BIRD FLU BBREAKS OUT AT CHICKEN FARM IN LALITPUR

BIRD FLU BREEAKS OUT AT LALITPUR CHICKEN FARM

Kathmandu, 21 March: Bird flu has broken out in neighbouring Lalitpur as well.
The outbreak has been confirmed by Lalitpur district adminisration office.
Traces were first detected Saturday and, official confirmation of the outbreak came Tuesday.
Chickens were culled at a farm in Bhaisepati Wednesday.
Medical tests of residents around the farm were conducted to confirm if the disease has spread to humans and find out he strain.
The virus first broke out last year in Manahara and reappeared in the Valley this year.
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NEW HEALTH PLAN OF GOVT.

Kathmandu, 21 March: The Ministry of Health and Population has prepared a 25-point draft of the new health policy, RSS reports.

According to information provided at the programme, the Ministry had decided to prepare the draft of the new health policy as the country´s existing health policy (Health Policy- 2048 BS) had failed to address the issues, concerning the health sector.

The draft states that the current health mechanism will be changed as per the demand of time, making it more responsible towards the people and their needs. Similarly, basic health facilities in the urban areas will be rendered in an integrated system through the cooperation with the respective municipalities.

Measures will be taken to systematize the local health organizations with the participation and cooperation of the local communities and health volunteers concerned, adds the draft.

According to the draft, regulation of the health-related laws will be carried out considering the international commitments of Nepal to that end and the health insurance policy will be initiated by adopting the health financial strategy to make the investment in the health sector more fruitful.

Likewise, as per the draft, delivery of treatment would be made more accessible to the people improving its quality and all possible measures will be taken to control the transmission of communicable diseases.

Speaking at the programme, Ministry Secretary Dr Praveen Mishra said the new health draft is aimed at improving quality of country´s health service.

The new health policy would ensure free basic health service and health service accessible to all the people, said Joint Secretary of the Ministry Dr Balkrishna Subedi on the occasion.
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UML CHAIRMAN JHANAL SAYS FRESH TALKS BETWEEN PARTIES HAVE CREATED POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT
Kathmandu, 21 March: Chairman of the CPN-UML, Jhala Nath Khanal has said that ongoing discussions among the political parties have created an environment of forging consensus on disputable issues seen in peace process and constitution writing
pProcess, RSS reports

Receiving the memorandum at the Party Headquarters, Madannagar, submitted by the Nepal Jaycees under a campaign with an objective to pile pressure on leaders to conclude peace and constitution, Khanal said they are committed towards peace process and constitution and added the discussions held among political parties of late have given positive messages.

He expressed the confidence that the peace process and constitution writing will get pace as soon as the consensus has reached on rank harmonization for integration of combatants of the UCPN-Maoist.

Khanal added that they are ready to search a point of consensus at the earliest.

Chairman Khanal expressed the commitment that discussions among political parties will be forwarded speedily and added they will give continuity to meetings of Constitutional Committee and Dispute Resolution Sub-committee to forge consensus on disputable issues seen in constitution writing.

On the occasion, President of Nepal Jaycees Tej Shankar Bhatta said that they will give moral pressure to Chairmen and Presidents of all political parties by visiting them to complete peace process and constitution writing within the slated timeframe as per their Campaign.

The memo demanded to conclude peace process and constitution writing, political parties should be active to forge consensus on disputable issues seen in constitution writing, among others.
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BUT MAOIST CHIEF SAYS PARTIES NOT SERIOUS

Kathmandu, 21 March:: Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal argued that the peace and constitution writing could have progressed if other political parties had worked seriously.

Speaking at an interaction on ´National Seminar on Dalits´ Rights in New Constitution´ organised on the occasion of the 47th International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Chairman Dahal added that none should obstruct the ongoing peace process and constitution writing.

He further said the peace process would be concluded within few days. If any conspiracy was hatched against the peace process, the Maoist would accept people´s rebellion against this.

The Maoist party was for empowering Dalit community, he said, reminding that his party had done lot to make Dalit people politically aware during the decade-long insurgency. But time has come to be aware again against disintegration in the name of rights, he stressed.

Similarly, leader Dahal pointed to the need of vigorous people´s struggle for special rights to the Dalits.

On the occasion, Vice-President of the Nepali Congress, Ram Chandra Poudel said the peace process and constitution writing would be concluded soon.

The recent intensive discussion held among the parties has instilled hope that the peace process would be concluded soon, he added.

Stressing that the Maoists, being the important part of the peace process, should responsibly engage its efforts to accomplish the peace process, he further said, ´The tasks of peace and constitution-making would take strides if the UCPN (Maoist) is seriously presented tot hat end´.

The Nepali Congress has been waging struggle for the rights of Dalit since 2007, he claimed, admitting that the party has not been working as anticipated in this connection.

He stressed the party would not leave any stone unturned to enshrine Dalit rights in the new constitution.

On the occassion, CPN-UML Chairperson Jhalanath Khanal said the party is effortful to empower Dalits.

The constitution-writing task has not seen any progress due to stalled peace process, he said, stressing the need to go for referendum if dispute persisted on federalism.

Underlining the urgency to explore Nepalese context-friendly federalism, Khanal claimed the provinces, if carved out without considering identify and power, would not be sustainable.

At the programme, various party leaders including CPN-ML General Secretary CP Mainali, Secretary of CPN (Integrated) Sitaram Tamang pledged to work for the guarantee of Dalit rights.
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PM BHATTARAI FIRM ON COMPLETING CAPITAL ROAD
IMPROVEMENT DRIVE DESPITE FEEBLE OPPOSITION
Kathmandu, 21 March: Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has directed to expedite the expansion and reconstruction of roads in Kathmandu, RSS reports.
Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai directed this after holding discussions with officials of the concerned bodies on the road expansion and reconstruction.
On the occasion, Dr. Bhattarai acquired information on the progress made on expansions so far from the concerned bodies and on the alternates as there were obstructions in places like Lajimpat, and of the delays.
Dr. Bhattarai also drew the attention of concerned bodies to immediately remove the debris in the roadside and to remove the telephone and electricity poles in various places where there was road expansion.
The PM asked them why the pulling down was swift but the reconstruction so delayed and the officials of the Departments of Physical Planning and Roads said tenders were called, budget was being collected and the works will begin in mid April after preparing the designs.
The Department of Roads said structures were brought down in 25 roads in the valley and so far 20 kms has been expanded and 450 million rupees of budget was demanded in the current FY.
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