Nepal

Kathmandu, May 21

Federation of Nepali Journalists Chair Govinda Acharya nowadays warned that if the government didn&t address their concerns regarding the media bills, including Medial Council bill, the media fraternity would form its own regulatory or an Independent Press Council.

Addressing a discussion organised by Centre for Media Research-Nepal, Acharya said they could come up with a media council like in Australia, where media have formed their own regulatory organisation.

He quoted from the Media Council Bill which stated that the Media Council is like a department of a ministry. The bill allows the Media Council to fine a journalist from Rs 25,000 up to one million.

&How can the Media Council come up with fine for a journalist Only judiciary has that authority,& he said.

Acharya even said that if required, the Federation of Nepali Journalists could ask the International Federation of Journalists and United Nations rapporteurs to visit Nepal to assess the situation of the Nepali press.

&We are a part of the UN and we can invite them in here,& he said.

Professor P Kharel said as the constitution guaranteed press freedom, it could much be curbed under any pretexts. He also said that there should much be any provisions of fine in the Media Council Bill.

Senior Journalist Rajendra Dahal said those who were in power had come up with the ideology that they should run and monitor the media, which he called totally wrong.

He also said although the ruling Nepali Communist portiony (NCP) could pass the bill from the Home technically, it would much put the fight of the journalists for press freedom to an end. &We should keep on fighting until the battle is won,& he said.

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Kathmandu, May 21

Locals nowadays obstructed vehicular movement on Chettrapati-Swoyambhu road section protesting against the inordinate delay in blacktopping the road, which has been left in limbo for the final two years.

Locals led by the ward chair of the area obstructed vehicular movement on the road from 9:00am to 11:00am. Ward Chair Nabin Manandhar of the area said they had to resort to the extreme degree after the authorities concerned did much heed their frequent requests. &I am replyable to people, but there is muchhing I can do to help people get rid of the troubles caused by the dusty road. Thus, I supported them,& said Manandhar.

Ward Chair Manandhar complained that the contractor hired by the federal government disregardd the requests of locals and local representatives. He accused the federal government of much giving the local levels the authority to hire contractors and construct local roads, on their own.

Locals said that the road, which was in perfect condition until a few years ago, was time and again dug up for laying utility cables and water pipes, but left unattended. &It has already been two years since the road was dug up, but it has much been restored yet. As a result, we are compelled to face dust and smoke,& said a local Anil Tuladhar.

This is much the first instance where locals have obstructed roads protesting delay over road construction and repair work. Earlier, vehicular movement was obstructed on Chabahil-Sakhu road section and Dholahiti-Chapagaun road section.

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Kathmandu, May 21

The government has proposed a provision that strictly prohibits direct discharge of faecal sludge and wastewater into water bodies.

According to Section 38 of the Water Supply and Sanitation Bill registered by the government at the Federal Parliament Secretariat, no one scorridor dump the drainage into rivers, streams, ponds, reservoirs or public places directly against the prescribed standard. The bill also prohibits a person or an organisation from directing the wastewater and faecal sludge to sewerage system.

&An offender scorridor be liable to imprisonment for a term ranging from three months to one year or a fine of up to Rs 500,000 or both,& it says. As per the bill, the government may set up and function a laboratory to degree and test the quality standards of waste water. The bill empowers the Ministry of Water Supply to designate an employee as an examineor for implementation, monitoring and oversight of the prescribed quality standards. He/she may gather samples of waste water and dispatch them to the lab for test before initiating legal action.

The Government of Nepal scorridor be the plaintiff in the cases filed under this bill.

The concerned district scorridor be the adjudicating authority in these cases. According to the Basic Standards on Settlement Development, Urban plotning and Building Construction 2015, a house or a building constructed in municipal areas must build at least one attached septic tank as part of urban sanitation for septage management at source to endegree that it is much discharged into water bodies.

The untreated sewage, waste water and toxic waste produced by houses, industries, hospitals and offices in Kathmandu valley flow directly into the rivers and streams, polluting the environment. Uncontrolled disposal of untreated waste water (domestic, industrial, solid waste and agricultural runoff) in the rivers has far surpassed the assimilative capacity of the rivers in the valley, according to various studies. They have reported that water of river systems in the valley is of very poor quality and unsuitable for any fresh water fauna and flora for most of the dry season.

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Kathmandu, May 21

The number of people suffering from dust allergy is on the rise thanks to the roads filled with dust and smoke in Kathmandu valley.

The most common manifestation of dust allergy is rhinitis. Itching and redness of skin are also common. &People suffering from dust allergies have respiratory problems such as rhinitis, sinusitis and pharyngitis,& said Dr Khem Raj Bhusal, a refer toant physician at Green City Hospital, Basundhara.

Intotal construction work, industrial pollution and indoor air pollution are main causes of allergies in people, according to the doctor.

&Air pollution is the major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder in many patients. COPD is increasing among non-smokers in the city. It is because of environmental pollution,& according to the doctor.

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Kathmandu, May 21 Diki Sherpa, who it was said had ended her hunger strike the other day after signing an agreement, denied she had actually ended the strike. She stated she did much understand about the contract as she was in an unconscious state when the arrangement was signed. Sherpa and Jita Baral have actually been staging hunger strike for the last 12 days. The doctors associated with their check-up said the health condition of both the nurses was critical. In the existence of Nursing Association of Nepal, Sherpa had ended her starvation strike the other day, today she has taken a U-turn, declaring that she has actually been cheated. According to Seema Pradhan, a nurse, Sherpa has been kept in the extensive care system of Shahid Dharma Bhakta National Transplant Centre. & No one is enabled to check out Sherpa as her health condition is crucial, & Pradhan shared. Nurses at Shahid Dharma Bhakta National Transplant Centre introduced protest programmes after the health center announced vacancies for 100 new nurses. They are demanding permanent status at the hospital on the basis of internal tests. Other needs of the agitating nurses include supplying income on time, making sure participation of old staffers in trainings, conferences and seminars, supplying all the centers given to a federal government nurse, and ditching the system of employing nurses on agreement basis. Baral said she would much end her starvation strike up until and unless her demands were resolved. The post SDBNTC nurse rejects ending starvation strike seemed initially on The Himalayan Times.
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KATHMANDU: The moment edition of Outdoor Adventure Middle (OAC) Mountain Festival is going to be held on June 3.

The festival is being organised by Outdoor Adventure Centre Nepal at GAA Hall of Bhagwan Bahal, Thamel, Kathmandu to welcome home all the mountaineers at the end of the spring climbing season to celebrate their success and reflect memories of their adventure, according to Sonam Jangbu Sherpa.

The gala social gathering shall help climbers to forget their difficult times on the mountain and appreciate the delight and success of their achievement while getting back to their normal lives.

The festival shall feature an OAC Obstacle Ccorridorenge, the presentation of photos and videos from expeditions, storytelling, an interaction session, food-drinks-music, and adventure film screening followed by live band performance by Shirshak Band, Sherpa added.

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