Flood-affected schools build new classrooms

DANG, JUL 01 - Two schools damaged by the mid-August floods last year at Purandhara in the district have finally rebuilt their buildings with donations from various organisations.

The Gangate-based Saraswoti Janata Secondary School constructed a three-room building at the cost of Rs 1.2 million while the Dhobighat-based Babai Primary School built two-room structure with Rs 800,000 received from various donors.

Nepal Youth Foundation provided Rs 2 million to construct five classrooms in the flood-hit schools. Likewise, the District Education Office and the District Disaster Relief Fund had also provided Rs 1 million to the schools. The building work, however, had been delayed as construction materials were not supplied on time. Babai School’s Headmaster Bhupa Bahadur Shrisha Magar said they resumed classes in the newly-built building. “Students were compelled to study under tarpaulins in the past,” he said.

Likewise, Saraswoti Janata School Management Committee Chairman Khadga Kunwar said they are still facing shortage of classrooms and students are studying under tents. Dilli Bahadur Oli, acting head teacher of the school, said they are conducting multiple classes under a single tarpaulin.

Locals’ protests grind hydro project works to a halt

DAILEKH, JUL 01 - Work on two micro hydro projects—4.2MW Lohare Khola and 3.75MW Drari Khola—has been completely halted due to obstructions created by the locals.

The projects, based at Naumule in the district, have completed distribution of compensation to the affected locals. The projects have also addressed other demands put forth by the locals.

The projects’ promoters said they were frustrated by the ‘pointless’ demands put forth by various groups that have been backing the locals to launch frequent agitations.

“We have completed all the legal processes as envisaged by the environment impact assessment report. But the demands are unstoppable,” said Mohan Bikram Karki, promoter of Drari Khola project. “If we fulfil a demand of a group, another group appears with a new demand,” he said, adding it has been difficult for them to satisfy all the groups.

There is a growing trend of forming struggle committees to get fulfiled their interests. Recently, the locals had intensified protests demanding a 10 percent share allocation in the project. They were backed by the leaders of CPN-UML. However, the promoters said there were no such provisions that a private company should distribute shares.

“As demands are rising, we are not in a position to fulfil all,” said Surendra Shahi of Lohare Khola project. “No, we don’t have options but to seek legal remedy.” He said although the project has settled the compensation issues, various groups have been putting forth their personal demands. However, the agitating locals said the project should be developed in the peoples’ interests.

Not only the small projects, even mega projects like 900MW Upper Karnali project have been suffering obstacles. Investors are worried by frequent agitations from so-called stakeholders and ad-hoc committees.

“Development of Upper Karnali has been halted due to anti-Indian sentiments, but small projects that are build under domestic resources are also facing hurdles,” said Rupak Thapa, a local hotel entrepreneur. “Such activities will not send a positive message to potential investors.”

Dailekh is also known as a hydro hub of the western Nepal. It has vast potential of generating power from its dozens of rivers. Not only has the hydropower sector suffered from politically-backed protests, but investment in other sectors has also been facing similar problems.

For example, the national priority Mid-Hill Highway (Puspalal Lokmarga) project has been affected due to locals’ protests. Although the blacktopping of the project started promptly, further development has been halted. The locals have complained the compensation offered to them was nominal.

Due to the dispute, the government’s plan to relocate 10 affected areas to other locations has also been delayed.

Gorkha village in danger

GORKHA, JUL 01 - Locals of Kerauja VDC in Gorkha have demanded immediate relocation to  safer location as landslides have posed serious threat to their settlements. Villagers said the area witnessed many dry landslides after the April 25 earthquake and, with the onset of monsoon, the occurrence of landslides has increased. Sanumaya Gurung of Kerauja-1 said, “Our children are fearful and cannot sleep during rains.”

Former VDC Chairman Suka Bahadur Gurung said around 2,400 are at high risk and in need of immediate relocation. “They can’t even travel to neighbouring villages because the landslides have swept away the trails.” Gurung said.

Health workers at the local health post have left for the district headquarters due to landslide fears. Locals have been deprived of medical care. “Two villagers have already died of unidentified diseases,” a local teacher said. Local schools are also closed.

Activists demand equal rights, more representation for women

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - Rights defenders, youth activists, civil society members and political leaders took out a rally to protest some of the provisions in the draft of a new constitution which they claim are discriminatory against female gender.

They said that the constitution draft, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, has disregarded the issues that women rights groups have been raising for a long time. The rally participants called for a constitution that ensures gender-friendly provision regarding citizenship, equitable and meaningful representation of women in state bodies, and women’s reproductive rights, among others.

“The first draft of the constitution has failed to address the rights of women, especially their right to citizenship. It is our demand that the new constitution grant equal rights and representation to women,” UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said.

The constitution draft has proposed a provision that makes it obligatory for the Nepali citizenship applicants to show that both their father and mother are Nepali citizens. Women rights activists, however, have demanded that one should be eligible to apply for Nepali citizenship if one of the parents (father or mother) is a Nepali citizen.  

Concerning naturalised citizenship, the constitution draft has given continuity to the old provision, which states that a foreign male married to a Nepali woman should have stayed in Nepal for at least 15 years in order to become eligible to apply for Nepali citizenship, while a foreign female married to a Nepali male could immediately apply for Nepali citizenship after marriage.

Former Constituent Assembly (CA) member and advocate, Sapana Pradhan Malla, said they will continue their struggle for women rights and equality until the unjust provisions in the constitution draft are duly rectified. “There are many provisions in the draft of the new constitution that are unacceptable for us, women, and other marginalised groups. We plan to strongly lobby against those provisions,” Malla said.

She added that they also plan to take their protest outside the Capital.

Durga Sob, the president of Feminist Dalit Organisation, said the constitution draft has woefully failed to guarantee greater representation of women in parliament and local bodies.

“At a time when there has been a demand for 33 percent elected women representatives in parliament, the draft constitution mentions that only one-third of the total candidates shall be women. We strongly condemn this regressive step,” she said.

Madhes parties burn copies of statute draft

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - Madhes based parties burnt copies of the preliminary draft of the constitution presented in the Constituent Assembly, at the Capital on Wednesday.

The United Madhesi Democratic Alliance, a four party alliance, has been objecting some provisions of the 16-point agreement, based on which the draft was prepared.

The protesters, who were seen holding party flags, except for the flag of Upendra Yadav-led Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, chanted slogans against the ruling parties. Chairpersons of all the alliance parties were, however, not present during the protest.

The disgruntled alliance came down heavily upon the preliminary draft and warned of stern protests if major political parties failed to address their demands.

Laxman Lal Karna, vice chairperson of Nepal Sadbhawana Party said they would not own the constitution unless amendments are made.

The alliance of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party and Nepal Sadbhawana Party has been demanding that the country be federated into 11 provinces as recommended by the State Restructuring Commission formed in 2012, not into eight provinces as agreed in the 16-point deal.

It has also been urging major parties to set the names and demarcation of provinces through the Constituent Assembly and not through a commission, which they argue is against the Interim Constitution.

The Supreme Court on June 19, responding to a writ filed by former Nepali ambassador to Denmark Vijaya Kant Karna and Rita Shah, a Madhesi activist, had issued an interim order to temporarily halt implementation of the 16-point agreement.

According to advocate Dipendra Jha, lawyers are preparing to register a contempt of court against Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Nembang, CA members and Constitution Drafting Committee Chairman Krishna Prasad Sitaula for ignoring the court order.

Meanwhile, cadres of Madhes based parties also burnt copies of the draft constitution in Rupandehi and Parsa. Addressing a gathering at Birgunj, Upendra Yadav demanded that their issues be incorporated in the constitution.

Govt told to clear position

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - Parliament on Wednesday directed the government to make its position clear on the recent trade agreement signed by India and China to expand border trade at Lipu-Lekh pass, a far-western point of Nepal.

Speaker Subas Nembang issued the directive to the government after cross-party lawmakers demanded that the government break its silence over the agreement. “I draw government’s attention to inform the House about the agreement between the two neighbouring countries on the use of Nepali land for their trade purpose,” he said.

The row over Lipu-Lekh, located on the Nepal-China border, erupted after a joint statement issued on May 15 in Beijing during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit read that the two of Nepal’s neighbours agreed to expand border trade through the pass.

The 28th point of the joint statement reads that the two sides recognised that enhancing border areas cooperation through border trade, pilgrimage by people of the two countries and other exchanges can effectively promote mutual trust, and agreed to further broaden this cooperation to transform the border into a bridge of cooperation and exchanges. “The two sides agreed to hold negotiation on augmenting the list of traded commodities, and expand the border trade at Nathu La, Qiangla/Lipu-Lekh Pass and Shipki La,” it says.  

UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Janardhan Sharma picked up the issue at the beginning of meeting, demanding government’s position on it. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is silent while India and China have forged an agreement to use Nepali land without informing the government of Nepal, Sharma said.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Bharat Bahadur Khadka said the agreement has made country weak. “I ask the government to settle the dispute soon. In the past, we had border disputes with India, now it seems we have a border issue with China as well,” said Khadka, demanding a taskforce to settle the issues.

Chairman of Rastriya Janamorcha Chitra Bahadur KC said the country is failing to secure its territory as leaders are busy in “horse trading”. Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Kamal Thapa urged Speaker Nembang not to conduct any other business in the House until the government makes its position clear on the matter. Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey will make a statement in Parliament on Thursday.

‘Foreign Ministry looking into the matter’

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has said the government has taken seriously a recent agreement between India and China to build trade routes through Lipu-Lekh pass and that it is trying to establish the fact that the pass belongs to Nepal.

Receiving a memorandum from CPN-UML affiliated Youth Association of Nepal on Wednesday, PM Koirala said, “We have been discussing the matter with our foreign affairs experts and I have also instructed the Foreign Ministry to take up the matter at earliest.”

The association has urged the PM to take up the issue with India and China immediately to cancel the agreement.

Lipu-Lekh dispute: Govt told to clear position

KATHMANDU, JUL 02 - Parliament on Wednesday directed the government to make its position clear on the recent trade agreement signed by India and China to expand border trade at Lip

u-Lekh pass , a far-western point of Nepal.

Speaker Subas Nembang issued the directive to the government after cross-party lawmakers demanded that the government break its silence over the agreement. “I draw government’s attention to inform the House about the agreement between the two neighbouring countries on the use of Nepali land for their trade purpose,” he said.

The row over Lipu-Lekh, located on the Nepal-China border, erupted after a joint statement issued on May 15 in Beijing during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit read that the two of Nepal’s neighbours agreed to expand border trade through the pass.

The 28th point of the joint statement reads that the two sides recognised that enhancing border areas cooperation through border trade, pilgrimage by people of the two countries and other exchanges can effectively promote mutual trust, and agreed to further broaden this cooperation to transform the border into a bridge of cooperation and exchanges. “The two sides agreed to hold negotiation on augmenting the list of traded commodities, and expand the border trade at Nathu La, Qiangla/Lipu-Lekh Pass and Shipki La,” it says.  

UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Janardhan Sharma picked up the issue at the beginning of meeting, demanding government’s position on it. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is silent while India and China have forged an agreement to use Nepali land without informing the government of Nepal, Sharma said.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Bharat Bahadur Khadka said the agreement has made country weak. “I ask the government to settle the dispute soon. In the past, we had border disputes with India, now it seems we have a border issue with China as well,” said Khadka, demanding a taskforce to settle the issues.

Chairman of Rastriya Janamorcha Chitra Bahadur KC said the country is failing to secure its territory as leaders are busy in “horse trading”. Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Kamal Thapa urged Speaker Nembang not to conduct any other business in the House until the government makes its position clear on the matter. Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey will make a statement in Parliament on Thursday.

‘Foreign Ministry looking into the matter’

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has said the government has taken seriously a recent agreement between India and China to build trade routes through Lipu-Lekh pass and that it is trying to establish the fact that the pass belongs to Nepal.

Receiving a memorandum from CPN-UML affiliated Youth Association of Nepal on Wednesday, PM Koirala said, “We have been discussing the matter with our foreign affairs experts and I have also instructed the Foreign Ministry to take up the matter at earliest.”

The association has urged the PM to take up the issue with India and China immediately to cancel the agreement.

Next budget to focus on rebuilding: FinMin

KATHMANDU, JUL 02 - The government on Wednesday informed that budget for the next fiscal year will focus on reconstruction and rehabilitation after the recent earthquakes to achieve a higher economic
 growth.

Presenting the ‘Principle and Priorities’ of the Appropriation Bill 2015 at Parliament, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said the government would allocate adequate resources for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and people affected by the devastating earthquakes of April 25 and May 25.

“Damaged personal houses, government buildings, infrastructure related to public service delivery, and cultural and archaeological heritage will be reconstructed by using earthquake-resistant technologies,” he said.

The devastating quake and aftershocks damaged assets and properties valued at $5.13 billion (Rs513 billion), and the loss in terms of foreign earnings in different sectors is to the tune of $1.88 billion, the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report says. The government has established the prime minister-led National Reconstruction Authority for the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects, and set up the National  Reconstruction Fund to finance them.

Having received aid commitments totalling $4.4 billion from donors at last week’s international conference, the government aims to raise the rest of the funds through internal loans to meet an estimated $6.7 billion it would required for the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. “The government will issue ‘Reconstruction Bond’ to raise money to meet any funding gap,” he said.

The budget will also focus on capacity building of the concerned agencies related to disaster management and allocate resources for machinery needed for disaster preparedness, according to Mahat. The government will introduce programmes to increase production and productivity of agriculture, industry and service

sectors aimed at boosting economic growth. Due to the damages caused by the quake in all three sectors of the economy, economic growth this year is expected to remain an eight-year low of 3.04 percent.

As the service sector has been hit the hardest by the disaster, the government said efforts would be made to revive construction, financial and tourism sectors. Measures such as safety audit of tourism destinations, conveying positive message about Nepal’s safety and publicity campaign through country’s diplomatic missions abroad will be carried out to revive tourism.

In a bid to bolster the industrial sector the government will allow openings of new industries at land owned by the state enterprises which have been shut down, the finance minister said.

The national crisis caused by the April 25 earthquake and its aftermath has pushed an estimated one million people below poverty line. The PDNA report estimates that the poverty level would go up by more than 2.5-3.5 percent post earthquake. As per the Human Development Report (2014), the poverty prevalence in Nepal is 23.8 percent.

“Measures will  be taken to revive them to their original status and reducing poverty,” Mahat said.

Considering the slow pace of development activities as well as rescue and relief measures in the immediate aftermath of the quakes due to the lack of elected local bodies, the government said that it would hold the election of local government at the earliest.

Mahat also announced that the government would take the “carrot and stick” approach while re-prioritising the ongoing projects and programmes. “Funding would be cut down to unproductive projects and programmes. But the national priority projects will continue to receive enough resources,” the minister said, adding that

government agencies failing to spend available resources would be blacklisted and the officials responsible would be penalised.

Nepal blown away by Dutch attack

KATHMANDU, 

JUL 02 - Nepal was completely outclassed and outperformed by a superb Netherlands side in their second T20 International in Netherlands on Wednesday.

The Dutch side was extremely handy with the bat and even bettered their performance with the ball to crush a hapless Nepali side and claim a comprehensive 103 runs victory.

Losing the toss and asked to bat first, a 59-ball 76 by opener Michael Swart and Ben Cooper's 66 from 46 balls propelled them to 172 runs from the 20 overs. Nepali bowlers were toothless in their attack bleeding runs and failing to claim wickets to halt the opponent's run flow.

Sompal Kami was the most economical bowler giving away 24 runs from his four overs. He also claimed two wickets.

Chasing 173 for victory, Nepal's troubles began right from the start when Gyanendra Malla was caught on 12 runs. Malla started the batting with an attacking approach hitting three boundaries but was caught in the last ball of the first over when he looked to clear the fence for a big hit. Binod Bhandari (2), Paras Khadka (2), Basanta Regmi (2) and Rajesh Pulami Magar (0), who succeeded Malla on the crease, scored a combined total of mere six runs in the embarrassing defeat.

Sharad Bheswakar (18) and Sompal Kami (14) were the only other batsmen to reach the double digit score. Michael Rippon was the pick of the Dutch bowler who claimed three wickets and gave only 11 runs from his four overs. Thijs van Schelven and Paul van Meekeren also had two wickets each to their kitty.

Nepal had lost their first T20 by 18 runs and now trail the four-game bilateral series by 2-0.

Minister Parajuli finds his job on line over unseemly act

KATHMANDU, JUL 02 - Pressure is mounting on Agriculture Minister Hari Prasad Parajuli t

o quit the position after photos and video footages purportedly showing him misbehaving with female participants during Tuesday’s National Paddy Day celebrations in Mulpani surfaced on the social media.

As the news became viral on the social platforms, lawmakers and women rights activists came down heavily against minister’s unruly behaviour. “His behaviour was simply unacceptable which warrants an immediate action as per the existing laws,” said UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Janardan Sharma, speaking at a parliamentary session on Wednesday.  

Leaders from his own party have asked party Chairman KP Sharma Oli to take action against him for the conduct that is unbecoming of a minister.

“Party chairman should call an emergency Standing Committee meeting to take an immediate decision on Minister Parajuli’s misconduct,” said UML spokesperson Yogesh Bhattarai. “I personally believe the minister should clarify about his conduct and the party should take a decision after his statement.” Bhattarai termed Minister Parajuli’s behavior was undisciplined. “Being a minister he should have maintained discipline and dignity of public position. But he failed to maintain his own dignity and party’s image,” said Bhattarai.

Head of UML’s Central Disciplinary Commission Amrit Kumar Bohara has asked the party leadership to probe into the matter and take action against him if found guilty. “He failed to maintain social dignity and respect women. It is really objectionable,” said Bohara asking party leadership to look into the matter seriously.

Videos and pictures posted on the social networking sites show Minister Parajuli pulling female participants, creating rukus around the event site in Mulpani.

Parajuli met Deputy PM and Home Minister Gautam, who leads the party in the government. During the meeting, Parajuli reportedly pleaded his innocence, claiming instead that he had been unnecessarily dragged into controversy by the media.

But facing widespread criticism, DPM Gautam asked Parajuli to step down. “The issue has already reached Parliament and your action has defamed my reputation as well. Now, it’s better you resign from the position,” a source close to Gautam quoted the DPM as telling Parajuli. Ironically, UML Vice-chairman Gautam had lobbied for Parajuli to get him the ministerial post.

Legal eagles have asked the government to remove him from the Cabinet and file a sexual harassment case against him. He could face up to six months in prison

and a fine of Rs50,000 if charges of sexual harassment are established.

Rajkarnikar pulls out of prez race

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - Two days ahead of the election for the President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI ), Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar, one of three candidates for the top post, pulled out of the race on Tuesday.

Annoucing his withdrawal from the presidential election, Rajkarnikar expressed his support to Pashupati Murarka for the top post. The decision to quit the race was taken to maintain solidarity within the FNCCI , according to Rajkarnikar. “At the time when FNCCI ’s role is being increasingly questioned, my withdrawal from the nomination could help the institutional unity of the private sector’s apex body,” said Rajkarnikar at a press meet in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Along with Rajkarnikar and Murarka, Bhawani Rana had filed nomination for the FNCCIpresidency on Saturday.

During the press meet, Rajkarnikar stressed on the need to pick a unanimous candidate to head the umbrella body of the business fraternity. “I wish another candidate in the fray [Rana] also supports Murarka,” he said.

Former FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya had held meetings with all three candidates on Tuesday where he persuaded Rajkarnikar to withdraw his nomination and also urged Rana to withdraw her candidacy, according to informed sources. Several other former FNCCIpresidents had also called for a unanimous president at a recent press meet.

Rana is likely to announce her withdrawal from the election on Wednesday, paving the way for Murarka to be the next FNCCI head by a unanimous vote, a source said. Rana was not immediately available for a comment.

The top FNCCI post has remained vacant since Pradeep Jung Pandey was sentenced to jail on March 18 over a three-decade old corruption case. In the last FNCCI Executive Committee election, Rajkarnikar had lost the battle to Pandey. Subsequently, the Rajkarnikar panel filed the case against Pandey.

The federation’s executive committee meeting on May 28 removed Pandey from the post and called a fresh election.

Maintaining that he had no personal vendatta against Pandey, Rajkarnikar said the decision to remove Pandey was taken as per the FNCCI statute that bars any person facing a criminal charge from holding the top position in the federation. He claimed that the district chambers were also in favour of a unanimously nominated president.

Murarka brushed off suggestions that he had patched up with Rajkarnikar because of political pressure. “Being a senior, I will always consider Rajkarnikar’s advice for a way forward in the coming days,” he said. Should Murarka win a unanimous decision, he will hold the top position for 21 months.

Praising Rajkarnikar for his gesture, the immediate past president of FNCCI Vaidya urged Murarka to lead the umbrella organisation by accommodating everyone from the private sector.

Murarka had defeated Rana for the post of senior vice-president in the last election. The election is scheduled on Friday.

Experts say Nepal tourism will need time to recover

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - Nepal tourism will need time to recover from the direct hit it took from the April 25 earthquake, travel traders said.

The tourism industry has been hard at work staving off negative publicity and trying to convince potential travellers that a majority of the destinations in the country are safe to visit. A few countries have toned down their travel advisories, encouraging international tour operators to observe that there is every reason for Nepal to be confident in its tourism future.

Speaking at an interaction on Tuesday entitled Turning Point in Tourism: The Role of National and International Tour Operators jointly organized by the government and Samarth, a flagship UKAid-funded initiative in Nepal, they said that it might take a little longer for Nepal to win the confidence of travellers due to the travel warnings issued by many source countries and the perception foreigners have towards Nepal following the disaster.  But Nepal should move aggressively with branding and promotional activities to assure visitor safety and security, the participants said.

“Nepal used to be our best selling destination, but numbers have been on a declining trend after the Maoist insurgency,” said Jo Chaffer of the UK-based tour operator KE Adventure. Soft adventure activities are the major attractions for British travellers in Nepal.

“The April 25 earthquake has further changed the perception of visitors due to massive media coverage on Nepal’s devastating earthquake,” Chaffer said, adding that the British people were currently not in a travel mood in Nepal. “Nepal needs to improve its quality and assure safety standards to woo back tourists.”

However, Japan has not changed its travel advisory to visit Nepal. “Only one-fourth of the trip bookings made with our agency have been cancelled,” said Sonia Miyahara, operator of Mountain Travel Japan.

“Nepal needs to provide information regarding the safety status of its destinations. Such assurances from the government will help us bring Japanese tourists to Nepal.” She said that 80 percent of the sales of her agency are focused on Nepal.

Meanwhile, Mads Mathiasen, operator of Denmark-based Himalaya Trails, said Danish visitors had declined since the Maoist insurgency. He, however, said that travel warnings had become a major issue for Danish visitors after the earthquake, but once they are out, demand for Nepal would jump significantly.

“Based on the current bookings, autumn is really looking to be bleak,” he said, adding that trip bookings for Nepal were expected to drop 85 percent within the next few weeks because negative perceptions still remain among visitors in Denmark. He, however, said that if the Nepal government assured highly safety standards, things could be better in the near future.

Likewise, Mick Chapman, operator of Australia-based Himalaya Guides, urged Nepal to focus on free independent travellers or backpackers as they look for cheaper destinations. “After the earthquake, we have already observed a 70-75 percent drop in Australian visitors due to negative travel advisories.”

He said that tourists from Australia were down 30-35 percent during the Maoist insurgency period but recovered quickly. “It might take Nepal a little longer to woo tourists due to changed visitor perceptions towards Nepal after the earthquake.”  The Russian market has also seen a significant drop in advance reservations. Sergey Vertelov, operator of Himalaya Club Russia, said they had observed 60 percent fewer bookings for Nepal. He said that Nepal should emphasize those places which are safe to visit.

Meanwhile, initial concerns seem to have receded and the desire to visit Nepal has bounced back among tourists.

“I’ve been going back and forth on whether it’s ethical for us to visit Nepal, so this gave me some peace of mind,” says one would-be British traveller Ailish Casey in a tweet.

“The Case for Planning a Trip to Nepal. I’m sold, I agree. Let’s help rebuild Nepal’s Tourism,” a Canadian Mariellen Ward tweeted. Meanwhile, the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment report has estimated that the overall impact to the Nepali tourism industry will be a reduction of about 40 percent over the next 12 months, and a 20 percent reduction in the following 12-24 months. Tourist numbers plunged 90 percent during the period May to July.

With regard to trekking, the report said that high-end segments were more likely to cancel their trips to Nepal and the impact of the earthquake on this group was expected to be a 70 percent reduction over a 12-month period.

However, the number of low-end trekking groups is expected to recover quicker with an estimated reduction of 20 percent over a 12-month period.

WB okays $300m loan for quake recovery

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - The World Bank has approved two credits totaling $300 million to rebuild houses in poor, rural areas of Nepal and provide cash for the government’

s budget to help the country recover from the devastating earthquake, the global lender said Tuesday.

The loans, which have been approved by the bank’s Board of Executive Directors, are part of a package worth up to half a billion dollars pledged last week by the World Bank at an international conference in Kathmandu for Nepal’s reconstruction.

The bank approved $200 million as housing credit and another $100 million budget support which the government can invest wherever it deems appropriate.

The housing reconstruction credit is from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries. It will provide grants to homeowners to rebuild about 55,000 houses for the poor in rural areas.

It will be extended on standard IDA terms with a maturity period of 38 years and a six-year grace period.

The budget support approved is an IDA credit to help the Nepal government to expand relief and recovery efforts while also

supporting policy measures to strengthen the country’s financial sector, which has weakened along with the economy. It will be on standard IDA terms.

“With the swift approval of these credits, the WB is striving to fulfill its commitment to the people of Nepal to help them in this difficult time by putting in place credible recovery efforts that target support at those most in need,” said Annette Dixon, World Bank Vice-President for the South Asia Region of the World Bank.

“The impressive pledges at last week’s donor conference show that Nepal’s partners are there when the country needs them, and it will now be important to follow through with effective implementation that is transparent and accountable to the Nepalese people.”

The bank has also announced the creation of a Multi-Donor Trust Fund to enable Nepal’s donors to coordinate their finance for housing reconstruction.

Additional support for housing reconstruction will be necessary to help

rebuild the more than 500,000 homes destroyed in the earthquakes, the multilateral donor said.

“These credits will enable the Nepal government to start work on financing reconstruction of houses to ensure they are rebuilt in a disaster resilient way,” said Takuya Kamata, World Bank Country Manager for Nepal.

“The housing reconstruction credit draws on lessons learned in India and

Pakistan to channel funds through house-owners while ensuring that building standards are met and funds accounted for.”

Apart from the approved credits, the World Bank said that the remaining $200 million would be redirected from existing World Bank projects in Nepal and invested in reconstruction efforts.

“Any reallocated money will be replaced with additional funds,” said the lender.

Five farmers awarded for stand-out performances

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - Five farmers have received the President’s Outstanding Farmers

 Award for their contribution to the agriculture sector and achievements in adopting modern farm practices.

The awards were conferred on Kalu Hamal of Kailali, Chandra Lal Tamang of Dhankuta, Chhyam Bahadur Thapa of Kaski, Chhaya Dutta Bhusal of Bardia and Prakash Panta of Chitwan on the occasion of the 12th National Paddy Day on Tuesday. Minister for Agricultural Development Hari Prasad Parajuli and Secretary Uttam Kumar Bhattarai presented the honours amid a programme at the Nepal Agricultural Research Council.  Among the recipients, banana farmer Hamal has been named the best farmer of the year. He also received a cash prize of Rs200,000. Hamal has invested Rs16.8 million in banana farming so far and now earns Rs20 million annually. His farm employs 35 people.

He started with 10 banana trees three decades ago, and has expanded his farm to 10 bighas. Hamal also owns a banana resort in Tikapur and has been promoting agro tourism.

His resort offers delicacies made of bananas.

Likewise, Tamang has been awarded for outstanding performance in large cardamom and tea production. He grows large cardamom on 30 ropanis of land and maintains a large cardamom nursery on 10 ropanis. He also grows tea on 60 ropanis.

Tamang has made an investment of Rs900,000 and earns Rs3.35 million annually. His income from large cardamom alone comes to Rs3.05 million.   

Thapa is involved in pig farming. He started pig farming 10 years ago with two pigs and now owns more than 1,400 animals on his farm that has expanded to 52 ropanis. His investment has reached Rs17.7 million, and his annual income stands at Rs1.72 million. He employs 24 people on his farm.

Similarly, Bhusal produces 250 tonnes of fish and 1.5 million fingerlings annually on his farm that is spread over 121 bighas. He has spent Rs11 million on his farm and earns Rs5 million per year. He has given jobs to 2,000 persons. Panta started floriculture one and a half decades ago. His farm has expanded to 15 bighas during that time. He has invested Rs30 million and earns Rs4 million annually. His farm employs 1,500 people.

Price-mark provision likely to be expanded next fiscal

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - More imported merchandise may be required to be marked with the maximum retail price (MRP) from the next fiscal year 2015-16. Currently, traders are required to have price-mark labels on 12 products.

Jyoti Baniya, a consumer rights activist, said that there had been an understanding between the Department of Customs, representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce and consumer rights activists to price-mark 12 more products.

“We reached an understanding at Monday’s meeting,” said Baniya. Among the products that will come under the MRP rule are drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, mobiles and packed food, among others, according to Baniya.

Currently, televisions, washing machines, microwave ovens, energy drinks, marble, granite tiles, cooking ranges, chimneys, digital cameras, video cameras and automobiles are required to have price-mark labels.  

Last week, the Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) decided to ask manufacturers and importers of packaged essential goods to send them to market only after marking the MRP on them.

The department said that it would give traders and manufacturers a three-month deadline to comply with the instruction. The directive also covers life saving drugs and surgical devices.

According to the department, many of these products, especially surgical devices imported from India, Malaysia, the US and Europe, do not state the MRP.

The price-mark provision does not apply to perishable goods such as vegetables and fruits whose prices vary on a daily basis and are distributed in bulk, according to the DoCSM.  

However, the Department of Customs said that no concrete decision on expanding  the list of products required to have the price-mark had been taken so far.

“We have been conducting an effectiveness analysis of the MRPs fixed on certain products so far,” said Sishir Dhungana, director general of DoC. “The report is expected come before the budget presentation for the next fiscal year, and we will then take the necessary decision on expanding the list.”

He said that the weaknesses in the MRP system would be evaluated and the necessary steps taken to remove them while adding other products to the list.

The DoCSM aims to intensify market inspection to make sure the MRPs are consistent with the actual production costs, overhead costs and profit margin.

Nepal Water gives $400k for quake relief

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - Nepal Water and Energy Development Company has announced a gift of $400,000 to provide temporary accommodation, food, schools, health posts, latrines, drinking water, solar lamps and mobile health camps to the internally displaced persons of Haku, Ramche and Dhunche VDCs of Rasuwa district.

Bishnu Prasad Koirala, local development officer of Rasuwa, and Hong Seok Bin, CEO of the company, signed a memorandum of understanding amid a function in Dhunche recently. The company is implementing the 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 hydro project located in Rasuwa district.  The devastating earthquake of April 25 and constant aftershocks inflicted severe damage to property and claimed the lives of over 600 people in Rasuwa.

Immediately after the tremor, the company had rescued 67 injured persons by helicopter and provided immediate relief materials including food, tarpaulins, blankets and utensils worth $68,000. On May 21, the company also handed over $50,000 to the Nepali ambassador in Seoul.

In order to successfully implement the aid accord, the company will manage

financial resources from KOSsEP of South Korea, Daelim and Kyeryong of South Korea, IFC and

DEG of Germany.

Budget session begins

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 - The budget session of Legislature-Parliament that commenced on Tuesday was adjourned without entering into business.

The Speaker read a letter from President Ram Baran Yadav summoning the budget session. On the recommendation of the Cabinet, President Yadav, as per Article 51(1) of the Interim Constitution, called the session on Friday.

Starting on Wednesday, there will be pre- budgetdiscussion. Lawmakers will participate in discussions related to the upcoming budget after Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat tables a proposal at 11:30am.

In discussions that are likely to continue for a week, lawmakers will suggest the government on the budget priorities. President Yadav will present the government’s programmes and policies for fiscal year 2015-16 as pre- budget discussions end.

The budget will be presented by mid-July, following the endorsement of the policies and programmes. The budget is likely to be as big as Rs840 billion and will focus on reconstruction of the property destroyed by the devastating earthquakes.

3 teenage girls commit suicide

DOTI, APR 20 - Three schoolgirls, aged 14 and 15, committed suicide en masse at Surma VDC in Bajhang district. The victims, who went out of contact on Friday, were found hanging from a tree in the Bhoktuli Community Forest on Saturday.

According to District Police Office in Bajhang, Juntara Pujara (14), Rekha Pujara (14) and Kabita Bohara (15) of Surma-5 killed themselves by hanging from a rhododendron tree. Juntara was a seventh grader while two others were studying in grade eight at Surma Higher Secondary School.

The incident site is at the walking distance of around two-and-a-half hours from their village. The girls had left their houses for fetching red soil at around 12:30pm. Locals said they searched the girls as they failed to return home by the evening.

Police said the post-mortem conducted on Sunday confirmed that the girls had committed suicide. The reason behind the incident, however, is not immediately known. “Our preliminary investigation shows that neither

poverty nor love affairs caused the suicide,” said Inspector Kamal Bista, adding that further investigation is under way.

Among the girls, Juntara was married a month ago.

She continued her studies staying at her parents’ house. The incident occurred just a few days after four teenage schoolgirls committed suicide jumping into the Mahakali river at Dattu VDC in Darchula district.