After heavy rains, unusual downpour
Monsoon will be over from Sunday

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 19: The clear blue sky and the stoppage of rains in the last few days have indicated the end of monsoon. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, this year’s monsoon will be over from September 23.

According to Mrs. Mandira Rajbahak, senior meteorologist, this year’s monsoon was weak because the monsoon trough (the collection of monsoon clouds) remained oblique with its inclination either towards the east or the west. This led to heavy rainfall in some parts while other parts witnessed a draught-like condition.

For a good monsoon in Nepal, the western disturbances and the monsoon trough should remain active and should complement each other. This year they were less than active and also not in the right position leading to a weak monsoon, she said.

However, the country witnessed comparatively longer rainy period this year with unusual and rather early pre-monsoon throughout the country.

According to the Department, the intense pre-monsoon activity that started from the second week of May led to torrential rains, thunderstorms, hailstorms and strong gales causing a lot of damages to the standing crops, houses and disruption of electricity and communication in different parts of the country.

The human toll of the rains was one person in Tehrathum, lost in floods, and three persons were killed by lightening, one in Makawanpur and two in Mahendranagar. Meanwhile, the frequent downpour and the overcast sky caused the temperature remain lower than normal in most parts of Terai.

The pre-monsoon shower was almost 200 per cent of the normal in many parts of the country, with Bhairahawa witnessing three times the normal precipitation.

This year the country experienced its first monsoon rain on June 3, which was one whole week earlier than the normal onset date. But because of the western inclination of the monsoon trough, rainfall in June exceeded the normal limit in Western Region with areas like Dadeldhura, Dhangadhi, Surkhet, Nepalgunj, Jumla experiencing 200 per cent or more rainfall in the month. Dhangadhi got 525 mm of rainfall, which was more than 200 per cent of the average annual. The rains caused big landslides, with Sankhuwasabha and Dhading being the most affected districts claiming 46 lives and a big loss of properties. Twenty-two others were also killed by thunderstorms at different places of the country. The heavy rains also caused the maximum temperature below normal by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the Western Terai.

Although this year’s monsoon started early, its effect was mild till the second week of July in the Western and Central region and persisted weak in the eastern region till the last week of the month.

According to the Department, scanty rain in the eastern region affected the crops adversely. Only the last week of July saw some revival of the rain throughout the country, still it was more active and vigorous over the central region and several other parts of western region. The incessant rain led to serious floods and landslides, taking 33 human lives and many livestock. In most parts of the country the rain was below normal with the eastern districts being the most affected.

The most affected areas were Dhankuta and Biratnagar, where only 40 per cent of the normal rain was recorded. The above normal rainfall recorded at only in some areas of central, western and far-western Terai. In July, Kathmandu recorded about 500 mm of rain, which was 42 per cent above normal. The below normal rainfall also affected the temperature with normal or above normal temperature noted in eastern region.

Meanwhile, the northward movement of the seasonal monsoon trough caused the slackness of monsoon’s effect in the mid-western and far-western region of the country and revival of rains in the western, central and eastern part of the country. Parts like Okhaldhunga, Taplejung, Dhankuta and Biratnagar, which were witnessing below normal rains in the earlier months, got normal or above normal rain

Pokhara got a record of 1521mm rainfall with the 24 hours extreme of 357 mm in the last 32 years. The heavy rainfall caused big floods and landslides at many places taking the toll of 50 lives and many livestock with disruption of roads and communication. According to the Department, 10 districts of the mid-western, central and eastern region were the worst affected.

Temples will be preserved: KC

Kathmandu, Sept. 19 (RSS): Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur KC has said that HMG is not thinking at present about including Kalinchok, Bigu Monastery and Bhimeshwar of Dolakha district in the World Heritage List and HMG will not allow any slack in the conservation, repair and maintenance of Bhimeshwar, which is of religious and archeological significance.

Mr KC, furnishing replies to oral questions posed by MPs at the meeting of the House of Representatives today, said that there was no programme at present to set up a cultural museum at Chhoretar where a historic Kirat fortress is located.

Stating that there was no programme this year for the renovation and preservation of Rimsthit Pauwa, Chhatreshwari and Siddha temples and Falawang Palace in Salyan district, he said "HMG is of thinking of undertaking the protection and renovation of the temples next year."

It was not true that the Bhedetar and Rajarani areas of Dhankuta district had been declared a tourism destination, he said adding that the views of the government were positive regarding development of these areas of tourism potential, he added.

He said, "the Department of Archaeology has completed a study for the protection of historic Baldegadhi fortress in Palpa district but at present the government has no programme in this connection although its views are positive."

Those asking questions were Sherdhan Rai, Netra Lal Shrestha, Durga Limkha, Kamal Prakash Sunuwar as authorised by Anand Prasad Pokharel, and Chandra Mani Kharal as authorised by Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi.

ASCOL students protest closure of academic institutions

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 19: The Free Students’ Union of Amrit Science College today halted transport for at least an hour at Lainchaur protesting the strike of educational institutions called by All Nepal National Free Students’ Union-Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R). The college, however, remained closed and the practical exams of B. Sc. second year could not be held as scheduled.

Hundreds of schools and colleges also remained closed today after the students’ wing of the underground CPN-Maoists called for a complete closure of educational institutions Tuesday. The ANNFSU-R has called for the strike demanding the release of those students who were arrested on September 16 and the return of the seized materials from the rooms of the arrested students.

Despite the call for strike, Tri-Chandra College and some other colleges were not closed and the classes ran smoothly. But the principals and headmasters of various colleges and schools who declared close their institutions till September 24 said they were forced to do so as they got threats from student leaders of ANNFSU-R through phones.

Requesting anonymity, a college headmaster said that the frequent bandhs had adversely affected their academic calendar and the whole educational system was disturbed a lot.

"It is because of never-ending chains of political and educational propaganda of the ANNFSU-R that we are suffering irrecoverably," said a student who returned home frustrated this morning finding that his college had been closed for four days.

Although the schools like Galaxy Public School were open today, the turn out remained very low. "When only about 15 to 20 per cent students came to school, we thought it was no use running the classes," Principal Geeta Rana told The Rising Nepal.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the National Private and Boarding Schools Organisation-Nepal called on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka and Education Minister Amod Prasad Upadhyay and handed over a memorandum that covers the current educational situation in the country.

General Secretary of N-PABSAN Arjun Prasad Adhikari said that it was due to the lack of unity among the private and public schools that they were constantly attacked.

As to why the educational institutions failed to show solidarity and resist the frequent attacks on them by protestors, Adhikari said that they were mulling towards unity and were going to form a committee to resist the existing aberrations and anomalies.

Meanwhile, the government has released some of the arrested students and has also withdrawn the cases filed against them.

The press release issued by N-PABSAN today stated that along with the Prime Minister the other concerned ministers have also said they would take measures to ensure necessary security arrangements for the unhindered operation of schools.

The organisation of the guardians has appealed to the Maoist affiliated students to withdraw their strike call and help maintain a peaceful atmosphere for the regular operation of educational institutions.

Security measures activated

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 19: Keeping in view the continued disturbance created by different groups, including the CPN-Maoist and its sister organisations in the country’s educational sector, the Home Ministry has intensified and activated its security measures for the unhindered operation of academic institutions.

The Ministry announced this after many of the academic institutions remained closed today due to a four-day strike call by the students’ wing of the underground CPN-Maoist to protest the arrest of some of its activists.

The Ministry has requested the concerned authorities not to come under anybody’s pressure and keep their institutes open. In its press release issued today, the Home Ministry has said that it would deploy security personnel if it is notified about threats or any possibility of untoward incident in such institutions.

The Ministry has asked all the concerned to contact at telephone numbers 100, 110, 120, 412780, 226044 and 225698 if anybody threatens to close down or vandalise the institutions.

People’s access to power to be enhanced

Kathmandu, Sept. 19 (RSS): Minister for Water Resources Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar has said that electricity supply will be further extended in the municipality and various village development committees (VDCs) of Surkhet district.

Speaking during question hour at the House of Representatives today, Minister Gachchhedar said that a total of Rs 6.5 million had been earmarked for electrificaion and installation of transformers including Rs 6 million earmarked for the remaining parts of Birendranagar Municipality and Latikoili Jarbuta, Satarbani, Kalyan, Dasharathpur and Lekhafarsa VDCs.

He informed the House that there was an electrification programme for Rampur VDC of Salyan district in the current fiscal year, a detailed survey of the Abal Santada Irrrigation Project had been undertaken at Meheltoli VDC of Dailekh district and projects will be selected and impemented on the basis of viability.

The Minister for Water Resources said that there was no programme covering the various VDCs of Palpa district under the eighth electrification project but feasibility studies were being undertaken and electrification would be carried out once the relevent report was received.

The MPs posing questions to Minister Gachchhedar were Netra Lal Shrestha of RPP, Chandra Mani Kharal of the CPN-UML, Hridaya Ram Thani of Nepali Congress, Nar Bahadur Hamal of CPN-UML and Chandra Mani Kharal as authorised by Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi.

Japanese grant for school construction

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 19: The government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of Rs. 585.5 million to Nepal for the project for the construction of primary schools for the Third phase of the Second Basic and Primary Education Programme and for debt relief measures.

According to the Japanese Embassy, two separate notes were exchanged today by Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Mitsuaki Kojima and Finance Secretary Dr. Bimal Prasad Koirala. Under the first note, the government of Japan extends a grant of Rs.510.5 million for the procurement of construction of material for 794 new classrooms, 12 resource centre, 248 toilet blocks and 148 water supply facilities in Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat and Banke districts.

The main aim is to improve children’s enrollment, to promote their access to basic and primary education and to increase their learning retention and their completion of primary school by strengthening physical facilities in the school-based on the BPEP policy framework.

Japan had also provided similar assistance to Nepal for BPEP I under which 2958 classrooms, 41 resource centres, 200 toilet blocks and 191 water facilities were constructed, the Japanese embassy press release said.

Under the second note, the Japanese government will provide a grant assistance of Rs. 75 million for debt relief measures. The grant will be used for the procurement of construction materials, fertilizer, petroleum products, medicine and transportation-related equipment.

Speaking after the signing of the agreement, Japanese ambassador said that the assistance would help in providing greater accessibility to basic and primary education to the children.

Facilities for eye care satisfactory

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Lalitpur, Sept. 19: Health Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari today said there was a significant progress in the field of health and particularly in the treatment related to eyes.

"Nowadays people are working harder for the development than in the past but there is still inadequacy of human resource," Minister Bhandari told the inaugural session of the national workshop on ‘Vision 2020: The Right to Sight’ here this morning. "We should focus our attention on human resource development so that works do not get hampered," he said.

With the aim of providing vision to everyone till 2020 A.D, World Health Organisation (WHO) has been working with the motto "Vision 2020: The Right to Sight" with an aim to eliminate blindness from the world within next twenty years. The WHO has chosen the South Asian countries to initiate its action.

In Nepal, under the chairmanship of Mahendra Nath Aryal, Health Secretary, a committee has been formed which has prepared a 20-year plan for the care of eyes. The main aim of this workshop is to regulate those rules and regulation nationally.

According to a survey carried out in 1981, 0.8% of the people are blind. Among them more than 90% were from remote areas. This was due to the lack of medical facilities.

Addressing the workshop, Dr. Benu Bahadur Karki, member secretary of the committee said that now there are eye hospitals in more than 17 districts and eye care centers in 32 districts. He further said it was possible due to the support of the government, the INGOs, NGOs and other organisations.

The main aim of the programme is to review the past performance and to move ahead in a co-ordinated way to provide eyesight to all.

Though it costs Rs. 2 thousands to 3 thousand for the operation of cataract it is found that there are 200 thousand blind, 130 thousand due to cataract.

Dr. B. D. Chataut, Director General of the Department of Health Services said that there should be hospitals or eye care centres in every district for the reduction of the victims of blindness.

Prof. Madan Prasad Upadhya, Regional Advisor to the WHO said that poverty, social inequality and gender discrimination were the main causes of blindness. He further informed that two third of the victims were women.

Dr. Ram Prasad Pokharel, Chairman of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, said that most of the people suffering from blindness were from remote areas who, he said, believed more in shamanism than in medical treatment. "So we are now educating shamans to treat patients scientifically."