Culture of vanity mars bid to preserve culture

18-month-old body formed to protect cultural heritage of the country goes defunct

BISHNU PRASAD ARYAL

KATHMANDU: An 18-month-old body formed with a view to working to preserve intangible cultural heritage has gone defunct, without delivering on its pledge, in what could reflect the culture of non-performance that has seeped into majority of government organisations.

“The body is defunct, and its targeted objectives are in a state of limbo,” said officials at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the line ministry that is responsible for preserving country’s cultural heritage. According to officials, the body failed to perform after it ran into controversy over vaguely defined roles. “The body was formed illegally — by then culture minister, not by the Cabinet — clearly against the rules that are enshrined in the policy,” said the officials.

Intangible Heritage Cultural Council in line with the

UNESCO Convention in a bid to preserve and promote the cultures and cultural heritage of Nepal.

“However, no significant activity has been carried out so far,” said Bharat Mani Subedi, Joint Secretary, MoCTCA. “We are formulating a new regulation — or a guideline — to set up an ‘eligible’ cultural body. We hope to complete it by the end of current fiscal year. It will then be sent to the Cabinet for approval and accordingly a new council will be formed.”

The government is yet to do any tangible work to safeguard intangible cultural heritage of the country, even though Nepal, which boasts diverse culture and heritage, is a signatory to the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage. There are about 90 ethnic communities with about 120 languages and different living traditions.

The government in 2010 ratified the UN Convention designed to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, such as folklore, oral traditions, social rituals and performing arts, according to MoCTCA. The nine-member IHCC is chaired by the culture minister.

The committee was given authority to carry out different activities on folklore, festivals, fairs, customs, traditional crafts, performing arts and cultural practices.

The committee had plans to prepare inventory of intangible cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley by the end of the last fiscal year and was to work in districts in the following fiscal years. But nothing significant has been achieved so far. The officials admitted that the past commitments were not translated into action by exploiting culture, the skeleton of booming tourism industry of the country.

By ratifying the UN Convention, Nepal committed itself at the international level to safeguarding the rich and diverse living heritage of the country. Nepal is the 125th State Party to the UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003).

The main purposes of the convention, which was adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2003, are to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, to ensure respect for it, to raise awareness on its importance and of mutual appreciation, and to provide international cooperation and assistance in those fields. Ratifying governments recognise that cultural heritage is not limited to material manifestations, such as monuments and objects, but must be extended to the traditions and living expressions inherited from ancestors.

Signing the convention binds the member states to acknowledge their roles in

international cooperation

and responsibilities towards implementing the provisions of the convention through adoption of necessary legislative, regulatory and other appropriate measures, according to MoCTCA.

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PADT clearing Christian graves from Hindu shrine

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, December 29

The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has decided to remove the remains and concrete structures of more than 200 Christian burial sites inside Pashupatinath Temple premises on religious and environmental grounds.

"Hundreds of bodies have been buried in the Shleshmantak forest area, and the concrete structures are causing deforestation in the area. Also, dead bodies of non-Hindus are not allowed to have their rest in the holy site," said Sushil Nahata, member secretary of the PADT.

Non-Hindus started cremating bodies in a large scale after the People's Movement in 2006 became successful and the country was declared secular in 2006.

Non-Hindu groups like Kiratis also claim the area as their heritage, and started burying the dead in the area about a decade ago. The PADT had demolished 67 structures then.

The government in participation of Department of Archeology (DoA) made an agreement with Rai-Kiratis a decade ago. PADT Standards 2050BS restricts non-Hindu activities inside the area.
Only Hindu Sadhus of Giri, Puri and Dashanami societies, children of Hindus can be buried, but without constructing structures, inside the premises.

Dr KB Rokaya, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Nepal, said they were forced to bury the dead in the PADT as the government did not allocate them land for a cemetery.

Said Rokaya, also a member of the National Human Rights Commission: "The government should provide land for the Christian cemetery."

Nahata informed that a three-member committee to look into the issue has been formed at the PADT Council meeting held today at the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture (MoFACAPAC). The committee headed by Nahata includes Chief District Officer of Kathmandu and chief of DoA.

"The Committee will study on the cases and find out the solutions," said Bhola Prasad Sitaula, director at PADT. "This will seek appropriate alternatives and present to the government as soon as possible but time frame has not been fixed for it," said Nahata.

Dr Minendra Rijal, Minister for MoFACAPAC and chairman of PADT said that the procedure would be forwarded as per the gravity of the issue. This concern will be discussed with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Local Development to solve the problem of cemeteries.

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Thousands flock the street against Maoist strike

Thousands of people from all walks of life landed on the streets in the Kathmandu to shun violence and strike called by the UCPN-Maoist, which came into peace process after a decade of armed struggle. About 14,000 people were killed during the Maoist insurgency.

This time, Maoists are on the street calling a general strike demanding resignation from Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and forming a coalition government led by the Maoists, who did not dare to follow the constitutional way by bringing no confidence motion in the parliament and voting for and against the government.

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Peaceful demos Maoist ploy to deceive int'l society

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, May 6

The supporters and cadres of Unified Communist Party of Nepal Maoists have been staging demonstrations peacefully more than it was expected. UCPN-M is still tagged in US terrorist list although Nepal government lifted it after it coordinated with other political parties to abolish monarchy and establish Federal Democratic of Nepal in 2006.

Maoists signed the papers with commitment to follow the democratic path and abandon violence. The ten year armed conflict ended as they came into peace process. However, they are still clinging in their goals to establish totalitarian communism. They are using strategies and tricks to empower them a for the final war. They accumulated force amidst their thin presence before entering into peace process.

They want to hold state power by forcing the other parties. So they are now on the streets for last five days calling the nationwide general strike, demanding the government to step down and form new coalition headed by Maoists.

Their artificial restraint was indicatively disclosed by one educated supporter while the supreme commanders  of the party were openly threatening  to seize power if their demands were not met. They are planning to seize state power within few months. They want first to win the sympathy from international communities by showing artificial restraint in the demonstrations.

"This is a diplomatic strategy to get international support and involve in the government," said demonstrator Hom Nath Nepal, a teacher from Sindhupalchowk district. "As we win the international support and are involved in the government, we will seize state power ousting all and will achieve final goal to set up communism in the country," he added in an media investigation in the Maoist demonstration at New Baneshwor yesterday.

Therefore, Nepalese people may face violence and democracy will be snatched once again if it is not understood in time and not managed to get help from UN and international communities to curb totalitarianism in the Himalayan country.

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Water woes to remain another 15 years!

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, April 5

The people of the Kathmandu valley will have to face scarcity of drinking water at least till 2025. If the government plans are not materialised, the shortage may linger to an uncertain period of time.

“If the government plans are materialised by 2025, the drinking water will be sufficiently supplied to valley denizens,” said Krishna Prasad Acharya, joint-secretary and acting spokesperson at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW). “We are planning to supply 680 million litres of water per day (ML/D) by implementing Melamchi, Yangri and Larke drinking water projects by then,” he said. “The existing supply includes in it,” he added.

The MoPPW has planned to complete Melamchi drinking water project by 2013 and Yangri and Larke by 2025. Each of the three projects will supply 170ML/D.

At a time when the Melamchi drinking water project has faced tardy pace to begin, the government is optimistic to translate the plans into action. “If the socio-political obstruction doesn’t arise, the projects will be completed in time,” said Acharya. However, he was sckeptical about not facing any hurdle.

According to the MoPPW, at least 687 million litres of water needs daily to supply demands of about four million people in the valley by 2025. The Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) claims that it has been supplying about 100 million litre everyday through 167,000 taps. “But no water is supplied in my home,” said Ram Chandra Devkota, member-secretary of the Bagmati Development Committee.

Present demand is 203ML/D while it will reach 332ML/D in 2015, 446ML/D in 2020 and 724ML/D in 2025 along with the increasing ratio of people, says a survey prepared by the ministry.

A bid worth Rs 4 billion on Melamchi project was finalised in February 2009 and given to a Chinese construction company, which targeted to complete it in 54 months. Fourteen months have already passed and the project is yet to begin owing to the local protests.

Melamchi River is located at Helambu VDC in Sindhupalchowk district, about 27km away from Kathmandu. The project was conceived in 1985 and widely discussed since 1988. It has been already 10 years since the government started working on the project.

Acharya, who is also head of the Drinking Water Division at the ministry, said that the tunnel digging using excavator has been just started from Sundarijal in Kathmandu. “The setting up of camps at Sindu, Ambasthan and Gyalthum in Sindhipalchowk to dig has been undergoing. The digging of tunnel will begin soon from both directions of three places,” he said. “There is no doubt the well-equipped and high profile Chinese company will be able to complete the project within 40 months,” he affirmed.

Before then, existing water resources will be managed and services will be updated to minimise the shortage, said Acharya. “A recent ADB report reveals that US$ 300 million is necessary to revamp the present water supplying system and replace the old infrastructure for implementing new projects,” he said.

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Space set for Yoga Camp widened to adjust crowd

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, March 27

Some 5,000 people who thronged the Yog Vigyan Shivir-2010 to learn Yoga practices from Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev were compelled to return home without practices due to the lack of stage set for the camp. The one third of additional space has been widened to adjust the interested people today.

According to the Main Organising Committee, about 40,000 tickets were sold to the people for learning Yoga practices in the camp. The place for 30,000 people was arranged. However, some 35,000 people were adjusted at the arranged stage.

Rajani Sharma from Kupondol in Lalitpur said that she was forced to go back home owing to the narrow space in the camp. “I could not get any space to sit for the camp as it was already occupied. Though I had taken ticket I arrived here a bit delay,” she said.

Prabhari Babita Karki, head of the Central Zone Yoga Committee, said, “Nearly 5,000 people were forced to return this morning because of the high interest of people to take part in the camp and lack of adequate space for all interested,” she said. “Therefore, we have widened the one third of the space today to adjust the comers from tomorrow,” she added.

Karki said that innumerable calls were received different parts of various districts to take part in the camp. “The number of participants will reach more than 40,000 tomorrow,” she said. There are five kinds of visitors—gold paying Rs 500, VIP paying Rs 1,100, VVIP paying Rs 2,100, invitees and free pass.

KATHMANDU: About 3,000 people received treatment and free-check up at the Yoga Science Camp on the first day today. About 5,000 people were queuing up to check up their health as per Ayurved principle. Forty vaidhyas from India were checking up health of people. The health camp will continue from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm everyday during the camp, according to the organiser. A special camp will be held for school children in the afternoon on march 29. -- BPA

Swami Ram Dev, who operates Patanjali Yog Peeth in Haridwar of India, is here to operate the camp from March 27 to April 1 at Tundikhel in Kathmandu. Keeping the overwhelming interest of Nepalese people in Yoga, Swami has pledged to produce 100,000 Yoga teachers in Nepal.

Addressing the Yoga Science Camp that began at 5:00 this morning, Swami Ram Dev said, “There are 25,000 Yoga teachers in Nepal. I am dedicated to produce 100,000 such teachers here to teach the Yoga in order to make people healthy and cultured,” he said. “Yoga makes people healthy and cultured that they would help develop the nation,” he added.

Swami Ram Dev is going to inaugurate three yogpeeths at Mandikhatar in Kathmandu, Dhulikhel of Kavre and Syangja in Nepal this time.  He has also planed to laid foundation of eight yoga practices centres including Mahendranagar, Dhangadhi and Chitwan, said Karki.

Swami Ram Dev and Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna visited Armed Police Force Headquarters at Hallchowk in Kathmandu today to talk about the importance of Yoga practices to the police personnel. Similarly, both of them were present at Pashupatinath Temple to light 21,000 lamps in a function.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the camp and released Bichar-Kranti, a book written in Nepali language about the Yoga and spiritualism. Meanwhile, the political leaders including CPN-UML president Jhala Nath Khanal, UCPN Maoist leaders Amik Sherchan and Janardan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’, industrialist Upendra Mahato Minister for Industry Mahendra Raya Yadav, Minister for Local Development Purna Kumar Sherma Limbu and DIG Upendra Kant Aryal were practising Yoga at the camp this morning.

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Swami Ram Dev Yoga Camp in Kathmandu

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, March 27

Yoga Science Camp is being held from March 27 to April 1 at Tundikhel of Kathmandu in Nepal. Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev and Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna from India are teaching yoga about 40,000 people in the camp, which is operated 5 AM to 8 AM.

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Public hopeless about sustainable peace & new statute

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, March 20

Ordinary people disheartened by the demise of Girija Prasad Koirala, exceptional political hero of the nation, feel that death of democratic icon would cost unbearable loss in bringing the country into a right path. 

Former Premier and Nepali Congress President Koirala (1925-2010), who led the historic movement making the country Democratic Republic, passed away at 12:10 PM today.

In a sobbing voice, Nityananda Niraula, 74, who hails from Salyan-2 in Solukhumbu, said that Koirala is not only the leader of Nepal but also the international democratic hero. “He, who was successful in bringing all the political parties together, contributed a lot for the democracy and the nation,” said Niraula, a farmer, who has come to visit his two sons studying in Kathmandu.

“The writing of new constitution has fallen at stake now. I don’t think other leaders will compensate this loss,” he added. “Mourning will not be enough to remember his contribution.”

Expressing deep condolence over death, Rabina Khadka, eigth grader at Shanti Nikunja Higher Secondary School, Hanumandhoka, believed that nobody was comparable to Koirala in the country. She knew well that GPK, who is brother of BP Koirala, fought for democracy, people and nation since the Rana Regime. “Girija worked to end the 11-year Maoist violence and assure people for sighing peace,” she said. “If the political parties fail to go hand in hand, the country will fall into an abyss,” she worried.

Other people who this scribe met on the streets of told THT their feelings about the unbearable loss in the history of the country.

Kamana Ghimire, health worker at Kathmandu Model Hospital—“He, who was wise and farsighted, died before fulfilling his dream to write new constitution. The future of country is heading towards anarchy. His only weakness was his daughter.”

Taxi driver Molam Singh Yonjan from Hetauda—No leader is more liberal than Koirala. His death has brought uncertainty in the country.

Kapil Khanal, English Teacher at CG Manipal Campaign College— “Koirala is nice, bold and determined leader of the country. Man with more merits and less drawbacks. The problems will be gradually solved.”

Radhika Pradhan, housewife from Putalisadak—I don’t think peace will be sustainable in absence of him.

Sushila Shrestha, a commener—No one will replace his space.

Khim Prasad Adhikari, BA student at RR Campus—True democratic hero of the nation. The pillar of the nation has collapsed. Other selfish leaders will push the country into anarchy again and peace will be disrupted.

Ram Bahadur Shrestha, businessman at Baghbazaar—Man committed for democracy and people. He died two months earlier.

Laxman Shahi, vegetable seller at Tukucha—The country has lost big thing. There is less chance of writing new constitution.

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Not all sages are holy but some more unholy too

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, March 13

Not all sages are holy but some are involved in unholy and criminal activities. Some sages or other persons in guise of sages, who come to shelter in Pashupati vicinity, are reported to be involved in smuggling arms and narcotics.

According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), some sages sheltering illegally in Ram Mandir at Pashupatinath are also reported to be involved in weapons and narcotics smuggling. There are about five dozens of sages and sadhus hailing from Nepal and India often live in Ram Mandir. "We are scrutinising the matter in cooperation with the Department of Crime Investigation that informed us about the arms and drugs smuggling by the sages," said Sushil Nahata, member secretary at the PADT.

Sources at PADT, which is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, informed that it aimed to vacate fake sages from the Ram Mandir area before February 12, citing suspicion of involvement in arms and drugs smuggling. "PADT has warned us to remove from the area by mid-April," said Lal Baba, 83, who has been regularly living at Ram Mandir for last 26 years. "We are troubled due to the suspicious activities in guise of sages," he said. "However, I will not go away."

Lal Baba said that the smuggling of narcotics from the area including Tilganga was rampant. "Even the school and college students come to buy those intoxicating drugs," he said. "The smuggling of weapons also cannot be denied as many people in guise of sages come and go frequently," he said. "Only about a half dozen of sages stay inside the temple premises, rest of them frequently go away."

Baba complained the PADT and other government mechanism were unable to identify who is guilty or not. The criminals can disguise to earn money safely, he revealed.

The new sages should register their names to PADT, however, they all don't abide by the rules, according to PADT. The PADT lacks orderly registration system at Ram Mandir besides its office time. PADT permits them to shelter in the temple upto five days.

"We have recently requested the District Administration Office to remove illegally settling sages and persons from the area," said Bhola Prasad Sitaula, director at PADT. "We are not against the true sages who are not involved in illicit activities. They will be allowed to stay here."

The attempts of authorities to quell illegal and criminal activities in the past could not be successful owing to the lack of effective governance and willpower of political parties.

The crimes in the society are alarmingly increasing making commoners' life vulnerable, said Shiva Sharan Rajbhandari, local and storekeeper at the Pashupatinath temple. "It will be hard to subjugate illegal activities unless the efficiency and performance of the government and police are professionalised," he said.

SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, chief at the Department of Crime Investigation, said that they have assigned a team to watch the activities in the area. "They will face at least 12 years of jail term under the Arms and Ammunition Act and Narcotics and Drugs (Control) Act if they are caught," Chand said, urging all to cooperate with police to punish the criminals.

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Moments at Pashupatinath during Mahashivaratri

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu: Pashupatinath Temple falls under the World Heritage Site enlisted by the UNESCO. There are eight cultural world heritage sites and two natural heritage sites in Nepal.

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Sages smeared in hues throng for Mahahivaratri

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, January 29

They emerge in all hues, appearances and semblance around Pashupatinath. Their rugged appearances, matted hair, and smeared body with ash resemble the perfect disciple of Lord Shiva. There will be droves of them at Pashupati during Mahashivaratri, the night of Lord Shiva on February 12, exhibiting strange and bizarre conduct and behaviour.

These people have renounced all the worldly pleasures and comforts and want to find solace by praying Lord Shiva and experience sartori in hemp and marijuana, and making wild merriment replicating the Dynossiac culture of medieval Greece. Drug addicts also throng the shrine to have intoxicated in on the very occasion.

Sushil Nahata, member-secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), said the sages have started arriving, earlier than a week than previous years. “This year will be different from past years in every thing. Mysterious great sadhus like Chandra Swami will also be here”
They are treated as guests and housed and fed for free. Elaborate preparations are being made to cater to thousands of their tribe who will be visiting the Pashupatinath Temple for the festival, making the pilgrims feel homely and facilitate them whatever they need.

“Accommodations for the yogis and the beggars will be separately arranged,” said Bhola Prasad Sitaula, director of PADT.

Sadhus are welcome lots. But there will be beggars as uninvited guests. Hundreds of beggars have already arrived - some of them in unimaginably wretched state. They are found all over the Pashupati area with hopes for generosity from the devotees who come there.

Nahata said that the beggars always outnumber the Sadhus. “Still by treating them as pilgrims we will do whatever we can,” he said.

The sages and the beggars will be settled separately, and that will be managed by the PADT and other organisations from the private sectors. All the necessary security facilities will be provided to the visitors. For that, security posts and camps will be set up mobilising the police and the army to control possible mobs in the adjoining areas of Pashupatinath Temple.

Number of devotees is increasing every year. At least half a million pilgrims and other visitors are expected for Shivaratri this year – 25 per cent more than last year. It is estimated that the number of sages alone will exceed 5,000 this year coinciding with Kumbha Mela in Kavre, Hridwar and Kuruchhetra, said Raj Babu Pandey, chief of the Pashupati Guthi. More than 150 sages and yogis have already arrived from India. The Naga Babas (naked sages), one of the attractions of Shivaratri, will come soon.

The accommodation facilities will be provided free to all the sages and beggars during the celebration. When they leave, they are bid farewell with rudrakshya, clothes, sweet and cash ranging from Rs 350 to Rs. 1,100.

The Sadhus are provided with logs for bonfire during the cold February nights and marijuana as a 'prasad' of Lord Shiva while they remain here. “However, we are facing difficulty in getting logs. While we need some 60,000 logs, we have only 15,000 pieces,” Pandey said.

Twelve different subcommittees have been formed aiming to make the festival successful and different than the previous years.

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Pashupatinath Heritage encroached by street vendors

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, January 8

Despite attempts to remove unauthorised mess of traders, more than 200 sellers and shopkeepers have been illegally setting up huts in the vicinity of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), enlisted in the World Heritage Site. However, the PADT has failed to evict them or make them settle in the area allocated by the PADT.

The shopkeepers were making money for years by trading goods such as belts, clothes and other items even unrelated materials to worshipping rites and rituals in the Pashupatinath Temple.

"We've been selling goods, chains, decorative ornaments and garlands for more than five years," said a local shopkeeper on the temple premises. "We have not taken permission from the PADT to operate shop here," she said, requesting anonymity. "Neither have we paid any charge to any trade committee although a trade committee has been mobilising the shop owners here," she said.

She admitted that she was operating shop illegally at the site. However, she claimed that she was forced to sell goods for their livelihood. "The PADT issued notice calling us to leave the area. But we are not ready until the alternative management is settled for us," she said. She earns upto Rs 2,000 daily.

Ram Bahadur Karki, another shopkeeper among dozens of cloth sellers, admitted that he was running his business without permission from authority. "I am registered with a trade committee here by paying Rs 200 about four years ago. However, I have paid nothing to anybody till now," he said. "I've lived on this profession here," said Karki, who hails from Jhapa District. "I came and built my hut myself," he added.

According to the PADT, 30 stalls were made for the displaced people in course of land management in the area and flower sellers. However, the stalls are yet to be utilized. The PADT had issued notices with a deadline for evacuating the land many times. The last deadline expired two months ago.

"Those places were misused in grips of powerful ones. We are deprived of the rights to use stall though I was selected for the quota," the anonymous lady said. "The authority cheated us and cancelled my name," she added.

It was completely illegal settlement inside the world heritage site, said Sushil Nahata, member-secretary of the PADT. "There are about 300 shopkeepers running their business illegally. We've not allowed any trade committee to run business here," he said, adding that only 30 stalls were made for the genuine displaced ones.

"It's not their property to stick to the illegal business here," said Nahata. "One day they might claim that the Pashupati Temple belongs to them," he said. "If they're not ready to leave the place, we'll be obliged to use legal way," he warned.

"The given time has already passed and we can evict them any time," said Nahata. "When we informed them frequently, they said they would leave the area but still hanging around the restricted zone," said Nahata.

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Did those who killed Jesus realisze their mistake?

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, Nov 29

Why did the contemporary people kill Jesus? It has just simple logic that they could not understand Jesus? It was not His mistake.

Was Jesus wrong? And they killed him brutally by torturing him excessively. His diosciple Judas, who was cunning, enjoyed killing his Guru.

For ordinary people too, this is very contemplative in present time and scenario. The vicious people trouble, torture, harm and destroy the innocent persons for nothing. I have also experienced such moments of destructive persons full of ego and stupidity with vested interests.

If Jesus was killed, what could we do in such sufferings and miseries caused by vicious persons?

Not only, Jesus, but also Krishna was killed with poisoned arrow, Buddha was fed poisonous pork, Socrates was fed poison and more. Just meditate upon the powerful people who killed innocent and genious persons in this world. Powerful people without wisdom and humanity are demons and devils.

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Over 200 groups illegally involved in waste collection

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, November 14

More than 200 private companies, NGOs and individuals involved in waste collection from houses in Kathmandu and Lalitpur municipalities are operating without registration.

“There are uncountable private organisations and even individuals are collecting waste materials and money from people,” said Chitra Sunuwar, an official of the Environment Management Department (EMD) at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). “However, only 19 organisations and individuals are registered to us,” he added.

Sunuwar said that it was difficult to tell the exact number of such groups involved in garbage collection. “Neither, they have registered with us nor have they paid any taxes to the concerned authorities,” he said.

Registered toKMC                                            Registered to SWMRMC

KP Cleaning Service                                  Nepal Pollution Control & Env Mgt Centre

A-Z Sarsafai Kendra                                  A-Z Sarsafai Kendra

Mahila Bataraban Samrakshyan Abhiyan   Mahila Batabaran S Abhiyan

Gaurishankar Sarsafai Abhiyan                 Gaurishankar Sarsafai Abhiyan

Safai Nepal Samuha                                  Safai Nepal Samuha

Paribartan Sewa Pvt Ltd                           Paribartan Sewa Pvt Ltd

KTM Metropolis Solid Waste                  Swargadwari Sanitation Pvt Ltd

Nepal Fulbari Pradushan Niyantran  Gautam Sarsaphai A-Z Home Service

Clean the Nature Pvt Ltd                        Samuhik Shram Batabaran Pvt Ltd

Nepal Batabaran Pvt Ltd                          Facility Int’l Cleaners Pvt Ltd

Batabaran sarankshayan Abhiyan             Bageshwori Sanitation Pvt Ltd

Nepal Samaj Sudhar Kendra                Our Cleaning Campaign & Service

NEPSE Mac                                             Nabajyoti Environment Pvt Ltd

Environment Protection Campaign

Sarsafai Abhiyan Pvt Ltd

Hamro Sarsafai Sewa Pvt Ltd

Sayunkta Sewa Pvt Ltd

Swachha Batabaran Abhiyan

Bauddha Sarsafai Kendra

According to the EMD, Rs 50 to 300 is charged from each. Each firm or individual collects waste from 500 to 15,000 households in their respective areas. A firm earns up to Rs 2 million monthly.

Krishna Prasad Mainali, head of Gaurishankar Sarsafai Abhiyan in Kathmandu said at least 200 organisations and individuals were involved in the garbage collection. “We started working in the field after KMC appealed us. We’ve not paid any special taxes except service charges for the KMC,” he said.

Devendra Pokhrel, officer at the EMD, said they provide tripper, tractor and container to collect the garbage to those parties registered with the KMC. “We charge Rs 20 to 1,500 as service charge from each rickshaw, tractor, tipper and truck for transferring to our Teku station,” said Pokhrel. “Rs 1,500 is charged for a truck of garbage for carrying garbage to Aletar landfill site,” he added.

“Other big companies are earning enough money but we are only serving the society,” Mainali said. “If we will be deprived from collecting garbage after the establishment of plant, we will certainly protest against the government.”

Pokhrel said the unregistered groups used to negligibly throw refuse wherever they liked during the strikes. “On the other hand, they were found using KMC vehicles without paying to us. Our staffs were reported to have money without issuing receipts,” he said. “Now, we have warned the drivers of not doing such illegal activities,” he added.

According to the Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilisation Centre, only 13 such groups and organisations including only one from LalitpurSub-Metropolitan City have submitted their letter of involvement in the waste collection after the government asked their names.

Dr Sumitra Amatya, general manager at the SWMRMC under the Ministry of Local Development, said that those NGOs and private organisation were strongly opposing against the government decision to involve private sector to set up refuse-fuelled plant in the valley. “It is the reason behind their protest against the plant,” she added.

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What I saw on the roadside

I was on the way to Old Baneshwor in Kathmandu mid-day today. As I approached street just by Thames College, I saw a man of about late 20s lying amidst garbage along the road. I neared him. He was not dead but alseep unconsciously. I guessed he was drunk enough and was a layman. But I did not have enough time to find out the truth.

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Famous Queen Lake in kathmandu

Ranipokhari (Queen Lake) made in 17th century and the Gaurishankar Temple at the centre of pond is very famous in the country. The pond was created to console the queen of King Pratap Malla after their young son died untimely.

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Ranipokhari opens twice first time in history

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, October 20

Gaurishankar temple at the centre of the Ranipokhari (a lake), which usually opens one day a year on Bhaitika, remained open two days for the general public this year for the first time. However, both Newars and non-Newars visited the temple today in course of celebrating Tihar.

"This happened because some people of the Newar community celebrated Bhaitika today," said Harsh Narayan Guruji, the priest of the temple. "People who do not have sisters and brothers come to this temple to worship gods and receive Tika and blessing of long-life here," he added.

Majority of the people celebrated Bhaitika yesterday. This time, the five-day Tihar festival had only four days in calendar. Bhaitika falls on the last day of the festival.

The temple opens on the Bhaitika for the general public once a year. Gaurishankar temple, built at the period of King Pratap Malla (1641-1674) in seventeenth century, stands at the centre of the Ranipokhari with the idols of Bal Gopal (child form of Lord Krishna), goddess Mahalaxmi, Shiva Lingum and goddess Parvati.

As per the rule it had already been opened on Monday as other communities celebrated Bhai Tika on Monday. This time a number of the Newars celebrated Tika today and therefore the temple remained open for them today as well.

However, people from all communities visited the temple and received Tika whether they sisters and brothers. It was more interesting when a man who received Tika from his sister yesterday got Tika from a sister (woman) at the temple.

Kiran Rana, hailed from Birgunj, received Tika from Bimala Kapali, 45, who has been offering Tika to those without sisters for 28 years. "I am very happy today as I got an opportunity to visit the temple first time in my life," said Rana, whose grand-grand parent family was forced to leave Kathmandu after the murder of then prime minister Ranodeep Singh (Rana), brother of infamous PM Jung Bahadur Rana about 260 years ago.

Kiran, 51, said that he received Tika from his sisters yesterday in Kathmandu. "I believe there is no boundary to celebrate festival and our culture with great respect," said Rana.

Men who do not have sisters receive Tika from professional sisters sitting around the temple while women without brothers enter the temple and pray Bal Gopal. Another 77 year-old Ram Manandhar from Kalanki also visited the temple and received Tika from professional sister.

"I have not had Tika for about a decade although I have my sisters," said Manandhar, who is grandfather of about two dozens of grandchildren and from Newar family. "This is the first time I came here and received Tika from an unknown sister," he added. "All of my family members put on Tika yeasterday."

Bishnu Adhikari, a staff of Malla Hotel in Kathmandu, said that it was a great oppurtinity to visit the temple. "I had Tika yesterday with my sister and I am here today to pray in the temple and roam around the historical Ranipokhari," he said. "But I am shocked when I saw the dirty and filthy water of the lake."

People were alloed to visit the temple from 5AM to 5PM. Thousands of people visited the temple yesterday while 20 per cent of them came to the Ranipokhari today.

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Aweful anecdotes of goat-sellers in Dashain

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
KATHMANDU: September 24

Like previous years, Khadga Bahadur Shrestha, 38, a resident of Gajuri-1 in Dhading district, is once again here in the capital for about a week along with a pair of goats.

He desperately hopes to get lucky like last year and make a few thousands before heading back to his village to celebrate this Dashain. But as of Thursday, his sacrificial goats remained unsold, dampening his Dashain prospects.

It is not only Shrestha, but many other residents of adjoining districts of the Kathmandu Valley, who had come here to collect some amount to celebrate Dashain, have not been able to sell their castrated goats.

“It’s been a decade I have been selling goats. However, this is the first time I am unable to sell a single goat,” he revealed.

Such is the case of many other street goat sellers who can be spotted in Balkhu, Bhrikuti Mandap, Bagbazaar and New Bus Park areas.

“We’re here for a couple of days waiting for the prospective goat buyers, but to no avail,” said Jeet Bahadur Ghale, another farmer from Nuwakot district, who is seen along with Shrestha at Balkhu.

“It seems I should return empty handed,” he said. According to him, people just come and ask the price and start bargaining with a huge margin.

“We take back our goats to home if they cannot be sold in appropriate rate,” Ghale said. He has brought eight goats - among which four were purchased in the village and four were reared by himself.

“People out here offer just Rs 250 per kg of live goat while per kg of mutton in the market is above Rs 450,” he lamented.

Consumer Nabin Puri, who was searching for a goat for about four hours in the market, said that the rate of the goat was increased this year. “Last year, the goats were being sold at the rate of Rs 190 per kg but Rs 300 has been fixed for the same this year,” said Puri, an office staffer in the capital.

Raj Kumar Lama, 32, a seller stationed at Baghbazaar, said that they were forced to sell the goats at cheaper price than they purchased. Lama and his four friends had brought 37 goats, hoping that they would sell quickly as in previous years. “We’re very disappointed this time. Not a single goat has been sold out yet,” he said. “If

I can’t sell them by Saturday, I’ll take the goats back home.”
Lama said that they pay Rs 5 each goat to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City for keeping in the street. “During night time, we pay Rs 15 per goat to the school for providing room,” he added.

Bhim Bahadur Bhale, 65, from Kampur in Dhading, said that they just sold five of 25 goats they brought in here. “If we’re unable to sell them off now, then we’ll come back here again in Tihar, the second biggest festival of Hindus.”

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Vendors struggle hard to buy joy in Dashain

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, September 18

The street vendors would be relieved from the hassles caused by the city police at least during the Dashain festival for selling goods on the streets. Despite against the traffic rules, it is a consideration for the ordinary people to earn happiness in the greatest festival of the Hindus.

"I have sighed relief at least during the Dashain as we are allowed to sell the goods on the streets for earning something to buy happiness in my family," said Leela Shrestha, 44, from Chainpur VDC-8 in Dhading district. "In other days, we were terribly troubled while selling goods on the streets," Shrestha said.

Shrestha spouse along with two sisters and three daughters have been living in a rented room in Kathmandu for more than a decade. They have maintained their livelihood and mediocre life in the expensive capital city by selling ready-made clothes on streets. They have been able to educate their children in the city from the toiling labours.

Shrestha couple said that the city police used to snatch away their clothes when they used to sell the items on the streets around Sundhara in other days. "We earn some Rs 300-400 each day," they echoed. "The consumers bargain very tightly even though we are selling the items at low price."

Consumer Ramila Devkota, who was shopping for her kids, said that the clothes sold in the streets were definitely cheaper than in the commercial houses. "However, we are accustomed to bargain tightly," she said laughing.

Another vendor Meghnath Siwakoti from Sunkhani VDC in Dolakha district has been continuing this profession for about eight years. "It is hard to celebrate the festival due to the skyrocketing price in the market," he said.

"This time, the sale is very low perhaps because of economic meltdown," said Siwakoti. "In the previous years, we used to make sale of upto Rs 5,000. However, I have hardly earned Rs 500 per day this year," he grieved.

Siwakoti, who is also the member of the Joint Business Association of National Trade, expressed qualm over the people in power doing whatever they like but only ordinary people were forced to abide by the law.

This time, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has allowed the vendors, who number in hundreds of such sellers, to make though little money by bargaining with the tightfisted consumers. The KMC has made a routine from 1pm to 8pm to sell the goods on the streets effective from September 13 to 27. They will be permitted from 11am from September 19, which is the Ghatasthapana (First day of the festival).

"We provided them this special opportunity during the festival after the different organisations belonging to trade and business communities asked us for consideration," said DSP Dhanapati Sapkota, chief of the Implementation Division under the KMC. "We have also specially made arrangement of two places-Baghbazaar and Balkhu for selling goats. However, there is no restriction for other vendors," he added.

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Three teams to study on WFP food rumour

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Lalitpur, September 15

Despite late after more than 320 death tolls from diarrhea in mid-west hilly districts of Nepal in last three months, three study teams of the government are leaving for the diarrhea affected districts tomorrow.

According to the Ministry of Local Development, three different teams are scheduled to visit Surkhet, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Nepalgunj, Salyan and Achham districts. “The teams will study on the causes of diarrhea, used foodstuffs and sources of food programmes people received the foods,” said Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, spokesperson for the MoLD. “The team will complete its study within a week,” he added.

The team led by Dr Mukunda Sharma, joint-secretary of the Ministry of Health will visit Surkhet and Dailekh districts. This team includes under-secretary Kailash Nath Kharel of Ministry of Home Affairs, officer Ishwori Prasad Dhakal of Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and a representative from the World Food Programme.

Another team headed by Thapaliya will visit Jajarkot district. This team comprises of under-secretary Puroshottam Nepal of MoLD, Prem Lal Maharjan of National Consumers’ Forum and a representative of WFP.

The third team headed by under secretary Nirmal Shiwakoti of the Ministry of Finance includes senior food research officer Dr Megh Raj Bhandary of Food Technology and Quality Control and a WFP representative. This team will look into supply of foods from the custom point of Nepalgunj to Sallibazaar of Salyan and Sanphebagar of Achham districts.

Thapaliya said that the teams would meet before Dashain festival after completion of the field visits. “We will submit the study reports within three weeks,” he added. “The objective of the study is to find out the truth on WFP food rumour and forge preventive measures to avert the possible outbreaks in the future.”

The teams were formed as per the decision of the MoF on August 27 to probe into the outbreak of diarrhea and controversy of foodstuffs as the cause of the death tools in the mid-west hilly districts.

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