NEW SCHEDULE TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES ON CONSTITUTION

BIG THREE AGREE TO DRAW UP NEW SCHEDULE TO
RESOLVE DIFFERENCES ON CONSTITUTION AMID
OPPOSITION THREATS TO BOYCOTT MAOISTS
Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Three parties agreed Saturday to draw up a new schedule for promulgating a constitution by 28 May deadline.
A meeting of the main constitution drafting committee will draw a
new schedule Sunday.
UCPN (Maoist), and two opposition parties NC and UML agreed to draw up a new schedule at a meeting with Speaker Subash Newang and chief of the main constitution drafting Nilambar Acharya
Maoist Chairman Prachanda, NC parliamentary leader Ram Chandra Paudel and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal represented their respective parties.
“We can’t reach an agreement tomorrow [Sunday]. The secretariat will come up with a timetable and a meeting of the constitution committee will
endorse it tomorrow,” former Prime Minister Nepal said after the crucial meeting.
The two opposition parties came to an agreement with Maoists leading government even amid threats to talk with government and Maoists without reversal of a controversial cabinet decision to legalize seizure of assets during the 10-year insurgency by parallel Maoist governments.
NC President Sushil Koirala declared minutes earlier in Dang: “There will be no agreement with it [UCPN (Maoist)] now until past agreements are implemented.”
They couldn’t meet a schedule to resolve differences on themes for incorporation in a constitution by Sunday; they also missed a 30 December deadline
A meeting of parties in parliament is being convened Monday.
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PM TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE OVER RADIO NEPAL
Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: For the fifth time after assuming Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai will directly interact with people over Radio Nepal for 30 minutes from 8.10 in the evening Sunday.
He’ll respond to questions from listeners of the state radio.
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MINIMUM CAPITAL TEMPERATURE 2 DEGREES CELSIUS
Kathmandu, 29 Jan,: Minimum temperature recorded in the capital in the last 24 hours was 2 degrees Celsius.
Minimum temperature Sunday is expected to fall to 1 degree Celsius.
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ANOTHER BRITISH GURKHA KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN
Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: A Gurkha with the British army has been killed in Afghanistan; he was attached with the First Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment
The soldier was on foot patrol in the Khar Nikah region of Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, when he received a fatal gunshot wound on Friday, the British Defence Ministry said..

The soldier was serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (North) when he died.

The British embassy in Kathmandu confirmed the death without identifying the soldier’ identity.
British Army spokesperson for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie said, “It is my very sad duty to inform you that a soldier serving with First Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment was fatally wounded in an insurgent attack while on a foot patrol to disrupt insurgent activity in the Khar Nikah area of Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand province.

“Our deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this tragic time,” he added.

His death brings the number of British troops killed while serving in Afghanistan to 396 and 10th among the Gurkha soldiers since the launch of the military action in 2001. Of these, 352 were killed in combat.

Early this month, another Nepali Gurkha soldier, Sachin Limbu serving in the British army had died in hospital a year and a half after being injured in a bomb blast in southern Afghanistan in June 2010.

The United Kingdom has some 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, mainly based in Helmand where they are battling a Taliban insurgency.

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DANISH ASSISTANCE TO INCREASE
Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Denmark, providing assistance to Nepal for the social and economic development for two decades, is to increase the assistance, RSS reports
Danish Ambassador Morten Jespersen said his country was committed to assisting Nepal in the reconstruction of the physical infrastructures, rehabilitation of the ex-Maoist fighters, and conclusion of peace process and constitution making. He also urged the international communities to extend help to Nepal.

Chairing the European Union since the New Year 2012, Denmark has prioritised the economic growth and development in Nepal, he said.

Denmark has provided 40 million US dollar from 2009 to 2012 and is to provide Rs 23 million US dollar for the next year in Nepal.

Moreover, Ambassador Jespersen said Denmark was planning to provide Rs 19 million in the educational sector while Rs 12 million in the human rights, and Rs 2 million in renewable energy.

Denmark has planned to provide 4 million US dollars in the peace fund of the government through the UN and Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.
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NJA OFFICE BEARERS RE-ELECTED
Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Deepak Harsha Bajracharya was unanimously re-elected president.Saturday of Nepal Judo Association (NJA) by its 3rd. general assembly.
Twenty-one new executive committee members were also unanimously elected
for another third term.
Khadga Bahadur Dahal, Sudev Mahat and Piyush Shrestha were re-elected vice-presidents; Ramesh Maharjan is the general secretary following the election.
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ANOTHER MASS TRANSFER IN NEPAL POLICE
Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: Fifty-nine DSPs of Nepal Police have been transferred Saturday
DSPs of 23 districts citing different reasons.
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MEDIA GOOGLE
“All should understand difficulties that will be encountered, including the opening of offices, while declaring provinces.”

(NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nagarik 29 Jan.)
“Many call Nepal India’s younger sister while talking of bilateral ties. But this isn’t true. In fact, Nepal is India’s elder sister. Before the birth of India, Nepal has been independent in South Asia from 1769.”
(Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad, Annapurna Post. 29 Jan.)
“If general public wants me to become the new PM, I am ready for it.”
(UML Leader KP Sharma Oli, The Kathmandu Post, 29 Jan.)

“They have no alternative than to join the present government.“I am sure that they would not hide in the jungle.”
(DPM Bijaya KumarGachedhar, The Kathmandu Post, 29 Jan.)
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FEB. CAMPAIGN AGAINST MEASLES
Kathmandu, 29 Jan.: With an aim to reducing illness and deaths caused by measles and rubella, the Ministry of Health and Population is conducting measles-rubella vaccination campaign from February 26 in all the far western districts and six districts of the mid western region, The Himalayan Times reports.

Rubella is usually a mild febrile rash in adults and children. Serious consequences may occur if a pregnant woman becomes infected, particularly if infection occurs during the first trimester. The consequences include constellation of birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) or even death.

Common manifestations of CRS include cardiac, ophthalmic, and auditory defects and developmental delay.

Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, director of Child Health Division at the ministry, said rubella and CRS were documented as significant public health problems and Nepal is yet to introduce a rubella-containing vaccine into the national immunisation programme.

Children ranging from nine months to 15 years will be vaccinated at booths where health personnel will be mobilised.

The ministry has allocated Rs 600 million for the campaign. Earlier, the ministry had conducted the campaign in fiscal years 2004/05 and 2008/09.

According to MoHP, from 2004 to 2009, there were 3,710 confirmed rubella cases and more than 95 per cent of them appeared in kids less than 15 years of age. Of the 2,224 women of childbearing age tested for anti-rubella, 2,020 were sero-positive.

Using a catalytic infection model, approximately 1,426 infants were born with CRS in 2008. Among 243 students attending a school for the deaf, 18 (7.4 per cent) met the clinical criteria for CRS.

“A comprehensive approach, including rubella vaccine in the routine programme to reduce cases, is a must,” said the chief.

In Nepal, about 13 per cent of children are deprived of measles vaccination, according to Nepal Health Demographic Survey-2011.

Upreti said the number of measles is on the wane, whereas cases of rubella are on the rise in the country.
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HELLO.SARKER GETS FACELIFT________________________________________

Kathmandum 29 Jan.: The Prime Minister’s Office has hired fresh employees to man the government’s control room formed to receive complaints and suggestions from the general public in a bid to improve the room’s reaction time, The Himalayan Times reports.

At one time there were over 5,000 complaints waiting to be processed, an official said asking not to be named.

“However, more than half of it has already been sent to offices concerned for the action,” he said.

“Now, the Prime Minister’s Office is planning to process complaints on the day they are lodged. The complaints from the past, which remain to be processed, are being sorted by new employees so that new complaints can be processed promptly,” said the official adding that the pending complaints will be cleared within a week.

Established with an aim to address public complaints, Hello Sarkar hotline service used to receive 300 calls a day during its early days.

However the number has gone down to 80-90 in the recent days, it has been learnt.

In the wake of dwindling complaints, PMO has recalled under-secretaries deputed for Hello Sarkar control room.

It has assigned officers and the junior officials from the Ministry of General Administration for the purpose, instead.

“The number of complaints had gone down on the one hand and regular work at the PMO was affected with under-secretaries busy at the control room, on the other. So on Friday, under-secretaries were recalled from the Hello Sarkar programme,” said Gyan Raj Pandey, under-secretary at the PMO.

On November 5 last year, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai launched the control room, which can be reached by dialing 111, sending fax to 1100 or e-mail to 1111@opmcm.gov.np or text message to 1111. Hello Sarkar can also be contacted via www.opmcm.gov.np.
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STRIKES AT HYDRO PROJECTS TOB BANNED
MILAN MANI SHARMA
Kathmandu, 29 Jan 29: In its latest bid to provide momentum to ongoing power projects, the government has decided to ban all forms of strike and disruptive activities that may impede construction works at hydropower projects, Milan Mani Sharma reports
in Republica..

This moratorium will continue till the country builds the capacity to generate 2,500 MW of electricity round the year. The government will also offer upward revision in power purchase agreement (PPA) for project developers who complete hydropower projects in two years.

"Imposing a ban on strike and other disruptive activities sounds draconian. But given that undue protests and unrelated disturbances are posing difficulties in timely completion of hydropower projects, we found no other workable options," said Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai.

Dr Bhattarai, who interacted with economic journalists on Saturday, disclosed that the government is taking a tougher stance on power generation while referring to current power-cuts, which stand at 14 hours a day, and resistance faced by hydropower project developers, something which has been affecting them to complete projects on time.

He said the government will soon finalize the law that will empower it to declare State of Energy Emergency in the country and facilitate harnessing of hydropower potential at war-footing, not allowing anybody to resist it. "We have to get tougher now, for if we do not act now, the country will suffer for years in the future," he stated.

Citing that mere lip service will not fetch the country higher economic growth, jobs and social justice, Dr Bhattarai said, "We need huge investments to attain them. But who will put in the money in industries and businesses if we cannot even provide them round the year uninterrupted power supply," he reasoned.

He even clarified that such a tough law will be in force only till the country builds a capacity to generate 2,500 MW of electricity round the year. "2,500 MW has been set as a minimum generation limit because we will need that much of electricity round the year if the country is to embark on a double-digit growth," he said.

Dr Bhattarai also disclosed that the government will soon offer upward revision of PPA for developers that complete construction and supply electricity in the national grid in two years. "A proposal is already in the Cabinet. We will take a decision shortly," said Dr Bhattarai, adding that the government is also offering additional incentives to encourage the ongoing power development works to speed up their performances. The incentives could be in any form -- from tax incentives to other packages, he stated.

Talking about the current shortage of petroleum products, PM Bhattarai said his government alone could do nothing about it. "We talked with senior leaders of all parties about the price hike and they agreed. But once out of the meeting room, they enticed their student unions to protest it. How will we be able to address the problem if politicians do not act fairly," Dr Bhattarai asked.

Nonetheless, he noted that Nepal -- which completely fulfills the demand through import -- can neither afford to subsidize petroleum products nor sustain it. "There must be a national commitment to deal with this mess," he said, putting the ball in the court of other political parties.
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EUROPEAN BUYERS FIND NEPALI CARPETS EXPENSIVE
Kathmandu, 29 Jan : Nepali hand-knotted woollen carpet, which enjoyed double-digit growth in export last year, may lose the growth momentum in 2012 as its largest buyers at the world´s biggest buyers-sellers meet expressed reservations over increasing price of Nepali carpet, indicating that carpet exports this year may go down with Europe still reeling under economic woes, Republica reports.

Nepali producers and exporters who participated in the world expo of carpet and flooring goods in Germany painted a grim picture of carpet export prospects, especially to European countries - the largest market for Nepali carpet.

Around one and a half dozen Nepali carpet producers and exporters participated in the ´DOMOTEX Hannover 2012´ held in German city of Hannover during January 14-17, which saw a visitor turnout of 45,000. As many as 1,371 exhibitors took part in the exhibition.

“We are not optimistic on the export prospects and expecting slowdown in carpet export this year (2012) as most buyers have complained that price of Nepali carpet is far higher than those offered by India, which is a major competitor for Nepal in carpet exports,” said Rajendra Shrestha, a leading exporter, who has just returned to Nepal after participating in the four-day international event. Shrestha said buyers were looking for quality carpet, timely delivery and lower prices.

“European importers are on ´wait and watch mode´ as far as the quantum of order to be placed with Nepal is concerned. We have felt that there should be major departure in our strategies to retain European market, with innovative products, cost reduction and maintenance of quality of our exportable carpet,” said Shreshtha, who is also the proprietor of Pari Carpet Industry.

Total export of Nepal carpet to overseas markets during the fiscal year 2010/11 stood at Rs 4.92 billion, up by 15.6 percent compared to previous fiscal year. According to him, cost of production of carpet stands at around 40 percent higher than what it is in India.

Some of the Indian exporters has been exporting carpet under the brand name of ´Indo-Nepal Carpet´ at a lower price than what Nepali manufacturers ask for hand-knotted carpet from international buyers.

According to Gopal Krishna Joshi, proprietor of Joshi Carpet Industry, Nepal has priced hand-knotted carpet at 50 Euros for 60-knot carpet whereas Indo-Nepal brand, which though made in India uses reference of Nepal in its brand name, for 30 Euros. A representative from Joshi carpet also participated in the German fair.

“Though Nepali carpets are far better in quality than those from India, lower price of Indo-Nepal carpets is doing a lot of damage to our markets as European customers and importers are more conscious of price amid their weakening purchasing power,” said Joshi.

Worsening power shortage, absence of state incentives as well as increasing cost of labor and raw materials (cotton yarn, wool), uncertain delivery time due to labor unrest and frequent bandas are the major factors affecting the competitive strength of Nepali carpet in the international market. According to him, cost of production of Nepali carpet has shot up by more than 40 percent in a year.

“Carpet entrepreneurs can´t reduce the cost of production on their own. The government should support them by giving more state incentives as India has been providing to its carpet producers and exporters,” said Joshi.

Though the government announced incentives for exporters of any exportable goods that have higher value addition two years ago and so far allocated Rs 600 million for this purpose, only four exporters have received such incentives so far.

European buyers have also asked Nepali entrepreneurs to diversify their product line with more contemporary designs.
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