Dam foundation of Arun-III hydropower project laid

Kathmandu, 14 Nov: The foundation of the dam of the 205MW Arun-III hydropower project, Nepal’s biggest, to be constructed by an Indian company was laid Thursday.
The project was conceived and about to be implemented in the panchayat area with World Bank investment but was abandoned under pressure of so-called opponents of big power projects..
CPN-UML was one of the major opponents of the project.
The project would have been completed by now without the pressure and the current load-shedding would be non-existant.
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Madhav Kumar Nepal calls for pressure on Bamdeb Gautam

ByBhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 Nov: Former CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal Thursday said more pressure should be exerted on Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam to control illegal activities of Maoists.
Gautam leads the CPN-UML team in the Maoist-led government.
Maoist parallel governments continue in different parts of the country even when CPN-UML controls the home ministry, Nepal said whole addressing party workers of Bheri anchal in Nepalgunj.
Nepal ridiculed Premier Prachanda’s commitment to compensate persons whose assets had been seized by Maoists with state funds.
‘This is strange talk. The looters should pay compensation,” Nepal said.
Prachanda probably announced the commitment because local cades have disregarded past party ordres to’ return seized assets.
Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai said this week Maoists don’t hold seized assets.
Following revival of demands by Nepali Congress for the returned of seized assets as a pre-condition for cooperation o run government, Prachanda probably has plans to compensate victims through the state if party cadres don’t cooperate.
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Three donor agencies promise Rs 118 billion in aid

Kathmandu, 14 Nov: Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank and Great Britain’s DFID have pledged a Rs 118 billion aid package for Nepal for three years until 2011.
ADB is Nepal’s largest multilateral donor.
Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal announced the decision of the three donors, according to Annapurna Post.
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Keshar Mahal to house library named after donor

Kathmandu, 14 Nov: Keshar Mahal, donated to the government by Late Field Marshal Keshar SJB Rana, will continue to be located at the palace named after the donor.
Education Minister Mrs Renu Yadav said Thursday her ministry will soon move out of the complex to Singha Durbar soon.
She affixed a cancellation on a postage stamp issued Thursday by the Postal Service Department to commemorate the personal library donated to the government.
Another stamp with the text of the national song was also issued Thursday.
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