DEFECT

FORMER UML LAWMAKER JOINS UCPN MAOIST

Kathmandu, 17 July:  Former lawmaker Tanka Prasad Pokharel joined UCPN (Maoist) party on Wednesday.

UPCN (Maoist) Chairman Prachanda welcomed the former legislator at a programme in Paris Danda.

Nnnn

CHAIRMAN REGMI CALLS FOR POSITIVE ROLE FOR POLLS

KIathmandu, 17 July: Chairman of the Interim Election Council and Chancellor of the Tribhuvan University, Khil Raj Regmi, has urged all to be active for creative participation being positive towards election to the Constituent

Assembly (CA)m RSS reports from Kirtipur..

Addressing the programme organised on the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the Tribhuvan University here Wednesday, Chairman Regmi said that effective role of all including teachers, students and employees as well as associated with education sector was necessary for the success of the CA election as it was indispensable for the political stability of Nepal.

Discussing that expected achievement would only be made from the support of all through collective contribution, he stressed on quality education based on requirements and aimed at social transformation.

On the occasion, Minister for Education and Pro-Chancellor of TU, Madhav Prasad Poudel, stressed that the TU should make amendments and changes on different programmes as per the need of the hour and should bring new employment-oriented, competitive, capable and quality programmes.

Minister Poudel mentioned that including quality education and programmes as per the social aspirations was the main challenge to TU. Similarly, Vice-Chancellor of TU, Prof. Dr. Hira Bahadur Maharjan, said that there are many challenges and possibilities and added that it was the need of the hour to change potentials into reality by facing the challenges.

Likewise, Rector of TU, Prof. Gunanidhi Neupane, said that it was the need of the hour to maintain academic glory by increasing quality of TU education. TU Registrar Prof. Dr. Chandramani Poudel informed that preparations were underway to organise a convocation programme to convoke 54,775 students included in the 51st Grace list of TU by the end of this year.

The University Assembly held today has given permission to allow participation of the students included in the 51st Grace list in the convocation. Saplings were also planted at TU premises today on the occasion of its anniversary.

Nnnn

NC FINALIZES FEDERAL CONCEPT NEARLY EIGHT YEARS AFTER AGREEING TO IT IN NEW DELHI

Kathmandu, 17 July: Nepali Congress (NC) has proposed making its seven-province federal model as the party´s official position on federalism in the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election, Kosh Raj Koirala writes in Republica.. In a political paper finalized by Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel-led committee after incorporating suggestions that came during the party´s Mahasamiti meeting held in Trivenidhaam, Nawalparasi in April, NC has proposed to delineate four federal provinces in the hills and three others in the Tarai. NC has proposed to duly take into account the local demands for a single federal province in Mechi and Koshi zones and another one in Seti and Mahakali zones while also ensuring the rights of the indigenous nationalities in those regions. NC in the political paper that awaits official endorsement by the party´s CWC meeting proposes to root for multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious provinces. The NC´s proposal comes in the wake of some other political parties pitching the idea of single ethnic identity based multiple federal states in the hills and single Madhes autonomous state in the Tarai. Differences over the names and number of federal states in the new constitution was one of the major causes of the failure of the erstwhile CA to promulgate a new statute. While proposing to allow the federal governments to choose the name of the concerned province, the NC has said that special consideration would be given to multi-ethnic identity, administrative and geographical accessibility and viability, history and culture while naming the provinces. Likewise, the territory of existing districts would not be broken while delineating federal state. The NC has identified demarcation of geographical area of each federal state, conflict that may arise due to imbalance in allocation of resources among federal states, and balanced allocation of industrial and farming areas as major challenges for delineating federal states. The party has proposed bringing specific programs to promote the spirit of brotherhood and social harmony. The Mahasamiti meeting that brought NC´s village level leaders from across the country together for discussion on key contentious issues of the new constitution had suggested to the party leadership not to go for more than eight federal states. They had also suggested to the party to stand against single-identity based federal state in view of the reality of mixed Nepali society. Among other things, the NC has maintained that the federal states should be carved in such a way that the identity of the historically marginalized and ethnic, indigenous and minority groups would be manifest and their viability for progress ensured. The party has also proposed creating special cultural zones to ensure promotion of local languages, cultures and other local specialties. Likewise regarding the system of governance -- another contentious issue of the new statute -- the NC´s political paper proposes standing firmly on the parliament-elected ceremonial president and executive prime minister accountable to the parliament. "The system of directly electing executive head does not make the government inclusive," states the paper while arguing that a system that has a provision of directly elected executive head is the most participatory, balanced and inclusive one.

nnnn
CASINOS GET FOUR MONTHS TO IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS

Kathmandu, 17July: After formulating strict measures to regulate the casinos operating in the country, the government has decided to provide four months to the operators fall in line with the new regulations, Kamal Pariyar writes in Republica. .

According to Purna Chandra Bhattarai, joint secretary at Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA), it is mandatory for the casinos to register themselves before starting operation and a delay in registering or renewing the license would result in the cancellation of the license.

Following the suggestions of Ministry of Home and Finance, the Ministry of Tourism had forwarded the draft regulation to the government with an aim to simplifying the licensing process and to regulate the casinos as per the international standard. The cabinet meeting held last Thursday decided to formulate the new regulation to bring the casinos in order.

Joint Secretary Bhattarai said, “Unlike the previous licensing system, the new regulation has classified casinos and mini-casinos and revised the registration and renewal charges.”
Not just the starred hotels but private companies can also get the license for operating casinos, Bhattarai said, adding, but the management must meet the new criteria set as per international standards.

Five star hotels that operate casino will have to pay Rs 40 million and four star hotels Rs 30 million per year to the government as per the new regulation, he said.
Five star hotels have to deposit Rs 250 million as a paid-up capital and four star Rs 150 million to operate the casino business, he added.
The ministry said the new regulation requires Rs 5,00,000 in registration fees and Rs 20 million for receiving the license.
The regulation has also emphasized on the monitoring mechanism of the casino.

“The government authorities will monitor the casinos to prevent entry of Nepali gamblers, conduct regular examination of their machines and classify them according to the quality of their service.”

"Daily record of people entering the casino and pay out records have been made mandatory," said Bhattarai, adding, "The total number of coins, machines and values of the coins also should be transparent, and the casino holders are strictly prohibited to provide loans to the gamblers."
The casino operators will have to invest 2 percent from their profit on social development as part of their corporate social responsibility initiative. From now onward, foreign companies can also invest in casinos in Nepal.

The new regulation will be published soon in Nepal gazette.
“We are prepared to assist the government in implementing the new regulation,” AIG Nawa Raj Dhakal, Police Commissioner of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Office.

nnnn