NEWS NOTES (Spotlight Weelky)

PAC Seeks Cancellation Of Lauda Air Deal

A sub-committee of parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigating the B-767 jet lease deal between Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) and Lauda Air SpA has recommended cancellation of the deal, describing it as against the interest of the corporation. The sub-committee recommended on Friday the prosecution of RNAC board of directors and management for taking the controversial decision. Convenor of the PAC sub-committee, Shiv Bahadur Deuja, said the board's decision was "irresponsible and against the law". The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has already instructed the RNAC management to scrap the deal. Compiled from reports Nov. 25.

Tabei Expresses Concern Over Pollution

Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mt. Everest, has expressed deep concern over the growing pollution in the Himalayas. Addressing an international symposium on "The Himalayan Environment, Mountain Science and Eco-Tourism/Biodiversity" in the capital on Friday, Ms. Tabei said it would take hundreds of years to clean up the garbage piled up in the base camps and the mountains. She said there were thousands of oxygen cylinders littered at the Everest base camp when she visited the area last year. She added that it was high time that the authorities checked this trend. She also called for massive public awareness programs to keep the fragile Himalayas free from waste generated by trekkers and mountaineers. Compiled from reports Nov. 25.

Travel Agents Demand Notice

Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA) demanded on Friday 15-day advance notice of possible hotel closure in the wake of a proposed strike by workers demanding a compulsory 10 percent service charge. Hotel workers have warned that they will go on a general strike if their demands are not met by December 11. NATA made the demand to the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) after a general meeting. Hotel employees postponed their strike earlier this month after the government formed a high-level committee to study the problem. But the workers have alleged that the government betrayed them by forming the committee instead of forcing the hoteliers to meet their demands. "We have made the demand because of possible compensation agents will have to pay to clients without advance notification," said Bhola Thapa, President of NATA. Compiled from reports Nov. 25.

Maoists Attack At 250 Police Posts Since 1996

Maoist rebels have launched attacks on more than 250 police posts across the country since they began the violent 'people's war' nearly five years ago. According to information compiled by police headquarters, the rebels have also targeted 21 foreign-aided projects during this period. Similarly, the rebels have attacked at 170 government and semi-government agencies during this period. Meanwhile, chief of police Pradip Shumsher JB Rana has said the government is going to train police and equip them with modern weapons in order to reduce casualties on their side. Police sources say they are suffering higher casualty rates because of lack of anti-insurgency training and modern ammunitions. Himalaya Times daily reports Nov. 24.

KMC To Levy Tax On Garbage

Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has decided to charge fees for collecting garbage from an estimate 130,000 households and commercial firms in the city from Friday. According to the KMC, the program to be known as 'Household Waste Collection Program,' will initially be launched in seven areas of the city. Residents of Teku-Kalanki, Kalimati-Balkhu, Tripureshoar-Minbhawan-Tilganga Road, Maitighar-Putali Sadak-King's Way, Singha Durbar-King's Way, Sinamangal-Bag Bazar and Tripureshwor-Thapathali will not be allowed to throw garbage onto the streets from Thursday onwards. The garbage will instead be collected by a garbage truck in the morning and the fees may vary from Rs. 75 for average households to Rs. 1,000 for big commercial firms and industries. A public notice issued by KMC Executive Officer Hari Prasad Rimal Thursday, said that those who ignore the decision would face fines of up to Rs 15,000. KMC officials say they have been unable to properly manage 350 tonnes of garbage produced in the city area daily due to lack of a permanent landfill site. Leading dailies report Nov. 24.

Delay In The construction Of Surhet—Jumla Highway

Only one-fourth of the 320 km long Surkhet-Jumla highway, also known as Karnali highway, has been completed over the last one decade. The World Bank has agreed to provide 45 percent of the total project cost of the project and the government will bear the rest. The government had set aside Rs 250 million for the construction of the project in the last fiscal year but not a single rupee was spent. This year, the government has allocated Rs 350 million but none of the contractors, including a Chinese and nine Nepalese firms, has appeared on the construction site so far. The people of Karnali are demanding that the highway should be constructed as soon as possible. Kantipur Nov. 22.

Himalayan Bank Opens Forex Counter

Chairman of Himalayan Bank Limited Himalaya SJB Rana opened the foreign exchange and credit card counter of the bank in Thamel on November, 23. The counter will undertake transactions of foreign exchange as well as credit card payments. The bank is also planning to introduce an ultra-modern Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) at the counter in the near future with the objective of providing service to the tourists. Himalayan Bank has been expanding its branches outside Kathmandu Valley. It provides ATM facilities from all of its branches in the valley. Compiled from reports.

Second Auto Show Organized

Some 25,000 people visited the second Auto Show held in Bhrikuti Mandap last week. The five-day exhibition showcased different vehicles and automobile products. Forty-two companies participated in the show -- 13 in the four-wheeler category and nine in the two-wheeler group. Twenty companies took part in the spare parts, lubricants, banking and financing categories. Wrapping up the show, Rohini Thapaliya, vice president of Nepal Automobile Dealersí Association, said the exhibition provided a unique opportunity to Nepalese consumers to have a close look at the latest models of cars and vehicles available in the market. At the concluding program, acting president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Rabi Bhakta Shrestha provided a cash prize of Rs 50,000 to United Traders' Syndicate, the dealer of Toyota Company, for best stall decoration. Himalaya Times, November 28.

Nepal-China Non-Govt Meeting This Week

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Pradip Kumar Shrestha, left for China late Sunday to take part in the fourth meeting of Nepal-China Non-Governmental Cooperation Forum due to be held in Wuxi industrial town of China from Tuesday. Shrestha is leading a 35-member Nepali delegation that also comprises an official from the Foreign Ministry and an expert on regional cooperation. Talking to reporters prior to his departure, Shrestha said the Nepali team would discuss issues to further expand trade and investment opportunities between the two countries especially in the areas of agriculture, tourism and hydropower. He said that they would urge Chinese authorities to develop one more economically viable route between the two countries that could serve as an alternative to the existing Tatopani route. Responding to a question, Shrestha said the news reports in a section of Indian media blaming Nepal as being a transit point to re-export cheap Chinese goods to Indian market were ëinaccurate and incomplete." "We never encourage this type of activities and have set up an internal committee to study the matter in details," he said. Shrestha said the issue would not be raised during bilateral consultations with the Chinese business community. He, however, said Nepal would ask Chinese assistance in setting up Export Processing Zones probably with Chinese investment. Compiled from reports.

Kamaiyas Protest In West Nepal

Former Kamaiyas or bonded laborers staged protest in west Nepal Friday demanding government's attention for their rehabilitation. Hundreds of kamaiya family members staged sit-in in front of the district administration offices in Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts on Friday. The kamaiyas are demanding that they be first provided with land before launching any rehabilitation program for them. The government had declared kamaiyas free from debt bondage in July this year making the practice punishable by law. Compiled from reports.