PM expresses condolences

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 3: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand published a statement here today expressing profound grief at the untimely passing away of then Rastriya Panchayat member and founder member of the RPP in Kabhre Indra Bahadur Khadka.

In the statement, Prime Minister Chand said that in his demise, the RPP has lost a dedicated activist and extended heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family. He also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

Appointment

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 3: His Majesty's Government has, on the recommendation of the recommendations committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Public Service Commission chairman, appointed Udaya Raj Soti (Lamjung) to the vacant post of chairman of the Education Service Commission.

News reports refuted

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 3: The Cabinet Secretariat has refuted the news item published in some newspapers about the discussion on the amendment of Civil Servants Act 2049 at the cabinet meeting on February 28.

Attention of the Cabinet Secretariat has been drawn to the news item published in some newspapers stating that discussion was held on the amendment of Civil Service Act 2049 at the cabinet meeting on February 28, the Cabinet Secretariat has stated.

There was no agenda of discussion on the said issue at the cabinet meeting and discussion was not held on that issue, the Secretariat stated.

Art exhibition

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 3: Ambassador of India to Nepal Shyam Saran inaugurated an exhibition of paintings entitled 'Exploration of the magical realm' by Dr. Sima Sharma Shah amidst a programme here today.

The exhibition being held at the Siddhartha Art Gallery has 37 paintings depicting the portraits of various Hindu gods and goddesses and festivals.The exhibition will last till March 21.

NTAA opposes rule for environment officers

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POKHARA, Mar. 3: The provision of environment officers, to be taken with the tourists during the trekking in the high altitude Himalayan region, is unnecessary, troublesome and expensive, trekking entrepreneurs have said.

The officers, who return from without completing their duties, demand more money, pressurise the tourists to take them to the foreign countries, have been the hurdle for the trekking business.
"There is no fixed rate, therefore, they bargain from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 80,000" , said Suman Pandey, chairman of Nepal Trekking Agents Association (NTAA).

This provision should be cancelled as they do not fulfil their responsibilities and only bargain for money, he said.Environment officer must be accompanied during the trekking in Mustang, Humla and Darchula districts.Foreigners wishing to go to Mustang and Dolpa for trekking should pay 700 dollars for the first ten days and additional charge of 70 dollars a day beyond that period.

A total of 8,328 foreigners visited Upper Mustang since the permission was given to visit the area.
About 560,000 dollars is collected every year from the tourists who go for trekking in Upper Mustang.
The trekking agencies should provide clothing, lodging, fooding and per diem to the officers. They also demand extra money from the agencies.

The provision of the environment officer was made to make necessary arrangement for security and inform the trekkers about the local environment, culture, lifestyle and geographical situation.
However, the environment officers do not know anything about the local environment, the trekking association stated.Most of the environment officers were under graduate and how can they provide information to the tourists, said an official of the association.

The environment officers have not discharged the responsibilities properly, director of Annapurna Conservation Area Gehendra Gurung said.

Only ten out of 54-environment officers had reached Upper Mustang during the last fiscal year, Gurung said presenting a report.Other environment officers returned from various places of the routes, he said.
We cannot preserve the environment by sending a man from the centre. The officer should have the knowledge of the local place and environment and they should be capable, first tourism minister of Nepal Dr. Harkha Gurung said.He said the Japanese go through Chinese route to climb the Mt. Everest because the environment officers do not discharge their responsibilities effectively.

Meet on role of women in rural development kicks off

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 3: A five-day international workshop on 'Role of women in sustainable rural development' organised jointly by National Productivity and Economic Development Centre and Asian Productivity Organisation, Japan kicked off here today.

Seventeen persons from 15 member countries of Asian Productivity Organisation have been participating in the workshop organised with an objective to uplift the life standard of downtrodden women of Asian countries.

Speaking on the occasion member of National Planning Commission Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada said His Majesty's Government has been running various programmes under the Ministry for Women, Children and Social Welfare for women's empowerment.

Chief of Asian Productivity Organisation Department of Agriculture pointed out the need to bring integrated programmes for uplifting the life-status of rural women.

Nepal greets Sherpas

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 3: CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has wished peace, progress and prosperity to all the Sherpas within and outside the country on the occasion of the festival of Lhoshar which is being celebrated with enthusiasm and revelry. In a message issued here today, Nepal has stated that diverse ethnic groups, languages, religions and cultures have made Nepal a colourful garden of diverse flowers. Stating that unity in diversity and tolerance among are the distinct identity of the Nepalese, general secretary Nepal has said when this distinct identity is presented to the world community it is praised as a delightful, beautiful and excellent model.

'Run irrigation schemes in sustainable manner'

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DHANGADHI, Mar. 3: Minister for Water Resources Dipak Gyawali inaugurated today the Bhushi Surface Irrigation Project implemented at Munuwa VDC of Kailali district.

Construction work on the project implemented with the credit assistance of the World Bank under the Nepal Irrigation Sector Programme (NISP) began in 1999-2000 and was completed in 2001-02. It provides irrigation to 485 families of Ward Nos. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of the VDC.

On the occasion, Minister Gyawali said that the farmers should be aware of how to receive maximum benefit from the project and how to run the irrigation system in a sustainable manner.

The function was chaired by chairman of the Water Users Committee of the Bhusi Irrigation Project, Paharilal Chaudhari. Likewise, Minister Gyawali felicitated farmer Ramdayal Chaudhari, 90, in recognition of his contributions to the Karnali Kulo Irrigation System since 2009 Bikram era at a programme organised by the Karnali Kulo Irrigation System, Rani, Jamara and Kulariya group at Tikapur.

On the occasion, Minister Gyawali said that the government had pursued the policy of reconstructing the irrigation projects of the Mid-Western and Far Western Regions damaged due to the disruptive activities.

At the same function, Minister Gyawali released a periodical published every three months by the National Water Users Federation. Group chairman Kumar Raj Shahi presided over the programme.
Earlier today, he inspected the origin of the Rani, Jamara and Kulariya Irrigation Kulo and acquired relevant information. He also inspected the sub-station of Nepal Electricity Authority at Lamki, damaged three times by the Maoists. On the occasion, chief of the sub-station Raj Kumar Baral spoke of the damage and informed the Minister that power has been supplied temporarily from sub-stations in the eastern part of Kailali and Rajpur area of Bardiya.

NHRC meet discusses rights situation

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LALITPUR, Mar. 3: A discussion programme on different human rights-related topics was held at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) meeting hall today.

NHRC chairman Nayan Bahadur Khatri chaired the programme participated in by high level representatives of various agencies.

At the programme, discussions were held on topics such as the situation of persons arrested on different charges, finding the whereabouts of 'disappeared' people, provisions for the treatment of injured persons, protection of basic human rights during cease-fire, follow-up on the cease-fire, human rights education, the unhindered exercise of the people's right to food and health.

The secretary at the Ministry of Home, NHRC members, chiefs of the human rights cells at Royal Nepal Army headquarters, the armed police force, the civil police and His Majesty's Government as well as representatives of the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs took part in the discussions.