Floods, landslides kill at least 50 in mid and far-West

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 7 Oct: Landslides and flods triggered by four days of incessant monsoon have killed at least 50 personsin the plain and hill istricts of mid and far-West Nepal, hoem ministry and compiled reports said Wednesday.
People marooned on roofs and treetops asked rescuers to save them as search and rescue couldn’t reach settlements without boats.
Marroned people were heard crying “Save US1Save US!”
Thousands of people have been displaced to ujungles, schools and other safe sreas as relief hasn’t reached thefloc and landslide victims even tfour days after the disaster struch during the extended monsoonthatnormally ends in the thirdweek of September.
Rains are expected to continue and shift to the east in the next three days even as the strength of the monsoon has abated in the far-West aeven as the cabinet decided to provide prompt relief.
People ar wading flooded towns and village sin waist-deep water.
German-aided 422MW Kaligandaki was shut down Wednsday and water released from the reservoir to save the project as the country experiences load-shedding.

PM Nepal on a sudden inspection tour of the capital

Kathmandu, 7 Oct: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and five ministers went on an unannounced tour of the city in a hired private bus from Singha Durbar to inspect conditions in the capital.
The group left the secretariat at four in the afternoon in a cheap populist ploy even in the midst of a government crisis as Maoists again isrupted parliamentary proceedings after a prolongd dasain recess.
The cabinet should have been in parliament had proceedings been normal
Maoists are now demanding the replace of the Nepal-led government by a join national government led by Maoists.
Instead the prime minister chose to go on a ride of the city to inspect probgelsm of traffic, garbage and other problems being encounterd by city recidents.
The group toured the city for nearly one hour.
Maoists are now demanding

Defence minister Bidya Bhandari calles for review of peace agreement with Maoists

Kathmandu, 7 Oct: For the first time a government minister has asked for a review of an peace preement with Maoists.
Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari made the call at a hearingof parliments’s state affairs committee Wednesday.
She said the agreement should come ‘thouroiugh politicalunderstanding’ as the pcrrmen ws crippling the army’s drive at filling invacancies and acuring weapons.
She said the status of Nepal Army should be enhanced.
Bhandari said this as India, the army’s major munitions supplier, has offered to reume weapons and arms supplies suspended during the royalregime.
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Girija calls for ponstponement of Neplai Congress general congress session

Kathmandu, 7 Oct: nepaliCongress Prsident Girija Prasad Koirala Wednesday asked the informal meeting of the central committee Wednesday to postpone the 21 October general congress of th party in Congress amid srong resistance.
The central committee meets again Thursday.
Koiarala arugued thecongrews and a general convdntiona re being held in one year and will be a huge burden on the party.
The cntral committee has already decided to hold the congesss and theconvention in October and March 2010 withinthe Nepali calendar.
Critics charge Koirala for pushing the postponement to enable him to push daughter Sujata inthepartyhierarchy without meeting the party mass.
Vice-Chairman Raam Chandra paudel told the central committee meeting Wednesday the paty could change the venue of the congress to enable ailing Koirala to attend.
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