SIX VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS CLAIM AT LEAST SIX LIVES

THREE VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS CLAIM AT LEAST SIX
LIVES OVERNIGHT AND TUESDAY

Kathmandu, 28 Nov.: Two persons died and one was injured when
a tractor overturned in Sarlahi overnight.
Two persons died and 14 were also injured overnight in Moang in another bus accident.
Two persons died and 24 were injured Monday morning in a bus
accident in Syangjha.
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PRANAB MUKHERJEE SPEAK

Kathmandu, 28 Nov. Indian Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee Sunday promised continued assistance to complete peace process and draft a constitution.
The point man of the Indian government for Nepal also lent
support for a multiparty democratic form of government in his
meetings with leaders of political parties.
“We congratulate the people and the political parties in Nepal for their commitment to peaceful resolution of the outstanding issues, in a sprit of consensus forged by matured leadership.
“I assure the Nepalese leaders of India’s strong and continued
support to Nepal in its transition to a democratic, prosperous,
peaceful and stable future.
“India will always stand by the government and people of Nepal
in their efforts for peace and multiparty democracy,” the minister said before flying back late Sunday afternoon after concluding a 12-hour
visit..
Mukherjee held talks with Sher Bahadur Deuba, besides NC President Sushil Koirala as well.
He also held talks with leaders of the Madhes-based political parties. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister and Chairman of MJFL Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, Information and Communication Minister and Chairman of MPRF-R Jaya Prakash Prasad Prasad Gupta, Chairman of TMDP Mahantha Thakur, Irrigation Minister and Chief of TMDP-N Mahendra Yadav, Chairman of Federal Sadbhwana Party and Commerce Minister Anil Kumar Jha, Health Minister and Chair of NSP Rajendra Mahato and Minister for Labor and Transport Sarita Giri also met Muherjee.
Surya Bahadur Thapa of RJP also met Mukherjee.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal didn’t meet the visiting Indian minister who flew back to New Delhi later in the afternoon Sunday.
Khanal doesn’t have s cordial relationship with federal Indian
leaders or the Indian government as compared other Nepali leaders.
His ties with them is just correct and aloof.
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IRRIGATION MINISTER IN TROUBLED WATERS
Kathmaandu, 28 Nov.: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority today directed Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Yadav to approve projects pending before him within three days or face legal action.

Minister Yadav is accused of demanding commission from bidders in 34 projects worth Rs 10 billion in the current fiscal year, out of which six are still under his consideration.

The anti-graft body also directed Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to produce the minister and secretary before the CIAA for investigation if they failed to approve the projects within the deadline.

According to a press release issued by CIAA spokesperson Ishwori Prasad Paudel, the anti-graft body has already informed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in this regard.

A source at the CIAA said it had already begun to investigate charges against the minister. “We have clearly directed the minister either to perform his duty or face consequences because he was found involved in irregularities,” he added.

A group of engineers from the Department of Irrigation had met PM Bhattarai a few days ago at his office and had expressed dissatisfaction over the activities of the minister and demanded PM’s intervention.
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INTERVIEW
Cecelia Edstrom has been Senior Vice President and head of Group Communications with TeliaSonera since May 2008. She talked to The Kathmandu Post at Telia’s headquarters in Stockholm early this month about TeliaSonera and its Nepali subsidiary Ncell.
Ncell has been a success story for TeliaSonera. What does that mean to you?
It’s a success story both for TeliaSonera as a whole and for Ncell and its management, but also for the people of Nepal. Mobile penetration and connectivity in the country has more than doubled over the last two years, which means there are now many more opportunities for the people to communicate.

What has led to the rapid growth of Ncell?
We are serving a basic human need: the need to communicate. There are remote villages and Nepal is a big country with many citizens. And they need to communicate, and we cater to that need at a reasonable cost.

How do you now plan to build on your early success?
We will continue to build our network and expand the subscriber base, the services and opportunities to communicate. Also, we need to educate the people (on the services available) as we roll out the 3G network. TeliaSonera’s business model has been to blend your vast international experience with a particular market and then tailor it for local needs.
Now as your Nepal operation settles, how do you find a balance between nurturing the local expertise and international experience?
At important stages of Nepal’s development, we bring in by far the biggest foreign investments. We also bring in expertise and work opportunities for local retailers, vendors and construction industries.

TeliaSonera works in many countries. Is there anything unique about your Nepal operation that you would like to emphasise?
Nepal is a case of its own where we have been able to communicate with the people, irrespective of who’s in charge of running the country. One of the reasons for our success in Nepal is that we have been able move forward in a very pragmatic way. That worked for both of us (Ncell and the Nepal government). We have had good access with the government because of our local partner who knows the country and the people.

Your subscriber base has expanded rapidly in Nepal. What is now holding you back from providing 4G services?
If you look at Nepal, a vast majority of the traffic is prepaid voice traffic. 4G is only for data transmission, and you don’t need it for voice network. We are building a 3G network, which combines both the possibilities of voice traffic and data traffic. The 3G network will be enough for both data and voice traffic to cater to Nepal’s needs for many years to come in an efficient and quick way. 4G is, in fact, ready to go for a limited targeted group; but for a big commercial rollout, it’s going to take time.
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