Speaker directs govt to inform House of JC meet agreement

Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang today directed the government to inform the Parliament of the agreement reached in the third meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission.

The Speaker of the Legislature-Parliament issued this directive after the MPs, during the Zero Hour and the Special Hour, in the parliament today demanded the government inform the House of the agreements reached in the JC meeting.

"The House is not informed of the agreements reached by the two countries; the lawmakers have also raised their voice in the parliament in that regard, so, I urge the government to inform the House on this as soon as possible," he said.

In the parliament meeting today, lawmakers said that they had got information about Nepal and India agreeing on 26 issues through the media and drew attention that the government should have informed the House about this.

Leadership handover: Statute, local polls UML’s top priorities

The newly-elected leadership of the CPN-UML has announced that it has prioritised three major tasks—timely promulgation of new constitution, holding local polls and making UML the largest party in the upcoming elections—as its future course.

The party’s resolution issued after the ninth General Convention has stated that the promulgation of a federal democratic constitution by January 22 next year is the party’s foremost priority. Expressing its commitment to promulgate new constitution within a year, the second largest party in the Constituent Assembly (CA) also urged all other parties, including the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, which are not elected to the CA to help complete the task of constitution writing.“

“The convention reiterates commitment to promulgate new constitution within a year after the commencement of the CA,” reads the 33-point resolution endorsed by the convention. The resolution has drawn attention of other parties and asked them to remind their commitments expressed before the CA election for constitution, especially the responsibility of constitution writing.

The resolution also urges all political forces staying outside the CA to engage in

dialogues with parties involved in constitution writing process and to help make the statute writing process a success.

Additionally, taking the formation of the Federal Republic Alliance by the UCPN (Maoist) and other like-minded parties “for identity-based federalism” in a serious note, the UML has requested them not to deviate from the responsibility of delivering the new constitution.

“The convention is concerned over the political alliance but we hope it will not weaken the mandate of delivering new constitution and further polarise the

politics,” reads the resolution.

On the issue federalism in new constitution, the party has reiterated its position to federate the country on the basis of multiple identities.

The party’s new leadership headed by KP Sharma Oli has also reiterated its commitment for new constitution. “My foremost priority is to promulgate the new constitution, hold local elections and ensure economic prosperity of the nation,” said Oli, speaking at the closing ceremony held at the party headquarters.

Party’s resolution states that owing to the absence of elected representatives in local bodies, people are deprived of participating in local democratic practices, the service delivery system has been affected and the state resources have largely been misused.

The party’s convention scheduled to be completed on July 9 was prolonged for eight more days due to debates and controversies surrounding election process and leadership row.

Parliamentary Party Leader Oli and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal along with their respective panels had contested in the convention for the key posts of the party leadership.

During the closing ceremony on Thursday, Nepal and immediate past Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal congratulated Oli for his victory and asked him to unite the party mending differences that emerged during the election and achieve the aforementioned goals.

Nepal, who was narrowly edged out in the election, said he will always stand with Oli to accomplish the mandate of the convention and make UML the largest party in the next election.

“I will fully support Oli-led team but it is up to him how he drives the party and accommodates leaders defeated in the convention,” he said.

Stating that the decision to contest the election with separate panels was a mistake, Nepal expressed his hope that the new leadership would not suffer from groupism in the days ahead.

Leadership handover: Statute, local polls UML’s top priorities

The newly-elected leadership of the CPN-UML has announced that it has prioritised three major tasks—timely promulgation of new constitution, holding local polls and making UML the largest party in the upcoming elections—as its future course.

The party’s resolution issued after the ninth General Convention has stated that the promulgation of a federal democratic constitution by January 22 next year is the party’s foremost priority. Expressing its commitment to promulgate new constitution within a year, the second largest party in the Constituent Assembly (CA) also urged all other parties, including the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, which are not elected to the CA to help complete the task of constitution writing.“

“The convention reiterates commitment to promulgate new constitution within a year after the commencement of the CA,” reads the 33-point resolution endorsed by the convention. The resolution has drawn attention of other parties and asked them to remind their commitments expressed before the CA election for constitution, especially the responsibility of constitution writing.

The resolution also urges all political forces staying outside the CA to engage in

dialogues with parties involved in constitution writing process and to help make the statute writing process a success.

Additionally, taking the formation of the Federal Republic Alliance by the UCPN (Maoist) and other like-minded parties “for identity-based federalism” in a serious note, the UML has requested them not to deviate from the responsibility of delivering the new constitution.

“The convention is concerned over the political alliance but we hope it will not weaken the mandate of delivering new constitution and further polarise the

politics,” reads the resolution.

On the issue federalism in new constitution, the party has reiterated its position to federate the country on the basis of multiple identities.

The party’s new leadership headed by KP Sharma Oli has also reiterated its commitment for new constitution. “My foremost priority is to promulgate the new constitution, hold local elections and ensure economic prosperity of the nation,” said Oli, speaking at the closing ceremony held at the party headquarters.

Party’s resolution states that owing to the absence of elected representatives in local bodies, people are deprived of participating in local democratic practices, the service delivery system has been affected and the state resources have largely been misused.

The party’s convention scheduled to be completed on July 9 was prolonged for eight more days due to debates and controversies surrounding election process and leadership row.

Parliamentary Party Leader Oli and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal along with their respective panels had contested in the convention for the key posts of the party leadership.

During the closing ceremony on Thursday, Nepal and immediate past Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal congratulated Oli for his victory and asked him to unite the party mending differences that emerged during the election and achieve the aforementioned goals.

Nepal, who was narrowly edged out in the election, said he will always stand with Oli to accomplish the mandate of the convention and make UML the largest party in the next election.

“I will fully support Oli-led team but it is up to him how he drives the party and accommodates leaders defeated in the convention,” he said.

Stating that the decision to contest the election with separate panels was a mistake, Nepal expressed his hope that the new leadership would not suffer from groupism in the days ahead.

Snake anti-venom crisis raises concern

The government agency responsible for distribution of anti-snake venom serum (ASVS) in the country is reeling under an acute shortage of the life-saving antidote during a season when the number of snakebite victims increases drastically.

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of the Department of Health Services in Kathmandu currently has only around 300 vials of the ASVS while the country needs at least 30,000 to 40,000 vials of the serum each year. With such a small amount of anti-snake venom serum at its disposal, there are fears of sharp increase from snakebites and related fatalities, which tends to rise significantly during rainy season in mostly the Tarai region of the country.

Dr Baburam Marrasini, Director of EDCD, said that due to lack of adequate supply of the antidote, they have been delivering the ASVS in quantities that is far less than demanded by various districts in the country. He said that only last week they supplied some 800 vials of ASVS to various districts and regional drug stores so as to fend off the increasing demand for some days. According to EDCD, 300 vials of ASVS were dispatched to Biratnagar and Butwal respectively, while 200 vials were supplied to Nepalgunj.

Meanwhile, the EDCD has been providing anti-snake venom services in 26 districts through 50 outlets. EDCD further said that around 400 deaths have occurred in the country though snakebites between the year 2006 and 2012, while 10 million people in the country are said to be at serious risk of snakebite. Keeping this in view, the government has been providing Anti Snake Venom Serum (ASVS) for free since the year 2000.

Experts say, if the present crisis of the anti-venom serum continues, the number of deaths through snakebites might increase significantly this year. Every year around 150 people die of snakebites in the country while the demand foranti-venom vaccines is higher between mid-June and September-end. Doctors say that depending on the amount of poison in the patient’s body, up to 27 vials of anti-venom could be used in a single case of snakebite.

Snake anti-venom crisis raises concern

The government agency responsible for distribution of anti-snake venom serum (ASVS) in the country is reeling under an acute shortage of the life-saving antidote during a season when the number of snakebite victims increases drastically.

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of the Department of Health Services in Kathmandu currently has only around 300 vials of the ASVS while the country needs at least 30,000 to 40,000 vials of the serum each year. With such a small amount of anti-snake venom serum at its disposal, there are fears of sharp increase from snakebites and related fatalities, which tends to rise significantly during rainy season in mostly the Tarai region of the country.

Dr Baburam Marrasini, Director of EDCD, said that due to lack of adequate supply of the antidote, they have been delivering the ASVS in quantities that is far less than demanded by various districts in the country. He said that only last week they supplied some 800 vials of ASVS to various districts and regional drug stores so as to fend off the increasing demand for some days. According to EDCD, 300 vials of ASVS were dispatched to Biratnagar and Butwal respectively, while 200 vials were supplied to Nepalgunj.

Meanwhile, the EDCD has been providing anti-snake venom services in 26 districts through 50 outlets. EDCD further said that around 400 deaths have occurred in the country though snakebites between the year 2006 and 2012, while 10 million people in the country are said to be at serious risk of snakebite. Keeping this in view, the government has been providing Anti Snake Venom Serum (ASVS) for free since the year 2000.

Experts say, if the present crisis of the anti-venom serum continues, the number of deaths through snakebites might increase significantly this year. Every year around 150 people die of snakebites in the country while the demand foranti-venom vaccines is higher between mid-June and September-end. Doctors say that depending on the amount of poison in the patient’s body, up to 27 vials of anti-venom could be used in a single case of snakebite.

Landslide hits five hydropower projects

The massive landslide in Sindhupalchowk district on Saturday that caused an abrupt interruption in the flow of the Sunkoshi River has hit five hydropower projects downstream.
According to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), there will be shortfall of 66.5MW electricity in the national grid due to the landslide.
Power transmission from five hydropower projects—Bhotekoshi (45MW), Sunkoshi (10MW), Sanima Sunkoshi (2.5MW), Chaku (6MW) and Bhairabkunda (3MW) has been halted temporarily. In the current situation, the shortfall of 66.5MW electricity means an increment in load-shedding by one and half hours a day.
NEA said the landslide at Jure has swept away two gates of the Sunkoshi Power House headworks, according to NEA.
While the power house of Bhote Koshi is safe, electricity supply has been interrupted due to the damage caused in three of its transmission line towers. One of the towers was completely swept away in the landslide, while the remaining two have been partially damaged.
The power house of Sanima Sunkoshi Project has been submerged. “The power house and all equipment are under the water,” said Tuk Prasad Paudel, director of Sanima Hydropower Company.
Two other projects—Chaku and Bhairabkunda—too are out of order following problems in transmission line towers.
“The situation might turn worse if the river blocked by the landslide debris starts flowing with force. A possible flood might sweep away headworks of other power houses causing more losses,” said NEA officiating Managing Director Ram Chandra Pandey.
NEA is considering increasing electricity imports from India to neutralise the loss. “We are trying to increase imports from places like Raxaul and Kataiya of India to meet the demand,” said Pandey, adding how much energy will be imported from India will be finalised on Sunday.
Since the country has only one storage-type project, NEA has no other option, but to increase power imports.
“The water level in Kulekhani project is already low and operating it now might cause a big problem during the winter. Therefore, we have to rely on imports.”

Affected Projects
Name    Capacity
Bhotekoshi     45 MW
Sunkoshi     10 MW
Chaku     6 MW
Bhairabkunda     3MW
Sanima Sunkoshi     2.5 MW
Total    66.5 MW

Turing a page in Nepal-India relations

When Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi arrives in Kathmandu tomorrow, his gesture will go some way inaddressing the long-standing Nepali grievance: that New Delhi has neglected its next-doorneighbour for a long time, with whom it shares unique ties marked by a long and open border, shared languages, culture and history,perhaps like no two other countries in the world.

Modi is the first India prime minister to visit Nepal in 17years. During the period, six heads of states and nine prime ministerial visits took place from the Nepali side.

More than anything else, the Modi visit can deliver a political message. His very arrival reiterates New Delhi’s support for the unfinished peace process that started in 2005 in the Indian capital, with the signing of a 12-point agreement between Seven Party Alliance and the Maoist party.

A lot has changed in Kathmandu since. But the impression in the political circles is that Modi is anxious to bring a close to the political chapter that was started by another BJP Prime Minister, AtalBihari Vajpayee. Granted, Modi will be careful not to be seen as an ‘interventionist’neighbour but Nepali leaders will emphasizeIndia’s political support to ensure that the post 2006 changes are institutionalized in through a new constitution. Once Nepal is set as federal democratic republic (FDR), the political transition will then be complete. In her visit, widely seen as a curtain raiser to the Modi visit, Indian External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj stressed to major political actors that Nepal should have “an inclusive” constitution.

Constitution writing rightly remains New Delhi’s top priority in Nepal. The reading is that timely completion of the drawn-out process of constitution writing is central to Nepal’s stability and that only a stable Nepal will be able to contribute to a strong neighbourhood—a cornerstone of Modi’s“neigbhours-first” diplomacy.

Swaraj’s visit also saw the two sides stress on multifaceted bilateral ties and this is where Nepal would like to see a marked shift in Nepal-India ties under Modi.

The high level bilateral mechanism, Joint Commission, held its third meeting after 23 years andthe two sides agreed that JC should meet regularly.

The JC also outlined four broad areas for cooperation: political, security and border; economic cooperation and infrastructure; trade and transit; power and water resources; culture and education.

With the agreement over the revision of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship singed in 1950, New Delhi seems keen to redefine the antiquated framework of bilateral ties. The JC has directed the Foreign Secretary level mechanism to work on the outstanding boundary issues including the disputed Susta and Kalapani. For its part, Nepal has already said, it would like to see all the border disputes settled before it signs the strip maps.

But it is the potential for bilateral economic cooperation and infrastructure development, rather than tedious details of other facets of the relationship, that has hogged the national limelight in the runup to the Modi visit. Nepal has put forward four major projects for Indian assistance: Kathmandu -Terai Fast Track Road (to be constructed through private sector investment); the eastern sector of Mid Hill Highway; widening of the East West Highway in the Kakarvitta-Narayanghat (472km) section; four bridges in Mahakali zone—three of them motorable and one a suspension bridge.

Though trade and transit issues have hardly come under the public purview, both sides are cognizant of the fact that they are crucial in addressing the hugely lop-sidedNepal-India trade. Hydropower and tourism sectors in the long term will play a crucial role in addressing the imbalance but relaxation of export barriers will be welcome measures short term. Nepali side, among others, has raised problems faced by exporters of readymade garments and herbal products to Indian markets. One tourism destination that has global significance is the Greater Buddhist Circuit that can rope in Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini with Bodh Gaya in India.

The ongoing negotiations over PTA and PDAs on Upper Karnali and Arun III underscore that some of Nepal’s political actors still find it difficult to abandon ‘water nationalism’ and paranoia over partnerships with India and Indian investors. But once the two sides agree on these land mark deals, the new confidence will provide added impetus to other big projects as Upper Marsyangdi and Tamakoshi III.