COLDEST WINTER IN 20 YEARS CLAIMS MORE THAN THREE DOZEN LIVES

COLD WAVE KILLS MORE THAN THREE DOZEN IN EAST,
CENTRAL TERAI; COLDEST WINTER IN 20 YEARS
Kathmandu, 21 Dec.: A cold wave has taken more than three dozen
lives in east and central terai, state-owned Radio Nepal said in its Wednesday morning news broadcast.
Children, elderly, disabled and poor have been most affected
The cold spell will last several days.
Schools in the region have been closed down for several days and government has distributed firewood to light fires in communities.
Days are foggy affecting flights and crops have been damaged.
People are flocking hospitals amid reports of increased incidences of
of cold diarrhea and pneumonia.
Residents said the weather is the lowest in 20 to 25 years
Cold has hit even west terai; in Kapilvasthu officials worked as bonfires were lit at government offices.
Cold killed one person even in Palpa overnight
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• MINIMUM TEMERATURE IN CAPITAL WEDNESDAY 3 DEGREES CELSIUS
Kathmandu, 21 Dec.: Minimum temperature recorded in the capital Wednesday morning was 3 degrees Celsius.
Maximum temperature is expected to rise to 16degrees Celsius Wednesday afternoon.
The mercury fell to 2.6 degrees Celsius Tuesday.
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GOVT. APPROVES CUNSUMER COURT

Kathmandu, 21 Dec.: In a first for the country, the government on Tuesday finally endorsed a plan to set up consumer courts in the 14 zones, to make market inspections effective, promote hygienic food products and ensure legal
action against the wrongdoers, Bimal Gautam writes in Republia.

Following hours-long discussions at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), the bills committee of the cabinet endorsed a draft amendment to the existing Consumer Protection Act-2054 BS.

The consumer courts will come into effect after parliament endorses the amended Consumer Protection Act. "The consumer courts will try cases involving all disputes and claims relating to consumption of goods and services," reads the provisions enshrined in the draft.

Once the consumer courts are established, as per Clause 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, they can slap jail terms of up to 14 years and fines of up to Rs 500,000 or both on those found guilty of producing, selling or supplying sub-standard, adulterated goods and commodities or services.

The Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ) had forwarded a draft defining the scope, jurisdiction, role and responsibilities of the proposed consumer courts.

According to OPMCM Secretary Trilochan Uprety, the courts will be similar to a tribunal and will comprise three members. A district court judge or someone eligible to be a district court judge will head the court while a gazetted second class officer who has five years experience in the consumer protection field and a consumer expert with 10 years experience in the same field will share the bench.

The newly drawn-up draft provisions were widely discussed at the bills committee meeting.

The government two months ago had aggressively inspected the market and seized tainted foods, sweets, dairy products, substandard medicines and sealed a number of factories, shops and cooking gas bottling plants.

As per the draft provisions, those failing to produce price lists during inspections will be fined up to Rs 5,000 by the inspection officer.

And those failing to abide by the Consumer Protection Act, found creating hurdles to market inspection and not cooperating with inspection officers by blocking officers from raiding suspected shops and industrial outfits or hiding documents would be penalized up to Rs 15,000 by the inspection officer.

On top of this, every company producing goods and suppliers delivering such products are required to formulate and issue a code of conduct concerning its business. The government will also set up a Consumer Information Centre to receive complaints and take necessary measures to ensure a healthy market.
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Kathmandu, 21 Dec : CPN-UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel on Tuesday said the environment for strengthening intra-party unity in the UML has become conducive only after leaders from both the factions in the party formed a common view on the UCPN (Maoist), Thira L. Bhsal writes in Republica.

He said UML leaders from both the sides have agreed that the Maoists be given enough space in politics while simultaneously keeping them under threats. This has necessitated intra-party unity and unity among the democratic forces, he said.

Earlier, a section of UML leaders -- mainly led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Oli -- were for transforming the former rebel party by exposing their wrongdoings and policies, while the other faction -- led by party Chairman Jhalanath Khanal -- insisted on taking them into confidence.

“Leaders from our party (Nepal and Khanal) led the two governments one after another based on their respective stances,” Pokharel, who was the minister for information and communications and the government´s spokesperson in the Nepal-led government, told media persons at his residence on Tuesday. He claimed the Nepal-led government was more successful in comparison to that headed by Khanal in terms of transforming the Maoists and advancing the peace process.

“Thus we can now safely claim that the policy of transforming Maoists by attacking on their wrongdoings has prevailed,” he said.

He, however, was quick to add that UML leaders were one on giving space to the Maoists and simultaneously keeping them under threat. He clarified that the decision to allow the Maoist chairman to head the dispute resolution subcommittee on constitution making was an instance of giving the former rebels space in politics.

Induction of leaders into CA

Pokharel, who is believed to be a trusted lieutenant of both Nepal and Oli, claimed that they have been planning to induct Oli, Bamdev Gautam and Amrit Bohara as CA members only after realizing the role of leaders from the major political parties in constitution writing process.

He cited a recent incident in parliament to indicate how tough the task of constitution writing would be in the days to come.

“Leaders were compelled to withdraw the bill on formation of an expert panel on state restructuring even after the four major political forces had reached an agreement. This underscores the need for the role of key leaders in the CA,” he explained. “Otherwise, we will not be able to promulgate the new constitution on time.”

Consensus among 5 leaders

Pokharel said bringing the five key leaders -- Khanal, Nepal, Oli, Gautam and General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel -- together is a must to materialize party unity in its true sense. "Talking about party unity while keeping aside Nepal and General Secretary Pokharel would be hypocrisy,” he said.

He informed that the idea to give Oli the third position in the party hierarchy was discussed immediately after the party´s eighth general convention. This has become possible now as the party chairman and other leaders also expressed readiness to give Oli the responsibility, he said.
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