New concept to preserve Lalitpur in the offing

Lalitpur, Feb. 5 (RSS): Lalitpur, a town endowed with a rich cultural heritage and artifacts, is to be divided into an ancient area and modern area for its systematic development.

Presenting his new concept at the two-day meeting of the Lalitpur Town Council the other day, Mayor of Lalitpur Sub-Metropolis Buddhiraj Bajracharya said priority will be fixed and development projects implemented keeping in view the requirements and ground realities of the two areas as per the new concept.

The new concept will help preserve ancient art and culture besides developing it as a metropolitan city, Bajracharya said.

The areas covering Bagmati bridge, Kopundole, Pulchowk, Jawalakhel, Lagankhel, Satdobato, Gwarko and Balkumari Chowk will fall under the ancient area and the remaining under the modern area.

As ancient and emerging towns can not be developed in the same manner, the new concept has been put forth by Lalitpur Sub-Metropolis.

At present, Lalitpur Sub-metropolis has been witnessing a process of urbanisation at the rate of four per cent a year.

Commission on landless settlers sought in Jhapa

Bhadrapur, Feb. 5 (RSS): Nepali Congress Jhapa district working committee has, in a meeting on monday, demanded constituting a separate commission to resolve the problem of landless settlers in the face of the government's decision to remove all the families residing in the periphery of the tea estates in jhapa district.

According to head of NC Jhapa Development Department Bijaya Kumar Agrawal, NC Jhapa District Committee commission to prevent some 18,000 people living in such areas, where hundreds of concrete buildings and other infrastructure like schools, electrification, telephone lines and gravel roads exists, from being removed.

Land revenue certificates are being provided to landless settlers on the basis of field book registration prepared by landless settlers problem resolution committees from time to time to settle them in a systematic manner, he added.

The meeting also expressed profound grief over the demise of freedom fighters Haphu Gurung of Damak and Phulosari Rajbanshi of Mahabhara VDC, and Nepal Teachers' Association Jhapa district committee member Doleshwar Kafle.

One minute's silence was also observed for eternal peace to the departed souls.

The meeting also decided to call a convention of NC village committees of Jhapa district by February 27.

NC Jhapa district working committee president Sudhir Shiwakoti chaired the meeting.

Abide by party directives, NC activists told

Biratnagar, Feb. 5 (RSS): Minister of State for Information and Communications Hari Narayan Chaudhari has said that all the activists of the Nepali Congress (NC) must forget minor disputes and move ahead in unity to save the nation, nationalism, democracy and the common people from a big crisis and suffering in the days ahead.

Inaugurating a conference of the NC Morang district constituency No. 6 committee here today, Minister of State Chaudhari said that activists should abide by the directives issued by the party and its leaders.

The Minister of State wondered what would be the rationale for the emergency if it was shortened without attaining the objectives for which it was proclaimed.

MP and NC Morang district committee president Ashok Koirala said that the government should actively mobilise the security agencies to end the emergency.

At the programme, Rakshu Khabas, 71, who had been continuously associated with NC activities since 1950 was honoured with a shawl.

Chairman of the NC Morang district constituency No. 6 committee Subhas Paudel presided over the meeting.

Mouse traps distributed

By Our Correspondent

Panchthar, Feb. 5: The District Agriculture Development Office (DADO) has distributed 300 mouse traps to the peasants of different villages as a campaign to reduce the problems created by mice.

According to DADO, as in other neighboring countries like China, India, and Bangladesh, Nepal has also started the campaign.

A pair of mice can give birth to hundreds of baby mice every year. So the number of mice has been rapidly increasing causing the damage of crops and many other things of human beings. "It can also transmit many diseases." said crops preservation officer Rajendra Kharel.

Last year the campaign was implemented in Fidim, Chowkmagu and Nagin VDCs of the district which proved fruitful in controlling mice. Observing the benefit of the campaign over a dozen VDCs of the district have started the Mouse Control Campaign.

The campaign will be implemented in other villages of the district, informed the DADO.

"More than seven mice could be trapped in one mouse trap everyday. The farmer trapping the most will be awarded," the DADO sources said.

Campaign against exploitation of children to be launched

By Our Correspondent

Kavrepalanchowk, Feb 5: Teachers will be mobilised to start a campaign against sex-exploitation of the children, the Nepal Child Organisation (NCO) said here the other day.

To protect children from sexual exploitation, the NCO has started to send the message through the literate people of the villages, Rita Singh Baidhya, Chairman of the NCO said while inaugurating a five-day workshop, entitled "Psychosocial Counseling and Health Services to the Sexually Harassed and Exploited Children," at Banepa on Sunday.

Baidhya claimed that children under 16 are being harassed even by those who are called literate and disciplined citizens of the society. "The exploited children are hiding their pain in the society."

It has been felt that the government and the private sectors should join their hands to eliminate such evil things from the society, she said.

The workshop is being participated in by more than 2 dozen of teachers and students from different schools of the district. According to the organisation, they will be actively working to stop any exploitation and discrimination against childrens.

The speakers at the workshop shared the view that urgent measures are necessary to improve the plight of the children. Otherwise, they said, the future of many children will be dark.

District Chairman Ram Kumar Mulmi chaired the function.

In Hetauda, Chief Judge at Appellate Court Hetauda Parmananda Jha the other day inaugurated Himrights campaign against human trafficking and people-oriented seminar jointly organised by Himrights Nepal and Plan International.

In his inaugural address, Chief Judge Jha said human trafficking cannot be brought under control totally through punishment but requires continuous efforts on the part of the people’s representatives and the society.

Makwanpur DDC vice chairman Badri Prasad Lamsal and general secretary of Himrights Nepal Dr. Gopal Krishna Shiwakoti pointed out the need for social organisation to introduce effective programmes so that the children who abandon their houses because of various reasons can be made civilised and self-reliant.

Coordinator of Himrights Makwanpur district committee Renu Bajagain presided over the inaugural function.

One hundred thirty persons representing the DDC and the VDCs as well as lead women, children and social workers are taking part in the seminar.

NEWSROOMCHATTER

Save Tourism

LIKE in many other countries of the world, Nepal’s tourism industry has also been badly hit due to different reasons. This scribe shares the concern of those people, within and outside the tourism industry, who feel that efforts must be made to save this industry from going to ruin.

In this regard, it is encouraging to know that private entrepreneurs and also the Nepal Tourism Board are organising campaigns inside and outside Nepal to promote Nepalese tourism.

From promotional events in neighbouring India and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China to inviting outsiders on familiarisation trips here, different programmes are being organised to give a boost to Nepalese tourism and draw in more tourists into the country.

The government too must ponder how it can cooperate with the private sector in making such promotional campaigns more effective. Considering the large number of people it supports, the tourism industry must be saved at all costs and not only the government and the entrepreneurs, but all of us, must lend a hand in ensuring that happens. (LDT)

Trip Hurts

IF the roads are bountiful in garbage dumped at strategic location, the pavement too are not far behind in being in the limelight. Here it’s not only garbage that obstructs the smooth hop step and jump of the pedestrians, it is also piling up of construction materials. The concerned authorities must surely be sleeping not to notice the iron rods, bricks, sand, concrete and so on of the pavement. No one knows (of course, no surveys have been conducted so far) for sure how many people might have tripped or broken their bones in their hurry to cross such portions. Yet, it is known that many people have been wounded by the jutting iron rods and have had to face the needle to protect themselves from tetanus. Is it callousness to make the people suffer or anything else that can explain all this? (PNK)

Novel Way

WALLS make good neighbours, goes a popular adage. That walls have yet to dampen some Kathmanduites’ penchant for throwing their garbages into their neighbours’ courtyards is but an ancient habit among the capital city dwellers. And hence, excusable. But what is definitely certain is that some Kathmanduites, for reasons best known to them alone, will automatically think of walls as the most convenient places to....well, readers, you know for what! Apart from this incorrigible breed, there are some Kathmanduites who, on seeing blank walls, simply cannot resist their temptation to leave their political or personal signatures on them. And how much the owners try to coat them over with layer upon layer of paint, the same types of signatures will never fail to appear the very next day. However, it seems that some wall owners of Lajimpat have hit upon a novel way to deter these "free" painters. Instead of leaving their walls blank, they have asked the some children to paint colourful pictures on them! This sure lends credence to the popular saying "If you can’t beat them, join them", don’t you think so, readers? (GR)

Cookie Over Lard

MOSLEMS, at least the ones I came across, have had one thing in common. It is amazing the way they are particular about halal wherever they are, including the one who lived on boiled eggs for three weeks because he was suspicious of all preserved food available in that part of the world. Not to mention my Pakistani housemates at one UK university who used lard for cooking everyday, until I opened the dictionary and showed them what it actually is. I did wait until the examinations were over, out of consideration it would upset them too much. And how it did upset them as there was no way they could cleanse their body of all the pig fat deposits! Often makes me wonder if this trait is an indication of why are they different, if at all different? And is it a quality we should admire as Nepalese who adapt to the western ways, perhaps too readily? (ILS)

Odd Man Out!

FACES of the CPN-ML comrades seems to be brightening. They are overwhelmed with joy. The reason of this euphoria is clear. They are going back to live in their old house. After about four years of separation, comrades are all set for reunion.

Nevertheless, all ML guys are not going to join the unification campaign. For example, comrade C. P. Mainali says he will keep himself at distant from the unification move. "Throughout my whole political career I worked on ‘borrowed ideology’. Now I will no more work under other’s ideology. I will reorganize the ML with its remainders," he says

The idea is not so bad at least for himself because he can show up his strength and implement his ‘ism’ in the reorganised ML. It is better to separate than to live under constant humiliation and discontent. Therefore, the saying is: birds of a feather flock together. (RRS)

Business Unusual

NO, this isn’t CNN. It is the world of trekkers’ "guiding stars" right here at home. And here is their latest trick of trade: You have an axe to grind, play your card subtly. Like they did pointing out that an official provision would keep Chinese tourists from trudging trekking trails. While their actual mission was to have direct access to the Chinese market. Mind you, diplomacy believes in leaving the unkind words unsaid. Me say, this is the age of business unusual – whether the giant TV channel has enlightened you or not. And the mountain-maniacs’ managers seem to have got it right! (NSK)

Daring Damsel

A RUMOUR about the court marriage of a blooming Nepalese actress has warmed the Nepalese film market for the last two weeks. Though this scribe has nothing to do with the actress’s marriage, he could not forget the odd behaviour of her parents towards her when he visited her home. Just when this scribe entered the sitting room with the screen lady to have an interview, her father also accompanied us. The actress expressed her dissatisfaction over his presence through her body language. Yet he continued to stay there. Later when he went to have his morning meal, it was her mother’s turn to enter the room and watch us as if we would do something wrong in their absence there. Their odd behaviour was enough to indicate how suspicion they were towards their heroine daughter. The more you are stricter towards your daughter, the riskier the path they would choose. And this time the actress seems to have proved this by challenging their poor parents who are still hesitating to come to the public. (BG)

Finally Ratnapark!

IF you ask a domestic tourist coming to this capital which places he would be willing to visit during his stay in Kathmandu, one of the main hubs he would name would be Ratnapark. The park, indeed, is a famed place like Pashupati of Swyambhu.

However, the authority designated for maintaining the roads for the recently held 11th SAARC Summit did not see this famous place.

Although the roads that were blacktopped during the Summit are now corroding, nearly 150-meter-long Ratnapark road, which is spread between Bhotahity junction to Bagbazar junction, did not see a facelift and is full of potholes and drinking water pipes running across the surface. It may be that the SAARC delegates were not scheduled to travel through that road, the authority did not bother about improving the road. Now when the Kathmandu Metropolis and the Department of Road have jointly resolved to maintain the valley roads, it is to see if they would see Ratnapark this time. (KPS)

Austerity Measures

WHILE inaugurating, Nepal Development Forum meeting Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has rightly said that His Majesty’s Government is working to reduce non-essential unproductive expenditures of the government. In fact, the government needs austerity measures to control unnecessary expenditures. This is the right time for the government to enforce these measures as the country is facing economic crisis due to various reasons. The government has appealed for more aid and assistance from the donor countries as the Nepalese economy is reeling under uncertainties. The government is ready to speed up reform process. PM Deuba is even ready to reduce salaries of parliamentarians, Ministers and high ranking government officials if the opposition parties also agree and the ruling MPs cooperate to reduce the burden on the exchequer. Poverty alleviation programmes and employment generation schemes need top priority of the government in the present context. Closure of industries and factories should be stopped to put business on track and for resolving the unemployment problem. Price hike needs to be controlled so that common man does not suffer. (RKS)

Parking Blues

MOTORCYCLE companies of all hues want to put their bikes on the streets of Kathmandu. The reason is that Nepalese guys very often go crazy over any bike having swanky shape. And the growth in the number of bikes and other vehicles has caused lots of troubles to the common citizens. The increase of bikes and four wheelers and the augmentation of the building construction in and around the city have shrunk the parking spaces. If you want to see the crunching problem of shrinking parking lots, you have to go to the New Road, where vehicle riders have tough times parking their vehicles during the peak hours. One solution to the parking problem of vehicles will be: either the parking spaces should be extended at the main city centres or the import of vehicles should be slackened. (NU)

Rider’s Concern

BEING a motorbike rider, you will start feeling mentally tense once you leave your home in the morning as you do not find any place to park the vehicle. Your problem haunts you till you get back to your residence in the evening. There are some parking areas in the city but they are seen ‘packed’ every time. The whistling of traffic cops and the crowded streets further irritate you when you look for a parking site. Disputes between cops and drivers often create obstruction to the vehicular movement and many suffer problems. It is a fact that the problem will be further aggravated unless the policymakers step up measures to remove the old and rickety vehicles from the valley and develop more parking places. They must also think of making available public transportation facilities besides conducting effective traffic management training programmes for traffic cops. But will they have patience to listen to others? (BMD)

Littered Field

NOW Tundikhel seems to be the hottest place for whiling away the chilly hours in Kathmandu. Anyone in search of a convenient place for winter warmth, chatting and brooding heads straight to this open field miraculously saved at the heart of the crowded city. Some are alone, some in pairs and others are in group of several. While the noisy and smoky vehicles dash along the recently widened sleek roads running around and pedestrians throng on the narrow footpaths, the people at Tundikhel find a unique solace from the madding crowd. To sit in the open lawn and to enjoy the sun is a fine idea. Nobody has to complain over the issue. But the heedless littering of Tundikhel comes to you as an eyesore. One wonders who permitted the sale of peanuts, oranges and a host of other items inside the field. Are we doing to Tundikhel what we have done to Bagmati and Bishnumati? (BT)

Positive Response

THERE seems to be an air of euphoria at the Rastriya Banijaya Bank after the signing of the agreement with the American Company to give the bank’s management on contract. It was only recently that the clients were heard whispering to each other, "After the American Company takes over, services will certainly improve won’t they?" The response was quite positive. Everybody in the crowd believed that things would certainly change for the better. One of the employees who happened to be a lady with a smiling face quipped, " Tell me honestly will things really be better." The poor lady seemed to be utterly tired with the old fashioned working style that she was still unsure whether the American expertise would work wonders or not. There is no denying that American consultants have rescued mainly ailing financial institutions. But the problem with the Nepalese way of doing things is that after the consultants leave the old story starts repeating. If only we could give continuity to the improvements to be introduced then there would be no reason to be pessimistic. (AM)