BASCRP Project
Work going on albeit at snail's pace

BY KRISHNA SHARMA

Kathmandu, June 10: Had the construction work of the Tamraganga-Tilganga tunnel been completed in stipulated date, the portion of the Bagmati River at the sacred Pashupatinath temple would have been flowing water clean enough to take a holy dip by now.

The Bagmati Area Sewerage Construction/Rehabilitation Project (BASCRP) had hoped to complete the first two phases of the work by the end of June. But it is already the second week of the month and Project officials are bashful for not being able to keep their words.

The Project is a 25-year Master Plan to make Bagmati a clean and environment-friendly river. In the initial two phases the Project has plans to clean up the 12-kilometre stretch of the River from Gokarna to Pashupatinath temple area. The Project was launched five years back with a grant assistance of Rs. 520 million from the government. So far, nearly investing 370 million rupees has completed 90 per cent of the work.

"Although the construction work of treatment plants and tunnels are over, we will not be able to channel clean water through the Pashupatinath area by this month because the renovation of the tunnel constructed earlier has not been completed," chairman of BASCRP Bidder Poodle told The Rising Nepal. The tunnel, constructed by Chummy Construction, was found to be faulty and is to be renovated.

According to Poodle, the project has recently handed over a letter to China Sanding International Economic Co-operation Company, a Chinese construction company working with BASCRP, for the renovation of the tunnel. The Nepalese Construction Company had found the task of building the tunnel very difficult because of the sandy soil.

"The Chinese Construction Company is required to complete the task of renovating the tunnel within 45 days. If it can do so, we will be able to channel clean water through the Pashupati area by the coming Dashain," Poudel said.

"Although we can operate the treatment plant by the end of August, we will not channel the water into the River during the rainy season. We want the rainwater to wash away the dirt and waste along the Pashupatinath area," Poudel said.

Once the operation starts the wastewater of the river will be treated through aerobic and anaerobic processes and brought to a collection chamber. The Project has constructed a 12-km-long sewerage tunnel from Gokarna to Guheshwori to divert the wastewater. There are three different chambers to filter the water in the treatment plant area built at Tamraganga. Only then the purified/filtered water will be discharged into the river that flows through the Holy Pashupatinath temple.

The Royal Nepalese Army is mulling for the embankment in the north-eastern side of the Bagmati River, according to chairman Poudel.

Only the construction of treatment plants, channelling clean water through the Pashupatinath area and making green belts will not be enough, said Shree Krishna Bhattarai of Bouddha. "Creating awareness among people about the impact of polluting rivers is what is needed if the rivers are to keep clean in the long run," said Bhattarai.

The main pollutants of the river come from over 200,000 people residing along the riverside who have been discharging wastewater, septic wastes and sewage into the Bagmati. Again, nearly 70 industries along the Riverbank discharge their waste into the river contributing to the pollution.

Meanwhile, it is not only the delay in renovating the tunnel that has hindered the timely completion of the initial phases, there are also many other problems with the Project. For example, the Project has yet to receive some equipment for treatment plant and they also have to be installed.

Similarly, it still has to settle the problem of land annexation. Likewise, the carpet industries have been creating problems to them. "Despite our repeated requests the carpet industries are not properly treating the wastewater before discharging into the river. This is posing a serious threat to our machines," member secretary of the Project Ram Deep Shah says. The chemicals containing in the wastewater damage our equipment, he said.

As for the cleaning of the River flowing through Kathmandu valley – from Bagdwar near Shivapuri to Chovar in the South --, Poudel says they have prepared a Master Plan for cleaning the River.

"If everything goes according to the plan, the most ambitious plan of making the Bagmati a clean and environment-friendly River will be completed by the next two decades," Poudel opines.

EurOrient seeking alliance with WB, ADB

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, June 10: Still dithering to cough up the guarantee money for the survey license of Arun III Hydropower Project, American Company EurOrient is frantically seeking alliance with the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop the US$ one billion hydroelectric scheme, a highly reliable source told The Rising Nepal.

Ron Nechenmiya, Managing Director of EurOrient, according to the source, is shuttling between the headquarters of WB and ADB in Washington D.C. and Filipino capital Manila respectively to rope in the two "promising" investors.

"The final draft of the agreement for such an alliance is already ready but it may still take one month before it is signed," said the source asking not to be named. It further elaborated that EurOrient has plans to invite the two multilateral agencies on condition that they pay the equity of five per cent of the hydropower project’s total cost billed at above one billion US Dollars. "The company also aims to receive loan totaling to 500 million US Dollars from the two banks."

Both WB and ADB’s offices here, however, could not confirm whether their headquarters had received any proposal on Arun III from the Los Angeles based company. Richard Vokes, Resident Representative of the ADB, said that he was not aware of any such development. "Had there been anything like that, we would have been probably informed."

Arun III update

But, he said, private organisations like EurOrient can approach the bank through its Private Sector Group (PSG), a separate wing at ADB Headquarters that deals with private commercial entities. And if that is the case, the news may take time to trickle in. "Even if we have not been informed by our headquarters, it could be that they (EurOrient) may have made the initial approach with the PSG."

What is true with ADB’s PSG is also true with WB’s International Finance Corporation (IFC). Even as WB officials here could not confirm about EurOrient’s proposal, they said private parties could approach the bank’s International Finance Corporation with their proposals.

Rajib Upadhya, Senior External Affairs Specialist in the bank’s Kathmandu Office, however, said that chances of the bank approving the proposal was quite remote as it had already rejected the project in the past.

Having "supported" the project – then known as Baby Arun (201MW) – for more than a decade, WB sent shock waves in 1996 declaring it had aborted the scheme. One year after it rendered the fatal blow to Arun III during the CPN (UML) rule in 1996, the bank turned down the request of the successive Nepali Congress government to chip in the money, according to a WB official here.

"Since the bank has already denied to get in, chances are almost nil that it would be involved again," said the bank’s official. "But, nothing can be said if they come through the IFC."

EurOrient’s latest move, if at all as claimed by the source, comes at a time when the American Company has been in the news for not opening its purse to pay Rupees 42 million as performance guarantee for the survey license of the hydropower project.

Even after agreeing to pay the guarantee money for the survey license last year, it later backtracked from its earlier commitment forcing the officialdom to have second thoughts on its application.

After the merchant banking group failed to produce the money even after several extended deadlines, the Department of Electricity Development (DED) last month for the second time recommended the Ministry of Water Resources to cancel EurOrient’s application. The foreign company had of late been arguing that the government should make the performance guarantee conditional so that it gets back the money if it fails to sign the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with India.

A run-of-river project, Arun III has been basically designed to export power to India. And signing the PPA with the immediate southern neighbour, EurOrient believes, is a hard nut to crack.

With both the sides – the officialdom and EurOrient – sticking to their grounds, the American company’s local partner Windorz Nepal last month had braced up to pay the guarantee money within this month. To-date, it hasn’t.

People feel relief as pvt banks open Sunday

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 10: Gyani R. Shakya, an employee, was happy that he could cash his cheque. After almost eight days the private banks opened today. He had no iota of feeling of bafflement in commuting in the hot midday from Kuleshwor to a bank at New Road, as he said, "I was really short of cash. I was compelled to borrow money from my relatives to meet my household expenses. "

There was an influx of customers right from the opening hours in almost all the banks for different banking services, more particularly, for cash withdrawals.

"We have seen a heavy transaction today, not only a large number of individual account holders but also businessmen visited the bank right from the time the bank opened," said Nepal Bangladesh Bank New Road Branch Manager Rajendra B. Shrestha.

"We have had more than an average day transaction today," said Assistant General Manager of Everest Bank Ltd., Adarsha Gupta.

The opening of the private-sector banks on Sunday, a public holiday, came as a relief to people. The decision to open the banks for normal transaction hours was made by the Nepal Bankers’ Association only on Saturday evening.

General public had been deprived of banking and other public services continuously for more than a week following the June 1st incident and the public holidays announced to mourn the demise of His late Majesty King Birendra, Her late Majesty Queen Aishwarya, His late Majesty King Dipendra, and other members of the Royal family.

Prior to the week also, banking services were badly hit due to the general strike called by six Left parties for three consecutive days from May 27-29.

However, the business will remain close on Monday as the government has announced it a public holiday to observe the traditional eleventh day rituals of the demise of His late Majesty the King Birendra and other royal family members.

"The banks remained closed for a week in the past, and coming Monday has also been announced a public holiday, so the decision of opening banks on Sunday was taken as a move to serve the public," said Narendra Bhattarai, president of Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA). The NBA is an association of banks established some 14 years ago.

The banks provided the whole range of banking transactions, including cash, remittances, bills, credit, guarantee, foreign exchange and trade (letter of credit).

But, as Nepal Rastra Bank was closed today, the private sector commercial banks were deprived of the central bank’s service of cash withdrawal and deposit, increasing the risk of running short of cash during transaction hours. It could also result in under- and over-cash balance at the vault.

"To protect ourselves from such situations, we have instructed not to entertain big cash amounts to manage their cash balance today," said Narendra Bhattarai, who is also the Managing Director of Nepal Bangladesh Bank Ltd.

"Since the international currency market is also closed today, we did not buy dollars," Adarsha Gupta of Everest Bank said referring to the foreign currency related problem.

"Overall, the impact of the bank opening is very good on the public," observed Bhattarai.

However, many people suffering acute cash crunch due to the closure of the banks for last eight days could not get to the banks as the notice came to the public relatively late.

A more undelectable grudge of the public, however, is that two giant government-owned commercial banks that are said to command about 80 per cent of the total banking transactions of the country remained closed in the Valley today. Obviously, a larger chunk of customers could not receive banking services with the Nepal Bank Limited and the Rastriya Banijya Bank remaining closed.

A senior officer of Rastriya Banijya Bank on the condition of anonymity pointed out "some technical reasons" for their inability to comply with the Bankers’ Association decision.

"Since the government-owned banks strictly follow the government’s public holiday calendar, they could not have opened their Valley branches today," said Narendra Bhattarai.

Polling officers nominated for election of NA members

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 10: The Election Commission has nominated polling officers for the election of 16 members of the National Assembly. Twenty of the 60 National Assembly seats will fall vacant by June 26.

Of the 20 vacant seats, eleven, including a woman member, will be elected by the House of Representatives and five will be elected by local body representatives in the five development regions. The remaining four members will be nominated by the King.

The members, whose terms are expiring on June 26, are 10 from the Nepali Congress, two each from CPN-UML and CPN-ML and four nominated by the King.

The Election Commission has nominated General Secretary at the Parliamentary Secretariat Ishwor Prasad Upadhyaya as election officer for the election by the House of Representatives.

According to the Election Commission, the election officers for the regional elections are: Nanda Raj Adhikary, judge of the Dhankuta Apellate Court, for the Eastern Development Region, Buddhikant Mainali, judge of the Patan Apellate Court, for the Central Development Region, Tariq Ali Ansari, Judge of the Pokhara Apellate Court, for the Western Development Region, Tarkaraj Bhatt, judge of the Surkhet Apellate Court, for the Mid-western Development Region, and Damodarpurush Dhakal, judge of the Dipayal Apellate Court, for the Far-western Development Region.

According to the election schedule, the initial voters’ list will be published on June 15 and the next day is given for protests and claims. On the same day the final voters’ list will be published.

On June 17, the election programme will be brought out. Filing of nominations and protests and claims will also take place on the same day. On June 18 examination and checking of the nomination papers and decision on protests will be made. On June 19, the candidates may withdraw their candidacy and on June 20 the final list of the candidates will be published along with the allocation of the election symbols. Polling will take place on June 27 from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.

Institutions, associations greet His Majesty

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 10: Various institutions and associations have greeted His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on His Majesty's enthronement.

The institutions and organisations extending congratulations to His Majesty the King on the occasion are the Shakya Foundation Nepal, Nepal-Russia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nepal-Russia Cultural Association and Nepal-Russia Press Centre.

Likewise, according to RSS, the institutions and organisations extending best wishes to His Majesty are the Kanya Mandir High School- Nyokha, the Sanskrit Sewa Parishad, Nepal Chhantyal Sangh, the Santa Nirakari Mandal, the People's Campus, the Baniya Bandhu Cooperation Committee, National Front Against Tobacco Consumption, the Mahendra Sanskrit University Employees' Association, Sahid Thir Bam Malla Memorial Foundation, the Sen Thakuri Welfare Society, the Kalanidhi Indira Music and Art College, the Family Planning Association of Nepal, CPN (ML) Ramechhap-Kathmandu Liaison Forum and the Sri Pancha Kumari Social Trust.

Similarly, the Democratic Society Nepal, Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind, Nepal Automechanics Entrepreneurs Association, the Bishwa Shanti Bhagawat Bhajan Ashram, the Music Maestro Ganesh Lal Music Academy, the Shanti Maitri Parivar, the Discover Nepal, the Thengchhen Pema Chhaling Monastery, the Society of Senior Citizens of Nepal, the Khanal Welfare Committee and the Home for the Helpless and the Destitute have also wished His Majesty the King.

Likewise, the Journalists' Welfare Society, the Bhaktapur Cottage and Small Industries Association, Nepal Eye Hospital, the Community Saving Fund, the Prabhat High School, Siddhartha Banasthali Institute, Nepali Congress Lalitpur District Worning Committee, Nepal Law Campus Free Students' Union, the Padma Kanya Vidyashram, the Consortium of Children's Club Associations and the Nagarik Jagaran Manch Nepal have greeted His Majesty the King.

Other institutions and organisations extending best wishes to His Majesty are Shree Pashupati Pilgrim's Rest House Gaushala, Lions Club of Kathmandu Capital, the Central Manandhars' Association, the Reiyukai Nepal Patan, Nepal Kidney Care Foundation, Nepal Diabetes and Nutrition Society, Kharel Samaj Nepal, the High Level Bagmati Area Sewerage Construction and Improvement Project Implementation and Follow-up Committee, the Pande Samaj Samiti, the District Sports Development Committee-Salleri, Nepal Children's Organisation-Pyuthan, Nepal-Greece Friendship and Cultural Association, the Sinha Swan Khala, the Machhindra Club of Keltol and the Nepal Academics' Council.

Condolence messages pouring in

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS):  More reports expressing condolences at the sad demise of Their Majesties the King and Queen, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family in an unfortunate incident that occurred at the Narayanhity Royal Palace on June 1 have been pouring in.

The institutions and organisations expressing condolences are the Shakya Foundation Nepal the Sanskriti Sewa Parishad, Nepal Chhantyal Sangh, the Santa Nirakari Mandal, Triyog High School, Baniya Bandhu Cooperation Committee, the National Campaign Against Tobacco Consumption, Nepal Cardiac Society, Kathmandu Women's College, the Mahendra Sanskrit University Employees' Association, the Sahid Thir Bam Malla Memorial Foundation, the Sen Banshi Thakuri Welfare Society, the Family Planning Association of Nepal, CPN(ML) Ramechhap-Kathmandu Liaison Forum and the Pancha Kumari Social Trust.

Similarly, the Democratic Society of Nepal, Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind, Kathmandu Association of the Deaf, National Transport Entrepreneurs Association, Nepal Auto Mechanics Association, the Bishwa Shanti Bhagawat Bhajan Ashram, the Music Maestro Ganesh Lal Memorial Music Academy, the Shanti Maitri Parivar, the discover Nepal, the Thengchhen Pema Chhyoling Monastery, the Senior Citizens' Society Nepal, Khanal Welfare Committee, the Kanya Mandir Higher Secondary School-Nyokha and the House for the Helpless have condoled the sad demise of Their Majesties.

Also expressing their condolences are the Journalists' Welfare Society, the Trainers' Association of Nepal, the Bhaktapur Small and Cottage Industries Association, Nepal Eye Hospital, the Nepal Ved Vidhyashram Alumni Association, the Mutual Savings Fund, Siddhartha Banasthali Institute, Nepali Congress District Working Committee, Lalitpur, the Nepal Law Campus Free Students' Union, the Padma Kanya Vidhyashram, Nepal Trade Union Federation, the Hatemalo Sanchar and the Nagarik Jagarn Manch.

Likewise, Shree Pashupati Pilgrim's Rest House, Gaushala, the Lions Club of Kathmandu, Prabhat Secondary School, Nepal Kidney Care Foundation, Rotary Club of Kathmandu, the Reiyukai Nepal, Patan, Nepal Diabetes and Nutrition Society, Kharel Samaj Nepal, Bhaktapur Jaycees, Nepal-Russia Cultural Association, Nepal-Russia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the high level Bagmati Area Sewerage Construction and Improvement project implementation and follow-up committee, the Pandey Samaj Samiti, the District Sports Development Committee-Solukhumbu, Nepal Children's Organisation-Pyuthan, Nepal-Greece Friendship and Cultural Association, the Sinha Swan Khala, the Machhindra Club of Keltole and the Nepal Academics' Council have also paid profound tributes to Their late Majesties.

Condolence meetings held in dists

Kathmandu, June 10 (RSS):  Condolence meetings have been held in various districts praying for the eternal peace to the departed souls of His Majesty King Birendra, Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family who passed away in the tragic incident that took place at the Narayanhity Royal Palace on June 1.

Kathmandu- Institutions and organisations extending heartfelt condolences at the demise of Their Majesties the King and Queen, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family are--All Nepal Himalayan Buddhist Association, Nepal Chartered Accountants’ Association, Nepal Chemists and Druggists Association, the Balaju Technical Training Centre, the Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple Management Committee, Nepal Integrated Blind Welfare Association, the Newa Deya Dabu and Women Professional Training Centre.

Similarly, the Pancha Kumari Women's Development Centre, the Health Manpower Development Centre, the World Accupuncture Services Association-Nepal, Nepal-India Literary Association, the Dilli Bazar Kanya Campus, the Ekata Pariwar, the Moonshine Boarding School Family- Dhalko, the Bhavak Campaign Nepal, the Siru Academic Society- Bhaktapur, the Shanta Atma Satsang Samiti-Nepal and the Layaku Educational Centre-Kirtipur have also condoled the sad demise of Their Majesties.

Siraha- The representatives of Siraha district-based governmental and non-governmental organisations and political parties, businessmen, journalists and intellectuals have expressed their profound tributes to Their late Majesties the King and Queen, His late Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family at a condolence meeting organised here Friday by Nepal Red Cross Society, Siraha.

Chitwan- Nepali Congress Chitawan District Working Committee, the District Sanatan Dharma Sewa Samiti, the Radhakrishna Mandir management committee, the Rhino Club, Narayangadh and Ratna Municipality held a joint condolence meeting to express condolences at the sad demise of Their Majesties the King and Queen.

Mahottari- An all-party meeting chaired by the chief of the district officer expressed heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Their Majesties the King and Queen, His Majesty King Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and other members of the Royal Family and prayed for the eternal peace to the departed souls.

Likewise, the Rotary Club of Janakpur also mourned the demise of Their Majesties by organising a condolence meeting.

Similarly, various institutions and associations based in Syangja, Sindhupalchowk, Nuwakot and Nawalparasi districts have, in separate statements, expressed heartfelt condolences on the tragic passing away of Their Majesties the King and Queen, His Majesty King Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and other members of the Royal Family. They have also prayed for the eternal peace to the departed souls.

The Srikhanda Mahayagya Kailash Ashram, Swargadwari also condoled the sad passing away of Their Majesties the King and Queen, His Majesty King Dipendra and other members of the Royal Family.

CPN (United) expresses grief over June 1 incident

Kathmadu, June 10 (RSS):  The Communist Party of Nepal (United), at its three-day working committee meeting that concluded here today, has expressed profound grief at the tragic incident that took place at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace on June 1 and expressed hearty tributes to the Royal couple and other Royal Family members who died in the incident.

The meeting has expressed confidence that His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev will respect the sovereignty of the people and the achievements of 1990.

The meeting has demanded that the high level probe panel constituted to investigate the June 1- incident function without any fear or bias and present the true facts before the people.

It also protested the arrests of some persons including the Kantipur daily editor for publishing an article in the daily and sought their immediate release.

Expressing profound grief at the death of 13 persons in landslides at various VDCs of Samkhuwasabha district, the party has conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and demanded that the government provide compensation to the families of the victims.

Chaired by general secretary of the party Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar, the meeting has decided to hold the next central council meeting at Kathmadu on July 14 and 15.

National census 2001 begins

Kathmadu, June 10 (RSS): The National Census-2001 has begun today with the slogan of "No omission, no repetition".

Census has been postponed in more than 35 districts because of the national mourning which the people are trying to cope with.

According to deputy director of the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Radha Krishna GC, since the training for enumerators could not be conducted in some 50 per cent of the districts due to national mourning, the census in those districts has been postponed for now.

Initially, the National Census was scheduled for 12 days from June 10 to 21. But as the entire country is now grief-stricken and is in mourning, the census has been postponed and in these districts the census-taking task will begin on June 14 and last till June 26.

Earlier, His Majesty's Government has already announced a public holiday on June 22 to celebrate it as "Census Day".

Seventy-five districts of the country have been divided into four categories for supervisors, and salaries and other benefits have been provided accordingly. Under the group "A" come 14 Himalayan districts, under "B" 25 districts, under "C" 9 districts and under "D" 27 districts.

A total of some 27,000 employees including 300 area supervisors and 80 district enumeration officers, 5,000 supervisors and 20,000 enumerators will be mobilised for the census which takes place ever years. twenty per cent of the enumerators will be women.

In order to ensure that no households or individuals would be left out from or repeated in the census, the census has been taken in two phases. Under the first phase, the task of listing households across the country has been completed this week. Some 5,000 supervisors were mobilised for the purpose.

According to CBS, preliminary estimates of the population will be released by mid-August. Rs 280 million has been allocated for the census.

Two kinds of questionnaires for households and individuals were used in 1991.