LANDSLIP BLOCKS HIGHWAY IN DHADING Kathmandu, 22 July: Nobody died or was injured when landslide debris bured aa bus with Indian tourists overnight at Bairani Bazzar in neighbpuringDhading. Hundreds of vehicles on either side of the mudslide on both are stranded. Frantic efforts are underway to open the road later Sunday. nnnn MONSOON DELAYED BUT NORMAL Kathmandu, 22 July: The nation is likely to see ‘normal’ monsoon this year despite a delayed onset followed by sluggish advancement throughout June, say Meteorologists, The Kathmandu Post reports. For the past week, torrential rains have lashed the country and caused flashfloods and landslides in some parts. “Favourable activity of the monsoon trough (the phenomenon responsible for heavy rains in the country) along the foothills of the mountains has caused heavy rainfall across the country,” said Shiva Sharma, senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD). Parts of the central, eastern and western regions—namely Bhairahawa, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Biratnagar—received rainfall well above the average. “The active monsoon phase that we experienced last week has been receding since Friday but will continue for the next couple of days with light rainfall and thundershowers in most places,” Sharma said. According to the MFD, July is the wettest month and most parts of the country have already received 80 to 85 percent of the total average rainfall for the month. Rajendra Shrestha, senior meteorologist with the MFD, said that though June remained almost dry, July is likely to provide enough rainfall for paddy plantation. Monsoon arrival in the east was delayed by a week this year. It took 10-15 days to gain momentum and spread across the country. “The country is likely to see an average monsoon this year,” said Shrestha. Normally the four-month monsoon starts on June 10 and remains active until September 10 in Nepal. Over 80 percent farmers are dependent on rain. The Agriculture Ministry stated on July 14 that overall paddy plantation was 28 percent this year, against 45 percent last year. Nnnn SUBASH NEMWANG TO REPLACE ASHOK RAI IN UML BODY? Kathmandu, 22 July: The CPN-UML is mulling over picking former Speaker and Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Nembang as the party’s Vice-chairman in case disgruntled Janajajti leaders, including Ashok Rai, quit the party over the state restructuring row, Bhadra Sharma writes in The Kathmandu Post. . The party’s latest decision—to strip around a dozen senior Janajati leaders of their responsibilities—has hurt them, leaders say. They have reached a conclusion to form a separate political force for the sake of single identity-based federalism. Party insiders say if that happens, Vice-chairperson Ashok Rai, among others, will be out of the party and the UML will promote Nembang to the vacant post. “Following the Constituent Assembly dissolution, Nembang has become jobless and the party will give him suitable responsibility,” said a UML leader. When asked whether the party was formally proposing him for promotion as vice-chairperson, Nembang did not rule out the possibility but said no formal proposal was floated to him till date. Nembang expressed his optimism that the party would offer him a respectable role upon his return to party activities. “I have not made any special request for the post. The party might have been thinking to offer me a suitable responsibility considering my past position,” said Nembang. In 2008’s Butwal General Convention, the party had asked him to vie for vice chairperson’s post, which he refused, citing his role in the CA. The Janajati leaders are unhappy with the party’s decision. “Their (leadership) sole motive seems to force us out thus they relieved ten leaders without providing chances to clarify things,” says Politburo member Rajendra Shrestha. They however still hold the party posts. Janajati leaders say they are awaiting formal quit-call from the party. Shrestha said they would not submit any clarifications to the party. “Given the situation, the party has only two options, first to call for talks, and the second to expel us from the party. Second option seems weak,” added Shrestha. In that situation, party’s influential leaders Prithvi Subba Gurung, Rajendra Shrestha, Ram Chandra Jha, Bijay Subba, Kiran Gurung and Rakam Chemjong, among others, will not remain in the party. nnnn