Kathmandu, Mar. 29 : Foreign Minister of Pakistan Abdul Sattar has extended sincere felicitations and warm greetings to Mr. Chakra Prasad Bastola on his appointment as Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal.
In a message, Mr. Sattar observed that Pakistan and Nepal have always enjoyed close and cordial relations and said he was looking forward to working closely with Mr. Bastola to further strengthen ties between the two countries as well as regional cooperation under the saarc framework.
Similarly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Dr. Surin Pitsuwan has extended warm congratulations to Mr. Bastola on his appointment as Foreign Minister of Nepal.
In a message, Dr Pitsuwan said he looked forward to working with Mr Bastola to further strengthen the friendly relations between Thailand and Nepal for the benefit of the two countries and peoples.
Likewise, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Peak Nam Sun has heartily congratulated Mr. Chakra Prasad Bastola on his appointment as Foreign Minister of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.
In a message, Mr. Sun expressed conviction that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will further strengthen and develop in the ideas of independence, peace and friendship and wished Mr. Bastola great success in his assignment.
Kathmandu, Mar. 29 : Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has felicitated Mr Girija Prasad Koirala on his appointment as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal.
In a message of felicitations, the Bangladesh Prime Minister said “you are widely admired in Bangladesh as a great leader of your people and a true friend of Bangladesh.”
Stating that Mr Koirala has demonstrated this friendship during his earlier leadership as the Prime Minister of Nepal, Sheikh Hasina expressed confidence that during Mr Koirala’s new tenure as Prime Minister of Nepal, these friendly relations will be further strengthened for the mutual benefits of the two peoples.
The Bangladesh Prime Minister wished for Mr Koirala’s good health, happiness and well being and for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Nepal.
Pokhara, Mar. 29:The National Planning Commission (npc) has organised a seminar concerning periodic district development plan formulation with the objective of bringing clarity to the long-term perspective on plan formulation, allocation of resources and maintaining of coordination between the tenth plan to be introduced after two years and the district development plans.
Participants of the seminar deliberated on acts and rules concerning local self-governance, the process of selection and formulations of plans, the pattern of periodic district development plans, etc as mentioned in working papers and also provided some suggestions.
Sixty persons including DDC chairmen and vice-chairmen, local development officers, planning officers, advisors to the participatory district development programme and local self governance programme, heads of mid-western regional and zonal offices concerned with development and representatives of the Ministry of Local Development attended the seminar.
Npc member Hari Shankar Tripathi, inaugurating the seminar, said that the development endeavours of the districts would benefit when DDCs assign work to domestic and foreign skilled manpower coming through the national development volunteers services, take advantage of their service and also evaluate their performance.
Speaking from the chair, Mustang DDC chairman Nirmal Prasad Gauchan said local bodies have been made autonomous after much effort by the government.
Mayor of Pokhara sub-municipal corporation Krishna Thapa said that emphasis should be laid on the implementation aspect of plans.
Representatives of the Ministry of Local Development Achyut Koirala, joint secretary of the npc secretariat Arabinda Shrestha and planning director Chin Bahadur Baniya said that attention should be paid to the acts and rules while formulating plans.
A similar seminar held at Nepalgunj was inaugurated by npc member Dr Nirmal Prasad Pandey.
Charikot (Dolakha), Mar. 29:Forty-four per cent of the total land area of Dolakha district is covered by forest.
The sloping hills of the district which were bare only a few years ago are now turning lush green and the district headquarters of Charikot and other rural areas appear pleasant.
A survey carried out five years back had shown that 94,415 hectares out of the district’s total area of 214,000 hectares was covered by forest.
It is satisfying to note that almost half the total area of the district is now covered by forest as against only 29 per cent only a few years ago, according to district forest officer Laxman Gautam.
The district, which had almost transformed into a desert 20 to 25 years ago on account of illegal felling of trees, is turning green with the increase in the forest area, local people say.
The role of the community forests has been vital in the district as has that of the Swiss government and the district forest office.
The Swiss Government extended technical and financial cooperation from 1958 to 1990 for projects such as the Jiri Multi-Purpose Development Project and the Intensive Hilly Area Development Project.
Likewise, cooperation was extended through the Dolakha Ramechhap Community Forestry Development Project from 2048-49 to 2052-53 Bikram Year, and cooperation being received for providing continuity to the community forest development programme from 2053-54 will continue up to the current fiscal year, it is learnt.
Various trainings, seminars and tour programmes have been organised for the sustainable development of forests and for raise the awareness of users about the protection and management of forests.
According to information received from the district forest office, 152 community forests have been handed over to forest users committees so far.
Altogether 20,l04 households have benefited from the community forests handed over.
Among the predominant tree species in the local forests are salla, sal, ranisalla, chilaune, banjh, katus, patesalla, dhinge salla, rhododendron, chimal, argeli and lokta.
It has been found that when community forests are handed to the users, it makes them feel that they themselves are the owners and they evince keen interest in the protection and promotion of the forests. This leads to a decrease in illegal tree felling.
The forest users are apparently utilising the money earned from the community forest for community development endeavours. This will help raise living standards and make the people better able to meet their requirements.
Eight ranger posts have been set up in the district so far for the development of community forests.
Kathmandu Mar. 29: MP Rajeswor Devkota, speaking during special time of the meeting of the National Assembly today, said that as it is regrettable to annul the registration of any political party in the country where there is a multiparty democratic system, all the political parties have to draw their attention towards this.
He said there should be no politicisation by any party or government in the programmes brought in the name of such honourable late leaders as B.P. Koirala and Ganesh Man Singh.
Gaura Koirala of the cpn-uml expressed condemnation on the misbehaviour meted out by the police to the women and mps staging a sit in at the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare in protest of the use of the women’s awareness and income generation programme by the ruling party for fulfilling its selfish political motives and questioned as to what can be the state of the ordinary women where women mps are not safe themselves.
Ganga Dutta Joshi of the Nepali Congress said as the overall development of the country is not possible without the development of the tourism sector, the government should give attention to the development of the touristically and religiously important sites of the far western development region.
He also drew the attention of the government towards the non operation of air services besides Dhangadhi despite existing infrastructure in eight district airports of the far western development region.
MP Mohan Raj Sharma said it is a wrong to set a tradition that the programmes brought out by any government should benefit its own party workers and added that the major political parties should be able to play a leading role in making the democratic system more stronger.
Tham Maya Thapa of the cpn-uml accused the government of misusing the women’s awareness and income generation programme by not using it in the interest of the Nepalese women.
She called for action against the persons misbehaving with the women and mps sitting peacefully in front of the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare pressing for their demands.
Dr. Ram Man Shrestha of the cpn-ml accused the government of being indifferent to frequent demands put forward by the concerned persons to resolve the problems of the education sector.
Bijul Kumar Biswokarma of the Nepali Congress said it is not proper for the opposition to protest against any programmes put forward by the government just for the sake of protesting. He drew the attention of the government towards the tyranny meted out to the Chamar community of Lahan Municipality in Siraha district.
He called for taking steps for activating the treaties and agreements of the United Nations where Nepal is a party to it.
Earlier speaking at the zero hour of today’s meeting Shanta Manawi of the cpn-uml accused the government for using the B. P. with the Poor, Ganesh Man Peace Campaign, women awareness and the income generation programme, and the youth self employment programmes for the benefit of the Nepali Congress party workers.
Kathmandu, Mar. 29:President of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Surya Bahadur Thapa, evaluating the national politics of the last decade, said that good governance could not be provided, political corruption had increased due to lust for power among the leaders some of the provisions enshrined in the constitution had not ben exercised in practice and a question mark had been raised over democracy.
Inaugurating a national symposium concerning a decade of multiparty democracy and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) here today, former prime minister Thapa noted that even the present government of the majority could not provide political stability and fulfil the aspirations of the people. He said “National issues can be dealt with only if there is understanding among the nationally recognised political parties.”
Stating that the RPP had faced many ups and downs during the past ten years, RPP President Thapa said after securing third position in the second general elections the role of the RPP had been vital, but the split in the party in the process of forming a coalition government was unfortunate.
The party had no experience of of tackling relations between party and government when the RPP was in power, Mr Thapa said adding that the party could win the chairmanship of the national assembly and a seat in that House due to skilful manoeuvering.
The split in the party had an adverse impact throughout the country and unity had been achieved again in line with the aspirations of the people and the party cadres, former prime minister Thapa said and pointed out the need to strengthen the party organisation in view of the forthcoming local elections.
Central spokesman and Head of the Training Department of the Party Kamal Thapa said that the symposium had been organised to evaluate and review the role played the party during the last ten years and find out ways to move ahead in the political, economic and social sectors in the days to come.
The three-day symposium will hold discussions on working papers presented by party vice-president Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, general secretary Pashupati Shamsher Rana, Sarvendra Nath Shukla and Hari Bahadur Basnet on topics such as role of liberalism in poverty alleviation and consolidation of rural economy, current economic scenario and challenges, theoretical and practical aspects of democracy in Nepal, RPP perception of nationalism, etc.
Altogether 75 persons including RPP central members, MPs and departmental heads are attending the symposium.
Kathmandu, March 29:Water experts and concerned government officials today said that the knowledge gathered from the Hague conference on water should be materialised in the national context for the common good.
All the concerned individuals and organisations should forge consensus and have common vision to use water for public welfare, they said at a programme organised here today to share the experiences of the conference.
The Second Conference of World Water Forum was held in the Hague from March 17 to 22 with the theme “water for food, water for people and water for environment.”
“Amid the wilderness of multiple visions that have recently emerged into the global vogue, we have to seek for an oasis to resolve the potential conflict on the issue,” said the water experts and concerned government officials who represented Nepal in the conference.
They stressed on the joint participation of public and private sectors to make the fullest use of water for different purposes, including drinking, cleaning, irrigation, navigation, generating energy among others. “Nepal, one of the countries rich in water resources, has not been able to make much use of the vast stores of water because of the lack of participatory approach to look at this issue,” they said.
People at the local level should be entrusted with the responsibilities of making and implementing policies on water to make it useful to the greater number of citizens, they said.
Stating the global conflict on the water issue, Water Expert at the Ministry of Water Resources Purna Bhadra Adiga said the Ministerial Declaration of the conference did not include ‘water use for energy,’ which is Nepal’s basic need. “We made it as a major intervention point and tried our best to enlist the issue into the agenda but all invain.”
Underground Water Expert at Royal Nepal Academy for Science and Technology Deepak Gyawali said that water management would be the greatest challenge in the coming years. He suggested that smaller resources should be considered before thinking of mega water projects like Melamchi.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Keshav Sthapit said that he would make all efforts to put knowledge into practice to solve the water problem of the city.
Dr. Mohan Man Sainju said that the concerned authority should think of the consenquences of water use before starting a project. He said that people’s experience at the local level would help the government to launch water project at much lower cost.
Kathmandu, Mar. 29:Health Minister Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has said the process of amending the Heatlh Act will be advanced in the ongoing session by giving priority to sending at least one doctor to all the 75 districts in the Kingdom of Nepal.
Responding to questions at the House of Representatives today, Dr. Yadav noted that the Health Act is going to be amended requiring new doctors to compulsorily work at least for two years in remote and very remote districts of the country.
Stating that wide improvement will be sought in the Health Act and procedural weaknesses facing the Public Service Commission will be removed, he noted that the government is considering filling the post of technicians at Barai, Mehadham, Medikot, Limi and other sub-health posts in Humla district and building of Khaseuli Health Post in Palpa is now under way.
There is no programme for increasing the beds at Jumla District Hospital to 25, he added.
Those asking questions with Dr. Yadav were cpn-uml’s Shankarnath Sharma Adhikari, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati, Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi and Devilal Thapa.
Similarly, Minister for Land Reforms and Management Siddharaj Ojha, answering questions concerning his ministry, said as the case about the land being cultivated by the Magapaua VDC in Dolakha district is now in court, actions will be initiated soon after the court gives its verdict.
Some 130 households displaced by floods and landslides in various VDCs of Sindhuli district will be settled by identifying genuine landless squatters after the formation of Landless Squatters’ Problems Resolution Commission, said the minister, adding, land survey is being carried in different districts of the kingdom.
Those asking questions with the minister were nc’s Khemraj Bhatta Mayalu and Romi Gauchan, and cpn-uml’s Ananda Prasad Pokherel, Ganga Prasad Nepal, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati and Yadav Lal Rayamajhi.
Likewise, Minister for Law and Justice Mahanta Thakur, in response to a question of cpn-uml’s Ananda Prasad Pokherel, said amendment to the civil code will be presented at the present session.
In response to nc’s Ramesh Lekhak’s question, Mr Thakur said there is no programme for bringing Kailali district under Mahendranagar Appellate Court.
Dhulikhel, Mar. 29 :His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev today unveiled a plaque and inaugurated the new building of Sanjiwani Higher Secondary School at Dhulikhel, headquarters of Kabhrepalanchok district on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the school.
Her Majesty the Queen was also present on the occasion.
His Majesty the King gave away letters of appreciation to various persons providing donations to the school, former school headmasters Ratna Das Baidya, Purna Man Basnet and Durga Prasad Shastri, Royal Danish Ambassador to Nepal Lars Horman, first secretary at the Canadian Embassy Ms Carla Hogan Rufelds, president of the German-Nepal Help Association Andreas Falk, country director of Adra Nepal Glenn St. Clair and a representative of the German Embassy.
Their Majesties inspected the newly built science building and laboratory for ten plus two classes.
Their Majesties, upon arrival at the function venue, were welcomed by Panchakanyas. Former headmaster of the school Durga Prasad Shastri offered Their Majesties programme booklets while teacher Madhav Prasad Acharya offered golden jubilee souvenir publications.
Minister for Education Amod Prasad Upadhyaya, speaking at the function, said that guardians should be apprised of the standard of education at schools run with government resources and those in the private sector.
Stating that half the population of the country is in the dark due to illiteracy, he said the Nepali Congress government had made secondary education free.
While 14 per cent of the money is spent on education, a target has been set to raise this to 17 percent in the current Ninth Plan, he said adding that the government was actively reviewing the present system to provide quality education.
Likewise, chairman of the golden jubilee celebration main committee and Dhulikhel Mayor Bel Prasad Shrestha said that instead of expecting something from society people should give something to society, and that the residents of Dhulikhel were working hard to make that municipality into a model one in South Asia.
School headmaster Amarnath Yogol presented the progress report of the school.
The school, founded in 2006 B.S. as the English middle school, was upgraded into a high school in 2014 B.S.. His Majesty’s Government declared it a model school in 2034 B.S. as it had carried out various successful activities.
The school began providing higher secondary education in management since 2049 B.S. and now runs 10+2 classes in science also. The school has been taking part in the sent-up examinations since 2015 B.S.
The modern science building for 10+2 classes was completed at a cost of Rs. 4,869,000/ with cooperation from His Majesty’s Government, Dhulikhel municipality, the Town Development Trust and the Nepal-German Cooperation Agency.
A statue of Saraswati, the goddess of learning, has been installed in the school premises at a cost of Rs. 275,000 with financial assistance provided by the residents of Dhulikhel.
A project aimed at enhancing the standard of education at the school has also been set up with the joint cooperation of alumni and the Embassy of Canada. The Canadian Embassy provided Rs. 1,832,000/ for the project while 1,800,000/ was collected from alumni and from the school.
A revolving fund of Rs. 650,000/ has also been set up with cooperation provided by Dhulikhel municipality and an 11-room hostel spread over 16 ropani of land constructed with the cooperation of local people and the Indian Embassy.
Also present at the function were Minister of State for Education Dilendra Prasad Badu, Minister of State for Land Reform and Management Gopal Rai, MPs Shiva Prasad Humagain and Rajendra Kharel, DDC chairman Krishna Prasad Sapkota and mayors of various municipalities.
Kathmandu, Feb. 28:The Main Opposition Communist Party of Nepal. United Marxist Leninist has announced to launch a movement next week demanding the government to control corruption and ensure peace and security in the country.
The seven week long movement that would begin from March 3 would basically create public awareness about the rampant corruption in government offices and carry out “people’s action,” if need be, against the offenders, said UML leader Khadga Prasad Oli who is coordinating the movement.
Oli accused the government of paying least attention to the issues of public good. “The movement is not our desire but a compulsion since the government, that should be accountable to people, is indifferent to the burning issues, including corruption, violence, unemployment and poverty,” he said. “These problems have not only adversely affected the ordinary citizens and deprived them of their fundamental rights but also posed a great threat to the system.”
Responding to a query, Oli said that his party would invite all the opposition parties, if they show interest, to participate in the movement. “We are having consultations with them.”
United Left Front of nine communist parties have also announced to launch a similar type of movement.
In response to another query, Oli said that the Maoist problems should be solved through dialogue. “The government should create a favourable environment for peace talks with the rebels.”
The underground Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist that began “people’s war” in early 1996 has formally shown a positive response for dialogue to end the insurgency that has claimed more than 1100 lives so far.