NEW FRONT ANNOUNCED Kathmandu, 21 July: A new front of 12 parties, including newly launched CPN Maoist, and ethnic groups was launched Friday in Lalitpur. The group calling themselves a fourth force .vowed to fight government and work for resolution of the present crisis. The front will fight for people’s constitution. nationality, independence and Janajati rights. Acting CPN Maoist Chairman CP Gajurel was present while lunching the front. nnnn MEDIA GOOGLE “The CA got dissolved without completing its task even in four years. It could not deliver the constitution, though it got two extensions.” (Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, The Himalayan Times, 21 July) “Even at the last hour, I urged the leaders to save the parliament, but to no avail.” Nemabang [Speaker] added accusing the leaders of inviting the present crisis by ignoring his advice.” (Report in The Himalayan Times. 21 July) Advocate Hari Krishna Karki said that the leaders are incapable of resolving the crisis. “Neither they listen to the lawyers’ advice nor do they have wisdom to resolve the crisis.” (Advocate Hari Krishna Karki, The Himalayan Times, 21 July) Nnnn FINANCE MINISTRY CLEARS RS. 2.18 BILLION RUPEES DUES Kathmandu, 21 July: The Finance Ministry cleared arrears worth Rs 2.18 billion in the last fiscal year, according to finance secretary Krishna Hari Baskota, The Himalayan Times reports. The ministry had outstanding arrears of Rs 4.23 billion in the last fiscal year, he said, adding that it cleared 51.58 per cent of the arrears. The ministry still has to clear arrears worth Rs 2.05 billion, he further said. “The Finance Ministry witnessed an encouraging sign in clearance of arrears in the last fiscal year.” The ministry cleared 23.81 per cent arrears under privatisation, 52.04 per cent arrears under Office of the Comptroller General, 55.74 per cent arrears under Inland Revenue Department, 45.43 per cent under Department of Customs and 50.37 per cent under Department of Revenue Investigation. Similarly, it cleared 100 per cent arrears owed by Revenue Administration Training Centre. The government has adopted a policy of punishing those agencies that fail to clear at least 30 per cent arrears, according to the Finance Ministry. The policy considers it satisfactory if any government agency clears 30 per cent to 45 per cent arrears and awards those agencies who clear more than 45 per cent arrears. The Arrears Clearance Committee under the then Legislature Parliament had concluded that budget transfer, source transfer and lack of evidence of the frozen amount are major causes for the arrears, the ministry said. Similarly, lack of compliance of legal framework, lack of proper billing system, and delay in clearing loans have also contributed to the outstanding arrears, according to the committee report. Delay in fixing tax and ambiguity in Tax Deduction in Source have also contributed to the rising amount of arrears. Finance secretary Krishna Hari Baskota stressed on the need for civil servants to be serious about ending the problem of arrears. Out of the total arrears worth Rs 14.44 billion as mentioned by then Arrears Clearance Committee under Legislature Parliament, the Ministry of Education cleared Rs 2.95 billion and became the number one arrears clearer, said the Finance Ministry. Similarly, the Ministry of Health cleared Rs 2.12 billion arrears. Transparency and scientific accounting system and compliance of existing legal procedure will help reduce the outstanding arrears, according to the ministry. nnnn