today, Koirala said "I have no interest taking over the government. I moved ahead the concept of broader democratic alliance for the future of the country, people and democracy."

The country is passing through a very critical phase as a result of political instability and terrorist's influence, Koirala said, adding that foreign investment is being withdrawan and problem of unemployment has been affecting the economy.

The former prime minister stressed the need for all the democratic forces to sit under one umbrella to resolve the problem of the country.

Stating that various forces will start raising their heads if the country becomes weak, Koirala said that a democratic alliance is necessary to give the message that Nepalese are capable of resolving the problems of Nepal.

The concept of broader democratic alliance is based on the reconciliation policy of the late B.P. Koirala, the NC president said, adding that efforts should be made to end the State of Emergency as soon as possible.

President of the Democratic National Youth Association (DNYA) and MP Gokarna Bista said that national consensus was necessary to resolve the problems of the country.

At the function chaired by president of the Nepal Tarun Dal Balkrishna Khand, DNYA vice president Jeevanram Shrestha, general secretary of the National Democratic Youth Organisation Prem Kumar Shrestha, general secretary of the Nepal Students Union Yadav Pandit, Rajendra Kumar Gupta and others also expressed their views.

SAARC OUTLOOK
Poverty common enemy to fight

Kathmandu, Dec. 27 (RSS): Poverty, unbridled growth of population and haphazard settlements pose common challenges for the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The people living below poverty line is considerably high in the South Asia region which embraces one fifth portion of the world population of five billion.

According to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), of the total population in the world, 80 per cent of the people live in under-developed countries and the remaining 20 per cent in the developed countries.

The population growth rate in developed countries is 0.3 per cent on average whereas the population growth rate in the least development countries account for 1.7 per cent.

The population growth in the least developed countries is increasing sharply in comparison to the population growth rate in the developed countries which is far below.

Poverty, illiteracy and poor financial conditions appears to be the main reasons for the unbridled population.

Superstitious belief that one will be deprived of heaven after death if one failed to have a son and discrimination between sons and daughters prevalent in some of the countries in the region are the social evils which catches the people under its grip.

Moreover, least developed countries lack collective responsibility, consciousness and empowerment of women.

A large part of South Asia falls under the under-developed region in the world. It is Sri Lanka where the growth rate of population is the lowest among all the SAARC member countries. At present, Sri Lanka has 1.2 growth rate of population.

Even though the growth rate of population in the southern part of India akin to the growth rate of the developed world, its average growth rate remains 1.9 per cent followed by Nepal with 2.1 per cent. the population growth rate of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Pakistan are 2.3 per cent, 2.4 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively.

The UNDP report published in 1998 reveals that 35 per cent of the population of India are living absolutely below the poverty line. The figure in Pakistan is 34 per cent, Bangladesh 35.6 per cent, Sri Lanka 35.3 per cent and Nepal 42 per cent.

According to the Human Resource Development Report-2000, Nepal which stood at 129th position has succeeded in advancing by 15 positions in 2000 as a result of its remarkable progress in economic and social fronts. Nepal had stood in 144th position in the Human Resource Development Report published in the previous year.

Maldives is in far better position in human resources development front.

According to the report, Maldives stood in 77th position, Sri Lanka in 81st position, India in 115th position, Pakistan in127th position, Bhutan in 130th position and Bangladesh in 132nd position in the human resources development front. Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh were put in the list of the countries whose human resources development is very poor.

In view of the negative impact of the uncontrolled population growth on the overall development of a nation compounded by poverty and illiteracy problem, all the governments of the SAARC member countries has been charting out programmes relating to population control and incorporating such programmes in all development and periodic plans in conformity with the ground reality of economy so that the living standard of the people of South Asia region can be raised.

Long term strategies have been framed for creating employment opportunity, increase productivity, providing good governance, developing human resources, and arranging for food security so as to meet the goal of poverty alleviation and sustainable development, the main thrust areas of all the SAARC member countries and physical infrastructures have been constructed accordingly.

The Seventh SAARC Summit had already expressed its full commitment in pursuing appropriate measures for people's mobilisation, agriculture and human resource development in order to wipe out poverty from the region by the end of 2002 in line with the agenda endorsed by the Sixth SAARC Summit held in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka in 1991 which gave top priority to poverty alleviation.

Similarly, the 8th SAARC Summit had declared 1995 as SAARC Poverty Eradication Year pursuant to the same commitment made earlier and expressed its re-commitment to wipe out poverty by 2002.

All the government of the SAARC member countries have been striving for materialising the goals of poverty eradication in their respective countries by framing policies and chalking out short term and long term plans of action.

A model project for poverty eradication in the region is also under implementation. Such projects are being implemented in Makwanpur district in Nepal, Ahmedabad in India, Nilkamari and Dinajpur in Bangladesh, Nuwaraphuli in Sri Lanka, Sindhakairapur in Pakistan and Male in the Maldives. The target is to expand such projects throughout the country in future as far as possible after assessing its impact.

Tributes to be paid to late King Birendra on Dec 29

Kathmandu, Dec. 27 (RSS):  HMG has decided to implement various programmes through the concerned ministries on the birthday of His late Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah on December 29 as a tribute to His late Majesty's unparalleled contribution to peace, development, nationalism and democracy. The programmes will be such as to provide inspiration to the Nepalese people always.

The Home Ministry has stated that a statue of His late Majesty will be installed at an appropriate place in Kathmandu Valley within a year and a volume commemorating His late Majesty will be published, also within a year.

Nepal Television, Radio Nepal will broadcast special programmes and the Gorkhapatra will publish special on the personality of His late Majesty King Birendra, the name of the Royal Botanical Garden at Godavari will be changed to Birendra Aishwarya Garden, and a programme to garland statues of His late Majesty will be organised across the Kingdom.

The photograph of His late Majesty will be garlanded at places where there are no statues of His late Majesty.

Lalitpur sub-metropolis will organise a programme to garland the statue of His late Majesty at Jawalakhel.

Programme committee meeting from today
Delegations in the capital

Kathmandu, Dec. 27 (RSS): The delegations from Bangladesh, India and the Maldives arrived here this afternoon to attend the 22nd session of the programming committee of the 11th SAARC Summit conference.

The meeting of the committee will start from tomorrow, the Foreign Ministry in a press release said today.

The delegation representing Bangladesh to the committee is headed by the director general of the Foreign Ministry of Bangaldesh Mohammed Hasib Azia.

Similarly, the delegation from India and the Maldives to the programming committee meetings are led by joint secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs R.O. Wallang and assistant director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives Hussain Taufiq Ali respectively.

Meanwhile, a Pakistan delegation led by director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rasheed Saleem Khan arrived here tonight to attend the meeting.