NOC INCREASING ITS PAID-UP CAPITAL Kathmandu, 23 Aug.: A board meeting of state oil monopoly Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) for import and distribution decided this week to raise its paid-up capital Rs 19 billion from Rs 500 million. The board said capital base was too low. A proposal for recapitalization is being presented at a general meeting. Nnnn MIBISTER TRIPATHI LEAVES FOR SOUTH KOREA Kathmandu, 23 Aug.: Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has assigned the additional portfolio of Ministry of Physical Planning, Transport Management and Works, to Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha on Wednesday in absence of Minister Hridayesh Tripathi, who is on a visit to Republic of Korea, RSS reports. Minister Tripathi had left on Monday for Republic of Korea on an observation tour of railway construction and operation site and on rolling stock manufacture in Korea. nnnn ARJUN NARSINGH KC OPPOSES DEUBA CALL FOR ASSEMBLY REINSTATEMENT Kathmandu, 23 Aug.: Central member of the Nepali Congress, Arjun Narsingh KC, has said that the dispute over federalism on the basis of identity should be finalised through referendum, RSS reports from Nuwakot. At a news conference organized by the Nuwakot chapter of the Nepal Press Union in Bidur today [Thursday], KC said that the result of people's opinion on 'single ethnic identity or multi identity' would give a positive outlet to the country. He said it would be better to go for referendum as attempts were made for momentary benefit by showing the seeds of division in the name of ethnic identity. The decision made in referendum by the people would be acceptable and it would help end ethnic division and ethnic conflict, KC said. The NC central member said that we should go for fresh mandate as reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly (CA) was irrelevant. He further said that it was better not to reinstate the CA again as it could not do any work in the four year- period. KC said "Reinstatement of the CA is against people's aspirations, party stance and judicial decision'. Constitution would not be written again by holding elections of the CA and parliament without finalizing the issue of state restructuring, he said. KC also stressed on the need of exit of the government and formation of a national consensus government. nnnn