BUDDHA AIR INAUGURATES ITS OWN HANGER AT TIA
Kathmandu, 19 April: A Rs 20 million hanger of Buddha Air, a private carrier, was inaugurated Wednesday at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) by
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Lokendra Bist Magar
The 37,00 square feet hanger can accommodate an Airbus 320 or a
Boeing 737 in the 15,500 square feet of the ground floor.
Buddha Air signed a $8million agreement for the purchase of a 72-seater ATR72 500 on the occasion.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the General Manger of Pratt & Whitney Canada for the maintenance of ATR aircraft.
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MADESHIS, JANAJATIS TP DELIBERATE CONSTITUTION THURSDAY
Kathmandu, 19 April: Madhesi parties and the Janjati caucus are holding separate meetings on Thursday to discuss disputed issues in the constitution, including federalism, Republica reports.
On Wednesday, leaders and lawmakers representing all Madhesi parties formed a committee to draft their common position on all the disputed issues. The committee is presenting its report to a broader meeting of the Madhesi leaders on Thursday afternoon, according to Upendra Yadav, chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, Nepal.
"The meeting will finalize the bottom line of Madhesi parties on the issues relating to the constitution making," said Jitendra Dev.
In the meantime, the Janjati caucus, an alliance of Janjati lawmakers, is also meeting in Nagarkot to discuss their position on federalism, according to lawmaker IP Gurung, a member of the caucus.
The Janjatis have been demanding that 14-province federal model based on identity in the new constitution. The model was approved by majority members of the State Restructuring Committee of the Constituent Assembly. The meeting comes amid news report that parties have reached to an understanding on seven or eight federal states.
Coincidently, both Madheis parties´ and Janjati caucus´ meetings coincide with a meeting of the top leaders of the major political parties to discuss disputed issues. The meeting is likely to resolve the contentious issues, according to leaders.
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FORMER PLA FIGHTERS CRY FOUL OVER RECOMMENDATIONS
Kathmandu, 19 , April : The Maoist ex-combatants qualified for officer-level positions in the Nepal Army (NA) hierarchy have threatened to opt for voluntary retirement if they are awarded positions in the NA directorate as per the recommendations of the PLA leadership, Kiran Pun writes in Republica..
“We no longer have any revolutionary ideals. We are joining the army for jobs. So why should we be deprived of senior positions? Is it not injustice?" said a junior commander from the fifth division.
As per the tacit understanding between the parties, the PLA leadership will recommend positions for the ex-combatants in the NA directorate.
The combatants told Republica that they would return home with their voluntary retirement paychecks if the provision of making recommendations is not scrapped.
This will be yet another blow to the Maoist party that has been witnessing an ever-decreasing number of combatants opting to join NA.
As of Wednesday, of the 9705 combatants, 6413 have opted for voluntary retirement dashing the hope of the party that after hard-bargaining had made other parties agree to integrate up to 6,500 combatants.
There are many combatants who have passed grade 12 in the last few years and are physically fit. They have lately been more assertive that the NA should take into account individual qualifications and not violate the spirit of free competitions while determining their ranks.
Battalion commander Debu Budha Magar from Hattikhor said there must be competitions at least among those who are in the same ranks in PLA.
"We have demanded that the commanders not make recommendations. No one will be hurt if the combatants are awarded positions on the basis of competition," he said, adding that he would opt for voluntary retirement if there is no merit-based selection.
But senior commanders argued that they have made recommendations based on prior work experiences of the PLA personnel. "Those who worked as administrative personnel have been recommended for junior positions and those in the infantry for senior positions," said a senior commander requesting anonymity.
But Buda Magar dismisses such an argument.
"It is not our fault. We worked where our seniors deputed us," he said, adding that he is ready to compete with anyone.
But second division commander Suk Bahadur Roka Magar said the PLA leadership is making recommendations based on the criteria set by the last general staff meeting.
"Everybody can fight for senior positions after the bridge course is over," he said.
But the combatants are not convinced as there will be separate bridge courses for cadet and non-cadet positions. “Once we are part of NA, we will naturally qualify for senior positions. We should be given a chance to fight for the position of second lieutenant," said a combatant from the fifth division who is currently an undergraduate student in Dang.
Many combatants and junior commanders feel nepotism and favoritism ruled while the commanders prepared the list for senior positions in NA. If the juniors who possess qualifications for the senior positions opt for voluntary retirement, the integration number will decline further.
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Rs 429 B BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR
Kathmandu, 19 AprIl:
The government has been preparing for unveiling Rs. 429 billion budget for the next fiscal year 2012/13.
According to sources, the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission (NPC) have fixed the upper ceiling of the next budget to Rs. 429 billion.
State Minister for Finance Hari Raj Khewa Limbu said that the discussions were underway to bring in socialism-oriented and pro-people budget for the next fiscal year.
"We are holding talks to introduce a special pro-people budget that will help propel the economic standards of people at large," State Minister Khewa told The Rising Nepal.
He, however, said that they have yet to finalise the exact model of the next budget.
"We have begun deliberations on the model of the next budget. However, we have not reached any concrete shape of the budget," he said.
He informed that the next budget would focus on national pride projects, agriculture hydropower, and infrastructure development, among others.
"Building a self-reliant, progressive, just and peaceful new Nepal through elimination of feudalism, and exploitation by adopting socialism-oriented, people-centered and public welfare-inclined economy will be the main focus of the next budget," he said.
For this, three-pronged economic policy as embraced by the Interim Constitution with the participation of public, private and cooperative sectors will materialise, he added.
Besides, the budget would focus on enhancing ownership and access of the poor to the sources and means of production.
Krishna Hari Baskota, Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, said that preparations for the next budget have started after setting ceiling for the different ministries with the NCP.
The budget will be allocated as per the priorities of the projects, he said.
The government had presented the budget of Rs. 384.90 billion for the current fiscal year 2011/12.
Of the total appropriations, Rs. 266.61 billion has been allocated for the recurrent expenditures, Rs. 72.61 billion for the capital expenditure.
The share of the recurrent expenditures and capital expenditures was 69.27 per cent and 18.86 per cent, respectively.
With the completion of the peace and constitution drafting processes, the government has declared to start economic development with the cooperation of the public, cooperative and private sectors.
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VULTURE RESTAURANTS REPORT DECLINE IN VISITORS
Kathmandu, 19 April Vulture restaurants in Nawalparasi district are witnessing few winged visitors as there is the shortage of cattle carcasses. More young cattle are coming to the restaurants instead of the sick and old ones that die early, Bhuwan Karki writes in The Rising Nepal from Rupandehi..
The restaurants were established four years ago, to supply clean food to endangered vultures by collecting old and dying cattle, specially cows and oxen.
The vulture restaurants being operated at Bishnupura and Gaidatal of this district have become ineffective because the large birds cannot find carcasses for a long time.
Arrival of vultures in these restaurants has sharply declined in recent times.
Vulture restaurants constructed within Gaidatal Community Forest have become almost deserted as there are no carcasses to feed on. Financial constraints are said to be affecting the management of the vulture feeding centres.
Conservation stakeholders are of opinion that these restaurants funded by various international non-governmental organizations are inn need of better management. Under the coordination of Birds Conservation Organization Nepal non-governmental organizations like WWF, RSPB, UNDP and GEF has been supporting the operation of these feeding centres.
Coordinator of Gaidatal Vulture Restaurant Operating Committee Baburam Malla said that the restaurants were unable to meet their goals owing to lack of sufficient budget. He, however, added, "We are making our best efforts to better manage the vulture restaurants."
Currently, total of 25 cows and oxen are given care inside the vulture feeding centre. Young calves are coming to the centre instead of old and sick ones. The purpose is to give care to old cattle before they die and feed the birds when they die.
When asked about it, Malla said, "There are young animals than the old ones because people come and donate them voluntarily." He added that some of the farmers leave
even newly born calves inside the center for care.
Farmers admit that they leave male calves born from hybrid cows at the center as they are useless for other purposes.
"Vultures are seen no more these days. It may be because there are no dead cattle to feed on ," said Lal Bahadur BK, a local man.
Lal Bahadur Kuwar, another local man, said that vultures frequent the feeding centres only when a cattle dies which is happening frequently.
"Carcasses with flesh are rarely visible in these centers these days. All we see is heaps of bones," Kuwar added.
Dead cattle are flayed before the carcass is fed to the vultures. The cattle hides are sold for Rs 400 per piece while their bones fetch Rs 5 per kg.
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