MORE THAN 140 LAWYERS ARRESTED FOR BREAKING PROHIBITORY ORDERS

LAWYERS ARRESTED FOR BREAKING PROHIBITORY ORDERS IN FRONT OF SUPREME COURT

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: More: than 140 lawyers were arrested Friday afternoon for breaking prohibitory orders in front of and around Singha Durbar and supreme court, police said affiliated with Nepal Bar Association protesting delay in promulgating a constitution
Police said the arrested lawyer will be released late Friday afternoon.
The main constitution drafting committee Thursday extended by another 10 days time for major political players to settle differences on themes for inclusion in a constitution that has to be promulgated 28 May.
The lawyers protested one day after parties couldn’t resolve differences on themes hree times since the end of December 2011.
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JAPANESE OFFICIAL CONCLUDES NEPAL VISIT

Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Koro Bessho returned home Thursday after extensive discussions with
government and party leaders.
Bessso arrived for a two-visit Wednesday and held consultations with Prime .Mnister Baburam Bhattarai
Japan is one of Nepal’s biggest bilateral donors.
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MINISTER GRILLED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
Kathmandu, 24 Feb.: A meeting of the Committee on Natural Resources and Means of the Legislature-Parliament on Friday, directed the Ministry of Energy to submit information to the Committee within three days regarding the government´s latest decision to award licenses for hydro power production, RSS reports.

At the meeting, Minister for Energy and Minister of Irrigation were invited to discuss the progress made in the Nepal-India Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources and agreement, and the policy unveiled by the government regarding the new provision of providing licenses to the power developers.

During the meeting, lawmakers asked Minister for Energy Posta Bahadur Bogati to make it clear whether or not the Ministry was mulling to award the applicants based on date of application instead of competition as rumored in media.

The Committee´s member also interrogated the Energy Minister whether any agreement against the national interests were signed in the Nepal-India Joint Ministerial Commission on Water Resources as Nepal was always cheated by India regarding the issues of water resources.

Responding to the lawmakers´ queries, Minister Bogati assured them saying the bilateral meeting on waters resources which was stalled for long was resumed after the recent meeting held in New Delhi, India.

Minister Bogati urged the lawmakers not to doubt saying that no clandestine agreement was signed at the meeting.

Bogati said the issues pertaining to Mahakali Treaty and Pancheshwor Project have internal and bilateral disputes, adding that such debatable issues should be finalized based on friendly debates and discussions.

Bogati said, "Agreement has been signed to constitute Pancheshwor Development Authority to end the deadlock for beginning the project as the first task is to prepare DPR."

During the ministerial level meeting held on February 15, both sides had agreed to expedite the setting up of Pancheshwar Development Authority at the earliest for implementation of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.

Similarly, Minister for Irrigation Mahendra Prasad Yadav said this was not the right time to agree on such debatable issues due to the transitional condition of the country. But steps were taken to resume the Nepal-India Water Resources meeting that was stalled for long, Minister Yadav added.

Secretary at the Energy Ministry, Hareram Koirala said a team of experts on water resources was taking part at the meeting to do away with the doubts that Nepal would be cheated by Indian side like in the past.

During the joint ministerial commission meeting, both sides have agreed to expedite the completion of DPR of Sapta Koshi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Koshi Storage cum Diversion Scheme by February 2013.

The meeting also considered to examine the possibility of facilitating duty free movement of materials and equipments to Nepal for maintenance works under Gandak Project through appropriate arrangement.
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