His Majesty graces reception

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: His Majesty the King graced a reception organised as commanded by Her Majesty the Queen Mother on the occasion of the auspicious wedding of Her Royal Highness Princess Prearana Rajya Laxmi Devi Singh and Kumar Raj Bahadur Singh at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace this evening.

His Majesty the King granted collective audience to the chiefs of the diplomatic missions based in Nepal and other distinguished persons present on the occasion. Her Majesty the Queen was present on the occasion.Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess and other members of the royal family also graced the reception.

The newly-wed bride and the bridegroom were also present on the occasion. Also present were the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the National Assembly Chairman, the Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee, former prime ministers, ministers, chiefs of diplomatic missions and distinguished persons.

The age-old tradition of the newly-wed bride visiting her parental home with the bridegroom, known as 'Dulan Pharkaune' observed following the wedding, was also observed today in connection with the auspicious wedding of Her Royal Highness Princess Prearana Rajya Laxmi Devi Singh and Kumar Raj Bahadur Singh.

Civil aviation sector indispensable to Nepal

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said today that development of a full-fledged new international airport was in the offing. "As envisaged in the 10th plan, the development of a full-fledged new international airport will take place keeping in view the limitation of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for future expansion," he said.

"Civil aviation is an indispensable sector as travel and tourism cannot flourish without it. Extension of air services and facilities is more important in a land-locked country like Nepal where air transport-catalysed tourism industry has stood as a great hope as well as reality to counter poverty," he added. The Prime Minister was addressing a workshop seminar on "Strengthening Airlines' Services in Nepal" organised jointly by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA) here today.

He said that considerable investments have been made for the improvement of the TIA by expanding the international terminal building to double its size, construction of a new cargo complex, installation of radar system and upgrading of domestic airports and strengthening of aviation security.
"The new National Civil Aviation Policy and the Tenth Five-Year Plan have left sufficient rooms for private sector investment in the aviation industry with necessary emphasis on quality services," he said.

Addressing the gathering, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kuber Prasad Sharma said that the government was ready to support the airlines that wanted to fly to Nepal. "We are very much concerned about the pulling out of some airlines from Nepal," Minister Sharma said. Sharma expressed the commitment that the government would not take handling and landing charges from foreign online airlines more than what the neighbouring countries were charging. He emphasised the need for Nepal to focus on the Chinese and Indian markets to bring in more tourists. At present, 13 international airlines, including the national carrier Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) and Necon Air, are operating flights to and from Nepal. The country has signed air services agreement with 32 countries.

Speaking from the chair, NATA President Joy Dewan said that strengthening of aviation services in Nepal should be looked at as a necessity and not only as part of physical infrastructure."No other means of carrier could be as effective as air carriers for the land-locked country." "Although the recent past and even the present tourism scenario of the country are not satisfactory, we are not dishearted at all," said Dewan. "We always see some silver lining even in a black cloud. We now need to do something united and the situation will improve in the days to come," he said. Recalling the situation of some years in the past, he said the pulling out of some airlines was a setback to the industry. "Gradually, the sore healed as other online airlines put up proposals to increase their flight frequencies," he said.

Welcoming the participants, Tek Bahadur Dangi, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NTB, said that as tourists visiting Nepal from different long-haul markets by air ranges from 81 to 89 per cent of total arrivals, the country needs to strengthen air services to revive the tourism industry.
Dangi said that lack of services has hindered Nepal from bringing in tourists from the major tourism markets such as China. More than 12 million Chinese visited abroad as tourists in 2001. Citing an example of links between better air services and growth of tourism, he said Singapore and Thailand were able to attract over 7 million and 10 million tourists in 2001. Singapore Airlines operates flights to more than 90 citieis in 40 countries with 90 passenger aircraft. Similarly, Thai Airways flies to over 72 destinations in 37 countries.

The inaugural session was followed by a discussion session. Papers were presented by Upendra Prasad Dhital, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and Gautam Das Shrestha, President of the Board of Airlines Reprsentatives in Nepal (BARN). The recommendations and suggestions of the seminar would be formally tabled at the concerned ministry for necessary action.

Pandey assures support to Gorkhapatra

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: Minister for Information and Communications, and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey said that the Gorkhapatra had a legacy, and it is, therefore, the responsibility of the staff of the corporation to keep that legacy alive and kicking and at the same time maintaining its competitive strength by improving its writing, quality of printing and distribution.

Minister Pandey said this during a visit to the Gorkhapatra Corporation today in the course of visiting different offices under the Ministry. Speaking at the function organised by the corporation at its office today, the Minister said that he would look into the concerns of the corporation of giving government advertisements to the corporation at least for once.

He also said the Gorkhapatra Corporation should refrain from becoming a commercial institution, advising it use its physical facilities and resources to the maximum extent to generate and increase income. He said that the government would never pick any person from the streets to lead the Gorkhapatra, as such a person will be more concerned with the personal benefits and interests than with the wellbeing of the corporation. It is only the staff and the employees of the corporation who can identify how the corporation can improve.

He cited examples of several money making public enterprises that went out of business because the PEs were headed by persons picked from the streets with no idea about running them. He said that the Gorkhapatra was started as a mouthpiece of the government and it should remain so. "The Corporation and its staff should not feel inferior in being the spokesman of the government." Talking about journalism, he said newspapers are not political parties, and they must not be so. Therefore, he said, no newspapers should be biased or prejudiced against any political party, group, or ideology, but should reflect the reality of the whole nation and the society. This is more true for the Gorkhapatra because of its history and the role it has played in promoting Nepal's journalism, language, culture and literature.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation Sushil Ghimire said the Gorkhapatra Corporation has the most proficient and able human resources among all the publication houses. These human resources need to be used effectively and efficiently to improve the quality of its publications, increase its circulation as well as attract advertisements from the private sector.
In his welcome speech, acting General Manager of the Corporation and Editor-in-Chief of the The Rising Nepal Lok Deep Thapa said that the Corporation was passing through a difficult phase. "But the problem is not insurmountable if all the staff and the employee work together," he said. "The staff are the strength of any institution, and if the present human resources of the Corporation is utilised properly, the problem can be overcome."

Several reforms measures have already been initiated, he said, adding that the Corporation has forwarded a letter to the Ministry demanding that government advertisements and notices be published at least for once in its publications. Stating that the existing physical infrastructure and accommodation of the corporation were grossly inadequate, he said it would be better if the present site was used for other purposes and the office shifted to a more convenient site. "In this connection, the corporation has also received proposals for lease of part of the office building," he informed. Acting Editor-in-Chief of Gorkhapatra daily and member of the board of directors Uddhav Upadhyaya said that the publication of the corporation should be able to meet the expectations of the readers. He said the Gorkhapatra cannot always cash in on history to survive in the competitive market. He said the Gorkhapatra and its publications have always remained a government mouthpiece catering to the demands of the government and those at the helm of power by putting aside its professional commitment.

"But the Gorkhapatra cannot always survive by disregarding the interest and the taste of the common readers," he said. Therefore, if the Gorkhapatra Corporation is to survive, either the government must take it completely under its fold by providing advertisements, or leave it free to compete in the open market, Upadhyaya said.

Briefing about the situation of the Corporation, Acting Deputy General Manager Gyanuman Malla said that the corporation presently had almost 700 staff, 615 of them permanent. Despite being called a government-owned corporation, it has not received any assistance, financial or other, from the government since the last 25 years. Instead it has paid tens of millions of rupees in income taxes and VAT annually. "Even the government advertisements accounts for about only 10 per cent of the total income of the corporation.

DPM praises late Singh's contribution

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KATHMANDU, Jan 24: Acting chairman of Nepal Sadvabana Party (NSP) and Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal has said the movement and struggle led by founder chairman of the party late Gajendra Narayan Singh for the rights and welbeing of the oppressed, dalits, down-trodden and Madheshi people has been a source of inspiration for all the Nepali people.

He was speaking at a programme organised at the party central office at Shantinagar today to commemorate the 1st death anniversary of late leader Singh. Highlighting the stance of late party leader on multy-party democracy and constitutional monarchy Deputy Prime Minister Mandal said late Singh was amiable, true to word, democratic and committed to party.

He, mentioning the chronological contributions of the late leader in brief, said late Singh was a true follower of Gandhism having a strong faith in peace and non-violence. On the occasion general secretary of the party Devendra Mishra, central members Sarita Giri and Subhan Ali, senior industrialist Shankar Lal Kediya and other party leaders and workers paid heart-felt tributes by offering flowers on the portrait of late leader Singh.

Govt firm to strengthen local bodies

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: Minister for Education and Sports Devi Prasad Ojha has said the present government has made up its mind to holding the local elections as soon as possible as it feels the vacuum in the local bodies has had a negative impact on the decentralisation concept also.
Minister Ojha made the remark while inaugurating a seminar on 'local bodies and region-wise decentralisation of power' organised by the Rural Development Foundation here today. Expressing the government's determination that no stone would be left unturned towards the consolidation and strengthening of the local bodies and the civic society, he made it clear that it was in this spirit that certain responsibilities concerning education, agriculture, health and communications sectors have been handed down to the local bodies in keeping with the spirit of the Local Self-Governance Acts and Regulations.

Secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Udaya Nepali Shrestha pointed out the need for making timely reforms and refinements in the existing acts and rules on local self-governance as the power and the authority of the local bodies have been protected by the constitution.

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-Operatives Kirti Bahadur Chand said that his ministry was working in a timely manner as per the spirit of the Local Self-Governance Act. From the chair, secretary at the Ministry of Local Development Khem Raj Nepal expressed the hope that the seminar would give practical and effective suggestions for the formulation of policies and guidelines on local bodies and devolution of power.

Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports Chuman Singh Basnet said the Ministry of Education was in favour of decentralisation. He also pointed out that the local bodies too should give attention to enhancing their capabilities through the mobilisation of local means and resources.
Vice-president of the association of the District Development Committees, Nepal Rishiram Lumsali alleged that the government was talking of local self-governance and decentralisation for formality sake only, without making provisions of financial resources for the local bodies. General secretary of Municipalities Association Nepal Bidur Mainali argued that it would not be justified to bundle all the municipalities together under a single act.

President of the VDC Federation Nepal Mohin Limbu said that the Local Self-Governance Act has not become effective due to acts and laws that are unclear and clash with each other and due to financial shortage. Chairman of the foundation Krishna Man Pradhan said that the foundation was carrying out its works in the field of good governance, human rights, rural development, social justice and women empowerment as per its objective in collaboration with the law practitioners, women, social workers, human rights activists and local development experts.

Chief advisor of DASU/DANIDA Hikmat Bista also expressed his views on the occasion. Former MPs, former DDC, municipalities and VDC office-bearers and high level officials of the government, the non-governmental and social institutions and organisations also attended the seminar.

SAARC countries to boost cultural exchange

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: The 21st meeting of the SAARC Audio Visual Exchange (SAVE) Committee held for the first time in the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu, this week decided to give strength to audio visual exchanges among the countries of the region. The meeting held on January 21-22 and attended by representatives from all the six countries of the region, except Sri Lanka, also recognised the importance of television and radio in promoting the ideals of the SAARC.

The meeting also decided to organise the SAARC telefilm festival in July 2003, although the venue was not decided. The sixth TV quiz will be held in Kathmandu in August and the seventh TV quiz in Islamabad in September this year. The fifth radio quiz will be held in India in September this year. The meeting also decided to introduce new formats such as debates, elocution, youth shows and dramas. Students pursuing Bachelor's degrees will be taking part in the radio and TV quizes programmes this year.

For joint TV and radio productions, "Safe for Clean Water" was chosen as the theme for radio, while "Mountains and Hills" was decided for TV. Similarly, the meeting also identified the themes for production in 2004: "Empowerment of Women" for radio and "Environmental Conservation" for TV. The committee noted that the SAARC Radio Music Festival was successfully held during the first week of November last year. So was the fourth Radio Quiz held in Islamabad on December 21 and the workshop on Radio Programme Production on the well-being of older persons in Colombo in 2002. Madan Sharma of Nepal Television and Pandav Sunuwar of Radio Nepal represented Nepal.

RBB mulls golden handshake to retrench 50% staff

By Indra Adhikari

KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: Once the new management takes over Rastriya Banijya Bank, about 50 per cent of its employees will be relieved through a golden hand shake. At present the bank has 5,522 employees working in 132 branches in 62 districts of the country. The number of branches will be brought down to 100-110. The departments of the bank will be decreased from 18 to eight. It has around 600 official level, 40 management level and the remaining assistant level employees.

Speaking at a function organised by the bank to mark its 38th anniversary in the capital today, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Dr. Tilak Rawal said that the bank should go parallel with other commercial banks of the country to boost the ailing economy. He said that the RBB should be developed as a healthy financial institution of the country.

According to the director of the bank Janardan Acharya, the non-performing assets (NPA) of the bank have risen to more than 45 per cent. One of the causes behind the increase of the NPA is over-staffing, he said. Acharya said that the bank's rising NPA was due to lack of Internal Credit and Term (ICT) facilities, lack of timely and proper training to the employees and lack of commitment to convert it into a fully commercial banking entity. He said that the other reason was because the employees did not feel a sense of responsibility to the institution.

As of July 2002, the bank has distributed loans of Rs. 37,174.6 million to about 320,000 clients around the country. Of this, about 28 per cent constitute bad debts or outstanding loans. Within the next three years, the bank aims at decreasing the outstanding loans to less than 10 per cent. According to Krishna Prasad Sharma of the loans department, out of the bank's lending in 98 sectors, the most outstanding loans are in projects, industrial and other priority sectors. Project loans dominate industrial loans, he said.

In a bid to find a solution to these problems, the RBB has taken initiatives to renew the loan system, reschedule loans and auction off the fixed possessions. The bank has more than 1,140,000 depositors who have deposited about Rs. 38,733.9 million. This is 23 per cent of all deposits in the banks of the country, while the share of loans is about 25 per cent. As the loans dominate the deposits, loss is inevitable. Acharya said that to make the bank fully commercial and competitive, strategies would come forth after a close study of the present management of the bank.

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the bank Bruce F. Henderson said that the outstanding loans or the non-performing assets of the bank would be decreased to less than 10 per cent. He said that his banking experience in more than 40 countries around the world would be applied in Nepal to help the bank recover from its economic recession and losses.

He said that to make the bank profitable, the people working in it have an important hand. And if necessary cooperation is given to him, the bank would surely be in profit in a short period of time, he said. "Loans should be lent in reasonable areas, and there are many such options in Nepal," he added.

Melamchi water not likely before 2008

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan 24: Even if everything goes smoothly, it will not be before 2008, two years later than scheduled, before water from the much-touted Melamchi is available to quench the thirst of parching Kathmandu Valley.

The US$ 464 million Melamchi Drinking Water Project (MWSP) is unlikely to finish the first phase of its construction works in time as the construction of the link road to Melamchi is being bogged down due to security reasons. Moreover, delay in the process of recruiting a private contractor for the tunnel works and the still to be settled legal issue over the establishment of a Kathmandu Valley Water Authority have further created problems in the smooth functioning of the project. "As some of the hills that lead to Melamchi comprise hard rocks, and we have so far not been able to take explosives to the site due to security reasons, construction of the 18-km-long road is being delayed," executive director of the MWSP Raj Kumar Malla informed the press at an interaction programme at his office this afternoon.

He also said that even 'if everything goes smoothly' the Melamchi Project could be completed only two years later than its stipulated time frame. The project was due for completion in 2006.
In their latest meeting with the government, members of the review mission of the donors of the MWSP had pressurised the government to guarantee peace and security. The road was due for completion within this year. But because only 75 per cent of the works have been completed so far, the time frame for the completion has been extended till 2060/61.

"Now that the government has deployed the army at the Melamchi site, we are hopeful about resuming the delayed construction work," said Malla. At the meeting with the journalists, executive director Malla disclosed that the process of contracting the tunneling work of the 26.5 km-long tunnel would take one more year. "As the tunnel contract cannot be accomplished before January 2004, due to bid procedures, we are bound to extend the project tenure."

Briefing about the progress report of the MWSP, deputy executive director Madan S. Shrestha said that the work of compensating the people whose land had been reclaimed for the road has been completed. "As the compensation issue is over, the road contractor will start its work from February," Shrestha said. He also said that the bidding process for power transmission and land annexation for the bulk distribution system were underway. "We have also shortlisted consultants for the proposed waste water system improvement."

Once the Melamchi Project becomes a success story, it will divert 510 million litres of water a day (MLD) to Kathmandu Valley from the Melamchi, Yangri and Larke Rivers flowing from neighbouring Sindhupalchok district. Presently, Kathmandu Valley has more than 15 million people and needs 230 MLD while only 100 MLD water is available.