कारोबार संवाददाता
२० मे २०११, १०:२२ बजे
काठमाडौं, ५ जेठ
ऊर्जामन्त्रालयले चार दर्जन प्रसारणलाइन निर्माण तथा आधा दर्जन ठूला जलाशययुक्त आयोजनाको अध्ययन गर्न तथा निर्माणाधीन आयोजनाका लागि ३६ अर्ब रुपैयाँ बजेट माग गरेको छ ।
प्रसारणलाइनको समस्या आएपछि ऊर्जाले ४०० केभी क्षमतासम्मका ४८ वटा प्रसारणलाइन निर्माणका साथै जलाशययुक्त आयोजनाको अध्ययन गर्न यो रकम माग गरेको हो । कुल रकममध्ये साढे २७ अर्ब रुपैयाँ नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरणमार्फत प्रसारणलाइन निर्माण तथा आयोजनाको अध्ययन र विकासका लागि लगानी गर्ने योजना मन्त्रालको छ ।
राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगले आगामी वर्षका लागि १८ अर्ब रुपैयाँको बजेट सीमा निर्धारण गरेको भए पनि धेरै आयोजना कार्यान्वयन गर्र्न थप रकम आवश्यक भएकाले सीमाभन्दा दोब्बर रकम मागेको मन्त्रालयका सहसचिव श्रीरञ्जन लाकौलले बताए ।
ऊर्जाले यो वर्ष प्रसारणलाइन निर्माणका लागि बढी जोड दिएको सहसचिव लाकौलले बताए । उनका अनुसार यो वर्ष ४८ वटा प्रसारणलाइन निर्माण गर्न ८ अर्ब ७२ करोडको योजना प्रस्ताव अर्थमन्त्रालयमा पठाइएको छ ।
ऊर्जाको प्राथमिकतामा भरतपुर–बर्दघाट, मस्र्याङ्दी–काठमाडौं, हेटौंडा–दुहवी, सोलु करिडोर, कावेली करिडोर, खिम्ती–ढल्केबर, ढल्केबर–मुज्जफपुर, त्रिशूली–काठमाडौ, सिंगटी–लामोसाँगुलगायतका ठूला प्रसारणलाइन तथा सवस्टेसन निर्माण रहेका छन् ।
यी प्रसारणलाइन बनाउन मन्त्रालयले ५ अर्ब २४ करोड रुपैयाँ दाताबाट ऋण लिने, सरकार र विद्युत् प्राधिकरणले ३ अर्ब १८ करोड रुपैयाँ संयुक्त रूपमा खर्च गर्ने गरी लगानी मोडालिटी तयार गरेको उनले बताए । लोडसेडिङ हटाउन मन्त्रालयले यो वर्ष प्रसारणलाइन निर्माणलाई बढी जोड दिएको सहसचिव लाकौलको भनाइ छ ।
मन्त्रालयले बूढीगण्डकी, नलसिंहगाड, माथिल्लो सेती, तमोर, दूधकोसी, आँधीखोलाजस्ता जलाशययुक्त आयोजनको सम्भाव्यताको अध्ययन गर्न तथा माथिल्लो तामाकोसी, त्रिशूली–३ ए, राहुघाट, चमेलिया र कुलेखानी आयोजनाको निर्माणका लागि भनेर ११ अर्ब ३४ करोड रुपैयाँ बजेट माग गरिएको छ । बूढीगण्डकीमा इलेक्ट्रिसिटी डे फ्रान्स (ईडीएफ) र आँधीखोलामा कोरियन न्युक्लियर पावर कम्पनीले संयुक्त लगानीमा निर्माणको प्रस्ताव गरेका छन् ।
ऊर्जाले अर्थमा बजेटका लागि पेस गरिसकेको बताउँदै उनले भने, “अर्थले कति रकम विनियोजना गर्छ हेर्न बाँकी छ ।” चालू आवमा ऊर्जाले प्रसारणलाइन निर्माण गर्न म्याचिङ फन्डका लागि भनेर १ अर्ब ७५ करोड रुपैयाँ माग गर्दा अर्थले केवल ४० करोड रुपैयाँ मात्र विनियोजन गरेकाले विश्व बैंक र एसियाली विकास बैंकको सहयोगमा बन्न लागेका प्रसारणलाइन बन्न सकेका छैनन्, तर मन्त्रालयका अधिकारीहरू सरकारबाट ऊर्जासंकटकालको घोषणा गरेर थुप्रै कार्यक्रम ल्याएको बेलामा पनि अर्थबाट पर्याप्त रकम विनियोजन गर्छ भन्नेमा शंका व्यक्त गर्छन् ।
यसका साथै ग्रामीण विद्युतीकरण कार्यक्रमलाई ३ अर्ब ९० करोड रुपैयाँ माग गरिएको उनले बताए । यो वर्षदेखि सरकारले प्रसारणलाइन गुरुयोजना तयार गर्ने लक्ष्य लिएकाले यसका लागि पनि रकम माग गरिएको उनको भनाइ छ । यसैगरी प्रसारणलाइन निजी क्षेत्रबाट निर्माण नहुने भएकाले राज्यबाट निर्माण गर्न मन्त्रालयले प्रक्रिया सुरु गरेको उनले बताए ।
Saturday, May 21, 2011
New skill-testing authority to help job-seekers
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
BHAKTAPUR: Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) is going to establish a National Skill Testing Authority (NSTA) to issue certificates on various skills through an examination.
Jay Bahadur Tandon, member secretary of CTEVT, today said that they are going to upgrade the National Skill Testing Board to standardise skill-testing examination and certification.
Tandon said, “A number of Nepalis going abroad as care-giver, beautician and others are returning back to the country due to lack of skills.”
He stated that such workers not only lose money and time, but also become vulnerable to torture by employers. “Therefore, an authority should be there so that no Nepali returns due to lack of skills.”
CTEVT is currently in the process of amending the National Skill Testing Board regulations to incorporate NSTA.
The plan states that arrangements would be made to equip people for foreign employment or domestic labour market as skilled and semi-skilled after carrying out tests.
“Since the issue of standardising the training has already appeared in the three-year plan, we are also looking into this issue seriously,” he said adding, “Though skill-testing certification from CTEVT is not mandatory now, it would be mandatory after the establishment of NSTA.
BHAKTAPUR: Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) is going to establish a National Skill Testing Authority (NSTA) to issue certificates on various skills through an examination.
Jay Bahadur Tandon, member secretary of CTEVT, today said that they are going to upgrade the National Skill Testing Board to standardise skill-testing examination and certification.
Tandon said, “A number of Nepalis going abroad as care-giver, beautician and others are returning back to the country due to lack of skills.”
He stated that such workers not only lose money and time, but also become vulnerable to torture by employers. “Therefore, an authority should be there so that no Nepali returns due to lack of skills.”
CTEVT is currently in the process of amending the National Skill Testing Board regulations to incorporate NSTA.
The plan states that arrangements would be made to equip people for foreign employment or domestic labour market as skilled and semi-skilled after carrying out tests.
“Since the issue of standardising the training has already appeared in the three-year plan, we are also looking into this issue seriously,” he said adding, “Though skill-testing certification from CTEVT is not mandatory now, it would be mandatory after the establishment of NSTA.
EDITORIAL: For Timely Completion Of Upper Tamakoshi Project
The Upper Tamakoshi Hydro-electricity Project, with a capacity to generate 456 MW of power, was initiated on Wednesday in Dolkha district, which is by far the largest hydro-power plant in the country. Inaugurating the project, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal termed it as a milestone in Nepal’s hydro power development and said that it was the beginning of an economic revolution in the country. Expected to be complete by 2015, should no obstacles come on the way, the power project would reduce the load shedding in the country to a large extent, while stimulating economic activities in the country.
The initiation of this power plant has provided the people, who have been suffering long hours of power outages, a sense of relief. Nepal at present is suffering its worst energy crisis due to the previous governments’ negligence, incompetence and irresponsible attitude towards the problems of the country and the people. In the absence of energy, many industries have shut down and many more are on the verge of closure. The energy crisis did not emerge overnight. Past governments failed to initiate any new project or find alternative ways to abort the looming crisis. The entire country and the people are, thus, paying the price. Had the past governments taken serious initiatives in time - both short and long term - to address the energy crisis, the country would not have been groping in the dark.
The demand for electricity is growing every year. Even if the Upper Tamakoshi is completed in time, the power generated would not meet the energy demands in 2015. In view of this situation, the government needs to initiate other projects, too. Moreover, immediate alternative plans to address the present energy crisis should be introduced and implemented so that the people find relief. Hydro-power generation requires huge funds, which means the country must try to attract foreign investment so that more power can be generated not only to meet the domestic needs but also for export to the energy-deficit countries of South Asia. Similarly, appropriate policies and programmes are needed to encourage the Nepali people to invest in small and medium hydro projects. Only the adoption of all possible measures will rescue the country from the acute energy crisis.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/rising.detail.php?article_id=50417&cat_id=7
The initiation of this power plant has provided the people, who have been suffering long hours of power outages, a sense of relief. Nepal at present is suffering its worst energy crisis due to the previous governments’ negligence, incompetence and irresponsible attitude towards the problems of the country and the people. In the absence of energy, many industries have shut down and many more are on the verge of closure. The energy crisis did not emerge overnight. Past governments failed to initiate any new project or find alternative ways to abort the looming crisis. The entire country and the people are, thus, paying the price. Had the past governments taken serious initiatives in time - both short and long term - to address the energy crisis, the country would not have been groping in the dark.
The demand for electricity is growing every year. Even if the Upper Tamakoshi is completed in time, the power generated would not meet the energy demands in 2015. In view of this situation, the government needs to initiate other projects, too. Moreover, immediate alternative plans to address the present energy crisis should be introduced and implemented so that the people find relief. Hydro-power generation requires huge funds, which means the country must try to attract foreign investment so that more power can be generated not only to meet the domestic needs but also for export to the energy-deficit countries of South Asia. Similarly, appropriate policies and programmes are needed to encourage the Nepali people to invest in small and medium hydro projects. Only the adoption of all possible measures will rescue the country from the acute energy crisis.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/rising.detail.php?article_id=50417&cat_id=7
10 NAC co-pilots grounded for staging protest
KATHMANDU, May 21: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) on Friday grounded 10 co-pilots serving in domestic sectors on charge of protesting the appointment of a new pilot, which they claimed was done violating the corporation´s rule.
Managing Director K B Limbu had appointed Man Bahadur Tumbahanfe to the post of Captain about three months ago. He had given Tumbahanfe, who earlier worked with Yeti Airlines, seven-year service contract.
However, pilots had instantly protested the decision, saying that the appointment was done without due approval of the board and hence goes against the NAC rule.
The log-book at NAC head office on Friday stated that 10 co-pilots have been suspended from flying until further notice, as directed by Limbu. The grounded co-pilots include Sajal Kuinkel, R Banjare, Suresh KC, S Paudel, A K Khadka, D K Gupta, B Kathayat, P Shrestha, A R Shakya and Raman Ghimire.
They knew about the decision while going through the log-book to check their duty schedules.
NAC currently has 27 pilots for domestic flights. As per the existing flight schedule, only five pilots will be enough to handle the national flag carrier´s domestic operations.
“So the decision will not impact NAC´s services,” said an official at the corporation.
R Banjare, one of the grounded co-pilots, argued that Limbu´s decision to suspend them from flying was not legitimate. “It is true that we were in a protest against the management. But taking action without seeking due clarification or issuing any warning is unfair,” he stated.
Another grounded pilot Suresh KC said issuance of seven-year contract was against the NAC´s practice of giving initial contract of six months with the board´s approval.
Limbu termed the action against co-pilots as a departmental action for not complying with the management´s decision. “The action was taken after they (pilots) were found approaching different institutions, lobbying for Tumbahanfe´s ouster, instead of approaching the management for talks,” Limbu added.
As for the appointment of Tumbahanfe, Lumbu said he decided to hand a seven-year contract as the national flag carrier was facing shortage of experienced Captain. “I´m ready to hire more captains if I get qualified and experienced hands,” he added.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=31510
Managing Director K B Limbu had appointed Man Bahadur Tumbahanfe to the post of Captain about three months ago. He had given Tumbahanfe, who earlier worked with Yeti Airlines, seven-year service contract.
However, pilots had instantly protested the decision, saying that the appointment was done without due approval of the board and hence goes against the NAC rule.
The log-book at NAC head office on Friday stated that 10 co-pilots have been suspended from flying until further notice, as directed by Limbu. The grounded co-pilots include Sajal Kuinkel, R Banjare, Suresh KC, S Paudel, A K Khadka, D K Gupta, B Kathayat, P Shrestha, A R Shakya and Raman Ghimire.
They knew about the decision while going through the log-book to check their duty schedules.
NAC currently has 27 pilots for domestic flights. As per the existing flight schedule, only five pilots will be enough to handle the national flag carrier´s domestic operations.
“So the decision will not impact NAC´s services,” said an official at the corporation.
R Banjare, one of the grounded co-pilots, argued that Limbu´s decision to suspend them from flying was not legitimate. “It is true that we were in a protest against the management. But taking action without seeking due clarification or issuing any warning is unfair,” he stated.
Another grounded pilot Suresh KC said issuance of seven-year contract was against the NAC´s practice of giving initial contract of six months with the board´s approval.
Limbu termed the action against co-pilots as a departmental action for not complying with the management´s decision. “The action was taken after they (pilots) were found approaching different institutions, lobbying for Tumbahanfe´s ouster, instead of approaching the management for talks,” Limbu added.
As for the appointment of Tumbahanfe, Lumbu said he decided to hand a seven-year contract as the national flag carrier was facing shortage of experienced Captain. “I´m ready to hire more captains if I get qualified and experienced hands,” he added.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=31510
New law to tighten SCC operations
KATHMANDU, May 21: The government has finalized the draft of Savings and Credit Cooperatives Act (SCCA) in order to regulate their operations and protect savings of small depositors.
The draft act has for the first time incorporates a provision, going by which the government can cancel registration of cooperatives and slap penalty up to Rs 200,000 and jail term of two years to promoters in case they were found involved in irregularities.
There was no law governing savings and credit cooperatives (SCC) so far. A separate act was prepared after recent inspections showed that SCCs were resorting to imprudent lending, exposing people´s savings to risk, due to the absence of law, prudential financial norms and poor supervision of the Department of Cooperatives (DoC).
Nepal Federation of Saving and Credit Cooperatives Unions (NEFSCUN) prepared the draft in consultation with the DoC.
Sudarsan Prasad Dhakal, registrar at DoC, told Republica that the draft act seeks SCCs to compulsorily insure deposits that they have mobilized. It also authorizes DoC to freeze accounts and property of any individual or institutional member of SCCs if investigation on organized crime or terrorist activities has to be launched against them.
The draft Act demands high integrity and corporate governance from the SCCs promoters and staff members and even makes them accountable for possible financial loss. In case any stakeholder is subjected to loss due to the promoters´ decisions, they will have to compensate for the loss.
"This provision has been incorporate to discourage growing impunity in SCCs," said Dhakal.
The act designates DoC as the regulator of SCCs. In case of foul play by SCCs, the act authorizes DoC to slap up to Rs 100,000 penalty even go to the extent of closing the SCCs depending on the severity of offences. It also provisions penalty ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 75,000 to SCCs if they are found providing loans to promoters or fail to call board meeting and annual general meeting within stipulated timeframe or submitted wrong information about the financial status. It also provisions similar penalty to auditors if they failed to perform their duty in a sincere manner.
The proposed act also empowers DoC to take management control of SCCs that are found violating its directives, failing to adhere to corporate governance norms and fulfill the institutional responsibility, thereby subjecting members and depositors interests to risks.
The act allows DoC to file a case at the appellate court to cancel registration of SCCs engaged in irregularities of severe nature or if they lack capacity for effective functioning even after management intervention.
The proposed act envisages a tribunal to settle cases related to the investments or deposits of the SCCs with high priority.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=31511
The draft act has for the first time incorporates a provision, going by which the government can cancel registration of cooperatives and slap penalty up to Rs 200,000 and jail term of two years to promoters in case they were found involved in irregularities.
There was no law governing savings and credit cooperatives (SCC) so far. A separate act was prepared after recent inspections showed that SCCs were resorting to imprudent lending, exposing people´s savings to risk, due to the absence of law, prudential financial norms and poor supervision of the Department of Cooperatives (DoC).
Nepal Federation of Saving and Credit Cooperatives Unions (NEFSCUN) prepared the draft in consultation with the DoC.
Sudarsan Prasad Dhakal, registrar at DoC, told Republica that the draft act seeks SCCs to compulsorily insure deposits that they have mobilized. It also authorizes DoC to freeze accounts and property of any individual or institutional member of SCCs if investigation on organized crime or terrorist activities has to be launched against them.
The draft Act demands high integrity and corporate governance from the SCCs promoters and staff members and even makes them accountable for possible financial loss. In case any stakeholder is subjected to loss due to the promoters´ decisions, they will have to compensate for the loss.
"This provision has been incorporate to discourage growing impunity in SCCs," said Dhakal.
The act designates DoC as the regulator of SCCs. In case of foul play by SCCs, the act authorizes DoC to slap up to Rs 100,000 penalty even go to the extent of closing the SCCs depending on the severity of offences. It also provisions penalty ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 75,000 to SCCs if they are found providing loans to promoters or fail to call board meeting and annual general meeting within stipulated timeframe or submitted wrong information about the financial status. It also provisions similar penalty to auditors if they failed to perform their duty in a sincere manner.
The proposed act also empowers DoC to take management control of SCCs that are found violating its directives, failing to adhere to corporate governance norms and fulfill the institutional responsibility, thereby subjecting members and depositors interests to risks.
The act allows DoC to file a case at the appellate court to cancel registration of SCCs engaged in irregularities of severe nature or if they lack capacity for effective functioning even after management intervention.
The proposed act envisages a tribunal to settle cases related to the investments or deposits of the SCCs with high priority.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=31511
Efforts to make complaint box effective
RSS
DHADING (Gajuri), May 21: Stakeholders have expressed commitments to make citizen charter and complaint box kept in government offices effective at a time when complaints have been voiced up regarding their disuse.
Chiefs of government offices in district while speaking at an interaction program on ‘Citizens charter and complaint box for good governance and transparency’ made this commitment.
Local Development Officer Shanker Nepal said the implementation part is weak since people are not aware about the charter and box.
Chief of District Education Office, Dhading, Man Bahadur Chhetri said the service recipients of the village have low level of literacy so that they should be imparted information about the services through the use of CD or cassette for their convenience.
Other participants stressed the need to remove unnecessary matters and put essential information explicitly in the charter.
The discussion took decision to form a team to monitor the use and effectiveness of charter and complaint box.
Meanwhile, a ban has been imposed on the production and sale of alcoholic substances in Mahadevsthan Village Development Committee-3, Buruswang from last Friday.
The move has been taken on the initiative of Shanti Nepal through various youths and women groups.
Similarly, lightning that took place with strong wind injured 12 persons in Katunje VDC-3, Bhanjyangchhap.
Among them, six are seriously injured and two children and other four are in normal condition.
DHADING (Gajuri), May 21: Stakeholders have expressed commitments to make citizen charter and complaint box kept in government offices effective at a time when complaints have been voiced up regarding their disuse.
Chiefs of government offices in district while speaking at an interaction program on ‘Citizens charter and complaint box for good governance and transparency’ made this commitment.
Local Development Officer Shanker Nepal said the implementation part is weak since people are not aware about the charter and box.
Chief of District Education Office, Dhading, Man Bahadur Chhetri said the service recipients of the village have low level of literacy so that they should be imparted information about the services through the use of CD or cassette for their convenience.
Other participants stressed the need to remove unnecessary matters and put essential information explicitly in the charter.
The discussion took decision to form a team to monitor the use and effectiveness of charter and complaint box.
Meanwhile, a ban has been imposed on the production and sale of alcoholic substances in Mahadevsthan Village Development Committee-3, Buruswang from last Friday.
The move has been taken on the initiative of Shanti Nepal through various youths and women groups.
Similarly, lightning that took place with strong wind injured 12 persons in Katunje VDC-3, Bhanjyangchhap.
Among them, six are seriously injured and two children and other four are in normal condition.
New gangs have Valley police worried
KATHMANDU, May 21: A wanted man who succeeded in hiding his illegal firearm has recently been prosecuted only on public offense charge. Investigators believe that the man named Manish Manandhar, a drug user, is the kingpin of a four-men criminal group involved in robbery and ´contract´ assaults in the capital.
The Manandhar group has been identified at a time when police have uncovered a similar gang led by one Niraj KC which was involved in two separate fatal shooting incidents in Teku and Ganabahal last month.
KC, who himself gunned down Prem Krishna Maharjan, a staffer of Exide Battery Company showroom, and Anjani Kumari Chachan, a Kathmandu-based Indian businessman, reportedly fled to India following the arrest of four of his aides. He is also believed to be a drug user
.
"We are looking for two other gangs besides these two," said a senior official at Metropolitan Police Crime Division Kathmandu. "They all have firearms and organized networks."
The emergence of these new groups has astounded the authorities who used to believe that a few known criminal gangs generally are involved in major organized crimes in the capital. "These new gangs could have carried out many major incidents including lethal shootings in the last few years," said investigative officials.
KC´s gang has also been linked to two shootings involving a monk and a money exchange centre respectively at Thamel in 2010. In both incidents, the gang managed to escape with a huge amount of cash.
"We now need to revisit the previous major cases in view of the possibility of involvement of these new groups," said DSP Somendra Singh Rathor, who led investigations into Teku and Ganabahal shootings that took Nepal Police nearly a month to find substantial leads.
Investigative officials said that the new gangs involving mainly drug users appear to be more dangerous than other existing organized gangs. "KC had opened fire in a drug-induced high while his group had only visited the Exide Battery office with the objective to stalk Maharjan over a dispute about a woman," said officials. "Curbing such gang activites is very difficult."
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=31514
The Manandhar group has been identified at a time when police have uncovered a similar gang led by one Niraj KC which was involved in two separate fatal shooting incidents in Teku and Ganabahal last month.
KC, who himself gunned down Prem Krishna Maharjan, a staffer of Exide Battery Company showroom, and Anjani Kumari Chachan, a Kathmandu-based Indian businessman, reportedly fled to India following the arrest of four of his aides. He is also believed to be a drug user
.
"We are looking for two other gangs besides these two," said a senior official at Metropolitan Police Crime Division Kathmandu. "They all have firearms and organized networks."
The emergence of these new groups has astounded the authorities who used to believe that a few known criminal gangs generally are involved in major organized crimes in the capital. "These new gangs could have carried out many major incidents including lethal shootings in the last few years," said investigative officials.
KC´s gang has also been linked to two shootings involving a monk and a money exchange centre respectively at Thamel in 2010. In both incidents, the gang managed to escape with a huge amount of cash.
"We now need to revisit the previous major cases in view of the possibility of involvement of these new groups," said DSP Somendra Singh Rathor, who led investigations into Teku and Ganabahal shootings that took Nepal Police nearly a month to find substantial leads.
Investigative officials said that the new gangs involving mainly drug users appear to be more dangerous than other existing organized gangs. "KC had opened fire in a drug-induced high while his group had only visited the Exide Battery office with the objective to stalk Maharjan over a dispute about a woman," said officials. "Curbing such gang activites is very difficult."
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=31514
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