HM summons House Session

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): His Majesty the King has, in accordance with the article 53 clause (1) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990, has summoned the 19th session of the Parliament at 4 P.M. on 8th February, 2001 at the Parliament House, Singha Durbar, the Parliament Secretariat said today.

Chataut’s resignation accepted

Kathmandu, Jan. 25 (RSS): His Majesty the King has, in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, accepted the resignation submitted to His Majesty by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Datta Chataut through the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, His Majesty has, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, designated Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ram Krishna Tamrakar to look after the affairs of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

This is stated in a notice issued today by the Principal Press Secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Prince Gyanendra attends functions in Chitwan

Chitwan, Jan. 24 (RSS): His Royal Highness Prince Gyanedra Bir Bikram Shah inaugurated a newly constructed school building of Shri Lower Secondary of Ganganagar, Patihani ward No. 8, Chitwan amidst a special function on Tuesday.

His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra, the chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, also inspected the new building and acquired information on various matters.

The school building was jointly constructed by the Royal Chitwan National Park, the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, Narayan Safari Hotel, the Ganganagar school building construction committee and forest users committee at a cost of Rs. 1.717 million.

The Royal Chitwan National Park Conservation Fund had provided a financial assistance of Rs. 858,880 for the purpose, while the rest was met with the local people’s assistance.

The national park is to involve the local people in various programmes to generate public awareness on forest conservation.

His Royal Highness also inspected a computer section set up with the assistance of Narayani Safari Hotel and a separate school block being constructed with the hotel’s assistance.

On the occasion, His Royal Highness was presented with a report on the building construction and management by chief warden of the Royal Chitwan National Park Gopal Prasad Upadhyaya.

The national park has made plans to spend amounts collected from seven licensed hotels (operating within the park) in community development works such as school, bridge and culverts, embankment and income generating training etc. in the middle part of the park.

The hotel had provided eight computers to the school and some computers to two village development committees.

The function was chaired by the school management committee chairman Mr Raghu Nath Dhungana.

On the occasion, Mr Laxman Bhandari delivered welcome speech and principal of the school Mr Ek Lal Bhandari presented the building construction report.

The school is located in the southern border of the national park, about 30 kilometres from Chitwan district headquarters of Bharatpur, which is home to such communities as Tharu, Darai, Bote etc.

Established as a primary school 29 years ago, the school was upgraded to lower secondary level nine years later.

Total enrolment at the school stands at 510, fifty percent of which are boys.

Exhibition:

Meanwhile, Chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for National Conservation His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah inspected an exhibition of medicinal herbs and Ayurved here Tuesday.

Thirty different materials relating to medicinal herbs were displayed at the exhibition.

His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra was offered a report on medicinal herbs found in Chitwan forests by Kuch Kuche Mid-Regional Community Forest Users’ Committee Karna Bahadur Thapa.

On the occasion, KMTNC, Sauraha chief Narayan Dhakal presented a report on the community forest.

His Royal Highness also inspected 15 community forests run at Kumroj, Kathar Bhandara village development committee.

The KMTNC had recently provided training on medicinal herbs to thirty-two workers of the 15 Community Forest Users’ Committee.

Conservation: Likewise, His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah visited the Royal Chitwan National Park on January 22.

His Royal Highness is the chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC).

On the occasion, His Royal Highness was briefed on conservation and management activities of the park and its buffer zone by Dr. Tirth Man Maskey, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, according to a press release of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation.

His Royal Highness visited different areas of the park and observed conservation and management practices being done in various wildlife habitat.

Present on the occasion were Secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation Rabi Bahadur Bista, member secretary of the KMTNC, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Dr Tirtha Man Maskey and chief ward of the Royal Chitwan National Park Gopal Prasad Upadhyaya.

The Royal Chitwan National Park, the first national park of Nepal, was established in 1973. It covers an area of 932 sq. km. It was listed in world heritage site in 1984 due to its outstanding bio-diversity of global significance.

Spanning four districts, namely Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Parsa and Makawanpur, the park is famous for tiger, rhino, wild elephant, sloth bear, Gaur and many other animals, birds and plants, according to the press release.

KMTNC : Meeting of governing board

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): The 26th meeting of the governing board of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) was held in Sauraha, Chitwan today under the chairmanship of His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah.

The meeting was convened primarily to review the performance of the trust in the current year. The governing board also discussed the strategy paper on the development and management of micro-hydro-projects and KMTNC strategy documents.

In his opening address, His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah stated, "The upgrading of strategic plan should reflect our recent decision to look at the conservation challenges on an eco-regional perspective and also to develop closer contacts and collaboration with other agencies and organisations active in the field of environmental conservation in Nepal."

Expressing satisfaction over HMG’s policy decision, His Royal Highness added that the decision fits in very well with KMTNC’s own priorities. His Royal Highness also added, "We have to be clear in our mind that our conservation works have to be within national framework supplementing and supporting the efforts of the government in biodiversity conservation as per our mandate."

His Royal Highness also directed that policy decisions of HMG on the sustainable management of natural resources be taken into account while updating the strategy of KMTNC.

Talking about environmental problems, His Royal Highness stated that the root of all environmental problems lies in human needs and human greed, and effort must now focus on enhancing conservation with human characteristics, or rather with a human face. Conservation was not only a means to conserve species and habitat but must bring change.

His Royal Highness further added that global warming poses a threat not only to the survival of island nations, but also to nations like ours where melting snows will cause major flooding in the lowlands.

Pointing out that 505 million people face water scarcity and according to estimates billions of people will be either living in water-scare of water stressed conditions by 2025, His Royal Highnesss said the nonchalant washing of chemicals and pollutants from industries and automobiles into water systems and water sources remains unabated, and polluted water is a major contributor to one of the largest disparties today’s world faces, the health gap.

Describing our region as one where most of the hungriest concentrate, His Royal Highness said they are also the most undernourished and many survive but a few years.

His Royal Highness also said food production to cater to the needs of this growth is already being tested to its limits, over 400 million people live in countries that have critical land scarcity, the average farm size is continuing to shrink and it becomes more difficult to raise land productivity enough to provide adequate nutrition.

The solution lies in mobilising capital both through domestic savings and by attracting investment from abroad to provide employment and income in rural areas, His Royal Highness pointed out, adding that in this exercise our concern would obviously be to see to it that this accomplishment is in balance and harmony with the environment.

The KMTNC governing board approved the report prepared by the audit and finance committee of the trustees for strengthening the management of KMTNC.

Amidst a special function held here today, His Royal Highness gave away an award to Mr Tirtha Bahadur Gurung, chairman of Bhujung conservation area management committee, for his commitment and contribution towards conservation work in the Bhujung area of Lamjung district. Mr Gurung had played a key role in mobilising local communities for the conservation of natural resources in the area.

Similarly, His Royal Highness also inaugurated a Bird Art Exhibition at the conference hall of NCRTC at Sauraha, Chitwan. His Royal Highness observed the paintings with keen interest and acquired information on the various birds depicted.

The exhibition includes 43 paintings by Hem Poudel on different bird species. Poudel has been painting birds for the last 30 years, beginning in 1970. More than 850 bird species are found in Nepal, 526 in Chitwan alone, and they represent 69 bird families of the world.

Prince Nirajan presents prizes

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah today presented prizes to the winners of the open snooker championship organised on the occasion of the 56th Auspicious Birthday of His Majesty the King.

Ang Kami Sherpa defeated Tasi Wangchuk in the final match of the championship organised by Nepal Billiard, Pool and Snooker Association.

Convention rejuvenates NC, avers Paudel

Damauli, Jan. 24 (RSS): Newly elected Nepali Congress central committee member and Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Paudel says the Nepali Congress 10th General Convention which concluded in Pokhara Tuesday was quite successful from the standpoint of the party ideology, policy, directives and organisation.

Mr Paudel expressed this view at a reception hosted in his honour here today by Nepali Congress Tanahu district working committee.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the general convention put forth clear-cut views on such sectors as education, water resources, economy and foreign aid in order to give a new direction to the nation.

Mr Paudel, who also holds the home portfolio, further noted that the 10th general convention also contributed to making democracy strong and effective, as a result of which the party workers in general returned with delight and fresh enthusiasm.

Stating that the central working committee members’ election results conveyed a message of unity and equality with the party, he said that he played a neutral role in the general convention and the workers, too, very much preferred the neutralism.

Both he and Shailaja were for election of central committee members from the panels in order to maintain unity and homogeneity within the party, he said, adding: had only one panel been represented in the central committee this would have jeopardised the party.

The Congress should forge ahead with united strength instead of talking of this or that side and this is a message the party workers got from the election, he said, vowing to continue his mid-course.

Earlier, Nepali Congress Tanahu district president Raghunath Paudel congratulated Deputy Prime Minister Paudel on the success he achieved in upholding the record of Tanahu in the national politics.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Paudel, inaugurating the 15th Birendra Shield sports tournament organised by the district education office, Tanahu here today, said sports helps produce citizens of good conduct.

Stating that the country today needs citizens with a high sense of moral conduct and sacrifice, he said these values alone can make educational, social and cultural development possible.

Pointing out the need for new thinking and vision for the development of education, Deputy Prime Minister Paudel said the Nepali Congress 10th General Convention has adopted a new approach to educational development.

With private sector educational institutions becoming more commercial rather than service-oriented and the government schools failing to provide quality education, the NC general convention has come up with the idea of promoting community education based on the people’s participation.

The Deputy Prime Minister also gave away prizes to the winners of various sporting events held today. Eighty-two secondary schools are taking part in the tournament.

MP Tuka Raj Sigdel, mayor of Byas Municipality Dhruba Wagle and district education officer Gopal Krishna Paudel also expressed their views.

Chairman of the district education committee Bishwo Bahadur Adhikari presided.

Meanwhile, a newly elected central member of the Nepali Congress and Deputy Prime Minister Paudel has said that the tenth NC general convention has given the party a message to move ahead, leaving behind the factionalism and rift within itself.

At a programme organised by the NC Dulegouda Village Committee at Dulegouda Bazaar today, Deputy Prime Minister Paudel said that the results of the elections to the NC central working committee had given forth the message that polarisation in the party should not be increased and divisions into groups and sub-groups should be erased.

He noted that the activists had endorsed the moderate views in the party.

Byas Municipality Mayor Dhruva Wagle said that the tenth NC general convention had proved to be historic in preventing any internal split and consolidating democracy

Village committee chairman Shyam Krishna Malla presided over the programme.

ADB loan assistance for various projects

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide a grant assistance of US dollar 3.3 million (approximately Rs 243 million) to Nepal and a loan assistance totalling US dollar 138.3 million (approximately Rs 10 billion 185.8 million) for the implementation of the Melamchi Water Supply Project, a crop diversification project, and a corporate and financial governance project.

Of this total amount, the Melamchi Water Supply Project will have the largest share of US dollars 120 million followed by the crop diversification project with US dollars 11 million, while US dollars 7.3 million will be used to implement the Corporate and Financial Governance Project (CFGP).

In addition to the loan, a technical assistance grant of US dollars 3.3 million will also be used for implementing the CFGP.

Three separate agreements to this effect were signed by Finance Secretary Dr. Bimal Koirala and ADB Deputy Director Rajat M. Nag on behalf of HMG and the bank respectively in the presence of Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya and ADB President Tadao Chino.

On the occasion, Finance Minister Acharya appreciated the bank’s strong support and serious involvement right from the inception of the Melamchi project and its active and lead role in project materialisation. He expressed confidence that the project would be successfully implemented to achieve its objectives with the support of all the development partners associated with it.

Referring to the instrumental role of ADB assistance in various forms in Nepal’s development efforts, particularly in the areas of agricultural development, infrastructure building and poverty reduction, as well as promoting good governance, he said that the agreements reached today signified the commitment of the ADB in helping in its goal of achieving high equitable, broad based and private sector led economic growth and reducing poverty.

As poverty had become the major challenge of the country, HMG had adopted poverty reduction as the sole development agenda, he added.

ADB President Chino said that the main goal of the ADB was poverty reduction which was also the government’s priority agenda.

Referring to the second largest loan ever approved by ADB for Nepal, namely that for the Melamchi Water Supply Project, he said the ADB was very pleased to be able to assist HMG in addressing this serious problem of water supply in Kathmandu.

The Melamchi Water Supply Project estimated to cost US dollars 464 million is one of the biggest projects of Nepal. ADB, which is extending a loan cooperation of US dollars 120 million, is one of the main donor agencies. The cooperation of the bank is 25.9 per cent of the total estimated cost of the project. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation, NORAD, CIDA, OPEC, NDFA and the Government of Japan have also extended cooperation for the project. As per the present plan, HMG will bear 25.4 per cent of the project cost.

The main objectives of the project are to alleviate the chronic water shortage of Kathmandu Valley on a sustainable and long-term basis and to improve the health condition of its inhabitants, particularly the poor.

The Melamchi diversion scheme will bring 170 million litres of raw water from the Melamchi river to Kathmandu Valley through approximately 26 kms of tunnel.

Prior to this loan, ADB has already provided a loan of US dollars 5 million to prepare an engineering design for the project.

The bank’s current loan will be mainly used for a bulk water distribution system, waste water improvement, project management, and a social upliftment programme in the project affected areas of the Melamchi Valley.

Likewise, the objective of the crop diversification project is to reduce poverty in twelve districts in the mid-western and far-western regions by increasing the income of farmers through the promotion of production and marketing of agricultural crops with a particular focus on secondary crops in potential pocket areas based on a farmer group approach in agriculture extension.

The twelve districts are Banke, Bardiya, Dailekh, Dang and Surkhet of the Mid-Western Region and Achham, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Doti, Kailali and Kanchanpur of the Far-Western Region.

The total cost of the project is US dollars 14.4 million of which 78 per cent will be financed by ADB loan and the rest by HMG. The project will begin in 2001 and will be completed in 2006.

Likewise, the main objective of the Corporate and Financial Governance Project is to contribute to higher and more equitable distribution of economic growth through a robust and efficient financial sector. Its total cost is US dollars 13.3 million of which HMG will finance US dollars 2.7 million.

The objectives will be achieved through improved transparency, accountability, and basic financial sector infrastructure, leading to increased competition and better services coupled with reduced transaction costs of financial intermediation, according to a press release issued here today by the Ministry of Finance.

Chino calls on Koirala

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): Visiting president of the Asian Development Bank Tadao Chino called on Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter’s office at Singha Durbar today.

Matters of bilateral cooperation were discussed on the occasion, according to the Finance Ministry.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Koirala appreciated ADB’s continued cooperation in Nepal’s socio-economic development efforts, especially cooperation in the implementation of large projects like the Kaligandaki Power Project and Melamchi Drinking Water Project.

ADB president Chino said the bank is interested in Nepal’s socio-economic development and wants to continue its cooperation in such areas as agriculture, roads, electricity, basic education, tourism, drinking water and environment protection.

Senior government officials and members of the ADB president’s delegation were also present at the meeting.

Armed police to contain violence

Kathmandu, Jan. 24 (RSS): His Majesty’s Government will mobilize the armed police to control armed struggles, armed insurgency or secessionist activity, terrorist activity and religious and communal riots taking place or likely to take place in any part of the Kingdom of Nepal.

This is stated in the Armed Police Ordinance 2057 B.S. promulgated by His Majesty the King on Jan. 22.

The armed police can be mobilized in supporting rescue work in any part of the country at times of natural calamity and epidemics, in rescuing any Nepalese citizen or other nationals if they are abducted, controlling crimes of serious nature and disturbances of high magnitude and preempting such incidents, ensuring security along the border areas, supporting the Royal Nepal Army at times of external invasion, ensuring security of buildings, structures and other places of public importance specified by the government and ensuring security at times of parliamentary and local level elections.

The ordinance provides for an armed police force in the Kingdom of Nepal and the posts of the armed police personnel will be as specified by His Majesty’s Government. The armed police force will be under the command of the inspector general of armed police and it will be headquartered in Kathmandu valley. Other offices under the armed police headquarters will be as specified.

A central security committee headed by the Home Minister or Minister of State for Home will be formed to provide necessary suggestions to His Majesty’s Government for all these purposes.

The central security committee will have the chief of general staff of the Royal Nepal Army, the secretaries at the Ministries of Defense and Home, the inspector general of police, the inspector general of armed police and the head of the National Investigation Department as members. A joint secretary at the Home Ministry will serve as member-secretary of the committee.

According to the ordinance, the terms and conditions of the armed police force provide for an armed Police Service Commission, departmental action, punishment and appeal and the formation of an armed police special court. The ordinance has also specified the duty and rights of the armed police and a provision for punishment of crime.

The ordinance also provides for a central coordination committee at the centre and other coordination committees at regional and district level can be formed to maintain coordination between the armed police force and other police organisations so as to ensure peace and security in the country.

The central coordination committee will comprise the secretary at the Home Ministry as convenor and the inspector general police and the inspector general of armed police as members, while the office bearers of the regional and district level coordination committees will be as specified.