Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

King gyanendra receiving credentials from ambassador of People's Republic of China Sun Heping

THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES HAS PROPOSED the formation of a Power Development Board to the cabinet with the objective of making the multi-million dollar World Bank power loan effective. Simultaneously, negotiation is undergoing with a local bank, which would act as fund administrator, a senior official at the ministry said. “We have proposed a five member board to the cabinet, which is likely to endorse it next week,” the official said. The proposed structure of the board includes director general of the Department of Electricity Development as the chairman, two government officials and two experts. The World Bank and the government have signed in July 2003 a loan agreement of US$ 75.4 million for the Power Development Project, of which $ 35 million would go to the Power Development Fund. The board would be the final authority to sanction the loan under the fund while the processing of the loan will be carried out by the fund administrator. Nepal Bangladesh Bank has been selected for the purpose through a competitive bidding. The fund will provide long term financing for private sector investments, initially for small and medium sized hydro schemes and associated infrastructures. Out of the two initially selected projects, Kabeli A (30 MW) and Rahughat Khola (27 MW) would be funded through the fund, the official said.

THE MONTH-LONG SIMHA ASTA MELA, traditional 12-yearly festival, completed on Wednesday (September 17) in Godavari. Organizers of the festival said more than 1.7 million people from different parts of the country visited the festival. People take ablutions in the Godavari pond during the festival. Organizers expressed satisfaction that the festival was completed without any disturbance. Due to constant crowds for one whole month, the Godavari area is said to be littered.

THREE MORE WETLANDS OF NEPAL HAVE been termed Ramsar sites, thus bringing them into the fold of the network of wetlands of international importance. “The Ramsar Bureau is very pleased to announce that the Kingdom of Nepal, which acceded to the convention in 1987 with its famous Koshi Tappu wetlands, has now added three more sites to its network of wetlands of international importance,” a letter forwarded by the Ramsar Bureau to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation states. The three new Ramsar sites are “Beeshazar and associated lakes” in Chitawan, “Ghodaghodi lake” in Kailali district and “Jagadish reservoir” in Kapilbastu. With these additions, the total number of Ramsar sites in Nepal is now four, covering a total area of 23,488 hectares. Rich in terms of biodiversity, nearly four percent of the total area of Nepal is covered by wetlands.

THE APPELLATE COURT PATAN HAS ISSUED arrest warrant against 18 central level leaders of the Maoists including its chairman Prachanda. The warrant was issued in connection with the case of assassination of Krishna Mohan Shrestha, Inspector General of Police, Armed Police Force early this year. Meanwhile, police arrested three persons including one Krishna Hari Sainju early this week in connection with the case. These three had been released as goodwill gesture by the government after the ceasefire was announced.

NARAYAN SINGH PUN, FORMER MINISTER and former peace negotiator, said that he could re-initiate for peace talks if he gets the permission from the King. Talking at an interaction in the capital, Pun said that there were some indications that the rebels were trying to contact him to prepare for peace process. The man who was responsible for the January 30 ceasefire, Pun said that the repeated violations of code of conduct and hurriedly entering into political issues were the main reasons for the breakdown of the peace process. Pun added that rebels have asked him to visit Nepalgunj or Pokhara to re-start the peace process. But he said he was looking for requests from the government.

THE AUTHORITIES HAVE BANNED pillion riding in motorcycles in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur district from September 16-23. The decision was made after the Maoists intensified their campaign of explosion and killings prior to the three day Nepal Bandh (September 18-20) that they have declared. The authorities say that in most incidents, the rebels come in motorcycles wearing mask and carried out such destructive activities. Similar rule is also in force in Pokhara.

THE NATIONAL HYDROELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION (NHPC) of India will carry out a field-visit of the proposed 300 MW Upper Karnali hydroelectric project site next month, officials said. A team headed by the Chairman and Managing Director of the NHPC, Yogendra Prasad, wrapped up its three-day visit to Nepal on Tuesday. The two-member team held preliminary discussions with officials at the Ministry of Water Resources and Nepal Electricity Authority on the development of the project. A statement issued by the Indian Embassy on Tuesday (September 16) further stated that the NHPC’s role in implementing this project would be a significant step toward cooperation in the water resources sector between India and Nepal. Should the NHPC find the terms and conditions attached to this project site feasible, it will apply for the requisite permission from the government of Nepal to begin technical studies at the site. Meanwhile, a technical team from India is expected to visit shortly to discuss the preparation of detailed project report of the Budhi Gandaki Hydel Project, the embassy said.