Kathmandu, Feb. 27:A one-day workshop on renewable energy “Technology for officials” was organised by Centre for Energy Studies (CES) of Institute of Engineering (IOE) here today with a view to sensitising the senior officials towards the Development of renewable energy technologies in Nepal.
In his opening remarks at the workshop, Dean of the Institute of Engineering Prof. Dr. Jiv Raj Pokharel, noted the importance of energy in the development of the country and said “the implementing sector and academic institution are coming closer and the training of the joint secretaries by CES shows a sign of fruitful co-operation.”
At its closing ceremony, programme director of CES Prof. J.N. Shrestha highlighted the need of energy in the economic activities and laid stress on the development of renewable energy technology in Nepal.
“There are very limited number of energy professionals in Nepal and this is the reason behind the centralisation of energy development sector in Nepal,” said Prof. Shrestha. “Decentralisation of energy systems, particularly renewable energy technology can only be achieved if Nepal will have more professionals in this sector.”
In view of such a situation, CES/IOE were planning to start M. Sc. Course in renewable energy engineering in Nepal, he disclosed.
Mr Shyam Lal Vaidhya executive director of alternative energy promotion centre (AEPC) said, “Awareness programme such as this is very important for the overall development of alternative renewabl energy technologies in Nepal.”
Thirteen participants from various ministries and ADB/N participted in the workshop.
Tulsipur, Feb. 27:Rector of the Mahendra Sanskrit University (MSU, Prof. (Dr.) Baburam Pokharel gave away prizes and certificates to students winning the oratory contest, the competitive poetry symposium and sports events organised on the occasion of the 25th National Education Day by the MSU central Campus, Beljhundi, here on Saturday.
Addressing the function, Rector Dr. Pokharel said that Sanskrit should not be equated with other western languages that developed later and hence a special kind of strategy was required to protect and promote the Sanskrit language.
At the programme presided over by Lecturer Thaneshwar Poudel, Registrar Dr. Bhoj Raj Panta, Professors Tirtha Raj Subedi and Sthaneshwar Gautam and others shed light on the historical and religious significance of the education day.
Meanwhile, an oratory contest was also organised at the Janta Vidyapeeth Sanskrit School, Bijauri, to mark the 25th National Education Day last Thursday.
Sarlahi, Feb. 27 : One of the two robbers who were caught by the local people in Hathkathawa Bazar of Sarlahi district has been beaten to death by the irate crowd.
The local people had caught the two from a group of six robbers who looted a wedding party at gun point at 6 p.m. on Thursday. However the other robbers had managed to escape.
Earlier the robbers are learnt to have looted Rs 50,000 in cash and property from businessmen at local Sirsautia village.
Some live bullets used in 12-bore guns were recovered from the two robbers.
The dead robber has been identified as Ezajul Musalman, a resident of Gamhariya VDC, ward No. 2 in Rautahat district, according to the district police office.
The other robber, Shekh Shrajul Musalman, a resident of the same locality, who was also severely beaten up by the angry local people is in a serious condition, according to hospital sources.
The police is on the look out for the other absconding robbers.
Rajbiraj, Feb. 27 : A five-day long on-the-spot training on community forestry management organised by the District Forest Office, Saptari, under the Chure Hills Forest Development Project concluded at local Fattehapur.
Altogether 35 persons, including 17 women from different community forest users’ committees took part in the training.
Chairman of the Parsaha Community Forest Users’ Committee Mishrikant Chaudhari, chairman of the Raktamala Community Forest Users’ Committee Tularam Luitel, Ram Bahadur Khatri and others expressed their views at the programme presided over by the chairman of Fattehapur VDC, ward No. 2, Mr. Sukhidas Chaudhari.
Gender coordinator of the project Nirala Tiwari and Ranger Girish Mishra conducted the training.
The same training has also been held in Bhangaha, Kalyanpur, Bakadhuwa and Rupnagar VDCs.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Feb 27:
The government formed a three-member probe committee headed by a senior bureaucrat Tika Dutta Niraula to investigate the recent incidents of clash and violence between police and Maoist insurgents involving killing of several people and damage of property worth millions of rupees in some parts of western Nepal.
This move came following the conditions put forward by the Maoist leader to initiate talks with the government.
Earlier Maoist leader had set conditions in response to the appeal of Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba asking Maoist insurgents to come to negotiating table.
Other two members of the probe panel include senior police officer and an intelligent officer. The committee has been given the mandate of making field visits and submit a report with details of the incidents taken place recently in Khara and Rugha of Rukum, Ghartigaun of Rolpa, Ghadu of Achham, Raralihi of Jumla and Kalimati and Rampur of Salyan districts.
In those incidents, several police personnel, insurgents and even innocent people have been killed.
Maoist leader recently demanded that investigation into the incidents of different places be conducted and culprit brought to book.
It was one of the conditions set by Maoist leader to initiate talks with the government for the solution of the five-year old problem of insurgency.
The general secretary of the Maoist Communist Party Prachanda ( Puspa Kamal Dahal) had set conditions for the talks and announced its committee to hold talks with the government.
The conditions were investigation of the incidents in the above-mentioned places, action against those involved in the incidents, release of Maoist leaders and workers from jail, among other.
The government also released a senior Maoist leader Suresh Ale who had been in jail for the last few months. Maoists had been demanding release of Ale.
These are the indications that the government and Maoists are getting closer for talks aiming at ending the insurgency.
Given the recent developments and public response from both government and Maoists’ side, something positive breakthrough is expected in the near future aiming at ending the five-year old insurgency in the country.
The underground Nepal Communist Party ( Maoist) has launched the armed insurgency for the last five years with the objective of overthrowing the present multi-party system and establish one-party communist rule. Almost 4,000 people have been killed in the incidents of violence related to Maoist insurgency.
Kathmandu, Feb 27:
Nine left parties today announced that they would launch nationwide protest programmes against the government.
Chitra Bahadur KC, leader of Nepal Communist Party ( Mashal), informed press about the decision of protest programme in a press conference in Kathmandu Sunday.
A press statement issued by nine left parties in Kathmandu today, stated that the protest programmes include publicity, pamphleteering, corner meetings, torch procession, transport strike, picketing in the government offices including Singhadurbar, and Mechi-Mahakali protest march.
Their protest programmes aimed at pressing the government to control prices of essential commodities, control corruption and protection of nationalism and national interest.
In order to coordinate the protest programme, a central joint action committee has been formed.
The protest programme would begin on March 3 this year, states the statement.
Nine left parties include Communist Party of Nepal ( Marxist-Leninist), Nepal Communist Party( United), Nepal Communist Party ( Marxist-Leninist-Maoist), Nepal Communist Party ( Unity Center), United People’s Front/Nepal, United People’s Movement Coordination Committee, Nepal Peasants’ and Workers’ Party, Nepal Communist Party ( Mashal) and Nepal Communist Party ( Marxist).
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Feb 27: About 2.5 million children under five years of age were administered oral polio vaccine today under the second phase of special Polio Immunization Programme, said Ministry of Health.
The second phase of special national polio immunization programme was launched in 33 districts of Nepal.
The government has launched nationwide anti-polio campaign as per the call of World Health Organisation (WHO) to eradicate polio from the world.
WHO and several other organisations have supported Nepal’s anti-polio campaign.
Nepal has already announced its programme to eradicate polio from Nepal by the end of 2000.
Nine left parties announce nationwide protest programmes
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Feb 27:
A man currently living in Baneshwar, Kathmandu claims that he emits electric current from his body.
Kamal Bhandari, owner of a hardware shop, says he has been discharging electric current for the last one week.
Anyone who touches his body clearly feels electric shock. For the last couple of days, his shop has been like a beehive of people wanting to see him and touch his body.
However, doctors and scientists take it as a normal incident. According to Executive Director of National Forensic Lab Dr Sewak Ram Bhandari, all the object including human body posses static current and gets electrically charged when it is in friction with other object.
Kathmandu, Feb 26: Mahendra Police Club today defeated NRT by 3-1 to win the Martyr Tej Bahadur Amatya Gold Cup for the third time.
The three scorers, who had scored in the semi-final – Hari Khadka, Sal Bahadur Karki and Dev Narayan Chaudhari, again found the nets to give the Police team the victory.
This is NRT second runners-up title.
NRT’s Puran Limbu, however, had given his team the lead in the first half. However, Police’s Sal Bahadur Karki equalised in the 34th minute. In the second half it was the Police team which prevailed. On the third minute of the second half, Hari Khadka netted against the NRT to take the lead. The game was, however, sealed for NRT when Dev Narayan scored on the 14th minute of the second half.
Trailing by two goals, the NRT players tried their best to restore parity, but the police defence stood firm.
Chaudhary was declared the man of the match. Hasana Shrestha, widow of the late martyr Ganglal Shrestha gave away the trophy and prizes. The Mahendra Police Club had reached the final defeating RCT of Kathmandu on Thursday. The police team had put behind a lucklustre game and a deficit of one goal for most of the first half to win the game 4-1.
RCT had taken the lead in the 15th minute through a strike by Niranjan Rayamajhi from a Milan Shrestha cross. With two minutes to the break start striker Hari Khadka had equalised and it was Khadka again which got the better of the RCT defence.
Kathmandu, Feb 26:Tashi Wangchuk and Joe Pandey won the respective final of the preliminary round at Bouddha Snooker House and Nasal Snooker Saturday under the All Nepal Carlsberg Snooker Championship being organised by Gorkha Brewery Ltd in Association with Billiards, Snooker and Pool Association of Nepal.
Wangchuk began his quest in the final hesitatively, going down 21-82 to his opponent Rajan Lama but he gradually got hold of the match, as it grew older. Lama, after having opened with a win, failed to maintain his tempo and Wangchuk took the second and third frames 64-39, 65-20 for a 2-1 load.
Lama struck back with a bang in the fourth to win it by 81-20 and level the score at 2-2 but again his concentration was found much to be desired. And Wangchuk finished off the best of seven frame match, winning the last two frames by 76-31, 91-14.
There was, however, a consolation for Lama as his break of 49 points in the semifinals remained unmatched.
The final at Nasal Snooker House got off in a similar fashion with Joe Pandey, the eventual winner, dropping the opening frame to Maqsood Uddin 15-65 before finding his touch in the match. it was an exciting context which went all the way to the deciding seventh frame.
Maqsood managed to score the highest break of the venue with 34 points but he seemed to have lack of match temperament as he gave away rooms to his opposition from winning positions several times.
The next four frames had close finishing as both the players struggled and lost control of the game right after winning a frame. Maqsood, after dropping the second frame at 44-48, took the following by 60-56 to go into a 2-1 lead. But it was then the turn of Pandey to give his shot and took the fourth and fifth ones, 53-40, 47-42 to take the lead for the first time in the match which eventually paved his way to victory.
It was anybody’s match as Maqsood registered what turned out to be the highest break to win the penultimate frame by 71-25. But it was Pandey who held on to his nerves to snatch the title away from Maqsood with a score of 43-34 at last.
Likewise, Ang Pemba Sherpa put off the challenge of Prakash Pradhan by 4-2 to triumph at Bouddha Snooker House. The final score of the match read 70-56, 67-6, 42-40, 23-62, 20-66, 48-39 in favour of Sherpa.
The winners, runners-up and highest breakers were awarded prizes and certificates by marketing manager of Gorkha Brewery Rajendra Gurung and brand managers Ashish Bista and Pankaj Timilsena respectively.