Bhadrapur, May 6: A five-member committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of assistant CDO of Jhapa Beni Madhav Gyawali to settle a dispute over land used by Kisandehi maternity home. The land has been handed over to Mechi Zonal Hospital.

A meeting of social workers, industrialists and representatives from the Hospital Development Committee held here under the chairmanship of CDO Dilli Raj Joshi assigned the committee the task of coming up with a permanent solution to the dispute within a period of seven days. The dispute centers around the cost of the land involved and substitute land. The staff of the hospital are using the maternity home as living quarters along with a two-storey nurses’ quarters constructed on land occupied by the maternity home. Her Majesty Queen Mother Ratna Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah had inaugurated the maternity home constructed by the late Satya Narayan Agrawal, father of Mechi Hospital Development Committee chairman Mohan Lal Agrawal. For the purpose land near the hospital was purchased in 2019 BS at the rate of 1,000 per kaththa from the late Kanhaiya Lal Agrawal.

The heirs of Kanhaiya Lal are seeking payment of the current market price for the land or allocation of substitute land as payment as per the previous price has not yet been made.

The dispute arose after they sold part of the land still under their ownership and construct work started on a building on it.

The parties differ over the cost of the land. Mohan Lal Agrawal has offered Rs. 200,000, but the heirs of Kanhaiya Lal are not ready to accept a price below Rs. 500,000. Ownership of the land has not yet been transferred to Mechi Zonal Hospital.

Buildings erected on the land for the maternity home and the staff quarters are in ruin as construction work initiated by the hospital development committee and HMG could not be completed on time.

In Bhaktapur, the over nine months old dispute between the Nagarkot Transportation Management Committee and the Bhaktapur minibus services committee over operating buses on the Kathmandu-Nagarkot route ended friday after a truce between the disputing parties.

The dispute was finally settled at a meeting of transport entrepreneurs from both the committees, representatives of various political parties and the representatives of the federation of transport entrepreneurs. The meeting was chaired by chief district officer Dhurba Raj Wagle. The meeting also constituted a district transport management committee with the representation from the district administration, police and the registered public transport operators in the district. Any buses operating the route are issued the route permit only at the recommendation of the district transport management committee.

Similarly, the meeting decided to run six buses of the Nagarkot Transportation Committee and 18 buses of the bBhaktapur minibus service committee on the route in a day.

Likewise, the two old buses of the Nagarkot transportation committee have been permitted to operate on the local Biruwa-old bus park route.

He dispute over the bus route surfaced some nine months ago after Bhaktapur minibus service committee did not allow the eight buses of the Nagarkot Transport Committee to ply the Nagarkot-Kathmandu route.

It is learnt that while Bhaktapur Minibus Services Committee charges Rs 18 as transportation fare per person on the Nagarkot-Kathmandu route, the Nagarkot Transport Committee has been charging Rs 16 per person for the same distance for the convenience of the passengers.

Kathmandu, May 6: The majority of the unelectrified population in Nepal does not have access to electricity.

However, human power is universally available and is quite applicable if only a small wattage is required.

Several groups have come up with schemes for incorporating pedal generators in rural electrification projects for remote areas of Nepal.

One such group is the Nepal light project led by professor Irvine-Halliday of the University of Calgary and engineering students of the center for energy studies at the Institute of Engineering in Kathmandu, according to Nathan Eagle, a mechanical engineering graduate from Stanford University, usa, who is spending a l0 month Fulbright grant working on an assortment of appropriate technology issues.

Professor Irvine-Halliday’s generator is designed specifically for white leds and battery charging.

Using the system be designed, 20 minutes of extremely minimal pedaling gives 3-4 hours of light to a household (using 6 white leds).

In a report to the usef Nepal bulletin, Eaglel said he has started putting his own prototype using locally available parts. Bicycle dynamos imported from India and China are available in Kathmandu.

Connected to a multimeter, he was able to verify that they put out about 12v ac and 6 watts of power. Installing 10 in parallel on a used 12-speed bicycle should generate over 50w, enough to power a black and white tv as well as adequate white led lighting.

However, much of the potential users of these systems (especially the women) are already overburdened with manual labour. A more elegant, although location specific, solution would be to leverage the work already exerted in existing daily labour.

An example could be a simple dynamo hooked onto a hand-grinder, Eagle points out.

Bhaktapur, May 6: General Secretary of the cpn- uml and leader of the main opposition party Madhav Kumar Nepal inaugurated the Sathi Shailung Janahit Library established at Lohakilthali, ward no 16 of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, here today.

The library which is established with the assistance of the Sathi Foundation Japan, at the initiative of Shailung Foundation Nepal and Janahit Samaj Nepal will be developed into a national library, the organisers said.

Speaking on the occasion, General Secretary Nepal said as the present age is that of knowledge and information, the library will play an important role in spreading knowledge.

Ex-prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said establishment of the library has filled the void of library in Thimi.

Minister Counselor of the Japanese Embassy Koichi Yotsuya said the establishment of the library will simultaneously carry out social works and educate the local people.

President of the Sathi Foundation Japan Soichi Khasigoma said the foundation will continue to cooperate with the library.

Former Nepalese Ambassador to Japan and president of the Shailung Foundation Bishnu Hari Nepal informed that reference materials will also be kept at the library for intellectuals and students.

Also speaking on the occasion were ex-minister Jagannath Acharya, cdo Dhruba Raj Wagle, principal of the Om Gyan Mandir School Khadga Katuwal and coordinator of the library Toyanath Pandey.

The function was presided over by president of Janahit Samaj Bishnu Prasad Nepal.

According to president of the Samaj Mr. Nepal, the library has now four dailies, eight weeklies and 16 monthlies and the Sathi Foundation Japan has contributed 300 reference books for children.

Kathmandu, May 6: Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi speaking at the 46th anniversary function of Madan Smarak Secondary School, Lalitpur today said timely improvement in the education sector is the need of the day.

Since the country’s development is not possible without the development of education sector, it is a common responsibility of all to help build an environment in which society benefits from the investment made by the government in education, he said.

At the function, Home Minister Joshi felicitated chairman of the school managing committee Kamal Mani Dixit and principal of the school Guma Sharma by wrapping shawls around them.

He also presented letters of commendation to those making significant contribution to the school and the students who secured first division in last year’s S.L.C. examinations. Likewise, he gave away prizes to the students winning various sports competitions organised by the school.

The minister also presented prizes to students of the school Anju Shrestha, Manida Shaha, Rupa Maharjan, Shanta Sapkota, Susmita Thapa and Samigya Shakya who had earned various medals for the country in the Eighth saf Games.

At the function presided over by managing committee chairman Dixit, district education officer Bal Bahadur Pariyar said despite the big investment made by the government in education sector the outcome is not satisfactory.

Kathmandu, May 6: The second vice chairman of the United Nations Women Organisation and chairman of the Welfare Committee Miralu Shariff handed over to the general secretary of the organisation Ganesh Bhakta Shrestha a cheque for Rs. 117,000 for procuring educational materials and improving the mentally retarded children’s’ house and the Community Development Centre run under the Nepal Children’s Organisation (nco).

According to the nco, a sum of Rs 67,000 is received from the organisation for increasing the capacity of the mentally retarded children’s house at Panchkhal, Kavrepalanchowk by improving it.

Established last year, the children’s house has currently 19 children-eight of them mentally retarded.

Similarly, the organisation has also provided a financial grant of Rs 50,000 for improving the classrooms and procuring educational materials for the backward class children studying at the Community Development Centre, Thencho run under the nco. The centre has now 60 children from poor and helpless families.

The Bal Mandir has been receiving the service of volunteer Mrs. Lupita Farera from the organisation for the last three years.

The nco has been working for orphans and backward children in all 75 districts of the kingdom for the past 35 years through its district working committees.

Dhangadhi, May 6: Nineteen bonded labourers (Kamaiyas) of Geta VDC, Kailali have jointly filed a complaint against their landlord and ex-minister of state Shivaraj Pant at Geta VDC office demanding entitlement to their wages as per the minimum wage rates fixed by His Majesty’s Government.

According to the Kamaiyas, they do not get any benefits or wages except 15 quintals of paddy a year, and they are compelled to work more than eight hours a day as ordered by the landlord. The 15 quintals of paddy is given only to the Kamaiya man and wife, not their dependents, they said.

After the Kamaiyas, who are living in huts in public land near the landlord’s land, started demanding minimum wage, the landlord is reported to have threatened them with physical torture and eviction from the public land. For the fear of possible torture and eviction, the bonded labourers filed the complaint seeking security and their rights, it is said.

A procession of Kamaiyas that originated from the Geta eye hospital premises under the leadership of Backward Society Education (base) on the occasion of the International May Day went to the Geta VDC office to file the complaint.

When contacted for comment, landlord Pant said he has been providing 15 quintals of paddy a year to each of the Kamaiyas and has also provided small piece of land to live in. In addition to this, he added, he has been providing money and paddy when burrowed by the Kamaiyas and making them work as per the Kamaiya system. As for his threats he said he does not have the right to evict the Kamaiyas from the public land.

Even after working for the landlord for 25 to 30 years, the Kamaiyas are supposed to pay back money ranging from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 65,000 and 47 quintals of paddy to the landlord, according to base central member Yagya Raj Chaudhari.

Despite a constitutional provision which has proscribed bonded labour system, the system still exists in various Terai districts including Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Dang.

Syangja, May 6: Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel has pointed out the need for unity, reconciliation and understanding in the Nepali Congress in order to achieve the goal based on the principle and policy of the party.

Addressing a gathering of party workers at Syangja Bazaar today, Mr. Poudel said the socialism is aimed at abolishing hero worshipping and working for the socio-economic and political upliftment of the backward and suppressed people.

MPs Gopalman Shrestha, Sukraraj Sharma and Dilliraj Sharma also expressed their views at the function chaired by nc Syangja District Working Committee chairman mp Shanker Pandey.

Also today, laying the foundation stone for a statue of popular leader B.P. Koirala to be installed at Ward No-1 of Putali Bazaar, Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Poudel described the late leader as a hero who guided the nation towards modernization and democratization, and made the people sovereign.

B.P. Thought Academy, Syangja president Khagendraraj Regmi presided.

In Pokhara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ram Chandra Poudel inaugurated the centenary function of the Sanskrit Secondary School at Bhimkalipatan in Pokhara Sub-metropolis, today.

On the occasion, dpm Poudel felicitated the headmaster and assistant teachers at the school, Tanka Nath Parajuli, Shukadev Baral and Rajaram Regmi respectively by wrapping shawls around them and presenting letters of honour.

Mr. Poudel also announced a financial assistance of Rs. 100,000 from the Ministry of Local Development and Rs. 10,000 on his own behalf for the establishment of a revolving fund at the school.

On the occasion dpm Poudel asked those studying Sanskrit not to think themselves inferior.

A man without civilisation cannot live a peaceful life, he said, adding that every one has the responsibility of preserving the school.

At the function mps Shukraraj Sharma, Shankar Pandey, Tanka Sharma Kandel, Dilliraj Sharma, Prakash Bahadur Gurung and Mahadev Gurung also expressed their views.

At the function presided over by the chairman of the school management committee Keshav Raj Parajuli, various other speakers including headmaster Taranath Pakhe, former students Hemraj Regmi, Khagendra Raj Regmi and Damodar Banstola also expressed their views.

Pokhara, May 6: Nepali Congress central member and Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel has said that Nepal Tarun Dal, youth wing of Nepali Congress, has been working as a revolutionary and socialist force.

Inaugurating the first district convention of the dal’s district working committee here today, Deputy Prime Minister Poudel said even long time after the restoration of democracy, we have not been able to meet the aspirations of the people due to various anomalies and aberrations.

The present government is resolved to control corruption and put an end to violence and terrorism, he added.

The government is also making serious efforts to provide a clean and healthy administration and help the people get out of the existing despondency, he said.

MP Shukra Raj Sharma said individualistic attitude and self aggrandizement are detrimental to democracy, while mp Mahadev Gurung said the change of government was essential to fulfil the promises made by the party during the election.

MP Prakash Bahadur Gurung said the time has come for the party to assess whether it has been able to keep the promises it has made to the people.

MPs Shankar Pandey, Dilliraj Sharma and Tanka Kandel highlighted the role of youth in the preservation of democracy and the country’s development.

A host of other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by Tarun Dal Kaski district president Diwas Man Pradhananga.

Some 143 representatives are attending the two-day convention.

Pokhara, May 4: A two-day national workshop on “sports tourism in Nepal, Possibilities and Areas” organised by Nepal Press Union (NPU) central working committee under the auspices of the NPU Kaski unit began here recently.

Former Sports Minister and MP Sharat Singh Bhandari, advisor to the Ministry of Industry Ananda Raj Mulmi and tourism expert Karna Shakya are to present working papers at the workshop organised with an objective to make the bodies concerned attentive towards tourism development in the country through the medium of sports.

The workshop will also reach a conclusion following extensive discussion on the working papers.

Personalities associated with tourism, sports, industry and trade, and journalists from various parts of the country are taking part in the workshop.

Inaugurating the workshop, Minister of state for Local Development Suresh Malla lauded the effort made by NPU to draw the attention of the bodies concerned towards this important issue on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day.

The press should always be conscious of its duty, he added.

MPs Sharat Singh Bhandari, Prakash Bahadur Gurung and Sukra Raj Sharma, member secretary of National Sports Council Binod Shanker Palikhe, advisor to the Ministry of Industry Ananda Raj Mulmi and other speakers also expressed their views at the programme chaired by NPU central president Kul Chandra Wagle.

Kathmandu, May 4: Manang Marshyangdi Club secured vital points in its campaign for Martyrs Memorial Football League title today after beating unfancied Jawalakhel Youth Club 2-0. In the day’s first match, Friends Club had to satisfy with a goalless draw against Kathmandu Club.

The MMC overpowered the Lalitpur based JYC and sent the rival on defensive in both halves of the match. In fact, the 2-0 score line did not give the real picture of their domination over the JYC. They could have widened the margin but their forwards ill directed shots and some excellent goal keeping by JYC custodian stopped them to increase the victory margin.

Performing cohesion in all departments of the game, the MMC took the lead through Basant Gauchan in the 10th minute of the game when he hammered home for a easy goal after a shot was rebounded off JYC custodian Ujjwal Manandhar.

Just eight minutes after the first goal, Rajan Rayamajhi, who collected a cross from Gauchan, took a very close range shot to give his team the second goal.

Having dominated the first half, the MMC players did not let the game go out of their hand in the second half but could not increase the lead due to their poor finishes. On the other hand, the JYC boys could not pierced through the effective MMC defense-line and played defensive game throughout the match.

Earlier, Friends Club had to share the points with lowly Kathmandu Club following their inability in making clinical finishes at the goal mouth despite having dominated the rivals in both proceedings of the game. Friends forwards Bill Tamang, Sukra Tamang and KC brothers, Sujit and Shushil failed to rise on the occasions while Kathmandu Club strikers Anil Darshan and Uiran Lama made wild shot to posts. After playing full time, both team failed to break the deadlock.