Delegations meet PM

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 25: A 15-member delegation from Dhanusa district led by RPP president Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani met Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand today and demanded intiative from the government for the enforcement of the Master Plan for integrated development of the cultural and industrial town of Janakpur, effective management of the Janakpur Railway and its expansion to mahendra highway and the inclusion of Janakpur in the World Heritage list.

Likewise, a delegation from the "Joint Work for Peace" group met Prime Minister Chand and called for establishment of stable peace, beginning of a political dialogue with an open approach, enhancement of humanitarian activities and constituting of monitoring committees.

Thanking the delegations for their recommendations, Prime Minister Chand gave assurances of their enforcement.Also today, an 11-member delegation led by All Nepal Women's Association president Bidhya Devi Bhandari met the Prime Minister and submitted a memorandum demanding initiation of the procedure for releasing the around 65 women jailed on charges related to abortion, the provision of a holiday for women workers on International Women's Day and announcement of programmes for the socio-economic rehabilitation of women falling victim to conflict and violence.

Similarly, delegations from Baglung district and the Dipo Secondary School in Dharan met Prime Minister Chand and requested his help for the resolution of problems facing them.

Deuba supports current efforts to disarm Iraq

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 25: President of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed support for the current efforts of Britain, the US and other countries to disarm Iraq.

In a statement issued here today, Deuba recalled that Nepal has always supported the international coalition against terrorism formed in the aftermath of the tragic and heinous act of terrorism on September 11, 2001 that killed so many innocent and destroyed two important icons of world architecture.

We respect the democratic rights of the Iraqi people and hence attached importance to the commitments expressed by both US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to honor the Iraqi people's right to make that decision and establish democracy in Iraq once the war is over, he said.

Recalling the generous support these two countries provided us when we were in a great need for it and were facing unprecedented violence due to the Maoist insurgency, he said these two nations have been among our country's major donors, long time friends and have had a long and continuous tradition of democracy in the world.

Pointing out that we had always supported the efforts of the un and its member nations to disarm iraq through peaceful means, he said the present iraqi regime has, by refusing to destroy its weapons of mass destruction as requred by a un security council decision, precipitated the current war.
Today when the threat of global terrorism is greater than ever, the world community cannot ignore the need for fighting all its forms and manifestations, and allow Iraq to continue to stockpile weapons of mass destruction, he said.

Hoping that the war will be short and will cause minimum damage, he reminded the leaders of these two nations to be mindful of the need for taking special care to minimize such damage and look into the welfare and wellbeing of innocent civilians who have already been or are likely to be displaced and disabled by the war.

He also expressed deep concern about the safety and wellbeing of thousands of fellow citizens who have been working and living in the Gulf region, and urged concerned authorities in Nepal to make sincere and concerted efforts to safeguard their security and interests.

Nepal-Dutch consultations meet ends

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KATHMANDU, Mar. 25: The bilateral consultations meeting between Nepal and the Netherlands, which began here on March 24, concluded today.

Discussion was held on the ongoing and proposed projects in the field of local development, education, energy renewal, biodiversity, and nature conservation, according to a press release from the Ministry of Finance.

The Dutch assistance to Nepal currently focuses on two sectors: environment (including biodiversity and renewable energy) and good governance (mainly supporting decentralization and local governance).

The Dutch delegation expressed its happiness in regard to HMG's reform initiatives and welcomed the current ceasefire and the ongoing peace process, which would hopefully lead to restoration of normalcy and resumption of full-scale development activities, especially in the poorest parts of the country.

The Dutch delegation promised to look into possibilities of new areas of cooperation including reconstruction and rehabilitation activities.

The agreed minutes were signed by joint secretary at the Ministry of Finance Dr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire head of the Development Cooperation Division at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi Hans Knynenburg.

The delegations comprised officials of HMG, the government of the Netherlands and SNV/Nepal.
The consultations were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. Both sides agreed to hold similar bilateral meetings on an annual basis.

Court orders govt to revoke decision

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Mar. 25: A single bench of the Supreme Court chaired by Chief Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyaya today ordered the government not to continue with its new provision that allows vehicles with odd and even registration plate numbers to ply only on alternate days.

Since Saturday, vehicles with odd numbers are allowed to ply on odd dates (according to the Nepalese calendar) and vehicles with even numbers on alternate days in a bid to save fuel.
The government's regulation has posed a problem to commuters, besides snatching the livelihood of people who earn their daily bread working in the transport sector.

Hiring of consultant complained in CIAA

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Mar. 25: A complaint has been lodged at the Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) over irregularities while appointing the consultant for the Fourth Road Improvement Project under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works.

The complaint, filed by Narayan Chaulagain of Baneshwor, Kathmandu states that the recent appointment of the consultant was done with malafide intention, which reversed its own earlier decision.

The project last year had appointed Louise Berger as its consultant. "There is a clear sign of bad intention behind canceling the earlier consultant and appointing the new one as the latter ranked second in the competitive bid.

The complaint states that an evaluation committee, constituted later under the officials of the Ministry and which included engineers Suresh Kumar Regmi, Mahendra Kumar Pradhananga, accounts officer Bishnu Subedi and legal officer Ram Sharan Dhakal, had awarded the consultancy to Routen.

IGP opens traffic police building

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BUTWAL, Mar. 25: Inspector General of Police Shyambhakta Thapa inaugurated the Traffic Police Office building amidst a function here yesterday.The building was constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.82 million.On the occasion, IGP Thapa said the Traffic Police Office will help decrease accident in the 200 kilometre long road from Gaindakot of Nawalparasi to Surai of Kapilvastu district, where the accident rate is very high.Former mayor of Butwal Municipality Bhoj Prasad Shrestha said police and peoples participation could be very fruitful for the development.A host of speakers including Deputy Inspector General of Police Gyanendra Bikram Mahat,Deputy Superintendent of Police of Western Regional Traffic Office Bikram Gurung and co-ordinator of the building construction committee Krishna Prasad Neupane also spoke on the occasion.