Clear water policy needed to convince donors

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan.30: The country needs to be clear on many water resources issues before sitting with the donor community at the Nepal Development Forum meeting next month, experts and officials said at an interaction programme here today.

Among many such issues Dipak Gyawali, a noted water expert, raised, one was the case of irrigation. "The policy paper on irrigation development is itself confused on whether irrigation is a social or economic good," he said. "The paper also has different development strategies contradicting one another."

The government for the last two weeks had organised a series of consultative meetings on the different area policy documents to be presented at the NDF meet, slated for February 4 through 7 next month.

Gyawali also stressed that the policy document on water supply had put to risk other water supply projects in favour of Melamchi Project-- the government's top priority project that aims to pipe in 170 million litres of Melamchi River water in a day through a 28-kilometre tunnel from Sindhupalchowk District. "The policy clearly states that if donors opt to fund Melamchi only, other water supply related projects may suffer."

In what it calls a major implication, the policy document states that other projects would not have to suffer if the Melamchi Project gets extra budget. "However, if that does not happen, other projects need to be curtailed."

If that is the case, suggested Gyawali, the government should float bonds to collect capital for the Melamchi Project and ensure donors' funding for other water-related projects.

Other priority projects receiving donors' assistance include Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Community Water Supply Project, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board, among others.

Ratna Samsar Shrestha, Senior Chartered Accountant working in the field of hydropower, said that the country first needs to be clear whether it is rich in water resources or hydropower. "I ask this question because power can be produced from many other sources -- solar, wind and the like. But there is no alternative for water resources."

Elaborating on his argument, Shrestha said that the idea of allowing foreign investors to build big hydropower projects and export electricity is not much in Nepal's interest. "From this exercise, both power and money will be going out. In that case, how can we say that electricity's export would help increase Nepal's GDP?"

Even the officialdom has joined the confused bandwagon, according to Upendra Dev Bhatta, an official with the Nepal Electricity Authority. "The way we have been treating the 144 MW Kali Gandaki Hydropower Project shows that things are not clear in the officialdom."

Experts Interact

The biggest hydropower project of NEA, the power plant is expected to begin operation very soon, after several postponed deadlines for its completion.

Even as NEA has efficient manpower, they are not clear since rumour is swirling that the authority would be privatised, Bhatta said. The policy document on electricity sector development states that NEA would be unbundled into different components responsible for power generation, transmission, and distribution. It also clearly says that the authority would be commercialised.

Dwelling on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, the government has devised to execute priority projects, Shiva Kumar Sharma, an official with the Ministry of Water Resources, said that the idea is to minimise the time-gap projects have to face due to the five year plan. "The MTEF will minimise the gap to three years and that would be good to revise and fund the projects."

The interaction programme was jointly organised by Nepal Forum for Environmental Journalists and Water Power Analysis and Investigation Group.

Palpa's herbal wealth lacking development

By Our Correspondent

Palpa, Jan. 30: Lack of knowledge and proper technology is hampering development of the local herbs in Palpa, complain the concerned people.

A Herb Preservation and Consumption Co-operative Limited (HPCCL) has been established here to preserve local herbs and promote their use among the local people. But the cooperative is far from effective yet. Unless urgent measures are taken to preserve the local herbs in the region, they could disappear in the near future, said the workers of HPCCL.

According to the District Forest Office, Palpa is the second district in the western development region to form the forest consumers’ committee and the district’s forests cover nearly 52 per cent of its land area. Valuable herbs can be found in half the forest area of Palpa, it is learnt.

The commonly found herbs here are Tejpat, Kurilo, Timmur, Aamala, Tulsi, Pudina, Harro, Barro, Bojho, Sarpagandha, Nim, Bel, Jamuna.

Some 43 various species of herbs have been identified and further research is going on to find more, according to the District Aayurved Hospital of Palpa.

"Local people, who lack technical knowledge about the herbs, could generate a good income if they are familiarised with them," said Khadananda Poudel, chief of Aayurved hospital in Palpa.

Hiralal Prasad Kusabaha, the DFO chief, said special care would be taken to save the forests and herbs in the district.

Freed Kamaiyas in Dang becoming self-dependent

By Our Correspondent

Dang, Jan. 30: Most of the freed Kamaiyas of Dang, who were earlier forced to work as bonded labourers for the local landlords due to poverty and illiteracy, are on way to becoming self-dependent.

Since the government announcement to free the bonded labourers last year, they have found an opportunity to live a life of self respect and dignity by gradually taking to other professions.

Earlier when they were forced to work as per the will of their landlords, they were given a paltry sum of money and grains on yearly basis in exchange of their back-breaking work.

They used to live in small houses almost like slum dwellers and their dwellings were owned by the landlords.

Now some of them are living in houses provided by the District Land Reforms Office, Dang. Besides, the freed Kamaiyas are being given professional trainings in different fields.

"As a result of this they are living life of self-dependence and self- respect," say freed Kamaiyas.

There are a total of four hundred and five freed Kamaiyas in two municipalities and thirty nine Village Development Committees of Dang. "For all round development of these freed Kamaiyas, the District Land Reforms Office launched various programmes since last fiscal year for their upliftment and rehabilitation," says Bharat Kumar Budhathoki, office chief at the Land Reforms Office.

Under these programmes, jointly initiated by the Land Reforms Office and the District Freed Kamaiyas Rehabilitation Committee, one hundred and seventy five people have been provided with a maximum of five katthas of land each for residential purposes so far.

"Other freed Kamaiyas are being provided with different skill trainings for income generation," says Chularam Chaudhary, a freed Kamaiya of Manpur, Dang. "They are making better incomes now," he says.

PM stresses alternative energy for rural people

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 30: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today said that it was essential to ensure the villagers’ access to power for the uplift of their lives and overall development of the country.

"The country will not prosper unless the quality of life of the 80 per cent countrymen living in the villages improves," Premier Deuba told the inauguration ceremony of a one-day interaction on ‘Alternative Energies: Today’s Need’ here this morning. "And this is not possible in the absence of power."

Deuba said a large number of people still used firewood to cook food and kerosene to light their houses and added, "The government will push ahead the initiatives to promote alternative energy to cater to people’s power requirements."

Deuba said energy was necessary to offer agro-processing and storage facilities to the farmers, adding the assistance of Rural Energy Development Programme and the Danish and the Dutch governments would be instrumental in this direction. "We will also put the agenda of alternative energy in the forthcoming meeting of the Nepal Development Forum."

State Minister for Science and Technology Bhakta Bahadur Balayar said alternative energy was a prerequisite for rural development. "We need to work in coordination with the donors and the non-governmental organisations to develop alternative energy and reach technology to the grassroots for the development of the rural people."

UML lawmaker Pradip Nepal said, "We have to make people aware of the importance and benefit of the alternative energy, particularly the micro-hydro schemes." He stressed on result oriented strategies to mobilise the communities for the development of alternative energy.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party General Secretary Pashupati SJB Rana said that the micro-hydro schemes and the improved stoves would be the ideal forms of alternative energy for the low-income people in the villages.

"Nepal can benefit significantly from the micro-hydro projects as it can produce and export the equipment used for micro-hydro projects. It will be economic; besides, it can support the domestic industry."

He also urged the government to take initiatives to avail of Danish expertise in tapping wind energy.

National People’s Front lawmaker Chitra Bahadur KC said the government should recognise people’s willingness and capability to develop the nation. "The government should see how the country’s resources could be utilised for the benefit of the countrymen."

National Planning Commission member Dr. Rameshananda Baidya said the Tenth Five Year Plan targeted optimum production of water related and other alternative energies through the mobilisation of the community based organisations.

The Danish Embassy’s Minister Consular Chrestan Peterson said Nepal held out huge potential in micro-hydro and called for an even distribution of improved stoves. He said Denmark would continue its assistance to Nepal in the field of alternative energy. On behalf of the Dutch government, SNV-Nepal’s Energy Advisor Felix ter Heedge stressed on integrated efforts to explore the opportunities.

Welcoming the participants, Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technology Mahesh Man Shrestha said alternative energy catered better to the needs of individuals and the community.

The interaction organised by Alternative Energy Promotion Centre under the Ministry of Science and Technology and participated in by a significant number of lawmakers aimed at disseminating information on alternative energy. The interaction in the capital is to be followed by regional interactions.

Freedom fighter dies

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 30: Freedom fighter and noted social worker Lilanath Sharma died of cancer last night at a hospital in Lucknow, India, while undergoing treatment for his leg.

Late Sharma, father of our Dang correspondent Murari Sharma, was an active Nepali Congress party worker who spent most of his life for the uplift of the society. Late Sharma is survived by his four sons.

Nepal Press Union has expressed deep sorrow at the demise of social worker Sharma. Issuing a press release here today the NPU has extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members, including central vice-president Murari Sharma.

Large quantity of explosives seized

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 30: Security forces Tuesday seized a large number of explosives, electric wires for setting electric ambush and combat dresses from various parts of the country in their on-going search operations against the Maoist terrorists, the Ministry of Defence said here today. They also arrested 13 terrorist suspects from various parts of the country.

The forces seized 42 bombs, two cable electric wires, dozens of combat dresses, 17 large bags, batteries, binoculars and a large number of detonators hidden by the Maoist terrorists near Sankranti area and Fedighat cave at Chhatedhunga of Terhathum district.

On Tuesday, the forces arrested three suspects each from Balkumari of Lalitpur, Harre of Bardia and Lekh of Surkhet, while two suspects have also been arrested from Jajarkot along with arms, explosives and terrorist documents. One active terrorist supporter from Jayanagar of Bardia has also been arrested.

The Ministry press statement issued here today also stated that a local woman at Sankranti Bazaar, who was injured during the crossfire between the security troops and the Maoist terrorists on January 27, was airlifted to Dhankuta for further treatment.

A bomb disposal team of the army has, meanwhile, foiled a terrorist attempt to explode 16 kg of explosives planted at a house of a local resident near Thankot, Kathmandu.

The people across the country have been wholeheartedly supporting the government’s move against terrorism by not only informing about the terrorists but also submitting the arms to the security personnel. Local people at Kailali yesterday handed over two guns to security personnel.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry today said that Maoist terrorists Tuesday killed Khagendra Kadayat, a local resident at Bagphanta of Mahendranagar Municipality, Kanchanpur. Maniraj Joshi, the other local resident, has been injured and is now undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Injured from the attack by the Maoist terrorists, the headmaster of Subodhini Sanskrit High School, Taplejung, has been brought to Kathmandu for treatment. Likewise, Assistant Sub-inspector Bir Bahadur Budha has also been brought to Kathmandu for treatment after he was injured by the terrorists while on duty at Bhuri village of Bardia. A local woman known as Nirmala Thapa was also injured and she is receiving treatment at Nepalgunj Hospital.

The police has been heavily mobilised to search the terrorists, the Home Ministry said.

The Ministry also stated that 35 Maoists on Tuesday surrendered themselves before the local administrative bodies. Those who quit the Maoist terrorist activities and surrendered before the government included 16 in Dadeldhura, four in Nuwakot, three each in Taplejung and Udaypur, two in Arghakhanchi and one in Rautahat.

High disparity still exists: NHDR
Deuba calls for good governance to reduce poverty

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 30: Despite Nepal’s development efforts, wide social and geographic disparities persist, said the Nepal Human Development Report (NHDR) – 2001, made public here today. It added the lack of good governance made poverty reduction strategies more difficult.

The NHDR-2001, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stated that even with an annual growth rate of five per cent and significant improvements in life expectancy and education over the last decade, two out of five Nepalese continue to live in abject poverty.

The report, sub-titled "Poverty Reduction and Good Governance", showed striking geographic and social variations in the development scenario and underlined the intricate relationship between poverty alleviation and good governance.

The new report stated that most of the country’s growth over the 15 years took place outside the agricultural sector, the main source of livelihood for 80 per cent of the Nepalese. It also highlighted the persistent problem of caste and gender discrimination, along with the marginalisation of a number of ethnic groups.

Meanwhile, the report argued that poverty perpetuated because of inequality and inequity in the distribution of resources and opportunities.

The vast disparities in the ownership of productive assets-- both capital and non-political -- correlate closely with a lack of broad policy "ownership" and the participation of most citizens in allocating public resources.

In addition, the absence of transparency and accountability resulted in misuse and waste of the public resources, diminishing the impact of poverty reduction efforts, the report stated.

The report said that non-participation, opaque decision making processes, and sharp shortcomings in accountability added up to weak governance.

Poverty reduction through good governance has of late been the focus of Nepal’s human development programmes, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said while formally launching the report.

The government, to achieve its objectives, has equally been determined to make its machinery more efficient to take governance closer to the people through further decentralisation, Prime Minister Deuba said.

"It is in the area of poverty reduction through good governance that Nepal has been focussing its development programmes, especially in the recent past," Prime Minister Deuba added.

The Prime Minister said that an efficient management of public and private resources was essential for the people in making "appropriate choices about their lives if they have access to proper education, health and other necessities."

The government has recognised the fact that there is a strong relationship among human development, poverty alleviation and good governance. "Without good governance neither can we realise human development nor can we eradicate poverty."

That is why human development assumes such a pivotal place in Nepal’s development agenda and the government will continue to follow the human development paradigm aggressively in the future in its drive to reduce poverty, Deuba added.

The goal of poverty reduction would be more focussed in the upcoming 10th Plan in terms of defining and reaching target groups and enhancing their capabilities.

Deuba also said that to ensure that the poor had equal opportunities, "our institutions have to be effective, fair and responsive to the people’s need."

Prime Minister Deuba, however, acknowledged that Nepal’s development continued to remain uneven. The development efforts in rural areas have yielded less than that in towns and cities while the mountain belt is far behind the hills and the Terai belt, and Mid-Western and Far-Western regions are lagging behind other development regions in all development indicators, he said.

Deuba further noted that the task of reducing inequalities was not that easy but the government was determined and open to introduce more reform measures aimed at growth and equality.

"The eight-point programme announced by the government is indicative of its determination to reduce the continuing socio-economic inequalities in the country," Deuba said.

He said that despite making significant improvements in human development in the last 12 years of democracy, a large segment of the population continues to suffer from low expectancy, low literacy and poor living condition.

However, the Prime Minister said, the government was facing great challenges in delivering public goods and services and managing public resources. Moreover, the government’s efforts to meet these challenges had also been hampered by Maoist-unleashed terrors.

Despite the government’s sincere efforts to find a peaceful solution, the security forces had to be mobilised as the Maoists unilaterally broke the peace talks, forcing the government to divert more resources to meet security needs, he added.

At the function, National Assembly Chairman Dr. Mohammad Mohsin said that the NDHR-2001 gave ample opportunities to the people to introspect whether the national experts were successful in their attempts to meet the challenges of the nation and aspirations of the people.

It threw light on the endeavors in bringing majority of the marginalised people into the mainstream of development process and spoke about the participation and accountability of the policy and decision-makers, he said.

The UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. Henning Karcher, said that the NHDR-2001 was prepared after having long consultations with Nepalese and foreign experts.

Dr. Karcher said that the report advocated for human development in Nepal by pointing out issues of national interests.

The report also presented measures to ensure development and participation of the marginalised and deprived people, Karcher said.

National Planning Commission Member Dr. Shankar Sharma said that although the country’s human development indicators improved in the past ten years, we still lag behind in comparison with other nations.

Stating that there was uneven improvement in the indicators in the past, Sharma said that Mid-Western and Far-Western regions saw indicators 20% below the desired level of improvement while the indicators in cities and towns were down by 25% of their desired level of improvement.

The report highlights the unequal regional development in Nepal. It states that the poverty ratio in Mid and Far Western development regions along with gender discrimination is increasing.

While other parts of the country recorded 15 per cent improvement in Human Development Index during 1996-2000, these two regions witnessed deterioration of human development in the same period. The Mid-Western region recorded just 1.3 per cent increase in the index.

During the same period, the central hills region had eight per cent increase while the hills of eastern area of the nation recorded 15 per cent of improvement. Likewise, the rural areas showed eight per cent increase while the urban areas indicated 16.1 per cent growth in the human development.

The NHDR-2001 has been published for the second time by the UNDP, which had published its first Nepal Human Development Report back in 1996.

Leprosy will be eliminated by 2003, says Bhandari

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan 30: Health Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari has said that the government is committed to eliminate leprosy from the country by the end of 2003.

"Nepalese government has recognised leprosy elimination as a priority programme and intensified its drive to eradicate the endemic in targeted time," Minister Bhandari told the 2nd Meeting of Global Alliance for Elimination of Leprosy (GAEL) that is started in Brasilia, Brazil from Tuesday.

Minister Bhandari is leading a four-member high level Nepalese delegation to a three-day international meet there.

"Leprosy, one of the oldest diseases known to mankind, is causing many myths and mysteries to mankind, bringing challenges to medical science and leading to deformation, disability, dependence and depression to persons affected by the disease, and is still a major public health problem for many of us," Bhandari said.

Shedding light on the efforts of the Nepalese government against the endemic, he informed the meet that Nepal conducted two leprosy elimination campaigns –one in 1999 and the other in 2000. The first campaign detected about 1,200 new cases from 27 hyper endemic districts and the second one about 5,000 new cases from 17 hyper endemic districts.

"This shows that there are still hidden cases in the society because the leprosy patients are either not adequately aware of the disease and its treatment facilities or do not want to come for treatment due to social stigma," noted the Health Minister.

He said that Nepal, with the support of the WHO, Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation, The Netherlands Leprosy Relief, Leprosy Mission International and other partners and INGOs, has been conducting various activities including community awareness and participation, case detection, capacity building of health workers, sensitisation and orientation of volunteers, community and social leaders in this regard.

Bhandari further said that the meeting was very encouraging to update knowledge, pledge commitment and draw support in the campaign against the disease, according to press release.

Garment team leaves for Germany

Kathmandu, Jan. 30 (RSS): A 15-member delegation led by president of the Garment Association Nepal (GAN) Brij Gopal Inani left here Tuesday for Colonge, Germany to take part in the Interjeans, the Readymade Garments Fair to be organised there from February 1 to 3.

Other members of the delegation are Narayan Bajaj of Dipak Garments, Bharat Dhakal, Kamal Prasad Chudal and Harihar Upreti of Shivani Fashion, Chandi Prasad Aryal of Jaison Fashion, Prashant Kumar Pokherel of Ami Appraisels Private Limited, Balkrishna Thapa of Cotton Crafts Private Limited, Prakash Pant of Evergreen Appraisels, Arun Prakash Shrestha of Anujit Appraisels, Basu K.C. of Basu's Export House, Rupesh Shrestha, Rahul Agrawal of Isworabma Garments and director of Trade Promotion Centre Dev Bahadur Rokaya.

Interjeans is considered to be the main readymade garment fair in Europe.

The participation of the Nepalese Garment Entrepreneurs in the fair is expected to promote interaction and professional relations with the European readymade garment importers and boost export of Nepalese garments to European countries.

At present 90 per cent of the Nepalese readymade garments are exported to the United States of America. The European garment trade fair is expected to contribute to diversifying export of Nepalese garments to the European countries.

Later on the Nepalese delegation will visit the European Council Central Office based in Brussels and hold discussions with the officials of the European Council in connection with trade between Nepal and Europe.

Likewise, Narayan Bajaj of Dipak Garment Enterprises, Bharat Dhakal of Shivani Fashion Garments Pvt and Prashant Kumar Pokherel of Ami Apparaisels Pvt will be taking part in the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair to be held in the capital of Denmark from February 7 to 10 at the invitation of the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nepalese Garment Entrepreneurs will be taking part in the Copenhagen International Fashion fair for the time along with garment entrepreneurs from Bangladesh, Vietnam and Egypt.

Guidelines on community forest come into shape

Kathmandu, Jan. 30 (RSS): Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopal Man Shrestha inaugurated a national workshop on community forestry operational guidelines here today.

The district forest officers, the community forest experts and the representatives from national and international non-governmental organisations are taking part in the two-day workshop organised with the objective of refining the community forestry operational guidelines-2052 for its effective implementation.

The Department of Forest has completed formulation of the new guidelines-2058 for forest users' groups, the technicians of government and non-government organisations involved in the field work and the people.

In his inaugural address, Minister Shrestha noted that the community forests have succeeded in getting two-third of rural population involved in its expansion in the last two decades as a result of the success such forests have achieved in serving their needs.

Community forest, a model of indigenous technique, has not only helped to bring about advancements in social and economic fronts but also reduce widespread poverty, he said.

Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Surendra Hamal expressed confidence that with the introduction of community forest operational guidelines, confusions plaguing this sector can easily be sorted out.

Community forest is not a programme of just a handful of families, but a national programme, secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation Chandi Prasad Shrestha said, adding that it is a medium for the conservation of environment and an alternative source for extra income.

10-year old driver honoured

Hetauda, Jan. 30 (RSS): General Secretary of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala felicitated 10-year-old Sushanta Lama, a resident of Chowkitole, Hetauda Municipality-1 in recognition of his ability of driving light vehicles.

According to father of the boy Suresh Lama, the boy drives a car or a jeep every day on Hetauda-Bhimphedi or Hetauda-Birgunj or Hetauda-Narayangadh route daily.

The driver is a student of the local Arniko Boarding High School.

As per the existing law of the land, a person is eligible for obtaining a driving license from the concerned authority only after attaining the age of 16.

Democratic hero Gurung passes away

Bhadrapur, Jan. 30 (RSS): Captain (retd) Hapu Gurung, a freedom fighter of the democratic movement of 2007 B.S., passed away last night at his own residence at Damak at the age of 81.

Born in 1977 A. D., late Gurung had taken charge as commander of eastern region of the country in the democratic movement of 2007 B.S.

MP Dr. Gopal Prasad Koirala and NC Mahasamiti member Purnananda Sharma draped his body with the flag of Nepali Congress party and paid their last tributes to late Gurung.

Late Gurung is survived by her spouse, two sons and two daughters.

Leprosy patients in Siraha

Siraha, Jan. 30 (RSS): Ten persons in every 12,000 people have been found suffering from leprosy in Siraha district.

According to statistics provided by Siraha district health office, some 768 persons suffering from leprosy are taking medicines regularly. Of them, 455 are new patients.

Out of total new patients, the number of female is 68 whereas children below 14 is 39.

Twenty one persons have so far, got damaged parts of their body whereas 34 others have developed communicable leprosy.

An interaction programme between health workers and the government office chiefs was organised to elicit suggestions on how the malady can be checked.

At the programme held under the joint auspices of Siraha district health office and the Netherlands Leprosy Relief Biratnagar, the participants suggested medication instead of relying on faith healers.

Speaking at the interaction programme, chief of the Siraha district health office Dr. Murali Prasad Singh informed the gathering that medicines are being distributed through 108 health post free of cost to the persons suffering from leprosy in keeping with the target of the government to eradicate leprosy from Nepal by 2003.

Chairman of Siraha DDC Bisheshwar Prasad Marwaita said that the government campaign against leprosy cannot succeed unless and until the people are made conscious about the malady.

CDO Bhola Prasad Shiwakoti, from the chair, called on one and all to assist the persons suffering from leprosy in getting medication by taking them to the nearby health posts.

TU results

Kathmandu, Jan. 30 (RSS): Tribhuvan University has published the results of the Proficiency Certificate Level I.A. first year examinations under the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences held in the months of Ashadh and Shrawan last.

Sushil cautions against Maoist terrorism

Kalaiya, Jan. 30 (RSS): General Secretary of the Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala, inaugurating the first district level convention of the NC Bara district unit, said that democrats should be alert against the various activities unleashed by the Maoists.

Referring to the state of emergency proclaimed in the country to control the violence and terror, he said that everyone should extend cooperation to the security forces to control terrorist activity.

Minister without portfolio Rishikesh Gautam said that party activists should abide by party directives, be disciplined and make the organisation strong.

NC central member and MP Formulla Mansur said that as the local administration has not changed its attitudes even under the emergency, the people did not feel peace and security and called upon everyone to mull the concept of broad democratic alliance put forward by the party president.

NC central member Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, K. B. Gurung, Raj Parishad member Mrs Ambika Pant and Shobhakar Parajuli said that the whole world today is against terrorists and everyone should beware of the threat posed by the Maoists to democracy.

Nepal holds interaction in Britain

Kathmandu, Jan. 30 (RSS): CPN-UML general secretary and leader of the main opposition party Madhav Kumar Nepal today held interactions with the all party Britain-Nepal Parliamentary Group organised at the House of Commons in London.

At the ineraction chaired by Group chairman John Stanley, former speaker Lord James Witherill and other members were also present.

Discussions on parliamentary exercises, the present political scenario, and bilateral relations between Nepal and Britain were held on the occasion.

Likewise, general secretary Nepal held discussions on the current political situation of Nepal and bilateral cooperation at the foreign and commonwealth office and the Defence Ministry today.

He also had meetings with officials of Transparency International, Amnesty International and the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Broader alliance saves values: Koirala

Biratnagar, Jan. 30 (RSS): President of the Nepali Congress (NC) and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the path of broad democratic alliance has been pursued to save the country and democracy, maintain the tradition of monarchy and be freed from the present crisis.

NC president Koirala was installing a life-size statue of martyr Krishna Prasad Koirala at the precinsts of the B.P. Services Ashram at Morang constituency No. 1, Dainiya.

He made it clear that he has always been serious about the protection of the nation, democracy and the constitution when holding talks with other political parties and he has already reached an understanding with them.

Stating that democracy is more powerful than bullets and gun powder, he said if all the democratic forces come under one umbrella, the Maoists will gradually vanish and the morale of the security personnel will soar.

First standard lab outside Kathmandu

Butwal, Jan. 30 (RSS): Minister for Industry Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka inaugurated the standard laboratory established in Bhairahawa with the joint cooperation of the Department of Nepal Standards and Metrology and the Siddharthanagar Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The laboratory established with modern equipments is the first of its kind outside Kathmandu Valley and has a capacity to identify the standard of food through analysis of chemical substances.

There is a plan to promote it as an alternative to the central laboratory and has various 11 equipments including spectro meter, refrectro meter, ph meter, hot plate and electric balance established through the cooperation of the Siddharthanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a HMG grant of Rs. 3,000,000.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Khadka called on the entrepreneurs to utilise the lawful facilities and concessions provided by the government.

He said internal terrorism has caused loss to human lives, industry and tourism, leading to a crisis and called on all to be thoughtful how to bring the country out of the shadow of terrorism.

MP and chairman of the Environment Conservation Committee of the House of Representatives Surya Prasad Pradhan said the laboratory will control adulteration in foods.

Also speaking on the occasion were president of FNCCI Rabi Bhakta Shrestha, director general of the Department of Nepal Standards and Metrology Purna Prasad Manandhar.

At the programme presided over by Siddharthanagar Chamber president Dhruba Kumar Shrestha, various other speakers including vice president of the chamber Deepak Chhetri Neupane, mayor Sagar Pratap Rana, president of Butwal Chamber Arjun Man Sainju, industrialist Nidhan Chandra Shrestha and journalist Dilip Bhattarai also expressed their views.

HM grants assent

Kathmandu, Jan. 30 (RSS): His Majesty the King has granted assent to the bill designed to set up Nepal Rastra Bank to execute works as a Central Bank, 2058, the bill designed to make arrangements for recovery of loans of Banks and Fiscal Institutions, 2058 and the bill designed to amend and integrate the laws pertaining to excise duty.

According to Parliament secretariat, all the bills were submitted to His Majesty the King for Royal Assent after having been passed at both Houses of Parliament.

News report refuted

Kathmandu, Jan. 30 (RSS): The Prime Minister's Private Secretariat has published a statement refuting a news item published today in two weeklies concerning what they said was an incident at the time of the Prime Minister bidding farewell to His Majesty the King on His Majesty's return from Baluwatar on Friday after gracing a dinner hosted by him on behalf of the constitutional council. The statement says that the news item is false and fictitious.

Also, the statement published by the Prime Minister's Private Secretariat has called upon one and all to be realistic while commenting on such sensitive matters.

Mahat urges donors for more support

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 30: Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has appealed the international community and donor agencies for "extra support" to heal Nepal's economy reeling under a critical situation now.

"Of course security is our problem. The violence caused by Maoist terrorists in various parts of the country has compelled us to divert our resources to security. That's why we need support," said Minister Dr. Mahat while addressing an interaction programme on Nepal Development Forum – Economic Update 2002, here today.

Unless we overcome violence, steady economic development is not possible, Minister Dr. Mahat said adding, "You (international communities) have every right to point out our mistakes. And we are ready to rectify them."

Minister Mahat further said that the government is well aware of Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP), rural development and research for faster economic growth.

Moreover, Nepal has made substantial improvement in various sectors like irrigation, literacy and health. And the human development index is one of the best in the region, he asserted. However, he admitted that the level of corruption and irregularities is a vital problem. "Hence, to strengthen the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), we will bring out a new Bill in the 21st session of the Parliament," Minister Mahat informed the gathering.

The minister said that deregulation is the main problem to accelerate economic growth. "The government, in fact, is a facilitator, not a regulator. There are number of examples that the private sectors are doing fine."

Minister Mahat also appealed all to shun the tendency of accusation and said, "We should have objective towards fulfilment of our common goal."

Commenting the World Bank's Economic Update 2002, he expressed the importance of factual information and statistics for better result.

Earlier, World Bank Economist Ahamad Hashan, presenting his paper on "Nepal Development Forum: Economic Update –2002", said since the last Nepal Development Forum in April 2000, Nepal's economic growth has slowed down and medium term prospects were somewhat bleak. The effects of the global slowdown starting in the spring of 2001 worsened in the aftermath of the events of September 11, he said.

The development challenge Nepal is facing is formidable, but the 'twin crises' of the state of emergency and fiscal difficulties have also made reform imperative.

Sadiq Ahamad, chief economist of South Asia spoke about various factors influencing the Nepalese economy.

Commenting on the views of World Bank experts, Nepalese economists, planners and policy makers categorically pointed out the sectors the Economic Update –2002 has failed to mention. They noted that the WB paper had failed to stress the government's poverty alleviation strategies. The facts in the paper vary from the national statistics, they noted. Prof Guna Nidhi Sharma pointed out that the paper should have been focused on Nepal's priority. Anything that go beyond the interest of the country's priority does not help anybody, he said.

Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma pointed out the need for developing quality human resource. MP Pashupati SJB Rana emphasised on the need of enhancing agriculture productivity.

Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha, former vice chairman of the National Planning Commission said that WB paper has highlighted some positive aspects of the economy. It should have given the true economic picture of the country, he said.

K.Ohashi of World Bank stressed the need for strong commitment for development.