First ever collectors’ fair at Patan Museum

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 17 : For the first time in Nepal, a Collectors’ Fair- 2060, which provided a common platform for collectors of various items to show their collections, was held at the Patan Museum today.

Various items of archaeological value, collected by various people were showcased at the Patan Museum today, which also included coins belonging to the Lichchhavi period.

Coin collector, Durga Bhakta Chhuchoon, had displayed coins of Lichchhavi age, Malla era and also coins of King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s period. His collection, which included proof coins, also displayed the first paper money brought out during the reign of King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev.

There were displays from other collectors too where the exhibits were collections of gold coins, silver coins and proof coins. Of interest to the visitor were collections of books, stamps, ornaments and antique vessels.

Hari Prasad Duwal’s exhibit was a measuring vessel - Pani Pathi, which had the stamp of Rana Bahadur Shah, Girvana Yudda Bikram Shah, Surendra Bir Bikram Shah and Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah.

A book that was being edited by King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev for its second edition was also shown at the exhibition.

Enough to mesmerise the genuine collectors of antiques and rarities, the exhibition had many other objects on display. Kuruwa, antique locks, weighing-balances, obsolete watches, cameras, ceramics, costumes, decorative objects-de-art, musical instrument and many more were on display at the exhibition.

Chief guest at the function, Narottam Das Shrestha, a collector and senior artist, said that the true identity of a nation can only be analysed by observing the art, antique coins, culture, old stamps and creative creations. Shrestha has a small museum of his personal collections.

Satya Mohan Joshi, chancellor of Nepal Bhasha Academy also stated that a single coin could reveal the history of an era. However, he insisted that keeping objects for viewing was not enough and that they should be studied and analysed, he added.

Solar Water Disinfection: A technology to treat drinking water

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 17 : Many people do have access to drinking water but, at the same time, the quality of water has been largely neglected. This means waterborne diseases are still widespread and affect thousands of people each year.

Boiling or filtering of water before drinking is generally practised in the suburban areas. However, still there are communities who cannot afford such purification techniques. The solution to this problem is a simple technology for improving water quality, that is, Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS).

SODIS is a very simple technology to treat drinking water at the household level. It requires only sunshine and plastic (PET) bottles. Both heat and ultraviolet radiation provided by sunlight help to inactivate the bacteria in the water, thus making the treated water safe for drinking.

"Neither chemicals nor gas or electricity are used for this treatment method making it most economical and an ecological way to treat water," said Dr Roshan Shrestha, president of Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO). Dr Roshan was speaking at the Second National SODIS meet held here today.

The meet was organised by the ENPHO, Department of Water Supply and Sewage (DWSS), UNICEF and the Federal Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG/SANDEC).

At present ENPHO in association with EAWAC/SANDEC is promoting SODIS in rural and semi-urban areas of Nepal among the poor and marginal communities in association with 5 local partner NGOs. Similarly, Dinesh Chandra Pyakhurel, secretary at Prime Minsiter’s office said that such options like SODIS for water purification were vital in combating diseases.

On the occasion, the research finding carried out by ENPHO was also released. The main focus of the research project carried out by ENPHO was on the bacteriological water quality. "The results of the field trials of SODIS are very encouraging," said Dr Shrestha.

It could be shown that when using clear bottles, more than 99 percent of bacteria are removed. The SODIS bottle needs to be exposed in sunlight for 2 days during cloudy days. However, a majority of people who used SODIS obtained safe water in one day.

"The findings of the research show that SODIS has the potential to produce safe drinking water for the majority of people in Nepal," he added. Other speakers who expressed their views on the occasion were Guatam Shrestha, Deputy Director General of DWSS and Prem Gurung, expert of SANDEC/EWAG. SANDEC/EWAG are the inventors of SODIS.

Proper management of roadside trees need of hour

RSS

KATHMANDU, April 17 : The trees grown on either sides of the road in unmanaged way have started to invite serious mishaps in the city.

Four persons were killed on the spot, three sustained injuries and two vehicles completely destroyed by the falling of trees at 12 different places of the Kathmandu Valley triggered by the gusty wind on Wednesday night.

This incident is not the first of this sort. It has been happening as if in series from years back.

In 2057 B.S., a woman was killed at Babarmahal and two others injured from the tree fell on the roadside. Fifty-year-old Bidhan Dhami and 50-year-old Phul Maya Chaudhari were killed when a tree crushed them in the same year.

In 2058 BS, the house of Narayan Prasad Ghimire of Satdobato, Lalitpur was crumbled down when a tree fell due to the storm.

Trolley bus services were blocked for days due to the damage caused by the tree fall in Chaitra 2058 BS at Lokanthali, Bhaktapur.

A parked car had been completely damaged at Gathaghar of Bhaktapur in 2058 BS when a tree fell.

These are the only few instances among innumerable that caused greater losses.

The trees planted 33 years ago along with the construction of Ring Road in the Kathmandu Valley by Chinese government now have become increasing threat to the people of Kathmandu owing to the lack of proper management.The trees have been grown along a length of 27.8 km Ringroad in Kathmandu and Lalitpur.

Likewise, the trees grown on the roadsides of Araniko Highway starting from Koteswor to Suryavinayak have been increasing risk to the people.

The authoritative body for the trimming, felling down the old trees and other management works is the Department of Road Management, which seems to have turned its deaf ears to the events.

Although the meeting of Council of Ministers held in 2057 Bhadra had decided to hand over the responsibility of management of the trees to Department of Forest Conservation, another cabinet meeting immediately after this withdrew the decision and the responsibility was given to the Department of Road again.

Whatever be the provisions, to manage the trees properly is the prime need of the hour.

Artificial pond poses threat to life, property

By Rajendra Manandhar

DOLKHA, April 17 : Residents of Fashku VDC, are spending sleepless nights due to fears that an artificial lake, formed by the debris of a recent landslide, may burst its banks and flood the surrounding area.

The earth from the landslide near Gopre has formed an artificial pond 50 metres square and approximately 50 metres deep. With the monsoon approaching there is the possibility that with the increasing flow of water and the consequent pressure, the embankments may burst causing flooding of the nearby areas.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post correspondent, Gopi Krishna Khanal, the Local Development Officer (LDO) says, If the water in the pond is not released before the monsoon sets in then the risk of flooding is high". During the monsoon the water of Charange River merges with the Tamakoshi River.

After local people appealed to the authorities about the precarious situation, a team led by the technical advisor from DRSP under the SDC, Robin Buckman had made an on-the-site inspection, Khanal a local resident informed. It is learnt that this pond poses a threat to the Khimti Hydro-electrical project as well.

The 80 families of Chulde village situated in the vicinity of the pond, which is a three-hour walk from the district headquarters Charikot, are the ones most likely to be affected by any catastrophe that may occur. Many families from this village have begun to shift elsewhere, reiterates the former chairman of this VDC, Gun Bahadur Budhathoki. Not only does villages near this pond run the high risk of being washed away, but the Charange Bazaar, further down, along with two bridges are also vulnerable, added Budhathoki.

According to information provided by a technician, around 2,50,000 cubic metres of water has accumulated in this pond encased by loose soil.

However, Ananda Pradhan, the engineer of the Rural Energy Development branch is of the view that if the water was released at once it could lead to a sudden surge in the flow of the Tamakoshi River ultimately affecting Khimti region as well as Pushpalal Highway. Since the Electricity Development region of the 60-Megawatt Khimti Project lies on the bank of Tamakoshi, high risk of damage to this project cannot be ruled out.

The pond had formed after the massive landslide last August. Around 1500 trees have submerged into this nature created pond, says the former chairman.

Hodgekin’s Lymphoma victim looks for largess

Post Report

POKHARA, April 17 : Relatives of a 20-year-old boy are looking for largess to treat the boy suffering from Hodgekin’s Lymphoma, a kind of cancer that weakens glands of the body parts.

They say that it costs about Rs 60,000 for the treatment of Santosh Lamsal of Chinnebas Village Development Committee, Syangja. But it is beyond their reach to bear such a huge amount of money.

The boy has been admitted at the Manipal Teaching Hospital and his relatives have launched a campaign to raise the amount required for the treatment. Lamsal’s glands in the neck have increased and his body has swollen up, said the doctors taking care of him.

Narayan Sigdel, a close relative of the victim, said that Lamsal’s treatment was possible if they can arrange the required amount.

Doctors at the hospital said that the boy requires at least 12 injections for his treatment. The disease was diagnosed five years ago and he was brought to Kanti Child Hospital in Kathmandu, where he was given six injections. "But we stopped buying the medicine due to a financial crunch," a sad looking Sigdel said.

Advocate injured in bomb explosion

Post Report

SUNSARI, April 17 : Advocate Baburam Adhikari, was injured when a bomb went off at around 1 p.m. today in the office of the District Attorney.

The blast occurred when he was interrogating an alleged Maoist cadre, Ganapat Chandrabankshi of Mahendranagar-5 also known as Prahlad, along with one set of Bharuwa gun, one Katuwa pistol, and two socket bombs placed before them.

"If I had not ordered everybody out of the room in time, somebody could have died, iterated the Assistant Sub Inspector of police Deck Bahadur Rai who was present at the incident site.

Advocate Adhikari who was injured in his left leg was given first aid and has been taken to B.P. Institute in Dharan for further treatment.

The police had nabbed Maoist worker Chandrabankshi from Mahendranagar region near the Koshi Tappu last April 7.

Chandrabankshi has been saying at the interrogation that he had been attacked by the timber smugglers when he was at the Garaiya region of Mahendranagar in the process of advertising campaign for the Murkuchi mass-meeting of Udaipur, and that the weapons did not belong to him.

Vigilance groups formed

Post Report

MAHOTTARI, April 17 : In the absence of any vestige of official law enforcement, villagers and residents in the northern parts of Khopi VDC have formed vigilante groups for security and safeguarding their property, following several incidents of looting within a three-week period.

Locals of adjoining villages in fear of looting and armed robbery have begun to stay awake during nights. Ever since the last week of March, the northern areas of Khopi VDC, places such as Raghunath, Gaidabhetpur, Ramnagar and Bharatpur have had to suffer many daring looting incidents.

Similarly, the ransacking of 11 houses in five villages within two weeks has left the villagers even more worried.

"We have not been able to sleep properly after the incidents in neighbouring Khopi and Raghunathpur," lamented Arun Yadav. The villagers have formed their own night patrolling groups to warn the people at night.

28 families have been victims of looting this year, which started from Khayarmas VDC in the northern part of the district. According to the District Police Crime Investigation branch, the last three years have seen an increase in incidents of looting reported from Mohattari region.

Police sources further state that one person has been killed and goods and valuables worth over Rs. 1.7 million have been looted. Seven people have been seriously injured at the hands of dacoits and looters.

Interaction on control of HIV/ AIDS held

RSS

BIRGUNJ, April 17 : There are about 60,000 drug users at present in Nepal, out of them about 30,000 use syringes, which in turn, has caused HIV/AIDS to some 10,000.

According to a survey study made in Kathmandu in 1991, about two percent drug users through syringes had been found to have HIV/AIDS whereas the same reached to 50 percent in 1996 and it has grown to 65 at present, survey reports have revealed.

Based on a recent research study conducted in Birgunj, there are about 6,000 drug addicts, out of them some 3,000 exchange syringes while taking drugs and there are more than 500 HIV/AIDS positive cases caused by this.

The aforementioned fact was revealed at a presentation and interaction on ‘Control measures of HIV/AIDS and STDs’ organised jointly by Parsa District Health Office and students Jagaran Manch, Birgunj here yesterday.

The intravenous intake of drugs through syringe is common in 130 countries of the world and the transmission of HIV/AIDS through this medium has become an increasing threat in more than 120 countries at present.

Normally, the abusers are said to range from 14 years to 29, but it has also been found that there are juveniles aged nine who are becoming increasingly addicted to narcotics.

The Jagaran Manch is carrying out rehabilitation works for such addicts and it has helped more than 300 such abusers so far in treating and rehabilitating, the team leader of the Manch Anoj Khadka said.