Vehicle-free Thamel a big respite for tourists

Oct 26, 2017-A vehicle-free Thamel has given the much-needed respite to tourists and locals--businessmen and residents-alike.

The Ward 26 office of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s (KMC), the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) and tourism entrepreneurs jointly implemented a vehicle-free plan in the Capitals’ major tourist destination since Sunday.

“It feels  good to walk here in the evenings,” said Andy Gudo, 47, from South Wales, who was walking through Nursing Chowk on Tuesday. “Walking through Thamel was very unsafe and noisy earlier when vehicles used to zoom past the narrow roads. Now, Thamel looks like a tourist area, where you don’t have to worry about being hit by vehicles,” added Gudo who was walking with his three-year-old daughter. 

Ramsaran Thapaliya, the former president of the Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC), said it making the area walk-only zone is indeed a welcome move.

“It is like… my dream has finally come true. I could not enforce this plan during my tenure [as the president of the TTDC], but this plan of making Thamel vehicle-free has finally materialised and I am glad,,” said Thapaliya.

The authorities, however, have decided to allow vehicles carrying essential items to ply through Thamel. Ambulances, water tankers and tourist buses among others can enter the area.

Those Thamel residents who own vehicles have been provided with passes to for their convenience, said Khyam Raj Tiwari, chairperson of KMC Ward 26.

Businesspersons and hotel owners have to get their supplies by vehicles during the night--between 10pm and 7:30am.

Sandip Adhikari, who owns a pub in Thamel, said the move of making Thamel walk-only zone will encourage more tourists-both domestic and international--to visit the area. He, however, said the authorities must arrange parking lots for those who have to leave their vehicles outside Thamel.

 “The narrow alleys of Thamel are suitable for walking, not for driving,” said Adhikari, adding that the tourist area should have been walk-only zone a decade ago.

Over 4,000 vehicles used to pass through Thamel before the ban, according to the MTPD.

The MTPD has declared exit ways from Thamel through Saat Ghumti Chowk, Sorhakhutte, Chhhetrapati, Bhagwai Bahal, Amrit Marga and Thahity. Vehicles can move towards Thamel only via Tridevi Marga.

Inspired by this move, the MTPD is getting requests from representatives from other areas like Ason, Indra Chowk and Basantapur to declare them vehicle-free zones, said Sarbendra Khanal, chief of the MTPD.

Nepal to sign air service pacts with Turkey, UAE http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-10-25/nepal-to-sign-air-service-pacts-with-turkey-uae

Oct 25, 2017-The Civil Aviation Ministry is ready to sign bilateral air service agreements (ASAs) with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as soon as the Cabinet gives the go-ahead.

The ministry submitted a proposal to seal the deal to the Cabinet on Tuesday. It is preparing to submit another proposal to sign an ASA with Australia.

“These three air agreements are expected to be signed after the second phase of provincial and federal elections slated to be held on December 7,” said Pramod Nepal, under-secretary at the ministry.

Nepal and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on air service in September 2010. Services are already being operated as per the pact which allows the two countries to operate 14 weekly flights between Kathmandu and Istanbul. “The final signature will confirm the agreement,” he said.

Likewise, Nepal and the UAE signed an MoU in December 2007 which allows the designated carriers of the two countries to operate 28 weekly flights.

The MoU was revised on April 16, 2013 permitting 70 flights per week with any type of aircraft on a reciprocal basis. Moreover, the revised pact has given unlimited traffic rights to operate cargo-only flights with any type of aircraft.

“We had planned to complete all these agreements at the 10th International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2017) slated to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from December 4, but we had to drop the plan due to the elections in Nepal,” Nepal said, adding that the venue and date for signing them were yet to be finalized.

As far as the ASA with Australia is concerned, both parties have agreed to allow seven weekly flights with any type of aircraft, he said. The Australian government has expressed willingness to permit seven weekly flights to key cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

It has also proposed providing unlimited flights to other destinations. Third country code-share agreement, fifth freedom traffic rights, multiple designations, free pricing and unrestricted cargo are other items proposed by Nepal in the air accord.

The government had made a request to the Australian government to sign an air service pact as Nepal Airlines wished to link Australia after acquiring two long-range Airbus A330-200s which are expected to be delivered by the first quarter of 2018.

According to a Nepal Air Traffic Analysis report prepared by Airbus in 2015, Australia is an emerging market. There were 41,000 one-way travellers between Australia and Nepal in 2014. The preferred route between Nepal and Australia is through Malaysia.

Since 1963, Nepal has signed bilateral ASAs with 38 countries, New Zealand and Vietnam being the latest countries. This provides 6 million seats per annum to and from Nepal. However, less than 40 percent of this capacity is being utilized. Currently, 28 international airlines are operating flights from Kathmandu to 22 cities in Asia and Europe.

Local level elections: Recruitment begins for temporary police in Lamjung

Mar 26, 2017-With the local level election on the offing, recruitment process to hire Myadi (temporary) police personnel has begun in the district from Sunday.

People, mostly youths, thronged at District Police Office in Besisahar to submit their applications.  According to Home Ministry’s threat analysis, 70, 000 temporary police personnel are required for the election.

District Police Office Inspector Gaurav Mahat said aspiring candidates between ages 18-54 are required to submit a form attesting a 10 rupees ticket along with a copy of their citizenship card. The recruitment time is on from 10am-5pm every day, he said.

It is learnt that the recruitment process will end on March 30 and selection will take place from April 1-3. The final results will be announced on April 4.

People who have experience of working in earlier elections, former Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal Army personnel will be prioritised in the recruitment, said Inspector Mahat.

The Myadi police will serve for 55 days, according to police. Their remuneration, allowance and facilities will be in par with Nepal Police constable.

In the second Constituent Assembly elections in 2013, the government had deployed around 45,000 temporary police. The government has said it will deploy more than 150,000 security personnel in total.

Driver killed as tractor turns turtle in Nawalparasi

Oct 30, 2017-A man died in a tractor accident at Pipraiya in Ramgram-17 of Nawalparasi on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Mohan Chaudhary, 40, of Pipraiya, Ramgram-17.

The incident occurred after Chaudhary lost control of the vehicle and turned turtle yesterday evening.

The body has been brought to Parasi for postmortem. 

88 kg gold smuggling in cahoots with APF personnel

Oct 30, 2017-The Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) of Nepal Police has said that the Armed Police Force (APF) personnel deployed at the Rasuwa-Kerung border, the only trade route currently in operation between Nepal and China, had assisted in smuggling 88 kg gold to Kathmandu.

According to a high-level source, Bishnu Pandit, APF constable, deployed at the Kerung border had helped smugglers find a driver for a Tata Storme jeep which was used to smuggle the precious yellow metal to the Capital.

Soon after the confiscation of the gold, police arrested jeep driver Manoj Adhikari of Makawanpur the same day.

Based on the information provided by Adhikari, police had started investigation over the suspicious role of APF personnel.

Police said that the jeep had entered China via Rasuwa-Kerung border on August 31 to transport the gold.

Hence, the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, as part of investigation had sent a letter seeking name list of the APF personnel who were on the duty on that day.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, sent another letter after it did not get reply of its first letter for a long time.

The investigating team finally got the name list of the APF personnel who were on the duty at the border on that day after a long struggle, according to a police source.

After the investigating team got the name list, the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu called an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and four constables for interrogation.

APF DSP Prakash Wagle, who was handling the team at the border, said that he sent the name list of the police personnel after Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, sent the letter the office.

Wagle said, “We sent the name list after the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, request us for the same for investigation.” He, however, did not respond to queries regarding the involvement of APF personnel in the gold smuggling.

Pan Wei Ming, a Chinese man, who had reached Kerung from Kathmandu to transport the gold from China had requested APF to help him find a vehicle.

The police source said that Pandit had helped Pan to find the vehicle.

Pan is a common face for many at the Rasuwa-Kerung border as he used to go China from Nepal frequently in the past. Taking advantage of the same thing, Pan had asked AFP personnel for the help.

Pandit had asked Sandu Tamang of Rasuwa to drive the vehicle (Ba 17 Cha 6427) for Pan. Pan left the Kerung border with the vehicle at around 2:30 pm the same day.

According to the source, Pan, who operates Kathmandu One Hotel at Thamel, had a good relationship with APF personnel and that made it easy for him to illegally import gold to Nepal.

A police team deputed from the MPCD on September 4 had confiscated 88kg gold—the biggest haul of the precious yellow metal ever confiscated in Nepal—worth over Rs 340 million from Chhetrapati in the Capital.

Driver Adhikari was arrested immediately after police seized the precious yellow metal on September 4.

 Police on October 16 had also arrested Nepali Congress (NC) leader in connection with the 88kg gold smuggling case.

Man Bahadur Tamang of Rasuwa, who has been recommended by the ruling NC as its candidate under the proportional representation category, was arrested from Swoyambhu in the Capital by a team of security personnel deployed by the MPCD. 

According to police, Tamang, also the chairman of Nepal-Kerung Business Association, was the first point of contact of the Chinese gold smugglers.

Police so far have arrested nine persons, including Tamang, in connection with the gold smuggling case.

Police said that they arrested Tamang based on phone conversation he held with Pan.  The police team found conversation log in Pan’s phone, however, they have not been able to unlock Tamang’s iphone.

As a result, police are yet to collect further evidence on the case as Tamang is unwilling to cooperate with the police to unlock the iphone.

Tamang, during the investigation had said that he does not know the passcode to his iphone saying that he randomly pressed the phone’s keys, which are reportedly in Chinese, causing it to lock.

Meanwhile, the police have sent the locked iPhone to MPCD digital team.

Earlier on August 31, a police team deployed from Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police had seized 15 kg gold out of 22 kg that was smuggled from China and arrested seven persons in connection with the smuggling.

Similarly, on January 5, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police had seized 33 kg gold from the Tribhuvan International Airport that had passed undetected through the customs.

Consumer prices rise by 3.4 percent

Oct 30, 2017-Consumer prices rose by an average of 3.4 percent in September, as vegetables became expensive after floods hit the country’s southern belt in mid-August. The price hike seen in the month was higher than 2.3 percent in August.

The pace at which consumer prices rose in September, however, was much slower than in the same month a year ago when inflation stood at 7.9 percent, shows the latest Macroeconomic Report of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank.

Overall prices went up in September after vegetables became expensive by 8.9 percent following floods and inundation of Tarai lands in mid-August. Vegetables make a contribution of 5.5 percent to the consumer basket.

Despite a hike in prices of green produce, food prices went up by a moderate 1.8 percent in September, as prices of pulses and legumes plunged by 23.7 percent and spices became cheaper by 4.2 percent.

Among other food products, prices of cereal grains and their products went up by 0.2 percent, meat and fish rose by 3.3 percent, and milk products and eggs increased by 4.5 percent, shows the NRB report.

Also, prices of non-food items jumped by 4.7 percent in September, as prices of clothes and footwear went up by 5.6 percent and housing and utilities bills soared by 5.9 percent.

Inflation has been moderating in Nepal since November 2016 and has stood at less than 5 percent, providing big relief to consumers who were used to seeing double-digit consumer price hike.

One of the reasons for this is India’s decision to fix inflation target of 4 percent with upper tolerance level of 6 percent and lower limit of 2 percent. This means India will not allow inflation to exceed 6 percent or drop below 2 percent.

This Indian central bank policy is expected to help Nepal because one of the factors that drives up consumer prices here is price hike in India, as the country imports almost 65 percent of goods from the southern neighbour.

Inflation stood at 3.3 percent in India in September.

However, Nepal does not always enjoy the benefits of lower price in India. In January 2016, for instance, inflation stood at 5.7 percent in India, while prices had gone up by an average of 12.1 percent in Nepal.

The inflation wedge between Nepal and India, according to the NRB, had widened at that time due to supply-side constraints, such as lingering impact of earthquakes of April and May, 2015, unrest in southern plains and disturbances on trade routes in southern parts of the country.

At that time, protests in the Tarai and blockade had affected movement of cargo vehicles and completely halted imports of goods, crippling the country’s supply system.

Also, black marketing thrived at that time, which jacked up prices of most of the essentials, building inflationary pressure.

Former Ncell CEO could face prosecution Capital gains tax

Apr 25, 2016-Former Ncell CEO Erim Taylanlar could face prosecution after he failed to respond to a letter from the Large Taxpayer’s Office to present himself before the LTO.

The wing under the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) had issued a letter to the then chief executive officer of the telecom service provider on April 20, asking him to present the details of the recently concluded Ncell deal.

The office had cited Section 135 of the Income Tax Act-2002 that says the IRD may avail of powers with respect to issuing summons, recording statements, examining evidences and seeking documents from the officials concerned. Tax officials initiated the move after Ncell, recently acquired by Axiata—a Malaysian telecommunication giant, said that it was unaware of the transfer of its 80 percent stake.

The mobile operator on the same date had written to the LTO, as enquired by the office, to express its “lack of knowledge” about its share transfer to the Malaysian company, claiming that the deal was not applicable to capital gain tax.

Since Taylanlar has not cooperated in the probe and presented himself to the LTO within the stipulated time, according to lawyers, it is considered as an offence.

“Therefore, the LTO can appoint an investigating officer and prosecute the person before the concerned district court,” said a corporate lawyer seeking anonymity. “LTO can even seek Nepal Police’s help to arrest Taylanlar.”  LTO Chief Shova Kanta Poudel said that his office’s next move would be “as per the law”.

The capital gains tax fiasco of the Ncell deal reached a new height after TeliaSonera, the former owner of Ncell, on April 12 formally announced that the divestment was formally completed and that its stakes in Ncell had been officially acquired by Axiata.

In a record deal, Axiata had bought Reynolds Holding, the owner of Ncell, from TeliaSonera at an enterprise value of $1.03 billion.

Partnership hinges on NC’s generosity: Yadav

Oct 13, 2017-Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav has said his party would decide whether to enter into an electoral alliance with the Nepali Congress depending on the ruling party’s “generosity”.

Sharing of electoral constituencies in the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections looks increasingly difficult in the “democratic” bloc announced in response to the three-party leftist alliance.

The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and the SSF-N together have claimed 55 constituencies in the elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7. But the ruling party does not appear ready to allot so many seats to the two parties as both sides hope to win maximum seats from the Tarai districts.

“If the NC seems generous enough to take all into confidence, we are ready to form the electoral alliance. It depends on how many seats the NC will allot to us,” Yadav said at a programme organised to announce merger between the SSF-N and

the CPN (United Marxist) at the Reporters’ Club on Thursday. Yadav shared his resolve to develop his party as an alternative political force between the leftist and democratic alliances, and fight for the right, identity, prosperity and sovereignty of the Madhesi, indigenous, Tharu and backward communities. “We are participating in the elections to ensure that the voices of Madhesi, indigenous, Tharu and backward people are protected in the constitution,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, CPN (United Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Adhikari said his party merged with the SSF-N to fight for the rights of the downtrodden people and communities.

EC gears up for separate ballots

Oct 30, 2017-Honouring the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Election Commission is finally preparing to print two separate ballot papers for the first-past-the-post category of the federal parliamentary and provincial assembly elections without deferring the scheduled polls.

The commission, after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General on Sunday, agreed to opt for two ballots for the elections set to be held together in two phases.

The EC will take a formal decision to this effect on Monday after submitting its report to the apex court on the progress in printing separate ballots. With the decision, there will be three ballot papers, instead of two, in the polls taking place on November 26 and December 7.

A single bench of Justice Dambar Bahadur Shahi had ordered the EC on October 25 to ensure separate ballots for the FPTP polls and present a report outlining efforts made on that front since its earlier ruling on October 18. The court delivered the letter to the EC on Saturday, seeking the details, prompting the poll authority to consult with legal experts.

“We view the SC’s ruling positively. We will reach a proper decision regarding ballot papers on Monday,” Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav told the Post. He said the decision will be taken without affecting the election schedule.

The EC had cited time constraints in using separate ballot papers for the polls. The commission was all set to print the ballot for federal parliamentary polls on top of that for provincial assemblies on the same sheet.

The arrangement is the same for proportional representation election where the ballot for the federal parliamentary vote has been positioned at the top of the provincial assembly poll paper.

The new decision will apply only to the FPTP election as the EC has already printed the required number of ballot papers for proportional representation election.

Though election officials claimed that they started preparing FPTP ballots on Friday, sources at the state-owned Janak Shiksha Samagri Kendra, where the papers are being printed, said not a single ballot was produced on the day.

Rastriya Janata Party Nepal leader Sarbendra Nath Shukla on October 8 knocked on the SC’s door seeking separate ballot papers.

Though the SC refused to issue an interim order as demanded by him, it asked the poll body to seriously consider printing separate ballot papers for the FPTP vote since it had already completed printing of those for the proportional election.

In a step forward, the SC on Wednesday sought detailed updates within three days.

Left alliance struggles to finalise constituencies http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-10-30/left-alliance-struggles-to-finalise-constituencies.html

Oct 30, 2017-The CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre)-led left alliance is struggling to agree on division of constituencies, with both the parties unwilling to relinquish on their claims.

Out of the 128 constituencies in 45 districts, where the election is scheduled to take place on December 7, the alliance is facing difficulty in managing constituencies of five districts.

According to UML sources, division of constituencies in Chitwan, Jhapa, Salyan, Udaypur and Sunsari has remained undecided.

On Saturday, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had taken charge of finalising constituencies after the UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokhrel-led taskforce, mandated to finalise the division of constituencies, urged the party unification coordination committee to take a final call in the districts having issues.

A UML Standing Committee meeting on Sunday was centered at finalising the names of PR as well as FPTP candidates for the second phase of provincial and federal polls.

“Both the parties are having internal meetings and are close to sealing a deal. It has been difficult to manage a few constituencies as there are hopefuls with solid base,” said Surya Thapa, deputy head of UML’s Central Publicity Department.

The meeting, which continued late into night, could not finalise on the matter at the time of going to press.

Sources informed the Post that the UML and Maoist Centre had agreed to divide 72 and 33 seats respectively in the federal assembly. Four seats have been left for

independent candidates contesting the polls using an election symbol of either of the parties.     

In Chitwan-2, UML leader Krishna Bhakta Pokhrel and Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Thapa are at the loggerheads. Staking its claim over the constituency, the UML said that it had supported Dahal in Chitwan-3. It has also argued that Thapa’s candidacy would affect Dahal.

While the two forces have divided equal number of seats in Province 2, they are yet to decide on separation of particular constituencies.

They are also struggling to finalise the candidacy for Dang-2, with senior UML leader Shanker Pokhrel and Krishna Bahadur Mahara each staking claim to the constituency.

A constituency in Jhapa district too has remained contentious as the UML asking the Maoist Centre to swap it over with Udayapur. Maoist Centre leader Surendra (Ram) Karki is eyeing the seat.

Vote garnered in the recently held local polls as well as the second Constituent Assembly elections and popularity of candidates are among the factors taken into account while dividing constituencies at a 60:40 ratio as agreed by the UML and the Maoist Centre respectively.

Dhading bus plunge: Driver out of contact

Oct 30, 2017-The driver of a Kathmandu-bound bus that plunged into the Trishuli river on Saturday has yet to come into contact, said police.

Driver Santosh Chaudhary is said to be absconding after the vehicle (Na 6 Kha 1467) fell off the road at around 5:30am on Saturday, killing at least 31 people. Police said a search for the man is going on.

Shrawan Thakur, a passenger who survived by swimming, said he saw the driver fleeing after the accident. “I was in the bus cabin since I could not find a seat. I fell into the river. When I came out of water, I saw him [the driver] running away,” said Thakur, adding that the driver sustained injuries in his head.

It is suspected that the fatal crash occurred due to speed. However, the actual cause remains unknown.

The government has formed a three-member committee led by Joint-secretary at the Home Ministry Man Bahadur BK to probe the accident.

Thirty-one people died as the crowded bus plunged into the river at Gajuri-5 on the Prithvi Highway. Two of the bodies pulled out of water remain unidentified. Some people are suspected to be missing.

Saptari is in deep mourning as 24 of the victims are from the district. Two more passengers from the district have been missing. Most of the victims are from Tilathi, close to the district headquarters Rajbiraj, and Bodebarsain.

Ramanath Jha of Tilathi lost his two sons, a daughter and a grandson. Another grandson of Jha is missing while two of his other relatives lost their lives.

All the 18 local units—municipalities and rural municipalities—remained shut on Sunday to mourn the deaths.

A Nepali Congress leader who was nominated a candidate for the upcoming elections also died in the accident. NC Mahasamiti member Raj Kapur Yadav of Golbazaar was killed in thecrash.