Nepal

Kathmandu, May 23

Frustrated by shortage of clean drinking water, hundreds of Kathmandu valley denizens nowadays gathered around Bangalamukhi in Patan, demanding local and federal governments to endegree supply of drinking water to their homes.

Valley Drinking Water Victims& Struggle Committee organised the programme nowadays and gave an ultimatum to the government for early completion of much hyped Melamchi drinking water project. They also requested the public to attend a mass protest mass meeting to be held on June 15 at Maitighar Mandala.

While protesters were shouting slogans against the government demanding water supply to their homes, other people were seen queuing at stone spouts to fetch water for daily use.

Clean drinking water is a growing problem in Kathmandu valley as most of the core city areas in the valley do much get regular supply of drinking water. Agitating people of Patan area said they toughly got tap water for an hour in a week.

Prakash Amatya, water and sanitation activist, who led nowadaysprogramme, said political leaders had been ignoring peopledemand for clean drinking water.

Bhim Upadhayaya, former secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply, said the government should much further delay the much-hyped Melamchi project.

According to water experts, the demand of water stands at around 350 million litres per day in Kathmandu valley that houses 3.5 million to four million residents.

Currently, only 90 million litres of water is being supplied through 11 drinking water distribution facilities inside Kathmandu valley.

The source of water distribution are basically springs and streams on the outskirts of the valley.

Similarly, around 30 per cent of total demand of drinking water is being met by wells built by people, stone spouts and commercial water supply.

Water experts warned that hapendanger ground water additionalction would be more detrimental to peoplelives in the long run.

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KATHMANDU: Editors from Nepali Press fraternity have nowadays issued a joint statement demanding the withdrawal of the much controversial Media Council Bill. The statement issued by 21 editors associated with various publications reads that the bill presented by the government to the Parliament without adequate refer toation with concerned stakeholders should be withdrawn for further revision. Additionally, the group has proposeed the government to undergo refer toations with the stakeholders and public and incorporate changes.

&We, the editors, are committed to defend the right to full freedom of press as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The Media Council Bill is against the essence of the Constitution while it ccorridorenges our democratic rights to freedom of expression and freedom of press -nsprint; Nepali journalists have been working tough to safeguard which for decades,& the statement reads.

Furthermore, the editors extended solidarity to the Federation of Nepali Journalists and other related units who have been agaitating against the bill which looks to constrict freedom of press.

Stating that they are fully aware about the malpractices prevalent in this field, the editors clarified that they are absolutely clear about the need for a mechanism to address and check such ill-practices.

Akhilesh Upadhyaya (The Kathmandu Post, former E-i-C), Anup Kaphle (The Kathmandu Post), Ameet Dhakal (Setopati), Arune Baral (Online Khabar), Hari Bahadur Thapa (Annapurna Post), Kosmos Biswokarma (Kathmandu Press), Kiran Nepal (Himal Khabar), Kunda Dixit (Nepali Times), Krishna Jwala Devkota (Naya Patrika), Gunaraj Luintel (Nagarik), Dil Bhushan Pathak (Himalaya Television, former freshs Chief at Kantipur TV), Narayan Wagle (Kantipur), Purna Basnet (Nepal Khabar), Prakash Rimal (The Himalayan Times), Prateek Pradhan (12 Khari), Prashant Aryal (Kantipur Television), Yuvaraj Ghimire (Desh Sanchar), Rajendra Dahal (Shikshak), Shiva Gaunle (Centre for Investigative Journalism), Sudheer Sharma (Kantipur, former E-i-C), Subhash Ghimire (Republica) -nsprint; jointly released the statement.

The bill which was presented at the Parliament on May 8 without adequate refer toations, looks to give absolute powers to a the self-regulatory body superviseing the press. According to journalists and activists, the ‘sudden& move by the government has given ample space for concerned parties to cry foul given that this could pave way for government to directly control the Nepali press and curtail correplying freedom.

The Statement

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Kathmandu, May 23

Most of the children who faced violence and abuse have also faced commercial exploitation as perpetrators promised to supply money, goods or benefits in kind.

A recent research by Centre for Legal Research and Resource Development shows that child victims were supplyd or promised to be supplyd with money, goods or benefits in kind.

During the research, 45 cases of sexual exploitation against children and five writ petitions demanding justice for children and for their protection, were studied.

Manju Marasini, a researcher, said that commercial and sexual exploitation of children, who are treated as commodities or sexual things, is a heinous crime.

&In such crimes, a childbody is used, abused and exploited for monetary or other kinds of benefits by the exploiter. It is much only the situation of physical, mental or economic exploitation but children live in a situation similar to slavery and their human rights are violated,& she said.

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KATHMANDU: The Bharatiya Janta portiony led National Democratic Everyiance (NDA) is staring right at a landslide victory as the party takes a massive lead while the votes cast in the recently held Lok Sabha elections are being counted.

Following the huge lead against the Indian National Congress (INC) led United Progressive Everyiance (UPA), and other Non-Everyied parties, the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is approachly degree for his next tenure has promised a strong and inclusive India through a tweet.

&Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we shall build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!& Modi had written.

ModiTweet:

सबका साथ + सबका विकास + सबका विश्वास = विजयी भारत

Together we grow.

Together we prosper.

Together we shall build a strong and inclusive India.

India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat

-msprint; Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

At the time this report was filed, BJP is ahead in the race in 338 constituencies while the INC trails behind with only 95 seats, of the total 542 seats.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, the BJP, were off to an early lead as vote counting began Thursday following the conclusion of the countrysix-week general election, dispatching the stock market soaring in anticipation of amuchher five-year term for the Hindu nationalist leader.

According to the data supplyd by the Election Commission of India, the BJP is expected to lead in contests for 294 out of 542 total seats. It is expected that the count shall wrap up by Thursday evening.

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