Kathmandu, Jan. 7: Foreign Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat has said that a democratic government should be able to run the governance in accordance with the law of the land and by bearing in mind the national circumstances.

Foreign Minister Dr Mahat, who was speaking as chief guest at a symposium on “development governance: challenge and opportunities” organised by the centre for development and governance here today, said although, we are backward compared to big and advanced nations, our governance can be termed good in view of the national circumstances.

On the occasion, Dr Mahat released a book entitled “development governance agenda for action” written by Bishwa Keshar Maskey. The book will be useful for all those who take interest in good governance, said the Foreign Minister.

Ex-vice chairman of National Planning Commission (npc) Dr Harka Gurung described misuse of power, inefficiency in policy making, maximum centralisation, over politicisation of every sector and corruption as impediments to establishment of good governance.

Npc member Dr Shankar Sharma was of the view that reforms in economic, political and social sector alone do not suffice for good governance, what is more important is bringing about attitudinal change among political leaders and MPs.

Resident representatives of Asian Development Bank Dr Richard Vokes was of the view that a responsible government should make the needs and aspirations of the people the focus of its policy.

Undp Resident Representative Dr Henning Karcher expressed the view that if a government is to provide good governance, it should build an environment in which the people remain satisfied.

Dr Manmohan Sainju said since the constitution has clearly spelt out the goals of a democratic government and has outlined the means of attaining the goals our efforts should be directed towards achieving the goal as directed by the constitution.

President of the centre Dr Maskey presided.

Kathmandu, Jan. 6: General secretary of Bharatiya Arya Pratinidhisabha and chairman of the Bonded Liberation Front Swami Agnivesh has spoken of the need for all religions to move ahead by regarding the whole of humanity as a family.

Speaking at a seminar on “Religions for Social Justice” organised by the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) here today, Mr Agnivesh stressed that we should renounce the wrong path adopted by religions for thousands of years and engage in human welfare.

There is no word called “Hindu” in Veda and religions should link people rather than break them, he said, adding casteism, untouchability and gender inequality should be removed from Hindu religion.

Monk Gyanpoorna of World Peace Vihar said religion without justice is no religion and spoke of the need to shun religious bigotry.

Various other speakers including chairman of the Nepal Arya Samaj Gokul Pokharel, chairman of the Ittehad Association Nazir Miyan, chairman of the Anubrat Samaj Hulas Chand Golchha, literatteur Modnath Prashrit also spoke at the function chaired by INSEC advisor Birendra Keshari Pokherel.

Chitwan, Jan. 6 : Chitwan, the third most popular destination among   tourists coming to Nepal has started to provide new attractions and additional amenities for visitor.

The salient attraction for visitors is an open national park where they can enjoy glimpses of rare wildlife such as rhino, tiger, leopard, gariyal crocodile, boar and deer as well as birds of different species in the dense forest.

The community forests here have helped a lot in maintaining the wetlands. This has not only added to the beauty of the park but also assisted in fostering trekking and eco-tourism.

The park has developed as a centre of attraction for water sports and canoeing in the Narayani and Rapti rivers in addition to viewing crocodiles and love birds on the river banks.

The recent millennium Sauraha festival has brought to light the additional facilities set up for visitors.

Foreign as well as domestic tourists had an excellent opportunity to savour this tourist destination.

During the festival which lasted for four days the visitors enjoyed western pop and other music and fashion shows and relaxed with rich cultural and folk dances.

Local tourism entrepreneurs are of the opinion that the festival held under the joint auspices of Nepal Tourism Board, Chitwan Safari and Bigul Expo has amply contributed in promoting domestic tourism.

Some 64 tourist resorts have opened here so far. Of them seven are situated inside the park and the rest outside.

The rural human settlements adjoining the park area such as Sauraha, Kashara and Bagmare are surrounded by greenery and can lure anyone visitor.

In the resorts inside the park, one can encounter people from research scholars to environment experts among the tourists.

Ninety per cent of the visitors who came here show keen interest in the natural beauty of the park and in riding elephants.

The local entrepreneurs however express dissatisfaction over the failure on the park to make available the limited number of elephants kept outside the park.

The 20 elephants deployed at nine points in the park have not been able to meet the demand from all visitors. Warden of the park Gopal Prasad Upadhyaya says, “our first priority is the conservation of the forests area. Providing elephants for visitors comes second”.

Tourism entrepreneurs operating inside the park can exploit their opportunities fully since they have their own elephants. But those on the outside are deprived of this opportunity and feel that not a single resort should be allowed to run inside the park.

Either we should be treated equally or resorts operating inside the park should be removed, a tourism entrepreneur Atma Ram Kharel opines.

Chief executive officer of Nepal Tourism Board Pradeep Raj Pandey   maintains that resorts operating outside the park should not be allowed to enter the park area if quality tourism is to be maintained.

The park above all has to maintain environmental balance and protect the wildlife, park warden Upadhyaya says.

It is up to government policy whether to permit resorts within the boundaries of the park or not, Upadhyaya further says.

Though the government has not formulated any policy in this connection, the resorts operating inside the park area are entitled to run their businesses till 2066 b.s., it is learnt.

Visitors, meanwhile have had an opportunity to enjoy motor boating launched here for the first time.

Some environment experts however warned that this may create noise pollution and have an adverse effect to the crocodiles and other wildlife along the rivers.

Chief executive officer Pandey also corroborates this view.

Chitwan is also well known for its religious and historical sites. In addition to religious destinations like Devghat, Balmiki Ashram, Chitrasen Ashram and Bikram Baba, other destination such as Churiya peak and Bishajari lake are equal attractions.

According to statistics, about 100,000 foreign tourists visited here in 1998 and foreign pilgrims also in the same numbers.

But there is a need to project the park’s natural and historical attributes for the further development of tourism.

Kathmandu, Jan. 6 :Miniser for Housing and Physical Planning Bal Bahadur KC has said in a country like ours marked by geographical and environmental diversity, architects should present ideals by constructing buildings that suit our needs.

Speaking at the ninth anniversary function of the Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA) here today, Mr KC noted that architects should be able to maintain their place in this age of expertise.

Secretary at the Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning Khagendra Basnet observed that architecture reflects cultures and traditions of a nation and spoke of the need to build houses by coordinating traditional styles of architecture and the safe modern style.

Mayor of Bhaktapur municipality Prem Suwal said the houses to be built in Nepal should be based on indigenous styles.

Manager of Sale-In Pvt. Ltd. Gopal Sirohiya, newly elected Sona chairman Uttam Shrestha and others also expressed their views at the function chaired by outgoing Sona chairman Bharat Prasad Sharma.

Earlier, the general assembly meeting unanimously elected a 10-member executive committee under the chairmanship of Uttam Shrestha with Binod Neupane as vice chairman, Swarup Gurung as general secretary and joint-secretary as Sanjya Uprety, Rosha Marahattha as treasurer.

The members of the committee are Rajuman Manandhar, Mukunda Shyam Ranjit, Kaveri Rajbhandari, Dr Prakash Singh and Sunita Shakya.

Kathmandu, Jan 6:The month of December is normally cold and dry in the Kingdom. However, the past month of December was much warmer and drier than normal.

The monthly mean temperature was warmer than normal by 0.60C to 2.50C over most of the Kingdom. Kathmandu, the capital of the Kingdom recorded highest departure from normal with 2.50C as compared to other places, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Dadeldhura, in the farwest recorded close to normal temperature. The extreme (absolute) maximum temperature recorded this December at Dipayal (29.60C), Dang (25.20C), Simara (29.00C), Okhaldhunga (220C), Taplejung (20.70C) and Dhankuta (22.70C) are one of the highest ever recorded at these places during the month of December.

The cold wave condition, which drops the temperature to unbearably low, does occur at times (during December) in association either with inflow (influx) of cold chilly wind from northwest or with incessant precipitation or with prolonged Terai fog, was virtually absent during this December.

Only during the last few days of month the Terai region came under the influence of some cold wave condition due to the presence of foggy weather.

The December Terai fog of previous two years were comparatively more extensive, denser and longer in duration.

Precipitation was above normal in some of the western hilly regions and much below normal in most parts of the Kingdom. The central and eastern Terai regions, in particular, remainded completely dry with no precipitation at all. But this is not very unusual for the month of December as such type of dry weather condition does occur time to time in certain areas. December of 1998 was comparatively much drier than this one.

Kathmandu, Jan. 6 : The government of Singapore has agreed to provide the services of Singaporean volunteers and training opportunities under its technical cooperation programme to support development programmes in Nepal.

An agreement to this effect was concluded here today between His Majesty’s Government and the government of Singapore, according to a press release issued today by the Ministry of Finance.

Under the Singaporean Volunteers Programme, skilled professionals will be provided to work in development projects for a period of one year and one month.

The Singaporean volunteers programme will facilitate the sharing of experience and networking between Singaporean professionals and local beneficiary agencies in Nepal and also build up understanding and goodwill between the people of the two countries.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by joint secretary at the Ministry of Finance Madhav Prasad Ghimire and Dr. Tan Chi Chiu, Executive Director of the ngo Singapore International Foundation, on behalf of their respective governments.

His Majesty’s Government has expressed sincere thanks to the Singapore International Foundation and the government of Singapore for provision of the Singaporean volunteers for development programmes in Nepal and also for its keen interest in the socio-economic development of Nepal.

Kathmandu, Jan 6:The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has appointed Kul Chandra Gautam as the new Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF. The appointment was made on the recommendation of Carol Bellamy, the Executive Director of UNICEF.

Although Kul Chandra Gautam is currently the highest ranking Nepali serving in the UN system, the new appointment makes him the first Nepali to hold the post of Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to UNICEF press statement released today.

Gautam, who is currently UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia, has had a long and distinguished career with UNICEF. He has worked with the organisation since 1973 in positions of increasing responsibility, both at country level and at headquaters. He began his career with UNICEF as Programme Officer in Cambodia and Indonesia and later served as UNICEF Representative in Laos and Haiti.

He has then transferred to UNICEF headquaters in New York, where he had responsibility for Latin America and the Caribbean, then as Director of the Planning Division and later as the Director of our Programme Division. He also served as UNICEF Representative in India – UNICEF’s largest programme. He studied international relations and economic development.

Kathmandu, Jan. 6 : Twenty per cent of the foodstuffs available in the market have been found adulterated, according to the Central Food Research Laboratory.

The laboratory has said 20 per cent of the 4000 foodstuff collected from 36 districts including the capital and the bordering districts were found to be of low quality and adulterated.

According to the chief of the Central Food Research Laboratory Tika Bahadur Karki, the adulteration was found while conducting laboratory test  for 67   kinds of food items including cooking oil, vegetable ghee, milk, spices and sweets sold in the market.

Asked as to why only the 67 items were tested out of the thousands of food items found in the market, Mr. Karki said it is due to lack of manpower as we have only 18 food inspectors (one for one million people) and the lack of advanced quality testing equipment.

There are more than one thousand  cooking oil producing factories including  15-20  brands of oil which are most commonly used, it is difficult to test the oil as many  farmers sell oil carrying their product to the capital, he said.

Asked as to what action is being taken against the company for adulteration, Mr. Karki said the laboratory  has no authority  in the direct sense  to take action against them, adding that  the situation  has  further   worsened as the laboratory does not have a legal advisor.

When asked about the future plans for the building up of resources for   the research laboratory, he said  the ministry of health had so far been spending more than 30,000 u.s. dollars  received from the World Health Organisation (who) for  food safety every year.

Expressing the view that the research laboratory under the Ministry of Agriculture should be receiving the who grant assistance, Mr. Karki said that if His Majesty’s Government provided the who grant assistance to the research laboratory it would help in making improvements at the laboratory.

Kathmandu, Jan. 6:The relations between Nepal and India are solid, sound and cannot be affected by whatever has happened lately, said Indian Ambassador K. V. Rajan today amid the speculation that the recent hijack of the Indian Airlines plane might have caused sourness between the two countries.

The incident might have some momentary impact but it is not going to be a lasting one, Rajan told journalists at a Face to Face programme organised by Reporters, Club Nepal. “Our age old ties are so deep and so close that any incident like this would not have a lasting effect.”

Referring to the December 24 hijacking, the Indian envoy denied his country had said one of the hijackers was a Nepalese. “It is irresponsible,” he said of the reporting by an Indian TV channel (Zee News) exaggerating that one of the Nepalese was involved in the hijacking.

Rajan’s statement contrasts Zee News’s unfounded claim that one of the hijackers was a Nepalese, an allegation also endorsed by Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh who flew with three prisoners to Kandahar on December 31, bowing to the hijackers’ demand to release militants in exchange of over 150 hostages.

“It is a matter of very great regret that an innocent person was named in such a fashion,” the Indian envoy said of Gajendra Tamrakar who had been implicated as one of the hijackers by Indian satellite channels, including state-owned Doordarshan News. “I think one should deeply feel sorry for the wrongdoing that has hurt the individual concerned and his family,” Rajan said even if the Indian satellite channels are yet to acknowledge the wrongdoing. It is an issue, about which the media should wonder over themselves, said Rajan. “The reporting has nothing to do with the view of the Indian government.”

Asked if the Indian Airlines flights remain suspended due to certain conditions put forth by India in the wake of the hijack, Rajan said there were no such conditions. “The flights must have been postponed to rearrange the security related matters. That usually happens with any airlines after such incident,” he said. “I think the IA flight, presently being suspended, would be resumed in the future,” he stated.

India is not blaming Nepal on hijacking issue. However, there is the need to address the security lapses if any. For this, both sides can sit and discuss as to why things went wrong so that such incidents can be prevented to occur in the future, said the Indian envoy.

“It is true that India is deploying security commandos at airports in Nepal to tackle possible hijacking incidents?” asked one of the journalists. Rajan responded it was not true. “What is true is that there is a plan to keep commandos on board the aircrafts with a view to thwart possible hijacking attempts,” he added.

Inquired about the content of the letter reportedly sent to Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai by his Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Indian envoy said he cannot comment on the communications between the two PMs. Rajan said the visit of Nepalese PM is important to consolidate ties between the two neighbouring countries and added that the visit was overdue.

Asked to reply on the report that Maoist activists were getting their training in India, Rajan said he had no knowledge of any Maoists from Nepal being trained in India. “However, it cannot be ruled out that they might be taking advantage of the open border between Nepal and India,” he added.  He informed that Nepal-India joint team would work on border management to prevent misuse of the open border. Both sides will discuss the issue in the near future.

About the dealing of counterfeit Indian currency by a Pakistani Embassy staff member, the Indian envoy said it is the design to undermine the economic ties between Nepal and India which also helps to provide resources to the terrorists.

Kathmandu, Jan.6:The government today grounded three private airlines aircraft operating with their flight safety equipment out of order.

In a surprise check monitored by Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadhar, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, this afternoon a high level team of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) denied three Lukla bound flights of  Shangrila Air, Lumbini Airways and Flight Care Service.

The 9N-AFR Twin Otter of Shangrila Air, that was about to take off as a chartered flight, was grounded since its navigation equipment and other apparatus that checks the condition of other equipment in the aircraft were found to have become non-functional, read a press release of the CAAN.

Same was the case with the 9N-AFA Twin Otter of Lumbini Airways that did not have its Directional Gyro working properly as well.

The 9N-AFO Y12 (Chinese Aircraft) of Flight Care Service was found carrying a   uncertified first aid kit and its crew oxygen bottle did not have enough oxygen.

The surprise check today also found other flights not operating in line with safety regulations but allowed them to take off after necessary correction. Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation’s 9N ABU Twin Otter was found carrying 426 pound additional weight than the prescribed limit.

“The responsible staff of the marketing management of the airlines has been removed from the job and necessary actions will be initiated against him,” read the press release of CAAN.

The 9N-AEW Beechcraft of Buddha Air, that was inspected prior to its take off for Pokhara, was found not carrying its technical papers including weight and balance and maintenance release certificate. Inspectors also found that the instrumental rating validity in the co-pilot’s license had expired. “The aircraft was allowed to take off only after the co-pilot was removed from the flight and the necessary technical papers were made available,” CAAN said in its press statement.

Gorkha Airline’s 9N-AEO Dornier, Necon Air’s 9N-AFD Avro and Yeti Airline’s 9N-AFD Twin Otter were allowed to take off after operators corrected minor hitches pointed out by the inspection team.

The surprise check of CAAN’s high level official comes following the authority’s recently held executive board meeting that decided to make on-the-spot inspection to check whether or not air operators follow safety regulations prepared under Flight Safety Enhancement package.

“Today’s findings of the safety-compromises show that the inspection has to be more effective,” said Minister Gachchhadar. “There will be strict regular monitoring of such inspections as well. After the warning, if the operators do not make necessary corrections, their operating licenses will be cancelled.”

If aircraft are found to be under operation with safety compromises, said Gachchhadar, actions will be taken against both the operators and responsible CAAN officials.

Surprise checks like that of today’s have been taking place regularly, according to Nagendra Prasad Ghimire, Director General of CAAN. “These checks are apart from the routine checks we perform.”