फागुन १४, काठमाडौं (अस)। पछिल्ला ५ वर्षयता नेपालमा बीमा व्यवसायको वृद्धि दोब्बरभन्दा बढी भएको छ । सञ्चालनमा रहेका जीवन तथा निर्जीवन बीमा कम्पनीहरूले २०६२/६३ देखि २०६६/६७ सम्म वार्षिक विक्री गरेको बीमालेख सङ्ख्या र प्रिमियम आम्दानी हेर्दा यस्तो देखिएको हो । यसबारे सिध्दार्थ इन्स्योरेन्सका महाप्रबन्धक एसके तमोट भन्छन्, 'कारोबार रकम र बीमितको सङ्ख्या केही बढेको पक्कै हो । तर, व्यवसाय बढेको देखिए पनि समग्रमा पछिल्लो ५ वर्षमा बीमा उद्योगकै विस्तार भने खासै भएको छैन ।' जीवनबीमा कम्पनीहरू पछिल्लो समय मा ७५ ओटै जिल्ला पुगेका भए पनि निर्जीवन बीमा कम्पनीहरू अझै शहरकेन्द्रित हुनुपर्ने बाध्यताले बीमा उद्योग विकास हुन नसकेको उनको भनाइ छ । निर्जीवनतर्फ व्यक्तिगत दुर्घटना र अनिवार्य तेस्रोपक्ष बीमाका कारण मात्र बीमालेख र प्रिमियम सङ्कलन बढेको उनले बताए ।
आर्थिक वर्ष२०६२/६३ मा जीवन तथा निर्जीवन दुवैतर्फका बीमा कम्पनीहरूले कुल ५ लाख ३४ हजार बीमालेख विक्री गरेको बीमा समितिको तथ्याङ्क छ । पछिल्लो आवसम्म आइपुग्दा यो सङ्ख्या वार्षिक १२ लाख २० हजार पुगेको छ । यसरी हेर्दा विगत ५ वर्षयता कम्पनीहरूको वाषिर्क बीमालेख विक्रीमा १ सय २८ प्रतिशतले वृद्धि भएको छ । यस अवधिमा जीवन/निर्जीवन दुवै बीमा पोलिसी विक्री औसतमा करीब २३ प्रतिशतले बढेको छ ।
बीमा व्यापारमा वार्षिक २० देखि २५ प्रतिशतको वृद्धि स्वाभाविक हुने बीमकहरूको भनाइ छ । बजारमा नयाँ बीमा कम्पनीहरू थपिनुका साथै बीमाप्रति सचेतना बढेकाले पनि बीमालेखको विक्री वृद्धि भएको उनीहरू बताउँछन् । तर, अझै पनि बीमासुरक्षाका लागिभन्दा पनि आवश्यक भएपछि मात्रै गर्ने सोच सर्वसाधारणमा कायमै रहेको तमोटको भनाइ छ । बीमालेख विक्रीमा सुधार देखिए पनि अहिले पनि कुल जनसङ्ख्याको करीब ५ प्रतिशत मात्र बीमाको दायरामा आएको बीमा समितिका उपनिर्देशक शेखरकुमार अर्यालले जानकारी दिए । हाल कुल बीमितको सङ्ख्या १२ लाखको हाराहारीमा पुगेको अनुमान छ ।
यस अवधिमा कम्पनीहरूको प्रिमियम आम्दानी पनि उल्लेख्य रूपमा बढेको छ । ५ वर्षअघि १ वर्षको प्रिमियम आम्दानी जीवन/निर्जीवन दुवै मिलाएर जम्मा रू. ६ अर्ब ६४ करोड थियो । आव २०६६/६७ मा आइपुग्दा यो वार्षिक सवा १५ अर्ब रुपैयाँभन्दा माथि पुगेको छ । दुवै अवधिमा जीवनबीमा प्रिमियमको हिस्सा करीब ५७ प्रतिशत छ । विगत ५ वर्षमा जीवन बीमातर्फ प्रिमियम सङ्कलनको औसत वृद्धि करीब २२ प्रतिशत छ भने निर्जीवनतर्फ२६ प्रतिशत छ । जीवन बीमातर्फ अनिवार्य वैदेशिक रोजगार बीमाका कारण व्यावसाय बढेको देखिएको नेपाल बीमक सङ्घका अध्यक्ष दीपप्रकाश पाण्डे बताउँछन् । 'वैदेशिक रोजगारीमा जानेका आधारमा यसबापतको बीमालेख मात्र वार्षिक करीब २ लाख विक्री हुने गरेको छ । यसबाट मात्र जीवनबीमामा झण्डै रू. १ अर्ब प्रिमियम थपिन्छ,' उनले भने ।
पछिल्ला केही वर्षमा निर्जीवनतर्फ व्यक्तिगत दुर्घटना बीमा, यात्रा बीमा, स्वास्थ्य बीमा, पेशागत तथा व्यक्तिगत दायित्व बीमालगायतका नयाँ बीमा उत्पादन थपिएका छन् । जीवन बीमातर्फ पछिल्लो ५ वर्षमा नयाँ उत्पादनहरू थपिनुका साथै विविधीकरणसमेत भए पनि त्यसको तुलनामा निर्जीवनमा भने खासै सुधार नआएको बीमक सङ्घका अध्यक्ष पाण्डेको अनुभव छ । पछिल्लो समयमा नेपालीको क्रयक्षमतामा आएको ह्रास र बैङ्क लगानी अभावको नकारात्मक असर बीमा उद्योगमा समेत परेको उनले जानकारी दिए ।
http://www.abhiyan.com.np/article-feature1_15_falgun
Monday, February 28, 2011
PM's chosen three may run all ministries
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: The Standing Committee meeting of the ruling CPN-UML today decided that Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal would distribute the ministries to the three ministers — Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Bishnu Poudel and Gangalal Tuladhar, who are ministers without portfolio — until Unified CPN-Maoist joined the government.
The meeting also reiterated its earlier stand that home and defence portfolios would not be given to the Maoists, whose votes were crucial for Khanal to become PM, until definite progress is made on the implementation of the peace process and completion of regrouping of Maoist combatants in two camps, for integration and rehabilitation.
“We’ll hold final talks with the Maoist leadership tomorrow about their prospect of joining the government,” party General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel told the media at the end of the meeting, held at CPN-UML’s Parliamentary Party Office.
A source said the Standing Committee was willing to offer the Maoists the posts of deputy prime minister and finance minister, if they agreed to join the cabinet and gave up their claim on security-related ministries.
If the Maoists refuse to join the Cabinet, the PM will distribute the ministries among the three ministers proportionately, the source added.
However, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, during a meeting with the PM on Saturday, apprised the latter about the Maoist Standing Committee decision that they would not join the government, but support it until the home ministry was given to his party as per the seven-point deal on February 3.
The CPN-UML also decided to raise a fund to support the party’s deserving cadres. The fund, initially with seed money of around Rs 20 crore, to be headed by party general secretary, will come into force after the party’s central committee approves its terms of reference.
The meeting also decided to construct a new party building, along with an auditorium with 1,500-seat capacity, within two years. A 13-member team, under party general secretary, has been formed to construct the new building.
KATHMANDU: The Standing Committee meeting of the ruling CPN-UML today decided that Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal would distribute the ministries to the three ministers — Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Bishnu Poudel and Gangalal Tuladhar, who are ministers without portfolio — until Unified CPN-Maoist joined the government.
The meeting also reiterated its earlier stand that home and defence portfolios would not be given to the Maoists, whose votes were crucial for Khanal to become PM, until definite progress is made on the implementation of the peace process and completion of regrouping of Maoist combatants in two camps, for integration and rehabilitation.
“We’ll hold final talks with the Maoist leadership tomorrow about their prospect of joining the government,” party General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel told the media at the end of the meeting, held at CPN-UML’s Parliamentary Party Office.
A source said the Standing Committee was willing to offer the Maoists the posts of deputy prime minister and finance minister, if they agreed to join the cabinet and gave up their claim on security-related ministries.
If the Maoists refuse to join the Cabinet, the PM will distribute the ministries among the three ministers proportionately, the source added.
However, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, during a meeting with the PM on Saturday, apprised the latter about the Maoist Standing Committee decision that they would not join the government, but support it until the home ministry was given to his party as per the seven-point deal on February 3.
The CPN-UML also decided to raise a fund to support the party’s deserving cadres. The fund, initially with seed money of around Rs 20 crore, to be headed by party general secretary, will come into force after the party’s central committee approves its terms of reference.
The meeting also decided to construct a new party building, along with an auditorium with 1,500-seat capacity, within two years. A 13-member team, under party general secretary, has been formed to construct the new building.
SC questions high perks for ex-PMs
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the government and the Parliament asking for a written reply within 15 days on a petition filed against the perks provided to former prime ministers and home ministers.
The single bench of Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha issued the notice and asked the court administration to give it priority. SC’s ruling came after the preliminary hearing held today on the petition filed by advocate Ram Chandra Paudel.
Paudel had filed the petition on Friday demanding a ruling against the government decision to provide perks such as vehicles, drivers and maintenance expenses to former ministers. The petitioner argues that the government’s decision has given rise to leaders buying expensive vehicles and other amenities at the tax payers’ expense, use them while in power and retain them even after they resign. “Such decisions lead to bankruptcy,” warned the writ.
The petition states that the government took the decision arbitrarily although there were no such legal provisions.
The apex court, therefore, should intervene and scrap the cabinet decision, the petition adds.
Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government, on 6 December 2004, had decided to provide such perks to former PMs and home ministers.
The petitioner said the government was spending millions for former ministers and it was against the people’s right to equality. The petitioner pointed out that former home minister Bhim Rawal was using a vehicle worth Rs 10 million even after he left office.
Meanwhile, a Home Ministry source revealed that the government was providing a vehicle, 200 litres of petrol per month, a driver and maintenance expenses to each former PM and home minister. In addition, the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government had decided to provide house rent, electricity, water and telephone expenses to former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Former PMs Surya Bahadur Thapa, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and former home ministers Bam Dev Gautam, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Ram Chandra Paudel are also
enjoying government vehicles and other facilities. Even Girija Prasad Koirala enjoyed the perks while he was PM.
KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the government and the Parliament asking for a written reply within 15 days on a petition filed against the perks provided to former prime ministers and home ministers.
The single bench of Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha issued the notice and asked the court administration to give it priority. SC’s ruling came after the preliminary hearing held today on the petition filed by advocate Ram Chandra Paudel.
Paudel had filed the petition on Friday demanding a ruling against the government decision to provide perks such as vehicles, drivers and maintenance expenses to former ministers. The petitioner argues that the government’s decision has given rise to leaders buying expensive vehicles and other amenities at the tax payers’ expense, use them while in power and retain them even after they resign. “Such decisions lead to bankruptcy,” warned the writ.
The petition states that the government took the decision arbitrarily although there were no such legal provisions.
The apex court, therefore, should intervene and scrap the cabinet decision, the petition adds.
Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government, on 6 December 2004, had decided to provide such perks to former PMs and home ministers.
The petitioner said the government was spending millions for former ministers and it was against the people’s right to equality. The petitioner pointed out that former home minister Bhim Rawal was using a vehicle worth Rs 10 million even after he left office.
Meanwhile, a Home Ministry source revealed that the government was providing a vehicle, 200 litres of petrol per month, a driver and maintenance expenses to each former PM and home minister. In addition, the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government had decided to provide house rent, electricity, water and telephone expenses to former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Former PMs Surya Bahadur Thapa, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and former home ministers Bam Dev Gautam, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Ram Chandra Paudel are also
enjoying government vehicles and other facilities. Even Girija Prasad Koirala enjoyed the perks while he was PM.
PM's plan to expand cabinet rejected
KATHMANDU, Feb 28: Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal´s plan to expand his cabinet has received yet another blow after the party´s standing committee meeting on Sunday rejected his proposal to give the cabinet a full shape by keeping the home portfolio for himself.
According to the leaders, the meeting instead decided to hold “decisive” talks with the Maoists and make a last-ditch attempt to convince them to join the government without the home portfolio.
The prime minister was all set to expand his three-member cabinet by getting his plan endorsed at the party´s standing committee meeting.
“But he couldn´t as KP Sharma Oli and Bidya Bhandari strongly objected to his proposal,” said one of the committee members close to Khanal. Oli and Bhandari insisted that the party should not change its previous decision to appoint Bishnu Paudel as home minister even if the stalemate prolongs further.
According to the committee member, only Oli and Bhandari in the 11-member standing committee spoke openly against allowing the prime minister to give full shape to the cabinet by bringing the Maoists on board.
Though former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is strongly against Maoists heading the security-related ministries, he was for clearing the way for the prime minister to expand the cabinet if he kept the home portfolio himself.
At the meeting, leaders close to Khanal had argued that the country shouldn´t be held hostage just for awarding a key ministry to a particular leader.
However, members from Nepal-Oli camp put their counterargument stating it was not an issue of an individual. “If Maoists are ready to accept prime minister heading the home ministry, why don´t they accept another leader [Paudel] from the same party,” a leader from Nepal-Oli camp said. He said it would make no substantial difference whether Khanal or Paudel heads the ministry as both the leaders are from the UML.
“Maoists should accept UML leadership in the security-related ministries in the present context. UML´s decision regarding who should lead such ministries from the party is final,” the leader said.
The leaders discussed other options as well at the meeting. Some had suggested allowing the prime minister to run the government effectively by giving two or three ministries to each of the three ministers, while some other leaders were for expanding the cabinet by distributing portfolios among UML leaders if the Maoists take more time. Ministers Bishnu Paudel and Ganga Lal Tuladhar are still without portfolio due to the dispute over power-sharing with the Maoists.
“Finally the meeting decided to make a last-ditch attempt to convince the Maoists before taking any new move,” the leader said.
The meeting then entrusted the party´s talks team, which is headed by Khanal himself, to hold “decisive” dialogues with the Maoists. Former Prime Minister Nepal, Oli and General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel are members of the committee.
The Maoists have been sticking to their stance of not joining the cabinet as long as they are given the home portfolio. As a mid-way solution, the prime minister came up with the idea of heading the ministry himself until some of the key issues related to the peace process are resolved.
Maoist leader Shakti Basnet, who is close to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, said his party will not join the government without the home portfolio. “There is no possibility of joining the cabinet without the home portfolio,” Basnet said.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28701
According to the leaders, the meeting instead decided to hold “decisive” talks with the Maoists and make a last-ditch attempt to convince them to join the government without the home portfolio.
The prime minister was all set to expand his three-member cabinet by getting his plan endorsed at the party´s standing committee meeting.
“But he couldn´t as KP Sharma Oli and Bidya Bhandari strongly objected to his proposal,” said one of the committee members close to Khanal. Oli and Bhandari insisted that the party should not change its previous decision to appoint Bishnu Paudel as home minister even if the stalemate prolongs further.
According to the committee member, only Oli and Bhandari in the 11-member standing committee spoke openly against allowing the prime minister to give full shape to the cabinet by bringing the Maoists on board.
Though former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is strongly against Maoists heading the security-related ministries, he was for clearing the way for the prime minister to expand the cabinet if he kept the home portfolio himself.
At the meeting, leaders close to Khanal had argued that the country shouldn´t be held hostage just for awarding a key ministry to a particular leader.
However, members from Nepal-Oli camp put their counterargument stating it was not an issue of an individual. “If Maoists are ready to accept prime minister heading the home ministry, why don´t they accept another leader [Paudel] from the same party,” a leader from Nepal-Oli camp said. He said it would make no substantial difference whether Khanal or Paudel heads the ministry as both the leaders are from the UML.
“Maoists should accept UML leadership in the security-related ministries in the present context. UML´s decision regarding who should lead such ministries from the party is final,” the leader said.
The leaders discussed other options as well at the meeting. Some had suggested allowing the prime minister to run the government effectively by giving two or three ministries to each of the three ministers, while some other leaders were for expanding the cabinet by distributing portfolios among UML leaders if the Maoists take more time. Ministers Bishnu Paudel and Ganga Lal Tuladhar are still without portfolio due to the dispute over power-sharing with the Maoists.
“Finally the meeting decided to make a last-ditch attempt to convince the Maoists before taking any new move,” the leader said.
The meeting then entrusted the party´s talks team, which is headed by Khanal himself, to hold “decisive” dialogues with the Maoists. Former Prime Minister Nepal, Oli and General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel are members of the committee.
The Maoists have been sticking to their stance of not joining the cabinet as long as they are given the home portfolio. As a mid-way solution, the prime minister came up with the idea of heading the ministry himself until some of the key issues related to the peace process are resolved.
Maoist leader Shakti Basnet, who is close to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, said his party will not join the government without the home portfolio. “There is no possibility of joining the cabinet without the home portfolio,” Basnet said.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28701
Kansakar jailed after failing to pay Rs 60m bail
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Feb 27: The Special Court on Sunday sent Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) suspended Executive Chairman Sugat Ratna Kansakar to jail after he failed to submit a bail amount of Rs 60 million.
Kansakar, who had been absconding following the filing of a graft case against him by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), had appeared during the hearing in the case Sunday.
“SC demanded Rs 60 million as bail from Kansakar. He has been sent to Dillibazar prison after he failed to submit the amount on Sunday,” Special Court Registrar Dhir Bahadur Chand told Republica.
Chand added that Kansakar would be released after he submits the bail amount.
Special Court staffers had to wait for over three hours after office time on Sunday as Kansakar made failed attempts to arrange bail.
Earlier, the Special Court had summoned Kansakar on February 14 but he failed to turn up.
The court had issued first summons to Kansakar and five other senior officials for December 27. Kansakar had then refused to receive the summons letter saying that the address mentioned in the letter was wrong. Then the court on February 14 served him second summons but he failed to turn up. The Special Court cannot issue arrest warrant.
Concluding that Kansakar and five others officials embezzled Rs 57.3 million by sending non-refundable money to the Airbus company flouting Public Procurement Act, the CIAA had filed a case against them at the Special Court on December 25.
Except for Kansakar, four other NAC officials had presented themselves before the court as summoned. The court had sought Rs 1.5 million bail each from two officials and Rs 500,000 each from three others. Three NAC officials deposited bail of Rs 500,000 each.
According to the findings of CIAA investigation, the decision to release and forward Rs 57.3 million to Airbus was taken without the approval of the NAC board of directors.
Including Kansakar, the CIAA had filed corruption case against Acting Assistant General Managers Raju Bahadur KC and Ganesh Thakur, Acting Director Gyanendra Purush Dhakal, Director Mayur Sumsher Rana and Acting Deputy Director Keshav Raj Sharma.
KATHMANDU, Feb 27: The Special Court on Sunday sent Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) suspended Executive Chairman Sugat Ratna Kansakar to jail after he failed to submit a bail amount of Rs 60 million.
Kansakar, who had been absconding following the filing of a graft case against him by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), had appeared during the hearing in the case Sunday.
“SC demanded Rs 60 million as bail from Kansakar. He has been sent to Dillibazar prison after he failed to submit the amount on Sunday,” Special Court Registrar Dhir Bahadur Chand told Republica.
Chand added that Kansakar would be released after he submits the bail amount.
Special Court staffers had to wait for over three hours after office time on Sunday as Kansakar made failed attempts to arrange bail.
Earlier, the Special Court had summoned Kansakar on February 14 but he failed to turn up.
The court had issued first summons to Kansakar and five other senior officials for December 27. Kansakar had then refused to receive the summons letter saying that the address mentioned in the letter was wrong. Then the court on February 14 served him second summons but he failed to turn up. The Special Court cannot issue arrest warrant.
Concluding that Kansakar and five others officials embezzled Rs 57.3 million by sending non-refundable money to the Airbus company flouting Public Procurement Act, the CIAA had filed a case against them at the Special Court on December 25.
Except for Kansakar, four other NAC officials had presented themselves before the court as summoned. The court had sought Rs 1.5 million bail each from two officials and Rs 500,000 each from three others. Three NAC officials deposited bail of Rs 500,000 each.
According to the findings of CIAA investigation, the decision to release and forward Rs 57.3 million to Airbus was taken without the approval of the NAC board of directors.
Including Kansakar, the CIAA had filed corruption case against Acting Assistant General Managers Raju Bahadur KC and Ganesh Thakur, Acting Director Gyanendra Purush Dhakal, Director Mayur Sumsher Rana and Acting Deputy Director Keshav Raj Sharma.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Korean company delays feasibility report
KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Construction of the much-touted second international airport has become uncertain after the Korean company hired to study feasibility of the project delayed submission of its report, citing differences with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA).
According to a highly placed source at the ministry, the problem surfaced mainly after Landmark Worldwide Company (LMW) sought the ministry´s commitment to award it the airport construction project before it submits the feasibility report.
MoTCA, on the other hand, has maintained that the terms set by LMW do not go with an earlier agreement.
The company has not submitted feasibility report of the proposed international airport at Nijgadh in Bara district though it was supposed to submit it by the end of January, 2011.
The stalemate has rendered the early execution of the project impossible. “This will surely delay the implementation of the project,” said an official at MoTCA. The government has been planning to bring the airport into operation by 2015.
“We have been asking the company to submit the final report since last month. But it has delayed submission of the report even as it has already been finalized,” said MoTCA Spokesperson Laxman Bhattarai.
Senior officials at the ministry disclosed that the company has been seeking the ministry´s commitment to award it the construction project before it submits the report. “Making such a commitment is impossible as the decision to award the contract needs to be endorsed by the cabinet,” he told Republica.
Spokesperson Bhattarai said, “We have simply said we will give priority to the company if it joined the race to bag the tender.”
The LMW was selected for conducting feasibility study of the proposed airport through a formal bidding process. The company started the study from April, promising to finalize the report within 10 months.
The company had been timely forwarding the preliminary findings of the study to the ministry till recently. Its preliminary report has identified investment requirement of US$ 600 million in the first phase of construction.
In its preliminary reports, the company has said the proposed airport can be brought into operation by 2015 with a single-runaway. After completion of the first phase of construction, the airport would be able to handle up to 15 million passengers annually.
Among others, the report highlights the importance of the construction of Kathmandu-Tarai fast track for the successful operation of the airport.
“Hence, it has emphasized that the construction of the fast track should be completed at least six months before the airport comes into operation,” said the source.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28669
According to a highly placed source at the ministry, the problem surfaced mainly after Landmark Worldwide Company (LMW) sought the ministry´s commitment to award it the airport construction project before it submits the feasibility report.
MoTCA, on the other hand, has maintained that the terms set by LMW do not go with an earlier agreement.
The company has not submitted feasibility report of the proposed international airport at Nijgadh in Bara district though it was supposed to submit it by the end of January, 2011.
The stalemate has rendered the early execution of the project impossible. “This will surely delay the implementation of the project,” said an official at MoTCA. The government has been planning to bring the airport into operation by 2015.
“We have been asking the company to submit the final report since last month. But it has delayed submission of the report even as it has already been finalized,” said MoTCA Spokesperson Laxman Bhattarai.
Senior officials at the ministry disclosed that the company has been seeking the ministry´s commitment to award it the construction project before it submits the report. “Making such a commitment is impossible as the decision to award the contract needs to be endorsed by the cabinet,” he told Republica.
Spokesperson Bhattarai said, “We have simply said we will give priority to the company if it joined the race to bag the tender.”
The LMW was selected for conducting feasibility study of the proposed airport through a formal bidding process. The company started the study from April, promising to finalize the report within 10 months.
The company had been timely forwarding the preliminary findings of the study to the ministry till recently. Its preliminary report has identified investment requirement of US$ 600 million in the first phase of construction.
In its preliminary reports, the company has said the proposed airport can be brought into operation by 2015 with a single-runaway. After completion of the first phase of construction, the airport would be able to handle up to 15 million passengers annually.
Among others, the report highlights the importance of the construction of Kathmandu-Tarai fast track for the successful operation of the airport.
“Hence, it has emphasized that the construction of the fast track should be completed at least six months before the airport comes into operation,” said the source.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28669
61 Nepalis return with horrendous tales
KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Nepali migrant workers who escaped from Libya via Egypt at last got to eat adequate Nepali fare--a plate of steamed rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry--after landing in Kathmandu on Saturday. It had been nine days since they last ate Nepali food, at their camp in the Libyan port city of Darnah.
"I felt a high of sorts as I ate Nepali food after so long," said Mahendra Prasad Kandel, 22, of Damak-19 in Jhapa district. Mahendra, along with other workers, had to live on khapsa, a kind of Libyan bread, while shifting from one camp to another and hiding from local thugs hell-bent on robbing migrant workers of their belongings, as the Libyan people revolted against Muammar Gadhafi.
Of the 562 Nepali workers who reached the city of Alexandria on Friday, 61 landed in Kathmandu by an Air Arabia flight via Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The rest are expected to return on Sunday. The Nepali embassy in Cairo has obtained them transit visas for only 72 hours.
Nine days of torment
The situation of the Nepali workers, who were employed by the South Korean Won Construction Company at the Darnah housing project, was not so bad until 18 February when an angry mob burnt down the camps of their Korean supervisors. After their camps were burnt, the Koreans displaced the Nepalis from their camps. "On the night of February 18, the Koreans lived with us," said Mahendra. "We were forced to leave the following day."
On February 19, Bangladeshi migrant workers went to shelter in a mosque. Nepali workers also joined them. But most of them were asked to not sleep in the mosque as they were not Muslims. They stayed in an adjacent school for two days. "Hardly 40 people could sleep in one classroom at the school," Mahendra said. "But at least 90 of us had to spend the nights in one room. I could not sleep."
A local charity distributed bread and water to the migrant workers. "A single piece of bread was given to four of us," he said. "We had to share it." But there was a greater worry than the scarcity of food: their safety.
At the mosque school,thugs armed with sharp knives robbed some of them of their belongings. They snatched a mobile set from one Basudev Rai and looted money from others. "It was hard to tell who were political protestors or human rights activists and who were thugs," he said.
As the security situation steadily deteriorated in Libya, friends turned foes. Some Libyan laborers who worked alongside Nepali migrants came later to rob them. "A Libyan driver who used to supply us water tried to attack us," Mahendra said. "He was very friendly with us. But when we were left in the lurch, he came with a sharp knife."
After two sleepless nights, the Nepali workers shifted to a party palace. Things did not improve. The bread distributed by local social workers were already inadequate and water too became scarce. "We had to share a bottle of water among 10 of us," he said. "We could not go anywhere else."
On February 23, the South Korean company left the Nepali workers at the Egyptian border town of Sallum. As the Nepali embassy in Egypt, citing lack of resources, expressed its inability to take them on to Alexandria, where Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) President Som Lal Bataju had already arrived to arrange air tickets, they had to spend two more nights on the Egypt-Libya border.
The passports of 20 workers were burnt when the Korean camps were set ablaze. They were not allowed to sleep at the Egyptian immigration office at Sallum. "We had to sleep under the open sky," said Shiva Shah, of Dharan-16 in Sunsari. "It was cold. I felt sick while sleeping outside." Eventually, on February 25, all of them arrived in Alexandria.
"Only after reaching Alexandria did I feel that I could survive," Shiva said. "Earlier, I often gave up hope of returning home alive. At times, I thought of suicide."
Although the Libya unrest flared up hardly two weeks back, the plight of the Nepali workers began much earlier. On January 15 locals seized a huge building being constructed by the Nepali workers. They could not work there after that. "We cried out for rescue right then," Shiva said, adding, "However, no one listened. Only after the protests spread throughout Libya did something happen."
Returning empty-handed
Many of the workers who have returned or are about to return had gone to Libya with loans taken at high interest rates. Most workers who reached Libya a year ago have paid off their loans, but those who reached there recently are yet to do so. They have now returned with nothing but their debts.
"Many of us reached Libya only seven months ago," said Shiva. "Let alone earning anything, they could not even pay off their loans." Shiva himself had mortgaged his home to manage the Rs 135,000 he needed to reach Libya. "I worked only for 13 months," he said. "The employer used to cut 30 percent of my salary every month. How could I pay off my debt in such a short time?"
Kamal Budha Magar, 22, of Rolpa, who also returned to Nepal Saturday, says that life will now become tougher than it was in Libya. "I feared the thugs back in Libya. They chased us away" Kamal said. "Once in Kathmandu, I have started thinking about my life and my family. How will I sustain them now?"
The SOS Manpower Agency that sent the workers to Darnah has provided Rs 2,000 to each of the returnees. They will use it to return home from Kathmandu. After working in Libya amidst fears of being trapped between security forces and local protestors, many workers do not even have transport fare from Kathmandu to their homes, let alone money to buy gifts for their near and dear ones.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28671
"I felt a high of sorts as I ate Nepali food after so long," said Mahendra Prasad Kandel, 22, of Damak-19 in Jhapa district. Mahendra, along with other workers, had to live on khapsa, a kind of Libyan bread, while shifting from one camp to another and hiding from local thugs hell-bent on robbing migrant workers of their belongings, as the Libyan people revolted against Muammar Gadhafi.
Of the 562 Nepali workers who reached the city of Alexandria on Friday, 61 landed in Kathmandu by an Air Arabia flight via Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The rest are expected to return on Sunday. The Nepali embassy in Cairo has obtained them transit visas for only 72 hours.
Nine days of torment
The situation of the Nepali workers, who were employed by the South Korean Won Construction Company at the Darnah housing project, was not so bad until 18 February when an angry mob burnt down the camps of their Korean supervisors. After their camps were burnt, the Koreans displaced the Nepalis from their camps. "On the night of February 18, the Koreans lived with us," said Mahendra. "We were forced to leave the following day."
On February 19, Bangladeshi migrant workers went to shelter in a mosque. Nepali workers also joined them. But most of them were asked to not sleep in the mosque as they were not Muslims. They stayed in an adjacent school for two days. "Hardly 40 people could sleep in one classroom at the school," Mahendra said. "But at least 90 of us had to spend the nights in one room. I could not sleep."
A local charity distributed bread and water to the migrant workers. "A single piece of bread was given to four of us," he said. "We had to share it." But there was a greater worry than the scarcity of food: their safety.
At the mosque school,thugs armed with sharp knives robbed some of them of their belongings. They snatched a mobile set from one Basudev Rai and looted money from others. "It was hard to tell who were political protestors or human rights activists and who were thugs," he said.
As the security situation steadily deteriorated in Libya, friends turned foes. Some Libyan laborers who worked alongside Nepali migrants came later to rob them. "A Libyan driver who used to supply us water tried to attack us," Mahendra said. "He was very friendly with us. But when we were left in the lurch, he came with a sharp knife."
After two sleepless nights, the Nepali workers shifted to a party palace. Things did not improve. The bread distributed by local social workers were already inadequate and water too became scarce. "We had to share a bottle of water among 10 of us," he said. "We could not go anywhere else."
On February 23, the South Korean company left the Nepali workers at the Egyptian border town of Sallum. As the Nepali embassy in Egypt, citing lack of resources, expressed its inability to take them on to Alexandria, where Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) President Som Lal Bataju had already arrived to arrange air tickets, they had to spend two more nights on the Egypt-Libya border.
The passports of 20 workers were burnt when the Korean camps were set ablaze. They were not allowed to sleep at the Egyptian immigration office at Sallum. "We had to sleep under the open sky," said Shiva Shah, of Dharan-16 in Sunsari. "It was cold. I felt sick while sleeping outside." Eventually, on February 25, all of them arrived in Alexandria.
"Only after reaching Alexandria did I feel that I could survive," Shiva said. "Earlier, I often gave up hope of returning home alive. At times, I thought of suicide."
Although the Libya unrest flared up hardly two weeks back, the plight of the Nepali workers began much earlier. On January 15 locals seized a huge building being constructed by the Nepali workers. They could not work there after that. "We cried out for rescue right then," Shiva said, adding, "However, no one listened. Only after the protests spread throughout Libya did something happen."
Returning empty-handed
Many of the workers who have returned or are about to return had gone to Libya with loans taken at high interest rates. Most workers who reached Libya a year ago have paid off their loans, but those who reached there recently are yet to do so. They have now returned with nothing but their debts.
"Many of us reached Libya only seven months ago," said Shiva. "Let alone earning anything, they could not even pay off their loans." Shiva himself had mortgaged his home to manage the Rs 135,000 he needed to reach Libya. "I worked only for 13 months," he said. "The employer used to cut 30 percent of my salary every month. How could I pay off my debt in such a short time?"
Kamal Budha Magar, 22, of Rolpa, who also returned to Nepal Saturday, says that life will now become tougher than it was in Libya. "I feared the thugs back in Libya. They chased us away" Kamal said. "Once in Kathmandu, I have started thinking about my life and my family. How will I sustain them now?"
The SOS Manpower Agency that sent the workers to Darnah has provided Rs 2,000 to each of the returnees. They will use it to return home from Kathmandu. After working in Libya amidst fears of being trapped between security forces and local protestors, many workers do not even have transport fare from Kathmandu to their homes, let alone money to buy gifts for their near and dear ones.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28671
61 Nepalis return with horrendous tales
KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Nepali migrant workers who escaped from Libya via Egypt at last got to eat adequate Nepali fare--a plate of steamed rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry--after landing in Kathmandu on Saturday. It had been nine days since they last ate Nepali food, at their camp in the Libyan port city of Darnah.
"I felt a high of sorts as I ate Nepali food after so long," said Mahendra Prasad Kandel, 22, of Damak-19 in Jhapa district. Mahendra, along with other workers, had to live on khapsa, a kind of Libyan bread, while shifting from one camp to another and hiding from local thugs hell-bent on robbing migrant workers of their belongings, as the Libyan people revolted against Muammar Gadhafi.
Of the 562 Nepali workers who reached the city of Alexandria on Friday, 61 landed in Kathmandu by an Air Arabia flight via Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The rest are expected to return on Sunday. The Nepali embassy in Cairo has obtained them transit visas for only 72 hours.
Nine days of torment
The situation of the Nepali workers, who were employed by the South Korean Won Construction Company at the Darnah housing project, was not so bad until 18 February when an angry mob burnt down the camps of their Korean supervisors. After their camps were burnt, the Koreans displaced the Nepalis from their camps. "On the night of February 18, the Koreans lived with us," said Mahendra. "We were forced to leave the following day."
On February 19, Bangladeshi migrant workers went to shelter in a mosque. Nepali workers also joined them. But most of them were asked to not sleep in the mosque as they were not Muslims. They stayed in an adjacent school for two days. "Hardly 40 people could sleep in one classroom at the school," Mahendra said. "But at least 90 of us had to spend the nights in one room. I could not sleep."
A local charity distributed bread and water to the migrant workers. "A single piece of bread was given to four of us," he said. "We had to share it." But there was a greater worry than the scarcity of food: their safety.
At the mosque school,thugs armed with sharp knives robbed some of them of their belongings. They snatched a mobile set from one Basudev Rai and looted money from others. "It was hard to tell who were political protestors or human rights activists and who were thugs," he said.
As the security situation steadily deteriorated in Libya, friends turned foes. Some Libyan laborers who worked alongside Nepali migrants came later to rob them. "A Libyan driver who used to supply us water tried to attack us," Mahendra said. "He was very friendly with us. But when we were left in the lurch, he came with a sharp knife."
After two sleepless nights, the Nepali workers shifted to a party palace. Things did not improve. The bread distributed by local social workers were already inadequate and water too became scarce. "We had to share a bottle of water among 10 of us," he said. "We could not go anywhere else."
On February 23, the South Korean company left the Nepali workers at the Egyptian border town of Sallum. As the Nepali embassy in Egypt, citing lack of resources, expressed its inability to take them on to Alexandria, where Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) President Som Lal Bataju had already arrived to arrange air tickets, they had to spend two more nights on the Egypt-Libya border.
The passports of 20 workers were burnt when the Korean camps were set ablaze. They were not allowed to sleep at the Egyptian immigration office at Sallum. "We had to sleep under the open sky," said Shiva Shah, of Dharan-16 in Sunsari. "It was cold. I felt sick while sleeping outside." Eventually, on February 25, all of them arrived in Alexandria.
"Only after reaching Alexandria did I feel that I could survive," Shiva said. "Earlier, I often gave up hope of returning home alive. At times, I thought of suicide."
Although the Libya unrest flared up hardly two weeks back, the plight of the Nepali workers began much earlier. On January 15 locals seized a huge building being constructed by the Nepali workers. They could not work there after that. "We cried out for rescue right then," Shiva said, adding, "However, no one listened. Only after the protests spread throughout Libya did something happen."
Returning empty-handed
Many of the workers who have returned or are about to return had gone to Libya with loans taken at high interest rates. Most workers who reached Libya a year ago have paid off their loans, but those who reached there recently are yet to do so. They have now returned with nothing but their debts.
"Many of us reached Libya only seven months ago," said Shiva. "Let alone earning anything, they could not even pay off their loans." Shiva himself had mortgaged his home to manage the Rs 135,000 he needed to reach Libya. "I worked only for 13 months," he said. "The employer used to cut 30 percent of my salary every month. How could I pay off my debt in such a short time?"
Kamal Budha Magar, 22, of Rolpa, who also returned to Nepal Saturday, says that life will now become tougher than it was in Libya. "I feared the thugs back in Libya. They chased us away" Kamal said. "Once in Kathmandu, I have started thinking about my life and my family. How will I sustain them now?"
The SOS Manpower Agency that sent the workers to Darnah has provided Rs 2,000 to each of the returnees. They will use it to return home from Kathmandu. After working in Libya amidst fears of being trapped between security forces and local protestors, many workers do not even have transport fare from Kathmandu to their homes, let alone money to buy gifts for their near and dear ones.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28671
"I felt a high of sorts as I ate Nepali food after so long," said Mahendra Prasad Kandel, 22, of Damak-19 in Jhapa district. Mahendra, along with other workers, had to live on khapsa, a kind of Libyan bread, while shifting from one camp to another and hiding from local thugs hell-bent on robbing migrant workers of their belongings, as the Libyan people revolted against Muammar Gadhafi.
Of the 562 Nepali workers who reached the city of Alexandria on Friday, 61 landed in Kathmandu by an Air Arabia flight via Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The rest are expected to return on Sunday. The Nepali embassy in Cairo has obtained them transit visas for only 72 hours.
Nine days of torment
The situation of the Nepali workers, who were employed by the South Korean Won Construction Company at the Darnah housing project, was not so bad until 18 February when an angry mob burnt down the camps of their Korean supervisors. After their camps were burnt, the Koreans displaced the Nepalis from their camps. "On the night of February 18, the Koreans lived with us," said Mahendra. "We were forced to leave the following day."
On February 19, Bangladeshi migrant workers went to shelter in a mosque. Nepali workers also joined them. But most of them were asked to not sleep in the mosque as they were not Muslims. They stayed in an adjacent school for two days. "Hardly 40 people could sleep in one classroom at the school," Mahendra said. "But at least 90 of us had to spend the nights in one room. I could not sleep."
A local charity distributed bread and water to the migrant workers. "A single piece of bread was given to four of us," he said. "We had to share it." But there was a greater worry than the scarcity of food: their safety.
At the mosque school,thugs armed with sharp knives robbed some of them of their belongings. They snatched a mobile set from one Basudev Rai and looted money from others. "It was hard to tell who were political protestors or human rights activists and who were thugs," he said.
As the security situation steadily deteriorated in Libya, friends turned foes. Some Libyan laborers who worked alongside Nepali migrants came later to rob them. "A Libyan driver who used to supply us water tried to attack us," Mahendra said. "He was very friendly with us. But when we were left in the lurch, he came with a sharp knife."
After two sleepless nights, the Nepali workers shifted to a party palace. Things did not improve. The bread distributed by local social workers were already inadequate and water too became scarce. "We had to share a bottle of water among 10 of us," he said. "We could not go anywhere else."
On February 23, the South Korean company left the Nepali workers at the Egyptian border town of Sallum. As the Nepali embassy in Egypt, citing lack of resources, expressed its inability to take them on to Alexandria, where Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) President Som Lal Bataju had already arrived to arrange air tickets, they had to spend two more nights on the Egypt-Libya border.
The passports of 20 workers were burnt when the Korean camps were set ablaze. They were not allowed to sleep at the Egyptian immigration office at Sallum. "We had to sleep under the open sky," said Shiva Shah, of Dharan-16 in Sunsari. "It was cold. I felt sick while sleeping outside." Eventually, on February 25, all of them arrived in Alexandria.
"Only after reaching Alexandria did I feel that I could survive," Shiva said. "Earlier, I often gave up hope of returning home alive. At times, I thought of suicide."
Although the Libya unrest flared up hardly two weeks back, the plight of the Nepali workers began much earlier. On January 15 locals seized a huge building being constructed by the Nepali workers. They could not work there after that. "We cried out for rescue right then," Shiva said, adding, "However, no one listened. Only after the protests spread throughout Libya did something happen."
Returning empty-handed
Many of the workers who have returned or are about to return had gone to Libya with loans taken at high interest rates. Most workers who reached Libya a year ago have paid off their loans, but those who reached there recently are yet to do so. They have now returned with nothing but their debts.
"Many of us reached Libya only seven months ago," said Shiva. "Let alone earning anything, they could not even pay off their loans." Shiva himself had mortgaged his home to manage the Rs 135,000 he needed to reach Libya. "I worked only for 13 months," he said. "The employer used to cut 30 percent of my salary every month. How could I pay off my debt in such a short time?"
Kamal Budha Magar, 22, of Rolpa, who also returned to Nepal Saturday, says that life will now become tougher than it was in Libya. "I feared the thugs back in Libya. They chased us away" Kamal said. "Once in Kathmandu, I have started thinking about my life and my family. How will I sustain them now?"
The SOS Manpower Agency that sent the workers to Darnah has provided Rs 2,000 to each of the returnees. They will use it to return home from Kathmandu. After working in Libya amidst fears of being trapped between security forces and local protestors, many workers do not even have transport fare from Kathmandu to their homes, let alone money to buy gifts for their near and dear ones.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28671
Gulf-bound women to be screened at TIA
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Feb 26: Amidst reports of rise in trafficking of women to various Gulf countries in recent months, the home ministry has directed immigration authorities at the Tribhuvan International Airport to interrogate women flying to Gulf countries on visit visa to ensure that they do not fall prey to women traffickers.
Sources at the home ministry said immigration authorities have been directed to ask women the place they intend to visit, the person or company that arranged for their travel and job, and the terms and conditions of their employers.
The immigration officials have also been asked to hand such women over to the concerned authorities if they fail to give convincing answers.
Officials said many women flying to Gulf countries do not even know where they are flying and what they would do when they reach their destinations. This is why women are forced to undergo severe hardships and are even trafficked in various Gulf countries, including in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates.
Home ministry officials said police have also been asked to keep special vigil on women flying to the Gulf countries on a visit visa.
Immigration officials have already started acting on home ministry´s directives and have succeeded in nabbing few traffickers in the past few days.
On Thursday, police rescued 13 women, who had been promised jobs in Kuwait. The women were kept as hostages when the police found them.
A police team deployed from the Police Headquarters on Thursday had also rounded up three agents for allegedly trafficking Nepali women to different Gulf countries.
KATHMANDU, Feb 26: Amidst reports of rise in trafficking of women to various Gulf countries in recent months, the home ministry has directed immigration authorities at the Tribhuvan International Airport to interrogate women flying to Gulf countries on visit visa to ensure that they do not fall prey to women traffickers.
Sources at the home ministry said immigration authorities have been directed to ask women the place they intend to visit, the person or company that arranged for their travel and job, and the terms and conditions of their employers.
The immigration officials have also been asked to hand such women over to the concerned authorities if they fail to give convincing answers.
Officials said many women flying to Gulf countries do not even know where they are flying and what they would do when they reach their destinations. This is why women are forced to undergo severe hardships and are even trafficked in various Gulf countries, including in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates.
Home ministry officials said police have also been asked to keep special vigil on women flying to the Gulf countries on a visit visa.
Immigration officials have already started acting on home ministry´s directives and have succeeded in nabbing few traffickers in the past few days.
On Thursday, police rescued 13 women, who had been promised jobs in Kuwait. The women were kept as hostages when the police found them.
A police team deployed from the Police Headquarters on Thursday had also rounded up three agents for allegedly trafficking Nepali women to different Gulf countries.
Friday, February 25, 2011
NOC pushes for price hike
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Feb 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Wednesday requested the government to either adjust prices of major petroleum products or provide it a fund of Rs 500 million in order to pay the Indian supplier and resume normal imports.
NOC Chief Digambar Jha on the day met with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari and informed the latter that the corporation was facing problem in maintaining normal import, particularly as its loss jumped to Rs 1.13 billion a month in February.
“Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) -- the sole supplier -- too has started curtailing supplies, citing inadequate payment. Unless we are granted sources to generate fund -- either through price hike or direct cash support, we won´t be able to manage supplies,” Jha told Adhikari.
NOC´s loss soared mainly as the government has consistently deferred price hike since the last couple of months event though crude prices have been rising in international market.
Going by the supply rates forwarded by IOC on Feb 15, NOC is currently incurring a loss of Rs 11.30 per liter of diesel, Rs 5.59 per liter of petrol and Rs 357 per cylinder (14.2 kg) of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). At this rate, NOC has said it will suffer a loss of Rs 790 million on diesel alone in February. LPG and petrol too is set to inflict it a loss of Rs 360 million and Rs 80 million respectively this month.
Given the situation, the state-owned petroleum monopolist had recently proposed the government to allow it adjust petrol price by as much as Rs 7 per liter. It had sought permission to hike diesel and LPG prices as well.
“The only sustainable way out of the situation is to adjust domestic fuel prices in line with the international trend. Resorting to other means will solve our problem for short time only,” said NOC Spokesperson Mukunda Dhungel. He told Republica that the IOC has already started curtailing fuel supplies, mainly as the payment it made last week failed to meet cost of volume it had planned to import over this week.
On Tuesday, IOC supplied just 1,400 kiloliters of petroleum products from Raxaul, which is less by more than a third of what it was supplying on normal days.
“IOC´s other supply points have curtailed supply by even higher margin,” said Saroj Pandey, president of Nepal Petroleum Dealers´ Association.
Adhikari, meanwhile, assured Jha that he would consult with the Prime Minister and leaders of other political parties to address the concern of NOC.
KATHMANDU, Feb 24: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Wednesday requested the government to either adjust prices of major petroleum products or provide it a fund of Rs 500 million in order to pay the Indian supplier and resume normal imports.
NOC Chief Digambar Jha on the day met with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari and informed the latter that the corporation was facing problem in maintaining normal import, particularly as its loss jumped to Rs 1.13 billion a month in February.
“Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) -- the sole supplier -- too has started curtailing supplies, citing inadequate payment. Unless we are granted sources to generate fund -- either through price hike or direct cash support, we won´t be able to manage supplies,” Jha told Adhikari.
NOC´s loss soared mainly as the government has consistently deferred price hike since the last couple of months event though crude prices have been rising in international market.
Going by the supply rates forwarded by IOC on Feb 15, NOC is currently incurring a loss of Rs 11.30 per liter of diesel, Rs 5.59 per liter of petrol and Rs 357 per cylinder (14.2 kg) of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). At this rate, NOC has said it will suffer a loss of Rs 790 million on diesel alone in February. LPG and petrol too is set to inflict it a loss of Rs 360 million and Rs 80 million respectively this month.
Given the situation, the state-owned petroleum monopolist had recently proposed the government to allow it adjust petrol price by as much as Rs 7 per liter. It had sought permission to hike diesel and LPG prices as well.
“The only sustainable way out of the situation is to adjust domestic fuel prices in line with the international trend. Resorting to other means will solve our problem for short time only,” said NOC Spokesperson Mukunda Dhungel. He told Republica that the IOC has already started curtailing fuel supplies, mainly as the payment it made last week failed to meet cost of volume it had planned to import over this week.
On Tuesday, IOC supplied just 1,400 kiloliters of petroleum products from Raxaul, which is less by more than a third of what it was supplying on normal days.
“IOC´s other supply points have curtailed supply by even higher margin,” said Saroj Pandey, president of Nepal Petroleum Dealers´ Association.
Adhikari, meanwhile, assured Jha that he would consult with the Prime Minister and leaders of other political parties to address the concern of NOC.
Govt offices in Narayani zone closed for second consecutive day
Most government offices in the five districts of Narayani zone have remained closed for the second consecutive day Thursday in protest of the killing of their colleague at the District Land Revenue Office, Bara.
Service-seekers have been adversely affected as staff of various government offices of Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Chitwan and Makwanpur have refused to work Thursday.
A junior officer at the Land Revenue Office in Bara, Madhav Thapa, was shot dead Tuesday night.
The government employees have demanded for a safe and secure working environment and a fair investigation on the Thapa’s murder.
They have planned to close the government offices in protest for three days starting Wednesday. nepalnews.com
Service-seekers have been adversely affected as staff of various government offices of Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Chitwan and Makwanpur have refused to work Thursday.
A junior officer at the Land Revenue Office in Bara, Madhav Thapa, was shot dead Tuesday night.
The government employees have demanded for a safe and secure working environment and a fair investigation on the Thapa’s murder.
They have planned to close the government offices in protest for three days starting Wednesday. nepalnews.com
Nepali NGO bags $100,000 global award
RSS
MAKAWANPUR: A Nepali NGO received an international award worth US$ 100,000.
Makawanpur-based Manahari Development Organisation (NDO) received the UNEP Sasakawa Award-2010/11. The award is given to two organisations working for poverty alleviation, environment conservation and social development sectors. Another organisation of Guatemala also received the award.
According to NDO coordinator Top Bahadur Shahi, Executive Director Khop Narayan Shrestha received the award in Nairobi of Kenya amidst a programme on Wednesday.
The organisation said the awarded amount will be spent in development works in Makwanpur.
NDO has been running different programmes since 2004 with financial support from small small subsidy programmes of UN World Environment Fund targeting Chepang and Tamang communities.
As part of its programme, NDO encourages villagers to plant banana, pineapple, lemon, orange, Amliso and asparagus in an integrated way.
A total of 4,300 households---2,000 in Makawanpur and 2,300 in Udayapur---have been benefitted from the programmes.
MAKAWANPUR: A Nepali NGO received an international award worth US$ 100,000.
Makawanpur-based Manahari Development Organisation (NDO) received the UNEP Sasakawa Award-2010/11. The award is given to two organisations working for poverty alleviation, environment conservation and social development sectors. Another organisation of Guatemala also received the award.
According to NDO coordinator Top Bahadur Shahi, Executive Director Khop Narayan Shrestha received the award in Nairobi of Kenya amidst a programme on Wednesday.
The organisation said the awarded amount will be spent in development works in Makwanpur.
NDO has been running different programmes since 2004 with financial support from small small subsidy programmes of UN World Environment Fund targeting Chepang and Tamang communities.
As part of its programme, NDO encourages villagers to plant banana, pineapple, lemon, orange, Amliso and asparagus in an integrated way.
A total of 4,300 households---2,000 in Makawanpur and 2,300 in Udayapur---have been benefitted from the programmes.
Over 600 Nepali migrant workers leave Libya
Over 600 Nepali migrant workers along with migrant workers from other countries have left Libya at the aegis of their employer Wednesday afternoon.
Reports say, Nepali migrant workers working in a Korean construction company left in eight trucks to the Egyptian border. There are about 80 workers in each truck, said a returning migrant worker.
Officials of the Nepali mission in Cairo, Egypt received the Nepali migrant workers at the Egyptian border. The Egyptian government is providing them food and accommodation while they are in transit.
The foreign ministry is preparing to bring them back to Nepal. The ministry is also working to rescue other migrant workers stranded in Libya. nepalnews.com
Reports say, Nepali migrant workers working in a Korean construction company left in eight trucks to the Egyptian border. There are about 80 workers in each truck, said a returning migrant worker.
Officials of the Nepali mission in Cairo, Egypt received the Nepali migrant workers at the Egyptian border. The Egyptian government is providing them food and accommodation while they are in transit.
The foreign ministry is preparing to bring them back to Nepal. The ministry is also working to rescue other migrant workers stranded in Libya. nepalnews.com
President's feelings get hurt when doctors close down hospital emergency wards
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav expressed serious concern over the rise in instances of doctors and people involved in health field closing down even the emergency services and wards of the hospitals while organizing various kinds of protests to press for the fulfillment of their demands that includes better salary and working conditions.
Addressing the 25th National Conference of All Nepal Doctor's Association in Nepalgunj today, he said, "My feelings always get hurt when I hear about doctors closing down hospitals including emergency services while staging their demonstration."
President Yadav further said that doctors need to understand their responsibility towards the society and the country and stop resorting to such methods to get their voice heard.
He, however, said that the political instability in the country has had an adverse effect on many sectors in the country and that the health field is no exception.
Underscoring the need for peace, political stability and development, President Yadav also stressed on the need to move in unity to institutionalize republic in the country. nepalnews.com
Addressing the 25th National Conference of All Nepal Doctor's Association in Nepalgunj today, he said, "My feelings always get hurt when I hear about doctors closing down hospitals including emergency services while staging their demonstration."
President Yadav further said that doctors need to understand their responsibility towards the society and the country and stop resorting to such methods to get their voice heard.
He, however, said that the political instability in the country has had an adverse effect on many sectors in the country and that the health field is no exception.
Underscoring the need for peace, political stability and development, President Yadav also stressed on the need to move in unity to institutionalize republic in the country. nepalnews.com
Joshi declared HR Manager of Year
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Feb 24: Kumar Joshi, Human Resource (HR) Manager of Everest Bank, has been awarded with HR Manager of the Year 2010 by Growth Sellers Consultancy-a Human Resources Services provider.
Joshi has been working as a HR Manager for 5 years.
Joshi was presented the award jointly by Dr. Janak Raj Shah, president of Management Association of Nepal and Nita Rana, HR Manager of the Year 2009.
Growth Sellers Consultancy organized the fourth edition of “HR Meet 2011” on Thursday with the theme “Learn From The Leaders”.
According to Mohan Ojha, chairman of the company, 200 participants from various organizations including NGO/INGO, corporate, financial and academic institutions attended the program this year.
KATHMANDU, Feb 24: Kumar Joshi, Human Resource (HR) Manager of Everest Bank, has been awarded with HR Manager of the Year 2010 by Growth Sellers Consultancy-a Human Resources Services provider.
Joshi has been working as a HR Manager for 5 years.
Joshi was presented the award jointly by Dr. Janak Raj Shah, president of Management Association of Nepal and Nita Rana, HR Manager of the Year 2009.
Growth Sellers Consultancy organized the fourth edition of “HR Meet 2011” on Thursday with the theme “Learn From The Leaders”.
According to Mohan Ojha, chairman of the company, 200 participants from various organizations including NGO/INGO, corporate, financial and academic institutions attended the program this year.
Maoists in wait-and-see mood
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Feb 25: The Maoist Standing Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday was postponed after the party failed to resolve disputes with the ruling CPN-UML over the controversial seven-point agreement that includes power-sharing in the new coalition.
“We are still holding informal talks over the implementation of the seven-point deal. So the meeting was postponed,” said Maoist leader Shakti Basnet.
The Maoist party is still in a wait-and-see mood over whether or not to join the government after the UML diluted the seven-point deal through explanatory notes and declined to give it the charge of the home ministry.
The Maoists held a meeting with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal in Singha Durbar Thursday. The former rebels were scheduled to hold a meeting of the party standing committee later to decide whether or not to join the government.
“The seven-point agreement has assumed multiple meanings after the UML´s explanatory notes on it. The prime minister clarified his party´s decision to some extent. We will hold a meeting to decide on the party´s participation in the government,” said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. But the meeting was postponed citing need for more talks with the UML.
Talking to reporters, the prime minister stated that his party has owned up the deal in its entirety and that he clarified the Maoists about the party´s decision to define the contents of the seven-point deal. “Now the cabinet will be expanded,” he said.
The Maoists have demanded that the UML unambiguously interpret the seven-point deal and implement it right away.
According to party leaders, the Maoists are pushing for people´s federal democratic republic and the UML for federal democratic republic. “Inclusive federal democratic republic could be the middle ground,” said Basnet.
Similarly, Maoist leaders said that the two parties must stick to the agreement on integration of the Maoist combatants, which commits to set up a separate force of the Maoist combatants or a combined force comprising combatants and personnel from other security agencies.
But power-sharing has been the most contentious issue between the two parties. “Sticking to the deal, the UML must give us the home ministry, and implement other points of the agreement. Otherwise we won´t join the government,” said Basnet.
KATHMANDU, Feb 25: The Maoist Standing Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday was postponed after the party failed to resolve disputes with the ruling CPN-UML over the controversial seven-point agreement that includes power-sharing in the new coalition.
“We are still holding informal talks over the implementation of the seven-point deal. So the meeting was postponed,” said Maoist leader Shakti Basnet.
The Maoist party is still in a wait-and-see mood over whether or not to join the government after the UML diluted the seven-point deal through explanatory notes and declined to give it the charge of the home ministry.
The Maoists held a meeting with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal in Singha Durbar Thursday. The former rebels were scheduled to hold a meeting of the party standing committee later to decide whether or not to join the government.
“The seven-point agreement has assumed multiple meanings after the UML´s explanatory notes on it. The prime minister clarified his party´s decision to some extent. We will hold a meeting to decide on the party´s participation in the government,” said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. But the meeting was postponed citing need for more talks with the UML.
Talking to reporters, the prime minister stated that his party has owned up the deal in its entirety and that he clarified the Maoists about the party´s decision to define the contents of the seven-point deal. “Now the cabinet will be expanded,” he said.
The Maoists have demanded that the UML unambiguously interpret the seven-point deal and implement it right away.
According to party leaders, the Maoists are pushing for people´s federal democratic republic and the UML for federal democratic republic. “Inclusive federal democratic republic could be the middle ground,” said Basnet.
Similarly, Maoist leaders said that the two parties must stick to the agreement on integration of the Maoist combatants, which commits to set up a separate force of the Maoist combatants or a combined force comprising combatants and personnel from other security agencies.
But power-sharing has been the most contentious issue between the two parties. “Sticking to the deal, the UML must give us the home ministry, and implement other points of the agreement. Otherwise we won´t join the government,” said Basnet.
Bir starts clean hospital campaign
KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Bir Hospital has started “Clean Hospital Campaign” with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in a bid to get rid of mice, fleas and bugs.
The campaign has been initiated following damage of costly hospital equipment by mice.
C- Arm machine of the Orthopedic Department has been damaged for three months after mice urinated on its motherboard.
The machine worth seven million rupees is an imaging scanner which has radiographic capabilities and is used primarily for fluoroscopic imaging during surgical, orthopedic, critical care, and emergency care procedures.
Likewise, an X-ray machine worth eight million rupees and an echocardiogram machine have also been damaged by mice.
The hospital has started to destroy all possible abode of mice in the hospital. “We auctioned off all old furniture and dysfunctional equipment, which were stored from 120 years,” hospital Director Dr Bulanda Thapa said.
The hospital has replaced old bed sheets and mattresses at the hospital at the start of the campaign. “We have changed all the old mattresses and sprayed chemicals to kill the fleas and bugs after patients and their visitors complained about the problems,” Dr Thapa added.
The hospital has also applied necessary measures to keep the hospital clean. In coordination with Health Care Foundation, a non-governmental organization, the hospital has started to manage hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. “We do not let food and other biological things in the room, which can lure the mice,” he said, adding, “If such measures fail to stop the rats we will also use mild poison to kill them,” he said.
The hospital has also formed a 45-member committee for the success of the campaign. “All the department chiefs and in-charge of wards are members of the team,” he said.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28595
The campaign has been initiated following damage of costly hospital equipment by mice.
C- Arm machine of the Orthopedic Department has been damaged for three months after mice urinated on its motherboard.
The machine worth seven million rupees is an imaging scanner which has radiographic capabilities and is used primarily for fluoroscopic imaging during surgical, orthopedic, critical care, and emergency care procedures.
Likewise, an X-ray machine worth eight million rupees and an echocardiogram machine have also been damaged by mice.
The hospital has started to destroy all possible abode of mice in the hospital. “We auctioned off all old furniture and dysfunctional equipment, which were stored from 120 years,” hospital Director Dr Bulanda Thapa said.
The hospital has replaced old bed sheets and mattresses at the hospital at the start of the campaign. “We have changed all the old mattresses and sprayed chemicals to kill the fleas and bugs after patients and their visitors complained about the problems,” Dr Thapa added.
The hospital has also applied necessary measures to keep the hospital clean. In coordination with Health Care Foundation, a non-governmental organization, the hospital has started to manage hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. “We do not let food and other biological things in the room, which can lure the mice,” he said, adding, “If such measures fail to stop the rats we will also use mild poison to kill them,” he said.
The hospital has also formed a 45-member committee for the success of the campaign. “All the department chiefs and in-charge of wards are members of the team,” he said.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28595
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Nod to Upper Trishuli loan
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday gave a green signal to the Ministry of Energy for the loan agreement worth Rs 7.08 billion with the Chinese government through EXIM Bank of China for the construction of 60 MW Upper Trishuli 3-A Hydro Project. The power project will be constructed in Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts.
KATHMANDU: A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday gave a green signal to the Ministry of Energy for the loan agreement worth Rs 7.08 billion with the Chinese government through EXIM Bank of China for the construction of 60 MW Upper Trishuli 3-A Hydro Project. The power project will be constructed in Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts.
Police to probe diplomatic passport scam
KATHMANDU: Nepal Police has begun investigation into the alleged misuse of diplomatic passports by some Constituent Assembly members.
The law enforcement agency swung into action after CA Chairperson Subas Nembang on Sunday called on Attorney General Yuba Raj Sangroula and Inspector General of Nepal Police Ramesh Chand Thakuri and requested them to look into the passport misuse issue.
“A serious attention of the Parliament Secretariat has been drawn towards the reported passport forgery scam; we want you to initiate a prompt investigation,” a source at the Parliament Secretariat quoted Nembang as telling AG Sangroula and IG Thakuri.
Nembang had also assured them of cooperation to initiate action against CA members if found guilty of misusing and forging passports.
Gayatri Sah of Nepali Janata Dal and Bishwo Nath Prasad Yadav of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal are already under police and Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority scanner for alleged misuse of diplomatic passports.
Sah and Yadav had last procured their red passports in October 2010 to participate in two international conferences — an International Conference on Fixed Combination in the Treatment of Hypertension and Dyslipidemia slated for November 18-20 in Brisbane and an Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference slated for November 30 in Vancouver. The CA members were dragged into controversy after two persons — Prithivi Chatyal and an unidentified woman — were caught in Abu Dhabi Immigration Office on their way to Australia.
Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliament Secretariat and police informed that some other CA members are also on the watchlist. A source hinted that they were among those who had procured passports to attend the same programmes in Australia and Canada.
The Parliament Secretariat had recommended MoFA on October 11 to provide diplomatic passports to three other CA members (along with Sah and Yadav): Salma Khatun Mikarani, Siva Pujan Raya Yadav and Ramva Devi of MJF-N who were supposed to attend the same programmes. Ramva Devi and Yadav, were able to obtain passports within a week, whereas Mikarani was questioned by MoFA officials for telling a lie. Makarani had told MoFA officials that she had not procured a diplomatic passport in the past. But later it was found that she did have a diplomatic passport, according to the source.
Talking to the THT, Ramva Devi confirmed that she had procured a passport to visit Australia and Canada. But she could not attend the programmes after she was denied visa by the concerned countries. Interestingly, she revealed that she had lost her passport during the same time in Rautahat but had later found it. “Now, I have my passport,” she added.
A source at MoFA said the ministry has written to the Parliament Secretariat seeking details of all the CA members to carry out the investigation into the scam.
The law enforcement agency swung into action after CA Chairperson Subas Nembang on Sunday called on Attorney General Yuba Raj Sangroula and Inspector General of Nepal Police Ramesh Chand Thakuri and requested them to look into the passport misuse issue.
“A serious attention of the Parliament Secretariat has been drawn towards the reported passport forgery scam; we want you to initiate a prompt investigation,” a source at the Parliament Secretariat quoted Nembang as telling AG Sangroula and IG Thakuri.
Nembang had also assured them of cooperation to initiate action against CA members if found guilty of misusing and forging passports.
Gayatri Sah of Nepali Janata Dal and Bishwo Nath Prasad Yadav of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal are already under police and Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority scanner for alleged misuse of diplomatic passports.
Sah and Yadav had last procured their red passports in October 2010 to participate in two international conferences — an International Conference on Fixed Combination in the Treatment of Hypertension and Dyslipidemia slated for November 18-20 in Brisbane and an Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference slated for November 30 in Vancouver. The CA members were dragged into controversy after two persons — Prithivi Chatyal and an unidentified woman — were caught in Abu Dhabi Immigration Office on their way to Australia.
Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliament Secretariat and police informed that some other CA members are also on the watchlist. A source hinted that they were among those who had procured passports to attend the same programmes in Australia and Canada.
The Parliament Secretariat had recommended MoFA on October 11 to provide diplomatic passports to three other CA members (along with Sah and Yadav): Salma Khatun Mikarani, Siva Pujan Raya Yadav and Ramva Devi of MJF-N who were supposed to attend the same programmes. Ramva Devi and Yadav, were able to obtain passports within a week, whereas Mikarani was questioned by MoFA officials for telling a lie. Makarani had told MoFA officials that she had not procured a diplomatic passport in the past. But later it was found that she did have a diplomatic passport, according to the source.
Talking to the THT, Ramva Devi confirmed that she had procured a passport to visit Australia and Canada. But she could not attend the programmes after she was denied visa by the concerned countries. Interestingly, she revealed that she had lost her passport during the same time in Rautahat but had later found it. “Now, I have my passport,” she added.
A source at MoFA said the ministry has written to the Parliament Secretariat seeking details of all the CA members to carry out the investigation into the scam.
Load-shedding compels Parbat hospital to carry out child delivery under cell-phone light
A pregnant woman gave birth to a child in the presence of mobile phone light due to load-shedding in district hospital Parbat, RSS reports.
Though the room to undergo delivery needs adequate light, it was carried out in light of mobile phone set in the absence of alternative arrangement of load-shedding.
The hospital is compelled to carry out child delivery in mobile set light when power supply witnessed crisis in wards due to use of heaters in-doors and quarters of hospital, according to hospital source. nepalnews.com
Though the room to undergo delivery needs adequate light, it was carried out in light of mobile phone set in the absence of alternative arrangement of load-shedding.
The hospital is compelled to carry out child delivery in mobile set light when power supply witnessed crisis in wards due to use of heaters in-doors and quarters of hospital, according to hospital source. nepalnews.com
108 countries opened for Nepali workers, only 35 absorbing them
Even though the government has opened 108 countries as labour destinations for Nepali migrant workers, currently such workers are leaving only for 35 countries.
"The failure on the part of outsourcing agencies to bag employment demands from the countries, which have already been opened for Nepalis, has created this situation," Arthik Abhiyan daily quoted Purna Chandra Bhattarai, spokesperson, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management as saying.
However, foreign employment entrepreneurs are not willing to subscribe to this version aired by Bhattarai.
Since the economic condition of some of the countries identified by the government is weaker than Nepal, it is not possible to send Nepali workers to these countries, argues Kumud Khanal, General Secretary, Association of Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs.
"Countries like Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia have also been opened by the government, which are economically more fragile than Nepal. We cannot send Nepalis to these nations for employment. As such, it is foolhardy on the part of the government to put blame on us for being unable to bag demands from all the countries," he further states.
According to him, there is no trend amongst the developed economies like the USA, the UK and Canada to demand Nepali workers through manpower companies.
According to foreign employment entrepreneurs, one of the prime reasons that have discouraged the developed economies from absorbing manpower from Nepal is the fact many Nepali migrant workers are also unskilled.
They view that if the country produces skilled manpower, there will be labour demands even from the developed countries. nepalnews.com
"The failure on the part of outsourcing agencies to bag employment demands from the countries, which have already been opened for Nepalis, has created this situation," Arthik Abhiyan daily quoted Purna Chandra Bhattarai, spokesperson, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management as saying.
However, foreign employment entrepreneurs are not willing to subscribe to this version aired by Bhattarai.
Since the economic condition of some of the countries identified by the government is weaker than Nepal, it is not possible to send Nepali workers to these countries, argues Kumud Khanal, General Secretary, Association of Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs.
"Countries like Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia have also been opened by the government, which are economically more fragile than Nepal. We cannot send Nepalis to these nations for employment. As such, it is foolhardy on the part of the government to put blame on us for being unable to bag demands from all the countries," he further states.
According to him, there is no trend amongst the developed economies like the USA, the UK and Canada to demand Nepali workers through manpower companies.
According to foreign employment entrepreneurs, one of the prime reasons that have discouraged the developed economies from absorbing manpower from Nepal is the fact many Nepali migrant workers are also unskilled.
They view that if the country produces skilled manpower, there will be labour demands even from the developed countries. nepalnews.com
Govt planning to install solar-power plant in Singha Durbar
The government is planning to electrify Singha Durbar, the administrative hub of the country, through solar-power to combat the growing energy crisis, Kantipur daily reported.
The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) is planning to install a 1-MW solar-power plant in Singha Durbar at a cost of Rs 220 million.
We will install the solar power plant in Singha Durbar within this fiscal year, said Narayan Chaulagain, Executive Director, of AEPC, the work will be completed within three months of beginning it.
According to Chaulagain, the efforts to install solar-power plant in Singha Durbar with a loan from Asian Development Bank was on since last year.
The government has now made up its mind to install the solar-power plant with its own resources, if the ADB loan is not approved.
Singha Durbar houses various ministries and government offices. The peak hour for electricity use is during office hours. There is a demand of about 500 KW power inside electricity.
AEPC plans to connect the surplus electricity to the national grid. The nation is looming under a huge power crisis. The supply is less than half the demand. There is a demand of 900 MW of electricity, while the production is less than 400 MW.
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has imposed load shedding for 14 hours everyday due to power crisis.
Installing solar-power plants could be feasible alternative to combat the power crisis. nepalnews.com
The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) is planning to install a 1-MW solar-power plant in Singha Durbar at a cost of Rs 220 million.
We will install the solar power plant in Singha Durbar within this fiscal year, said Narayan Chaulagain, Executive Director, of AEPC, the work will be completed within three months of beginning it.
According to Chaulagain, the efforts to install solar-power plant in Singha Durbar with a loan from Asian Development Bank was on since last year.
The government has now made up its mind to install the solar-power plant with its own resources, if the ADB loan is not approved.
Singha Durbar houses various ministries and government offices. The peak hour for electricity use is during office hours. There is a demand of about 500 KW power inside electricity.
AEPC plans to connect the surplus electricity to the national grid. The nation is looming under a huge power crisis. The supply is less than half the demand. There is a demand of 900 MW of electricity, while the production is less than 400 MW.
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has imposed load shedding for 14 hours everyday due to power crisis.
Installing solar-power plants could be feasible alternative to combat the power crisis. nepalnews.com
Indian authorities say, Nepalese Maoists are posing threat in India's Himachal State
Police officials in the Indian state of Himachal have said, Nepalese Maoists staying in the state for work are fast spreading their network and emerging as a new threat to the security of the state, Indian media reported.
According to the online version of Indian Express, such concerns were raised at a conference on information sharing attended by top officials of ten Indian states in the north-western region.
Himachal Pradesh (HP) police officials highlighted a recent incident involving a Nepalese citizen who made telephonic calls to a close relative of former Communication Minister Sukh Ram for a huge ransom saying the incident had come as an eye opener for the state police. It was revealed later when the Nepalese citizen in question was arrested in Nepal that he was a Maoist cadre.
At the conference, HP police officials claimed, the Maoist cadres from Nepal had taken refuge in the state as labourers and petty contractors and that some had even sneaked into local farmers' groups and labour organisations.
HP police also claimed there were 300 Nepalese who escaped to Nepal after committing crimes in the state couldn't be extradited since the two countries don't have extradition treaty with each other.
HP police has started putting Nepalese nationals under the scanner after the incident. nepalnews.com
According to the online version of Indian Express, such concerns were raised at a conference on information sharing attended by top officials of ten Indian states in the north-western region.
Himachal Pradesh (HP) police officials highlighted a recent incident involving a Nepalese citizen who made telephonic calls to a close relative of former Communication Minister Sukh Ram for a huge ransom saying the incident had come as an eye opener for the state police. It was revealed later when the Nepalese citizen in question was arrested in Nepal that he was a Maoist cadre.
At the conference, HP police officials claimed, the Maoist cadres from Nepal had taken refuge in the state as labourers and petty contractors and that some had even sneaked into local farmers' groups and labour organisations.
HP police also claimed there were 300 Nepalese who escaped to Nepal after committing crimes in the state couldn't be extradited since the two countries don't have extradition treaty with each other.
HP police has started putting Nepalese nationals under the scanner after the incident. nepalnews.com
Maoists in dilemma over joining govt
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Feb 24: The Maoists are scheduled to hold a crucial meeting of the party standing committee on Thursday to decide whether or not to join the new coalition in light of the UML Central Committee (CC)´s explanatory notes on the so-called secret seven-point agreement.
"We will discuss all aspects of the UML´s response on the seven-point deal and take a decision in the standing committee," said Maoist leader Narayankaji Shrestha.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal also held a meeting with top UML leaders, including Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, at Singha Durbar on Wednesday and asked them to unambiguously clarify their stance on the seven-point deal.
"We explained them the meaning and significance of the party´s decision. We asked them to settle the dispute right away and not prolong it. They told us that they would discuss the issue in the party and sit for talks again," UML leader KP Oli, who participated in the meeting, told Republica.
The UML´s CC decision on Tuesday states that they would hold talks with the Maoists on contentious issues and settle them.
"But we told them that the seven-point agreement is clear and unambiguous and asked them to clarify what they meant by contentious issues," said Shrestha, who also participated in the meeting.
The Maoists have also reiterated that they would not join the government if the home portfolio is not given them.
"It is part of the seven-point deal. We won´t join the government without the home ministry," said Maoist politburo member Shakti Basnet.
"The explanatory notes have given multiple meanings to the agreement. We will first understand if the UML is committed to implementation of the agreement before taking any decision," he added.
According to the party leaders, Dahal is likely to meet the prime minister Thursday morning before holding the meeting of the party standing committee.
The UML leaders said they are not sure if the Maoists would join the government. "It is still unclear whether the Maoists would join the government," said UML leader Rabindra Adhikari who is close to Khanal.
The UML CC on Tuesday owned up the controversial seven-point deal reached between Khanal and Dahal, but the UML body diluted the spirit of the agreement through explanatory notes, much to disappointment of the Maoist party.
In the seven-point agreement, Khanal and Dahal had agreed to form a separate security force comprising Maoist combatants. On the issue, the UML CC´s explanatory notes state that the tasks of the peace process and constitution writing will be advanced through mutual agreement between the major political parties in accordance with the interim constitution, Comprehensive Peace Accord and other past pacts.
Likewise, on the rotational leadership between the Maoist and UML party chiefs, the CC explained that consensus among major parties was essential to deliver peace and the new constitution.
KATHMANDU, Feb 24: The Maoists are scheduled to hold a crucial meeting of the party standing committee on Thursday to decide whether or not to join the new coalition in light of the UML Central Committee (CC)´s explanatory notes on the so-called secret seven-point agreement.
"We will discuss all aspects of the UML´s response on the seven-point deal and take a decision in the standing committee," said Maoist leader Narayankaji Shrestha.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal also held a meeting with top UML leaders, including Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, at Singha Durbar on Wednesday and asked them to unambiguously clarify their stance on the seven-point deal.
"We explained them the meaning and significance of the party´s decision. We asked them to settle the dispute right away and not prolong it. They told us that they would discuss the issue in the party and sit for talks again," UML leader KP Oli, who participated in the meeting, told Republica.
The UML´s CC decision on Tuesday states that they would hold talks with the Maoists on contentious issues and settle them.
"But we told them that the seven-point agreement is clear and unambiguous and asked them to clarify what they meant by contentious issues," said Shrestha, who also participated in the meeting.
The Maoists have also reiterated that they would not join the government if the home portfolio is not given them.
"It is part of the seven-point deal. We won´t join the government without the home ministry," said Maoist politburo member Shakti Basnet.
"The explanatory notes have given multiple meanings to the agreement. We will first understand if the UML is committed to implementation of the agreement before taking any decision," he added.
According to the party leaders, Dahal is likely to meet the prime minister Thursday morning before holding the meeting of the party standing committee.
The UML leaders said they are not sure if the Maoists would join the government. "It is still unclear whether the Maoists would join the government," said UML leader Rabindra Adhikari who is close to Khanal.
The UML CC on Tuesday owned up the controversial seven-point deal reached between Khanal and Dahal, but the UML body diluted the spirit of the agreement through explanatory notes, much to disappointment of the Maoist party.
In the seven-point agreement, Khanal and Dahal had agreed to form a separate security force comprising Maoist combatants. On the issue, the UML CC´s explanatory notes state that the tasks of the peace process and constitution writing will be advanced through mutual agreement between the major political parties in accordance with the interim constitution, Comprehensive Peace Accord and other past pacts.
Likewise, on the rotational leadership between the Maoist and UML party chiefs, the CC explained that consensus among major parties was essential to deliver peace and the new constitution.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Agriculture ministry sows seeds of doubt
KATHMANDU: Amid growing criticism from lawmakers and civil society on climate change project to be implemented through loan and grant from the World Bank, one of the major implementing partners — the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives — says it may not own the project, as very less priority has been given to the agriculture sector and communities vulnerable to climatic changes.
“Not all climatic risks can
be addressed, nor the management possibilities; but having no important role of MoAC,
it seems it will be difficult for the ministry to own and implement the project,” said MoAC Spokesperson Hari Dahal.
The Ministry of Environment-led project ‘Strategic Project Climate Resilience’ that will receive $110 million — $50 million as grant and $60 million as loan — has identified six ministries as line agencies to implement the project.
One of the components of the proposal prepared by the Ministry of Environment with the support of the World Bank aims to build climate resilient communities through the participation of the private sector (seed companies) that will improve access to climate resilient technologies. But MoAC said it was not in the interest of the government of Nepal.
Only six per cent farmers receive improved seeds that are sold by multinational seed companies. The remaining 94 per cent of the farmers use traditional seeds for cultivation. “The proposed investment in the so-called improved seeds and company-based seed supply by the project may not provide appropriate solution to the problem facing the communities vulnerable to climatic changes. So, community-based management of traditional sources should be given due emphasis,” said Deepak Mani Paudel, Senior Horticulture Development Officer, MoAC.
According to MoAC, previously failed concept of watershed management for the promotion of agricultural products has been prioritised in the project. The ministry is working on on-farm soil and water management
efforts. “Farmers should receive money to channelise water to
the fields directly, or store nearby to increase the productivity.
The overall watershed management would not benefit farmers in particular and the yield
will not increase. So, the concept of the project is not in line with the priority of the ministry,” added Paudel.
Officials at MoAC said they had put forth their opinions at the joint meetings with the other ministries but complained that their voices were unheard. “The Ministry of Environment calls meetings and asks us to comment, but the issues raised by us are not included in the official documents. So, the meetings have become just a formality,” maintained Paudel.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Agriculture+ministry+sows+seeds+of+doubt&NewsID=277298
“Not all climatic risks can
be addressed, nor the management possibilities; but having no important role of MoAC,
it seems it will be difficult for the ministry to own and implement the project,” said MoAC Spokesperson Hari Dahal.
The Ministry of Environment-led project ‘Strategic Project Climate Resilience’ that will receive $110 million — $50 million as grant and $60 million as loan — has identified six ministries as line agencies to implement the project.
One of the components of the proposal prepared by the Ministry of Environment with the support of the World Bank aims to build climate resilient communities through the participation of the private sector (seed companies) that will improve access to climate resilient technologies. But MoAC said it was not in the interest of the government of Nepal.
Only six per cent farmers receive improved seeds that are sold by multinational seed companies. The remaining 94 per cent of the farmers use traditional seeds for cultivation. “The proposed investment in the so-called improved seeds and company-based seed supply by the project may not provide appropriate solution to the problem facing the communities vulnerable to climatic changes. So, community-based management of traditional sources should be given due emphasis,” said Deepak Mani Paudel, Senior Horticulture Development Officer, MoAC.
According to MoAC, previously failed concept of watershed management for the promotion of agricultural products has been prioritised in the project. The ministry is working on on-farm soil and water management
efforts. “Farmers should receive money to channelise water to
the fields directly, or store nearby to increase the productivity.
The overall watershed management would not benefit farmers in particular and the yield
will not increase. So, the concept of the project is not in line with the priority of the ministry,” added Paudel.
Officials at MoAC said they had put forth their opinions at the joint meetings with the other ministries but complained that their voices were unheard. “The Ministry of Environment calls meetings and asks us to comment, but the issues raised by us are not included in the official documents. So, the meetings have become just a formality,” maintained Paudel.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Agriculture+ministry+sows+seeds+of+doubt&NewsID=277298
NRB moots 'forceful merger' provision
KATHMANDU, Feb 22: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has pushed for a clause on ´forceful merger´ in the new regulation it has drafted, going by which it could force two or more banks and financial institutions to undergo merger if it deems appropriate.
In the draft of Merger and Acquisition Regulations, NRB has offered number of incentives in order to encourage voluntary merger and acquisition in the sector.
“It also has provision whereby the central bank can instruct certain banks and financial institutions to undergo merger,” Bhaskar Gyawali, spokesperson of the central bank, told Republica.
However, the central bank has clarified that the provision will be used mainly in cases of banks and financial institutions that have failed to comply with capital requirement and other prudential directives and in which it has started prompt corrective actions.
The provision has been mooted mainly to reclaim discretionary authority, whereby the central bank could force the weaker banks to consolidate their books of accounts. “This will give the central bank the option to take forceful steps to revive sick institutions, instead of liquidating them,” said Ashok Rana, president of Nepal Bankers´ Association.
The central bank on Monday held discussions on the draft regulations with a group of chief executives of banks and financial institutions. Along with Rana, the president of Nepal Development Bankers´ Association (NDBA) was also present on the occasion.
Among others, the central bank has promised relaxation on provisions related to capital adequacy ratio, deprived sector lending, single borrower´s limit, credit-deposit ratio for certain time to the BFIs opting to undergo merger and acquisition.
“These are important relaxations. We believe this will encourage promoters to take affirmative actions towards merger,” said Gyawali.
The central bank of late has laid special focus on merger and acquisition of BFIs. As per its request, the government has already announced waiver of capital gains tax (CGT) on transactions related to merger and acquisition for the BFIs. The facility was announced in the budget for the current fiscal year. Following the fiscal incentive, the central bank in the Monetary Policy for the current fiscal year had promised to come up with additional incentives to lure the BFIs promoters toward merger and acquisition.
The fresh regulation has been drafted as a part of that commitment, Gyawali added.
However, during the consultation, the bankers urged the central bank to commit additional incentives like waiver of tax liability and staff to be laid off, among others.
They also pushed for waiver of income tax for three years and cut in corporate tax from existing 30 percent to 25 percent.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28496
In the draft of Merger and Acquisition Regulations, NRB has offered number of incentives in order to encourage voluntary merger and acquisition in the sector.
“It also has provision whereby the central bank can instruct certain banks and financial institutions to undergo merger,” Bhaskar Gyawali, spokesperson of the central bank, told Republica.
However, the central bank has clarified that the provision will be used mainly in cases of banks and financial institutions that have failed to comply with capital requirement and other prudential directives and in which it has started prompt corrective actions.
The provision has been mooted mainly to reclaim discretionary authority, whereby the central bank could force the weaker banks to consolidate their books of accounts. “This will give the central bank the option to take forceful steps to revive sick institutions, instead of liquidating them,” said Ashok Rana, president of Nepal Bankers´ Association.
The central bank on Monday held discussions on the draft regulations with a group of chief executives of banks and financial institutions. Along with Rana, the president of Nepal Development Bankers´ Association (NDBA) was also present on the occasion.
Among others, the central bank has promised relaxation on provisions related to capital adequacy ratio, deprived sector lending, single borrower´s limit, credit-deposit ratio for certain time to the BFIs opting to undergo merger and acquisition.
“These are important relaxations. We believe this will encourage promoters to take affirmative actions towards merger,” said Gyawali.
The central bank of late has laid special focus on merger and acquisition of BFIs. As per its request, the government has already announced waiver of capital gains tax (CGT) on transactions related to merger and acquisition for the BFIs. The facility was announced in the budget for the current fiscal year. Following the fiscal incentive, the central bank in the Monetary Policy for the current fiscal year had promised to come up with additional incentives to lure the BFIs promoters toward merger and acquisition.
The fresh regulation has been drafted as a part of that commitment, Gyawali added.
However, during the consultation, the bankers urged the central bank to commit additional incentives like waiver of tax liability and staff to be laid off, among others.
They also pushed for waiver of income tax for three years and cut in corporate tax from existing 30 percent to 25 percent.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28496
Zero progress in Tara air crash investigation
KATHMANDU, Feb 22: A committee formed by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to probe the Tara Air crash of December 15, 2010 that killed 22 people has made zero progress as the ministry and the airline operator are yet to agree on who will finance the investigation.
Owing to the dispute over financing, the committee is yet to send the ill-fated Canadian-built Twin Otter´s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) to Europe for extracting its transcript. The committee was formed on December 17 and was asked to submit its report within 90 days. It has less than a month to do so.
“The investigation cannot move ahead until we get information contained in the CVR,” said Medini Prasad Sharma, coordinator of the five-member probe committee and former Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
The CVR is source of almost 80 percent information on which a probe committee relies to pinpoint reasons behind a crash.
Going by Nepal´s standard practice, the concerned airline operator finances the committee formed to probe a crash involving its aircraft. The same practice was followed to probe last year´s Agni Air crash that left 14 dead.
“The ministerial decision says the airline operator should finance the committee. But the operator is saying that the government should finance it,” Sharma said.
The Twin Otter´s manufacturer has advised the ministry to send the CVR to France or Britain to extract the CVR transcript, according to Sharma. “The committee has no mandate to decide who should finance the investigation. It is up to the ministry and the airline operator to settle the issue,” he added.
Tara Air is a subsidiary of Yeti Airlines.
The ministry´s Joint-Secretary Suresh Acharya, who is also the member-secretary of the probe committee, said dialogue is underway with the Airline Operators Association of Nepal to resolve the dispute.
“In all the three dozen or so air crashes that Nepal has witnessed in its aviation history, the concerned airline operator has always financed probe committees. It makes sense too, as the recommendation made by a probe committee is for the safety of the operator´s aircraft, crew and passengers,” Acharya said.
A knowledgeable source in the aviation sector said Tara Air´s reluctance to finance the committee might have arisen from the fact that the committee is seeking to send the CVR to Europe, which makes the probe expensive.
“The CVR transcript can be extracted in Bangalore, and even in Nepal. Maybe the manufacturer is insisting on Europe as it wants to make sure that the report is foolproof,” the source said.
The Tara Air Twin Ottter 9N-AFX DHC-6/300 crashed into Manedanda hill at 8,900 feet in Sirichaur-9 of Okhaldhunga district killing all 22 on board, including 17 Bhutanese pilgrims who were on a pilgrimage to Haleshi Mahadev, known as Draphu Maratika among Buddhists.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28487
Owing to the dispute over financing, the committee is yet to send the ill-fated Canadian-built Twin Otter´s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) to Europe for extracting its transcript. The committee was formed on December 17 and was asked to submit its report within 90 days. It has less than a month to do so.
“The investigation cannot move ahead until we get information contained in the CVR,” said Medini Prasad Sharma, coordinator of the five-member probe committee and former Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
The CVR is source of almost 80 percent information on which a probe committee relies to pinpoint reasons behind a crash.
Going by Nepal´s standard practice, the concerned airline operator finances the committee formed to probe a crash involving its aircraft. The same practice was followed to probe last year´s Agni Air crash that left 14 dead.
“The ministerial decision says the airline operator should finance the committee. But the operator is saying that the government should finance it,” Sharma said.
The Twin Otter´s manufacturer has advised the ministry to send the CVR to France or Britain to extract the CVR transcript, according to Sharma. “The committee has no mandate to decide who should finance the investigation. It is up to the ministry and the airline operator to settle the issue,” he added.
Tara Air is a subsidiary of Yeti Airlines.
The ministry´s Joint-Secretary Suresh Acharya, who is also the member-secretary of the probe committee, said dialogue is underway with the Airline Operators Association of Nepal to resolve the dispute.
“In all the three dozen or so air crashes that Nepal has witnessed in its aviation history, the concerned airline operator has always financed probe committees. It makes sense too, as the recommendation made by a probe committee is for the safety of the operator´s aircraft, crew and passengers,” Acharya said.
A knowledgeable source in the aviation sector said Tara Air´s reluctance to finance the committee might have arisen from the fact that the committee is seeking to send the CVR to Europe, which makes the probe expensive.
“The CVR transcript can be extracted in Bangalore, and even in Nepal. Maybe the manufacturer is insisting on Europe as it wants to make sure that the report is foolproof,” the source said.
The Tara Air Twin Ottter 9N-AFX DHC-6/300 crashed into Manedanda hill at 8,900 feet in Sirichaur-9 of Okhaldhunga district killing all 22 on board, including 17 Bhutanese pilgrims who were on a pilgrimage to Haleshi Mahadev, known as Draphu Maratika among Buddhists.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28487
600 Nepali workers in Libya yearn to leave
KATHMANDU, Feb 22: Over 600 Nepali migrant laborers working in Darnah, one of the 10 most populous cities in Libya, have sought immediate repatriation in the wake of the ongoing unrest in that country.
The Darnah-based Nepali workers have contacted the Nepali embassy in the Egyptian capital Cairo, which oversees Libya also, asking the government to rescue them at the earliest from the north African country, where more than 200 local protestors have been killed by security forces in the last one week.
"We spoke to some Nepali workers over the phone today," Tirtha Aryal, first secretary at the embassy, told Republica on Monday. "They say all the workers want to get back home as soon as possible." According to Aryal, the embassy has initiated a process to rescue all the Nepali workers who seeks repatriation from Libya.
"We cannot rescue so many workers on our own owing to resource constraints," Aryal said, adding, "However, we can coordinate a rescue mission by approaching all manpower agencies and employer companies." The embassy, Aryal said, could also ask the government to support this mission, if needed.
Earlier on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) had instructed the Nepali embassy in Egypt to remain on high alert and take possible measures to save Nepali workers. MoFA had also asked Nepali workers not to get involved in the protests.
According to the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), about 2,000 Nepali workers are in Libya. Although a majority of them work in Tripoli, capital of Libya and its largest city, the epicenter of the recent Libyan unrest is Benghazi, the second most populous city.
However, in Darnah, where a significant number of Nepalis work at a South Korean construction company, the Libyan unrest has already engulfed them. Unlike in Bahrain, where the fighting was mainly between local people and police, protestors in Libya have targeted migrant workers, burning their camps and chasing them away.
A month ago, local people had taken under their control a mega building being constructed by the Libyan government to house hundreds of its homeless. They locked up the Nepali workers at the construction site for a few days. Recently, local protestors have burnt Nepali workers´ camps. According to Aryal, they have taken refuge in a state-owned party palace, after spending a few nights in a mosque.
Libya has become the latest country to see nationwide protests, which flared up in a series of uprisings that have swept through north African and Middle Eastern countries. In Libya, locals are protesting Col Muammar Gaddafi´s regime.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28502
The Darnah-based Nepali workers have contacted the Nepali embassy in the Egyptian capital Cairo, which oversees Libya also, asking the government to rescue them at the earliest from the north African country, where more than 200 local protestors have been killed by security forces in the last one week.
"We spoke to some Nepali workers over the phone today," Tirtha Aryal, first secretary at the embassy, told Republica on Monday. "They say all the workers want to get back home as soon as possible." According to Aryal, the embassy has initiated a process to rescue all the Nepali workers who seeks repatriation from Libya.
"We cannot rescue so many workers on our own owing to resource constraints," Aryal said, adding, "However, we can coordinate a rescue mission by approaching all manpower agencies and employer companies." The embassy, Aryal said, could also ask the government to support this mission, if needed.
Earlier on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) had instructed the Nepali embassy in Egypt to remain on high alert and take possible measures to save Nepali workers. MoFA had also asked Nepali workers not to get involved in the protests.
According to the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), about 2,000 Nepali workers are in Libya. Although a majority of them work in Tripoli, capital of Libya and its largest city, the epicenter of the recent Libyan unrest is Benghazi, the second most populous city.
However, in Darnah, where a significant number of Nepalis work at a South Korean construction company, the Libyan unrest has already engulfed them. Unlike in Bahrain, where the fighting was mainly between local people and police, protestors in Libya have targeted migrant workers, burning their camps and chasing them away.
A month ago, local people had taken under their control a mega building being constructed by the Libyan government to house hundreds of its homeless. They locked up the Nepali workers at the construction site for a few days. Recently, local protestors have burnt Nepali workers´ camps. According to Aryal, they have taken refuge in a state-owned party palace, after spending a few nights in a mosque.
Libya has become the latest country to see nationwide protests, which flared up in a series of uprisings that have swept through north African and Middle Eastern countries. In Libya, locals are protesting Col Muammar Gaddafi´s regime.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28502
UML politburo decides to revise 7-pt deal; Tuesday CC meeting to take final decision
In what might add do to the woes of Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal who has failed to expand his cabinet, the politburo of his party, CPN (UML), on Monday decided to go for a revision of the seven-point agreement signed between Khanal and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Prime Minister and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, K.P Oli and other politburo members at their politburo meeting at UML Party office, Balkhu on Monday, 21 Feb 2011. nepalnews.com/NPA
After four-hour discussion, the UML politburo concluded that the deal needs to be revised and decided to forward the review proposal to the central committee meeting taking place on Tuesday.
At the meeting, majority of the leaders said the two provisions in the agreement - rotational leadership of the government and establishment of a separate force of the Maoist combatants - needed to be amended. A number of politburo members from the K.P Oli-Madhav Nepal faction are known to have criticised these two provisions.
Similarly, the politburo has proposed to change the term 'inclusive democracy' to 'federal democracy' in the seven-point agreement.
Meanwhile, politburo could not take a decision on Home Ministry which has become the bone of contention between the UML and the Maoists with both sides staking claim for it.
"No decision has been taken on the Home Ministry as we are still in discussion with the UCPN (Maoist)" politburo member Pradeep Gyawali said. nepalnews.com
Prime Minister and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, K.P Oli and other politburo members at their politburo meeting at UML Party office, Balkhu on Monday, 21 Feb 2011. nepalnews.com/NPA
After four-hour discussion, the UML politburo concluded that the deal needs to be revised and decided to forward the review proposal to the central committee meeting taking place on Tuesday.
At the meeting, majority of the leaders said the two provisions in the agreement - rotational leadership of the government and establishment of a separate force of the Maoist combatants - needed to be amended. A number of politburo members from the K.P Oli-Madhav Nepal faction are known to have criticised these two provisions.
Similarly, the politburo has proposed to change the term 'inclusive democracy' to 'federal democracy' in the seven-point agreement.
Meanwhile, politburo could not take a decision on Home Ministry which has become the bone of contention between the UML and the Maoists with both sides staking claim for it.
"No decision has been taken on the Home Ministry as we are still in discussion with the UCPN (Maoist)" politburo member Pradeep Gyawali said. nepalnews.com
Monday, February 21, 2011
Bryan Adams jets off to India after rocking Valley
RSS
KATHMANDU: The world renowned rock star Bryan Adams left for India today.
The popular rock star Adams performed the live concert in Kathmandu on Saturday evening.
Adams who is accompanied by 50 musicians boarded a private plane, according to director of Nepali network of Our Day Cinema (ODC) Simanta Gurung, one of the organisers of Adams' concert in Kathmandu.
Adams had arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday noon and spellbound thousands of his Nepali and foreign fans by singing his songs at the Dasharath Stadium.
KATHMANDU: The world renowned rock star Bryan Adams left for India today.
The popular rock star Adams performed the live concert in Kathmandu on Saturday evening.
Adams who is accompanied by 50 musicians boarded a private plane, according to director of Nepali network of Our Day Cinema (ODC) Simanta Gurung, one of the organisers of Adams' concert in Kathmandu.
Adams had arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday noon and spellbound thousands of his Nepali and foreign fans by singing his songs at the Dasharath Stadium.
Kishanji's house wall caves in; 3 die
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: Three construction workers were killed and two injured when the foundation of a wall they were digging collapsed today.
The incident occurred on the premises of former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s residence at Badegaun in Lalitpur.
SP Bikram Singh Thapa, in-charge of Metropolitan Police Range, Jawalakhel, said the deceased had been identified as Sandeep Ghalan of Makwanpur, and Bhalu Lama and Kanchha Tamang of Dhading. The three died on their way to Patan Hospital.
The injured — Bir Bahadur Ghalan and Subash Thokar of Makwanpur — are undergoing treatment at the hospital and are said to be out of danger. The eight-foot foundation of the wall caved in and buried the labourers at around 11:45 am. A police squad and 10 cops guarding the former PM’s residence were involved in the rescue efforts.
Subash, one of the injured, said from hospital, “The foundation collapsed all of a sudden. We could do nothing.” SP Thapa said the police were questioning the contractors - Sita Ram Acharya and Keshav Kafle- to establish the safety lapse. “We have arrested construction supervisor Netra Prasad Poudel. The construction company had not adopted adequate safety measures,” he said.
He claimed the construction company would be made to pay the kin of deceased and injured. Purna Prasad Kadariya, MoPPW Secretary, took moral responsibility for the tragedy, and said the construction company would be brought to justice.
Amita Kapali, Bhattarai’s aide, said she heard about the tragedy while she was with the former PM at the hospital.
“I phoned the Jaya Mukunda Khanal, spok-esperson for home ministry, and local police, urging them to probe the incident,” she informed. She said MoPPW had tasked Shivako Kalika Devsthal Construction Company to build the wall.
Bhattarai was not in the house when the incident took place, as he has been in Norvic Hospital.
The government had built the house for the leader a few years ago. In August, a part of the house had caved in due to rain.
Poor construction was blamed for it, prompting the government to reconstruct it and grill the contractors and officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works.
KATHMANDU: Three construction workers were killed and two injured when the foundation of a wall they were digging collapsed today.
The incident occurred on the premises of former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s residence at Badegaun in Lalitpur.
SP Bikram Singh Thapa, in-charge of Metropolitan Police Range, Jawalakhel, said the deceased had been identified as Sandeep Ghalan of Makwanpur, and Bhalu Lama and Kanchha Tamang of Dhading. The three died on their way to Patan Hospital.
The injured — Bir Bahadur Ghalan and Subash Thokar of Makwanpur — are undergoing treatment at the hospital and are said to be out of danger. The eight-foot foundation of the wall caved in and buried the labourers at around 11:45 am. A police squad and 10 cops guarding the former PM’s residence were involved in the rescue efforts.
Subash, one of the injured, said from hospital, “The foundation collapsed all of a sudden. We could do nothing.” SP Thapa said the police were questioning the contractors - Sita Ram Acharya and Keshav Kafle- to establish the safety lapse. “We have arrested construction supervisor Netra Prasad Poudel. The construction company had not adopted adequate safety measures,” he said.
He claimed the construction company would be made to pay the kin of deceased and injured. Purna Prasad Kadariya, MoPPW Secretary, took moral responsibility for the tragedy, and said the construction company would be brought to justice.
Amita Kapali, Bhattarai’s aide, said she heard about the tragedy while she was with the former PM at the hospital.
“I phoned the Jaya Mukunda Khanal, spok-esperson for home ministry, and local police, urging them to probe the incident,” she informed. She said MoPPW had tasked Shivako Kalika Devsthal Construction Company to build the wall.
Bhattarai was not in the house when the incident took place, as he has been in Norvic Hospital.
The government had built the house for the leader a few years ago. In August, a part of the house had caved in due to rain.
Poor construction was blamed for it, prompting the government to reconstruct it and grill the contractors and officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works.
Maoists press PM to make 'historic' move
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: Unified CPN-Maoist today urged Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal to take a ‘historic’ decision to implement the seven-point deal between the Maoists and the CPN-UML.
Addressing the Parliament meeting, Maoist leader Dev Prasad Gurung hinted that the historic decision meant providing either home or defence ministry to the Maoists.
He claimed that Khanal-led government would win the support of two-third majority in the Parliament, adding that Nepali Congress and other reactionary elements were plotting to break the pact, that had laid the foundation for national consensus. “If the seven-point deal is broken, it will create instability, anarchy and will ultimately damage the nation. The PM should take a historic decision to implement the agreement,” Gurung said.
He said UCPN-M and UML had agreed to lead the government on rotation basis, as NC did not agree on the rotation system. “We agreed to form a separate security force involving the PLA after all attempts to manage PLA failed due to hurdles created by NC,” Gurung said.
Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh rejected the Maoists’ justification on the seven-point deal. “The agreement to form a separate security force is against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” he said, adding that the secret deal in itself was against the spirit of national consensus.
As none of the past agreements had mentioned anything about forming a separate security force, the seven-point deal has directly violated the peace agreement in this regard, Singh said.
“How can the pact be the foundation for national consensus, as even the PM’s party is sharply divided on the agreement?” Singh questioned.
Singh said completion of the peace and statute drafting processes by the extended deadline of the Constituent Assembly under the present coalition was a far cry, as the cabinet is yet to take shape.
Ram Nath Dhakal of CPN-UML urged the NC to reach an agreement for rotation system of leading the government.
“The earlier dispute on who should get the first chance of leading the government has ended with Khanal’s election to PM’s post. Now, the parties should agree on who should lead the government for the second and third time. It can be the best option to address the national agendas,” Dhakal said.
KATHMANDU: Unified CPN-Maoist today urged Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal to take a ‘historic’ decision to implement the seven-point deal between the Maoists and the CPN-UML.
Addressing the Parliament meeting, Maoist leader Dev Prasad Gurung hinted that the historic decision meant providing either home or defence ministry to the Maoists.
He claimed that Khanal-led government would win the support of two-third majority in the Parliament, adding that Nepali Congress and other reactionary elements were plotting to break the pact, that had laid the foundation for national consensus. “If the seven-point deal is broken, it will create instability, anarchy and will ultimately damage the nation. The PM should take a historic decision to implement the agreement,” Gurung said.
He said UCPN-M and UML had agreed to lead the government on rotation basis, as NC did not agree on the rotation system. “We agreed to form a separate security force involving the PLA after all attempts to manage PLA failed due to hurdles created by NC,” Gurung said.
Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh rejected the Maoists’ justification on the seven-point deal. “The agreement to form a separate security force is against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” he said, adding that the secret deal in itself was against the spirit of national consensus.
As none of the past agreements had mentioned anything about forming a separate security force, the seven-point deal has directly violated the peace agreement in this regard, Singh said.
“How can the pact be the foundation for national consensus, as even the PM’s party is sharply divided on the agreement?” Singh questioned.
Singh said completion of the peace and statute drafting processes by the extended deadline of the Constituent Assembly under the present coalition was a far cry, as the cabinet is yet to take shape.
Ram Nath Dhakal of CPN-UML urged the NC to reach an agreement for rotation system of leading the government.
“The earlier dispute on who should get the first chance of leading the government has ended with Khanal’s election to PM’s post. Now, the parties should agree on who should lead the government for the second and third time. It can be the best option to address the national agendas,” Dhakal said.
Head home ministry yourself: UML third front to PM
KATHMANDU, Feb 21: Leaders from a group, which is touted as the third-front in the ruling CPN-UML, have suggested to the newly-elected Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal to keep the home portfolio himself until the row with UCPN (Maoist) over power-sharing is settled.
The proposal from the group that commands 16 of the total 39 politburo members and other central committee (CC) leaders in the prime minister´s party has come a day before the politburo meeting. UML has also called its CC meeting starting Tuesday.
“We suggested to the prime minister to expand his cabinet by keeping the home portfolio with himself for a few months,” Mukunda Neupane told Republica. Neupane and Pradip Nepal, who are leading figures in the third-front, met the prime minister at the latter´s official residence in Baluwatar on Sunday evening. They suggested to the prime minister to look after security-related ministries as long as the key issues related to Maoist´s arms and armies are settled amicably.
Neupane and Nepal met Khanal after holding a meeting of the third-front in the afternoon. Neupane, Nepal, Rajendra Pandey, Beduram Bhusal, Prithivi Subba Gurung, Pashupati Chaulagain, Mahendra Pandey and Urmila Aryal were among those present at the meeting.
The prime minister has failed to give full shape to his three-member cabinet as Maoists refused to join the cabinet for not being given the home portfolio.
While Khanal and his aides are for allowing the Maoists to head the home ministry, his rival faction in the party led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Oli are dead set against the idea.
The meeting of the group, which is comprises moderates in the party, also pledged to stop the two rival factions from going for a vote to settle the disputes. “We came up with the understanding as such a move would push the party to the brink of vertical division,” said Gurung, a participant of the meeting.
Neupane also said that they would urge the party leaders to “focus on how to move ahead instead of unnecessarily politicizing the seven-point deal”.
But the rival [Khanal and Nepal-Oli] factions are prepared to present arguments and counterarguments for and against the controversial seven-point deal at the politburo and CC meetings.
While Khanal camp has claimed that the seven-point deal shouldn´t be a big issue in the meeting as the prime minister and Maoist Chairman Dahal had already clarified some of the confusions over the deal, Nepal-Oli faction is fervently against it.
“There is no point in raising the issue as both the chairmen have already clarified confusions over the deal,” said UML leader Prakash Jwala, who is close to Khanal. He said that the issue of procedural mistakes too is no longer a relevant agenda for the meeting.
But leaders from Nepal-Oli camp rule out any compromise on the issues. Krishna Gopal Shrestha said they will strongly stand against the controversial seven-point deal and the proposal to give the home portfolio to the Maoists. “We will object the agreement in which our chairman has agreed to work as per the Maoist agenda,” Shrestha said.
Another leader Khagraj Adhikari said they can´t support the agreement. “Among others, the agreement to form a separate security force of Maoist combatants is objectionable,” he said. Adhikari claimed that the UML can´t be an accomplice to the Maoists´ bid to capture the state.
However, sources said leaders close to Khanal are planning to counter the argument saying former Prime Minister Nepal had already floated the same proposal during talks among the top leaders from the Nepali Congress, the UML and the Maoists at Gokarna Resort.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28469
The proposal from the group that commands 16 of the total 39 politburo members and other central committee (CC) leaders in the prime minister´s party has come a day before the politburo meeting. UML has also called its CC meeting starting Tuesday.
“We suggested to the prime minister to expand his cabinet by keeping the home portfolio with himself for a few months,” Mukunda Neupane told Republica. Neupane and Pradip Nepal, who are leading figures in the third-front, met the prime minister at the latter´s official residence in Baluwatar on Sunday evening. They suggested to the prime minister to look after security-related ministries as long as the key issues related to Maoist´s arms and armies are settled amicably.
Neupane and Nepal met Khanal after holding a meeting of the third-front in the afternoon. Neupane, Nepal, Rajendra Pandey, Beduram Bhusal, Prithivi Subba Gurung, Pashupati Chaulagain, Mahendra Pandey and Urmila Aryal were among those present at the meeting.
The prime minister has failed to give full shape to his three-member cabinet as Maoists refused to join the cabinet for not being given the home portfolio.
While Khanal and his aides are for allowing the Maoists to head the home ministry, his rival faction in the party led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Oli are dead set against the idea.
The meeting of the group, which is comprises moderates in the party, also pledged to stop the two rival factions from going for a vote to settle the disputes. “We came up with the understanding as such a move would push the party to the brink of vertical division,” said Gurung, a participant of the meeting.
Neupane also said that they would urge the party leaders to “focus on how to move ahead instead of unnecessarily politicizing the seven-point deal”.
But the rival [Khanal and Nepal-Oli] factions are prepared to present arguments and counterarguments for and against the controversial seven-point deal at the politburo and CC meetings.
While Khanal camp has claimed that the seven-point deal shouldn´t be a big issue in the meeting as the prime minister and Maoist Chairman Dahal had already clarified some of the confusions over the deal, Nepal-Oli faction is fervently against it.
“There is no point in raising the issue as both the chairmen have already clarified confusions over the deal,” said UML leader Prakash Jwala, who is close to Khanal. He said that the issue of procedural mistakes too is no longer a relevant agenda for the meeting.
But leaders from Nepal-Oli camp rule out any compromise on the issues. Krishna Gopal Shrestha said they will strongly stand against the controversial seven-point deal and the proposal to give the home portfolio to the Maoists. “We will object the agreement in which our chairman has agreed to work as per the Maoist agenda,” Shrestha said.
Another leader Khagraj Adhikari said they can´t support the agreement. “Among others, the agreement to form a separate security force of Maoist combatants is objectionable,” he said. Adhikari claimed that the UML can´t be an accomplice to the Maoists´ bid to capture the state.
However, sources said leaders close to Khanal are planning to counter the argument saying former Prime Minister Nepal had already floated the same proposal during talks among the top leaders from the Nepali Congress, the UML and the Maoists at Gokarna Resort.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28469
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Panel to define micro-insurance products
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Insurance Board (IB) has formed a taskforce to define and identify ways for implementing micro-insurance products that target rural and low income groups, aiming to widen and deepen insurance services in the country.
The taskforce was formed after insurance companies refused to implement the board´s instruction of adding at least one micro-insurance products in their products portfolio.
The board about a month had issued the directives, asking both the life and general insurance companies to unveil products to tap business potentials of the groups that have so far remained out of the insurance business net.
However, top brass of the insurance companies challenged the idea, arguing that it will raise their cost of operation and also make control of fraud claims difficult, among others.
They had also opined that micro-insurance was a vague term and needs to be defined in Nepal´s context, identifying the extent of premium amount for a product to be termed a micro-insurance product.
“Instead of dictating the implementation procedures, we have allowed the insurers themselves to define micro-insurance and identify the products they could safely execute to start with,” said Shekhar Kumar Aryal, spokesperson of IB.
He told Republica that the task force, formed under the leadership of Deep Prakash Pandey, president of Nepal Insurers´ Association (NIA), will suggest upper limit of premium for the companies to define that products charging premium less than that will be micro-insurance.
The taskforce will also identify sectors and target groups wherein the companies can launch micro-insurance products. The taskforce has also been asked to suggest the delivery channel and claim settlement procedures so that due insurance obligations could be fulfilled effectively.
Sources at the IB said the board decided to ask the insurers to suggest workable mechanism mainly because the insurance companies, which are largely concentrating toward catering the needs of the corporate and urban well-off clients, did not like the idea of taking steps to serve the under-served groups.
“Besides, detail study on the matter will also help them identify area to focus on and design micro-insurance products accordingly,” said the source.
Micro-insurance products are schemes of smaller sizes, in which premium are set at lower rate so that even the rural and low income group that cannot afford regular insurance products could buy the social security cover.
Life insurance coverage of Rs 50,000 or less with shorter maturity period and smaller health and accident insurance plans are popular micro-insurance schemes of other South Asian countries.
Agricultural, livestock, retail shops and smaller businesses insurance are popular schemes that have drawn rural populace towards insurance business in the region.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28400
KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Insurance Board (IB) has formed a taskforce to define and identify ways for implementing micro-insurance products that target rural and low income groups, aiming to widen and deepen insurance services in the country.
The taskforce was formed after insurance companies refused to implement the board´s instruction of adding at least one micro-insurance products in their products portfolio.
The board about a month had issued the directives, asking both the life and general insurance companies to unveil products to tap business potentials of the groups that have so far remained out of the insurance business net.
However, top brass of the insurance companies challenged the idea, arguing that it will raise their cost of operation and also make control of fraud claims difficult, among others.
They had also opined that micro-insurance was a vague term and needs to be defined in Nepal´s context, identifying the extent of premium amount for a product to be termed a micro-insurance product.
“Instead of dictating the implementation procedures, we have allowed the insurers themselves to define micro-insurance and identify the products they could safely execute to start with,” said Shekhar Kumar Aryal, spokesperson of IB.
He told Republica that the task force, formed under the leadership of Deep Prakash Pandey, president of Nepal Insurers´ Association (NIA), will suggest upper limit of premium for the companies to define that products charging premium less than that will be micro-insurance.
The taskforce will also identify sectors and target groups wherein the companies can launch micro-insurance products. The taskforce has also been asked to suggest the delivery channel and claim settlement procedures so that due insurance obligations could be fulfilled effectively.
Sources at the IB said the board decided to ask the insurers to suggest workable mechanism mainly because the insurance companies, which are largely concentrating toward catering the needs of the corporate and urban well-off clients, did not like the idea of taking steps to serve the under-served groups.
“Besides, detail study on the matter will also help them identify area to focus on and design micro-insurance products accordingly,” said the source.
Micro-insurance products are schemes of smaller sizes, in which premium are set at lower rate so that even the rural and low income group that cannot afford regular insurance products could buy the social security cover.
Life insurance coverage of Rs 50,000 or less with shorter maturity period and smaller health and accident insurance plans are popular micro-insurance schemes of other South Asian countries.
Agricultural, livestock, retail shops and smaller businesses insurance are popular schemes that have drawn rural populace towards insurance business in the region.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28400
Cricket fever
REPUBLICA
While the excitement surrounding the Bryan Adams concert is over with the legendary Canadian artiste through with enthralling the Nepali audience with his live performance in Kathmandu on Saturday, the cricket world cup fever is just starting to get a grip on the Nepali fans. Though there is still a long way to go before our national team can make it to the cricket world cup, the game is passionately followed in the country and the 10th edition of the cup that kicked off on Saturday in Bangladesh is certain to keep many fans glued to their TV sets over the next 45 days while some of them may even travel to the nearby Indian cities to watch it live in the stadiums.
Fourteen teams from around the world are vying to become the world champion but we will have to wait until April 2 when the final will be played at the revamped Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, which is co-hosting the mega event along with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, to see whether or not the 13 other participating teams have it in them to force Australia, the winner of the last three editions of the world cup, to part with the title of world beaters. What we can predict now is that the four non-test playing teams – Canada and Kenya from Group A and Ireland and The Netherlands from Group B – will find it almost impossible to make it to the quarters. In addition, Zimbabwe from Group A and Bangladesh from Group B will, most likely, be the other teams to be eliminated from the group stage. From the quarterfinals, it is all about how a team plays on a particular day; hence we refrain from making any predictions.
Having said that, it would not be off the mark to put one’s money on India simply because Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men are playing under conditions that they like and enjoy, and, on most instances, have the home advantage. Though Australia’s run in the recent times has been far from impressive, it can never be ruled out as potential champion considering that it has won four world cups so far, the last three on a trot as mentioned before, and has missed out on playing a final only once since 1987. England is another serious contender for the title as the English have the momentum on their side having just convincingly defeated Australia in the Ashes series. Though South Africa has always been one of the most consistent teams in the international circuit, it is always difficult to bet on the Proteas as they have the tendency to choke at crucial moments. Sri Lanka has been doing fairly well recently and the Lankans, like India, are playing on familiar conditions, hence they too cannot be ruled out.
As Nepalis do not have their own team to cheer for, many of them support India but there is an equally big fan following for the Pakistani team as well, not because they really like them but because they are our southern neighbor’s arch rival. It is interesting to see how human sentiments work. We at Republica, however, just want the team that gives scintillating performances over the next six weeks to lift the cup. Let us sit back, enjoy and savor the amazing fun that cricket brings along with it.
While the excitement surrounding the Bryan Adams concert is over with the legendary Canadian artiste through with enthralling the Nepali audience with his live performance in Kathmandu on Saturday, the cricket world cup fever is just starting to get a grip on the Nepali fans. Though there is still a long way to go before our national team can make it to the cricket world cup, the game is passionately followed in the country and the 10th edition of the cup that kicked off on Saturday in Bangladesh is certain to keep many fans glued to their TV sets over the next 45 days while some of them may even travel to the nearby Indian cities to watch it live in the stadiums.
Fourteen teams from around the world are vying to become the world champion but we will have to wait until April 2 when the final will be played at the revamped Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, which is co-hosting the mega event along with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, to see whether or not the 13 other participating teams have it in them to force Australia, the winner of the last three editions of the world cup, to part with the title of world beaters. What we can predict now is that the four non-test playing teams – Canada and Kenya from Group A and Ireland and The Netherlands from Group B – will find it almost impossible to make it to the quarters. In addition, Zimbabwe from Group A and Bangladesh from Group B will, most likely, be the other teams to be eliminated from the group stage. From the quarterfinals, it is all about how a team plays on a particular day; hence we refrain from making any predictions.
Having said that, it would not be off the mark to put one’s money on India simply because Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men are playing under conditions that they like and enjoy, and, on most instances, have the home advantage. Though Australia’s run in the recent times has been far from impressive, it can never be ruled out as potential champion considering that it has won four world cups so far, the last three on a trot as mentioned before, and has missed out on playing a final only once since 1987. England is another serious contender for the title as the English have the momentum on their side having just convincingly defeated Australia in the Ashes series. Though South Africa has always been one of the most consistent teams in the international circuit, it is always difficult to bet on the Proteas as they have the tendency to choke at crucial moments. Sri Lanka has been doing fairly well recently and the Lankans, like India, are playing on familiar conditions, hence they too cannot be ruled out.
As Nepalis do not have their own team to cheer for, many of them support India but there is an equally big fan following for the Pakistani team as well, not because they really like them but because they are our southern neighbor’s arch rival. It is interesting to see how human sentiments work. We at Republica, however, just want the team that gives scintillating performances over the next six weeks to lift the cup. Let us sit back, enjoy and savor the amazing fun that cricket brings along with it.
Bryan Adams cuts history like a knife in Nepal
KATHMANDU: Adrenalin hit unprecedented levels as the valley's young and the young at heart flooded Dashrath Stadium in thousands on Saturday to watch Canadian rockstar Bryan Adams create history. On a beautiful moonlit night one of the biggest names in international rock stardom enthralled the capital while etching his place in history with Nepal's first rock concert featuring a global music icon.
The excitement was palpable. Youngsters from all backgrounds and ethnic classes poured into the venue to experience the never-before event in the nation. The expat community showed up in surprising numbers as did the middle aged generation who came of age in the eighties to the irresistible tunes that catapulted the gruff voiced singer into mega stardom.
The veteran rocker didn't let down the massive crowd, belting out his classics one after another sending the crowd into a frenzy. The exuberant audience sang along to his more popular hits like "Everything I Do" and "Please Forgive Me".
Security was mobilised in full force with uniformed police personnel stationed in every direction and as far as the eye could see. Entry was in chaos as organisers and security struggled to control the unprecedented crowd. Traffic outside the stadium was forced to a crawl after the concert as fans swarmed the roads.
It was most certainly 'a night to remember' with the 'one night love affair'.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Bryan+Adams+cuts+history+like+a+knife+in+Nepal&NewsID=277006&a=3
The excitement was palpable. Youngsters from all backgrounds and ethnic classes poured into the venue to experience the never-before event in the nation. The expat community showed up in surprising numbers as did the middle aged generation who came of age in the eighties to the irresistible tunes that catapulted the gruff voiced singer into mega stardom.
The veteran rocker didn't let down the massive crowd, belting out his classics one after another sending the crowd into a frenzy. The exuberant audience sang along to his more popular hits like "Everything I Do" and "Please Forgive Me".
Security was mobilised in full force with uniformed police personnel stationed in every direction and as far as the eye could see. Entry was in chaos as organisers and security struggled to control the unprecedented crowd. Traffic outside the stadium was forced to a crawl after the concert as fans swarmed the roads.
It was most certainly 'a night to remember' with the 'one night love affair'.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Bryan+Adams+cuts+history+like+a+knife+in+Nepal&NewsID=277006&a=3
Consensus only if 7-pt deal scrapped: NC chief
NEPALGUNJ, Feb 20: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala on Saturday said that the process of forging a national consensus can materialize only if the seven-point deal reached between Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal is scrapped.
Addressing a rally organized by the NC to mark the 61st Democracy Day, President Koirala termed the seven-point agreement a ´secret deal´ between the chairmen of two communist parties and said it is directed against democracy.
“It is useless for other parties to talk about cooperation when we see the agreement reached between those two individuals,” said Koirala.
“Nevertheless, the NC wants that dialogue should be initiated in a new fashion since it has traditionally stood in favor of reconciliation.”
President Koirala said they are in no position to be reassured with the Maoists as the latter have failed to abide by past agreements and also continue to intimidate the cadres of rival parties in the villages. “Maoists are still issuing death threats to NC cadres if the latter fail to pay donations,” he said. “The Maoist intention is against democracy.”
Koirala said the NC would forcefully counter any attempt by the Maoists to abolish democracy in the country. “The Maoists themselves will perish if they attempted to abolish democracy,” he said.
Koirala said UML leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, K P Sharma Oli and Ishwar Pokharel had been playing a positive role to safeguard democracy. He said the country was heading towards crisis and instability as there has been widespread concern that the country would turn into a failed state due to Maoist activity.
Koirala had reached his home district for the first time after being elected NC chief. Local party cadres welcomed him with a 22-kg garland, wishing him all success in facing the challenges and leading the party.
NC youth leaders Badri Pandey, Kishor Singh Rathour, Hasta Bahadur Malla, Kailash Nath Kashoudhan and Kiran Koirala, among others, also addressed the function. They flayed Dahal and Khanal over the ´secret´ seven-point deal.
Earlier, the NC had decided to send over five dozen central level party leaders to various districts to mark 61st Democracy Day. The decision was taken to reach the party´s message to the districts in the aftermath of the party deciding to stay in opposition.
NC district working committees in various districts across the country had organized functions to mark 61st Democracy Day.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28432
Addressing a rally organized by the NC to mark the 61st Democracy Day, President Koirala termed the seven-point agreement a ´secret deal´ between the chairmen of two communist parties and said it is directed against democracy.
“It is useless for other parties to talk about cooperation when we see the agreement reached between those two individuals,” said Koirala.
“Nevertheless, the NC wants that dialogue should be initiated in a new fashion since it has traditionally stood in favor of reconciliation.”
President Koirala said they are in no position to be reassured with the Maoists as the latter have failed to abide by past agreements and also continue to intimidate the cadres of rival parties in the villages. “Maoists are still issuing death threats to NC cadres if the latter fail to pay donations,” he said. “The Maoist intention is against democracy.”
Koirala said the NC would forcefully counter any attempt by the Maoists to abolish democracy in the country. “The Maoists themselves will perish if they attempted to abolish democracy,” he said.
Koirala said UML leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, K P Sharma Oli and Ishwar Pokharel had been playing a positive role to safeguard democracy. He said the country was heading towards crisis and instability as there has been widespread concern that the country would turn into a failed state due to Maoist activity.
Koirala had reached his home district for the first time after being elected NC chief. Local party cadres welcomed him with a 22-kg garland, wishing him all success in facing the challenges and leading the party.
NC youth leaders Badri Pandey, Kishor Singh Rathour, Hasta Bahadur Malla, Kailash Nath Kashoudhan and Kiran Koirala, among others, also addressed the function. They flayed Dahal and Khanal over the ´secret´ seven-point deal.
Earlier, the NC had decided to send over five dozen central level party leaders to various districts to mark 61st Democracy Day. The decision was taken to reach the party´s message to the districts in the aftermath of the party deciding to stay in opposition.
NC district working committees in various districts across the country had organized functions to mark 61st Democracy Day.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28432
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Oli smells rat on Maoist demand of Home Ministry
RSS
POKHARA: CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli has accused the Maoists of trying to get the Home Ministry in order to use the security force for waging a revolt.
Inaugurating the first regional representatives' council meet of the Party’s Kaski constituency No. 3 here on Friday, Oli said the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Defence cannot be given to Maoist since it is likely to use these bodies to make its policy of revolt approved by the plenary of the party a success.
As the party’s standing committee has proposed Secretary Bishnu Poudel as the Home Minister, he claimed Poudel would ultimately become the Minister of Home Affairs.
He also accused the Maoists of entrapping the Prime Minister to sign the seven-point agreement, and running their party with the funds given by the Government for the combatants.
POKHARA: CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli has accused the Maoists of trying to get the Home Ministry in order to use the security force for waging a revolt.
Inaugurating the first regional representatives' council meet of the Party’s Kaski constituency No. 3 here on Friday, Oli said the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Defence cannot be given to Maoist since it is likely to use these bodies to make its policy of revolt approved by the plenary of the party a success.
As the party’s standing committee has proposed Secretary Bishnu Poudel as the Home Minister, he claimed Poudel would ultimately become the Minister of Home Affairs.
He also accused the Maoists of entrapping the Prime Minister to sign the seven-point agreement, and running their party with the funds given by the Government for the combatants.
Patient 'jumps to death' at Neuro Hospital
KATHMANDU: A patient at the National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences aka Neuro Hospital at Bansbari jumped off the third floor of the hospital on Friday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Jujukaji Lawat, 49, a local resident of Sanglekhola-6 of Kathmandu. He was admitted to the hospital on February 1 after he got injured and was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Krishna Lawat, niece of the deceased patient alleged that the patient died due to negligence and irresponsibility of the hospital authorities owing to their absence. He fell from the window of hospital building while asleep due to the lack of essential safety measures said the niece. He had jumped from the building with saline drip in his hand.
“We demanded compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs as well as a refund of the amount spent for the treatment,” said Lawat, adding that the hospital is ready to compensate Rs. 6. 25 lakhs in addition to the refund for the treatment. The family of the deceased had earlier deposited around Rs. 3 lakhs at the time of his admission to the hospital.
Krishna Lawat further added that the hospital used police force against them and threatened to take the dead body to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for a postmortem. However the hospital officials refused to comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Circle, Maharajgunj said they are investigating the case.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Patient+%27jumps+to+death%27+at+Neuro+Hospital&NewsID=276866&a=3
The deceased has been identified as Jujukaji Lawat, 49, a local resident of Sanglekhola-6 of Kathmandu. He was admitted to the hospital on February 1 after he got injured and was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Krishna Lawat, niece of the deceased patient alleged that the patient died due to negligence and irresponsibility of the hospital authorities owing to their absence. He fell from the window of hospital building while asleep due to the lack of essential safety measures said the niece. He had jumped from the building with saline drip in his hand.
“We demanded compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs as well as a refund of the amount spent for the treatment,” said Lawat, adding that the hospital is ready to compensate Rs. 6. 25 lakhs in addition to the refund for the treatment. The family of the deceased had earlier deposited around Rs. 3 lakhs at the time of his admission to the hospital.
Krishna Lawat further added that the hospital used police force against them and threatened to take the dead body to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for a postmortem. However the hospital officials refused to comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Circle, Maharajgunj said they are investigating the case.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Patient+%27jumps+to+death%27+at+Neuro+Hospital&NewsID=276866&a=3
3 found dead in Capital
RSS
KATHMANDU: Three workers serving in New Om Sai Catering in Old Baneswor are found dead on Saturday morning.
Worker trio, who slept together at a room on Friday night after having meal, have been found dead, said police.
The dead bodies of the three have been kept in Kathmandu Teaching Hospital in Sinamangal for post-mortem.
KATHMANDU: Three workers serving in New Om Sai Catering in Old Baneswor are found dead on Saturday morning.
Worker trio, who slept together at a room on Friday night after having meal, have been found dead, said police.
The dead bodies of the three have been kept in Kathmandu Teaching Hospital in Sinamangal for post-mortem.
Nation observing 61st Democracy Day
The 61st Democracy Day is being observed Saturday with various programmes across the country to commemorate the day when the nation became free from the 104-year long Rana aristocracy.
Nepal Army is organising a special function at the army pavilion in Tudikhel Saturday afternoon to commemorate the democracy day. NA personnel will exhibit parade and military art during the function. An NA helicopter will shower flower flowers from the sky during the function.
President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, Constituent Assembly (CA) chairperson Subas Chandra Nemwang and other top political leaders, government officials and top officials of security agencies will attend the function.
President Yadav and PM Khanal have issued separate messages to the nation greeting the people on the occasion of the 61st Democracy Day.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) is organising mass assemblies in all 75 districts Saturday on the occasion of the Democracy Day. Central level leaders including president Sushil Koirala, parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel, Sher Bahadur Deuba, among others are also addressing separate mass assemblies in various districts. nepalnews.com
Nepal Army is organising a special function at the army pavilion in Tudikhel Saturday afternoon to commemorate the democracy day. NA personnel will exhibit parade and military art during the function. An NA helicopter will shower flower flowers from the sky during the function.
President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, Constituent Assembly (CA) chairperson Subas Chandra Nemwang and other top political leaders, government officials and top officials of security agencies will attend the function.
President Yadav and PM Khanal have issued separate messages to the nation greeting the people on the occasion of the 61st Democracy Day.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) is organising mass assemblies in all 75 districts Saturday on the occasion of the Democracy Day. Central level leaders including president Sushil Koirala, parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel, Sher Bahadur Deuba, among others are also addressing separate mass assemblies in various districts. nepalnews.com
Friday, February 18, 2011
Contract killer' nabbed in Kathmandu
Police in Kathmandu arrested a man who was being sought by them for operating a gang of contract killers, on Tuesday.
Shiva Basnet of Dolakha, who was in the most-wanted list of the police, was arrested from Naya Baneshwor this afternoon.
According to police, Basnet has confessed to have made an attempt on the life of a real estate dealer in front of Casino Royal located at the premises of Yak and Yeti Hotel on a contract of Rs 500,000.
Basnet, who was assisted by two others, had fled after attacking realtor Kumar Lama with khukuri, injuring him critically. He has confessed that he attacked Lama with khukuri after his pistol did not work while trying to open fire, police said, claiming that the person who had hired Basnet has been identified.
Basnet had fled to Darjeeling in India and stayed there for six months, police informed. nepalnews.com
Shiva Basnet of Dolakha, who was in the most-wanted list of the police, was arrested from Naya Baneshwor this afternoon.
According to police, Basnet has confessed to have made an attempt on the life of a real estate dealer in front of Casino Royal located at the premises of Yak and Yeti Hotel on a contract of Rs 500,000.
Basnet, who was assisted by two others, had fled after attacking realtor Kumar Lama with khukuri, injuring him critically. He has confessed that he attacked Lama with khukuri after his pistol did not work while trying to open fire, police said, claiming that the person who had hired Basnet has been identified.
Basnet had fled to Darjeeling in India and stayed there for six months, police informed. nepalnews.com
UML youth wing demands Home portfolio for party
KATHMANDU: The Youth Association-Nepal (YA-N), the youth wing of the ruling party CPN-UML has demanded that the Home Ministry for its mother party due to the security sensitivity.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the YA-N in the capital today, its chairman Mahesh Basnet said that the Maoist is the second party of the conflict and therefore the home portfolio should not be given to it. He reasoned that his party should take the Ministry for Youth and Sports and Ministry of Home Affairs to address the issues regarding the youth. However, he was of the view that the party leaders should not make statements contradicting the party’s official decisions.
Basnet said the issue of national consensus is chairman Khanal’s agenda and therefore the question would be raised only if the leadership of Khanal fails. He also said national consensus could not be linked to a particular party.
UML is in serious discussions as the party leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli have been opposing the party chairman and Prime Minster Jhalanath Khanal’s decisions to allocate the home ministry to the Maoists.
PM Khanal inked a seven-point deal with Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to set up the current coalition government on February 3 and they later tried to calm the suspicions over the deal as the opposition parties- Nepali Congress and Terai-based parties raised objections to it on Tuesday. However, the government has been running without a full cabinet due to the disputes in the UML over the power sharing.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=UML+youth+wing+demands+Home+portfolio+for+party&NewsID=276766&a=3
Speaking at a press conference organised by the YA-N in the capital today, its chairman Mahesh Basnet said that the Maoist is the second party of the conflict and therefore the home portfolio should not be given to it. He reasoned that his party should take the Ministry for Youth and Sports and Ministry of Home Affairs to address the issues regarding the youth. However, he was of the view that the party leaders should not make statements contradicting the party’s official decisions.
Basnet said the issue of national consensus is chairman Khanal’s agenda and therefore the question would be raised only if the leadership of Khanal fails. He also said national consensus could not be linked to a particular party.
UML is in serious discussions as the party leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli have been opposing the party chairman and Prime Minster Jhalanath Khanal’s decisions to allocate the home ministry to the Maoists.
PM Khanal inked a seven-point deal with Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to set up the current coalition government on February 3 and they later tried to calm the suspicions over the deal as the opposition parties- Nepali Congress and Terai-based parties raised objections to it on Tuesday. However, the government has been running without a full cabinet due to the disputes in the UML over the power sharing.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=UML+youth+wing+demands+Home+portfolio+for+party&NewsID=276766&a=3
PM Khanal, Dahal parley on cabinet expansion
THT ONLINE
KATHMANDU: CPN-UML chairman and Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held a meeting at the prime ministerial residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu on Friday.
The meeting is said to have dwelt on the issue of Cabinet expansion that have long stalled, with both the parties staking their claim on home portfolio.
The meeting is also said to have discussed the aspects related with implementation of the seven-point understanding betweent the two leaders.
The home ministry had long remained the bone of contention between the two parties, impeding the process of cabinet expansion, more than a week after Khanal has been sworn in as the new PM.
On Wednesday, a meeting between PM Khanal and Dahal had agreed to allocate 11 ministries including the home and the foreign affairs to Maoists and eight ministries including the finance to UML.
The agreement however could not formalise after UML leaders close to KP Sharma Oli protested the allocation of home ministry to UCPN-Maoist, arguing that the Maoists should not hold any security related portfolio before conclusion of the peace process.
KATHMANDU: CPN-UML chairman and Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held a meeting at the prime ministerial residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu on Friday.
The meeting is said to have dwelt on the issue of Cabinet expansion that have long stalled, with both the parties staking their claim on home portfolio.
The meeting is also said to have discussed the aspects related with implementation of the seven-point understanding betweent the two leaders.
The home ministry had long remained the bone of contention between the two parties, impeding the process of cabinet expansion, more than a week after Khanal has been sworn in as the new PM.
On Wednesday, a meeting between PM Khanal and Dahal had agreed to allocate 11 ministries including the home and the foreign affairs to Maoists and eight ministries including the finance to UML.
The agreement however could not formalise after UML leaders close to KP Sharma Oli protested the allocation of home ministry to UCPN-Maoist, arguing that the Maoists should not hold any security related portfolio before conclusion of the peace process.
Bhattarai's health improving: Docs
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (87), undergoing treatment at Norvic International Hospital, was shifted to the Critical Care Unit today following reports of an infection in the respiratory system. He had fever yesterday.
Doctors involved in his treatment said that infections in his kidney and respiratory system had an adverse effect on his heart, so he was brought to the CCU where he was put on oxygen and monitored closely.
“Yesterday Bhattarai’s breathing was heavy and he had fever. He was also dull and drowsy. So we decided to shift him to the CCU. Overnight we monitored him closely. He was put on oxygen and a urine catheter was inserted,” said Dr Bharat Rawat.
He further said, “Today his reports are better. His overall condition is a shade better, though still critical because of multiple problems and age. He is conscious and speaks when asked. He will be closely monitored for the next 48 hours.”
“He will be shifted to the general ward if his condition remains normal,” said Dr Shyam Bahadur Pandey.
Bhattarai is suffering from chronic congestive heart failure, chronic renal failure and bronchitis and visits the hospital almost every couple of months.
“He is eating little. He had little rice today morning and spinach soup in the afternoon,” according to Amita Kapali, Kishunji’s caretaker.
Kishunji was hospitalised with abnormal blood reports, loss of appetite, fever and swelling on the feet on Feb 10.
“As the number of visitors rose and he himself walked out to chew betel leaf, he suffered infection,” said sources quoting Kapali.
In a message sent through Dr Pandey to visiting media persons at the hospital, Kishunji said, “I will live another thirteen years at least to make a century.”
Dozens of well-wishers had visited the hospital but were not allowed to see him and returned with the message that he was improving.
Gokarna Giri (83), a Nepali Congress activist from Rukum, visited the hospital. Talking to this daily the NC activist said, “I read about his admission in the hospital in a newspaper and came here straight but I could not see him.”
He described him as a firm and determined leader. “He promised not to marry until democracy was introduced,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pilot Baba, Kishunji’s religious guru sent a message to Kishunji over telephone from Uttaranchal state of India that he would be well in three or four days.
“Pilot Baba’s words are powerful and becomes reality. Last year also, he had predicted that Kishunji would recover despite the doctor’s warning regarding his health ,” said Tanka Nath Paudel, a well wisher.
Dr Rawat, Dr Pandey, and Rishi Kafle are attending Kishunji.
Kishunji, who made public his autobiography Mero Ma (My Myself) on his 87th birthday on January 2, had also undergone major treatment at the same hospital in June 2010.
KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (87), undergoing treatment at Norvic International Hospital, was shifted to the Critical Care Unit today following reports of an infection in the respiratory system. He had fever yesterday.
Doctors involved in his treatment said that infections in his kidney and respiratory system had an adverse effect on his heart, so he was brought to the CCU where he was put on oxygen and monitored closely.
“Yesterday Bhattarai’s breathing was heavy and he had fever. He was also dull and drowsy. So we decided to shift him to the CCU. Overnight we monitored him closely. He was put on oxygen and a urine catheter was inserted,” said Dr Bharat Rawat.
He further said, “Today his reports are better. His overall condition is a shade better, though still critical because of multiple problems and age. He is conscious and speaks when asked. He will be closely monitored for the next 48 hours.”
“He will be shifted to the general ward if his condition remains normal,” said Dr Shyam Bahadur Pandey.
Bhattarai is suffering from chronic congestive heart failure, chronic renal failure and bronchitis and visits the hospital almost every couple of months.
“He is eating little. He had little rice today morning and spinach soup in the afternoon,” according to Amita Kapali, Kishunji’s caretaker.
Kishunji was hospitalised with abnormal blood reports, loss of appetite, fever and swelling on the feet on Feb 10.
“As the number of visitors rose and he himself walked out to chew betel leaf, he suffered infection,” said sources quoting Kapali.
In a message sent through Dr Pandey to visiting media persons at the hospital, Kishunji said, “I will live another thirteen years at least to make a century.”
Dozens of well-wishers had visited the hospital but were not allowed to see him and returned with the message that he was improving.
Gokarna Giri (83), a Nepali Congress activist from Rukum, visited the hospital. Talking to this daily the NC activist said, “I read about his admission in the hospital in a newspaper and came here straight but I could not see him.”
He described him as a firm and determined leader. “He promised not to marry until democracy was introduced,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pilot Baba, Kishunji’s religious guru sent a message to Kishunji over telephone from Uttaranchal state of India that he would be well in three or four days.
“Pilot Baba’s words are powerful and becomes reality. Last year also, he had predicted that Kishunji would recover despite the doctor’s warning regarding his health ,” said Tanka Nath Paudel, a well wisher.
Dr Rawat, Dr Pandey, and Rishi Kafle are attending Kishunji.
Kishunji, who made public his autobiography Mero Ma (My Myself) on his 87th birthday on January 2, had also undergone major treatment at the same hospital in June 2010.
Stage all set for Bryan Adams
Dashrath Stadium, a grand stage of 2,600 square feet, trusses and beams laden with state-of-the-art lighting, hundreds of security guards, and some 25,000 eager fans. These are just some of the ingredients necessary for the Bryan Adams Live concert in Kathmandu on Saturday, February 19. The open-air stadium will be the venue for the show-stopper event that is also being hailed as the unofficial highlight of Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
But lately, the highlight has been the preparations at the stadium. A crew of 25 has been working since Wednesday to get the concert stage ready.
“The stage is a structure 36 feet up in the air. The equipment for the stage was transported from India, where Adams toured over the last couple of days,” shared Simant Gurung, director of ODC Network, one of the organizers of the event.
Though he started his musical journey in 1978, Adams’ self-titled album put him in the music scene in 1980 but it was not until January 1983 that he became a household name. It was with the song Straight from the Heart from his third studio album Cuts Like a Knife that he climbed up the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Adams’ popularity soared after the release of his best-selling album Reckless released in 1984 which featured songs like Summer of 69, Run to You, Heaven and It’s Only Love featuring Tina Turner.
In the 90s, Adams collaborated with artistes like Sting and Rod Stewart for the single All for Love and released several other award-winning chart toppers. This decade, however, Adams hasn’t been able to recreate the musical magic of the past with his recent releases Room Service in 2004 and 11 in 2008.
And he will be singing a repertoire of his past hits during the two-hour-long performance in Kathmandu. And if the songs Adams performed on his current India tour is anything to go by, expect songs like Everything I Do, Cloud Number 9, 18 Till I Die, You’ve Been A Friend To Me, Heaven, Here I Am, Let’s Make A Night To Remember, Please Forgive Me, The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You and Summer of ‘69 among others.
As the stage was being built at the Dashrath stadium in Kathmandu for the Canadian rock star to croon, Sunil Hamal of JPR Events, reflected on behind the stage activities.
A total of 18 trucks were used to transport the equipment for the concert from India. “It is all worth it in the end. The concert will be of the best quality regarding the sound and the lights. It’s the same equipment and sound you would get, whether you’re attending a concert in New York or London,” expressed Hamal.
Adams’ crew, who flew in yesterday, consists of more than 35 people. According to Simant Gurung, director of ODC Network, “Apart from the band members, the entourage also includes doctors, physiotherapists, security guards and chefs.”
When asked about the economic impact of the concert as such, Samden Sherpa, the spokesperson for the event said, “Events like this create work for many people and at the same time provide a leverage to attract tourists.”
Adams who’s flying on Friday from Dhaka, Bangladesh, performed at the opening ceremony of the cricket world cup 2011.
According to organizers, more than 18,000 tickets have been sold so far. And the tickets will remain on sale till February 19, Saturday. The deadline was extended considering all the fans heading from outside Kathmandu to attend the concert. Tickets will be available till 2 pm at Manakamana Development Bank.
Vishwa Niketan School in Tripureshwar, Boys Union Ground and Khula Manch have been designated as parking spots. The traffic authorities encourage Adams’ fans to make use of public transport to and from the Dashrath Stadium to avoid congestion.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28381
But lately, the highlight has been the preparations at the stadium. A crew of 25 has been working since Wednesday to get the concert stage ready.
“The stage is a structure 36 feet up in the air. The equipment for the stage was transported from India, where Adams toured over the last couple of days,” shared Simant Gurung, director of ODC Network, one of the organizers of the event.
Though he started his musical journey in 1978, Adams’ self-titled album put him in the music scene in 1980 but it was not until January 1983 that he became a household name. It was with the song Straight from the Heart from his third studio album Cuts Like a Knife that he climbed up the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Adams’ popularity soared after the release of his best-selling album Reckless released in 1984 which featured songs like Summer of 69, Run to You, Heaven and It’s Only Love featuring Tina Turner.
In the 90s, Adams collaborated with artistes like Sting and Rod Stewart for the single All for Love and released several other award-winning chart toppers. This decade, however, Adams hasn’t been able to recreate the musical magic of the past with his recent releases Room Service in 2004 and 11 in 2008.
And he will be singing a repertoire of his past hits during the two-hour-long performance in Kathmandu. And if the songs Adams performed on his current India tour is anything to go by, expect songs like Everything I Do, Cloud Number 9, 18 Till I Die, You’ve Been A Friend To Me, Heaven, Here I Am, Let’s Make A Night To Remember, Please Forgive Me, The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You and Summer of ‘69 among others.
As the stage was being built at the Dashrath stadium in Kathmandu for the Canadian rock star to croon, Sunil Hamal of JPR Events, reflected on behind the stage activities.
A total of 18 trucks were used to transport the equipment for the concert from India. “It is all worth it in the end. The concert will be of the best quality regarding the sound and the lights. It’s the same equipment and sound you would get, whether you’re attending a concert in New York or London,” expressed Hamal.
Adams’ crew, who flew in yesterday, consists of more than 35 people. According to Simant Gurung, director of ODC Network, “Apart from the band members, the entourage also includes doctors, physiotherapists, security guards and chefs.”
When asked about the economic impact of the concert as such, Samden Sherpa, the spokesperson for the event said, “Events like this create work for many people and at the same time provide a leverage to attract tourists.”
Adams who’s flying on Friday from Dhaka, Bangladesh, performed at the opening ceremony of the cricket world cup 2011.
According to organizers, more than 18,000 tickets have been sold so far. And the tickets will remain on sale till February 19, Saturday. The deadline was extended considering all the fans heading from outside Kathmandu to attend the concert. Tickets will be available till 2 pm at Manakamana Development Bank.
Vishwa Niketan School in Tripureshwar, Boys Union Ground and Khula Manch have been designated as parking spots. The traffic authorities encourage Adams’ fans to make use of public transport to and from the Dashrath Stadium to avoid congestion.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=28381
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