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The Nepal Digest Wed Dec 15, 1999: Mangshir 29 2056BS: Year8 Volume93 Issue439
Today's Topics (partial list):
Report and Request
AFVs News
This from The New York Times
Some information on history
Judges in Nepal
******************************************************************************
* TND (The Nepal Digest) Editorial Board *
* -------------------------------------- *
* *
* The Nepal Digest: General Information nepal-request@cs.niu.edu *
* Coordinator: Rajpal JP Singh a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
* Editor: Pramod K. Mishra pkm@acpub.duke.edu *
* Chapter Coordinators - Australia Chapter (TND Foundation) *
* Dr. Krishna B. Hamal HamalK@dist.gov.au *
* Chapter Coordinators - Canada Chapter (TND Foundation) *
* Anil Shrestha SHRESTHA@CROP.UOGUELPH.CA *
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* TND Archives: http://library.wustl.edu/~listmgr/tnd/ *
* TND Foundation: http://www.nepal.org tnd@nepal.org *
* WebSlinger: Umesh Giri ugiri@uswest.com *
* *
* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
* *
* "Heros are the ones who give a bit of themselves to the community" *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" -Sirdar_Khalifa *
* *
******************************************************************************
******************************************************************
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 08:28:41 -0800 (PST)
From: Mahabir Pun <punm@yahoo.com>
Subject: Report and Request
To: tnd@nepal.org
Himanchal High School Project: A Few More Step Forward
on its Journey
This is Mahabir Pun (punm@yahoo.com). The adage that
the journey of one thousand mile starts from the first
step applies to Himanchal High School in Nangi
village, Nepal. The school put its first step forward
in 1993 by upgrading the middle school to high school.
The high school section was started with 20 students
in eighth grade and with two teachers to teach them.
Before 1993, there was a middle school from grade one
through seven with about 130 students and six
teachers. There were seven classrooms and an office
room in the school building. Now the school has 260
students and 15 teachers. With the financial support
of friends abroad and villagers’ participation we have
added six more classrooms, one office room, a library
with 3,000 books, a computer laboratory with seven
computers, a small science laboratory, and a
two-bedroom guesthouse with kitchen for international
volunteers. We are going to build a new guesthouse
with 6 bedrooms in 2000. There are also 30 huts built
by the students for accommodation in the school
compound. The school area now looks like a small
village when we see it from the ridges to the north of
the school, especially at night when the lights are
on. It is only the school that has electricity
produced by a small 1KW and 2KW hydro-generators.
Until now 24 students have graduated from the high
school. Ten of them are going to college in the
cities. Academically, our school is doing much well
than average rural high schools because the passing
average of our students in the national level
standardized high school test is above 75% compared to
40% national average. There are 40 high schools in our
district. One of our students scored second highest in
1997 and the other scored the highest in 1998 in the
district on the national level high school test.
Before 1993, no foreigner knew about Nangi village.
However, it is now attracting volunteers from around
the world. Until now we got 30 visitors, and 13
volunteers from different countries such as USA,
Canada, Japan, Australia, Britain, Singapore, Holland
and Malaysia, who volunteered in the school from a
length of two weeks to four months time. More people
are planning to come in future.
The school has come some more steps further by
developing income-producing projects to support the
school. Of the many programs started on trial basis to
make money; rabbit and duck raising are doing well.
The school has built a house for ducks and rabbits
near the student huts. Older students are given
responsibility to take care of the rabbits and ducks.
The students have even built a pond for the ducks.
Among the moneymaking projects camping ground for the
tourists has become the most successful program in
bringing larger income for the school. With the
financial support of a Japanese organization, the
school built a camping ground in 1996 which now is
producing income enough to support one teacher for one
year. Since tourism has great potential to bring cash
income, the school plans to build more campgrounds and
tourists facilities in the region. The school has even
started two joint venture projects with another high
school in the area, which is the example of its effort
to tapping money from the tourists to make the school
self-supportive.
The first joint venture project of raising yaks in the
foothills of Annapurna South (23,684 ft.) was started
in 1997 with Paudwar High School. Now there are 32
yaks that produces income from the sale of meat, wool,
milk, and butter. The income from the yak project now
is just enough to support itself. We need to wait a
few more years to get extra income from the yaks until
the herd grows to 100. We are planning to cross breed
the yaks with local cows that produce "jhopa", which
is very useful animal for carrying loads and ploughing
fields. "Jhopa" will certainly be a great help to the
villagers in farming.
The second joint venture program with Paudwar High
School is the building of a camping ground in a place
called Khopra at an elevation of 12,000 ft. This is
the same region where the yaks have been introduced.
Last summer, we built a camping ground facility for
the tourists, which includes a dining hall, a kitchen,
a bathroom, and a store. The project is now complete
and has even started to bring income for the schools.
A few more steps that we are trying hard to take in
our journey is as follows.
As part of Eco-tourism project, we plan to build three
more camping grounds with facilities like restaurants,
lodges, souvenir shop, and information center with the
Internet access because more tourists are coming every
year. We plan to use solar and wind power to meet the
energy need at the facilities.
To attract more tourists we are trying to establish a
rhododendron park near Nangi village in an area of
about 100 acres with mountain bike trail. Of the
estimated 700 species of rhododendron all over the
world, about 30 are found in Nepal. We will try to
grow as many species of rhododendron as possible in
the park. The park will also attract national tourists
because rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal.
We are looking for support to initiate these projects.
The approximate amount of money we need to complete
for building additional campgrounds, tourist
facilities and establishing rhododendron park with
mountain bike trail is about US$60,000. We would like
to ask you for support, which you can send to:
Himanchal Educational Foundation, 1602W, 36th St,
Kearney, Nebraska 68845, U.S.A. It is a non-profit
organization with tax-deductible status.
Finally, the second phase of the project is to start
eleventh grade in July 2003 and twelfth grade the
following year. We can not start the second phase
unless we have a definite source of income to pay for
the teachers. Right now, the income producing programs
are producing about 5-8% of the money we need. What we
clearly see now is that the journey is not easy.
However, the villagers are enthusiastic to finish "the
journey of one thousand mile". When we will get to the
other end of our journey, there will be a four-year
college with about 300 students. (Please visit our
website http://rip.physics.unk.edu/Nepal for more
information.)
******************************************************************
Date: 25 Nov 1999 13:37:44 -0000
To: List Member <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
From: "Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal" <AFVsNepal-owner@listbot.com>
Subject: AFVs News
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal
Nepal News
1. NEVI included in the list of EV suppliers
Nepal Electric Vehicle Industry (NEVI) which was earlier excluded from the
list of suppliers to provide electric tempos to the recipients of loans
from the Ministry of Population Environment has been added to the list
in a latest announcement by the Ministry. With this total number of EV
suppliers has increased to four. The other suppliers are Green Electric
Vehicle Company Pvt. Ltd., Green Valley Electro Mobile Pvt. Ltd. and
Electric Vehicle Company Pvt. Ltd. Without inclusion of NEVI, it looked
that EV suppliers could not deliver electric tempos to customers in time.
2. LPG entrepreneurs united
Despite increasing vehicles mainly LPG run three-wheelers and electric
tempos in the valley, public discontent about inadequate transport service
is still high. With this in mind LPG entrepreneurs have formed a Bagmati
LPG Tempo Entrepreneurs Association to provide adequate transport service
to commuters at cheaper price. Til Prasad Joshi is a coordinator of the
association. Other members include Chandra Lal Maharjan (deputy
coordiantor), Shankar Paudel (member secretary), Santa Prasad Timilsina
(treasurer) and Radheshyam Shrestha, Gam Bahadur Karki and Babu Kaji
Maharjan as members.
3. Comments:
Dear Sirs,
A note to ponder.
About a week ago a notice came in the rising Nepal that emission standards
were to be "reviewed" (i.e. relaxed) concerning the new micro buses that
were being allowed to import to replace the diesel vikrams.
Now bear in mind that the efforts of the EV industry has been to have EVs
proliferate enough so that the EVs could fulfill the new suppressed demand
for public transportation resulting from 1) ban of imports of new diesel
vikrams since a few years ago and 2) the new ban on operation of diesel
vikrams inside the ring road. Now instead of this entire new suppressed
demand falling on the new EV industry, there is a lobby to get the orders
filled quickly by any technology and so HMG/N has ruled to allow a certain
amount of diesel or petrol micro busses in at a drastically reduced tax
thereby thwarting efforts made so far by the Ev industry. In addition,
emission standards will be lowered for such vehicles as there is no way
they can comply with reasonable standards.
Is there really no such thing as a Ministry of environment who cares about
this. Is it really true that HMG/N is so blind as not to see the irony of
accepting graft to allow pollution after we have come so far? Will these
vehicles really be allowed to be imported into Nepal and cut into the EV
manufacturers source of sustainability?
We now have the simultaneous occurrence of new electricity tariff hike,
Resistance to hike diesel prices (now subsidized heavily) , allowance of
new
micro bus imports at reduced rates, relaxed emission standards for these
busses, the levying of VAT on EV parts and batteries, and finally excessive
resistance from the ministry of transport to fulfill many promises for EV
operation facilities. Doesn't this all smell of ignorance and oil?
I implore the entire community of Nepal urban dwellers to realize the
problems at hand and take strong action in the streets. I encourage donors
to put funds where they belong and not toi HMG/N who just eat them and then
use the funds to thwart EV proliferation.
Realize that the EV manufacturers are doing all they can to survive and
fill
orders on time. All we need is the slightest cooperation from HMG/N and
we'll have clean air. We're not even asking them for money. We're only
asking for common sense.
1) No tax on EV parts and batteries
2) a reasonable hike in costly diesel (foreign import)
3) a break in Electricity tariff for EVs to reflect off hour use
4) Ease for route obtaining in transport department
5) A green p[late for EVs only
6) an end to harassment of EVs by police.
Doesn't anyone in the Ministries and departments have any children they
care
about?
Let us stop subsidizing people to pollute and taxing them to ride clean and
start to do the opposite. If not that, than at least let EVs compete on a
level ground with Diesel and petrol.
Enough???
Adam Friedensohn
****************************************************************
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 15:01:07 +0500
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: Martin Chautari <chautari@mos.com.np>
Subject: Martin Chautari discussions
All discussions take place at Martin Chautari, Thapathali (tel/fax: 246065)
at 5:30pm. If you need directions, pls call.
23 Nov 1999
WTO Membership: Implications for Nepal
Dr Posh Raj Pandey
30 Nov 1999
Yogmaya and Other Historical Women from the Arun Valley
Matrika Timilsina, Arun Valley Concerned Centre
Laxman Kunwar, Nepal Studies Centre
7 December 1999
Nepal Bhasa Movement and a Community Agenda for Newars
Malla K Sundar and others
14 December 1999
Junkiriko Sangit: Khagendra Sangraula's New Novel in the eyes of Dalit Readers
Chakraman Biswakarma and others
21 December 1999
Kathmandu's Jyapu Culture: Where is it headed?
Santu Maharjan, Chair, Shree Jyapu Mahaguthi
Juju Bhai Dongol
**********************************************************
Forwarded by: "Ashutosh Tiwari" <ashu12345@hotmail.com>
Subject: This from The New York Times
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 14:48:03 EST
Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company
November 24, 1999, Wednesday
Lead or Get Out of The Way
BYLINE: By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
DATELINE: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka
BODY:
Scene #1: A few days after the coup in Pakistan, the coup leader, Gen.
Pervez Musharraf, held a news conference that surely
was a historical first. The Pakistani general said he had had to mount the
coup in order to pull Pakistan out of its morass of
corruption, and to prove that he was up to this task the general offered to
disclose his tax returns. Think about that. When in the
history of coups has a general sought to win legitimacy by offering to
disclose his tax returns? He didn't vow to retake Kashmir
or to nuke New Delhi. He vowed to prove that he had played straight with the
Pakistani I.R.S.
Scene #2: I just attended a seminar in Sri Lanka organized by U.S. A.I.D. on
competitiveness. The audience was made up of Sri
Lankan, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepalese business leaders. One of
the speakers was the former Costa Rican
president Jose Maria Figueres, who gave the audience a spellbinding
description of how Costa Rica got Intel to set up a factory
there, started to bring the Internet into all its schools and successfully
adapted to the Information Revolution. The audience of
South Asians was awed, and when it came to question time, several people
stood up and asked Mr. Figueres: "Would you run for
president in my country?"
What's going on out here? It's this: We are entering an age when everyone
increasingly knows how everyone else lives --
especially the 30-to-40-year-old educated generation in South Asia. And the
more members of this generation know about wider
trends in the world today, the more they realize that their own leaders
don't "get it," the more they are feeling left behind,
frustrated and willing to consider non-democratic alternatives.
A 46-year-old Sri Lankan woman banker said to me: "We have lost 25 years. In
1964 Lee Kuan Yew the leader of Singapore
came to Sri Lanka and said Singapore should become like Sri Lanka. We were
his model -- on literacy, on health care, on
education. But now Singapore is the model and ours is a destiny we never
achieved. So when people listened to Figueres, they
said: 'Why can't we get leaders like this?' Where did he come from? How did
he happen? Is it that people get the leaders they
deserve? Have we done something wrong? We need to take all our leaders who
are corrupt and bumbling and ostracize them,
but we never do. There are so many people whose heads haven't rolled that
should have."
No wonder, she added, that "so many people walked out after Mr. Figueres's
speech and said, 'If we don't have that kind of
competence within our own country, why can't we hire it?' One of the big Sri
Lankan businessmen said to me, 'I wouldn't even
mind paying his salary myself.' Look at the number of companies that Sri
Lankans or Indians have started in Silicon Valley , but
we don't have the leadership here to manage our own ship."
A Pakistani journalist, Anjum Ibrahim, remarked to me about the coup in her
country: "I was confused. I didn't know whether to
condemn the military or not. On the one side they put in power a general
with no qualifications for running a government. But
then there was nothing democratic about how the previous prime minister
ruled -- except that he held elections. I'm not
ambivalent about democracy. I'm ambivalent about those who claim to
represent it in our country."
The reason this is bubbling over now is that the rising middle classes are
becoming less economically dependent on the state for
their livelihoods, but more aware that the state is still the plug and
framework through which they will relate to today's global
economy. If that plug is faulty, if it only works with bribes, if it has no
rule of law or vision of how to succeed in this world, these
rising middle classes will never thrive for long or protect what they have
achieved. So they desperately want better governance
-- any way they can.
"The middle classes all over South Asia are getting really teed off," says
Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Director of Sri Lanka's
Center for Policy Alternatives. With the exception of India, he said, many
people "are turning their backs on the electoral process
and speaking now about 'partyless democracy.' Representative democracy in
the subcontinent has earned a bad name, and it has
come to a point where the whole notion of it is now being threatened."
*******************************************************************
Date: 29 Nov 1999 10:50:04 -0000
To: List Member <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
From: "Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal" <AFVsNepal-owner@listbot.com>
Subject: AFVs News
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal
AFVs News
1. Officials surprised at DANIDA's silence on Chassis Dynamometer
Taken from Kantipur daily, 26 November, 1999
Officials of Ministry of Environment and Population were dismayed by
the "silence ' of the Danish fact finding group on the Chassis
Dynamometer required for monitoring Euro I standard. The Chassis
Dynamometer is missing from the list of equipment mentioned in the
debriefing note presented to the MoPE. The Danish fact finding group came
in Nepal to assess the problems and help alleviate air pollution problems
in Kathmandu Valley. The debriefing note contains plans to set new air
quality standards but there are no references to Euro I Standards and
Chassis Dynamometer.
" We were confident of getting Chassis Dynamometer," said an official of
MoPE. Though the government has announced to implement Euro I standards,
there is no Chassis Dynamometer to monitor Euro I standards. Minister of
State Bhakta Bahadur Balayar told Kantipur in an informal meeting that
the Danish ambassador had assured MoPE to provide the equipment the day
news published on the lack of Chassis Dynamometer.
The Danish government had made public its commitment to improve the air
quality of the valley and set aside 300 million rupees for this purpose.
Ministry earlier submitted its action plan to the fact finding group
emphasizing the need of Chassis Dynamometer. Ministry sources alleged the
Danish fact finding group of trying to influence the project and
presenting a plan that does not reflect the need of the Ministry.
"The project should run the way we need it. This problem has arisen
because a short-term visit by experts from the donors side and
consulting a few people could not assess adequately the gravity of
problems and the need of the people," said Surendra Devkota.
The fact finding group has suggested to the need improve the quality of
fuel, establish emissions monitoring stations and promote alternative
fuel vehicles in Nepal.
2. Toyata's Hybrid Car
Toyota's eagerly awaited hybrid car, the Prius, goes on the market in
Japan on December 10. The Prius runs on a flexible combination of electric
and gasoline power. In Japanese testing, it has proved twice as
fuel-efficient and 10 times cleaner than conventional vehicles of
comparable size and performance.
The Prius captured international attention when it debuted at the Tokyo
Motor Show in October. Automakers in North America, Europe, and Japan have
been working on hybrid systems for several years. But Toyota is the first
to market a mass-produced hybrid car.
At the heart of the Prius is the revolutionary Toyota Hybrid System. That
system includes both a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and a permanent-magnet
electric motor. The car runs entirely on electric power during startup and
under light loads, as on downgrades. It runs on a combination of gasoline
and electric power during ordinary cruising.
The hybrid system only uses engine power in the most efficient range. A
computerized power splitter directs power from the engine to the wheels
and also to the generator. Output from the generator recharges the
batteries whenever they are low. And a regenerative braking arrangement
also recovers energy from the wheels during downhill driving,
deceleration, and braking and uses it to generate electricity.
Toyota has designed, equipped, and priced the Prius to be fully
competitive with conventional automobiles. The automaker will market the
car throughout Japan through the outlets of its largest sales channel.
Toyota's initial sales target for the Prius is 1,000 vehicles a month.
Nepal News:
1. Tuk-Tuks not to raise fare
Martin Chautari, 2, December, 1999
Amid increase in fare for both electric vehicles and gasoline powered
vehicles, the Tuk-Tuk operators have decided not to raise the fare. The
executive committee of the valley LPG entrepreneurs association decided
all Tuk-Tuks registered in the association would serve the customers at
the existing rate. The government has not increased the price of LPG gas
(household) which is used also in the tuk-tuks.
General News:
1. Electric Vehicles in Developing Countries
In developing countries traffic is increasing at an incredible rate. In
many cities pollution has reached an intolerable level. Diseases which are
caused by the contaminated air are increasing at an equal rate. The
employment of electric vehicles might help to reduce these problems. The
conditions for the use of electric vehicles are better due to the lower
speed of the traffic, and due to more favorable transportation and
climatic conditions, which sets off part of the shortcomings of the
batteries.
Studies and projects on electric vehicles have been conducted in Various
developing countries. In Kathmandu, Nepal, 3-wheelers have been converted,
which serve as taxis. The population of Kathmandu judges this project as
extremely useful, mainly because the taxi passengers are no more exposed
to the exhaust fumes of the vehicles. In India several attempts have been
made to cope with the increasing air pollution in the large cities.
In developing countries the conditions for use are partly better than in
the industrialized countries. Particularly the batteries may be less
stressed because of lower average and top speeds. Also the average ambient
temperature is often higher, which is an advantage for lead batteries.
Public transportation vehicles often run fixed routes, which allows fast
charging or battery exchange at the terminals. These facts result in a
longer life cycle and lower battery costs.
Chances and Limits of Electric Vehicles
The benefits of electric vehicles are manifold. Some of the chances they
offer are:
- Electric cars have no emissions when running and can reduce pollution
world-wide.
- Electric vehicles do not rely on emission control equipment that can
worsen over time and cause significant increase in vehicular emissions.
- Cleaner cars are an efficient way towards cleaner air.
- Emissions do not increase: as the vehicle or components age or
malfunction, if the vehicle is poorly maintained, when the vehicle is
driven at high speeds or rapidly accelerates.
- There are no emissions associated with refuelling.
- Smog checks are unnecessary.
- EV’s have less complicated components than vehicles with combustion
engines.
- With only a few moving parts in the motor, little maintenance is
required.
- EV’s may be conveniently refuelled at home.
- EV’s are very quiet when driving.
- Long life due to the reliability of electronic components.
- Some electric vehicles offer quick acceleration unmatched by most
vehicles on the road.
- Infrastructure needed for recharging the batteries is available to a
large extent.
- Dramatic reduction in oil consumption and petroleum imports.
- EV’s can use energy created from renewable energy resources, such as
hydro, sun or wind.
Some drawbacks of electric vehicles are the following:
- Electric vehicles cannot be used for all applications.
- Electric vehicles will not be able to replace all gasoline vehicles in
the near future.
- Running costs are high due to the short life expectancy of the batteries
and the related replacement costs for batteries.
- The performance of EV’s is limited due to the amount of energy that can
be drawn from their batteries in specific units of time; in other words,
their power capacity.
- Electric vehicle batteries of today’s technology need replacement every
two or three years.
- Non sealed lead acid batteries have to be filled with water every 2'000
to 4’000km.
- Another problem with EV’s concerns the time required to charge their
batteries.
**************************************************************************
From: "Jimmy Rai" <jimmyrai@alltel.net>
To: <nepal@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Some information on history.
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 16:36:36 -0500
Sir,
I need to update my history lessons: could any of your readers help?
Firstly, Sri 3 Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana died in 1877 and was succeded by
his brother, Jagat Shamsher Rana. He was assasinated by (?) on (?). Jagat
Shamsher was succeded by (?). Secondly, King Tribhuwan accompanied by his
entire family took asylum and arrived at New Delhi on 6 November 1950 and
returned on 15 February 1951. During his absence his grandson Prince
Gyanendra was crowned King of Nepal on (?). I will be grateful.
Thank you very much indeed.
With best wishes.
Jimmy Rai <jimmyrai@alltel.net>
*************************************************************
Date: 6 Dec 1999 14:36:52 -0000
To: List Member <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
From: "Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal" <AFVsNepal-owner@listbot.com>
Subject: AFVs News
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal
Nepal News
1. Invitation for An Interaction Program
Dear all,
The operation of EVs in Kathmandu built with Nepalese expertise and
efforts has crossed three years mark. The number of EVs popularly known
as SAFA tempos has reached 300. The EVs that run on electricity are
gaining world-wide popularity. The success of EVs in Nepal has become an
international interest. In this context, LEADERs Nepal and Martin Chautari
which are working on energy-environment interrelations in transport sector
are organizing an interaction program " EVs in Next Millennium and
Experience of EV in Nepal" with a view to share Nepalese experience with
foreign experts. We welcome you all to participate in the program.
Date: 8 December, 1999
Time: 1.00 pm
Venue: Auditorium Hall of Nepal Tourism Board , Bhrikuti Mandap,
Kathmandu
2. Umbrella Organization of EV Entrepreneurs in Offing
Martin Chautari, 6 December, 1999
The much talked about umbrella organization of EV entrepreneurs is
moving in the direction of becoming a reality. In a meeting held at
Martin Chautari on Sunday, it was decided to form an umbrella organization
comprising EV manufacturers, charging stations' owners, unit organizations
of EV owners and charger and EV parts manufacturers and unit organizations
of drivers. The main objective of the umbrella organization shall be to
work towards fulfilling common interests of EV entrepreneurs leading to
the promotion of EVs in next millennium. The work is under way to
formulate bylaws of the proposed organization.
3. High Level Committee Formed to Set Air Quality and Fuel Standards
From Kantipur Daily, December 4, 1999
Citing full commitment of Prime Minister towards pollution control in
Kathmandu valley, the State Minister for population and environment
Bhakta Bahadur Balayar reiterated the government's stand on Euro I
standards.'' I am facing pressures from all directions but I am not going
to relax the standards imposed for the import of microbuses," said State
Minister.
The main culprit of the valley's worsening air pollution, the diesel
tempos were banned to operate from September 17, 1999. The government then
decided to allow 99 per cent waiver on import duty and VAT exemption for
the for diesel tempo owners to import micro buses with Euro I standard.
Since none of the owners actually opened LC within the deadline as
required to import the microbuses, the government has now extended the
deadline to open up LC till January 15.
On the ground of hardships faced by the deprived tempo drivers as none of
the owners opened LC, the Environment Ministry has constituted a committee
comprising secretaries and member secretaries of Ministry of Finance,
Supplies, Works and Transport and Environment to find a way out of this
problem.
According to the press release issued by the Ministry, the committee
will work out new vehicular emission standards, fuel quality standards
and other relevant future policies. Environmentalists sense there could
be a foul play in this newly constituted committee. " If the government
loose Euro I standards, all of its credits (national and international)
will flow down the drain," says Anil Baral, an environmentalist.
Bimal Aryal who is conducting a research on public transport says that the
drivers are moving out of the valley along with the banned Vikram
tempos and with the number of electric tempos crossing 300, the problem
faced by commuters is gradually diminishing. " It does not matter much
even if we do not have microbuses. We have growing EV industry here," says
Bimal Aryal. According to him the five manufacturing companies have
bookings for 200 electric tempos.
A study carried out by Center for Science and Environment, an NGO working
actively on environment in India shows that every year 10 thousand
people die form air pollution. In Nepal such study has yet to be carried
out. In a study carried out by LEADERS Nepal based on the records of
Kanti Bal Hospital, it was found that children from the city suffered more
from respiratory ailments than the children living in city outskirts.
"Air pollution does not discriminate entrepreneurs, experts and the
general public. Our government wants to avoid the danger of a whole
generation becoming mentally retarded," said the Minister of State,
Bhakta Bahadur Balayar - when it comes to the health of general public,
rather than thinking in terms of individual cost and benefits, one has to
think along the nationalistic line."
The Minster emphasized that the newly constituted committee will also
involve independent experts and journalists and find out solution of the
prevailing problem without relaxing the Euro I standards.
AFVs News
1. Interaction Program on "EVs in Next Millennium and Experience of
Electric Tempos in Nepal
Martin Chautari, 9 December, 1999
An interaction program on " EVs in Next Millennium and Experience of
Electric Tempos in Nepal" was organized yesterday by Leaders Nepal and
Martin Chautari. Addressing the participants, Amod Pokhrel from Leaders
Nepal said that EV industry in Nepal has become an example for the whole
world and it has got a huge response from international community.
Among prominent participants were Minister of State for Population and
Environment Bhakta Bahadur Balayar and experts from Japan. In the program
Minister stressed the government's commitment to promote EVs built in
the country in order to reduce air pollution of Katmandu valley. "
Government should take appropriate measures to ensure that every child
born in healthy environment, " said the Minister.
The EV industry in Nepal is no longer a small business. It has grown into
multi-crore business and is providing jobs to a considerable number of
people. "This is a perfect example that economic development does not
conflict with environment protection. "Instead of focusing on facilitating
the import of microbuses, the government should focus on promoting EVs
which are being manufactured with our own resources and expertise," said
Bikash Pandey, Director of REPSO-Nepal Winrock International. According to
Biksah Pandey about 570 persons are directly employed in EV industry as
managers, technicians, drivers and workers. Apart from direct benefits,
the EV industry is also creating cross-sectoral benefits such as creating
jobs in transformer manufacture and hydroelectricity generation, boost in
tourism, and revenues to Nepal Electricity Authority.
"Manufacturing only electric tempos will not sustain the EV industry in
future. The time has come for manufactures to expand their market outside
Katmandu and start manufacturing four-wheeler EVs too," said Anil Baral
from Martin Chautari. EV industry needs more concessions if it has
survive strongly in market. Ashok Raj Pandey speaking on behalf of
manufacturers demanded that government should provide VAT exemptions on
electric components too.
2. Role of NGOs in EV promotion: Experience of Martin Chautari
Background:
Nepal has witnessed encouraging growth of electric tempos and LPG-run
Tuk-Tuks in recent years. The Electric Vehicle (EV) industry which once
was looked upon as a risky adventure has now established itself as a
strong and commercially profitable industry. Nowhere in the world have
EV industries been running successfully like in Nepal. The way these
Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) are growing here has been able to
receive a wide attention from international community. EVs which are
unable to compete with conventional modes of transport in other parts of
the world are doing well in Kathmandu. The comparatively low manufacturing
costs mainly due to cheap labor costs and financial incentives provided by
the government have rendered the EV industry a competitive edge. Endeavors
of Nepalese entrepreneurs aside, the active participation by NGOs working
in the field of environment such as awareness building, boycotting
polluting Vikram tempos helped a lot to force the government to take
measures like prohibiting the operation of Vikram tempos in the valley,
provide compensation for Vikram owners and incentives for the promotion of
Alternative Fuel Vehicles. These efforts are proving fruitful for the
promotion of AFVs in Nepal.
What is Martin Chautari doing?
Martin Chautari began advocacy program based on the research conducted
with support from Renewable Energy Program Support Office-Nepal, Winrock
International. The research outlined bottlenecks facing the EV industry in
Nepal. It proposed some specific measures to help EV industry grow in the
market. Among recommended measures featured in the research are lobbying
for incentives for non-polluting mode of transport and public awareness
building and mobilization through NGOs. Following the two-month study
Martin Chautari has embarked on advocacy program that comprises
environmental education in public schools of Kathmandu, radio programs,
information dissemination through pamphleteering, writing articles and
publishing news in various print media, interaction programs and e-mail
circulation through a mailing list server.
What can we learn from public campaign for Clean Air?
It took eight years for government to prohibit the operation of Vikram
tempos after it stopped registering new Vikram tempos. The introduction of
electric tempos and Tuk-Tuks and an intensified "Vikram Out" campaign in
last one year by a number of NGOs like Martin Chautari, Explore Nepal,
Leaders Nepal, Abhiyan Group, etc. resulted in ousting of Vikram tempos
thereby paving a way for the promotion of EVs in Nepal. The demand for
EVs has more than trebled after the Vikram tempos' expulsion. The EV
industry has grown into multi-crore business and has already provided
jobs to a substantial number of people. This suggests that the
protection of environment does not conflict with economic growth of the
nation.
The key to bring a substantial change such as banning Vikram tempos and
providing incentives for EVs is a constant public pressure. In developing
countries like Nepal, creating demand driven initiatives for AFVs through
grass root advocacy is always important. Since the government alone can
not enforce environmentally friendly policies such as implementing strict
emission standards, penalizing polluting vehicles, and providing
incentives unless it has been forced to do so, role of NGOs to mobilize
people and demand improvements assumes greater significance. NGOs can
promote AFVs and hence reduce the worsening air quality of the valley by
informing the public of advantages of using EVs, informing manufacturers
of incentives provided by the government, and facilitate in the creation
of conducive environment for participation of women entrepreneurs. Women
seem to be suitable for driving electric tempos not only because they take
proper care of the batteries and EV itself, the work load also suits them.
The government's decision to introduce Euro I standards in next millennium
gets boost if a healthy working relationship among Ministry of Population
and Environment, other line ministries and institutions and NGOs develops.
NGOs can provide feedback on what type of standards are economically and
socially feasible and what instruments should be taken to achieve that
goal.
What can be done to promote EVs in next millennium?
Barring trolley buses, AFVs in Nepal mainly represent electric tempos and
LPG-powered Tuks-Tuks. Entrepreneurs in Nepal are focusing on
three-wheelers rather than on four wheelers. The reason is these
three-wheelers are originally developed to substitute gasoline tempos.
Though the battery-run four-wheelers are expensive to built, manufacturers
in Nepal should bear in mind that manufacturing electric tempos or
running Tuk-Tuks can not alone sustain themselves in near future. For
example, the demand for electric tempos is sure to be dwindled after the
demand created after Vikram tempos' expulsion is fulfilled. For the case
of three-wheelers, attempts must now be made to expand their market
outside the valley.
In addition to continuing producing three-wheelers, the time is now
ripe for industries to look for developing four-wheelers run on
alternative fuels. This certainly demands research and development. As in
the case of electric tempos which began operating after a few years of
research development, the manufacturers here need technical assistance
and financial support from international communities for such efforts.
The government can play an important role in this regard by developing a
legislative framework that provides incentives for four-wheelers and
facilitates technology transfer. Here again NGOs can assist by suggesting
what types of policies should be formulated and implemented to foster
development and operation of four-wheelers within the country, and
creating awareness among the public of advantages of using such
four-wheelers. We need EVs in next millennium not only to breathe fresh
air but also to ensure sustainable development.
3. Comments from Adam Friedensohn
Some rebuttal:
"high cost of batteries" is also a function of how the charger station
operators do their job and quality of chargers and usage patterns of
drivers who are not owners. not an inherent aspect of EV technology.
Secondly battery changeover time (public transport scenarios only) are
timely as they occur on tea breaks and only take 5-10 minutes. Not much
of a problem we hear. Also when one talks of battery cost one must talk of
fuel cost in general. Diesel is subsidized and batteries are taxed. This
again is not an inherent problem with EV technology or its cost but
government policy reflecting their somewhat skewed view on life in general.
**************************************************************
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 1999 23:15:28 -0600
From: Padam Sharma <psharma@outtech.com>
To: ENF Friends and Supporters <empowernepal@mailexcite.com>
Subject: Greetings and Update from Empower Nepal Foundation....
Dear Friend :
Namaste!
On behalf of Empower Nepal Foundation, I express the season’s warmest
greetings from Minnesota where our hearts are the warmest as the weather
this year. The global warming must have a positive effect somewhere. No
white stuff and no windchills, yet.
Volunteered time, skill, and monetary contributions by Nepalese and
friends of Nepal community in Minnesota over the last three years have
converted the idea of networking for Nepal into an organization called
Empower Nepal Foundation (ENF). ENF is a public supported, 501(c)(3)
status, non-profit organization dedicated to bring people and resources
together for Nepal.
I am writing this letter to publicly thank all the volunteers, sponsors,
and supporters in Minnesota and elsewhere and specially recognize a few
outstanding individuals who have provided significant services to
Empower Nepal Foundation. To all Nepal lovers and well-wishers like you,
I am bringing an update of ‘What’s happening with ENF?’ and asking for
your support.
Thanks to Krishna B. Shah who has taken the initiative and leadership in
redesigning and maintaining the ENF web site located at
<empowernepal.hypmermart.net> or <www,welcome.to/enf> Please visit the
website and learn about ENF organization structure, projects,
activities,
and how sponsor’s monetary contributions are being used to invest into
the future of Nepal.
Nepal, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, is also one of
the most loved by Nepalese and friends around the world. The idea of
doing something benevolent for Nepal is spreading among Nepal lovers.
Thanks to Dr. Murari Suvedi, Jon Hartoug and student volunteers of
Semester in Nepal Program at Michigan State University, ENF has started
its first chapter at East Lansing, Michigan. The enthusiastic
volunteers of ENF-MI Chapter are already raising money and developing
programs in Nepal. With your continued support, we hope to sustain and
spread this fire of compassion for Nepal by opening more ENF chapters
among Nepalese and friends of Nepal communities in the US, Canada,
around the world, and in Nepal.
Thanks to Dr. Bal K. Sharma from East Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Sharma has
shown an example of how expatriate Nepali individuals can take the
initiative and pool resources to support their own communities in
Nepal. By working closely with educators and community leaders, Dr.
Sharma has initiated a school reconstruction support program at his
childhood school in Amppipal, Gorkha, Nepal. The school buildings,
originally built by United Mission to Nepal about 50 years ago, are in
dilapidated condition and a great hazard to students and teachers. Of a
total estimate of about $16000 needed to reconstruct a 7-classroom
building, the community and VDC have committed about $4000 in labor and
cash. To date, Dr. Sharma has raised about $4000, and ENF has provided
$1000 as matching support to initiate the project. The school
construction will begin this winter, and in coming months, the project
plans to raise the remaining money needed to finish the construction
work early next year. Where there is a will, there is a way to help
Nepal.
I would like to thank Dr. Leonard Skov and applaud the leadership of
Mahabir Pun from the University of Nebraska for starting Himanchal Area
Foundation at Kearney, Nebraska to support Himanchal High School at
Myagdi – a remote district in the mid-western Himalayas. Mahabir Pun’s
selfless leadership and his initiative to build and sustain the school
through money raised from student and community led income generating
endeavors and through internal and external charitable contributions and
volunteered support is a model for Nepal. With Mahabir’s cooperation,
ENF has initiated secondary school scholarship program to support
talented, underprivileged children graduate through Himanchal High
School in rural Myagdi.
Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Sambedan Bhattarai and initiative
and enthusiasm of members of ENF Education Committee, ENF has undertaken
a program to develop Education Endowment Fund. ENF’s initial goal is to
collect about $18000 towards this fund. Income generated from this fund
is estimated to annually support about 40 students to attend secondary
schools in a program district. So far ENF has raised about $5000
towards the Endowment Fund and needs to raise $13000 more to meet this
goal.
I thank Linda Farthing and Meera Rana from Educate the Children (Ithaca
and Kathmandu) for letting ENF invest in ETC’s women’s socio-economic
empowerment program in Rasuwa. These dedicated individuals, who run
ETC’s well-recognized women’s program in Nepal, believe that children’s
education starts with an enlightened mother. ENF agrees with this
premise, and with your support, we hope to continue to chip in for more
women’s socio-economic empowerment and health education programs in the
future.
My special kudos goes to energetic Nepali students from institutions of
higher learning in Minnesota and friends and families in the Twin Cities
area who have volunteered their time and talents to make Nepali
cultural events in Minnesota successful. By working together, we have
demonstrated that we can raise money for Nepal while sustaining and
enjoying the culture of Nepal (such as Nepali New Year celebration in
April, Ma-Ha Gai-Jatra program in September, Dashain party and
impromptu-Deusi in October). Helping ENF raise money for Nepal has
become part of our culture.
I’ll try my best to communicate with you occasionally about the
progresses we make and the problems we face. However, I do request you
again to make an effort to regularly visit the ENF web site <
welcome.to/enf > and help yourself with ENF’s info-menu. Please send
your tidbits and articles on your thoughts on what ENF should do for
Nepal and on your recollections of experiences from Nepal. The
articles will be published in our biannual newsletter ‘ENF Exchange’
which is also posted on the web. Again, your feedback and continued
support is extremely important and valuable to us.
Your monetary contributions increase ENF’s collective will and resources
to serve Nepal. ENF volunteers are vigilant in maintaining ENF books
and ensure that ENF has timely recognition of your donations and
accurate accounting of income and expenses. With volunteer work and
in-kind contribution of office supplies and postage, we keep our
administrative expenses to bare minimum (< 1% in 1999). We guarantee to
transfer 100 percent of your charitable donations to support worthy
projects in Nepal.
With your continued support, our collective vigilance, and by working
together with principled local community leaders in Nepal, ENF is
seeking to establish a trustworthy network of individuals and
institutions to ensure that your monetary contributions to ENF are fully
utilized to help needy individuals and communities in Nepal help
themselves.
Please be an ENF sponsor and ask others to do so. If you are already
supporting ENF or any other worthy cause in Nepal, please continue and
feel free to add to your existing level of support. If you have not
done so yet, it is time to write the first check to ENF and carry your
philanthropic spirit and pledge of support of ‘doing something
worthwhile for Nepal’ into the new millennium. Consider this as our
collective investment for the future of Nepal.
On behalf of a vigilant ENF Board of Directors, I want to assure you
that, with ENF, your satisfaction and trust is guaranteed. And we have
the Y2K-complient address for you to send your donations to: Empower
Nepal Foundation, 2000 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108. Your donations
are tax deductible in the USA.
You can specifically designate your contributions to support existing
projects (Education Endowment Fund, Women’s Socio-Economic Program,
Ampipal School Reconstruction Fund, Support to ENF-MI Chapter Programs)
or as ENF General Fund to support future educational, environmental, and
socio-economic empowerment projects in Nepal.
I thank you again for taking time in reading this rather lengthy letter,
and I promise to write to you only once a year during this time. Again,
please send your check, and please forward this Email and/or printed
copies of this letter to your family and friends and ask them to join
you in supporting ENF programs in Nepal.
May the coming holiday season and the year 2000 AD and beyond bring you
and your loved ones peace, good health, and happiness. May the new
millennium strengthen our resolve to continue to love and support Nepal.
Thank you.
Padam Prasad Sharma, President
Empower Nepal Foundation.
2000 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108
Email: psharma@outtech.com
Phone: (651) 644-3733.
Website: http://www.welcome.to/enf
REST OF THE WINNERS WILL HELP BUILD A SCHOOL IN NEPAL
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (MAHR) is selling raffle tickets to
raise money for building and supporting schools in developing
countries. The goal is to reduce the influx of children into the labor
force. Instead of making 'holier than though' speeches in the media
about child labor, they have chosen investment in education as the most
effective way to eliminate the problem.
Empower Nepal Foundation (ENF) wholeheartedly believes in this premise.
ENF and MAHR are coordinating the sale of raffle tickets to build and
support their first school project to educate brick workers’ children at
Sankhu, Nepal. When I asked, why did you chose to build your first
school in Nepal, they replied, ‘there is a tremendous need for education
in Nepal and we saw what Nepalese could do with education’. In other
words, we get a big bang out of every buck spent on educating the
children in Nepal.
The tickets are $10 (US) each, and a drawing will be held on December
28, 1999. Winner
receives two airline tickets to Nepal via Northwest Airlines, or $1,000
cash.
Unfortunately, we don’t have time to physically distribute the tickets
at your neighborhood. And, we have plenty (100's and 100's) of tickets
left unsold. Every ticket left unsold is a loss to needy children of
Nepal.
So please buy tickets for your family and friends and help sell to
others in your workplace and community. Please show that you care.
IF YOU ARE THE LUCKY WINNER, I PROMISE TO INFORM YOU PROMPTLY AND
PERSONALLY SUBMIT YOUR WINNING TICKET TO MAHR TO CLAIM THE PRIZE ON YOUR
BEHALF.
Since the trip to Nepal will originate in Minneapolis/St. Paul, you and
your loved one will be ENF and MAHR’s special guests in the Twin Cities
before your departure to Nepal in the year 2000. What a deal!
Here is what we'll do.
1. You send me an email (with your phone number) at psharma@outtech.com
or call me or leave a message at (651-644-3733) to reserve your ticket
(s).
2. I'll assign the ticket number(s) in your name and send you an email
confirming your assigned ticket numbers.
3. You promptly mail the money or check for the tickets to:
Empower Nepal Foundation, 2000 Como Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108. Write
'rafle ticket' on the
check memo.
4. Please make sure that we get your check(s) by December 18 (Saturday).
I’ll promptly acknowledge when we receive the money.
5. I can either hold on to your ticket or mail to you, your choice.
However, I prefer the former to save the stamp expense and mailing
hassles specially at this time of year!.
PLEASE SPARE A MINUTE AND ACT IMMEDIATELY. YOUR PROMPTNESS AND SUPPORT
WILL HELP A NEPALI CHILD GET AHEAD IN HIS/HER LIFE.
***********************************************************
From: Rokka123@aol.com
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 09:15:56 EST
Subject: (no subject)
To: tnd@nepal.org
Dear Sir,
I am trying to find the address of King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah. I would
like to send His Highness a copy of a Hindu Sankrit book that has been
recently been published.
Kindly forward me the postal address.
Thank You,
Ram Gollakota
rokka123@aol.com
****************************************************************
From: "Ehud Choshen" <ehudc@hotmail.com>
To: <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: judges in Nepal
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 12:23:21 +0200
Dear Ms./Sir
For research purposes, I need some statistical information about Nepal's =
judges.
Can you E-mail me the amount of all the judges in Nepal?
How many of them are women?
How many of them are minorities?
What is the amount of the supreme court judges?
Thank you in advance,
Dr. Ehud Choshen
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