Kathmandu, Apr. 22:Chief of the Army Staff General Prajwalla Shumsher J.B. Rana is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Bangladesh from tomorrow to April 27 at the invitation of chief of the Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army lieutenant general Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman.

The chief of the Army Staff General Rana will be accompanied by his spouse Mrs. Sindhu Rajyalaxmi Rana during the visit.

General Rana, who was appointed chief of the Army Staff on May 19 last year, had earlier taken part in the conference of the chiefs of the defence held in Hawaii of the USA and the first pacific armies chief’s conference held in Singapore at the invitation of the chief of the Japanese ground self defence force.

Similarly, chief of the Army Staff general Rana also visited China and India at the invitation of the chiefs of the Army Staff of these countries.

The Royal Nepalese Army headquarters has expressed the confidence that this visit by the chief of the Army Staff to Bangladesh is expected to further strengthen the mutual relations between the armies of Nepal and Bangladesh and the bond of friendship between the two countries.

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 22: Nepal claimed team title in the Second South Asian Bodybuilding Championship held in Kathmandu from 20-23 April The Championship was participated in by six nations of South Asia.

Nepal scored 70 points in six different categories to edge the Maldives that scored 68 to the second and India (67 points) to the third place in the team championship.

Nepal claimed one gold, two silvers and four bronzes while Maldives won one gold three silver and one bronze. However, the Indian who had to satisfy with third place in overall team performance, outshone other with three gold and one silver medals.

Pakistan won a gold medal to remain at fourth place while Bangladesh won just one bronze. Sri Lankan body-builders could not claim a single medal.

Nepal’s Sachit Pradhan and Jeevan Ghimire claimed the gold and bronze respectively in the 50 Kg weight category. The silver of this event went to Ashamat Mohmmad of the Maldives.

In the 60 kg category the gold and bronze medal were won by the Maldivians Ali Abdulla (Alla) and Ali Abdulla respectively while silver medal was claimed by Nepal’s Raju Diwakar.

India’s Ashwal Dinesh won gold while Nepalese Shyam Shrestha and Jeevendra Rai claimed silver and bronze medals respectively in the 65 kg events.

Likewise in the 70 kg group, the gold medal went to Pakistan’s Khalid Ali. Nepal’s Sagar Tamrakar won the silver medal while bronze was claimed by Bangladesh’s Rakib. India’s Shyam Sunder succeeded to getting hold of gold in the 75 kg group while the Maldivian A. Imad won silver. The Bronze for the event went to Arun Mukhiya of Nepal.

In the 75 kg plus (middle weight) event, the gold and silver medals went to Indian Anil Raut and M.J. Shaji respectively. Nepal’s Naresh Maharjan won fourth bronze for his team.

Pokhara, Apr. 22: Apart from other potential areas, the tourism sector could contribute considerably in transforming a beautiful country like Nepal into a prosperous one as well.

A number of world famous mountain ranges, glaciers, conserved forests, natural lakes, sanctuaries, art and culture and religious harmony are   assets of Nepal that can attract people from all over the world and boost the   tourism industry of the country.

What many countries of the world have done for luring domestic as well as foreign tourists is the creation of artificial lakes and ponds to supplement the natural beauty of the country. In Nepal also, a number of lakes and ponds such as Dhanushasagar, Gangasagar, Birasatsagar, Ranipokhari and Gopal Garden have been created in Dhanusha, Kathmandu and Morang districts.

Nepal is endowed with a large number of natural lakes, but lacks  proper care, domestic tourists say.

Lakes like Rara, Phewa, Begnas and Rupa are quite well known within and outside the country. But the biggest, lake Rara, has not yielded returns to the desired extent due to lack of promotional activities. A need has been felt for tourism entrepreneurs to give special consideration to this.

The excessive use of Phewa, a lake in Kaski district well known for its astounding scenery, by tourism entrepreneurs, discharge of the town’s sewerage and rivers which carry sand and soil into it have placed the lake under threat. All these issues are being brought up by the media from time to time.

Taking all these facts into consideration, work on tracing the boundary of the lake has been initiated through the joint efforts of local bodies and HMG as per directives issued by Kaski district council to the DDC board.

Commencement of boundary demarcation of the lake extending over at least 8.5 sq. Km. To be completed in the coming two months is considered an appreciable measure.

According to Pokhara Sub-municipal Corporation, the Royal Palace, the iucn World Conservation Organisation and the district Chamber of Commerce and Industry have provided generous grants which have exceeded Rs. 600,000 so far.

Powers have been delegated to local bodies under the local autonomy act for the conservation of natural and historical properties lying within their area.

To translate these powers into action, the process of handing over such properties which fall under the act to the relevent institutions, bodies and groups has already begun in order to help local bodies in the use of local means and resources for tourism promotion and economic advancement.

Lekhnath Municipality in Kaski district is the only municipality among the 58 sub-municipalities and municipalities across the country to have seven lakes. These are Begnas, Rupa, Dipang, Maidee, Khaste, Nyureni and Gunde.

Dipang, Khaste, Nyureni and Gunde have been leased to private parties pursuant to provisions of the act under which local bodies can lease out such properties.

Dipang lake has been transferred on lease for the coming 20 years to Dipang Agro-Tourism Pvt. Ltd. run by a group of persons including gopal Prasad Sharma of Pokhara under the stipulation that the firm spend a total of Rs. 5,154,800 within the coming 10 years for the protection of the lake.

The firm has to set up a line of facilities including fisheries, a jogging trail, a swimming pool, a mini-resort, a restaurant and bar, picnic spots and a bird sanctuary.

Over the lease period, it will pay the municipality a rent amount of Rs. 32,000 for the first quarter, Rs. 65,000 for the second quarter, Rs. 455,000 for the third quarter and Rs. 519,000 for the fourth quarter.

Similarly, nyureni lake has been handed over to Swatisadan Secondary Highschool at Banseswar, Kathmandu on a 20-year lease. It will make an outlay of Rs. 1,463,000 over the leased period on a house boat, fisheries and a duck farm.

It will have to pay the municipality rent of   Rs. 5.000, Rs. 10,000, Rs 70,000 and Rs. 80,000 in the first, second, third and fourth quarters respectively over the lease period.

The municipality also handed over Khaste lake to Khaste Pvt. Ltd. for running fisheries and a duck farm for the coming 10 years. The lease period can be extended as per demand.

Khaste will pay the rent amount in two instalments over the lease period, Rs. 35,000 for the first half and Rs. 44,000 for the second half.

Likewise, it has transferred Gunde lake to Gunde Fisheries and Tourism Pvt. Ltd. on a lease of 20 years.

Gunde Fisheries and tourism will pay rent amounts of Rs. 12,000, Rs. 24,000, Rs. 167,000 and Rs. 191,000 in the first, second, third and fourth quarters respectively for use of the lake and its peripheral land area.

The lakes were leased to make such places productive, conserve them and launch promotion activities in view of the lack of resources, the threat of encroachment and diminution of  the original structures, mayor of the municipality Shaligram Poudel said.

The municipality stretches over a 75.93 Sq. km area at altitudes of between  490 to 1,217 meters above sea level.

Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Agricultural Research Council and the Fisheries Development Board will extend cooperation to the private parties who hold the lease.

The city dwellers of Pokhara have pointed out that the use of natural resources will not bear fruit to the nation if the facilities are not made available to domestic as well as foreign tourists who come here to savour such natural beauty.

A number of factors such as the sources of income of local bodies, the environment and the interest of investors as well as local people should be taken into account while leasing productive tourism spots identified through study and research, Nepali Congress Kaski district secretary Yagya Bahadur Thapa opines.

Beganas, Rupa and Maidee can be handed over to private parties if they show interest, it is pointed out.

Kaski DDC President Punya Prasad Poudel is of the opinion that all the big lakes such as Phewa and Begnas should be under the protection of the local bodies.

Kamal Lake, one of seven lakes in Kaski district, is to be traced its boundary and conserved its original quality, he says.

“Jhilmila Lake” situated at the boundary of Dadeldhura and Kanchanpur districts can be developed as a natural habitat for the “Magura” fish and tourists attracted if it is conserved and means of transport and  publicity arranged.

Strolling along the edge of the lake one can dip a bucket in the water and scoop up at least five fish at a time.

Fishing the Magura, a rare species with long tentacles in the front part of the body, has been prohibited in the lake surrounded by forests and  with a temple a long side.

Kathmandu, April 20:The number of poor rural women receiving financial services from the General Uthan Bank (Poor People Upliftment Bank) has reached 27,626.

The bank established in line with the conception of the Rural Development Bank of Bangladesh has been providing its services as institution working for the poor since the past seven years. It converted into a poor people upliftment bank since November 1998.

Speaking at a function held at Siddharthanagar on the occasion of the first annual general meeting of the Bank, its chairman Himalaya Shamsher Rana said there had been remarkable improvement in the income, assets, education and health of women, thanks to the financial services provided by the bank.

The Bank has been providing financial services at 195 VDCs in Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu, Chitawan, Bara, Rautahat and Parsa districts.

The Bank is to start banking transactions in the coming days in line with the Development Bank Act after obtaining necessary permission from Nepal Rastra Bank.

The proposed scheme aims at accepting deposits from the public, starting banking transactions and disbursing loans for running small businesses, according to chief executive of the Bank Dr. Harihar Dev Panta.

According to him, the scheme also aims at consolidating the programmes conduced in the Terai region so that the ban can earn a profit. The programme will be extended to the hilly areas, which are the main centres of poverty, if financial cooperation is available from any other source.

Customers receiving financial services from the Bank will also be provided with other services concerned with education, health and skills relating to employment.

Loan arrears to be recovered by the Bank have crossed Rs 100 million. Of this 0.47 per cent has exceeded the expiry date.

The chairman says that as the bank has been run efficiently for the last seven years, there are indications that it will become financially self-reliant within a year.

Kathmandu, April 20:An elderly Japanese citizen has been successfully converting the barren and dry land of upper Mustang district into fertile land thereby uplifting the living standard of the local people.

Eighty years old, Toru Kondo has been conducting income generating and infrastructure development projects in lower and Upper Mustang through Mustang Development Service Association (MSDA), an international non-governmental organisation established in 1993.

MDSA has been running vegetable, floriculture, livestock, horticulture, rice and fish farming projects and hospital in Dhami, Marpha, Charang, Lomanthang, Chonhui, Ghosar and Surang VDCs located at an altitude of about 3700 meters.

MDSA chairman Kondo says that the poor condition of the people of Mustang district inspired him to do something for them and that he is confident that the barren dry hills of Mustang can be turned green and thereby uplift the living standard of the people.

MDSA since its establishment has been involved in infrastructure development projects like reconstruction of school buildings, construction of suspension bridge, trail road improvement projects, etc.

MDSA has also begun vegetable farming, horticulture and floriculture in the snow-covered areas of Upper Mustang located 14,000 feet above sea level.

Strong sunshine and snow melted water are the precious elements required for the agricultural development which are abundantly available in Mustang, says Kondo.

I have succeeded in harnessing these elements, Kondo says, adding that sometimes due to natural, climatic, topographical and other difficulties he feels to phase out the programme, but continues its when he remembers the condition of the poor, innocent and illiterate people of Mustang.

MDSA has already constructed four school buildings in lower Mustang and carrying out more other literacy projects with a target of attaining 100 per cent literacy in the district presently with a literacy rate of less than 20 per cent.

Local women and farmers are provided technical training through which farm tools are locally produced and irrigation projects run with solar energy.

Member of parliament Romi Gauchan, appreciating the effort being made by Japanese Citizens in the development of mustang district, points out the need for the government to make investment to enhance the tourism aspect of the district.

Nepalgunj, April 20:Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala Pant has said that women should move towards awareness, dedication and self-employed entrepreneurship.

Addressing the participants of the 10-day entrepreneurs development training for women and seven-day training on social mobilisation of women for awareness and income generation programme organised by the Banke District Women Development Section, Pant said that the knowledge acquired during the training should be put into practice.

Altogether 25 women are taking part in entrepreneurs development training and 22 in social mobilisation for awareness and income generation programme.

Minister of State Mrs Pant also acquired information on various women development programmes conducted by the Banke District Women Development Section.

Section officer of the Women Development Section Usha Rawal shed light on the various activities of the section.

Pokhara, April 20: A total of 302 depositors with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) have applied for apartment blocks under the “Pokhara Housing Project” launched by the epf in Pokhara.

The EPF had called for applications for the apartment buildings from the depositors on installment basis on March 3. The deadline for the application was till April 19.

Out of the applications collected at the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Biratnagar, Pokhara, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj branch offices, 38 applications have been filed for the 33 low-income apartment blocks, 57 for the 27 medium income group apartments and an additional 207 for other 49 apartments.

According to the EPF, not a single application was made in Dhankuta Branch while Kathmandu and Pokhara handled the maximum number of applications.

The apartments would be distributed to the applicants after processing the applications as soon as possible, chief of the EPF Pokhara branch Kedarnath Gautam said.

Kathmandu, April 20:The Nepal Chamber of Commerce has hailed the recent reduction in the bank refinance rates by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) describing the move as a positive step in the banking sector.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had reduced the current rate of bank refinancing on concession loans provided to rural sectors and the exporters by development banks such as the Agricultural Development Bank and Nepal industrial development corporation as well as Rastriya Banijya Bank by 1.5 and fixed the bank rate at 7.5 per cent from the earlier 9 per cent effective April 14.

In a press release, the Nepal Chamber of Commerce said the measure will bring economic stability in the country and help in alleviating poverty through more loan disbursement and  increase in employment opportunities.

The Chamber has also called on the NRB to formulate a long-term policy, increase  the rate of interest on savings, reduce bank liquidity and increase investment in industries and business sector.

Earlier a five member delegation led by Prabhakar Shamsher J.B. Rana, co-chairman of the joint Economic Council constituted by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) left here a few day ago for New Delhi to take part in the joint Economic Council (JEC) meeting.

Other members of the delegation are FNCCI second vice-president Diwakar Golchha, president of the Export Promotion Committeee Kishor kumar Khanal, president of the Social Services Committee Shashi Kant Agrawal and FNCCI general secretary Badri Prasad Ojha.

Discussions on the definition of additional production, the special additional tariff levied on Nepalese goods exported to India, import of goods under D.R.P., standard and tourism will be held at the joint economic council meeting.

Concluding remarks by Mahesh Acharya Minister for Finance, Nepal, at the Nepal Development Forum held in Paris, France from April 18-19, 2000

Four days ago when I left Kathmandu for Paris, I was alone with my Reform Agenda For Poverty Reduction. I had with me my determination and  economic reform strategy with the help of which I wanted to change the destiny of my country and millions of my poverty-stricken people. Today, when I am leaving Paris for Kathmandu, I am not alone. My enthusiasm and my determination has doubled as I find you, our Development Partners, willing to help Nepal and support fully and strongly our reform agenda.

Now, when I return to Nepal, my country and my people will ask me what message have you brought from Paris? I will answer them with pride that our trusted and valued friends of Nepal do not intend to leave Nepal and Nepali people alone at their critical juncture of economic reform and development;  rather they are prepared to support Nepal and her people more actively and intensively.

I must admits it frankly that I was a little hesitant and there was some degree of uncertainty in my mind on my way to Paris. I thought perhaps, our  growing challenges and enormity of tasks could have engulfed our partners and that they might not come out of their shell of frustrations. But you have proved me wrong.

I question myself as to what would have I done-had you remained hesitant in supporting my Reform Agenda. An answer always kept coming from my heart- I would have marched ahead on this reform path alone; because this is our Agenda of Reform-Agenda of my people and my country. This Reform Agenda is not designed to muster donor support in the first place;  it is fundamentally designed to drastically improve our institutions, and change the quality of life of our people and enhance human dignity.

I  ask  myself-how  has  it become  possible   to  create  a complete rapport and understanding within our Reform Agenda. There is only one answer to this-your have always been a most trusted and reliable friend of Nepal. And today, when Nepal is in a state of urgency to move ahead, when Nepal needs your support more than ever before, I had this faith that you would not leave us alone and that you would rally behind us in our effort to develop Nepal.

Madam Chairperson, I express my special thanks to you. You have been instrumental in engineering a new and positive approach to look at Nepal and the potentially of our people.

During   our   two   days   of discussions,   you    have   repeatedly    raised   the   issue   of effective implementation. I want to emphasize once again-under the   leadership    of   our   Prime Minister, the new Government is    fully   committed   to   implement this agenda. Our people at large and civil society organizations stand strongly behind this agenda. There is emerging consensus among political parties and partners  on these issues. The commitment of the Government and emerging consensus within Nepal is the guarantee for effective implementation.

You have referred to the need for regularly monitoring the progress on reform action plan. We take this as our primary responsibility-to monior the effective implementation of our own proposal. We have an institutional arrangement under which the Prime Minister reviews various development promises and commitments of the Government. Apart from this we will periodically share with you our progress and status of the reform action plan.

There is  yet another issues which I need to monitor. The task of monitoring whether  your support and commitment has been translated into action or not is equally important to our Reform Agenda.

One of the major elements of our Reform Agenda is to incorporate and include the needs and expectations of our people. That is why I request  our each and every Development Partner to contribute to the Poverty Alleviation Fund so that through this fund, local representatives of the people, members of civil society and the Government can together oversee the channeling and use of funds at the grass root levels.

Your observations on strong interlinkages between peace, development and human rights have been encouraging and I respect your sentiments, I come from the country where the Constitution guarantees the Human Rights, I am proud to claim that our commitment to Human Rights is second to none. I also represent a nation which is currently chairing the International Human Rights Commission. The need for upholding human liberty and dignity and the basic tenets of human rights will be further consolidated in Nepal after the constitution of the National Human Rights Commission.

Finally, I once again thank you for your support and assistance. May I propose that the next meetings of Nepal Development Forum be held in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu, Apr. 20: The CPN-UML has alleged the chief of the Department of Transport Management, Gaushala office here of misbehaviour and ill treatment of the CPN-UML  party workers who had gathered there to organise a sit-in in protest against the alleged administrative delays, corruption and nepotism at the office recently.

The party also condemned the arrest of a dozen of its party workers including leaders on the occasion.

A press communiqué signed by party’s secretary Bishnu Poudel denounced the misbehaviour and ill-treatment meted out to political party workers who were exercising their constitutional rights and demanded the immediate release of all those detained in that connection.