National Unity Day observed

Kathmandu, Jan. 11 (RSS): The nation paid glowing tributes to His Majesty Late King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great on the occasion of the 279th Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day today.

At a function held today in front of the Singha Durbar main gate to mark the occasion, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, National Assembly Chairman Dr Mohammad Mohsin, Rajparishad Standing Committee Chairman Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi and the Prithvi Jayanti Celebration Committee Chairman and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Datta Chataut offered garlands on the statue of the great King Prithvi Narayan Shah.

Also paying floral tributes to His late Majesty at the function were other ministers, MPs, the heads of the constitutional bodies, the office-bearers of the celebration committee, senior officials of His Majesty’s Government, intellectuals, artists and other dignitaries.

Batuks (brahmin boys) chanted auspicious hymns from the vedas, while the Royal Nepalese Army presented salute to the late King, the architect of the modern Nepal.

Addressing the function, Chairman of the Celebration Committee Minister Chataut said, the Divyopadesh (immortal sayings) of His Majesty Late King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great and his exhortation on the national unity are still relevant to this day.

Meanwhile in Pokhara, the 179th birthday of King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great and the National Unity Day was observed amidst a function at Prithvichowk, Pokhara today.

At the start of the function, contingents of both Royal Nepalese Army and Nepal Police presented salute and various distinguished persons offered garlands at the statue of King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great.

Lawmaker Shukra Raj Sharma, Kaski DDC president Punya Prasad Poudel, mayor Duo Krishna Thapa and Shaligram Poudel planted Yam Saplings around the site re-built by Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd.

Recalling the King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great’s contributions, lawmaker Sharma urged that all Nepalese march hand in hand to consolidate the nation in a democratic manner.

Member of Rajparisad Ganesh Bahadur Gurung said all Nepalese could feel glory as a unified nation today thanks to the unrelenting struggle made for it by the late King.

During the function chaired by the 179 Birthday Main Celebration Committee and Kaski DDC president Punya Prasad Poudel, DDC vice chairman Srinath Baral, mayor Duo Krishna Thapa and Shaligram Poudel, CDO Ram Prasad Khatiwada, Ramesh Bahadur Bhattarai of RPP and head master Mahesh Gurung highlighted the immortal sayings of the King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great.

Also present on the occasion were people’s representative, political party workers, students, teachers, Royal Nepalese Army, police, district level government office chiefs, businessmen and tourism entrepreneurs.

Gorkha Liaison Society, Naya Sadak also organised a blood donation programme to mark the National Unity Day.

Altogether 20 youth volunteers donated blood at the programme held under the convenorship of Sri Ram Bahadur Balkoti.

In Janakpurdham, the District Development Committee (DDC), Dhanusha, today organised a talk programme on the life and the contribution of His Late Majesty in the unification of Nepal to mark the 279th birth anniversary of His Late Majesty King Prithivi Narayan Shah the great and National Unity Day.

At the programme, Nepali Congress Dhanusha district president Ramkrishna Yadav highlighted the significance of the immortal sayings of His Late Majesty King Prithivi Narayan Shah the great in the present context.

He also called for collective effort to defeat any sectarian attempts to vitiate the communal harmony in the country.

Chief District Officer Tana Gautam reminded that by pointing his index finger, the Late Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great exhorted all the Nepalese to keep an eternal vigilance for the safeguard of the Nepalese national unity.

DDC chairman Ram Charitra Saha, from the chair, called on all the Nepalis to be loyal to their country and countrymen.

Udaya Kant Thakur of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Bhola Saha of the CPN (ML), mayor Bajranga Saha, and chief of the District Agricultural Office, Dhanusha, Madhav Bahadur Pant shed light on the significance of the "Dibyopadesh" (the immortal exhortations of His Late Majesty King Prithivi Nrayan Shah the great).

Similarly, in Biratnagar, on the occasion of the 279th birth anniversary of His Majesty King Prithivi Narayan Shah the great and National Unity Day, Morang district development committee organised a function during which heartfelt tributes were paid to His Late Majesty with offerings of garlands at his portrait.

On the occasion, CDO Binod Gyawali pointed out the need for coordination among people speaking different languages and from various communities and said regional goodwill is essential for maintaining national unity in the country.

Nepal Sadvawana Party Morang chairman Dr Hira Lal Shaha, headmaster of Gayatri Sanskrit Higher Secondary School Brahmakumari Nirmala Bahini and other speakers also shed light on the importance of National Unity Day at the programme chaired by DDC chairman Khadga Bahadur Basnet.

Marking the same occasion, vice-chancellor of the Eastern Regional University Dhruva Narayan Lal Das inaugurated the fourth anniversary function of the Nepali language and culture council here today.

On the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Das described the country as a flower garden and pointed out the need for the government to work as the gardener in order to maintain unity among various communities.

Central chairman of the council litterateur Bhanu Bhakta Pokharel, litterateur Dev Kumari Thapa, ex-minister Radha Prasad Ghimire and other speakers also expressed their views.

In Nepalgunj, on the occasion of the 279th Prithivi Jayanti and National Unity Day, Chief Judge of Nepalgunj Appellate Court Arjun Prasad Singh pointed out the need for all to move ahead in accordance with the divine counsel of His Late Majesty King Prithivi Narayan Shah the great.

Ex-MP Krishna Prasad Gautam, CDO Shyam Prasad Mainali, Ajit Kumar Sharma of Nepali Congress and Krishna Kharel of RPP also shed light on the contribution of His Late Majesty at the function chaired by Banke DDC chairman Om Prakash Jung Rana.

A cultural programme was also organized on the occasion.

Kathmandu, Jan. 11 (RSS): Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola returned home today on completion of a four-day visit of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Talking to journalists on his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Foreign Minister Bastola said various matters of bilateral and mutual interest were discussed during official talks he held in Bangladesh and he was satisfied with the visit.

Talks were also held between the two countries on trade and economic cooperation, and international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern, he added.

Commercial and economic cooperation, enhancing the existing level of trade exchanges including diversification of exportable items of the two countries, investment, joint ventures, tariff concessions, cooperation between chambers and private sectors and improving the existing air links between the two countries were also discussed during the talks.

Bangladesh has agreed to permit Nepali private airlines to run their services to Bangladesh, he added.

Mr Bastola said high importance was accorded by Nepal in the talks to trade, transit and tourism.

According to a joint statement released after the visit, the two sides discussed matters relating to transit routes by rail as well as road and modalities for improving the present transit arrangements.

The Bangladesh side offered the Nepalese side increased facilities including special tariff for port handling, longer storage facilities, concessional warehousing and a larger number of railway wagons for lifting increased cargo at Mongla port for bilateral as well as transit trade, says the joint statement.

The official talks also covered issues relating to improved infrastructure including customs, immigration, banking and telecommunication links at Banglabandh to further facilitate trade and transit between the two countries.

During the talks, the two sides discussed ways and means of enhancing cooperation in the field of water resources including modalities for flood mitigation and harnessing of water resources of the region. The talks also dealt with the possibilities of increased cooperation in the field of agriculture through sharing of experience in this sector for mutual benefit.

It is also stated that the two sides reviewed cooperation in education and methods of improving the existing level of cooperation in this field. Also covered during the talks were matters relating to cultural cooperation and it was stressed that steps need to be taken to further intensify cultural exchanges between the two friendly countries.

The two sides reviewed the existing cooperation in the tourism sector and it was agreed that the existing potential for cooperation in this sector needs to further tapped for mutual benefit.

Matters relating to telecommunication links between the two countries came up for discussion and it was agreed that the existing links need to be increased both quantitatively and qualitatively for more efficient tele-links to enhance trade, economic and other inter-changes between the two countries.

According to the statement, the two Foreign Ministers decided to form a sub-committee consisting of senior officials of the two governments to look into the possibilities of expediting increased cooperation in matters relating to trade, transit and overall economic cooperation, and to recommend initiatives to be taken for enhancing cooperation in all these sectors.

During the official talks the two sides reviewed the current status of SAARC activities and agreed that steps need to be taken to fully reactivate the SAARC process for the overall socio-economic progress of the peoples of the South Asia region.

The two Foreign Ministers reiterated the commitment of their governments to further strengthen the close and friendly relations between the two countries in the spirit of trust, understanding and partnership for mutual benefit and future-oriented cooperation.

Foreign Minister Bastola also disclosed that a trade fair aimed at expanding trade between the two countries is to be organised in Bangladesh on Feb. 10, 2001 under the joint auspices of the Mechi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Panchgadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bangladesh.

Mr Bastola said that he held talks with Bangladeshi officers about the possibility of minimising visa fees for Nepali students, employees and tourists going to Bangladesh and that a positive response was received in this regard.

Stating that Bangladesh has agreed to give permission for running a broad gauge railway service from Mongla port of Bangladesh to Sirsiya of Birgunj via Rohanpur Sihabad, Mr Bastola said talks with India will be held to this end.

Foreign Minister Bastola had left for an official visit to Bangladesh on Jan. 8 at the invitation of Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad.

EurOrient backtracks from guarantee

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Jan.11: American Company EurOrient has backtracked from its earlier commitment to pay the performance guarantee for the survey license of Arun III Hydroelectric Project.

The Los Angeles-based Merchant Banking Group sent a letter to the Department of Electricity Development (DED) earlier this week stating its inability to pay the advance money for now.

"They have stated that they would pay the money only when applying for the development license," said Dr. Kishor Babu Aryal, DED. The development license is mandatory for the developer before the first spade touches the project ground.

The letter, according to EurOrient’s local agent Binay Amatya, refers to questions asked by the American Company’s bank in the US. The bank is said to have asked why the guarantee money was made unconditional and irrevocable.

Other questions included: Under what basis would the guarantee money be forfeited? What are the specific obligations of the guarantor?

It was the same American Company that had, on December 13 last month, committed that it would pay Rupees 42 million as performance guarantee for the survey license of the 402 MW Hydropower Project by last month.

So much so, EurOrient had even assured the government that it would also pay above Rupees 17 million guarantee for Aandikhola Hydropower Project by last December.

But, when it actually came to opening the purse-string, Eurorient, for the second time in a couple of months, failed to keep its words.

Department officials said that the American Company had once again asked the DED to provide it the survey license on the basis of conditions other than the performance guarantee.

The Department, however, is prepared to give the idea a cold shoulder. "We would stand on our condition that the developer has to pay the performance guarantee to get the survey license of the project," said Dr. Aryal.

EurOrient has been playing a time buying game ever since the government accepted the American Company’s proposal to develop the Arun III more than six months ago.

The private company, on November last year, had submitted a letter at the DED requesting the extension of the deadline – earlier fixed for November 24 – to pay the guarantee money for the project.

Pointing at the Arun III’s Terms of Reference, the department turned down the request forcing EurOrient to talk business. The American Company’s Chairman Ron Nechenmiya himself arrived here last month to assure the government that the money would be paid within December.

Almost two weeks later, the American Company is still refusing to cough up the money. While other companies — which had, together with EurOrient, applied for the survey licenses of other hydropower projects — have already paid their respective advance money.

According to Dr. Aryal, foreign companies like Pacific Hydro (for Likhu Hydropower Project), Vatech Switzerland (for Upper Marshyangdi Hydropower Project), among others, have already paid the performance guarantee money. "We have even given them the survey licenses."

So, what is it that makes EurOrient dangle its feet? The official process for the project execution can perhaps explain a little. The survey license EurOrient has applied for will give the American Company between 18 and 24 months to study the detailed design of the Hydropower Project.

The World Bank had financed the designing in the early 90’s before it gave the 201 MW baby Arun a kiss of death in 1996. Now that it has been resurrected with doubled installed capacity, the US$ one billion hydropower project will cost US$ 2,500 for its every kilowatt electricity – half the price from its earlier version.

After the survey license, it would be the turn of construction license EurOrient will have to acquire for the construction. And for the prized document, the American Company will have to sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with India and will have to furnish its financial status.

Understandably, it is on the PPA aspect EurOrient is not so confident about. "I know a foreign company in Nepal that has been trying to sign the PPA with India (but has not been able to) for the last seven years before it could begin the construction of the project," EurOrient’s chief Nechenmiya had said during his last visit here.

Bagmati to become clean by June

BY KRISHNA SHARMA

Kathmandu, Jan. 11: Come June, and the Bagmati River flowing through the sacred Pashupatinath temple will become a clean place to take a dip in its holy water in peace.

By the end of the current fiscal year, the first two phases of the 25-year-long master plan to make the Bagmati clean and environment-friendly will be over. Nearly 70 per cent of the work under the Bagmati Area Sewerage Construction/Rehabilitation Project (BASCRP) has so far been completed.

"The remaining task will be completed by Jun. By then our most ambitious plan of channelling clean water through the Pashupati area will become a success story," says president of the Project, Bidur Poudel.

If all goes well, over the next two decades, the river that flows through the Kathmandu Valley will also undergo a facelift. Under the first two phases of the Project, the section from Gokarna to Aryaghat of Pashupatinath is being cleaned up. For this, the Project has come up with the entire necessary infrastructure.

"However, there is still a lot of works to be done," Poudel told Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala during an inspection visit of the site today.

According to member secretary of the BASCRP, Shree Ram Deep Shah, wastewater produced by some 200,000 people residing in the northeastern side of the valley and some 70 industries there, will be treated through aerobic and anaerobic processes and brought to a collection chamber. The water will then be filtered in the grit chamber and channelled through an oxidation ditch.

Only then will the purified water be allowed to join the river, while the waste water will pass off through the tunnel. The waste generated in the grit chamber will be dried and turned into fertiliser for use in farming.

For this, a 12-km sewerage from Gokarna to Guheshwori has been constructed to divert waste water from the river to filter it. An underground tunnel, 435 m. in length, from Tamraganga to Tilganga has also been built to channel the wastewater.

The project has also constructed a drainage-decontaminating centre at Tamraganga, near Guheshwori, and a sewage treatment plant at Tamraganga. On either side of the river, a 12-m wide green belt is being planned. Since people’s participation is the key to the programme’s success, creating awareness among them is one of the aspects of the programme.

The tunnelling portion of the project is being taken up by a Chinese contractor, China Shandong International Economic and Technical Co-operation Corporation, while a joint team of Nepali and Japanese technicians are looking after the other aspects of the construction works.

Under the next two phases of the master plan, the Project intends to construct a drainage system all the way from Tilganga to Chovar that will also have a green belt on either side of the River. It also plans to construct six treatment plants at different junctions adjoining the Bagmati River to produce compost fertiliser.

But as it strives to move ahead, the Rs. 540 million Project is facing a lot of problems. The biggest problem is that the Bagmati River has been heavily encroached on either side, making it difficult to build a green belt. "The government should also think seriously about the carpet factories whose chemically treated water harm the equipment installed in the processors," says Poudel.

Talking to The Rising Nepal, he said that the government has also not built the Bagmati link road along the river that was promised at the time when the project was being initiated.

PM inspects Tamraganga- Tilganga tunnel

Kathmandu, Jan. 11 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inspected Tamraganga-Tilganga tunnel, built by the High Level Bagmati Area Sewerage Construction and Improvement Project Implementation and Follow-up Committee, here this morning.

The cost of the project, including the 435 metres long tunnel with 2-metre diameter, from Tamraganga (Guheswari) to Tilganga is estimated at Rs 89.3 million.

The project will keep the Bagmati river free from pollution and the sewage generated from a population of two hundred thousand will be collected in a tank at the project site where completely treated water will be funnelled into the Bagmati river while polluting agents will be diverted through the tunnel.

The entire cost of the project, launched five years back, is to be borne by His Majesty’s Government. China Sanyung International, a Chinese construction company, has received the contract for the construction of the tunnel.

Earlier, Prime Minister Koirala also inspected other programmes undertaken by the project.

At present, sanitation and management works under the project are being carried out in four phases.

The first and second phases are concerned with chalking out a master plan for cleaning of the Bagmati river from Shivapuri to Chovar, construction of drains, sewerage, sewage treatment centre and tunnel.

The third and fourth phases will involve construction of sewerage system and sewage treatment centre at various points from Tilganga to Chovar.

Noted Everest climbers honoured

Kathmandu, Jan. 11 (RSS): Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Dutta Chataut, at a programme hosted by Nepal Mountaineering Association here today, felicitated mountaineers Babu Chhiri Sherpa, Appa Sherpa, Miss Lakpa Sherpa and Pemba Doma Sherpa for setting new world records in expeditions to Mt Sagarmatha (Everest).

On the occasion, he said that HMG would extend all possible assistance to boost tourism in the country and called for extended cooperation to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

Speaking on behalf of the mountaineers felicitated, Babu Chhiri Sherpa said that with the inspiration of all the Nepalese, he had been enthused to set new records, and that he would set up a Babu Chhiri Trust to promote tourism activities.

Association president Tasi Sherpa said that it was the duty of one and all to honour those engaged in the hard and challenging task of climbing expeditions and setting new world records.

Babu Chhiri set a world record by climbing Everest in 16 hours and 15 minutes while Appa Sherpa has reached the highest peak of the world for the 11th time.

Likewise, Miss Lakpa Sherpa is the second Nepali woman mountaineer to reach the Everest summit and Pemba Sherpa the first Nepali woman to undertake the expedition from the northern side.

On the occasion, Appa Sherpa was awarded Rs 100,000 and Lakpa Sherpa and Pemba Sherpa Rs 75,000 each.