Terrorists set ADB branch office on fire

Chautara, Feb. 25 (RSS): Maoist terrorists have looted Rs. 45,000 and set furniture and officials documents on fire in an assault at Agriculture Development Bank sub-branch at Thulopakhar VDC in Sindhupalchowk district on Saturday evening.

According to branch manager Mohan Bahadur K.C., the Maiosts numbering about 50 set on fire mattresses and blankets being used by the employees excluding two steel armirahs.

Similarly, the vacant buildings of a police campus at Dandapakhar caused a damage after Maoist terrorists set on fire.

Three out of 27 buildings were completely damaged and some caused minor damages.

The buildings used by the police personnel as a training centre were abandoned on February 21.

The buildings were constructed with the cooperation of the Swiss government to implement development projects in Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha district under intensive mountain area development project.

With the completion of the project, the buildings were being used as a campus for the police personnel since last year after its handing over to Sindhupalchowk DDC.

121 Km Nepal-India border demarcated

Bhadrapur, Feb. 25 (RSS): So far 121-kilometres of the 141-kilometre long Nepal-India border in Jhapa district has been demarcated.

This information was given at an interaction programme on border matters organised by the district administration office, Jhapa, here today.

However, the border demarcation work is still left in Karabari, Pathabhari and Maheshpur areas of the district as border lands there are being cultivated by the people of both countries, the interaction was informed.

Out of the total Nepal-India border falling in Jhapa district, nearly 83 kilometres consists of land demarcation and about 58 kilometres is river demarcation. Jhapa district shares its borders with Darjeeling and Kisangunj districts of India.

Jhapa and Darjeeling districts have 41-kilometres of common border while Jhapa and Kishangunj districts share about 58 kilometres of common river border and a 42 kilometres long land border.

According to documents made available at the interaction programme, the base map for the Jhapa-Darjeeling sector was prepared in 1936-37 by C.B. Sexton and the base map for the Jhapa-Kishangunj sector in 1874-75 by Captain Secules. Both the maps are in Urdu.

Taking part in the deliberations, border survey officer of Nepal-India border team No. 1 Purna Bahadur K.C. said that there were many discrepancies as regards the border markings indicated in the maps as these border maps of different sectors of the Nepal-India border were prepared at different times.

He said in order to correct such discrepancies, an agreement has been reached and work was being carried out according to the agreement which states that the border pillars already set up and to be set up in the future on the Nepal-India border need to be numbered uniformly, a main border pillar would be erected at a distance of every two-kilometres, the numbering would start from the eastern corner and gradually progress towards the west and a new strip map would be prepared for the entire border in 1992 for management of all the land border.

It was also pointed out at the programme that problems were being encountered in demarcating the river border as the river frequently changed its course while sweeping away some border pillars or taking the border markers out of place in the process.

In addition, the problem was further complicated as the people from both sides haphazardly encroached the border land and used it for the purpose of cultivation.

But the interaction was also told that there was no problem as such as the problem concerned only the issue of land in some areas as per the fixed boundary principle and the problem could be resolved without leaving any room for dispute between the two sides if the border demarcation is carried out on the strip map principle on the basis of the base maps by erecting border pillars.

However, the meeting was informed that no joint agreement has been reached on resolving the problem of haphazard land use in the border areas.

It is learnt that there are altogether 101 main border pillars along the entire north-south stretch of the Nepal-India border from Hinsang in Taplejung district, the tri-junction in the north-east of Nepal where the borders of Nepal, Sikkim and Chinese territory meet, to Bhadrapur.

On the occasion, chief district officer Pashupati Karmacharya said that the interaction had been organised with the objective of informing about the border demarcation works being carried out so far.

Officials of bordering VDCs, local people's representatives, representatives of political parties and journalists took part in the interaction.

Culture promotes tourism: PL

Pokhara, Feb. 25 (RSS): Minister for Population and Environment P.L. Singh today laid the foundation stone of the Newa Chhe (Newar house) to be built at Bhimsen locality of Pokhara Submunicipal Corporation.

The four-storey building will be built at a cost of Rs 20 million with contributions from various institutions and organisations and the participation of the local people. It is scheduled to be completed within a year.

The Bhimsen Trust has provided two ropanis and seven annas of land for the construction of the house that will be able to withstand earthquakes of up to 7 on the richter scale.

Stating that development is not possible without the participation of the people, Minister Singh said that we should not run after money but money should follow us while undertaking development and construction activities.

Stating that the development of the arts and culture of the Newars should help promote tourism in Pokhara, he said that the role of the people is very imporant in creating healthy environment in a society.

Pokhara Mayor Krishna Thapa and a host of other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by chairman of the construction committee Jit Prasad Dwa.

On the same occasion, Minister Singh gave away prizes and certificates to local students securing outstanding marks in the SLC examinations of 2057.

Niranjan Palikhe and Vijaya Bijukchhe from among the boys and girls respecively received the prizes.

Meanwhile, Minister P.L. Singh has pointed out the need of sustainable development to banish poverty.

Minister Singh was inaugurating a two-day seminar on regional networking in the western region organised with the cooperation of the participative district development programme.

Stating that unless there is participation of the locals in development and construction work, development will not be reliable and sustainable, Minister Singh said the people's representatives should work in the interest of the people.

He said that protection and promotion of natural and cultural heritage would help boost tourism also.

Regional administrator Madan Prasad Aryal, Kaski DDC chairman Punya Prasad Paudel, Tanahu DDC chairman Bishwa Bahadur Adhikari and Baglung DDC chairman Lil Bahadur Thapamagar also expressed their views on the occasion.

Attending the seminar are 70 persons including DDC chairmen, vice-chairmen, local development officers, advisors and representatives of the participative district develpment programme.

Control graft to sideline Maoists: Nepal

Hetauda, Feb. 25 (RSS): CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that there will be no public support for the Maoists if we take the people into the mainstream by controlling corruption.

Inaugurating the tenth district council meeting of Makwanpur DDC today, he said the main feature of the present constitution is equal opportunity to all the political parties to reach the people and participate in state governance.

MP Krishna Prasad Dahal stressed the need for clean administration and employment to save the country from a political mishap.

From the chair, Makwanpur DDC chairman Rameswor Rana presented a budget of Rs. 103.5 million.

Also speaking on the occasion were Makwanpur DDC vice chairman Badri Prasad Lamsal, Hetauda Mayor Dormani Poudel, central region administrator Hiramani Bhandari, CPN-UML Makwanpur secretary Raghunath Khulal, NC Makwanpur president Ram Chandra Aryal, Sitaram Bartaula of RPP and Kavrepalanchowk DDC chairman Krishna Prasad Sapkota.

Clear laws on foreign jobs demanded

Kathmandu, Feb. 25 (RSS): Speakers at a press meet have called for highlighting the positive aspects of foreign employment and the formulation of clear cut laws to take action against the guilty.

The press meet was organised by Rose International here today.

Advisor to the foreign employment committee of the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management Nirmal Gurung said if the foreign employment is to collapse, it will be a great loss. He stressed timely improvements.

Rose International Pvt. Ltd. managing director Ganeshman Lama said news in the media on foreign employment was not correct and factual.

According to one estimate published by the Nepal Institute of Development Studies, 69 billion rupees annually is received by Nepal as remittances.

At present, 200 foreign employment companies are engaged in sending workers to countries approved by the government.

About 500,000 persons have been engaged in foreign employment.

The speakers also requested journalists not to exaggerate accidents, deaths and incidents that take place beyond one's control in foreign countries.

A press release issued by legal advisor to Rose International Pvt Ltd Sriram Malla Thakuri states that some of the media have posed obstructions to foreign employment entrepreneurship.