ECONOMY

Tea estates for whom?

Federation of the Village Development Committees has expressed its interest in purchasing Nepal Tea Development Corporation. It is suspected that the government is making preparation to sell the Corporation to a foreigner. A national convention of the federation held in Jhapa has decided that it would be better to give the tea industry to the federation rather than giving to foreigners.

(Gatibidhi, Saturday, Sept. 11)

Beware of adulterated drinks

Questions on quality and purity of bottled drinks have been raised time and again. On one hand various kinds of chemicals have been used in such drinks and on the other insects, stone, fungus, blades etc. have been found in drinks. The manufacturer are only interested in earning money than in caring the health of the people.

A sealed bottle of 7 Up received by us, has a dead fly in the drink. That was bottled by Barun Beverage of India.

(Nepalipatra, Friday, Sept. 10)

CIAA reveals list of corrupt

Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has found high ranking officials who had earned millions of rupees by misusing their authority.

According to a report recently published by the commission, 25 persons are under departmental action and 53 officials are warned. Similarly, it has instructed to maintain the personal record of 10 senior officials.

Persons recommended for action by the Commission include regional director of Royal Nepal Airlines Gautam Das Shrestha, Finance Manager of Agency Unit of central office Mrs. Satyamaya Mathema, finance manager of bank unit Dev Prakash Tamrakar, Director of Health Service Department Dr. K.B. Singh Karki, Chief Accountant of the Department Shiva Bahadur Rayamajhi, accounts officers Ratna Bahadur Nepal and Amar Raj Mishra, teacher of Juddhodaya High School Bharat Prasad Ghimire, Assistant Administrator Narayan Prasad Pokharel, Head Assistant Ram Hari Phuyal, Acting controller of District Forest Office Nawalparasi Kanhaiya Raj Shrestha, Ravi Lal Bhusal, Nathuni Mandal and Dev Sharan Yadav.

Similarly, Shovit Raj Shrestha of Basic and Primary Education Project, Ram Mani Dhungel of the project, Finance Manager of RSS Jaya Shankar Mahato, Rastriya Banijya Bank LC In-charge Krishna Bahadur Pant and accountant Laxman Krishna Tamrakar are other persons have been recommended for action.

Land Tax Officer of Rupandehi district Laxmi Prasad Gyanwali, Rajendra Prasad Bhattarai of Land Tax Office Siraha, Captain Kul Bahadur Limbu of RNAC, Dr. Murali Prasad Singh and senior health assistant Ramesh Prasad Singh of District Health Office Siraha and acting officer Mahendra Narayan Rajak of Land Reform Office of Rautahat are other persons recommended for departmental action.

(Khabar Kagaz, Thursday, Sept. 9)

Adjournment proposal to be brought

Now the parliament has been considering on making laws after the budget for the fiscal year 1999/2000 passed. If the government did not submitted any new bill, the issues being already presented in the parliament will not be enough for the next two weeks the parliament is thought to run. “How long can the session discuss only on the government,” says an official in parliamentary secretariat.

Presently, one dozen bills are under the consideration of the parliament. Most of them are amendment bills.

Meanwhile, main opposition Nepal Communist (UML) has been planning presenting another pressure programme to the government. According to UML source, it has been planning to present special proposal raising the issues of price hike, peace and security and other issues.

Party source further claims that UML has been doing necessary preparation for a bigger agitation. The party will launch protest programme in the parliament by completing necessary procedures.

In another development, UML has been planning to bring adjournment proposal saying that the peace and security situation of the country is in dire straits.

(Patrika, Thursday, Sept. 9)