Kathmandu, June 15:Regular proceedings of the House of Representatives today was obstructed for a while after opposition MPs raised question over the breaking up of an agreement on budget appropriation reached between the government and the opposition.

Opposition MPs made the protest arguing that the agreement reached between the ruling and the opposition parties to inform MPs one day ahead of the clause-wise discussion on any ministry about the subjects mentioned in the budget relating to the particular ministry had not been followed.

Stating that allocation of budget on a lump sum basis for the salary and allowances of teachers of different level under the Education and Sports Ministry may give rise to irregularities, they demanded that the amount be allocated on a district wise basis.

The opposition MPs also demanded that the government clarify the mistakes in the statistics relating to the number of teachers as mentioned in the economic survey.

Responding to the protest, speaker Taranath Ranabhat requested the government side to put forth its views, if any, and following this Minister for Education Amod Prasad Upadhyaya rejected the allegation of irregularities in the allocation of budget and requested the MPs to put forth their queries during discussion on appropriation heads pertaining to the ministry.

Raising questions on the occasion were opposition MPs Birodh Khatiwada, Dr Dilliraj Khanal, Parsurammeghi Gurung, Krishna Prasad Dahal, Shiva Bahadur Deuja, Gokarnaraj Bista, Bijaya Subba, Ratna Prasad Sharma Neupane, Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar and Mahendra Bahadur Pandey of the CPN-UML, Govinda Bikram Shaha of RPP and Narayanman Bijukchhe of NWPP.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya, furnishing replies to oral questions raised by MPs at the House of Representatives meeting today, said that arrangements have been made for putting into the consolidated fund the tax paid on the incomes of agencies and individuals or entities taking up contracts.

Responding to questions raised by MPs Wednesday, the Finance Minister said a new classification has been designed for the red book.

Also furnishing replies, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarinidatta Chataut said lists of names of touristic sites had been received from 50 districts and once such lists are received from all the districts tourism promotion work will commence.

The questions were raised by Hitkazi Gurung as authorised by Tuk Raj Sigdel of CPN UML, Ganga Prasad Nepal as authorised by Suresh Kumar Karki and by Jagadish Prasad Shaha.

Finance Minister Acharya furnished details about agreements pertaining to foreign cooperation reached between February l3 and May l3, 2000 at the meeting of the House of Representatives today.

At the meeting the Finance Minister also tabled the Liquor (first amendment) Bill 2057 and the bill for raising national loans 2057.

Menawhile the meeting of the House of Representatives today, in a unanimous resolution, wished His Majesty the King a speedy recovery.

At the start of the meeting, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat said he was greatly concerned that His Majesty has been indisposed with fever since Tuesday night, and presented a resolution stating that the House of Representatives, the highest legislature of the Nepalese people, wishes His Majesty a speedy recovery.rss

Meanwhile Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, at the meeting of the House of Representatives today, pointed out that the attention of all MPs of the ruling and opposition sides had been drawn to the construction of a dam on the Rapti river by India on its side of the border and directed the Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Committee to study the social and environmental effects that this could have on people in the area and present a report to the House.

The speaker made this ruling during special time at the meeting today after Romi Gauchan Thakali of Nepali Congress drew the attention of the House to the effect the dam has had on many VDCs in the district.

Dr. Mangal Siddhi Manandhar of CPN UML, taking part during special hour at the House of Representatives today, said clarifications as to how the staffing level for teachers has been increased should be furnished prior to discussions on the Appropriations Bill under the Education head.

He further demanded details about the budget for the 10 thousand child education centres that are planned to be set up during the Ninth Plan.

Romi Gouchan of Nepali Congress referred to the inundation problem faced by a number of VDCs in Banke due to the construction of a dam on the Rapti River on Indian territory and asked whether national sovereignty was compromised or not by the construction of the dam.

The house should be sensitive over the matter, he said and demanded an investigation into the incident that took place at Pachakatiya, Jajarkot.

Ramchandra Yadav of CPN-UML criticised the government for failure to maintain law and order and provide good governance. Drawing the attention of the government to the murder of Bajrang Mahato on June 7 by an unknown person and the false implication of CPN-UML party workers in the killing, he also demanded action against Siraha roads division chief Ramnath Misra for alleged corruption.

Hari Acharya of national people’s forum objected that teachers in Pyuthan had been transferred on the basis of political prejudice.

Hari Narayan Choudhari of Nepali Congress complained that a budget had not been earmarked this year for controlling a river at Mrigauliya VDC which displaces people every year.

He further pointed out that paper bags should be bought into use instead of plastic bags. Shubhas Karmacharya of CPN-UML said that local residents in a dozen VDCs including Melamchi and Bhimtar were facing problems such as flood, soil erosion and inundation by the Indrawati river which renders them landless every year and expressed anguish over the lack of budget for river training and for the good of the local people.

Gokarna Raj Bista of CPN-UML said that though part of a road had been laid out in Gulmi district with a budget of Rs. 600,000 allotted in the current fiscal year, the labourers were deprived of wages and the remaining work could not be completed due to the paucity of funds.

Smriti Narayan Choudhari of Nepali Congress said that the Ministries of education and home and human rights organisations have failed to establish the whereabouts of education officer Rajendra Yadav and two others even a week after their abduction by Maoists.

He further said staff who have served in Maoist hit areas should not be deputed to such areas again.

Ananda Prasad Pokharel of CPN-UML referred to human rights violations in 1999 in a large number of countries including Nepal and opined that the recently constituted human rights commission should strive to prevent the killings and disappearances of ordinary citizens, police personnel and Maoists.

He further asked why the government was delaying the talks with Maoists at a time when the latter were ready provided some minimum conditions are met.