Kathmandu, Apr.26: A corruption-free administration with transparency and honest civil servants with a sense of accountability would result in good governance, the government secretaries said today.

Stating that corruption control, peace and security and good governance are the three priorities of the present government, they recommended for a massive reform in the “old mechanism” of administration.

Administration, for it to perform better and provide quicker services to the public, has to be freed from political intervention, they said at an interaction programme organised here this afternoon by the Reporters’ Club.

The growing cases of rampant corruption coupled with the spreading situation of lawlessness have posed hindrances to good governance, which is an outcome of democracy, they added.

“We have to develop our own system in line with our social structure,” Chief Secretary Tirtha Man Shakya said. “Unless we do that, our slogan for good governance will be a cry in the wilderness.”

He asked all to think positively and act towards achieving good results in the national campaign of administrative reforms and corruption control.

Responding to a query, Shakya said that revival of the much-hyped National Security Council was not for good governance. “It is for maintaining the peace and security situations in the country.”

Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Rameshwar Shah said that good governance meant the rule of law with justice and equal opportunity to all.

“Home Secretary Padam Prasad Pokharel said that corruption was a social problem, not a legal one, which had to be resolved through combined efforts of all.

Stating that reform in administration would lead to good governance, he suggested the civil society to pressure for such reforms.

Health Secretary Srikanta Regmi said that political interference, lack of enthusiasm, accountability and evaluation and a decrease in work ethics were some of the factors affecting good governance.

Pointing out the need for changes in mentality and attitude of civil servants for administrative reforms, he said, “The present administrative mechanism needs overhauling for better performance as per people’s expectation and aspiration.”

Director of Staff College Shambhu Sharan Kayastha said that corruption control, security and good governance had no alternatives. He, however, pointed out a gap between the government policies and their implementation and said, “This has lifted people’s faith from the government.”

Kathmandu, Apr. 26:General Federation of Nepalese Trade Union (GEFONT) today announced its Third National Congress to be held between May 1 to May 3 in Kathmandu. GEFONT will review its performance of the last four years, decide on policies related to various labour sector issues, amend its constitution to reflect the changed national scenario in labour sector, decide upon programmes to be implemented in coming four years and elect a new leadership during the three days.  GEFONT holds its national congress every four years.

GEFONT will formally inaugurate its newly built office building Man Mohan Majdur Bhawan and GEFONT Health Co-operative, organise motor-cycle rally, hold discussion on policies and programmes on women labourers and take out workers rally in the four days before the formal inauguration of the national congress on May 1. GEFONT will also hold a dialogue between visiting trade unionists and local media on impact of globalisation on labour market, present situation of trade union movement and issues related to international solidarity of labourers and trade unionists, as part of the national congress.

In the up coming national congress 300 trade unionists will represent more than 300,000 GEFONT members from across the country. Trade Unionists from Italy, Denmark, Sweden, North Korea and India will also participate in the congress. In addition to that representatives from various regional and international trade unions and organisations working for uplift of workers will participate the three-day national congress. GEFONT press release claims that the trade union federation has already received solidarity messages from trade unions from Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Vietnam and international labour offices including United Nations’ International Labour Organisation.

The necessary fund for organisation of the congress was collected from among its members. GEFONT had formed an eight-member fund raising committee for the purpose.

Kathmandu,  April 26: The Royal Nepal Airline Corporation (RNAC), the National Flag Carrier of the nation, could be incurring losses in millions of rupees once more due to managerial bungling in the process of leasing an aircraft. It may be recalled that the Corporation has not been able to recover the money to the tune of US $ 300,000 that was deposited in a foreign bank by some officials while trying to lease an aircraft more than one year back.

This time also, it is alleged that RNAC stands to lose around Rs. 300 million because of a delay in leasing an aircraft from the lowest bidder in the tender called for by the Corporation.

The process to lease another aircraft for RA’s international flights started when the lease of the Boeing B-757 of China Southwest Airlines was about to expire on March 27, 2000. The then management of the Corporation had called for an international tender to lease another aircraft.

The then Executive Chairman of the Corporation had revealed that as the Boeing Company could not deliver a new Boeing 767 for another two years, RNAC was forced to lease another aircraft of the same made. The RNAC management had earlier said that they would lease-purchase a brand new B 767-300.

However, after the calling of the first global tender, the most transparent way of leasing an aircraft, it was disclosed when the tenders were opened on February 29 that only one bidder had the type of aircraft as had been specified. But even that bidder, Ansett Australia, did not submit the 2.5 per cent of the bid bond which amounted to around US $ 600,000. So not even one valid tender was received.

In the meanwhile sources claim that other parties interested in submitting a tender started to check on how many B767s that were less than five years old were actually available in the market. This can easily be done through the Internet. According to ehe infornation  received through the Internet, it was revealed that only three companies, Ansett Australia, Royal Bruniei Airlines and City Bird Airlines of Belgium had such aircraft available for leasing.

But even out of these three, it was found that Royal Brunei had two B767 300s one of which was already leased to Air Algerie and the second one was grounded due to serious engine trouble. City Bird had not participated in the first tender bid and only Ansett had the available aircraft, but it was quoting a very high price as compared to the normal rate.

Furthermore, when even the second global tender, with similar conditions as the first – low age restriction and 2.5 per cent bid bond – was announced, many in the aviation sector suspected that there may be foul play, and some wanted to award the leasing contract to a particular company. RNAC could be the loser as the Corporation would have to pay a hefty amount to Ansett that was quoting a very high price. Fortunately, this tender was also scrapped for various reasons and then a third global tender was called on 12th March in which the age restriction was relaxed and the bid bond was brought down to a more reasonable figure of US $ 25,000. This move made it possible for other interested parties to also participate in the tender bids.

Also, being a new tender and not a re-tender, when the bids of the third tender were opened on 18th April, as 15th April happened to be a Saturday, it was revealed that five tenders had been received. Among them Babcock and Brown of Northern Ireland, Great Britain had put in a bid at the rate of US $ 3,375 per flight hour and also submitted a bid bond, Nepal Trade Concern had made a bid at the rate of US $ 6,000 per flight hour and it had also submitted a bid bond, City Bird of Belgium had filled the tender through Transaction Pacific at the rate of US $ 5,450 per flight hour and it had also submitted a bid bond, whereas A and H Aviation of UK had not submitted a proper bid bond and there was a controversy on the tender of Ansett on whether its seal had been tampered with.

As per  the tender opening procedure, before opening the envelopes containing the tenders, the sealed envelopes were circulated and it was observed that some parts of the outer seal had come off in the envelope of the Ansett tender, but the cellotape beneath the wax seal was intact. Yet, in spite of no objections from the competing bidders, sources claim that some representatives of RA themselves objected and refused to open the envelope. This was where some people in the aviation field suspected that there may have been vested interest at play, because the bids of other companies had already been read out.

Thus the  tender was not opened on that day and instead the envelope was sent to the national Forensic Lab at RONAST and it was investigated by the chief of the Lab. A reports was given that the envelope had not been tampered  with on 19th April itself, yet, some officials at the Corporation still refused to open the tender.

Critics say that this was a ploy to give more opportunity to Ansett to withdraw its tender as it was priced too high. Sources said, the company indeed sent a fax some time later that it wanted its tender returned. Thus on this ground officials refused   to open the tender even the next day. Aviation sources informed that universal tender rules do not allow tender bids submitted within the declared due date to be withdrawn, if this was done the bid bond could be confiscated.

But finally the tender was opened on Friday April 21st. It was revealed that Ansett had quoted a price of US $ 4,300 per flight hour for a seven year old plane and US $ 4,100 for a five year old aircraft.

Basing calculation on a usage of 300 hours a month as specified in the tender notice, this would mean that over the 18 month long tender period, this offer would be almost Rs. 300 million more expensive than the lowest bid submitted. This sum can be arrived at when the difference between the price  quoted by Ansett and the lowest bidder Babcock and Brown is multiplied by 300 hours and 18 months.

The present government, which has come with a strong commitment to fight corruption within government institutions, would do well to seriously look into this matter and not allow any irregularities to take place in the effort of the National Flag Carrier to lease an aircraft, sources say.

Making further delays in leasing the much needed aircraft, could also cause further losses not only for RNAC, but also to the whole tourism sector of the country, they pointed out.

Kathmandu, Apr. 26 :Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala presided over the high level committee constituted to undertake studies and evaluation and submit a report to the House of Representatives on the need to amend existing laws and acts, and changes in the management to make the elections in the future more peaceful, free, fair and transparent by considering the elections being held after the restoration of democracy.

Prime Minister Koirala is the Chairman of the Committee.

At the meeting, convenor of the management improvement recommendation sub-committee concerning elections mp ishwar Pokharel and convenor of the laws, acts and rules improvement sub-committee convenor mp krishna Prasad Sitaula apprised the committee of the progress made by their respective sub-committees.

The meeting has directed the sub-committees to function more effectively and submit a joint report with recommendations concerning changes to be made in management, acts and rules related to elections to the high level committee.

The meeting decided to request the absent members of the committee to be associated with and extend cooperation to it.

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, National Assembly Chairman Dr. Mohammad Mohsin, leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives Madhav Kumar Nepal and chief secretary Tirtha Man Shakya were present at the meeting.

Likewise, sub-committee convenors mp ishwar Pokharel and Krishna Prasad Sitaula and its members mp ramesh Lekhak and mp surendra Prasad Pandey were also present.

-By Dil Bhusan Pathak

KUNDAWA, Banke – During one of a rare visits by strangers to this backwater village, four hours walk away east of Nepalgunj, the villagers had expected a lot and seemed quite hopeful. A team of strangers led by a middle-aged grey-haired man had slipped into their otherwise forgotten village all of a sudden.

But no sooner than they finally knew that the team was that of a candidate contesting the May general elections, the villagers who were totally unaware of the elections looked disappointed. The reason: They were supposed to cross the nearby mighty Rapti River to cast their ballots in the May 3 parliamentary election.

Because the villagers of Gangapur VDC’s Kundawa – which lies in Banke-1 constituency – have been receiving “tall promises and unmaterializing assurances” from the politicians during countless previous elections, the assurances made by the team of this grey-haired gentleman was not something very promising.

Although hordes of loud speaker-installed tractors have been whisking about the nearby villages calling upon the village folks to cast their ballots on their parties’ election symbols, Kundawa was untouched by the election fever until last Friday. The village perched across the Rapati river which houses some 200 voters in its 70 houses were not approached by any candidates.

Following a devastating monsoon flood in Rapti river the villagers of Banke-2’s Holiya VDC were resettled in nearby open space across the Rapti river that falls in Banke-1 constituency. Though the villagers are now residents of Banke-1 constituency, they are enlisted as the voters of Constituency-2 by the Election Commission.

And, in an apparent bid to woo this mass of 200 voters, candidates have finally begun to make their way to Kundawa since late last week. Though the candidates have been delivering speeches about national politics and so on, the illiterate villagers seldom understand what all the high-sounding speeches really mean.

Among other basic things, the villagers are in desperate need of land to plough and work to live by. “Neither we have agricultural land nor work to do,” says 37-year-old Satgaur Murau. “We had plenty of land and a small house previously … but the floods swept away every thing we owned.”

“I am one of those mostly affected by Rapti,” laments 45-year-old Sukkha Murau. “Following the disastrous flood and subsequent re-settlement here, all I own is a small hut and five dhur (one fourth of a kattha) land” – that equals a piece of land enough to build an average Nepali house.

According to Bijay Yadav of Holiya VDC, except for two villagers in Kundawa, all the villagers own land less than two kathha.

Inhabited mostly by Yadavs and Muraus, the villagers are mostly involved in agriculture and labour based professions. As in the previous elections, the electoral issues put forth by the parties in many surrounding villages like this across the Rapti river, are construction of the Rapti bridge, link roads, irrigation canals, and electrification. The villages connected with India’s Uttar Pradesh include, Kutkuia, Laxmanpur, Narayanpur, Kalaphanta, Gangapur and Machhaiya.

Locals say, although the candidates contesting in previous elections too had vowed to look into the problems nothing has been done till date. “There is no data on how much damage the floods have caused,” says a farmer in Kundawa. “The floods have damaged river banks to such extent that it is difficult to trace the river’s edges.”

Those contesting the election from Banke-1 that covers most villages across the Rapti include, Gyanu KC of Nepali Congress, Dinesh Chandra Yadav of Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Krishna Raj Panta of CPN (ML), Prem Bahadur Bhandari of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP)-Chand, Chet Bahadur Thapa of RPP and Independent candidate Thakur Singh Tharu.

The candidates have also planted their party flags in most of the houses of this constituency. Says a Tharu man whose house boasts of a total of four parties’ flags: “Although the political parties have neglected our needs we have not. “I have satisfied all of them,” he adds pointing at his little hut with flags of four different political parties fluttering to the gentle breeze.

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, April 26 – Political parties, private individuals and various other organizations today paid rich tributes to the CPN-UML chairman Manmohan Adhikari, pointing out that the communist leader had left behind a strong democratic political legacy.

Expressing shocks over the sudden death of the veteran communist leader, various political parties, in their condolence messages, have wished eternal peace to the departed soul.

Nepali Congress (NC), in its condolence message, has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the septuagenarian leader Man Mohan Adhikari. In a statement signed by the party General Secretary Basudev Risal, the party has lauded Adhikari’s commitment in safeguarding and consolidating democracy “even if the system doesn’t fall within the ambit of communist ideology”.

The message has also pointed out the irreparable damage caused to Nepali politics by Adhikari’s death.

“Adhikari’s demise has left me very lonely,” said Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala while paying his tribute to the late communist leader at the Open Air Theatre. “Whether in the government or outside, he was always ready whenever I sought his advice.”

Talking to The Kathmandu Post later today, an emotional Madhav Nepal, UML’s general secretary and Adhikari’s comrade-in-arms, said, “I looked up to Manmohanji as a guardian.”

“In fact, he was the guardian of the nation,” said Nepal. “His demise is a great loss to us.”

Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist- Leninist), following the party’s central committee meeting, has issued a statement condoling the death of the former prime minister, wishing eternal peace to the departed soul. The meeting called to honour the late Adhikari also decided to close party offices on Tuesday across the country.

General-secretary of CPN (Mashal) Mohan Bikram Singh has said that Adhikari’s death has disrupted the movement against reactionaries, fascists and revisionists active in Nepali politics.

Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has decided to fly the party’s flag at half-mast from Monday to Wednesday. Terming Adhikari as the nation’s “guardian”, RPP president Surya Bahadur Thapa today said the late leader was endowed with the unique capacity of “understanding and coordinating political activities”, and hence a rarity among veteran politicians.

RPP (Chand), in a statement issued today has also mourned the sudden death of Adhikari. Chairman of Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Gajendra Narayan Singh in a press release issued today said the death was an “irreparable damage to Nepali politics”.

According to Amik Sherchan, President of United People’s Front Nepal, the party has decided to postpone its election programmes to honour late Adhikari. Meanwhile, president of Rastriya Janata Party, Kirti Nidhi Bista, has hailed the political culture demonstrated by late Adhikari that will stand out as a landmark in the country’s political history.

Kathmandu, Apr. 24:Member of the National Sports Council and the general secretary of Nepal Karate Association Daba Gurung gave away awards and certificates to the winners of Pasang Lhamu Women Karate and Kick Boxing competition, Monday.

The three day competition was jointly organised by Nepal Karate Association and Pasang Lhamu Foundation.

In the competition, Pratima Darshan (Ghantaghar), Sima Adhikari, (Balaju), Renu Thapa (Sano Gauchar) and Aajana Sharma stood first, second and third respectively in 35 kg category. Similarly in 40 kg category Anju Hayechu (Bhaktapur), Shanti Rai (Mahabir), Suju Gurung (Sano Gauchar) and Sumita Lama (Ghantaghar) appeared first, second and third respectively. Likewise in 45 kg category, Manju Ale (Mahabir), Indira Ranjit (Bhaktapur) Parbati Adhikari, (Balaju), Kabita Giri Baneshwor) stood first, second and third respectively. In 50 kg category, Sabitri Prajapati of Bhaktapur stood first, Manju Giri of Mahabir stood second while Sangeeta Lama of Mitrapark and Anita Gautam of Dakshinkali appeared third. Likewise in 55 kg category, Shanti Adhikari of Gandaki stood first, Rita Tatya of Bhaktapur, Sabita Shretha and Sanju Lama stood third in the event.

The programme was chaired by the secretary of Pasang Lhamu Foundation Navaraj Adhikari.

Nepalgunj: First president of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, inaugurating the Ninth General Meeting of the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) here Friday, said, “Industry and Commerce could not flourish in the country owing to political instability and recession.”

FNCCI executive member Dr. Gopal Prasad Shrestha said that the weaknesses and shortcomings faced in the value added tax should be resolved.

Nepalgunj Mayor Dhawal Shumsher Rana described the role of business community in the overall development of the municipality as significant.

Chief District Officer Shyam Prasad Mainali said that the administration was alert enough to step any irregularities in business.

Chamber Secretary Satish Kumar Agrawal presented the annual report at the meeting chaired by its president Achyut Prasad Prasai.

Itahari: The District Forest Office, (DFO) Sunsari, has collected revenue of Rs 13.16 million from different sources till mid-march of fiscal year 1999/2000.

According to the statistics made available by the district forest office, a revenue of Rs 11.8 million by auctioning off timber collected at various places, Rs 942,625 by offering pebble and sand quarries on contract and Rs 158,000 by the sales of various tenders.

Similarly, the office collected Rs 119,000 in fines from various timber smugglers, Rs 122,000 by the sales of medicinal herbs and other forest products and an additional Rs 122,889 in other fines, District Forest Officer Shambhu Prasad Chaurasia said.

The office increased its revenue collection by Rs 403,444 this year compared to the revenue collected in the corresponding period last fiscal year.

DURING the first eight months of the current fiscal year 1999/00, the growth of narrow money has accelerated while that of broad money slowed down. Total government expenditure has accelerated due to the growth in all expenditure heads.

Higher budgetary deficit has been recorded as a consequence of sluggishness in resources mobilisation in comparison to government expenditure. The rate of inflation on point to point basis has declared because of the improvement in the prices of both the food and beverage as well as non-food and services groups.

In the external sector, in spite of a higher growth rate of exports than that of import, trade deficit has widened substantially mainly due to a relatively larger volume of imports. Foreign exchange holdings of the banking system continues to rise due to a surplus in the balance of payment emanating from the flowed of net services and transfer income as well as miscellaneous capital net.

The existing foreign exchange reserve is sufficient to cover merchandise imports of 10 months. In the share market, both share transaction and NEPSE. Index have increased significantly as compared to previous month, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) press release.

During the first eight months of the current fiscal year, broad money has registered a declaring growth of 11.1 per cent (Rs16,934.5 million) amounting to Rs.169,830.1 million compared to the growth of 14.1 per cent (Rs. 17,783.2 million) last year. This is mainly due to the decline in the growth of not domestic assets of the banking system during the review period. Narrow money has, however, accelerated by 12.5 per cent (Rs.6,406.2 million) compared to the growth of 6.4 per cent (Rs.2,896.3 million) last year time deposit during the review period has decelerated from 18.3 per cent (Rs 14,886.9 million) to 10.3 per cent (Rs.10,528.3 million) as a consequence of downward revision of interest rate, improvement in share prices, growth of imports and expansion of activities of non-banking financial institutions, the press release says.

As a result of growth claim on the government, total domestic credit has increased by 8.6 per cent (Rs.11.5618.8 million) during the review period while such an increase was 7.2 per cent (Rs.8.326.8 million) last year.

Because of slow pick up of credit to industrial sector, in spite of a growth in import credit, the growth rate of banking credit to the private sector has declared from 9.5 per cent (Rs. 7,298.3 million) last year to 9.1 per cent (Rs.,8,268.5 million) during the review period.

FISCAL SIDE

In The Fiscal Side government expenditure has accelerated from 10 .7 per cent last year to 17.0 per cent amounting to Rs.31,082.0 million during the review period.

This is mainly due to the significant rise in development expenditure by 18.5 per cent, regular expenditure by 15.4 per cent and freeze expenditure by 41.4 per cent.

Expansion of development activities in the public sector has contributed to the growth of development expenditure during the review period.

Resource mobilisation had marked a sluggish growth of 7.8 per cent during the review period compared to 23.2 per cent last year. Revenue collection, a major source of resource mobilisation, stood at Rs.23, 9027 million marking a 12.1 per cent growth compared to 13.8 per cent growth last year.

In addition to lit, decline in the receipts from foreign cash grant and non-budgetary income are also accountable for such a sluggish growth of resource mobilisation.

As a consequence of lower resource mobilisation compared to expenditure, budget deficit of Rs.5.568.6 million has been recorded and this is 91.2 per cent higher than that of the previous year. During the review period, the government has received foreign cash loan of Rs.2,553.9 million, issued treasury bills worth of Rs.2,300.0 million and overdrawn Rs.714.7 million from Nepal Rastra Bank for deficit financing, it is said.

PRICE INDEX

National Urban Consumer Price Index, on point to point basis, recorded a price rise 2.8 per cent during the review period compared to 10.3 per cent in the previous year. The decelerating trend in the prices of food and beverages group as well as non-food and services group has helped to lower down the price to a single digit. Price index of food and beverage group has increased minaly by 0.1 per cent compared to 13.9 per cent last year. Despite a nominal pressure in the prices of restaurant meal, meat, fish and eggs. Beverages, milk and milk products as well as foodgrain, the declining price of a oil and ghee, sugar and sugar products, spices, pulses, vegetables and fruits has contributed for such a low growth in the price of food and beverages group. The price of non-food and services group has also declined from 6.2 per cent last year to 6.1 per cent during the review period.

Although there has been a slight increase in the price index of transportation and communication as well as housing subgroup mainly due to an upward revision of prices of petroleum products, electricity, and drinking water, the slow down in the prices of other subgroup items has attributed to the declaration in the price. Index of non-food and services group. Regionwise, prices in Kathmandu has recorded a higher growth of 4.3 per cent followed by 2.5 per cent in Terai and 1.2 per cent in Hills, it is said.

Export Trade Situation

ON THE EXTERNAL front exports have increased by 41.6 per cent to Rs.3,2501.4 million and import have gone up by 29.1 per cent to Rs.6,9307.9 million. In the export side, export of readymade garments, handicrafts and jewellery followed by Pashmina has shown a growtgh tendency. During the review period, Rs.3550.0 million worth of Pashmina has been exported. However exports of carpet, pulses, tanned skin and nigerseed have declined during the review period. Export-import radio, which was 42.8 per cent last year, has increased slightly to 46.9 per cent during the review period. A surge in imports is attributed to higher imports of foodgrains, medicine, cement textile, thread, glass and glassware, plastic were, chemical, agricultural,. tools etc. from India and gold, raw wool, copper, wire and sheet, transportation goods and spare parts, communication equipments, construction materials, crude oil and steel sheet from third countries. Although exports have increased at a higher rate than imports, trade deficit which had declined last year increased by 19.8 per cent amounting to Rs.3,6806.5 million mainly due to a large volume of imports compared to exports, according to press release.

Based on the available statistics for the first six months of the current fiscal year, the balance of payment has remained favourable by Rs.5792.6 million. In the review period, the growth in trade deficit outpacing the increase in net service and transfer income has resulted in the current account deficit of Rs.4407.9 million. However, a substantial inflow of miscellaneous capital item net has helped balance of payments to register a sizable surplus.

Based on the monetary static’s for the first eight months of the current fiscal year, overall balance of payments has recorded a surplus of Rs.11915.1 million. As a result, foreign exchange holdings of the banking system has been increasing continuously, the press release says.