RENOVATED MONASTERY INAUGURTD BY DR, KARAN SINGH Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: Dr Karan Singh, former minister of India inaugurated the renovated site of Lok Kirti Mahabihar of Lalitpur amidst a programme on Saturday, RSS reports.. The Lok Kirti Mahabihar, believed to be nearly 700 years old, is one of the hundreds of big and small ancient Buddhist monasteries built in the Kathmandu Valley. The renovation of the Mahabihar completed with Indian assistance of Rs. 7.3 million. The project was implemented by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction as part of the construction/ restoration work of nine places of historical and cultural importance in Lalitpur. The project includes the restoration of Napi Chandra Mahabihar, construction and restoration of a crematorium and renovation of Duabhal Gate, among others. These segments of the project are almost compete and are likely to be commissioned early next year. At an initiative of the Society for Lalitpur Development, reconstruction of nine historic heritages inside Lalitpur Sub Metropolis is taking place with a financial assistance of Rs. 32.6 million provided by the government of India. On the occasion, Dr Singh who is also the President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi pledged to continue Indian supports to Nepal in the days ahead and take elaborate measures to strengthen the Nepal-India religious and cultural ties. Speaking at the same programme, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Jayant Prasad, said, "The renovation of historic heritages in Lalitpur district is praiseworthy", and vowed additional assistance for the second-phase renovation. On the occasion, the Society has presented an assistance proposal of Rs. 50 million for the reconstruction of heritages with historic and archeological importance in Lalitpur district before the Indian side. The Society Chairman and former minister Buddhi Raj Bajracharya and Youth Buddhist Mandal Surendra Ratna Shakya stressed that bodies concerned should heed for the conservation of historic heritages in Patan. Nnnn MINISTER TRIPATHI INAUGURATE THGREE BRIDGES IN HOME DISTRICT Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hridayesh Tripathi laid foundation stones for three bridges in Nawalparasi district on Saturday. Bridges will be constructed over Tuthahawa River, Khajura River and Dhanewa River. The bridge to be constructed over the Tuthawa River will link Paklihawa and Guthiprasauni villages. The construction of a 31-meter bridge is estimated to cost Rs. 28.2 million while the construction cost of a 82-meter bridge over the Khajura river is estimated to be Rs 36.28 million. Similarly, Minister Tripathi also placed a foundation stone to a four-room science building of the Tribuuvan Higher Secondary School at Belatari of Pratapur VDC on Saturday. nnnn NEPALI WHO BROKE JAIL IN JHUMKA ARRESTED ACROSS BORDER IN BIHAR Kathmandu, 1 Dec.: Nepali criminal Ramesh Yadav of Narsingh VDC_4 in Sinsari was arrested by Bihar police from Supaul district of Bihar Thursday night after breaking jail at at Jhumka Sunsari 8 November, police said according to published reports. He was serving sentence abduction A Bangladeshi who broke jail with Yadav was arrested in Kolkata. The two are among 12 inmates who broke jail with help of police, according to a Nepali probe. nnnn