Tanahu (Damauli), Jan. 23:Minister for Housing and Physical Planning, and Labour Bal Bahadur K.C. says that the incumbent government has followed the policy guidelines of the Nepali Congress and the directions given by its leaders in letter and spirit, and to do so is its responsibility.

Addressing a party workers’ gathering organised by the Nepali Congress Tanahu district working committee here on Saturday, Minister K.C. said Nepali Congress is synonymous with its top leaders of the calibre of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala and that to understand them meant understanding the Nepali Congress.

He said that the Maoist insurgency was not the problem of the Nepali Congress party or the government alone but was a common national problem.

The government should take initiatives to address this problem and cooperation to this end should be forthcoming   from all levels, he added.

The government has given top priority to resolving the problem of Maoist insurgency, Mr. K.C. said, adding presentation of the problem in an exaggerated manner and blowing it out of proportion sometimes gave him the impression that it is an attempt to drive the government to a tight spot.

Nepali Congress Tanahu district president Raghunath Poudel presided at the programme.

In Pokhara, Minister K.C. has said as a number of projects formulated could not be completed on appointed time on account of disputes over sources of water supply, the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning has already initiated preliminary steps to introduce a legal provision concerning sources of water.

Inaugurating here today a three-day workshop of the engineers of the districts organised by the Western Regional Directorate of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Minister K.C. said that the proposed provision would also bring coordination in Water Supply Projects launched by the governmental and non-governmental organisations and the corporation.

Hmg was committed to supplying water to all within the next five years and details in this regard would be prepared for all the 75 districts, he said, giving directives to the engineers to update the details once it was prepared.

The  Water Supply Department itself had to take up the responsibilities of coordinating the task of water supply, he said, adding that the performances of the concerned technical personnel should be evaluated on the basis of a system of reward and punishment.

Director general of the Department of Water Supply Sohan Sundar Shrestha said that while implementing water supply schemes, the Department, Corporation and the national and international organisations should not duplicate each other’s programmes.

Speaking from the chair, regional director of the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Vishwa Mani Gyawali was confident that the workshop would help resolve the problems encountered in the implementation of the projects.

Engineers working in the field of water supply in 16 districts are attending the workshop organised with the objective of bringing uniformity and resolving the problems in the project implemention.

Also in Pokhara, Minister K.C. has stressed the need to preserve the fewa lake, and properly manage and protect the natural heritage, local culture and greenary so as to maintain the beauty of Pokhara.

Minister K.C. was inaugurating an interaction programme on Pokhara Valley Town Development Council for integrated development organized by the Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee here today.
It is the people of Pokhara who should basically take the responsibility of keeping Pokhara city clean, he said, also calling for unity among all political parties and local representatives in achieving this goal.

The government is considering some assistance for improving the facilities at Pokhara Bus Park, he said.

MP Mahadev Gurung complained that a lack of coordination among Nepal Telecommunications Corporation, Nepal Electricity Authority Office and Drinking Water Supply Corporation has resulted in digging of roads from time to time thereby hampering proper roads maintenance.

Kaski DDC chairman Pushpa Prasad Poudel was of the view that good coordination between the government and local bodies and a concerted effort sans political prejudice will only pave the way for the conservation and promotion of natural heritage of Pokhara.

Mayor of Pokhara Krishna Thapa stressed the need to properly utilize the locally available resources for the development of Pokhara valley.

Mayor of Lekhnath Municipality Shaligram Poudel, advisor at the Industry Ministry Anandaraj Mulmi, deputy director general of Housing and Urban Development Department Purna Kadariya, member secretary of Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee Hemnath Sharma and Kaskikot VDC chairman Bhubaneshwor Subedi also put forth their views on how Pokhara valley can be developed.

Some 60 representatives from different sectors took part in the day-long interaction programme.

Kathmandu, Jan. 23 : Central president of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and mp narayanman Bijukchhe has said as the Maoist insurgency problem is a political one, the government should resolve this problem not by using force but in a political way.

Mr Bijukchhe was speaking at a press meet organised by the Party with a view to putting across its views on various topical issues here today

Noting that the nc government has failed to resolve the problems of red-tapism, corruption, price hikes and unemployment widespread in the country and law and order situation is dismal, he observed that corruption has increased due to flaws in policies and revenue recovery has seen slackness for which the Ministries of Home and Finance are to blame.

Nwpp central member and mayor of Bhaktapur Prem Suwal and journalist Saroj Gosai also expressed their views on the occasion.

Biratnagar, Jan. 23 : Chairman of National Assembly Social Justice Committee Jeevan Prem Shrestha has said that lack of clear approach, monitoring and on-site study has hampered the task of properly addressing the issues of human well-being and concern brought forth by His Majesty’s Government

Talking to rss reporter here today, Mr. Shrestha said a study team of the committee found inmates in prisons of Jhapa and Morang districts being kept in an inhuman manner.

Sixty inmates were found packed in a room in Jhapa prison, which is sufficient for five persons only and the condition of inmates in Morang prison was not better, he said.

The committee has been constituted to study the state and problems relating to human rights, children, backward communities and the blind and disabled in the country.

According to an on site study team of the committee, the debt relief programme run by His Majesty’s Government to liberate the bonded labourers does not seem effective enough to relieve them of their existing conditions.

Stating that His Majesty’s Government should implement a separate but effective policy for the abolition of the Kamaiya tradition and run an uplfitment programme for the “Badi” community in order to encourage them to seek other  dignified professions, Mr. Shrestha stressed the need for an extensive public awareness programme and special training for police administration to face up to the social challenges like girl trafficking.

Noting that Dalits (suppressed or untouchables) in the country are in a pitiable condition, member of the team and mp shanta Manawi said His Majesty’s Government should run special programmes and generate more opportunities for education and employment.

The team also found that the old age allowance has not been able to reach elderly people living in “old age homes”, and orphans living in orphanage are facing citizenship problems.

Bodies responsible for maintaining law and order were found useless in majority of the districts and that the official media were found lagging behind in publicizing serious humanitarian issues.

The National Assembly Social Justice committee has completed a study of issues of human well-being and concerns in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Dang, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Gorkha, Dhanusa, Siraha, Saptari, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Sunsari and Jhapa districts.

In course of its on site study tour, the team also found in many districts that non-government organisations were challenging local bodies in matters of human well-being and concerns,  and development works and this has brought the dynamism of the government under question, chairman Shrestha said.

Some non-governmental organisations were also found not working in the field of human well-being and concerns, he said, adding the activities of such organisations should be monitored by the government, he added.

The study team led by committee chairman Jeeven Prem Shrestha includes mps Mahendra Kumar Mishra, Surendra Prasad Pandey, Shanta Manawi, Ambika Pant, Bisweswara Dahal, Bijul Biswokarma, Rabindralal Shrestha, Rishibabu Pariyar and Kainya Chaudhary.

Kathmandu, Jan. 23 : Nepali Congress president and ex-prime Minister girija Prasad Koirala released a book entitled “people’s liberation army: an unwritten history” authored by shyam kumar tamang, one of the liberation army fighters, here today.

The book published by ekta publications deals with various turns of events that took place after the establishment of the people’s liberation army, its role in the revolution of 2007 b.S. And the situation it underwent after the revolution.

Releasing the book, nc president Koirala said the time has come for a massive revolution to liberate the people from hunger, disease, poverty and unemployment.

The revolution waged by the liberation army in 2007 b.S. Remains incomplete until Nepal is liberated from the politics of violence and killings, he said, adding the revolution of 2007 had inspired all to build a new and happy society free of corruption.

Recalling that the desire of the king and the people for liberation from the tyranny of the rana regime had prompted the establishment of the people’s liberation army, the nc president expressed the view that the government should allocate some amount for the well-being of the liberation army fighters.

Nc spokesman narahari acharya was of the view that the newly released book will serve as an important reference material for the historians willing to write about the country’s pro-democracy movement.

from the chair, senior vice president of liberation army welfare organization and mp d.B. Lama expressed the view that the book will serve as a source of inspiration for the uyoung generation.

Ekta publications chairman ramchandra timothy, writer of the book shyam kumar tamang, director of Nepal asian research centre Dr tirtha Prasad mishra and educationist rajendra kumar rongong highlighted the salient features of the book.

Tanahun (Damauli), Jan 22: Minister for Labour, and Housing and Physical Planning Bal Bahadur kc hands over the Damauli Drinking Water Project To Vyash Municipality at a function today.

The project was completed at a cost of some Rs 16 million in three phases.

People of Vyas Municipality Ward Nos 2, 10 and 11 can benefit from the project with 36 public and 1,048 private taps.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister kc said the government is preparing to bring about a drinking water bill in the next parliamentary session.

Stating that the government aims to provide drinking water facility to all the people by the end of the Ninth Five Year Plan, he remarked that the government has pursued the policy of operating projects as per local needs in view of the complaints that only those areas get projects where ministers, mps or leaders are powerful.

The Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning is preparing profiles of all the 75 districts for providing safe drinking water, he added.

Bidur, Jan. 22: The bench of Nuwakot district court judge Indra Man Karmacharya has remanded Ram Bahadur b.k. of Raluka vdc Ward No. 2 pending investigations into accusations of involvement in girl trafficking brought against him.

He is accused of complicity with Lorke tamang of the same ward who is alleged to have sold the 18-year-old daughter of Surya Bahadur b.k. at a brothel in Bombay, India. Ram Bahadur is alleged to have assisted by bringing the girl to Kathmandu, the district police office said.

Chief accused in the case Tamang who is at large, has also been summoned to appear in court within 70 days.

Bhaktapur, Jan. 22: President of the Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Organisation Dr. Morad Galeb called on president of the Nepal Workers Peasants Party and lawmaker Narayan Man Bijukchhe at the latter’s office the other day.

During the meeting they held extensive discussions on various topics including gobalisation.

On the occasion, Dr. Morad received information about Bhaktapur district as well as the Workers Peasants Party.

Also present on the occasion were founder president of the Nepal Chapter of the Solidarity Organisation and former minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya and president of the Chapter Babukaji Basukala.

Lawmaker Bijukchhe also presented Dr. Morad a replica of the historic golden gate of Bhaktapur.

Biratnagar, Jan. 22 : Bidur Karki, coordinator of a door to door programme launched by Explorer Nepal Pvt. Ltd. to create awareness against the use of polythene bags, distributed jute bags produced by Arihanta Multifibre Ltd. to the public at Biratnagar Municipality Ward No.5.

Speaking at the function, General Manager of b.m.c. americorp b.r. shrestha, chairman of Janapath Jagriti Club Prakash Upreti, chairwoman of Creative Community Development Centre Bishnu Sharma and chairman of the ngo district coordination committee Trilok Nyaupane expressed the view that even though polythene bags are handy and light, they could do harm to people.

They further stressed that all should unite to encourage the use of bags made of jute or cotton in their daily life.

Ilam, Jan 22:  English teachers on temporary appointment in Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung districts have issued a statement calling for speedy implementation of the government’s announcement that temporary teachers with one year’s service will be given permanent appointment.

The statement has extended support to the voice raised by the Teachers association and organisation on behalf of all teachers associated with the association, organisation and council.

The statement signed by 23 teachers from the three districts who are here to attend a one-month training has been forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Education Minister, the presidents and general secretaries of the ruling and opposition parties and the chairmen of the Teachers Association and organisation, according to teacher Prem Khatiwada.

Hetauda, Jan. 22:Minister for Forests and Soil-conservation Mahantha Thakur made an on-site inspection of the Makwanpur Technical Institute in Hetauda Friday.

On the occasion, a blood donation programme was also held in which 15 student trainees of the institute donated blood.

Institute principal Ajaya Kumar Mishra informed Minister Thakur about the progress of  the work carried out by the Institute.