106 yr old bridge to be replaced by concrete bridge

Bhaktapur, Sept. 6 (RSS): The 106 year old wooden bridge lying between ward Nos. 2 and 3 of Bageswori village development committee which was damaged in the month of Saun (mid-July/mid August) is to be replaced by a concrete bridge at a cost of about Rs 6 million.

The bridge is to be constructed with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Local Development, Bhaktapur District Administration, Nepal Water Suppy Corporation, District Road and Irrigation Offices, Bhaktapur Municipality and Bageswori Village Development Committee, it is learnt.

The bridge will be completed within six months after construction work commences, according to convenor of the bridge construction sub-committee Maniram Gelal.

Demolition work of the wooden bridge will begin in September 17 after collection of financial resources for construction of the new bridge.

The wooden bridge was built by the then prime minister Bir Shumsher J. B. Rana in 1952 B.S.

Don't quit under pressure, VDC officials urged

Dhading, Sept. 6 (RSS): The National Federation of Village Development Committees (NFVDC), Dhading has appealed the office-bearers of the village development committees not to resign from their posts under the pressure of the Maoists.

Expressing concern over such activities of the Maoists, president of the Dhading District National Federation of Village Development Committees Khem Bahadur Pathak has demanded an immediate halt to such activities.

Stating that the chairmen and office bearers of Katunje and Semjong VDCs have already resigned under the pressure of the Maoists and the chairman of Nalang VDC Premnath Silwal had been manhandled by the Maoists, Mr Pathak said that the chairmen of about 10 VDCs had left their VDCs and were currently staying at Dhadingbesi, the headquarters of Dhading district because the Maoists were pressurizing them to resign from their posts.

Likewise, in Kathmandu, member of the House of Representatives and president of Dhading district NC committee Ramnath Adhikari has, in a statement issued here today, demanded an end to the activities of the so-called Maoists of forcefully making the chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of the district development committee and the village development committees to resign from their posts, extorting money and Mandhandling of people that has been taking place in Dhading district since last month.

The Maoists have been holding talks with the government as well as carrying out activities of looting and pressurising the people’s representatives to resign, Mr Adhikari said, urging the Maoists to immediately stop such activities that creates obstacles in the peace process.

Women head only 9.1% households of Nepal

Kathmandu, Sept. 6 (RSS): Only 9.1 per cent of heads of households in Nepal are women, according to a "between census household information, monitoring and evaluation system (BCHIMES)" national survey carried out by the Central Bureau of Statistics in 2000.

The survey covering 10,269 sample household in 69 districts also found that 52.4 per cent of heads of households were literate, the literacy rate for female heads (19.2%) being much lower than for male heads (55.6%).

The religion of a huge majority of heads of households (88 per cent) was Hinduism, while that of 7.5 per cent was Buddhism and 2.9 per cent Islam.

Of household amenities in Nepal, 24.6 per cent of households had electricity, 49.7 per cent had radio, 13.9 per cent television, 3.4 per cent telephones, 24.7 per cent bicycles, 2.1 per cent motorcycles, 0.8 per cent motor vehicles and 1.4 per cent refrigerators.

Likewise, 85.5 per cent of all households used traditional stoves for cooking, 11.3 per cent used gas and kerosene, and 2.2 per cent used smokeless ovens.

The majority of households in Kathmandu Valley and urban areas were found using gas and kerosene stoves for cooking.

Slightly more than 10 per cent of households had nine or more persons in the family. Among large households 11.3 per cent used one bedroom, 25.5 per cent used two bedrooms and 63.2 per cent used three or more bedrooms.

The population distribution by broad age group in the sampled households indicated that 38.9 per cent were below 14 years, 53 per cent were from 15 to 59 years and 7.2 per cent 60 years and above.

The dependency ratio is 85.6 compared to 93.1 in 1991, indicating a decline in fertility and mortality.

This was disclosed at a BCHIMES dissemination seminar organised by the Central Bureau of Statistics here today.

People want peace talks to work: Meet

Kathmandu, Sept. 6 (RSS): Representatives of civic society have underlined the need for the government and the Maoists not to perpetrate any activities that may create obstacles in the way of dialogues and put an end to the present confusing situation.

The speakers, speaking at a press meet organised by the People's Solidarity for Peace Campaign here today, said as both sides have been carrying out activities to some degree, both parties should become serious and ensure that such activities do not take place.

Stating that people want that the country would find a political outlet through peaceful talks, they observed that if any party tries to disrupt the environment for talks, the Nepali people will never forgive them. They also urged journalists not to publish provocative articles and bring out articles that can help build the atmosphere for talks.

The speakers also urged the government to restrict the people's right to hold assemblies peacefully and the Maoists not to carry out any provocative works in the name of holding a gathering.

Speaking on the occasion were Padma Ratna Tuladhar, Sudip Pathak, Bhoj Bahadur Shah, Birendra Keshari Pokhrel and Chandi Dhakal.

The civic society is to take out a peace rally on Sept 14.