Kathmandu, April 18: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has appealed to all to switch back to the yester years to sense corruption that seats deep within as the invisible enemy.

“If one travels down the memory lane and makes an attempt to figure out who he or she was, one also becomes aware of the corrupt,” Koirala said. “To realise corruption, one needs to recognise oneself first.”

“An analogy of my present with the past and insights into how the status has changed in terms of what I eat and how I live now gives a clue to corruption,” he said.

Koirala told this while addressing the inaugural session of a discussion on achievements Nepal made in the 10 years following the restoration of democracy. The discussion was organised by Nepal Students’ Union, the sister organisation of the ruling Nepali Congress.

“I have warned the ministers that they may be terminated if only I hear of them being implicated in corruption,” Koirala said and appealed to NSU workers to speak up against any such immoral conduct.

“I have also told the ministers that I know them not by name, but by their performance,” he said. “The ministers should be willing to walk away happily.”

“I chose to take over as the Prime Minister at difficult time,” Koirala said. “May be you all wonder as to why I removed Krishna Prasad Bhattarai as the Prime Minister,” Koirala said. “I did not want to unseat Bhattarai, but was forced to take the tough decision in view of the increasing corruption and confusion within the party.”

The evils surrounding the nation may be put to end if we succeed in restoring law and order situation in the country, curb corruption and ensure good governance with administrative reforms, he said. “I am committed to them.”

Koirala expressed surprise over the way the government’s decision to activate the Constitutional Council to restore law and order in the country was twisted. “Activating the Council means activating the government and the people themselves,” he said.

Koirala said former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who heads a high level committee consisting of several ministers, had been told to proceed with negotiations with the Maoists. Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel is holding talks with other parties to arrive at some conclusion to solve the four year old insurgency, which has claimed well over 1250 lives in all.

“I have instructed the Finance Ministry and the National Planning Commission to expedite development programmes in the areas where the law and order has been underestimated.”

The concept of good governance, Koirala said, was thought of about a decade ago at the time of appointing an administrative reform commission, which has recommended that the number of ministries be reduced to 19 from 26. As per the recommendations, the ministries have been reduced to 21, he said.

The government has been mulling appointing regional heads to give impetus to decentralisation, he said. The difference of hierarchy amongst Chief District Officers, Police chiefs and the army chiefs at the district level have also necessitated the creation of regional heads to coordinate with all three heads.

Koirala said the Melamchi project alone would not be enough to find an end the problem of drinking water in Kathmandu Valley. He said the Asian Development Bank had advised the government to develop Kathmandu into a heritage city by relocating the valley’s population for which the Bank has pledged to help implement the programme.

He said the government would force the relocation of the garment industries based in Kathmandu and extend cooperation in setting up such industries in the areas outside the capital valley.

The Prime Minister said the Asian Development Bank had hinted at foreign assistance if the government planned to build a second international airport.

The process of democratisation has already begun in the Congress party and this will be given continuity during the NSU’s upcoming general convention, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Poudel, who is one of the founding members of the NSU, appealed to all not to focus only on the negative aspects of the past decade, but also to make realistic assessments of the achievements.

“A lot has been achieved in the past though there are some dissatisfaction,” Poudel said. “And, these discontents are necessary.”

“All should extend cooperation to help the Prime Minister realise his commitments that are aimed at ending corruption, a fall out of morality in crisis.”

Congress General Secretary Sushil Koirala said the anti-democratic elements had become active due to the erosion of values and called on the people to resist such movements.

“There is no alternative to democracy,” Koirala said. “The problems surfaced in the past because democracy could not be institutionalised.”

NSU’s former President N. P. Saud said the gains of democracy could not reach to the people due to the shortcomings in the formulation of economic policies and their implementation.

He stressed the need to evaluate the performance of the party and the government to translate into action the words of the Prime Minister.

Congress’s former General Secretary Basudev Risal said the country had its role in building able and deserving citizens and the brain drain should not insult the nation.

He said the student wing of the ruling party should remain active in promoting values.

NSU’s President Govinda Bhattarai presided the function which was addressed by Dr Jeev Raj Pokhrel. Pokhrel reviewed the progresses made in the field of education during the last 10 years while NSU’s central member Bishwa Prakash Sharma delivered welcome address.

Kathmandu, Apr. 18: Feasibility studies including detailed design have been completed for six hydropower projects and l0 years after the restoration of democracy construction work on the projects is in the final stage, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

The hydropower projects under construction during the last l0 years are the 144 megawatt (MW) capacity Kaligandaki, 12 MW capacity Modi Khola, 6.2 MW capacity Puwakhola, 20 MW capacity Chilime, 60 MW capacity Khimti and 36 MW capacity Bhotekoshi.

Khimti and Bhotekoshi are the first two power projects under construction by the private sector.

After completion of hydropower projects under construction, generation of power will increase from 320 MW to 600 MW.

Looking back at the history of hydropower in Nepal, power has been generated from only nine projects during the 90 years till 2047 Bikram year. The first project to generate power was the 500 KW Pharping project.

Then the 900 KW capacity Sundarijal, 2,400 KW Panauti, 10 MW Sunkoshi 21 MW Trishuli and 14 MW Devighat hydropower projects were implemented with bilateral cooperation.

Cooperation from more than one country and international financial institutions played an important role in the construction of the 60 MW Kulekhani first, 32 MW Kulekhani second and 69 MW mid-Marsyangdi projects.

The 12 MW Jhimruk hydropower project was implemented with the cooperation of the Norwegian government.

Minister for Water Resources Khum Bahadur Khadka told RSS that the main factors accelerating the harnessing of water resources during the 10 years since the restoration of democracy were the Water Resources Act and the Electricity Act.

He said, “these two acts have attracted not only domestic but also foreign investors in harnessing the water resources of the country.”

Mr khadka noted that the acts and regulations concerning water resources should be progressively amended on the basis of the experience gained.

At present, three hydropower projects, feasibility of which had already been completed, are in the final stage of implementation, it is learnt from the Ministry of Water Resources. These are the 72 MW mid-Marsyangdi, 32 MW Chilime and 48 MW Kulekhani third.

Besides, feasibility studies on the 300 MW Upper Karnali, 300 MW Dudhkoshi, 101 MW Tamor, 35 MW Kabeli, 34 MW Likhu, 24 MW Raughat and 16 MW Budhiganga projects have already been completed.

Implementation of many hydropower projects with high dams and reservoirs have also been found to be technically and financially viable in Nepal.

Feasibility studies for the 10,800 MW Karnali Chisapani, 6,000 MW Pancheswari, 3000 MW Saptakoshi, 600 MW Budhigandaki, 750 MW West Seti, 660 MW Kaligandaki, 402 MW Arun Third, 335 MW Upper Arun, 308 MW Lower Arun and 90 MW Kankai have been completed. These are now awaiting implementation.

Countries such as Japan, Germany and Korea have expressed willingness to extend cooperation for the implementation of Kulekhani third, mid-Marsyangdi and Chameliya.

Chilime hydropower project is under construction with the participation of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) with domestic capital alone.

Snowy mountain, a private company in Australia, has taken over responsibility for the implementation of the 750 MW capacity western Seti project.

The 60 MW Khimti, 36 MW Bhotekoshi, 20 MW Chilime and 5 MW Indrawati projects under implementation by the private sector are seen to be somewhat costlier than those implemented by NEA, except for Chilime.

Former deputy prime minister Shailaja Acharya, who also assumed the portfolio of water resources, emphasised the need for the private and governmental sectors to play complementary roles to make financial  resources available.

In her view, domestic resources should be mobilised, bilateral and multilateral cooperation sought and local bodies also involved in the feasibility study and implementation of small and medium size power projects.

Former deputy prime minister Acharya said, “all the responsible political parties should ponder harnessing water resources. A new definition of development profiles should be worked out.”

CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal emphasised the need for all the political parties, experts and technical personnel to sit together, hold discussions and formulate national policy and short-term and long-term programmes and implement these, adding that development of water resources is a national issue.

Member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr Jagadish Chandra Pokharel says, “as there is potential for generation of abundant hydropower for export, Nepal should study the energy requirements of India and harness the water resources with firm commitment.”

According to Water Resources Minister Khadka, Nepal’s relations  with India have a direct impact on the development of water resources.  If energy is to be sold to India, the investors should also be taken into confidence, he adds.

He also pointed out the need to formulate an integrated industrial and agricultural development policy to augment the consumption of power in the country.

“Economic resources, institutional efficiency, technology, skill and experience required for the generation of hydropower are lacking in Nepal” Mr khadka said and added that effort had been made to attract the domestic and foreign private sector  to hydropower generation in Nepal.

Mr Khadka further said that the main national concern today is how to generate power and export the power generated to the foreign market.

Itahari, Apr. 18:National Assembly Vice-Chairman Chiranjibi Rijal has said that the lack of morality and a sense of responsibility among human beings has led to the increasing anomalies and aberration in the country.

Mr Rijal was addressing the 31st establishment day of Nepal Students Union (nsu) and a felicitation programme organised by Mahendra Sanskrit University (msu), Vidhyapeeth Pindeswor, nsu unit here today.

MSU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Madhav Raj Gautam said youths have a major responsibility to play for the balanced progress of our country marked by geographic, economic and social remoteness and disparity.

NC youth leader Ananda Acharya, nsu central member Basu Koirala and other speakers also expressed their views on the occasion.

At the function vice-chairman Rijal felicitated vice-chancellor Prof. Gautam by wrapping a shawl around him and also released the Nepal magazine published by Nepal Students Union.

Earlier, vice-chancellor Prof. Gautam laid the foundation stone for a residential building for professors and employees to be constructed on the premises of the Vidhyapeeth at a cost of about Rs. 550,000.

Kathmandu, Apr. 18 :His Majesty’s Government has decided to install eight special class secretaries as special class secretaries at various ministries and the National Planning Commission Secretariat.

According to the Cabinet Secretariat,  Mr Mohan Dev Pant has been installed at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Dr. Muktinarayan Shrestha at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Hiranyalal Regmi at the Ministry of Works and Physical Planning, and Mrs Urmila Shrestha at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.

Likewise, Mr Khagendra Basnet has been installed at the Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr Damaru Ballav Bhattarai at the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, Mr Barun Prasad Shrestha at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and Culture and Mr Sriman Shrestha at the National Planning Commission Secretariat.

Meanwhile Mr Srikrishna Gautam has been installed as chief officer of the Special Police Department while Mr Padma Kumar Acharya has been sent to the reserve pool of the Ministry of General Administration.

Kathmandu, Apr. 18:His Majesty the King has, in accordance with the constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 and on the recommendation of Prime Minister, made the changes in the portfolios in the Council of Ministers Constituted under chairmanship of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The constitution of the Council of Ministers and allocation of portfolios are as follows.

Girija Prasad Koirala —Prime Minister –Royal Palace Affairs, Women, Children and Social Welfare, Defence, Labour and Transport, Management and General Administration

Khum Bahadur Khadka—Minister –Water Resources, Works and Physical Planning

Mahantha Thakur—Minister –Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs

Ramkrishna Tamrakar—Minister –Industry, Commerce and Supplies

Tarini Datta Chataut—Minister –Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation

Amod Prasad Upadhyaya—Minister –Education and Sports

Ministers of State

Baldev Sharma Majgaiya — Minister of State — Agriculture and Cooperatives

Mrs Kamala Devi Pant — Minister of State — Women, Children and Social Welfare

Narendra Bikram Nemwang — Minister of State — Industry, Commerce and Supplies

Dilendra Prasad Badu — Minister of State — Education and Sports

Surendra Hamal — Minister of State — Labour and Transport Management

His Majesty the King has retained the portfolios of the Deputy Prime Minister and the other Ministers.

This is stated in a notice issued today by the Principal Secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Kathmandu, Apr. 18: His Majesty’s Government has reduced the number of ministries from 26 to 21 ministries.

Some of the ministries have been merged with other ministries while the works of some other ministries have been included in various other ministries.

The Ministries of Industry, Commerce and Supplies have been merged into a single Ministry while the Ministries of Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs been converted into a single Ministry.

Cooperatives has been added to the Ministry of Agriculture while the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning has been converted into the Ministry of Works and Physical Planning.

Likewise, children has been incorporated in the Ministry of Women and social Welfare, and Sports in the Ministry of Education.

Transport Management has been incorporated in the Ministry of Labour, and Culture in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

No changes have been made in the ministries of Finance, Home, Population and Environment, Foreign Affairs, Land Reforms and Management, Defense, Forest and Soil Conservation, Sscience and Technology, General Administration, Information and Communications, Local Development and Health.

Kathmandu, Apr. 18:His Majesty the King has felicitated Mr Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe on the occasion of the independence day of Zimbabwe.

In a message of felicitations, His Majesty has extended best wishes for the president’s personal health and happiness as well as for the progress and prosperity of the people of Zimbabwe.

Kathmandu, April 17:Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT)  thrashed Three Stars 3-1 in a come-from-behind victory in today’s first quarterfinal of the Late Pasang Lhamu Knockout Memorial Football Tournament.

The star studded RCT team, though looked jaded in the whole of the first half, made a great recovery to register a convincing thrashing of rivals from their immaculate performance and played a cohesive game in the second half.

The RCT team, however, suffered a jolt at the hands of the traditional archrivals after conceding the first goal in the penultimate minute of the first half. Three Stars midfielder Shyam Manandhar took advantage of the goal mouth melee when a ball supplied to him through an Anant Thapa free-kick slowly crossed the RCT goal net off his feet.

After being downed 0-1 in the first half, RCT forwards pressed hard to get an equaliser which they did in the 19th minute of the second half. RCT defender Narayan Manandhar, who collected a cross from Milan Shrestha, hit a scorching shot that turned in the nick of the time to befuddle rival keeper Manik Shakya.

After gaining an equaliser, the RCT looked swift in making more raids.  Forward Nirajan Rayamajhi dribbled past two rival defenders inside penalty area and passed the ball to captain Bal Gopal Maharjan who did not fail to make it home with his softly tapped shot to give his team 2-1 lead.

Just two minute after the second gaol, Ramesh Gyawali hit a powerful shot just outside the ‘D’ area which rebounded off horizontal bar but the lack of understanding between Three Star custodian and defenders inside the penalty area provided a golden chance to Amrit Bajracharya to head the ball home to add third goal for his team.

Biratnagar: National general secretary of Nepal Trade Union Congress Pushkar Acharya inaugurated the fourth district convention of Nepal Financial Institutions Employees Association Morang district committee here on Sunday.

At the programme presided over by the association Morang district committee acting president Punya Prasad Sharma, Nepal Trade Union Congress central member Narayan Babu Karki, Nepal Financial Institutions Employees Association Central Vice-President Khagendra K.C. and national committee general secretary Ekraj Acharya expressed their views.

Ilam, April 17:The people of Panchgaun VDC in Constituency No 3 of Ilam district have complained that they have been plagued by bribery when they visit the district administration office for citizenship certificates and passports and the land revenue office for land related work.

The people made this complaint at an interaction programme at Nayabajar VDC between office chiefs and the local people organised by the district administration office.

The people raised questions about local problems of transportation, electricity, communications and education at the interaction between the people of Nayabajar, Namsaling, Soyang, Pyang and Jogmai and the office chiefs.

People also complained that action was being taken against those going to the forests for firewood for cooking while destruction of community forests was taking place at the hands of timber smugglers.

At the programme coordinated by CDO Narendra Raj Sharma, office chiefs told the people to file petitions with evidence directly at the offices concerned in case of such problems.