THREE PARTY MEET LATER SUNDAY 'CABINET MEET UNDERWAY TO ENDORSE 7-POINT AGREEMENT

THREE PARTY SUMMIT

Kathmandu, 15 April: A summit of the Big Three is also being held Sunday at Hattiban.
The meeting comes after another breakthrough agreement on integration of former Maoist fighters in Nepal Army (NA) Saturday night.
The agreement paves the way for formation of a national agreement and constitution drafting.
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CABINET MEET
Kathmandu, 15 April: A cabinet meet is underway.
A top agenda of meeting is endorsement of a seven-point agreement on integration of former fighters.
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SECRETARY UNDER SCANNER
Kathmandu, 15 April: The National Vigilance Centre (NVC) is investigating an alleged involvement of Nathu Prasad Chaudhary, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) in irregularities and his move to go on foreign trips without prior approval from the Prime Minister’s Office, The Kathmandu Post reports.
Secretary Choudhary has been accused of promoting irregularities in supplying chemical fertilisers, distributing seeds and appointing chief of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board. NVC sources said the complaint lodged at the PMO mentions that the ministry distributed underweight chemical fertilisers to farmers.
Similarly, seeds of various crops were not distributed on time and Choudhary has been accused of being involved in such malpractices.
A separate complaint lodged at the NVC and PMO mentioned that Secretary Choudhary had frequently gone on foreign visits without approval and could not bar his juniors from violating government rule.
Secretary Choudhary had left for Australia to attend a workshop on Bird flue as the leader of the ministry team.
“We are investigating into all the allegations lodged against him and will come up with a report within a couple of days,” NVC Spokesman Arjun Khanal said. The NVC has formed a three-member probe team led by Joint Secretary Shyam Raj Khanal to deal with the allegations against Choudhary. The panel includes Under secretaries Minraj Gyawali and Arjun Khanal.
Meanwhile, a corruption complaint has also been filed against Choudhary at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority citing that he amassed properties disproportionate to his legal source of income while assuming public posts. The anti-graft body has collected the details of his personal properties by issuing 13-page questionaire.
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POLICE DELIGHTED WITH NEW ESCORT ARRANGEMENT FOR VIPs
Kathmandu, 15 April: Security officials, who were having a tough time due to lack of clear policy on providing security to VIPs visiting the district, have taken a sigh of relief after the Police Headquarters issued a new directive about the issue. Shiba Puri reports from Rautahat.
A highly-placed police source told the Post that the Police Headquarters in the recent directive has asked its sub-ordinate units to provide escorting only to the President, Vice-president, prime minister, chief justice, home minister and the ones who have threats from any criminal outfit.
There were serious complaints inside the police unit and widespread criticism in the general public as he police personnel had to be mobilised most of their time in escorting the VIPs, ministers, lawmakers and party leaders.
Besides this, the police offices also faced serious problems in managing fuel required for such escorting.
Superintendent of Police Thule Rai said the subordinate police offices in the district have been informed regarding the new directives.
According to security officials, the police offices at Chandranigahapur in Rautahat, Simara and Nijgadh in Bara and Kamaiya, Hariaun and Bayalbas in Sarlahi were having a hard time due to their excessive duty of security escorting.
Police Inspector Sekh Adalat at Area Police Office, Chandranigahapur, said they had to go for the escorting for about half-a-dozen times a day on an average in the past.
“The security personnel used to spend most of their time in providing security escorting to various VIPs and leaders. Now we can utilise the very time on patrolling in the villages,” he added.
The government has been providing a budget of Rs 180,000 annually for each police post for fuel.
But the police officers claimed the amount covered only of half of the total fuel expenses owing to the large number of escorting arrangements.
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RS.1.3 MILLION COLLECTED IN ONE WEEK AT PASHUPATINATH
TEMPLE
Kathmandu, 15 April: More than Rs.1.3 million has been collected in offerings in
seven days only at Bashuki temple under a new arrangement for offerings, Dipendra Bista reports in Kantipur.
Nearly Rs.70 million will be collected in one year under an estimate.
(Note: But there’s an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the new arrangement although no oen protests have surfaced, according to information gathered after talking with devotees who have visited the temple. Devotees still want to throw offerings onside the temple doors and there’s no record of special prayers.)
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