Kathmandu, Feb. 5: People have been cautioned against illnesses caused by adulterated food items in view of the increasing reports of various illnesses in the country due to the consumption of adulterated food items.

This was the main theme of the poster exhibition organised here Friday by the Community Empowerment and Promotion Centre and the Bio Inc. with the objective of informing the public about the adverse effects of food adulteration on public health and precaution measures.

The three hours long poster exhibition highlighted various aspects of food adulteration and its adverse impact on public health and demonstrations of making the oral rehydration solution, methods of testing food adulteration and samples of adulterated food items.

Similarly, various cut-outs of newspaper articles and write-ups on food adulteration were put on show at the exhibition.

According to the organisers, the main objective of the poster exhibition was to impart basic knowledge among the people on various types of food testing methods so that they would be able to test their own food themselves and to caution them against believing in glossy ads in view of more than 200 different illnesses that can result due to consumption of adulterated food.

It was disclosed on the occasion that not all the milk samples collected from different parts of the country were found to be of the required quality, some 2.7 million people in Nepal were  disabled, 45,000 children in the country died annually from gastroenteritis, nearly 60 per cent of the child mortality in Nepal was due to malnutrition and 59 percent of deformities and mental retardation among children was as a result of malnutrition.

Similarly, it was disclosed that 81 percent of the additives used in sweets and candy were harmful and that samples of only 91 food items out of the thousands of food items sold in the market were tested.

It was disclosed that some food items granted the ns certification mark were also found to be adulterated and only one food inspector was available for every 1 million population in the country.

The poster exhibition also attempted to spread the message that food adulteration was a grave social crime and should be checked from all sides at all costs.

Kathmandu, Feb. 5 : Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka paid tributes to nc constituency member Nandiram Poon and Bhalakcha vdc chairman Chitra Bahadur Chand who were killed by Maoists on Feb. 2 at Musikot Khalanga in Rukum Friday.

Both of them were killed by the Maoists when they were on their way to Musikot to participate in a public rally organized in connection with nc president Girija Prasad Koirala’s visits to Maoist-affected areas.

They were attacked by a gang of about 200 which after killing them fled into the jungle firing shots in the air, according to eye witnesses.

The Home Minister also presented Rs. 100,000 each to the families of the two Maoist victims.

Addressing a meeting to pay tributes to the deceased, Home Minister Khadka wondered as to what kind of political rule the Maoist terrorists want to establish by killing the poor and humble people in the villages.

The government has already initiated necessary steps to control terrorist activities and ensure security of the people, he added.

He also called upon all political parties to unite and chase the terrorists from the villages.

No one has stopped the Maoist leaders from attaining power in a constitutional manner, Mr Khadka said, adding killing of people does not help their impossible dream materialize.

mp keshar Man Rokka described Maoist activity as barbaric and said that the politics of violence will never be successful.

Rukum ddc Chairman Khemman Khadka, cpn-uml district secretary Sher Bahadur k.c., nc rukum district Working Committee Chairman Gopalji Jung Shaha and other speakers also condemned the terrorist activities.

Also today, addressing office chiefs at Musikot of Rukum, Home Minister Khadka directed them not to leave any stone unturned in maintaining law and order in the district for which His Majesty’s government will make all necessary arrangements.

Likewise, Mr. Khadka inspected the police post at Pharula of Salyan district.

Maoists terrorists made repeated attempts to attack and destroy the post but were not successful.

On the occasion Home Minister Khadka gathered information about the state of affairs of the area from the local public.

Also today, the Home Minister inspected the Dipendra Police Residential school at Ghorahi of Dang district which was attacked with bombs by Maoists Friday.

Rasuwa, Feb. 5: A total of 116,384 foreign tourists have visited the Langtang National Park as of last year.

According to chief conservation officer at the National Park Office Jhamak Bahadur Karki, a total of Rs. 54,526,000 has been realised as revenue so far through fees charged to tourists visiting Langtang and Gosainkunda areas since the commencement of tourist registration in fiscal year 2035/36.

Some 8,808 foreign tourists came here during Visit Nepal Year 1998 and the number rose to 16,076 in 1999.

The tourists start their journey on foot after reaching Dhunche by bus 120 kilometres from Kathmandu or Syaphrubainsi which is 233 kilometres.

Picturesque mountainous ranges and natural beauty can be viewed from Langtang. It takes 4 days to reach there from Dhunche and 3 days from Syaphrubainsi.

Poor people here have been able to manage their livelihood to some extent with the wages of Rs. 150-300  they get per day for guiding and or portering.

It is estimated that the turnover of the  local hotels exceeds  by Rs. 10 million per year. An average amount of Rs. 1,000 is spent daily by a tourist who normally stay 8-10 days.

Tourists now have better services from 52 hotels following the classification of hotels introduced by the government.

Some 24 hotels here are under operation  under ‘A’ grade, 11 under “B’ grade and 8 under ‘C’ grade under a 5 year contract period. There are also 9 curio outlets.

Fifty percent of the revenue amount of Rs. 343,55  being realised from the hotels has been using in a community development programme for local people under the national park central area development programme.

Hotels for the tourists have also been contracted on private land at Chandanbari, Thulosyaphru, Syaphrubainsi, Langtang and Kangjen.

The tourists hotels inside the park area furnish price lists for food items and are also equipped with smoke free ovens.

Kerosene has been available for hotels outside the park areas to reduce the consumption of wood within the park.

Some persons belonging to other districts also have found employment in cooking and cleaning after undergoing training being conducted by the tropical mountain institute, an INGO, and the park itself.

A variety of birds and butterflies and other wildlife such as deer, snow leopard and bear are added attractions in the national park for visiting tourists, the chief officer said.

In case tourists suddenly fall ill in the Park area, a helicopter can be sent for by the telephone at Chandanbari or by wireless. Helicopters can be booked at Dhunche.

The local people could hardly eke out a living for three months in the year by cultivating crops like potato and barley on land in the lap of the Langtang Massif. But with the advent of the tourists living standards have risen. Some people in the hotel business can even afford to reserve a helicopter in case of need.

If camping sites can be arranged for tourists who come in groups, it would be an added attraction, and local people could find employment as guides after undergoing training.

Dhangadhi, Feb. 5:NC President and ex-Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has spoken of the need to work out a new economic policy so as to help the country’s development gain momentum.

Mr Koirala, who was addressing a public rally organised by nc dhangadhi here today, observed that owing to different topographical structures and different ways of life and needs of the people, the same kind of economic policy cannot address the problems of mountain, hill and the Terai.

It is, therefore, imperative to work out separate economic policies which will be in consistent with the three geographical regions, he said.

Noting that those who cannot countenance democracy have been making various attempts to finish off democracy ever since its establishment in 2007 B.S., He said, stressing the need for an understanding among all political parties to attain political stability and consolidation of democracy.

Since the killings and other kinds of violence being perpetrated in the name of Maoist activity have given rise to a difficult situation in the country, he planned the current district visits to discuss with the district-based workers of various political parties on ways to resolve the Maoist problem and acquire first hand information about the development and construction works in the districts.

Politics of violence has never seen a success in any country; rather violence begets counter violence, he said, adding human beings are blessed with two hands to use them in constructive activities not in destructive ones. He also called on the Maoists to renounce violence and involve themselves in nation building.

Stressing the need for the development of villages  in order to pave the way for the country’s all round development, Mr Koirala said Nepali Congress is drawing its strength from the people living in the villages. He also asked the villagers to unitedly fight against the anti-democratic forces.

Ex-prime minister and nc leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said weakening the Nepali Congress means weakening democracy and raising obstacle to establishment of socialism.

If the Maoists call themselves a political party they should not hesitate to sit across a negotiating table, he said, adding the government is ready to hold dialogue with them.

NC Central Member Chandra Singh Bhattarai also addressed the rally.

Also today, nc President Koirala laid the foundation stone for nc kailali district office building at Ward. No. 1 Dhangadhi municipality.

He also participated in an all-party meeting and alerted the participants against the conspiracy being hatched by various forces to serve their vested interest by bringing about political instability.

He also stressed the need to resolve the Maoist problem on the basis of a national consensus.

Cpn-uml’s Dinesh Chandra Subedi and Mohan Singh Rathor, cpn-ml’s Nanda Lal Joshi and Hari Prasad Pandey, rpp’s Hikmat Bahadur Malla and others also expressed their views at the meeting.

Kathmandu, Feb. 4: Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has congratulated Mrs Sirimao Bandaranaike, Prime Minster of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the independence commemoration day of Sri Lanka.

In the message of congratulations, Prime Minister Bhattarai has wished for Mrs Bandaranaike’s good health and happiness as well as progress and prosperity of the people of Sri Lanka.

Kathmandu, Feb. 4: His Majesty the King has felicitated Mrs Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the independence commemoration day of Sri Lanka.

In the message of felicitations, His Majesty has wished for the president’s personal health and happiness and peace and prosperity of the people of Sri Lanka.

His Majesty the King has expressed confidence that the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries will grow further in the years to come.

Kathmandu, Feb. 3: Minister of State for Population and Environment Bhakta Bahadur Balayar, at the meeting held today to review the annual progress of the year of 1998-99 and the first four monthly progress of the 1999-2000 of the Ministry of Population and Environment, said that populations and environment programmes should be moved ahead with a new concept.

Secretary Dr. Govinda Raj Bhatta expressed the view that the organisational structure of the ministry had to be improved to effectively shoulder the responsibilities of the ministry and more means and resources were needed for it.

Joint secretary Ananta Raj Pandey presented the progress report of the environment protection programme while joint secretary Janak Raj Joshi and under-secretary Upendra Prasad Adhikari presented the progress report of the national population programme. Joint secretary at the National Planning Commission Bhagawati Kumar Kafle suggested that more publicity should be carried out on the policy formulated and the programmes launched by the ministry in the field of population and environment.

Kathmandu, Feb. 3: The meeting of the sub-committee constituted by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee to hold discussions on irregularities pertaining to the Ministry of Home held its meeting under the convenorship of sub-committee convenor Ishwar Pokharel and started deliberations on the irregulatities as metioned in part one of the Auditor General’s Report-2056 concerning the ministry.

The sub-committee gave directive to the ministry to take visa fee in foreign currency in accordance with the immigration regulations.

Likewise, the meeting constituted to hold discussions on the irregularities pertaining to the Ministry of Health held under the convenorship of the sub-committee convenor Shiva Bahadur Deuja deliberated on the irregularities concerning b. p. koirala Institute of Health Sciences, eastern region hospital and Koshi Zonal Hospital Development Board.

Simikot (Humla), Feb. 3: Normal life was disrupted in various village development committees (vdcs) of Humla where there was continuous snowfall for the last 24 hours.

As there is one foot five inches of snow at Simikot, the district headquarters, the local offices are deserted.

Air services has also been disrupted because of the snowfall at the local airport.

Meanwhile in Kalaiya, rain accompanied by hailstones and strong gusts of winds on Tuesday night have damaged 50 percent of the standing crops in 10 vdcs of Kalaiya district, according to the district administration office.

The village development committees affected by 15 minutes of hailstones weighing 50 to 100 grams are Mahendra Adarsha, Paterba, Bhagawanpur, Tedakatti, Inarwamal, Bidra-Birta, Kudhuwa and South Jhitkehiwa.

Kathmandu, Feb 3: Chairman of the working party on the accession of Nepal to the World Trade Organisation and ambassador of New Zealand to the United Nations Roger Farell has said that since entry into the wto is a part of the dialogue between the two sides, Nepal can derive greater benefit through such talks.

Mr Farell was speaking at a discussion program organised by the Commerce Ministry here today in the context of Nepal’s application for wto membership and the process advanced in this connection.

Membership in the organisation, which will bring about integration of the world economy and be fruitful towards enhancing the living standard of the people, will be in the interest of Nepal, he said.

The first meeting of the working group will be heldaround April and the basis for the talks on membership will be worked out on that occasion, he said.

Royal Nepalese ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Shambhuram Simkhada said trade is the most important thing in international economic activity and liberalisation has a big role to play in positive economic change.

From the chair, Commerce Secretary Mohan Dev Pant said every effort will be made to make Nepal’s membership as beneficial as possible.