‘Collecting forced donations may endanger peacetalks’

Charikot, Sept. 1 (RSS) :Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. inaugurating the 11th general assembly meeting of the Dolakha Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, said our economic condition would improve only if we advance the industries related with tourism, water resources and agriculture.

Stating that the country is now steeped in corruption for the resolution of which the government is going to introduce a Bill in Parliament, Mr Kc noted that every one should cooperate for this.

The present government has advanced the process of talks with the Maoists by giving a top priority to law and order, he said, adding that the act of collecting donations forcibly and serving other threats to the people by the Maoists may put the forthcoming talks in danger.

Former Minister Bhim Bahadur Tamang, Rameshwor Manandhar and others also spoke at the function chaired by chamber president D. B. basnet.

The Tourism Minister gave away letters of honor to DDC Vice Chiarman Shiv Prasad Bhandari, Cdo Dip Kumar Joshi and journalist Rajendra Manandhar for their contribution to the chamber.

18 airlines in operation

Kathmandu, Sept.1(RSS) : Only 18 out of the 32 companies receiving licenses for operating internal air services in the country after the opening up of skies for private airlines by the HMG in 1991.

This was informed at a discussion programme organised by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Vivil Aviation between the airlines operators and peoples’ representatives of remote areas.

On the occasion, DDC chairmen of various districts said the airlines services have not been smooth and effective in the remote areas despite18 times increase in the no. of airlines in the country during this period.

They said there was no uniformity in the air fare, the private airlines do not sell tickets to Nepalese as far as they get foreigners, the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation ( MAC) has not been able to explain why it is in loss and that the services in the remote areas have not been regular and the air fare should in no way be increased at present.

The airlines operators said the airfare has not been changed for the past eight years and the increase in the price of spare parts, tax and fuel, landing and parking charges are the causes for the trouble of the operators.

Those speaking on the occasion were president of the Airlines Operators Association Nepal Dipmani Rajbhandari, executive president of Karnali Air Helicopter and MP Narayan Singh Pun, Bijaya Shrestha of A.I.T. and MPs and DDC chairmen of Kaski Ramechhap, Bajhang, Mustang, Khotang, Bhojpur, Manang, Surkhet, Rupandehi, Okhaldhunga, Saptari, Kathmandu, Jhapa, Kalikot, Humla, Mugu, Jumla and Dolpa districts.

From the chair, Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. said the government has been reviewing the relevancy of the National Civil Aviation Policies - 2050 and updating it.

He also said action will be forwarded on the companies which do not fulfill the conditions of permission.

Joint secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Nagendra Prasad Ghimire also shed light on the state of airline services and government polices.