UML not to field candidacy to PM

Kathmandu, Aug 2: The CPN (UML) is not to field its candidate for the election to the post of Prime Minister.

Although the party is not contesting the election to the Prime Minister, it will, however, vote against the Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre)'s common candidate Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and maintain its status as a responsible opposition.

Talking to journalists after the UML standing committee meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar this morning, Chief of the party's Publicity and Publication Department, Yogesh Bhattarai, said they have take this decision in favour of a responsible political culture and environment in the context of the party raising voice for national consensus.

As per the Parliament Regulations, the parliament will elect the Prime Minister through a division of votes although there is only one candidate. The UML has so far urged the parties that are a part of the ruling coalition it is leading also to vote against Dahal.

Bhattarai stressed that the constitution and its implementation were the UML's priorities and shared the party Standing Committee meeting decision to caution against the 'conspiracy' of not holding the election to all the three tiers of the State by mid-February 2017.

He stated that amendment to the constitution would not be acceptable to the UML if it endangered the national unity and harmony; but the party would be flexible for resolving problems through consensus.

"We are serious towards the possible risk of constitutional or political vacuum and the danger to democratic values in the country. But we are in favour of politics based on national consensus and culture," he added. RSS

Yarcha traders to be escorted to China border for sale of the precious medicinal herbs

Dolpa, Aug 2: Preparations are underway to transport yarchagumba (Cordyceps Sinensis) collected by local people to China for sale under tight police security with the harvesting season completed, police said.

Over 50 traders have gathered in Dunai till today, the district headquarters of Dolpa and they along with the precious medicinal herbs they have collected will be escorted under tight police security to China on Wednesday, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sumit Khadka said.

Police started providing security to yarcha traders going to the northern neighbour since last year, following the looting of millions of rupees worth of the valuable medicinal herb on the way in previous years. Yarcha traders go to China to sell yarcha they have possessed as it is sold there at relatively high price.

A kilogram yarcha fetches between Rs 1.5 million to 3 million in Chinese market. It takes a seven-day walk for the traders to reach the transit point of China. The transit point usually remains opened only to allow the transaction of the precious medicinal herb after the harvesting season finishes. RSS 

Community fund bankrolls school's survival

Salyan, Aug 2: It will be interesting to note that a school with around 200 students is running under community's voluntary funds for the past seven years.

The school has been raising funds for its survival after it failed to acquire permission for creating necessary teaching posts in the lower secondary level in Kalagaun – 7.

The school established in 1989 has official posts for two and has been forced to seek fund for five additional teachers. The school does not have any other reliable source of income for bankrolling the teachers' monthly allowance forcing it to collect donations, the school's Principal Nokhiram Oli said.

"We have been collecting Rs 200 and up to Rs 1,000 with parents annually to provide allowance for the teachers," School Management Committee Chair, Tilak Karki, said adding, "We have been operating the school with the donations voluntarily received from the community."

In 2008, the school was granted permission to run programmes of up to lower secondary level, but the posts required was not permitted, due to which the school is facing crisis, Principal Oli said. Currently, 200 students are enrolled at the school. RSS 

Water supply pipe ruptures spreading havoc

Myagdi, Aug 2: The district headquarters of Beni is facing acute scarcity of drinking water after landslides ruptured the supply line at multiple sections.

The Beni Drinking Water and Sanitation Consumers' Association has been supplying water from Dudhe river located at Bhakimli VDC and Pumdi river in Ramche VDC to 950 households in Beni, Bagarphant and Mangalghat.

Drinking water supply came to a standstill after the pipes burst at multiple sections due to monsoon triggered landslides. The people are toiling to lead their daily life in wake of the unprecedented shortage. RSS 

Family of Nepali migrant killed in road accident receives Rs 5.9 m compensation

Chitwan, Aug 2: The family of a migrant worker who was killed in Qatar in the line of duty has received around Rs 5.9 million compensation provided by the deceased's employer back in Qatar.

Chief District Officer Binod Prakash Singh handed over a cheque to Bisamati Chaudhary, wife of the deceased Dhaneshwar amid a programme in Chitwan today.

A permanent resident of Bhandara of Chitwan, Dhaneshwor, who had gone to Qatar four years ago to work in a furniture industry, was killed in a road accident three years ago. RSS 

Bakraha flood survivors living wretched life

Pathari (Morang), Aug 2: The people of Dainiya of Morang are forced to live in wretched conditions since the flood from the local Bakraha River entered the settlement by breaching its dam on July 25.

They are even unable to mange a square meal and clothes for their children as floods swept away all their belongings.  Some 200 school age children of Dainiya wards no 3 and 8 have no clothes to wear and no food since the flood hit the village. They are living in tents along with their parents and are at high risk of infection of various sorts of communicable disease. Parents say they feel very sorry upon seeing the miserable condition of their children.

  Survivor Urmila Devi Rajbanshi said flood-hit children cannot sleep in night due to discomforts caused by adverse living conditions. Various health-related problems like itching, stomach swelling and rashes have been seen among them.

Dainiya VDC Secretary Padam Binod Ghimire stressed the need of immediately sending a health team to the flood-affected site. They should be provided with cloth and foodstuffs at the earliest, he said. Nursing women, children and elderly people are affected the most.  RSS 

Nepali worker killed in road accident in South Korea

Panchthar, Aug 2: A Nepali migrant worker was reportedly killed in a road accident in South Korea while another was critically injured.

The deceased is Hemant Acharya from Papla.

The injured is Subash Mukhiya, 30, of Pauwa Bhanjyang of Ranitar-6, Panchthar.  He is undergoing treatment in a hospital there, Bhimraj Chemjong from South Korea said.

  Aharya died on the spot while his colleague left severely injured in the accident that took place last Friday, it is learnt. RSS  

Bereaved family gets monetary aid

Phalebas (Parbat), Aug 2:  The District Natural Disaster Committee, Parbat has provided financial assistance to the family of  Ankita Tamang who died in the July 26 landslide.

Tamang from Nuwakot was a worker with the Baribeni-based Dhaulagiri Cotton Factory in the district. She was buried to death as the landslide hit the factory a week ago.  

Committee's Coordinator and Chief District Officer Shambhu Marasini Monday handed Rs 45,000 to the bereaved family.  Others eight were injured in the incident that ended with the property loss worth Rs 1.5 million. RSS   

Viral fever cases up in Tanahu

Tanahu, Aug 2: The cases of viral fever and common cold have significantly gone up these days  in Tanahu. The district headquarters-based government and private health facilities are witnessing an increase in the inflow of viral fever and common cold patients.  

  Some 150 to 200 patients visit the Damauli-based District Hospital's outpatient department (OPD) in a day and of them, over 100 are viral, common cold and typhoid patients. Earlier, this number at usual time used to be  just 40-60, Hospital's Medical Officer Dr Anil Giri said.  Private health institutes in the district are too receiving an increasing number of patients these days.

The risk of viral infection is high in the monsoon, Dr Giri said, advising people to take preventive measures and at least drink clean or boiled water to  avoid the chances of infection. RSS 

Nepali in Taiwan contribute to Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation

Kathmandu, Aug 2:  Nepali residing in Taiwan have donated Rs 305,000 to the Dhurmus- Suntali Foundation. The assistance will be used to construct a settlement in Giranchaur of Sindhupalchowk devastated by last year's earthquake.

  A team from the 'Nepal Taiwan Association' based in Taiwan recently visited Giranchaur to handover the assistance amount to the Foundation, Association Chair Raju Gurung said. Treasurer Rajan Shrestha and members Shankar Maharjan and Surendra Nepali were in the team including Gurung.

The Foundation agreed to receive the assistance at our humble request, despite its unwillingness, he added.

The team is here to construct schools for quake-hit students of Kavrepalanchowk, one of the worst affected districts.


The Foundation established by famous Nepali comedians' couple  Sitaram Kattel (Dhurmus) and Kunjana Ghimire (Suntali) is engaged in reconstructing the villages flattened by the 2015 Gorkha Quake.  RSS 

Baby boy drowns

Rajbiraj, Aug 2: A baby boy drowned in a water-filled pit at Lalapatti VDC-7 in Saptari. The incident took place Monday.

Jasim, the 18 months-old son of a Mursid Miya  was found dead in a water-pit near a shallow tube well of Miya's house, police said. The child apparently fell into a pit while playing. RSS 

No private toilet for Jaleshwor jail's staff

Gaushala, Aug 2. The Jaleshwor Prison, a common jailhouse for Mahottari and Dhanusha districts, has no toilet for its staff, it is revealed.

  Though the jail has toilets for its 380 inmates, its staff are compelled to use a toilet of the nearby District Court or a washroom outside the prison as there  is no separate toilet facility for them, said jailer Shovendra Shrestha.

The prison has 15 employees including two women.

Lack of separate toilet facility for the employees has caused also inconvenience to 57 security personnel deputed here since the Madhes movement.

The prison office placed frequent requests to the Department concerned for budge allocation to construct a private toilet for its employees, but in vain.  We have no option to using the District Court's toilet or a public restroom, Shrestha said.

Besides, the prison lacks sufficient basic facilities for the inmates. RSS 

Ilam's Rambhyang at high risk of being buried

Ilam, Aug 2:  A village in the eastern Ilam is at high risk of being buried by landslides triggered by incessant rainfall for the past few days.

Continuous rain has put the entire Rambhyang of Jirmale-4 under high risk of landslide.

A year ago, the village was hit by a huge landslide and in this monsoon also, a landslide has occurred here. Fissures have been seen on earth.

The Rambhyang folks are living under constant fear of being buried.  Houses of Amrit Rai, Tika Bahadur Rai, Keshar Sapkota, Bikram Rai, Ganga Bahadur Rai and Bhupen Rai   are at high risk of being hit by landslides at any time.

  So far 200 ropani of arable land has been swept away in the mudslides, according to a local Dilli Bahadur Rai.  

However, none in sight to rescue them, they complained. RSS      

Nepalis traveling to India have to carry ID card

Baitadi, Aug 1: With security tightened by India at border areas in view of its Republic Day on August 15, the Nepalis travelling to India are required to carry identity cards with them.

According to the Seema Surakshya Bal (SSB) security has been tightened at Jhulaghat, the border area in Baitadi.

The SSB has requested through Nepal Police that the Nepalis willing to visit India have to carry ID card with them, according to the District Police Office, Baitadi.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohan Prasad Pokharel, said that the Nepalis heading towards India would be turned back from border points if they do not have ID card.

Although the Nepalis travelling to Indian bordering markets-- Jhulaghat, Dharchula and Pithauragadh do not need to carry identity cards, it was necessary for the Nepalis traveling to different places of India as Delhi and Mumbai. RSS

Youth drowns while crossing river

Dang, Aug 1:  A youth drowned while he was crossing a local river at Amritnagar at Tulasipur Municipality-9 in Dang district.

The deceased has been identified as Dharmu Chaudhary, 33, of Kapadadevi, Tulsipur-6 in the district. He is learnt to have swept away by Patu River, according to Area Police Office, Tulsipur.

The body of Chaudhary was spotted at the River bank today morning, shared Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Krisha Prasai.

The dead body has been brought to Rapti Zonal Hospital in Tulsipur for post mortem, police said. RSS

Dr Bhattarai slams 'unnecessary talks of Indian role'

Tulasipur, Aug 1: Naya Shakti Nepal's Coordinator Dr Baburam Bhattarai today slammed the unnecessary talks regarding the purported Indian role in change of guard in Nepal.

At a press meet organized by Reporters' Club Dang in Tulsipur, Bhattarai mentioned the wrong trend in viewing India whenever government changed in Nepal.

Stating that the parties here should resolve the internal problems of Nepal, Bhattarai termed any external intervention as 'unacceptable'.

He blamed the weaknesses on part of the political parties and governance system as stoking the change of government.

Bhattarai further claimed the political instability would continue to plague the country unless there is a 'directly elected President' and 'proportional parliament'.

The leader spoke of the failure to hold substantive dialogue with the Indian side despite the fact that parts of Nepal's Tarai Madhes were annually flooded due to embankment constructed by India.

He stressed on need for holding dialogue with India to resolve the problems rather than hauling accusations. RSS 

ANNFSU distributes relief supplies to flood-stricken

Pathari (Morang), Aug 1: All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) Central Committee on Sunday distributed relief supplies worth Rs 500,000 to flood-stricken in Morang.

ANNFSU team led by its Chairperson, Nabina Lama, distributed relief to 200 families in Dainiya 3 and 8, and 200 families of Govindapur, said ANNFSU Secretary, Oshim Alam.

Around 500 locals of Dainiya and Govindapur were displaced after floodwaters streamed into their settlements on July 24 when swollen Bakraha river broke through the embankment.

On the occasion, ANNFSU Chair Lama said the relief distribution will be advanced in the form of a campaign in areas affected by the floods. RSS 

Mustang records 17 snow leopards

Mustang, Aug 1: A total of 17 snow leopards have been found at the trans-Himalayan district of Mustang.

An NGO, 'Green Forest', revealed the findings after a research carried out in collaboration with the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).  

For the past three years ACAP has been running a campaign to protect wildlife and control poaching through VDC level conservation committees in all of the 16 VDCs of the district which has resulted in the surge in the snow leopard population. There had not been any official count on the snow leopard population in Mustang before.

The district has 17 snow leopards, ACAP Jomsom's Chief Niru Thapa said. "The Green Forest is yet to submit its report to us," she said, adding, "We will have the details after we receive it."

The incidents of attacks on locals' livestock in Chusang, Dhami and Surkhang areas in upper Mustang by packs of snow leopards have increased recently. The snow leopards are also reported to be increasing in the jungle areas in Jomsom and Kobang VDCs. RSS 

Ex-Army men return to save wildlife

Chitwan, Aug 1: As the renowned Chitwan National Park (CNP) marks the second consecutive zero poaching year the share of achieving such remarkable feat also goes to the effort put in place by the former members of the Nepal Army.

A network of former servicemen personnel led by former Nepal Army Major Sher Bahadur Dham of Jagatpur, who retired after 34 years in service, is lending a helping hand in the effort to end poaching.

CNP Chief Conservation Officer, Ram Chandra Kandel, said the network is proving to be very effective as the former military men and employees come with an experience in communicating information.

He said the group has no problem in sharing covert tips on the illegal activities taking place and detaining individuals involved while also going on patrols within the jungle.

Former Major Dham, who was stationed at the CNP for six years of his career, says the jungle and wildlife are Nepal's property and that former servicemen were working to protect it in an organized method. We have plans to expand the network to Nawalparasi district as well, added Dham.    
 
Apart from former soldiers, former employees, youths, women, teachers and students have also established their own networks to control poaching which has contributed significantly in reducing the incidents of poaching to nil, Kandel shared. RSS 

Six bus accident victims identified

Hetauda, July 31:  Six of the nine passengers who died in a head-on collision between two passenger buses at Ramantaar road stretch along the Hetauda–Narayangadh route last night have been identified.

              A bus belonging to Agni Yatayat with registration no Na 5 Kha 5055 and heading towards Jhapa from Kathmandu collided with a night bus with registration no Na 5 Kha 4064 en route to Kathmandu from Udayapur killing nine on the spot.

The deceased identified so far are Laxmi Prasad Adhikari, 39, of Topgachhi, Jhapa, Manairatna Chaudhary, 10, Binod Chaudhary, 20, and Santosh Chaudhary, 27, of Triyuga Municiplaity, Udayapur, three-year-old Muskan Chaudhary of Triyuga Municiplaity-3, and Bishal Chaudhary, 27, of  Simraungadh, Bara, said police. The remaining three are yet to be identified.    

In the accident, 32 passengers were injured. They are undergoing treatment at the Chure Hill Hospital in Hetauda, according to police. RSS