Pressure on Nepal from India side to change the course of Koshi River
Jun 1, 2011 @ 18:42
India is insisting pressure on Nepal to change the course of the Koshi River. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today urged the Indian central government to take up with Nepal immediately the issue of ensuring flow of water centrally from Koshi River downstream of its barrage to prevent devastating floods, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
In a letter faxed to External Affairs minister S M Krishna, Kumar said the Koshi River has been one of the most problematic rivers in the recent past. In the downstream of Koshi barrage, the river has shifted eastwards and is now flowing by hugging the eastern Koshi embankment, he said, adding that it was imperative that the river flow should remain central to exert minimum pressure on either side of the embankments.
Chief Minister Kumar informed that a scheme of excavation of pilot channel was formulated in the light of recommendation made by Kosi High Level Committee (KHLC), the technical body, to make river flow central.
As quoted in Republica, the excavation of the pilot channel was started unilaterally by India around two months ago and around seven weeks ago, the Saptari District Administration Office issued a directive to immediately halt the construction following protests by locals and it was halted.
A senior officer at the Department of Irrigation (DOI) confirmed that Gobargada, an island VDC of Saptari to the south of the barrage, will be swept away if Koshi were brought to the central course. The river has shifted eastward after breaching the embankment over two years ago, by constructing a pilot channel. The DOI officer said bringing Koshi to the central course may be even more dangerous for Nepal.
IGP Thakuri removed, Shah appointed
Jun 2, 2011 @ 23:07
Newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rabindra Pratap Shah, has assumed office on Thursday. His tenure period as IGP will be 15 months and 11 days, after which he will retire on the basis of age.
Shah was appointed IGP of Nepal Police by the Council of Ministers Wednesday evening after removing Ramesh Chand Thakuri from IGP post by the government. The official version for Chand’s removal is his alleged involvement in the multi-million rupees Sudan scam. But it is learnt that Deputy Prime Minister and home minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara was unhappy with him for a number of reasons.
Mahara was particularly unhappy for Chand’s decision to rearrest Govind Bahadur Batala in the recent days. Batala, UCPN-Maoists’ brigade commander, the convict in the murder of businessman Ram Hari Shrestha, was rearrested after the release from the court premises on another charge of abduction.
Mahara was also unhappy when Chand decided to transfer 65 Superintendents just only few hours before he was appointed the home minister, as quoted in Nepalnews. As he seated on the seat of the Home Ministry, he revoked the decision.
New record in 8,848 meters Mt. Everest; 8,110kgs wastes carried down
Jun 4, 2011 @ 16:28
“Mount Everest†this name is usually heard when someone reaches its summit making new record. But this time, a different story, another record is being heard. The largest amount of solid waste, 8.1 tons, has been collected from the slopes of Mt Everest (8,848 meters) and is brought down to Namche Bazaar.
The project called “Saving Mount Everest, Waste Management Project, 2011†was organized by the Everest Summiteers Association (ESA), Eco Himal, the Ministry of Tourism and civil aviation that includes 29 Nepali mountaineers who worked from April 17 to May 29, 2011 to collect waste from the world’s highest peak.
The waste materials, that have been brought down to Namche from the Everest Base Camp (EBC) on the backs of 75 yaks and with the help of 65 porters, weighs 8,110kgs (8.1 tons), as quoted in Republica. They were showcased on May 29.
Among the total waste, 3,200kgs (3.2 tons) was handed to the authorities of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) for disposal. The 3.2 tons of waste includes tents, ropes, cardboard boxes and paper. Besides this, other wastes include metals, cans, helicopter parts and oxygen cylinders that were flown to Kathmandu.
Since 1953, more than 3,500 climbers have reached the summit of Mount Everest. Most expedition teams have left trails of waste. According to experts, 50 tons of solid waste still remains in the Everest region.
Metals will be handed to the Nepal Foundry Industries Ltd. Then they will melt the metals and create gift items that will be sold to fund public awareness programs in the Khumbu region,†Diwas Pokharel, general secretary of ESA told to Republica.
World Environment Day observed with various programs
Jun 5, 2011 @ 17:51
The World Environment Day 2011 has been observed nationwide on Sunday by organising various programmes.
On Saturday morning also, groups run by people with disabilities (PWDs) organized a cleaning programme at Jorpati to mark the World Environment Day. The programme was organised jointly by Asthabakra Saving and Credit Cooperative Limited, Spinal Cord Injury Khelkud Sangh, Balbalika ko Lagi Pariwarik Herchaha Bidhyalaya and Khagendra Nawa Jiwan Kendra with the theme “Let us keep our surroundings cleaner and healthier by managing garbage in a proper wayâ€.
About 40 people with disabilities, along with 12 helpers, cleaned the street in Jorpati.
On Sunday, Nepal Unites a voluntary citizens’ group organized a program of cleaning the outsides of the Constitution Assembly (CA) and to urge the CA members to clean up their acts and complete the peace and constitution drafting process in time, this time.”
Some one hundred cyclists started a rally at 7 AM from Sherpa Mall- Durbar Marg, demanding “Cleaner Environment- Cleaner Politics†in Nepal. They pedaled their way to BICC, CA Hall and there they were joined by hundreds of more protesters. They cleaned the outside of the CA building using brooms. Sunil Pant, a CA member received a broom with 601 bristles from the protestors who urged Mr. Pant to ask his fellow members to unite and work for the country.
At Gokarna forest also, an event was organized as an attempt to set the Guinness World Record by hugging trees for 2 minutes by the largest number of people at the same time on the World Environment Day. 879 people including Miss Nepal Sidikhshya Shrestha, Khagendra Thapamagar (world’s shortest man recorded in Guinness World Record) and school students participated in the program.
The ministry of environment also organized a programme and awarded at least three private organisations – Nepal Pollution Control and Environmental Management Center, Women Environment Preservation Committee and Nepal Environment Pollution Control Center – for their outstanding contributions for solid waste management in the valley.
News Reviews (June 6, 2011)
In an official function at his residence at Nayabazar, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal bid an emotional farewell to 48 PLA personnel.
Comment: It seems obvious that the combatants who spent almost five years of their lives providing security to their leaders felt humiliated on that action which leaders has taken but the fact that chairman Prachanda has given emotional farewell shows that he has deep affection towards PLA combatants and the force who lead the Maoist to establish in Nepali politics.
Refer – Dual security: 1st batch of PLA fighters sent to camps
Refugee issue: US appreciates Nepal’s cooperation and urges Bhutan to take tangible steps
Jun 7, 2011 @ 07:40
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Kelly Clements visited Bhutan from June 2 to 5 and Nepal from June 5 to 6 to discuss humanitarian protection and assistance issues for refugees and other vulnerable populations in the region.
After the visit and discussion, the US embassy in Kathmandu issued a press statement on Monday. According to the statement, during Kelly’s discussion with the officials, Bhutan government reiterated its April 2011 offer to the government of Nepal to reengage in bilateral discussions as soon as possible on the modalities for the voluntary return and reintegration of refugees with legitimate citizenship claims to Bhutan.
Likewise, DAS Clements appreciated Nepal’s cooperation on the resettlement and support for efforts to find durable solutions for all refugees in the camps and for its commitment to ensure the safe transit of new arrivals to India and to respect the basic rights of Tibetans in Nepal in the statement. The statement also expressed US concerns over the handling of stateless persons in Nepal.
Clements has urged the Bhutanese government leaders to take tangible immediate steps to help resolve the protracted refugee situation in Nepal as a sign of Bhutan’s commitment to democratic values and human rights and the government of Bhutan also agreed to examine other ways to resolve this humanitarian situation in a humane and expedient manner, especially for the most vulnerable.
The statement also reads that the US and the international community are ready to help the governments of Bhutan and Nepal to support a process to manage the return and reintegration of refugees once agreements are reached.
Top level officials including IGP, AIG, DIG dragged to Special Court
Jun 7, 2011 @ 18:30
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Tuesday filed a case against 36 persons at the Special Court for their alleged involvement in the Sudan scam.
The lists of accused are: –
Former IGP
1. OM Bikram Rana
2. Hem Bahadur Gurung
3. Ramesh Chand Thakuri
Incumbent AIG
1. Arjun Jung Shahi
2. Madan Bahadur Khadka
Former AIG
1. Shyam Singh Thapa
2. Deepak Singh Thangden
3. Dipendra Bista
Incumbent DIG
1. Ramesh Bikram Shah
2. Topendra Dhwoj Hamal
Former DIG
1. Deepak Kumar Shrestha
2. Niraj Pun
3. Surendra Pal
Incumbent SSP
- Ravi Pratap Rana
- Shyam Bahadur Khadka
- Shiva Lamichhane
- Dr. Ajit Kumar Gurung
- Ramesh Kumar Pandey
- Bijaya Lal Kayastha
Former SSP
- Narendra Kumar Khaling
Incumbent SP
1. Manoj Neupane
2. Niraj Bahadur Shahi
3. Gupta Bahadur Shrestha
4. Ram Krishna Rajbbhandari
5. Krishna Prasad Guragain
6. Sanjay Singh Basnet
7. Pitambar Adhikari
Incumbent DSP
1. Bidhya Raj Shrestha
2. Prakash Adikari
3. Dinesh KC
Former DSP
1. Harihar Shrestha
Inspector:
1. Arjun Prasad Timalsina
2. Giridhari Sharma
3. Lal Govinda Shrestha
Others:
1. Michael Rider, the Director of Assured Risks P Ltd, the London based APC supplier
2. Shambhu Bharati, proprietor of Bhagwati Traders
Following the registration of the case at the Special Court, 26 senior officials have automatically suspended from their posts, thereby, creating a void in the police structure.
On Wednesday, the government had already removed Thakuri from the top post of the Nepal Police to make it easier for the anti-graft body to file a case against him.
CIAA, however, has already dropped charges against former home minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and former home secretary Umesh Mainali, as media quoted.
Finance executive found involved in large-scale fund misappropriation
Jun 9, 2011 @ 00:51
It has been revealed that Executive Chairman of People’s Finance, Chhabilal Bhusal has been found to be involved in large-scale misappropriation of funds leading the company (established in 2049 BS) into crisis.
More than Rs 450 million has been found to be embezzled while issuing loans and taking loans for himself in the name of other borrowers from the company, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) source.
The Bank and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) prohibits promoters of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) from taking loans from their own institution. So, the promoters usually use third parties for such purpose.
According to NRB source, Bhusal has been found making huge investment in real estate and housing sector. About 55 percent of the total loans of Rs 950 million have been issued to the real estate sector only as of May. Taking short-term deposits in call accounts, the finance company was making long-term lending, resulting its deposits into poor liquidity.
People’s Finance Company abruptly shut down its transactions from Monday as the company could not repay its depositor and Bhusal stayed out of contact.
The company fell into extreme financial crisis after NRB withdrew a portion of its fixed deposits (about Rs 70 million) at the company last week.
UPDATE June 11: After three days of closure, People’s Finance reopened from Thursday. The promoters told the central bank that they will recover Rs 80 million loans and pay their clients.
Only Rs. 5 thousand penalty to Galaxy for jesting Nepali pride
Jun 10, 2011 @ 19:32
Our national bird is peacock.
Our national animal is tiger.
Our national flower is Lotus.
This is what, students of class one of Galaxy School, are learning. When this news was flash out in News 24, five members committee was formed by Ministry of Education for inspecting the matter and found Galaxy guilty.
But, only Rs. 5000/- as a penalty to Galaxy school for teaching Indian syllabus to students in Nepal. Â Galaxy was penalized for using Indian syllabus without permission.
Nepal Awarded US$ 46.5 million Funds by GAFSP
Jun 11, 2011 @ 18:28
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) is awarding US$ 46.5 million to Nepal. GAFSP stated that this fund will enhance household food security in the poorest and most food insecure regions through increased agricultural productivity, household incomes and awareness about health and nutrition in the mid-western and far-western development regions.
The decision of awarding was made in Washington by the GAFSP Steering Committee during met on June 7-8, 2011. Besides Nepal, Cambodia, Liberia and Tajikistan also receive this fund-Cambodia (US$39.1 million), Liberia (US$46.5 million), and Tajikistan (US$27.9 million).
GAFSP seeks to improve food security mainly as the most recent food price spike has driven an additional 44 million people across the globe into poverty, according to the World Bank (WB).
925 million people around the world are hungry and undernourished, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
This is the third round of countries to receive funding. Of the 25 countries that had applied prior to the October 1, 2010 deadline, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mongolia, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Togo have already received  the GASFP grants in the previous round
CIAA writes govt to stop unnecessary diversion of funds
Jun 14, 2011 @ 15:13
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has written a letter to the government not to divert funds from one topic to another. This CIAA action was in response to a complaint filed by the Nepali Congress against the misuse of funds by diverting unnecessarily.
The CIAA wrote letters to the Office of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers, National Planning Commission (NPC), the chief secretary of the government, Ministry for Local Development, Finance Ministry, Ministry for Physical Planning and Works, Irrigation Ministry, Energy Ministry, Ministry for Peace and Reconstruction and the Tourism Ministry  and made it clear that the funds cannot be diverted unless for nationally prioritized programmes like natural calamities that need urgent response. If the fund is diverted unnecessarily under pressure from influential leaders and ministers, it could amount to corruption.
The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee had also directed the government on June 7 to transfer the budget within the first priority (P1) projects or from less prioritized projects to the more prioritized one only.
Darkest lunar eclipse in almost 100 years on June 15
Jun 15, 2011 @ 09:12
The circumstances of the total Lunar eclipse for Nepal (NST) on 15/16 June 2011(converted from IST provided in article by Arvind Paranjpye)
| 2011 | Stage | Phase | Time (NST) |
| Jun 15 | 1 | Moon enters penumbra | 23:07:52 |
| Jun 15 | 2 | Moon enters umbra | 0:07:24 |
| Jun 16 | 3 | Start of totality | 1:06:57 |
| Jun 16 | 4 | Maximum eclipse | 1:57:24 |
| Jun 16 | 5 | End of totality | 2:47:50 |
| Jun 16 | 6 | Moon leaves umbra | 3:47:22 |
| Jun 16 | 7 | Moon leaves penumbra | 4:47:02 |
Diagram showing various stages of passage of the Moon through the Earth’s shadow region
Duration of the total Phase will be 1h 40m 52s. According to Arvind Paranjpye, this will be the darkest lunar eclipse in almost 100 years as the centres of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon would nearly be on one straight line. The earlier darkest lunar eclipse was observed on August 6, 1971 and the next one would be 47 years from now on June 6th, 2058.
Jayanta Acharya, the chairman of Astronepal and an astronomer with Balmeeki Campus in Kathmandu, informed that the peek-a-boo between the two heavenly bodies will continue for three hours and 40 minutes (The Himalayan Times).
During the eclipse, the moon will appear red hue similar to the Sun appearing red in colour during rising and setting. The Sun appears red due to absence of the blue rays and presence of the red rays only. As the sunlight passes through the atmosphere of the Earth, the blue component of the sunlight is scattered most but the red rays pass through.
Likewise, some of the red rays from the Sun escape or come out of the Earth’s atmosphere, reaching the Moon and giving the Eclipsed Moon its red hue.
The entire eclipse will be visible in eastern Africa, the Middle East, central Asia and Western Australia, from beginning to end. Observers in eastern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina will witness totality. However, none of the eclipse will be visible from North America.
Police fired tear gas in Putlisadak
Jun 16, 2011 @ 08:03
These protest are going on in response to the arrest of Mahesh Basnet in Eastern Nepal, Itahari. Biratnagar and
We will update the situation as it unfolds.
UPDATE: The clash happened in front of Shankar Dev College when a car Ba 1 Jha 5471 was burned. The students affiliated to ANSFU are throwing stones and bricks from the college.
It was reported that another vehicle was burnt in Jamal in the morning. (Photo credits – various
sources)
Protest: Silence and Violence on the same day
Jun 17, 2011 @ 05:33
Situation was tensed at Putalisadak area from the afternoon on Thursday due to the protest program of UML- aligned All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) demanding the release of UML youth wing Youth Association Nepal (YAN) Central Chairman Mahesh Basnet who was arrested in Ithari. Basnet has been denying the involvement of YAN Morang Coordinator Parsuram Basnet in the attack on a journalist Khil Nath Dhakal, who belongs to Nagarik and Republica Dailies, in Biratnagar and the probe panel formed by Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) reported that Dhakal was attacked by gangsters at Basnet’s directives.
The agitating students torched two vehicles outside Shanker Dev Campus and Tri-Chandra Campus. The situation turned violent as the students pelted stones into the police force while the latter were trying to extinguish the fire on the vehicle. To control the situation, police fired two rounds of teargas shell.
Around 55 students and 11 security personnel have been injured during the clash between police force and agitating students, according to a press statement issued by the Home Ministry. Even the unaffiliated students to the party got injured during baton charge by police indiscriminately.
Whereas on the same day, silence protest was demonstrated near overhead bridge in front of Nepal Airlines office, New Road from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
Around 50/60 people were standing quietly in prominent places with placards displaying messages of public frustration and anger for half an hour. The silence and civil protest was for demanding accountability of lawmakers and politicians. These 50/60 people were gathered to press the CA members for promulgation of New Constituents.
There was total silence except the noise of vehicles passing by. Neither there was any clashes nor injured persons. They were protesting for releasing crore Nepali from uncertainty whereas the protest in Putalisadak was for releasing the party leader and that has also turned into violence.
Attention of everyone was towards violence rather than towards silence. News of Silence protest remains silence in every media whereas every media is covered by violence news. Silence protest comes and goes silently whereas violence protest left behinds its mark.
SC summons convicted but not arrested yet CA member Dhungel
Jun 18, 2011 @ 11:54
The Supreme Court (SC) has summoned UCPN-Maoist Constituent Assembly (CA) member Bal Krishna Dhungel to be present in the court on June 26 for murder case that was filed by Sabitri Shresha, victim’s sister with the legal assistance of Advocacy Forum, a human rights organisation, on June 14.
A single bench of Justice Tahir Ali Ansari also ruled the defendant to appear with written answers within 15 days.
Dhungel, CA member from constituent region 2 in Okhaldhunga, is accused of murdering Ujjan Kumar Shrestha at Khaharedovan in Tarkerabari VDC-7, Okhaldhunga on June 24, 1998. Though, the Okhaldhuga court had convicted Dhungel and given the verdict of life imprisonment and confiscation of property two years ago, the administration has not jailed him yet.
Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara has also given public statement to pardon Dhungel as per the Interim Constitution clause of 151.
National Census 2011 began with more than 50 major questions
Jun 18, 2011 @ 23:14
National Census 2011 has begun from Friday with collecting information from President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Vice President Paramananda Jha and Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khana. President, the head of the state and his family members have been registered as an ordinary citizen for the first time in a century-long history of national census, according to chief of CBS Population Unit Rudra Suwal.
This is the second phase. The first phase was in May 16 to June 3 collecting general information like number of households, number of family members and head of family and occupation.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the officials will count the number of people living in the country and collect information about them in every 10 years. National Census 2011 will be 10-day-long. 46,500 enumerators, including 8,500 supervisors have been deployed at 3,900 Village Development Committees and 50 municipalities across the country.
Suwal said, “The questionnaires are same for all. The president was the first person to be registered on Friday”. On the basis of estimated population of 28.5 million residing in Nepal, CBS has estimated one enumerator for an average number of 200 households.
According to CBS Director General Uttam Narayan Malla, Nepal has one of the longest censuses of its own kind in the world with more than 50 major questions. CBS has readied questionnaires in 10 languages, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang, Gurung, Newari, Magar, Awadhi, Rai and Limbu for the convenience of respondents and the information to be filled are related to religions, castes, ethnicity, sex, occupation, economic status, migrant workers, third genders and many more.
98 Kg gold and Rs. 120 mil found in Sai Baba’s Room
Jun 19, 2011 @ 23:57
This information was released a day after the Sathya Sai Central Trust opened the locks of Yajur Mandir. One of the trust members and Baba’s nephew RJ Ratnakar gave the details of the cash and valuables found inside. He told that the cash will be deposited in State Bank of India.
All the donation and gifts rece
ived by Sai Baba used to be kept in bank through Sathya Sai Central Trust. The trust manages the huge spiritual empire of by Baba that owns assets in various parts of India including Puttaparthi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
Although he was worshipped and respected by many people, his credibility has always been questioned by various people from time-to-time.
Also read – Is Sai Baba the illusionist ?
SLC Result announced – 55.5% passed
Jun 20, 2011 @ 03:45
55.5 % of the total examinees under the regular category and 17.3% from the partial category have passed in the SLC result announced today.
The results can be viewed online through various websites. The most notable sites are the official OCE website and Nepal Telecommunication websites. The full result in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking the following links:
Download SLC Result
- Regular SLC 2067 (result on 2068) 4.6mb PDF file
- Exempted SLC 2067 (result on 2068) 230kb PDF file
