World Environment Day 5 June #505 4 - 10 June 2010 16 pages Rs 30 Heaven to hell t , the water runs crystal clear, gurgling down from Shivapuri. Translucent fish dart in the cool pools among the A boulders, and water birds peck gingerly along the sand banks. The air is scented with forest flowers. Just five kilometres downstream, as the Bagmati passes Gokarna, the stench is already overpowering. Large cement pipes dump yellowish sewage into the river. Further down, new squatter settlements come right down to the river with plastic privies dotting the water’s edge. ENVIRONMENT SUPPLEMENT At Pashupati, there is just a Biogas moves up p5 Age of enlightenment p6 small channel to take the ashes Reviving the river p7 of the cremations. Green readings p8 Sandmining has caused the Climate power and hydropower p11 collapse of the Sinamangal A weathered people p12 bridge, and surprisingly the sand is still being extracted by women carrying dokos full of wet sand. The black water slithers through canyons of rubbish towards Teku, and along the banks age-old religious festivals worshipping the holy river go on amidst the squalor and stench. At , the holy site where Manjushree sliced the mountain to let the water out and create the Bagmati Valley Civilisation, the white water is caused by detergents tumbling over boulders. On World Environment Day, let us help the youth clubs, environmental groups and heritage conservation organisations helping to revive a river that once defined what was best about the Valley.

KIRAN PANDAY 2| 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 PUBLISHER’S NOTE

this deadlock is breathtaking. the contraction of the banking sector continues, high POINTLESS 3 POINTS We have a habit here of always looking at the bright interest rates have killed new investments and the side, however, and this time, too, we could say, “It could balance of trade deficit with India has created a There is nothing in the 3-point resolution reached just have been worse.” The 3-point agenda may be a dud, but shortage of Indian rupees and fostered a black market before midnight last Friday that is not already in the at least the CA term was extended. The last-minute non- in cash. The nation and the people can’t take this 12-point, 40-point, or 6-point agreements that have deal pulled us back from the edge of the cliff. It was a punishment for much longer. gone before. face-saving collection of words that bought time for more It doesn’t really matter who gets to be prime Striking an agreement is not the problem, the bickering for sure, but not extending the CA would have minister. In fact, ‘none of the above’ would be the way to difficulty is putting into practice what is agreed. Which invited an even more dangerous scenario of instability go, handing over day-to-day governance to a small is why they took it right down to the wire last week: so and upheaval. The extremists of the right and left would team of technocrats within each party that can get the they could pull a fast one, fudge things so that they have exploited the fluid situation to push through their economy moving again, improve service delivery and could continue to bicker endlessly. There is nothing agenda of turning the clock back, and squeezing the tackle law and order so businesses are not extorted here that couldn’t have been agreed on six months democratic middle. and people can live without fear of being kidnapped. ago, so why did the interlocutors indulge in such There are only two ways ahead. One is to be cynical The politicians can then concentrate on what they brinkmanship, punish the people with crippling strikes about it and say the Maoists will never compromise, the were elected to do: write an inclusive, democratic and hold the country’s economy and development prime minister will never resign, and one year won’t be constitution that will extricate this country from the hostage? enough. The other is to strengthen the moderate and quagmire they have got us into. Our politicians outdid themselves. Even by the pragmatic voices within all three parties so that they low standards of responsibility and conscientiousness look beyond their partisan ambitions to the long-term that they have now become world renowned for, their national interest. selfish and mindless lust for power that is the heart of Just one glance at the economy may be instructive: The magic wand also saved the say that the prime especially Dahal, is against him. country’s two biggest minister should step Some within the NC are now GUEST COLUMN communist parties down, the CA term saying it is their ‘turn’ and are Dhruba Simkhada (the Maoists and the should be extended and promoting Ram Chandra Poudel UML) both from the Maoists should lead a for his leadership in striking the splitting right down new national government. deal last week. Sher Bahadur he Nepali people’s message the middle. The cracks For the Madhesi parties, Deuba’s critics say he has been to the political leadership had begun to appear this was a complete prime minister once too often T of this country in the 2008 last year, but on the turnaround. and he may have to wait till the elections was clear: we want the morning of 28 May, a A week later, as the NC convention to lead his party. Maoists to transform themselves Maoist Standing Maoists and the NC-UML Jhalnath Khanal has too many into a legitimate political party Committee meeting coalition interpret the enemies within the UML who and work with the other parties was divided between three-point resolution in don’t trust what they see as his to write a new constitution. But the Baburam Bhattarai their own way and the duplicitous role in dealing with the leaders forgot this mandate, camp (which wanted a political rhetoric goes the Maoists. KP Oli has and their priority was not the six-month extension back to pointing fingers, it represented the right wing of his constitution but political power. of the CA) and the looks like nothing has leftist party, but it was his last- As the CA’s term neared its Baidya faction (which changed. The parties have minute turnaround on Thursday expiry date, this newspaper didn’t want an just bought time by in a meeting with Dahal that carried out a public opinion poll extension). Chairman extending the CA. When allowed a deal to be struck. Still, in which an overwhelming should the prime he is hobbled with the same number of the over 5,000 cast his lot with the minister resign, if at ‘loser’ label that has undermined respondents from all over the hardliners. all, and who should take Madhav ’s credibility. country said that if the Similarly, by his place? The CA has been revived with constitution couldn’t be written evening dissidents KIRAN PANDAY The person most a magic wand. The agreement on time, the CA’s term should be within the UML, led by Bam Dev After the desperate to get back to Baluwatar itself is vague and there is no extended and a national Gautam, had started a signature is Chairman Dahal, but he has timeline. After the drama of last consensus government formed. campaign to get 62 members to drama of last too many external and internal week, we are back to where we Politics becomes cynical when call for the resignation of the forces arrayed against him. started: getting a power-sharing public opinion ceases to matter prime minister, though he was week, we are Baburam Bhattarai could be the agreement on a national to politicians. from their own party. Meanwhile, back to where compromise candidate for the government so that the other The last minute deal last the MJF and other Madhesi other parties, but the paradox is peace and constitutional issues week didn’t just save the CA, it parties in government began to we started that his own party leadership, can fall into place.

ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com On the blogs A MONARCHY ENGAGED LEARN FROM INDIA THANK YOU nepalitimes.com/blogs Why would the monarchy, which has Now that the constitution-making deadline Thank you, Esther Benjamins East West been around for 104 years, be willing to has been extended by one year, we Memorial Foundation, for giving these The parties will get disappear (‘Engaging monarchy’, #504)? should first of all enforce certain discipline girls a new chance in life (‘Circus stuck in the Would a Hindu king be willing to be in a and adopt correct procedures in the coming slave’, #504). quicksand again, but for now they have position where he cannot perform the raj days (‘Whither constitution-writing?’, Sandhya Sharma bought time dharma? Is it a function of kingship to #504).We can take lessons from just watch while the incompetent, constitution-making in India, where it was A RARE GLIMPSE Indo-servile politicians degrade the mandatory for all top leaders to attend Kudos to Manjushree Thapa country? meetings, and all important committees were (‘Reaching America’, #504). She Weekly Internet Poll # 505 K.K. Sharma headed by top party leaders. definitely is in a unique (or even Daniel Gajaraj privileged) position as somebody who Q. Do we need a new constitution at all? I agree with the gist of the article and has lived in many parts of the world, Total votes: 3,169 it would have been nice if the monarchy COMPREHENSIVE PLAN and is both an ‘outsider’ and ‘insider’ had remained a cultural institution. The The issue calls for a comprehensive land at the same time. She can glimpse into truth however is that the monarchy used use plan for the valley, implementation of the ‘inner world’ of Prema through its cultural influence as a cover for its which hinges on the power of the legal multiple windows at the same time – as political, familial and other selfish system (‘Urban crush’, #504). As long as a woman from a poor ‘third-world’ motives. To maintain the monarchy solely there is corruption, all such measures will country who is struggling to settle in as a unifying agent from the past isn’t be futile. In the end, it’s all about having a the most ‘developed’ country in the Weekly Internet Poll # 506. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com reason enough to restore it. competent people-oriented government. world. Q. Which of the following cares most about Jeev Jayjeev Hada Anonymous Nepal and the Nepalis?

Publisher: Kunda Dixit | Editor: Rabi Thapa Design: Kiran Maharjan | Marketing: Sambhu Guragain, Subhash Kumar, Arjun Karki [email protected] | Subscription: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Hattiban, Godavari Road, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu | Tel: 01-5250333/845 Fax: +977-1-5251013 [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | www.himalmedia.com | Printed at Jagadamba Press 01-5250017-19 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 OP-ED|3

But the UML-Maoist deal upset NC leaders who had spent the day fighting hard to prevent any commitment to resign in the Resurrection, deal. They told Oli NC would sign on but not own the agreement, as this had been done without consulting them, breaking the deconstructed spirit of the alliance. Deuba spoke to the PM on the phone and both said the PM would at best and chant slogans against their split. And if there was a deal of expressed unhappiness at what PLAIN SPEAKING commit to ‘opening the way’ and own PM. Rumours circulated that some sort, his rival Jhalnath had happened. The NC’s sense the term ‘resignation’ would not they had decided to register a Khanal would take all the credit was that this had handed the Prashant Jha figure in any agreement. Talks different party. Subash Nembang and emerge stronger. Maoists a victory when they were stuck on this point through himself was angry with the PM, Even as NC leaders waited would have, ultimately, the day. and had even advised him to quit outside, Oli met Prachanda – on a unconditionally extended before n the night of 27 May, And then the UML cracked, a few days earlier. At this heated one-on-one basis, and with the hour of midnight. Oli tried to NC’s Krishna Sitaula with multiple voices demanding moment, towards late evening, Khanal. He asked what the reassure them that the deal was O and Amresh Singh met the PM could not hold the CA KP Oli arrived in the house. Maoists wanted; Prachanda vaguely worded, and could Prachanda. They told him the PM hostage. The revolt within was be interpreted anyway they would not resign the next day, led by Bamdev Gautam, and wanted. and deserved an honourable exit. younger MPs like Rabindra So what do we have post 28 If the Maoists extended the CA Adhikari. The Maoists were Deconstructing 28 May is May? The Maoists gained some and moved one step on the peace thrilled. Prachanda told a few political capital on the day, which process, the NC would get the PM aides that either the UML would central to understanding has been partly neutralised by the to resign in a few days. Prachanda blink or it would split if the PM insistence of others that they did not buy that. The NC did not resign. the elements that move on the PLA first. Within the negotiators had a similar Fissures within the NC had Maoists, Dr Bhattarai and his line conversation with Dr Bhattarai also started appearing. A few MPs characterise the present prevailed but Prachanda the same night and early next even shouted at Sher Bahadur continues to remain central to any morning, and also met the PM to Deuba and Sitaula for not being political situation deal-making. In the UML, Khanal assure him of full support. flexible enough. Ram Chandra was pro-active, but Oli ensured he On the final day, all top Poudel kept calling the PM to could not take all the credit. He leaders were in the CA, but the come to the CA, even as other NC Oli realised the game had insisted on the term resignation has now firmly positioned core negotiators were Sitaula, negotiators told him to come changed, and the fracture within in the agreement. Oli himself as representing the other Singh, Bhim Rawal and Krishna only after a deal since he would was serious. Even his erstwhile immediately agreed. This is when pole in Nepali politics and an Bahadur Mahara. The Maoists be subject to tremendous pressure supporters, like Bishnu Poudel the narratives diverge. The indispensable interlocutor. The first proposed that extension and in the CA. and Pradeep Gyawali, angrily Maoists claim Oli gave them a NC maintained a relatively resignation happen together: But the focus was clearly on told him history would judge guarantee the PM would go in coherent stand, but got locked in demand rejected. The Maoists the internal UML rift. The CA him and the UML very harshly if five days; Oli claims he only said its stated positions. The internal then suggested that the PM could complex was abuzz with reports the CA ceased to exist. Oli could that the PM would go in five dynamics of the UML and the commit to ‘resigning’ in his that 64 MPs had met the CA see that if they did not show days if the Maoists implemented Maoists will be the key speech, and privately agree to chairman, threatening to some flexibility, the CA could be commitments in the same time- determinant of politics in the quit in two days. The other side surround the well of the house dissolved and the party could frame. coming weeks. 4| NATION 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505

THIS WEEK

Back from the brink The three parties signed a three-point agreement minutes before the term of the Constituent Assembly was due to expire last Friday. The agreement paved the way to extend the CA term by a year, but almost a week after the agreement there are no signs of moving the peace process ahead. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had agreed to resign as part of the deal, but has now said he will only do so after the Maoists come up with a specific plan and timetable for combatant management. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal initially said he felt betrayed but his party has now agreed to present a proposal for the integration of PLA combatants.

Botched honours What should have been a celebratory mood after the government announced its decision to honour 269 personalities for their ‘distinctive contribution to the country’ as part of the Republic Day celebrations has turned sour. A number of high-profile recipients refused to accept the awards. Actors Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya, and journalists Kanak Mani Dixit and Yubaraj Acharya rejected the decorations, questioning the selection process. Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha chided the government for awarding medals to five judges, saying it had affected the independence of the judiciary. Families of the victims of Jana Andolan-II also condemned the decision to honour police officers and army personnel implicated in human rights violations. Complicity Fire press Maoist cadre set fire to a pick-up truck carrying copies of Nagarik on Saturday while the driver and a child were inside the vehicle. The Maoists had warned the paper to apologise for a story claiming that the Maoists were holding captive journalism missing doctor Dr Bhakta Man Shrestha, executive director of the BP Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur. Quoting unnamed sources, Nagarik had reported: “Shrestha was status quo. an important role in decision abducted over differences with party general secretary Ram The Four Theories of the Press making after the disintegration of Bahadur Thapa and his financial dealings with the party.” FOURTH ESTATE of the early sixties sought to the USSR. The trend proved to be C K Lal explain authoritarian, libertarian, so strong that it could now call responsible, and totalitarian itself a journalism of national methods of media operation. The consensus. The mainstream arly this month, state had to chose between media agreed about everything Gorkhapatra marked its collusion (libertarian and that it decided was in the E 110th year of publication responsible) and control national interest. The rest were without much fanfare. Started as a (authoritarian and totalitarian) deviant and subversive. weekly pamphlet to propagate the models to manipulate the media Once the Maoists exited supposed virtues of Rana rule, according to its own character. government, the mainstream Gorkhapatra has remained the The seventies saw the media in Nepal decided to trusted mouthpiece of the emergence of the lapdog press as support the successor coalition. government. The tone and tenor the Cold War took hold. In the While regular news reporting has of the paper’s content changes anti-Soviet camp, freedom of the continued apace, there seems to with every change of guard at press implied supporting be a reluctance to hear, see or Singh Darbar. whichever dictator had been speak out against the anti-Maoist However, since the propped up by the West as an coalition. Constituent Assembly elections essential evil. In Soviet- The extent and scale of two years ago, Gorkhapatra has supported regimes, any journalist deforestation in the Tarai, for acquired a somewhat different image. It’s now one of the least biased newspapers in the country. Part of the relative neutrality There’s something wrong of this government publication can be attributed to the survival when state-controlled instinct of its employees. With a media is less biased than hung legislature, there is no way of knowing who is going to head the free press the Ministry of Information and for how long. But Gorkhapatra’s semblance who didn’t support the instance, is eerily reminiscent of of impartiality owes more to the government was merely a running the pre-Referendum devastation stridently anti-Maoist tone of the dog of imperialism. wrought to ensure the survival of private press. The government During the eighties, the Panchayat regime. Law and mouthpiece may not boast of collaborative journalism emerged order in the country has all but accuracy, balance and credibility, as the favoured method of collapsed. Industrialists openly but it has no reason to fear a managing the media. Its strictures threaten to withhold taxes. Maoist takeover, and can therefore were laid out by Lee Kuan Yew, Diplomats dictate terms cover their side of the story who declared the government undiplomatically. Despite as well. would not allow the media, “to mounting evidence of acts of With profit and prestige as assume a role in Singapore that omission and commission on the their primary motives, American media play in America, part of the current government, partisanship comes naturally to that is that of invigilator, there is deafening silence on the the proprietary media. adversary, and inquisitor of media front. Paradoxically, that’s precisely administration.” According to the It’s the mortal fear of a Maoist why they have to appear to be doctrine of collaborative takeover that has transformed the independent. Without the journalism, the state knows what Nepali media into the willing reputation of being fiercely free is good for the people and the accomplices of the government. and fanatically fearless, the media media’s job is merely to magnify Complicity journalism is Nepal’s cannot claim to be the watchdog the state’s achievements. media contribution of the decade. of public interest, and will lose The commercial media, in Ironically, state-controlled media its influence the moment it is cahoots with the leading political has been the honourable perceived as an apologist for the parties of the day, began to play exception for once. 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 JUNE 5, ENVIRONMENT DAY|5 Biogas moves up FOO CHEE CHANG in LANGTANG plant at Hotel Yala Peak just looks like a pile of rubbish, but beneath the heap of steaming compost is the underground way from the political turmoil in dome digester that supplies methane to the capital, a quiet revolution in the kitchen even in winter. A rural Nepal has made this country “We’ve considered many other a world leader in alternative energy. methods of heating the digester, from In the past 50 years, over 205,000 using solar heaters to building biogas households have built biogas plants to plants within greenhouses, but those are turn farm manure into methane gas for very expensive solutions,” explains Hari cooking and lighting. The simplicity of the Bahadur KC, an engineer with BSP. Nepali-designed technology that allows Heap composting to insulate digesters bacteria already inside the cow’s stomach is a small-is-beautiful solution that needs to turn cowdung into a clean and safe gas is no added cost, and the compost itself can only half the story. be recycled for fertiliser. Biogas can now The other half is a successful go to mountain regions, where replacing government-subsidised soft credit scheme. firewood for cooking is even more There is almost 100 per cent payback, the important to protect the environment. effluent is excellent pathogen-free BSP’s executive director Saroj Rai is fertiliser, and the elimination of indoor not someone who rests on his laurels. He pollution from kitchen fires has reduced is happy that Nepal’s biogas program is an child mortality. internationally acclaimed success story The Nepali fixed-dome biogas design is because of the ‘ecology of support’ it has cheap and maintenance free, and proved to FIRE AND ICE: To make biogas work in cold climates, like this plant in Kyangjin Gompa in from the government, banks, donors, be superior to Indian and Chinese models. Langtang uses a compost heap to insulate the underground digester so the yak dung can be technicians and farmers. But he wants to After initial support from the United converted into cooking gas. concentrate on making the technology Mission to Nepal, the Dutch group SNV even more widely available, and maintain stepped in with the Biogas Support the quality of the construction and after- Program (BSP), and millions of farmers in One of the limiting factors is that biogas use it,” he says. sales service. nearly all districts of Nepal have benefited doesn't work as well in the cold climate at What Pasang Demdi and other high- Says Rai: "Biogas is perfect energy in the past decades. higher elevations. But with its new pilot altitude biogas users have done is to pile a solution for rural Nepal, and it is regarded Today, 98 per cent of the plants are still plants in Langtang, BSP has found a simple compost heap on top of the underground as a model for other countries as well." functioning, some of them nearly 30 years way to generate methane from yak dung digester so that it heats and insulates the old. Nearly 20,000 new plants are being even at higher altitudes. digester from the chill of the Langtang added every year and BSP’s goal is to have a Pasang Demdi Sherpa, a trekking guide, winter. See also: total of 500,000 plants in Nepal. The is happy with the biogas plant in Kyanjin Gompa, the highest settlement ‘Hurrah Nepal’s future is in the dung organisation won the prestigious Ashden his hometown. “It saves us a lot of in Langtang Valley at 3,850m, is where no heap’, #234 Award for Sustainable Energy in 2005. firewood, and I wish more people would biogas plant has gone before. At first, the ‘Cowdung takes the cake’, #257 6|JUNE 5, ENVIRONMENT DAY 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 The age of enlightenment

AHMAD ISKANDAR the household, and electricity Across Patan, the World generation through photo- Food Programme (WFP) office voltaic panels. Nepal’s urban recently completed the first ecessity is the mother of homes and trek lodges routes phase conversion of its entire invention, they say. Sure have been using locally built office to solar power, even when Nenough with the prospect solar water heaters for 30 years there is electricity from the of at least six more years of power now. But solar cells for mains. “Our annual electricity cuts, businesses, homes and electricity are becoming more bill is $20,000, and we spend offices in Nepal are all migrating popular with the price of $12,000 on diesel,” explains to solar power in a big way. photo-voltaics coming down. WFP’s Tyler McMahon. “We Going solar isn’t going to The International Centre hope to cut the utility bills by make you more environmentally for Integrated Mountain half once the whole system is in friendly in Nepal because Development (ICIMOD) has set place and will completely hydroelectricity already accuonts an example by installing a eliminate the diesel bill for the for 99 per cent of supply. But if solar array for backup power generator.” you use diesel gensets to tide over and to charge its fleet of It’s not just big international long loadshedding hours, then it electric vehicles. In winter, organisations that are going solar. does make sense to use the solar energy contributes 15 per Electronic engineer Surendra abundant free energy from the cent of the energy needed to Mathema has put his technical sun. heat the building and also knowledge to good use at home Solar comes in two types: powers the perimeter and where he has a fully solar 200W passive solar heating of water for parking lot lights. backup for the whole house, a passive solar water heating system and even a parabolic solar AHMAD ISKANDAR dish for heating water. Mathema SOLAR HOUSE: The Mathema household is fully solar with a 200W also uses LED lights to reduce photo-voltaic array on the roof, a solar water heater and a parabolic energy consumption and CFLs reflector for boiling water. wherever he can. “The great thing about solar is that it’s a one-time ICIMOD have a surplus. This technology and set up the investment, once you set it up ‘making the meter run backward’ regulatory framework. everything is free,” he says. technology would not just turn The time and money invested The next challenge is to households into power supply by Nepal’s solar pioneers show convince NEA to buy back power sources, but also help reduce much promise, and finally proves when home generators like loadshedding on the grid. The there may be a light at the end of Mathema or organisations like only obstacle is to introduce the the tunnel after all. LIFE TIMES 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 7

he Bagmati River is an open sewer. The to drink water from the river. Now, you can’t of the river, but that rule has been ignored for T odour that assails one is proof of stand the stink of the river.” a long time now. The Committee plans to Reviving everything that has gone wrong with this The High Powered Committee for develop a green belt of 12 metres on either metropolis: the exponential urbanisation, Integrated Development of Bagmati bank and an 8 metre road. But demarcating the lack of planning, haphazard growth and Civilisation is trying to save what is left. the river border is a real problem as the land non-existent waste management. But it is an uphill task. Says the is already registered in the names of the river “That flat area used to be paddy fields,” Committee’s Ram Chandra Devkota, “We individuals. says Hom Prasad Banskota, 83, pointing to need more waste treatment plants, and we The health of a city’s river says a lot about A coordinated across the Bagmati from also need to recharge the groundwater, the city itself. There are a few bright spots conservation effort heights. Now it is built over with new harvest rainwater and build check dams to along the stretch of the Bagmati, mostly on houses, not a shred of green fields is visible. revive the river.” account of local endeavours, but we will all is needed to revive Krishna Prasad Banskota, 73, blames The city plan prohibits building need to be involved if we are to bring the the Bagmati River democracy for the urban disarray: “We used construction within 20 metres of either side river back to life.

Sundarijal to Gokarna SUNDARIJAL The river course begins to fill up The water is still relatively clean here, despite significant again, this time with raw sewage. The upstream settlements where government has neglected to High Powered Committee for spread awareness of sanitation, hygiene, and sustainable Integrated Development of Bagmati farming practices. Syalmati and Nagmati join the Bagmati Civilisation is busy constructing river to be channelled into Sundarijal reservoir, which runs a training between Sundarijal and mini-hydropower plant. The entirety of the water is then Gujeswori. Suburban housing is supplied to the Valley as drinking water, with only seepage gradually advancing towards the going to the river. riverbanks.

BAGDWAR The source of the Bagmati lies in Shivapuri National Park.

JORPATI Ducks make merry in the muck. The river has become a prime location for duck husbandry.

GUJESWORI A wastewater treatment plant was built 10 years ago to help clean up the river as it flows through Pashupati, but the volume of effluent is too big to manage anymore. It only sieves out solid waste and diverts the worst of the river to Tilganga. Local youth have endeavoured to keep at least their stretch of the river PASHUPATI clean, by holding periodic sessions The holy site of Pashupati, to pick out rubbish around the temple when the river has water to of Gujeswori. accept the cremated remains of the deceased, TILGANGA looks like a mini-Varanasi. From here on, where the diversion rejoins For all the wrong reasons. the river, the Bagmati is an open drain. Yellow household sewage empties into UN PARK the river in fat pipes. It’s clear that if the The construction of a drains did not empty into the river, the proposed UN Park site from Bagmati wouldn’t have any water at all. Sankhamul to Teku is one of the few areas of greenery still to be seen along the river, but the government hasn’t allocated any money for its further development. Squatters have occupied most of the park. Surya Bhakta Shrestha, executive director of the UN Park Development Committee, is blunt: “This place is not in anyone’s priority.” Surprisingly, the section TAU DAHA TEKU CHOBHAR taken on by the United Nations About 600 metres away from Chobhar The sight is apocalyptic. Mountains of Legend has it that Manjushree let out the Women’s Organization in gorge, Tau Daha is an oxbow lake left rubbish, carcasses of buffaloes, waters of the lake by Jwagal (see pic) has proved to behind by the Bagmati. A local committee flocks of scavenging birds, cleaving the hills at Chobhar with a sword. be a hit. It’s slightly unkempt, was formed six years ago and cleaned up bedraggled children sorting the There is a park here and an extensive complex but the rare slice of greenery the lake, but it lacks a proper drainage rubbish for recycling. If you want to of caves that is becoming popular by the day. does draw the crowds, despite system and the committee can’t intervene in see how idyllic Kathmandu has turned The air inside these caves is cool and fresh, the summer stench. the ongoing construction around the lake. into hell, go to Teku. unlike the open air above the festering gorge. 8|LIFE TIMES Green reading

Tiger tale Glacial lakes During the last Year of the Tiger in 1998, Time magazine Climate skeptics have had a field day with predicted that the tiger would be extinct in the wild by the controversy over the Inter-governmental the end of the century. Like many such media Panel on Climate Change’s fudging of predictions, the prophecy, thankfully, proved premature. figures on the extent of glacial retreat. But That was largely due to the efforts of conservationists and for the citizens of the Himalaya, climate MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA governments to rescue the big cats from the threats of change is not just theory, it is a fact of life poaching and habitat destruction. and they see its effects all around them Hemanta Mishra is everyday. However, there has been no real E-car rally Nepal’s foremost tiger study about how far the expanding glacial conservationist and a lakes are a result of global warming, which veteran of Chitwan on Saturday National Park. Bones of the Tiger: Protecting the Maneaters of Nepal is his To mark World Environment Day and raise money to pay for the just-released memoir treatment of poor patients at the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre about tiger conservation. lakes are vulnerable, and indeed, the field (SIRC), 25 electric cars, vans and three-wheelers will take part in a rally It has fascinating has been lacking an inventory of Himalayan from Maitighar Mandala to Banepa on Saturday. This is the second e-car insights on Nepal’s glacial lakes in , Bhutan, Nepal, India rally organised to fundraise for SIRC, and the vehicles will all do the tigers, all the way from and Pakistan. Kathmandu-based ICIMOD 50 km roundtrip on a single charge. It’s still not too late to participate the early hunting seeks to plug the gap with the definitive or sponsor an electric vehicle. kumudini(at)info.com.np expeditions, the royal tome on glacial lakes and the risk of patronage that led to the outburst floods. Formation of Glacial Lakes setting up of the in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas and GLOF Chitwan sanctuary, and Risk Assessment was co-authored by three tiger research and relocation. Mishra left Nepal in 1996, of the world’s specialists on glacial lakes: worked for the Smithsonian and the World Wildlife Jack Ives, Rajendra Shrestha and Pradeep Fund and published The Soul of the Rhino in 2008. His Mool. latest book is a significant contribution to the endeavour to ensure the survival of the wild tiger until the next Formation of Glacial Lakes in the Hindu Year of the Tiger in 2022. Kush-Himalayas and GLOF Risk Assessment Bones of the Tiger: Protecting The Maneaters of Nepal Jack Ives, Rajendra Shrestha and Pradeep Lyons Press, Connecticut, USA Mool 2010 ICIMOD, Kathmandu 2010 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505|9

Book Reading, Manjushree Thapa reads from her new EVENTS novel Seasons of Flight. Friday 4 June, 5.30pm, DINING Pipalbot, Babar Mahal Revisited, Tickets Rs 1000

Searching Green Dance Party, Tri-Chandra College’s students want to for Utility, raise awareness about climate change by dancing the Gaurav afternoon away. We do not really know how the two go Tripathi is a together, but everyone needs a reason to party. Friday 4 recent June, 2pm onwards, Insomnia Club, 9841647718 graduate of Kathmandu Baneswor Street Festival, pay a visit to the Carbon Neutral University’s Concert featuring Nima Rumba, Rubicon, Mukti &Revival School of Arts. This will be his first solo exhibition. and other famous names in music, as well as the mural art, Saturday 6 June 3pm, Nepal Art Council, Babar Mahal photo exhibitions and documentary shows to mark the World Environment Day. Saturday 5 June, starts at 12pm, Royal Nepal through the Lens of Richard Gordon Baneswor Matzene, Marcella Sirhandi will present her book of the aforementioned title and a rare collection of photographs shot in Nepal in the 1930s. Opens Irish Pub, not only does it feel like one, but it’s Irish all Sunday 6 June, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal the way down to the original recipes from the owner’s Revisited wife. Go green with their fish and chips. Ananda Bhawan, Lazimpat, 4416027

Café Mitra, Chef Mohit presents a four-course tasting MUSIC menu with vegetarian options featuring seasonal organic produce. Every Wednesday from 7pm, Café Mitra, Third time is a charm, Mukti Rai will play the Thamel, 4259015 ‘Himalayan Blues’ at the House, where they are also serving a new Asian Fusion menu. Good food, good music. You can’t go wrong. Friday 4 June 7pm, House Docskool Friday Film Show, Everything You Always of Music, Thamel Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask, a sequence of comedic shorts by Woody Allen, loosely based HyJazz, Relax with your favourite drinks at the Rox on the book of the same name by David Reuben. Friday 4 bar with live jazz. Every Friday, Rox Bar at Hyatt, June, 3pm, Docskool, Gaurighat, 4471104 4489362

E-car Rally, the second such rally in Kathmandu has this Attila Manju live in concert, of German and Turkish tiny, sprightly cars driving to Banepa and back on a single origin, Manju is a free spirit rocker now based in India. charge, as a fundraiser for the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Some say lyrics like Eric Burdon, some say the Centre. Saturday 5 June, Starts at 8am, from Maitighar charisma of Jim Morrison. Call it what you want, it’s a Mandala real shamanistic experience for everybody who likes to dance and cheer up. Saturday 5 June 8pm, 1905, Bagmati River Festival, it’s not much of a festival, more a Kantipath cleaning session of the stinky river than runs through the capital – well, at least a part of it. Bring a nose mask and New Orleans, offers a wide variety of western dishes that lots of good vibes. Saturday 5 June, 7am, Pashupati are scrumptious yet healthy. We got hooked on the rosemary chicken and hamburgers. Jhamel, 5522708 Saturday’s Farmer’s Market, a weekly farmers’ market that is different from all the other farmers’ markets in town with Boudha Stupa Restaurant and Café, for the real taste of lasagne, pies and Mediterranean treats along with organic Tibetan Gyakok, a hot pot affair with dumplings, meats fruits and vegetables. Every Saturday, 9am to noon, 1905 and vegetables. Candlelight dinner options are also Restaurant, Kantipath available for the romantics every full moon night. Boudha, 2130681 Putaliko Ghar, a Nepali adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, which has seen more than 180 performances The Factory, a trendy restobar for a refreshing stopover in in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Denmark and the chaos that is Thamel. Great food and drinks, with Norway. Starts Friday June 4 (everyday except Mondays) zesty music. Don’t miss out on their cheesecake, it’s a 5.30pm, Gurukul, Old Baneswor must. Mandala Street, Thamel 10|HAPPENINGS 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505

KIRAN PANDAY HELLO HELLO: President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal wave to the public during second Republic Day in Tundikhel on Saturday.

KIRAN PANDAY SCHOOL IS HARD WORK: School children from Kathmandu take a hike in Sundarijal as part of their school field trip on Sunday.

KIRAN PANDAY OLD TRADITIONS: Young girls and women queue outside Chobar's Jal Binayak on Mangal Chaturdashi on Tuesday.

RSS TRIPLE TANDEM: Mohammad Isdakhad of Ghorahi takes a ride on his bike designed to carry three people, which can be pedalled by two.

WEEKEND WEATHER by NGAMINDRA DAHAL

The monsoon is still at least a week away. But with the humidity building up, the pre-monsoon showers are upon us. The moisture build-up has intensified with the injection of water vapour from a cyclone that is battering the Arabian Peninsula and its tentacles are riding the jet stream towards us. Expect afternoon thunderstorms, lots of sound and fury, but not as much rain over the weekend. The real monsoon show should start next weekend, and this satellite radar composite on Thursday afternoon shows monsoon systems over Bangladesh and offshore from Kerala.

KATHMANDU

FRI SAT SUN

6 6 29-16 28-17 28-17 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 JUNE 5, ENVIRONMENT DAY|11

STALLED: Project staff inspect the tunnel of the Upper Marsyangdi-II project in Syange, Lamjung p Revisiting Crapmandu

KALAM Rabi Thapa

his Saturday’s World Environment Day (WED) will be marked by the usual suspects. Seminars (and news that PICS: DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA T jars), launches (and lavish lunches), and rallies (of big people in little e-cars). But the 800-pound gorilla in the room will be, you guessed it, climate change. Now there is nothing wrong with all of the aforementioned. There will be findings, identified threats, Maoists block initiatives, commitments and most important, young people will be inspired by the refreshing knowledge that there is more to life than politics. Climate change is now acknowledged as the premier threat to life as we know it, and efforts to mitigate Upper Marsyangdi and adapt deserve the attention they are finally getting, no more so on WED. Or do they, here and now in Nepal? A stalled hydro project proves we will remain Mitigation, or measures to reduce climate change, is not something Nepal needs to prioritise in Nepal. We are ranked in darkness until the politics are sorted out 195 for producing 0.1 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita in 2006 (compared to Qatar, with a whopping 56.2 DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA in LAMJUNG tonnes). Yet it is precisely because of these environmental predators that we need to rave and rant about what their dubious development is doing to our glaciers and all that follows downstream. This we are doing quite well, from aoist threats have Jung Gurung says: “The project Copenhagen to Everest Base Camp. stopped preparatory people are willing to talk, but the Adaptation, or measures to reduce our vulnerability to Mwork on a 600 Maoists are pursuing their own climate change, is a much more urgent proposition for us. This megawatt Indian hydropower political agenda at the cost of our less glamorous aspect of the response to climate change is joint venture on the Marsyangdi, development. I don’t understand finally getting underway with the formulation of Nepal’s showing how political instability what the Maoists get out of this.” National Adaptation Plan of Action. is affecting infrastructure work on The stoppage of the Upper The worry however is that the 800-pound gorilla will end the ground and possibly what lies Marsyangdi-II project mirrors up diverting attention from all the other monkeys on our back: in store for the country under national level political the destruction of fauna and flora, the defilement of air, water federalism. polarisation, and provides an and earth in town and country, and the energy crisis. All the The Rs 70 billion Upper ominous portent of how carving other environmental bugbears that decrease our quality of life. Marsyangdi-II project entails up Nepal into federal units will Where’s the dignity of telling the world to get their act together building a 15 km tunnel from complicate natural resource when we live in the cesspool that is Kathmandu? There’s no Dharapani, Tal Bajar in Manang to exploitation at a time when both blaming the rain for the Bagmati Sewer. the powerhouse in Syange of which GMR and Himtal have water and power have become Lamjung, and is being jointly denied them. precious commodities. built by India’s GMR and the “This is not about Gyanendra Lal Sharma, Has Kathmandu’s Nepali company Himtal Hydro. nationalism or sovereignty, its coordinator of the FNCCI Hydro When completed in five years it because the company and the Power Development Forum, warns environment had its day? will export electricity to India Maoists are bargaining about that the Maoist attitude will prove and also provide power to Nepal’s extortion,” says Krishna Koirala ruinous to Nepal's development. Whatever happened to that great catchphrase of the last domestic grid. of the NC. The UML’s Jamindra "No one will invest in our 200,000 decade, ‘think global, act local’? Thinking global is just about However, the preparatory work Ghale agrees. He says local all- MW potential. For the Maoists to all we seem to have accomplished. All that requires is a sense on the project has been stalled party meetings have proposed promise 10,000 MW while they of drama and a penchant for rhetoric – from Switzerland to since February by the Maoists as that the work should be allowed were in government and obstruct Singapore and back to Everest. We can’t really do very much to part of their anti-India campaign. to go on because the locals would work here now doesn't make sense. mitigate climate change, but we sure can protest with the Eighty per cent of the detailed benefit from jobs, but the Maoists Development should not have to support of a government that has to do very little about it. Is it project planning had been refuse to listen. wait for federalism. After all, just me, or do those 600 who carbonned off to Copenhagen last completed, including a 300 m Seventy per cent of the whoever lives here will benefit year on taxpayers’ cash (only to be reminded that it was not up tunnel to study the geology of the population of Lamjung are from the project." to them) bring you in mind of another very similarly area. Eight engineers and 80 Gurung and other indigenous Lamjung CDO Hom Nath positioned 600? workers have left because of the people, and the district chairman Thapaliya says he is prepared to Acting local is rather harder. It means doing your bit to prolonged deadlock. of the Janjati Federation Khem provide security to the project solve the problems you see around you. Using less water. The Maoist Tamu Liberation “after a political agreement is Using less power, eschewing inverters, and investing in solar. Front closed down work, reached”. But Himal Hydro’s Ram Using fewer plastic bags, and not dumping your rubbish threatening dire consequences, Hari Sharma says he can’t wherever it takes your fancy, like an animal. It means cycling, and the district administration complete the 20 per cent of if you can, and if you can’t, ensuring your fossil-fueled yantra has stood by, helpless. They remaining work on the detailed actually earned the green sticker it sports. And where any of say the project is ‘anti-national’ project study until there is this is unfeasible, we have to lobby for the relevant authorities because the electricity will go security. Most of the work done so to make it feasible. A little here, a little there can make for a lot to India. far will be destroyed by monsoon everywhere. “We will only allow large rains, and will have to restarted at There used to be a time people actually seemed to care projects like these after the state enormous cost. about the environment of the Kathmandu Valley. For a while restructuring commission If started next year, the project there in the 1990s, still basking in the global approval that determines the sharing of natural will be completed by 2016, and followed the success of Nepal’s community forestry programs, resources between the centre and will provide jobs to at least 3,000 we were concerned at the route the Kathmandu Valley was federal units,” Maoist Lamjung people in that period. The project taking. Several revolutionary upheavals later, this city has in-charge Devendra Parajuli (pic, has helped build 14 km of the morphed into a filthy beast even as deforestation and above) told us. Besisahar to Chame road. The 70 excavation disfigures our landscapes. Are we beyond caring? However, district leaders of megawatt German-supported If we believe it to be so, it will be so. This Saturday may be BILASH RAI other political parties say the Middle Marsyangdi project, the time to reflect upon how we live in the environments we only thing holding things up is inaugurated in 2008, was delayed claim as ours. the Maoist demand for a payoff by five years because of Maoist before letting the work resume, obstruction during the conflict. 12|JUNE 5, ENVIRONMENT DAY 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 A weathered people

PHOTOS by NAYANTARA GURUNG KAKSHAPATI TEXT by PRAWIN ADHIKARI

mja glacial lake, at 5,010 glacial lake outbursts in threatened – language, culture, generates a lot of waste. If the Kathmandu that traces the metres above sea level, is Khumbu, also known as the livelihood, all melting away people of Khumbu stop angering Himalayan waters down to the I some 1,700 metres long and Everest region. But there is very with the snow on the the gods, they say, the Kosi and Eastern Tarai. It seeks 500 metres wide. This body of little documentation of the mountains. They live in constant apocalypse as described in to ask how real the changes in water was created in the last human aspect. How do Khumbu paranoia that glacial lakes will Sherpa scriptures – during climate patterns are, and what century by a rapidly retreating people perceive this threat? What burst and sweep away all of which nine suns will fill the threats these hold for the glacier, and is still growing. If the changes do they see, and what Khumbu. sky and melt Earth – will be Sherpas of Khumbu, who are lake were to burst its banks, it alarms them most? What are the Others place the blame postponed until such a time interconnected with and would sweep away many solutions to these problems, and locally, and therefore see the when people forget their Dharma affected by these changes. downstream settlements, destroy where should they come from? possibility of redemption again. These works will be exhibited infrastructure, and forever erase Some are not sure about the through a change in behaviour. This series of portraits and during Planet Nepal: a Festival parts of an ancient culture. signs of change; they are restless This group blames itself for interviews is part of a larger of Arts and Environment, There is plenty of information and angry, demanding scientific veering away from traditional body of work commissioned by scheduled for November in about the threat of this and other solutions. They see their future modes of living to one that the Alliance Française in Kathmandu.

Bhesh Bahadur Ghimire, JTA at the Yak Pemba Digi Sherpa, 69, Breeding Farm in Syangboche farmer in Shomare

Bhesh Bahadur Ghimire is in charge of the Pemba Digi Sherpa has lost one husband well-being of the yak and nak at the Yak and one son to the wrath of the mountains. Breeding Farm at Syangboche. He follows She doesn’t blame the mountains for their the herd from pasture to pasture for a few death: they died on the job, after all. She weeks each season, supervising the spent the insurance money on rituals and calving and selecting animals to sell to the donations. She believes the Rinpoche of people of Khumbu. Tengboche holds back Imja with his “There is no commercial benefit in powers. keeping yak and nak any more. Who wants “The small stream from Tobuche flooded to chase after cattle and live in remote suddenly. It dragged our fields to the river pastures when they can join the tourism below. People returning from market thought industry? When old men who keep yak die, water seeping from the ground was ruining their sons sell off the herd within two, three the paths. They were repairing the paths months. The yak was a part of the culture, when a huge flood came down the mountain but tourism is killing it off. They are mating and took them. A girl I knew – Dawa Lhamu. Lobsang Sherpa, 28, and calving earlier than usual. Their time to A Tamang named Chakra Bahadur. Four Ang Kanchhi Sherpa, 56, entrepreneur in Dingboche head north has changed by almost two others. Of course I am scared of another health work pioneer in Debuche weeks. Everything is changing around flood. What will I do if it takes my house? Lobsang Sherpa blames industrial nations them. If nothing is done soon enough, the We have no powerful Lamas here, the Ang Kanchhi Sherpa saves lives. For 32 and the rise of human population for global yak will be found only on old postcards people have forgotten their Dharma, there years, her home in Debuche has often warming that is melting the glaciers. He about Khumbu.” is no Mani to walk around. My fate is to been the place where many trekkers blames research groups for failing to die here.” imagine they will breathe their last. She respect local cultures and concerns, and for heals them; they remain grateful forever. failing to propose solutions. Lobsang’s “Although people today have become lodge at Dingboche is called the Arizona more intelligent, have more knowledge, Lodge because Arizona looks like they have also become weaker. In the Dingboche. old days, all food came from the fields, “This scaremongering around Imja is you knew what you ate, everything was 7-8 years old. Some unscrupulous types fresh. Now, everything is packaged in a scared people to get them running, so their factory – who knows what goes into land could be bought for cheap. Just last those shiny packets? People these days year, people were scared to build new look cleaner, wear nice clothes, but they homes, but they have forgotten everything have a lot of stress. Their minds are now. So much research has been done, but more disturbed. Now Sherpas have the lake hasn’t burst. The locals want diabetes! All kinds of people come to someone to propose a safety solution, Khumbu and mix with Sherpas, bring instead of spreading fear. What use is an diseases.” internet-based monitoring system for us? People in Japan will know that the lake has burst, but how does that help us here?” www.planetnepal.org.np 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS |13 Maoist trust deficit

Keshar Jung Rayamajhi in Nagarik, 2 June will look at Nepal through that prism. There is no ideology involved, just national interest. So communism can also be in the You can extend the CA as many times as you interest of those who espouse democracy want, but it has no more relevance. Regime and vice versa. Our existence as a nation change at the behest of outside powers will state is now caught between the strategic undermine the country’s independence. That interest of the United States and those of has been Nepal’s fate ever since the Delhi our immediate neighbours. With support KIRAN PANDAY Agreement of 1950. The current tug-o-war for communism waning, the Maoists are between the Maoists and the rest is the result trying to define themselves through since the monarchy was abolished. Which is politics. Those who want to benefit from the of an imbalance in the geostrategic power nationalism. They may be the biggest party, why to balance the interests of the regional instability are fishing in troubled waters. balance in the region, and the absence of a but the Maoists have proven themselves to powers and to guarantee their minimum Despite its own Maoist problem, India is statesman in Nepal who can assure both China be unreliable friends. The factionalism security needs, there is no alternative to the not threatened by Nepal’s Maoists. After all, and India about domestic stability. The within the party has also reduced the monarchy. Was the monarchy abolished with our Maoists lived in India and felt protected lesson of the past few years is that only the credibility of the party. Outside powers are a revolution or a referendum? Who are the there. Whatever the slogans about integration monarchy is the institution that can restore now worried that they don’t have a political people who have called for a constitutional and the constitution with the one year that balance. force in Nepal they can trust. monarchy, a ceremonial monarchy, a baby extension of the CA, the parties are just going The regional powers and the superpower The Nepal Army is one strong, organised king, a cultural king? The country is in crisis to use the time to try to weaken each other. look at their own strategic interests, and they force, but the military has felt orphaned ever because of a leadership vacuum and mindless They have no other agenda. Moving on

Suraj Kunwar in Kantipur, 1 June

This year, too, the numbers of those flocking to usual reasons as well: the attractions and Kathmandu because of social instability, economic conveniences of the big city, the presence of pressures, concerns about the future of one’s government offices and attendant opportunities, for children and employment opportunities remained as example. But only those comfortably employed can high as in previous years. afford to actually buy houses in the city centre. The According to the registration division of rest have to be satisfied with satellite towns or Kathmandu Metropolitan City, 2,236 families highway settlements. comprising 7,164 individuals moved to the capital in There is also movement within the urban sprawl the last year. The majority of these are from the of Kathmandu. Many families now prefer to live in Newari community, who originally moved to the more open, greener spaces and have sold up to eastern Tarai and some hilly towns two generations settle in neighbourhoods such as , Pushpa Kamal Dahal: (We ruled you.) ago from Kathmandu. These families moved for the , Dhapasi and . About 500 Madhav Kumar Nepal: (We fooled you.) purpose of business, farming and other jobs but are families did so last year. Paper: Agreement now spooked by the spectre of ethnic strife in these According to the Ministry of Local Development, parts. 21,340 families moved from one district to another Abin Shrestha in Kantipur, 2 June People continue to move to Kathmandu for the across Nepal in the past year.

HIMAL KHABARPATRIKA 30 May-14 June 2010

COVER STORY: One Step Back for the Country, One Step Forward for the Country Maoist-Royalist Front? Rejecting Rebellion Purshottam Dahal on what’s next for the constitution on intellectuals who don’t understand the Maoists

EDITORIAL: The Defeat of Extremism

REPORT: Gorkhaland in Turmoil Nepalis from Meghalaya

FOLLOW-UP: Unity Investigation Just for Show JB Pun on the media’s coverage of the Unity scandal: Watchdog or Lapdog?

FIELD REPORT The Karnali’s Food Crisis ‘Rice Hunger’

BACK PAGE Major Bijayant Sherchan on the Peace Process 14| NATION 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 Power of dance

PRAKRITI PATHAK

haran Pradhan, 46, is on a mission. He wants to use his expertise as a dance therapist to help differently abled C people. Pradhan graduated from Coventry University (UK) with a degree in Dance and Professional Practice, with a specialisation in therapeutic use of dance. His first show in Nepal, Peace is our Aspiration: Expression of Peace through Dance, was held at the Rastriya Nach Ghar on April 23. MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA The event showcased mentally and physically challenged children and the victims of the conflict in a performance of Shanti Lukaun Kahan, penned by Basanta Chaudhary and composed by Nhyoo Bajracharya. Support was provided by CWIN (Child Workers in Nepal), Asha Bal Bikash Sewa (ABBS- Summing up Children’s Hope Development Service), SIRC (Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre) and SOS Children’s Village Jorpati. Though dance therapy is widely practised in the western world, it is new to Nepal. “It took me one and half years to make people understand this concept,” recalls Pradhan. “I want to the economy show dance not only as an art form, but also as a means of therapy.” He says dance therapy brings a wide range of benefits, such as increased body awareness, strengthened coordination Nepal Economic Forum’s latest between body and mind, increased self confidence, and the opportunity to open up and release one’s emotions. If undertaken report is tailor-made for those who regularly, dance therapy can improve a patient’s condition. Pradhan is known as a ‘man of miracles’ whose skills and know it’s the economy, stupid healing power put him in a league of his own. But his achievements have been possible only because of the own pressures he faced from his father, who wanted him to be an n Nepal, political analysis Similarly, ‘gold imports crossed reflected a ‘heavy reliance on engineer. Pradhan transformed that pressure into the motivation to tread a singular path. often overshadows economic 14 tons in the first seven months imports for goods including gold, I analysis. There is a of the fiscal year 2009/10’. The petroleum products and vehicles, deficiency of accurate and Nepal Rastra Bank banned the coupled with a decline in foreign unbiased economic data, and import of gold from mid-January, exports and low overall economic whatever is available is usually on the grounds that gold growth. The slowdown in from a development sector imported into Nepal was being remittance growth coupled with perspective that is inadequate for smuggled back into India. The an increase in imports has led to a the private sector. Nepal bank feared excessive spending of BOP deficit of around Rs. 19.7 Economic Forum’s NEFport is foreign reserves on gold imports. billion, compared to a Rs. 28.53 meant to bridge this gap, with the Inflation soared to 12 per cent billion surplus the previous year’. second issue published in April in the first seven months of the NEFport concedes that the this year. current fiscal year, increasing the dominating influence of politics On the global front, the price of sugar and related will make it difficult for the international economy showed products by almost 80 per cent. economy to buck the trend. signs of recovery as prudent fiscal The government cut import Nevertheless, it is hoped the and monetary measures taken by duties and the Agricultural appointment of Yuvraj Khatiwada governments and central banks Reform Fee on raw materials for as the new governor of Nepal SUMEET SHAKYA helped shake off the effects of the the edible oils industry, and also Rastra Bank will accelerate a global financial crisis. Nationally, pledged a 50 per cent VAT refund, much-needed macroeconomic The man of miracles is the economy of Nepal experienced in order to curb inflation. clean up and enforce stronger intent on bringing the some major setbacks due to the The real estate market in financial discipline. bleak political outlook, coupled Nepal continued to boom, in Inflationary pressures remain power of dance to those with a significant downturn in sharp contrast to the serious a distinct possibility because, as the financial sector. The key slump in land and property international growth picks up, who most need it stories and business highlights of markets globally. Land prices are Nepal too will be affected by the the year included the liquidity estimated to have risen by close to concomitant rise in oil and Pradhan has been working in Edinburgh, Scotland since crisis, capital flight, balance of 200 per cent in the past three commodity prices. There will be 1998, but wants to settle in Nepal permanently. “I worked payments, real estate market, gold years. Concerned that the real no major changes in foreign aid. voluntarily for a year and a half in Nepal, but one can’t do this imports, and inflation. estate bubble would burst, Nepal Nepal is likely to make use of the indefinitely,” he says. He plans to open a dance therapy institute The liquidity crisis deepened Rastra Bank decided to impose a IMF’s standby credit facility in in the future but substantial investment is needed. “This will after Dasain 2009, with financial cap on financial institutions’ order to address its short-term only be possible when I resume my work in Edinburgh,” he institutions unable to access loan exposure to the real estate macroeconomic imbalances. says. ready pools of cash. It was then sector. Following this move, the Capital markets will show signs To carry forward his work in his absence, he is mentoring a group of people so differently abled children and adults will that capital flight was assessed. lending rates of financial of improvement, and the NEPSE benefit from the therapeutic use of dance. “We felt the need for NEFport reveals that ‘USD 100 institutions arbitrarily increased index will rise as the end of the dance therapy and plan to continue it,” says Sumnima Tuladhar, million (over Rs 8 billion) from to 15-16 per cent, up from 10 per fiscal year approaches. executive coordinator of CWIN. “Though it is difficult to continue Nepal found its way into banks in cent. in the absence of Charan, the supporting organisations are Hong Kong during the first five The negative balance of For further information, visit working together to make it possible.” months of the fiscal year’. payments, NEFport noted, www.nepaleconomicforum.org According to Tuladhar, to discontinue the project would be to let down the children, as well as their parents. It was, after all, the dedication and patience of the children that brought magic to the stage last month. The standing ovations from the hundreds present acknowledged as much. Before leaving sfd ;fgf ] 7nf" ] eGg ] x'Fb}g . kl;gfsf ] s'g} /ª / hft Nepal, Pradhan wants to stage show in the last week of June in klg x'Fb}g . sfd u//] vfg nhfpg ' klg x'Fb}g . rf]/]/, Pokhara. g]kfn ;/sf/ Pradhan argues that government needs to take the lead in 9fF6]/, 5n/,] n'6]/ vfg kf ] nhfpgk5' { . hf ] hxf F /x]/ providing equal access for mentally and physically challenged h'g sfd u5 { pm To;df} /dfpgk5' { uf/a} ugk5'{ { ;"rgf tyf ;~rf/ dGqfno individuals. After all, he says, “The show itself was proof that / ;dlkt{ eP/ ugk5'{ { . sfd g } zlQm xf,] elQm xf ] / ;"rgf ljefu disabled people can perform as well as able people if only they are given the chance.” d'lQm xf ] . sfdsf ] OHht u/f,+} kl;gfsf ] ;Ddfg u/f }+ . 4 - 10 JUNE 2010 #505 NATION|15

Football fever ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Professionalism Bottlers Nepal Ltd. and Bottlers Nepal (Terai) Ltd., official bottlers of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite in Nepal, announced the final winner of 'Coca-Cola Football Maha Utsab'. The lucky number 1752316143 has been announced as the final winner of this offer and transparency via a lucky draw at a program held at Sherpa Mall on Wednesday. The winner gets to visit South Africa to watch the FIFA World Cup with other winners announced previously. The scheme ran from 1 customer service. No wonder most taxi drivers con you on fares, April to 31 May. Coca-Cola is the official sponsor of FIFA World ECONOMIC SENSE Nepalis prefer to keep casinos in ISPs con you on bandwidth, gas Cup™ 2010. business rather than trying their stations sell substandard fuel, Artha Beed luck with micro-enterprises. courier companies ask you to

Real goal Perhaps we should allow Nepalis collect your documents, telecom ○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ hen everybody was to enter casinos legally! companies get away with bad Pashupati Karki won the weekly highest correct SMS prize, a talking about the Unity Ask an average Nepali on the service, and restaurants charge Sony Bravia 22” LCD TV, in Dabur Real’s ‘Score the Real Goal’ campaign. The campaign started on 30 April, and World Cup 2010 Wscam, the Beed was returns to the investments they service without providing it? is now just around the corner. Identify the real football in the reminded about an excellent piece want to make. It seems people If Nepal is to progress we need contest photos (in national dailies) and sms the number to 5004. in this same paper ten years ago visualise slot machines. How else to really tackle the issues of by Manish Aryal, unearthing a can a pyramid scheme attract more professionalism and transparency.

Spreading wings Ponzi scheme started by Nepali than half a million people in a If people in the most respected

○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ elites (Scheme/Scam, #54). Ten country with such liquidity professions do not emerge as star Nabil Bank opened its 39th branch with an ATM facility in Charikot, years later we have another scam problems? People still feel more tax payers, it will never encourage Dolakha. The bank aims to reach the remote districts of Nepal so but this time, all the high profile comfortable putting their money other sections of society to follow as to improve access to banking for rural populations. Four new people allegedly involved have in unregulated cooperatives than suit. If entrepreneurs do not branches will be opened soon. remained behind the scenes. go to banks; the words tax and embrace transparency in their While one section of the media disclosure scare them. This Beed dealings, they can never inculcate Pepsi mania was working on investigative is still amazed at the numbers of transparency within the people in

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ journalism to expose Unity, people, including professionals their institutions. Manik Nepal from Kathmandu another section was carrying and bankers, who have promoted The advent of IT has made it and Tirtha Kumar Shrestha advertorials explaining why the cooperatives. No one knows how possible for systems and from Morang won this week’s scam was good for the Nepali many co-operatives fold and processes to be transparent, and lucky draw of a 32” Samsung economy. abscond with people’s money, could encourage professionalism. LCD TV of ‘Pepsi Football But successive scams expose because no one wants to attract This happened in India, changing Mania’. This promotion started not only crooks but also the lotto- undue attention from the the way companies operated and from 21 May and will run till 11 July. Pepsi glass bottles have a blue band on the crown. mentality of Nepalis, who believe authorities. making it possible for them to Consumers will need to collect three crowns featuring Didier that windfall profits are the How can a Rs 300 million land globalise and take on global Drogba, Lionel Messi, and Thierry Henry, and 1 Goal Crown, after norm. In casinos, carrom and sale deal go ahead without the markets and customers. Young which they have to SMS their name to a dedicated number. The chess games, and in the financial taxman getting a single rupee? Nepali entrepreneurs who have grand prize winner will win a Hero Honda Karizma ZMR at the end services market, there’s always a How can a country boast of had global business education of the promotion. wager to be won. No wonder collecting income tax that equals and exposure could also change banks attract deposits by the real estate price of a strip of the rules of the game here. Nepal

New mobile providing gold coin prizes rather land in the heart of Kathmandu? awaits their professionalism. ○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ than ATMs that work or better How can a country progress when www.arthabeed.com Call Mobility Pvt Ltd, the sole authorised distributor of Yasuda mobile phones in Nepal, has launched the Yasuda Q5 model in the market. As the name suggests, Q5 is a full QWERTY keyboard handset with camera, FM radio, video player, Bluetooth, MP3 and MP4 players. The phone supports Micro SD card and dual GSM SIM cards. The handset, priced at Rs 5,090, comes with preloaded Facebook, MSN (e-buddy) and Yahoo applications. The set comes with a2 GB memory card and has a one-year warranty.

Rescue operation

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Fishtail Air is laying the groundwork for an Alpine Rescue System in the Himalaya. It has partnered with Air Zermatt, a Swiss helicopter company, which will transfer technology. A Nepali team, including the CEO of Fishtail Air Suman Panday, Capt Sabin Basnyat, Chief Pilot Pradip Gautam and a civil aviation official attended a week-long observation training program on Alpine Rescue Operations in the Swiss Alps in March. Fishtail Air has already successfully completed many rescue missions with Air Zermatt.

Winner

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Om Kumar Shrestha from Bhaktapur is the first winner of AllOut funanza, and will be going for an all expenses paid Malaysia trip. He got lucky with the purchase of an AllOut Combi from a grocery store in Narayanghat. The scheme has been running from March in all the major markets of Nepal. The good news is that there are still other Malaysia trip coupons available, as well as prizes like refrigerators, microwaves, mixers, emergency lights and lots of Altra cash.

Branching out

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ United Finance Ltd has opened its sixth branch in Narayanghat. The Chaudhary Group and Morang Auto Works are the promoters of United Finance, which has been operating since 1996. T 16 decided torejuvenatethemselves shove, thepoliticalparties surprise thatwhenpushcameto our nationalcredo,soitisno in doubt,extendandprolongis months toformacabinet.When four times,itoncetooktwo mandate hasnowbeenextended postponed twice,UNMIN’s signed at4am,theelectionswere done tomorrow doing todaywhatcanbe procrastination, and which valuesback-stabbing, raised inourtraditionalculture, what cantheydo?Theywere unseen levelsofuselessness.But seem tobeachievingpreviously in tosaylastweek:theseguys sympathies. AsanAssfanwrote sense ofitallhavemydeepest now givenuptryingtomake on nationwidetv. making itstrystwithdestinylive the strokeofmidnighthour flagrante attheBICCchambers trois wascaughtin à ménage should followintegration.The follow resignationor whether integrationshould where westartedarguingabout week, butwearenowbackto crisis inthenickoftimelast The InterimConstitutionwas Those ofyouwhohaveby ACK SIDE | managed topostponea are atitagain.They he three-partythreesome B . never Ménage àtrois verbally assurehimthathe’dget into theresolutionandthen the word‘ PKD onFriday.DidKPOghusao critical meetingbetweenKPOand hinges onwhattranspiredinthe is nowclearthatalotofitall does No.3follow1ornot?It Point No.2.Thenthequestion: to beatleastsixsub-clauses there toPointNo.3?Thereseem many unwrittensub-pointsare resolution inwriting,buthow yes, theygotthethreepoint what therealagreementis.Oh The troubleisthatnooneknows another day. so theycouldlivetofight agreeing toresign FG ’ Munch brighteyedandbushy were allthereattheSainik Friday, butonSaturdaythey hammering outthedealon The leadersstayedupallnight Awesome hungup. your fighters.”Atwhichpoint five days,ifyoufirstdemobilise he’ll resigninfiveseconds,not conversation. Olireplied“Yeah, rather testilyabouttheir Ncell numberremindinghim Comrade KPfromanunknown Comrade Bhayankarcalled MKN budging,anagitated and whentherewasnosignof five days’?Well,dayspassed Makunay’s resignation‘within FG without anyhesitation,wasHis would havegrabbedthelimelight medal to,andsomeonewho One guytheymissedgivinga is thattheydon’tcomplain. thing aboutdeadpeople bestowed uponthem.Thegreat the honourthatnationhas don’t haveachancetoturndown those thanklesslivingheroes medals posthumouslysoall other istohenceforthonlygive them into the metaltoafoundryandturn have refused?Oneideaistosend do withallthemedalsthatfolks And whataretheynowgoingto taekwondo. performing wushuand three hourstoburnwatchingkids constitutional organogramshad assembly andotherheadsof minister, chairmanofthe crisis, thepresident,prime that atatimeofgreatnational birthday. What commemorate theking’shappy and theRangersmarchedpastto helicopters droppedrosepetals the monarchydayswhen that nothinghaschangedsince most ofusAssesoutherewasnot parade. Whatwassurprisingto tailed fortheRepublicanDay CDO Regd No194/056/57Lalitpur, CentralRegion PostalRegd.No 09/066/67 gun barrels FG FG got ourgoat . The is 4 -10JUNE2010 Ass hasnoobjection. execute people,the President isto of anExecutive idea thattherole Kims ofNorthernmostKorea. Great andDear,thefatherson himself intheimageofLeaders of Nepalandhecanalsomould elected presidentoftheRepublic promise ofbecomingthefirst way, hekeepshiscampaign first getting himselfelectedasNepal’s then inthefirstgeneralelection, into thenewconstitution,and state restructuringcommittee presidential systemthroughthe his sightsonpushinga BRB, haswaned.Henow the candidatureofarchnemesis, be whyevenhisoppositionto receding fast.Whichappearsto a comebackasprimeministeris decided thathisdreamofstaging Comrade Superfluoushasnow sing init. long astheydon’tallowhimto Rastriya Git has madeadebutinthe the coat-tailsofpoliticiansand now tobetiredofhangingon But wait,SishiGamalaseems Reporters’ Clubthananyoneelse. regular cockfightsatthe free pressinNepalbyarranging protection ofdemocracyandthe man hasdonemoreforthe Omniscient RishiDhamiro.The ass(at)nepalitimes.com So longasPKDdoesn’tgetthe Executive President musicvideo.As FG #505 . This

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