Nepal

Kathmandu, July 6

In a much-hyped hullabaloo after launching the countryfirst satellite NepaliSat-1 into space on April 18, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology had promised to bring the ground station required to command the satellite into operation within a couple of weeks.

But, the construction of the ground station is in limbo even two-and-a-half months after the launch.

NAST has not even installed an antenna for the station, let alone other things.

Even Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, after the satellite launch on April 17, had said that Nepal had entered the space-era. But the situation is such that the government is relying on Bhutan to receive the signals sent by the satellite that revolves around the Earthlower orbit.

NAST had, on June 18, made another promise: to capture the first pictures sent by the satellite with the countryown ground station within the next week. But chances are high that this promise will also be as hollow as its other promises.

NAST had handed over responsibilities to supply computers and other equipment necessary to construct the ground station to Decade International Pvt Ltd. The deadline provided to the contractor had already expired on June 22. However, NAST officials are saying that the long and tedious procurement process has been a hindrance.

Programme head of ground station Roshan Pandey said, &Delay on our own side has hindered the process of buying the antenna.& He also said that they would operate the ground station soon after receiving the antenna.

NAST also confirmed that the NepaliSat-1 has sent some satellite pictures of the country as commanded by Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan. Kyutech had supported two Nepali scientists, Aabhas Maskey and Hariram Shrestha in developing the satellite.

Meanwhile, it is also said that Nepal cannot officially receive these data even if the ground station is ready as the country needs to register the ‘call-sign& of the satellite with United NationOffice for Outer Space Affairs, a UN body to assist peaceful uses of outer space, before receiving data. The official call sign of NepaliSat-1 is JG6YLF, but it has not been officially registered with UNOOSA, according to NAST officials. The registration should be made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On being asked about the same, NAST officials refused to make any comment in this regard.

They however, informed that the government had already sent an official letter regarding registration.

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Kathmandu, July 6

Traffic police arrested a person for allegedly trying to bribe an on-duty cop in Syuchatar yesterday.

A police officer found Shreedhar Neupane, 42, of Palpa district riding a scooter without blue book during a security check. As the officer issued a traffic rule violation ticket to Neupane, he offered the cop a bribe of Rs 500.

The police officer refused the offer and took him into custody on charge of trying to influence an on-duty cop. The same day, police arrested Bed Bahadur Kathayat, 26, of Kailali after he allegedly offered a bribe of Rs 140 to a cop in Chhetrapati. Kathayat was riding a bike under the influence of alcohol.

According to a report released by Metropolitan Police Office, as many as 156 drivers and riders have been arrested in the past nine months for attempting to bribe cops in the hope of getting off the hook. Those police personnel who were offered bribe during the period were inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, head constables and constables.

MPO had launched a crackdown on vehicle drivers and bike riders who offered bribe to police personnel, on September 25, under its campaign of zero tolerance against corruption. It said a total of 146 police personnel refused to accept the bribe money and they arrested 153 persons who tried to get undue favour by offering bribe to cops. &Anyone who tries to serve his/ her interest by influencing the police personnel will be arrested outright,& MPO said.

The drivers and riders are produced before the concerned district administration offices for legal action under the Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act on charge of trying to get undue benefit from on-duty police officials.

MPO informed that they were released by the concerned district administration offices on bail of up to Rs 10,000. It informed that this crackdown aimed to ensure strict adherence to the rule and discourage drivers and on-duty police officers from offering and receiving bribe.

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Kathmandu, July 6

Tribhuvan University has decided to form a high-level academic committee and upgrade its technology to curb anomalies taking place in the university.

It has also decided to amend its rules and regulations after some of its officials were found involved in altering the marks of students and job applicants.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had arrested Surendra Koirala, a student of MA in Economics and Ramu Karmacharya of Confidential Section of Office of the Controller of Examination, Balkhu, for their alleged involvement in altering the exam marks to make Koirala the exam topper, thereby making him eligible for a gold medal.

The high-level academic committee will work to improve the policies and copy correction system.

&Discussions are under way to form the committee. Though the decision to form of the committee has already been taken, we are yet to select members for the high-level committee,& said Tirtha Raj Khaniya, vice-chancellor of the university.

The university is trying to change its internal system to improve it. &We are trying to make some amendments to our policies as well. The policies will be formulated in such a way that no employee will be allowed to work in the same department for a long period. We are discussing the time frame for an employee to work in a department. If an employee stays in the same department for a long time there are chances of his/her involvement in misusing her/his power. We therefore need to make amendments to our policies that will help control irregularities taking place in the university,& said Khaniya. &The employees will also be closely monitored.

The university has taken the decision after irregularities involving marks alteration in mark-sheets were found at TU Office of the Controller of Examination, Balkhu.

The university has decided to upgrade its technology to control anomalies. &We are working on installing a new software, which will help detect any kind of discrepancy in marks,& said Khaniya.

CIAA has also filed a corruption case against 10 office bearers and employees of Tribhuvan University Service Commission on Wednesday for altering the marks of several job applicants who had appeared in the exams conducted to fill vacant positions at the university.

During CIAAinvestigation, it had found that marks were changed in 35 answer sheets.

TU officials have been accused of misusing their authority to appoint their relatives and family members in the posts of section officer, account officer, assistant legal adviser, chief accounts officer, chief office assistant and office assistant.

The university has, however, not taken any decision on whether or not the examinations conducted to fill the vacant positions in the university will be valid.

&The matter has already reached the court, we can&t say anything now,& said Khaniya.

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Kathmandu, July 5

Co-chair of ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal today said Nepalpeace process was one of the most successful of its kind in the world, but reactionary forces were not happy with that.

Referring to recent Europe visit of former child soldier Lenin Bista, without mentioning his name, Dahal said the reactionary forces were sponsoring Europe visits for some people in their desperate bid to derail Nepalpeace process that had been established as a global success story.

Bista recently concluded his 90-day Europe visit in which he said he was successful in internationalising the issue of child soldiers of Nepaldecade-long armed conflict.

Dahal said derailing the peace process might benefit a section of people, but would be detrimental for national interest and national unity. &The reactionary forces are trying to revive wounds of conflicts that have already healed,& he said at an event at the NCP headquarters in Kathmandu.

Dahal said the unification of two of the biggest communist forces in Nepal was significant not only domestically, but also internationally.

&The far-reaching, strategic and extraordinary unification has delivered a strong message to the world and to the global communist movement that had become defensive after the collapse of the Soviet Union,& said Dahal.

He went on to add, &But some reactionary forces are not liking a strong communist government elected through popular vote.&

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