REPUBLICA
KATHAMANDU, Nov 29: Members of parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday lambasted Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) top brass for their failure in safeguarding aircraft spare parts and ordered the government to seriously look into the cases of theft, suspecting possible involvement of senior NAC officials in the loss.
Lawmakers that grilled the NAC officials over recent cases of thefts of spare parts, something which has inflicted millions of rupees in loss to the national flag carrier, even urged the government to take action against persons involved in the theft under criminal law.
"The nature of thefts indicates that there might be direct involvement of senior NAC officials. The government must punish them severely," said lawmaker Lalbabu Pandit.
During a period of less than a year, NAC has reported loss of a fly-away kit and spare wheels of Boeing 757 and landing gears of Twin Otter. The cost of fly-away kit alone is estimated to be around Rs 45 million.
NAC board member Ranjan Krishna Aryal admitted that the equipment were lost because of irresponsibility of NAC officials. He even disclosed that the NAC staff had not cooperated with the investigation team that NAC board formed to dig out facts on thefts of spare parts.
"Internal investigations have not been fruitful because of lack of cooperation by staff themselves. Hence, there is a need to start fresh enquiry under criminal law," he added.
Given that the weight of missing spare parts was more than 150 kg, NAC´s investigation officer Mukunda Joshi said it was impossible for the outsider to steal those parts.
"Handling agency is required to load and unload such bulky equipment. Clearly, a group of people and agencies have been involved in such thefts," he added.
He also pushed for the formation of high-level committee to investigate into the cases.
PAC on the day had summoned tourism secretary Dr Ganesh Raj Joshi, NAC chairman Manarup Shahi, managing director KB Limbu and other officials to enquire about the missing spare parts.
Some of the lawmakers like Kamala Pant attributed the ongoing problem in NAC to the presence of two executive heads. "Until we resolve the controversy of who holds the executive power - chairman or the managing director, problems like these will continue in the corporation," Pant stated.
She also raised question against the NAC management for not punishing the wrongdoers identified by a probe team of MoTCA.
The investigation has shown the involvement of the then director of NAC engineering department A R Pahari along with other engineers R K Manandhar and Rajesh Shrestha in the loss of fly-away kit.
However, NAC Chairman Manarup Shahi did not take any action against them, arguing that the ministry´s probe report did not make clear recommendations on actions against them.
Initially, NAC had suspended Pahari, Manandhar and Shrestha, but allowed them to return to work soon after.
Published on 2011-11-29 23:28:05
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Largest paper mill closing
CHITWAN, Nov 30: Bhrikuti Paper and Pulp Limited, the largest paper mill in the country based in Gaindakot of Nawalparasi district, will be shut down permanently.
The paper mill is owned by the Golcha Organization. The company was established in 1985 with the support of China. It was privatized in 1992 and Golchha Organization has been operating the factory ever since.
The annual general meeting of the company held on October 24 endorsed the special proposal of the management to close down the factory. Following the approval, its management has filed an application with the government through the Department of Labor (DoL) asking permission to lay off all its staff.
Workers, meanwhile, vented ire against the government and the factory promoters for showing little seriousness in continuing the factory operations. Some of the workers even claimed that the promoter of the factory is planning to develop its land into housing.
The paper factory halted productions in March this year, citing shortage of raw materials, over 16 hours of power-cut, and decline in demand of paper it produced, among others.
The management said the factory was operating undercpacity for years. The factory had an installed capacity of producing 80 tons of paper a day.
The factory is employing 485 workers, including 333 permanent employees. However, after the management realized that there was little chance of reviving the business, it laid off around 150 temporary workers hired on contract.
Following the AGM decision on October 24 that allowed the promoter to permanently shut down the factory after clearing all loans liability, the management on October 30 lodged an application at the DoL, seeking its permission to lay off all remaining staff members.
On November 22, the management further issued a notice that the factory would not be able to pay salary to 333 permanent staff for the period of eight months when it remained out of operation. The announcement, however, has drawn serious protests from the workers.
"The denial of the management to pay salary from the day the machines were turned off is against the existing law," said Ram Sharma, coordinator of Workers´ Protest Committee. The committee has requested the Labor Office to freeze the land owned by the industry until it pays staff´s salary dues.
Prior to the closure, the industry was producing as much as 1,530 tons of paper a month. It was selling paper at around Rs 60,000 per ton.
"The closure of the factory has forced the country to import an additional Rs 90 million worth of paper every month," said an official at the factory, requesting not to be named. Its permanent shut-down would increase the country´s dependence on import to fulfill local demand for paper.
There were altogether six paper mills, including Bhrikuti Paper and Pulp, operating in the country and together they were producing 150 tons of paper every day. The productions, however, was sufficient only to meet half of the demand, which is estimated to be around 300 tons a day.
Published on 2011-11-30 02:10:30
The paper mill is owned by the Golcha Organization. The company was established in 1985 with the support of China. It was privatized in 1992 and Golchha Organization has been operating the factory ever since.
The annual general meeting of the company held on October 24 endorsed the special proposal of the management to close down the factory. Following the approval, its management has filed an application with the government through the Department of Labor (DoL) asking permission to lay off all its staff.
Workers, meanwhile, vented ire against the government and the factory promoters for showing little seriousness in continuing the factory operations. Some of the workers even claimed that the promoter of the factory is planning to develop its land into housing.
The paper factory halted productions in March this year, citing shortage of raw materials, over 16 hours of power-cut, and decline in demand of paper it produced, among others.
The management said the factory was operating undercpacity for years. The factory had an installed capacity of producing 80 tons of paper a day.
The factory is employing 485 workers, including 333 permanent employees. However, after the management realized that there was little chance of reviving the business, it laid off around 150 temporary workers hired on contract.
Following the AGM decision on October 24 that allowed the promoter to permanently shut down the factory after clearing all loans liability, the management on October 30 lodged an application at the DoL, seeking its permission to lay off all remaining staff members.
On November 22, the management further issued a notice that the factory would not be able to pay salary to 333 permanent staff for the period of eight months when it remained out of operation. The announcement, however, has drawn serious protests from the workers.
"The denial of the management to pay salary from the day the machines were turned off is against the existing law," said Ram Sharma, coordinator of Workers´ Protest Committee. The committee has requested the Labor Office to freeze the land owned by the industry until it pays staff´s salary dues.
Prior to the closure, the industry was producing as much as 1,530 tons of paper a month. It was selling paper at around Rs 60,000 per ton.
"The closure of the factory has forced the country to import an additional Rs 90 million worth of paper every month," said an official at the factory, requesting not to be named. Its permanent shut-down would increase the country´s dependence on import to fulfill local demand for paper.
There were altogether six paper mills, including Bhrikuti Paper and Pulp, operating in the country and together they were producing 150 tons of paper every day. The productions, however, was sufficient only to meet half of the demand, which is estimated to be around 300 tons a day.
Published on 2011-11-30 02:10:30
CIAA directs NEA to not implement transfer decision
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Nov 29: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has on Tuesday directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to not implement the decision taken by the officiating managing director to transfer and promote employees.
Officiating Managing Director Rameshwar Yadav has transferred over 70 staffers including some senior officers.
“We have taken up the issue as acting managing director, who is set to retire in one-and-a -half months, has been making massive transfers and promotions. We have directed the NEA not to implement the decisions until we complete our investigations,” Acting Chief of CIAA Bhagawati Kafle said.
The NEA staffers had padlocked the office of the managing director and administration section on Tuesday protesting the transfers made by Yadav.
The CIAA has also ordered Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, who is the ex-officio NEA Chairman, to direct NEA to not make payments for unnecessary purchases Yadav made as the head of Distribution and Consumer Services in the past. The CIAA in its letter sent to NEA and energy ministry has asked them to make payments only after seeking the permission of the board.
The CIAA has similarly directed the energy ministry to immediately initiate the process of hiring its managing director through free-competition. The cabinet has already directed the ministry to hire its head through free competition but the ministry has not sought applications till date, CIAA points.
“The process of publishing advertisement has been delayed as we are working to authorize the managing director to give performance contracts to general managers to make them accountable,” Secretary at the Ministry of Energy Balananda Poudel said. “We will announce vacancy within the next three days,” Poudel assured.
Published on 2011-11-29 21:52:34
KATHMANDU, Nov 29: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has on Tuesday directed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to not implement the decision taken by the officiating managing director to transfer and promote employees.
Officiating Managing Director Rameshwar Yadav has transferred over 70 staffers including some senior officers.
“We have taken up the issue as acting managing director, who is set to retire in one-and-a -half months, has been making massive transfers and promotions. We have directed the NEA not to implement the decisions until we complete our investigations,” Acting Chief of CIAA Bhagawati Kafle said.
The NEA staffers had padlocked the office of the managing director and administration section on Tuesday protesting the transfers made by Yadav.
The CIAA has also ordered Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, who is the ex-officio NEA Chairman, to direct NEA to not make payments for unnecessary purchases Yadav made as the head of Distribution and Consumer Services in the past. The CIAA in its letter sent to NEA and energy ministry has asked them to make payments only after seeking the permission of the board.
The CIAA has similarly directed the energy ministry to immediately initiate the process of hiring its managing director through free-competition. The cabinet has already directed the ministry to hire its head through free competition but the ministry has not sought applications till date, CIAA points.
“The process of publishing advertisement has been delayed as we are working to authorize the managing director to give performance contracts to general managers to make them accountable,” Secretary at the Ministry of Energy Balananda Poudel said. “We will announce vacancy within the next three days,” Poudel assured.
Published on 2011-11-29 21:52:34
Division commanders jostle for post in NA directorate
KATHMANDU, Nov 30: With the PLA integration process making steady headway, senior Maoist commanders have entered a race to become the highest ranking Nepal Army (NA) official from among themselves.
Sources say that is why six of the division commanders have opted for integration, though Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had earlier asked them to make arrangements for integration of only those below the rank of division vice-commander.
“We don´t want to lose the opportunity to become the leading ex-PLA in the directorate. Also, we will otherwise severely weaken our bargaining capacity with the party for better positions,” said a division commander who did not want to be named.
According to sources, each of the six division commanders is using his own political channel and power to influence Dahal to bag the position, and the latter is facing a tough time choosing one of the commanders.
Party insiders say Dahal wants his favorite commander Santu Darai, who is also his security chief, to the leading ex-PLA in the directorate, but he is wary of creating rifts within his own faction, and wants to handle things tactfully. All the division commanders are from the party establishment faction.
Party Military Bureau Chief Barshaman Pun is, however, lobbying for Dhan Bahadur Maski Magar. Deputy Commander Chandra Prakash Khanal, on the other hand, wants to appoint Yam Bahadur Adhikari in the much sough-after position. Similarly, Tej Bahadur Oli is the favorite of party leader Janardan Sharma, who has a good hold over the PLA.
Second Division Commander Suk Bahadur Roka Magar for his part is in the lists of both PLA chief Nand Kishor Pun and Barsh Man Pun.
Interestingly, regional politics is playing a crucial role, as usual, in picking the PLA commander for the NA directorate.
Dahal wants to pick Darai, who is from his home district Chitwan, Sharma wants Oli, who is from his own district Rukum, and Roka Magar from Rolpa is in the lists of both Barshaman from Nanda Kishor, who are also from that district.
Party insiders say there is long-standing enmity between leaders from Rolpa and Rukum districts. Sharma rather wishes Dahal to pick Oli for the position, but not Roka Magar from Rolpa.
Kali Bahadur Kham, Fifth Division commander who was purportedly suspended from his position due to alleged involvement in some criminal cases, is not in the race.
“The chairman has not yet disclosed how many senior positions we will get in the directorate. So we filled in the integration forms for now,” Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Sixth Division commander, told Republica.
In the first PLA General Staff meeting since the Nov 1 peace deal, Dahal had stated that there would be some ´political appointments´ to senior positions in the directorate, though leaders from the other political parties say they are not aware of any such appointments.
Nep Bahadur Kunwar Magar, Sixth Division vice-commander, argues that there is yet another reason why six of the vice-commanders have filled the integration forms.
“They issued a fiat to the rank and file to opt for integration. So they had to justify that fiat and avoid facing the wrath of low-rank personnel at this juncture,” said Magar.
Published on 2011-11-30 09:18:38
Sources say that is why six of the division commanders have opted for integration, though Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had earlier asked them to make arrangements for integration of only those below the rank of division vice-commander.
“We don´t want to lose the opportunity to become the leading ex-PLA in the directorate. Also, we will otherwise severely weaken our bargaining capacity with the party for better positions,” said a division commander who did not want to be named.
According to sources, each of the six division commanders is using his own political channel and power to influence Dahal to bag the position, and the latter is facing a tough time choosing one of the commanders.
Party insiders say Dahal wants his favorite commander Santu Darai, who is also his security chief, to the leading ex-PLA in the directorate, but he is wary of creating rifts within his own faction, and wants to handle things tactfully. All the division commanders are from the party establishment faction.
Party Military Bureau Chief Barshaman Pun is, however, lobbying for Dhan Bahadur Maski Magar. Deputy Commander Chandra Prakash Khanal, on the other hand, wants to appoint Yam Bahadur Adhikari in the much sough-after position. Similarly, Tej Bahadur Oli is the favorite of party leader Janardan Sharma, who has a good hold over the PLA.
Second Division Commander Suk Bahadur Roka Magar for his part is in the lists of both PLA chief Nand Kishor Pun and Barsh Man Pun.
Interestingly, regional politics is playing a crucial role, as usual, in picking the PLA commander for the NA directorate.
Dahal wants to pick Darai, who is from his home district Chitwan, Sharma wants Oli, who is from his own district Rukum, and Roka Magar from Rolpa is in the lists of both Barshaman from Nanda Kishor, who are also from that district.
Party insiders say there is long-standing enmity between leaders from Rolpa and Rukum districts. Sharma rather wishes Dahal to pick Oli for the position, but not Roka Magar from Rolpa.
Kali Bahadur Kham, Fifth Division commander who was purportedly suspended from his position due to alleged involvement in some criminal cases, is not in the race.
“The chairman has not yet disclosed how many senior positions we will get in the directorate. So we filled in the integration forms for now,” Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Sixth Division commander, told Republica.
In the first PLA General Staff meeting since the Nov 1 peace deal, Dahal had stated that there would be some ´political appointments´ to senior positions in the directorate, though leaders from the other political parties say they are not aware of any such appointments.
Nep Bahadur Kunwar Magar, Sixth Division vice-commander, argues that there is yet another reason why six of the vice-commanders have filled the integration forms.
“They issued a fiat to the rank and file to opt for integration. So they had to justify that fiat and avoid facing the wrath of low-rank personnel at this juncture,” said Magar.
Published on 2011-11-30 09:18:38
Fishtail helicopter crashes in Solu, all 3 on board safe
A Fishtail Air helicopter crashed in Labuche of Solukhumbu district Tuesday afternoon.
All the persons on board-pilot Dipak Rana, co-pilot Anus and an Australian citizen are safe, according to the Fishtail Air sources.
The Eco Real AAS 350 chopper had taken off for Labuche from Lukla to airlift a sick tourist. nepalnews.com
All the persons on board-pilot Dipak Rana, co-pilot Anus and an Australian citizen are safe, according to the Fishtail Air sources.
The Eco Real AAS 350 chopper had taken off for Labuche from Lukla to airlift a sick tourist. nepalnews.com
Bird flu found in valley few months after declaration of bird flu free country
A few months after the government declared Nepal as the bird flu free country, cases of bird flu have been confirmed in the valley.
More than 5 hundred chickens have been culled near Jadibuti area of Bhaktapur after the bird flu cases were confirmed, chief of the District Livestock Service Office Bhaktapur Shiva Bahadur KC informed Nepalnews.
Local people had informed livestock office after the numbers of chickens and the ducks died continuously.
Bird flu detection is declared only after the Central Veterinary Disease Control Laboratory gets confirmation from international lab due to the lack of lab facility in the country. The laboratory sends sample to the UK for the final confirmation after conducting preliminary lab test here.
On July 13, the government had declared Nepal as the bird flu country though the cases were confirmed earlier too.
The poultry industry of the country was hit hard due to the outbreak of the bird flu last year. nepalnews.com
More than 5 hundred chickens have been culled near Jadibuti area of Bhaktapur after the bird flu cases were confirmed, chief of the District Livestock Service Office Bhaktapur Shiva Bahadur KC informed Nepalnews.
Local people had informed livestock office after the numbers of chickens and the ducks died continuously.
Bird flu detection is declared only after the Central Veterinary Disease Control Laboratory gets confirmation from international lab due to the lack of lab facility in the country. The laboratory sends sample to the UK for the final confirmation after conducting preliminary lab test here.
On July 13, the government had declared Nepal as the bird flu country though the cases were confirmed earlier too.
The poultry industry of the country was hit hard due to the outbreak of the bird flu last year. nepalnews.com
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