Bishnu Prasad Aryal
It was raining all the day as it is the beginning of the rainy season and first monsoon rain began on that very day. I was symbolically dancing in the rain. On June 27, I got out from my home located at Rampur-1 in a serene and big valley along the Kaligandaki river of Palpa district. I was at home for only one day as I had taken a leave of four-day from my office. It was the fourth day. I must have left the home for my office in Kathmandu.
Showering rain continually hailed me on the way.I reached the bus station at the 15-minute distance from my home. The road to the main highway is not black-topped yet. It becomes muddy and risky during the rainy season. However, the driver of a van among others assured me to drive his vehicle for the destination despite raining. I was glad and thankful to him for carrying my two big bags full of ripen mangoes and bananas organically grown at my home garden. The fruits were so sweet, I nearly swallowed my tongue when I tasted them at my home.
It was about 1 pm I got on the van. Another van led the way. It was moving ahead we were following it. The leading van started dancing on the road as the rain and mud played music to its tune. People were afraid of the scene but I enjoyed it a lot when the van in which I was danced better than the earlier. People got down and walked on the muddy sections of the road, however, I danced merrily. Actually, I was sitting on the seat of the van and the van was so nicely dancing.
The distance was only 27km, a travel of simply for two hours in a van but it took more than thrice fold of time to reach to Galyang on the Siddartha Highway. The driver of my van was so sweet, good and excellent in driving than the one that was leading us. I talked to him and he talked to me frankly. He was so helpful and discplined person I was impressed by him. I am still thinking that if I get his van on my journey, I will never ride on any vehicle on that route as I like to dance again in a driving van.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Unplanned urban sprawl is a worry
Kathmandu-valley city-development in ugly state of horizontal expansion
Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, June 18
Horizontal expansion of houses lacking minimum criteria of urbanisation in the Kathmandu valley has become a menace to healthy, safe and standard living. There is no good and specific plan on the urban development.
“Kathmandu is not an urban. It is just a gathering of people settled haphazardly in unmanaged and unplanned manner,” said Suman Neupane, general manager of Sunrise Bank at Gairidhara in Kathmandu. “Basic infrastructures such as easy roads, drinking water, systematic drainage, electricity and passages for fire fighters and emergency services are unavailable everywhere,” he added.
There is no parks, space and greenery in the valley, which has been losing environmental and aesthetic values day by day. It is developing not like a managed city but like a slum dwelling, said Er Devendra Dongol, senior planner at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) estimated at about 600,000 houses in the valley and approximately 10,000 houses are being added every year in five municipalities and 45 town oriented VDCs. Houses are being built even in a small piece of land of 2.5 anas.
“The unmanaged, haphazard and unplanned growth with poor infrastructure and facilities has affected badly on ground-water recharge, management of drainage, drinking water, roads and electricity, environment among others,” said Dongol.
“I have my own house here but have booked a four-bedroom apartment of Rs 5 million at the Sun City Apartments for a good environment, security, free-land area and an ideal way of living with basic facilities,” said Neupane.
A few housing companies are focusing on high-class families only for commercial purposes. “There is no apartment made for poor, lower and middle class families in the valley,” said Dongol.
Er Hemnath Sharma Khanal, chief at the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee under the MoPPW, presented an instance of a low cost house of US$ 1,500 in Indonesia and said the government was yet to forge plans on it. “We are thinking of apartment system in the country,” he added. “It is a must to develop cities outside the Kathmandu valley too.”
Neupane said a master plan on a vertical development of the city was necessary to replace the old and unmanaged houses. “Government, as a facilitator to the private sector for better housing system, should identify areas for colonies and develop cities with the concepts of developed apartments and housings,” he added.
According to KMC, 30 per cent of the total area of 670sqkm in the Kathmandu valley is covered by the houses. “There is no alternative to the vertical development to manage the city,” said Neupane.
Said Dongol, “Law and ethics must be brought and enforced to systemise the development of apartment urbanisation by introducing low cost and affordable apartments for the ordinary people to manage and develop the city in scientific and aesthetic way.”
“We have recently registered the two bills on land transaction and Kathmandu valley town development to the parliament, aiming to set up Town Development Council,” said Khanal. “An Act regarding the apartment and housing system was introduced about a decade ago, but not enough to address the existing problems,” he added.
This was published on THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, June 19, 2009.
Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, June 18
Horizontal expansion of houses lacking minimum criteria of urbanisation in the Kathmandu valley has become a menace to healthy, safe and standard living. There is no good and specific plan on the urban development.
“Kathmandu is not an urban. It is just a gathering of people settled haphazardly in unmanaged and unplanned manner,” said Suman Neupane, general manager of Sunrise Bank at Gairidhara in Kathmandu. “Basic infrastructures such as easy roads, drinking water, systematic drainage, electricity and passages for fire fighters and emergency services are unavailable everywhere,” he added.
There is no parks, space and greenery in the valley, which has been losing environmental and aesthetic values day by day. It is developing not like a managed city but like a slum dwelling, said Er Devendra Dongol, senior planner at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) estimated at about 600,000 houses in the valley and approximately 10,000 houses are being added every year in five municipalities and 45 town oriented VDCs. Houses are being built even in a small piece of land of 2.5 anas.
“The unmanaged, haphazard and unplanned growth with poor infrastructure and facilities has affected badly on ground-water recharge, management of drainage, drinking water, roads and electricity, environment among others,” said Dongol.
“I have my own house here but have booked a four-bedroom apartment of Rs 5 million at the Sun City Apartments for a good environment, security, free-land area and an ideal way of living with basic facilities,” said Neupane.
A few housing companies are focusing on high-class families only for commercial purposes. “There is no apartment made for poor, lower and middle class families in the valley,” said Dongol.
Er Hemnath Sharma Khanal, chief at the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee under the MoPPW, presented an instance of a low cost house of US$ 1,500 in Indonesia and said the government was yet to forge plans on it. “We are thinking of apartment system in the country,” he added. “It is a must to develop cities outside the Kathmandu valley too.”
Neupane said a master plan on a vertical development of the city was necessary to replace the old and unmanaged houses. “Government, as a facilitator to the private sector for better housing system, should identify areas for colonies and develop cities with the concepts of developed apartments and housings,” he added.
According to KMC, 30 per cent of the total area of 670sqkm in the Kathmandu valley is covered by the houses. “There is no alternative to the vertical development to manage the city,” said Neupane.
Said Dongol, “Law and ethics must be brought and enforced to systemise the development of apartment urbanisation by introducing low cost and affordable apartments for the ordinary people to manage and develop the city in scientific and aesthetic way.”
“We have recently registered the two bills on land transaction and Kathmandu valley town development to the parliament, aiming to set up Town Development Council,” said Khanal. “An Act regarding the apartment and housing system was introduced about a decade ago, but not enough to address the existing problems,” he added.
This was published on THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, June 19, 2009.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Tender hands pull the tough chariot of Rato Machchhindranath
Women's turn to pull Rato Machchhindranath
Excitement galore at annual chariot festival in Lalitpur
Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Lalitpur, June 12
Women pulled the chariot of Ratomachchhindranath from Podetole of Lagankhel to Bighneshwor Ganesh Temple at Thati tole today as their counterparts did. It started at 5:30 AM and reached to the destination of about 125 metres at about 6:45.
“It was so exciting moment when the women were pulling the chariot,” said local onlooker Shova Maharjan, who pulled the chariot herself two years ago. “This chance falls once a year for women to pull the chariot. So we never miss to involve in the celebration,” she said.
Thousands of women of any age took part in the chariot procession of Rato Machchhindranath this morning at Lagankhel. The chariot procession of Rato Machchhindranath, which takes place on the auspicious days in between April to June, began on April 29 this year.
Laxmi Shahi of Balkumari, who has pulled the chariot for five consecutive years, said that it was an amazing experience of pulling chariot. “It looks so simple while men pull it but we experience difficulty as we do it,” said Maharjan. “I was so tired and felt sick throughout the after the wonderful moments,” she added.
Coconut, which is regarded as the harbinger of prosperity and will help fulfill all their wishes, was thrown from the chariot on Thursday at Lagankhel. If anyone could get this coconut, his wish, if any, would be fulfilled. Mostly man without a son comes so that he could beget a son, according to the locals. On the day of coconut throwing, it is believed that on the eve of taking the chariot from Lagankhel to Jawalakhel, the podenies (female street sweepers) used to sleep naked and Machchhindranath descends to sleep with them.
“We did not wish for anything but did it simply without demanding anything from God,” said Shahi. Women from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur thronged the spot to pull the chariot. “More than 100 women actively involved in pulling two chariots weighing about 50 and 20 tons respectively,” said local Bhairaja Dheula. “I observed the celebration with my keen interest,” he said.
Rato Machchhindranath is worshipped as the God of rain and harvest. It is popularly known as Bodhisattwa, Padmapani, Bunga Dyo and Karunamaya Lokeshwara (in Buddhism), which means compassionate god of the universe.
The chariot is pulled from Pulchowk through Gabahal, Sundhara, Lagankhel and Jawalakhel, according to the branch office of the Guthi Sansthan at Lalitpur. The astrologers select an auspicious day and time before the chariot is brought to Jawalakhel. After four days, Bhoto Jatra is celebrated in the presence of the head of the nation. Then it is returned to the temple of Bungamati, a village in southern Lalitpur.
This festival was observed in the winter season in the 13th century as written in the autobiography of traveller Dharma Sayami. King Jayasthiti Malla began in 14th century to celebrate the festival in the spring season.
The deity was brought by Lichhivi king Narendra Dev during the ninth century from Kamarkamachay of Assam, India to Patan in the Kathmandu valley in order to prevent drought. The deity is kept at Bungamati for sixth months and at Tahbahal of Patan for six months alternatively.
This news was published on The Himalayan Times, June 13, 2009.
Excitement galore at annual chariot festival in Lalitpur
Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Lalitpur, June 12
Women pulled the chariot of Ratomachchhindranath from Podetole of Lagankhel to Bighneshwor Ganesh Temple at Thati tole today as their counterparts did. It started at 5:30 AM and reached to the destination of about 125 metres at about 6:45.
“It was so exciting moment when the women were pulling the chariot,” said local onlooker Shova Maharjan, who pulled the chariot herself two years ago. “This chance falls once a year for women to pull the chariot. So we never miss to involve in the celebration,” she said.
Thousands of women of any age took part in the chariot procession of Rato Machchhindranath this morning at Lagankhel. The chariot procession of Rato Machchhindranath, which takes place on the auspicious days in between April to June, began on April 29 this year.
Laxmi Shahi of Balkumari, who has pulled the chariot for five consecutive years, said that it was an amazing experience of pulling chariot. “It looks so simple while men pull it but we experience difficulty as we do it,” said Maharjan. “I was so tired and felt sick throughout the after the wonderful moments,” she added.
Coconut, which is regarded as the harbinger of prosperity and will help fulfill all their wishes, was thrown from the chariot on Thursday at Lagankhel. If anyone could get this coconut, his wish, if any, would be fulfilled. Mostly man without a son comes so that he could beget a son, according to the locals. On the day of coconut throwing, it is believed that on the eve of taking the chariot from Lagankhel to Jawalakhel, the podenies (female street sweepers) used to sleep naked and Machchhindranath descends to sleep with them.
“We did not wish for anything but did it simply without demanding anything from God,” said Shahi. Women from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur thronged the spot to pull the chariot. “More than 100 women actively involved in pulling two chariots weighing about 50 and 20 tons respectively,” said local Bhairaja Dheula. “I observed the celebration with my keen interest,” he said.
Rato Machchhindranath is worshipped as the God of rain and harvest. It is popularly known as Bodhisattwa, Padmapani, Bunga Dyo and Karunamaya Lokeshwara (in Buddhism), which means compassionate god of the universe.
The chariot is pulled from Pulchowk through Gabahal, Sundhara, Lagankhel and Jawalakhel, according to the branch office of the Guthi Sansthan at Lalitpur. The astrologers select an auspicious day and time before the chariot is brought to Jawalakhel. After four days, Bhoto Jatra is celebrated in the presence of the head of the nation. Then it is returned to the temple of Bungamati, a village in southern Lalitpur.
This festival was observed in the winter season in the 13th century as written in the autobiography of traveller Dharma Sayami. King Jayasthiti Malla began in 14th century to celebrate the festival in the spring season.
The deity was brought by Lichhivi king Narendra Dev during the ninth century from Kamarkamachay of Assam, India to Patan in the Kathmandu valley in order to prevent drought. The deity is kept at Bungamati for sixth months and at Tahbahal of Patan for six months alternatively.
This news was published on The Himalayan Times, June 13, 2009.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Newa: Museum is on anvil in Kathmandu
Bishnu Prasad Aryal
KATHMANDU: Plans are afoot to build a Newa: Museum, a treasury of the rich Newari culture to be set up in Kathmandu.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on June 6 floated an idea to build four museums including ethnographic and cultural museums. But his list does not include the Newa Museum showcasing the Newari culture, which is at the centre of the country’s art and heritage.
However, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has plans to set up the museum as a prominent cultural heritage. “KMC has started its work on the plan it approved of 10 months ago,” said Sarbottam Dangol, representative, all-party mechanism, Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has set aside Rs 0.5 million for the conservation of traditional musical instruments, another Rs 0.5 million for establishing the Nepal Bhasha Institute and Rs 1.5 million for the 22 schools teaching Newari language. The plan costs a total of Rs 45 million.
“The metropolis has allocated Rs 30 million this fiscal while the remaining amount will be released next fiscal,” Dangol told this daily.
A nine-member working committee headed by Dangol to execute the plan has been formed. Two sites have been chosen for the purpose.
There are 1.24 million Newars in the country, according to the 2001 Census.
The Newars are known for their unique culture, painting, archaeology and sculpture.
The world heritage sites — Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square, among others — are credited to them.
“This culture is a cornerstone of the national identity,” said cultural expert Satya Mohan Joshi. “Establishing a Newari museum will do justice to their contribution and rich culture,” he added.
Joshi suggested that 30 ropanis of land could be used for the museum in Kirtipur if needed. “Considering easy access for the tourists, we have chosen Shova Bhagawati and Kathmandu Durbar Square, Basantapur, for the site,” said Dongol.
There is four ropanis of land at Shova Bhagawati. Moreover, the land used
by Nepal Sanskrit University at Basantapur is an option, too.
“We have initiated the process of land acquisition,” he said. The deal needs the final seal of the Cabinet.
Dangol said the preliminary design of the museum had been prepared. “We will develop the final design once the land is acquired,” said Suraj Shakya, engineer, Heritage Division, Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
This news was published on The Himalayan Times, June 12, 2009.
KATHMANDU: Plans are afoot to build a Newa: Museum, a treasury of the rich Newari culture to be set up in Kathmandu.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on June 6 floated an idea to build four museums including ethnographic and cultural museums. But his list does not include the Newa Museum showcasing the Newari culture, which is at the centre of the country’s art and heritage.
However, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has plans to set up the museum as a prominent cultural heritage. “KMC has started its work on the plan it approved of 10 months ago,” said Sarbottam Dangol, representative, all-party mechanism, Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has set aside Rs 0.5 million for the conservation of traditional musical instruments, another Rs 0.5 million for establishing the Nepal Bhasha Institute and Rs 1.5 million for the 22 schools teaching Newari language. The plan costs a total of Rs 45 million.
“The metropolis has allocated Rs 30 million this fiscal while the remaining amount will be released next fiscal,” Dangol told this daily.
A nine-member working committee headed by Dangol to execute the plan has been formed. Two sites have been chosen for the purpose.
There are 1.24 million Newars in the country, according to the 2001 Census.
The Newars are known for their unique culture, painting, archaeology and sculpture.
The world heritage sites — Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square, among others — are credited to them.
“This culture is a cornerstone of the national identity,” said cultural expert Satya Mohan Joshi. “Establishing a Newari museum will do justice to their contribution and rich culture,” he added.
Joshi suggested that 30 ropanis of land could be used for the museum in Kirtipur if needed. “Considering easy access for the tourists, we have chosen Shova Bhagawati and Kathmandu Durbar Square, Basantapur, for the site,” said Dongol.
There is four ropanis of land at Shova Bhagawati. Moreover, the land used
by Nepal Sanskrit University at Basantapur is an option, too.
“We have initiated the process of land acquisition,” he said. The deal needs the final seal of the Cabinet.
Dangol said the preliminary design of the museum had been prepared. “We will develop the final design once the land is acquired,” said Suraj Shakya, engineer, Heritage Division, Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
This news was published on The Himalayan Times, June 12, 2009.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
HSEB fails to maintain standards in exam system
Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, June 8
The checking system of answer sheets of Grade 12 under the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) is said to be unethical as per its rules. The checking began last week immediately after the examinations of Class 12 completed.
The HSEB has set certain norms while checking the answer sheets at its head office in Bhaktapur. An examiner is given nearly 200 sheets to check in a week. The norms provisions to check 200 copies in at least five days, according to the HSEB
However, a teacher completes around 100 copies each day without reading the sheets thoroughly, said an examiner, requesting anonymity. “One of my colleagues told me he completed 100 copies in six ours,” he told this daily. “I finished 110 copies in 12 hours,” he added.
He knows this was against the rules and negligence to the future of the students. “Nobody cares about their responsibility if they earn more money by checking copies rapidly,” he said. Rs 15 per copy is paid to the examiner. “If the HSEB violates norms and issues 25 marks as grace to the students who fail in two subjects, will it fall under the responsible act?,” he questioned. "We have heard the HSEB taking money and influencing the results."
As soon as one examiner completes a bundle of sheets in two days, one stays at home freely or work at his office. The examiner comes on the sixth day from the beginning and takes another bundle. There are about 700-800 examiners checking the copies this time. “The checking of copies will complete in about a month,” he said.
According to the HSEB, about 260,000 students appeared in the exams of Grade 12 this year and the results will be published by mid-July.
Ram Bahadur Khadka, member secretary of the HSEB, said that they were strictly implementing the exam norms of coding-decoding, checking copies, scrutiny, and an examiner should be a college teacher who completed Master’s Degree before 2006. “However, we do not keep records of daily checking,” Khadka said. “We cannot blame all but some might have been misusing this loophole.”
“We will not provide more than two bundle of sheets to an examiner. Second bundle is given after seven days,” Khadka said. “We believe the educated persons. If the intellectual circle does such an irresponsible and dishonest act, what can we do?,” he wondered. “We will take action against them if reported,” he added, requesting to provide the name of those teachers. He denied all other allegations.
Nearly exams of about a dozen of subjects in the HSEB were cancelled about a month ago. Its credibility was under ring in the past years too, according to the academicians.
This news was published in THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, June 9, 2009.
Kathmandu, June 8
The checking system of answer sheets of Grade 12 under the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) is said to be unethical as per its rules. The checking began last week immediately after the examinations of Class 12 completed.
The HSEB has set certain norms while checking the answer sheets at its head office in Bhaktapur. An examiner is given nearly 200 sheets to check in a week. The norms provisions to check 200 copies in at least five days, according to the HSEB
However, a teacher completes around 100 copies each day without reading the sheets thoroughly, said an examiner, requesting anonymity. “One of my colleagues told me he completed 100 copies in six ours,” he told this daily. “I finished 110 copies in 12 hours,” he added.
He knows this was against the rules and negligence to the future of the students. “Nobody cares about their responsibility if they earn more money by checking copies rapidly,” he said. Rs 15 per copy is paid to the examiner. “If the HSEB violates norms and issues 25 marks as grace to the students who fail in two subjects, will it fall under the responsible act?,” he questioned. "We have heard the HSEB taking money and influencing the results."
As soon as one examiner completes a bundle of sheets in two days, one stays at home freely or work at his office. The examiner comes on the sixth day from the beginning and takes another bundle. There are about 700-800 examiners checking the copies this time. “The checking of copies will complete in about a month,” he said.
According to the HSEB, about 260,000 students appeared in the exams of Grade 12 this year and the results will be published by mid-July.
Ram Bahadur Khadka, member secretary of the HSEB, said that they were strictly implementing the exam norms of coding-decoding, checking copies, scrutiny, and an examiner should be a college teacher who completed Master’s Degree before 2006. “However, we do not keep records of daily checking,” Khadka said. “We cannot blame all but some might have been misusing this loophole.”
“We will not provide more than two bundle of sheets to an examiner. Second bundle is given after seven days,” Khadka said. “We believe the educated persons. If the intellectual circle does such an irresponsible and dishonest act, what can we do?,” he wondered. “We will take action against them if reported,” he added, requesting to provide the name of those teachers. He denied all other allegations.
Nearly exams of about a dozen of subjects in the HSEB were cancelled about a month ago. Its credibility was under ring in the past years too, according to the academicians.
This news was published in THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, June 9, 2009.
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