No historic documents found in palace

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Kathmandu, June 18:

An investigation panel formed to come up with details of royal property and unearth historic documents kept at the Narayanhiti Palace said it found none of such documents.

A member of the panel said the former king did not return historic documents in possession of the palace.

The Archives Preservation Act 1989 states that the government offices shall transfer official documents that are at least 25 years old to the National Archives.

The official documents include hand-written manuscripts, books, reports, financial statements, treaties and agreements, newspapers and magazines, letters, deeds, drawings, photos, maps, plans, charts, files and case files.

But neither the ministers nor other government officials raised questions on the possession of such documents. As a result, documents of national importance have been either taken away by the former king or have been destroyed.

The committee member said no such documents of historic importance were found in the palace. “We asked in writing about the existence of historic documents, but there was no response from the palace,” said the member.

He said the Nepali and foreign historians had made mention of Lal Baksa and other cases, which contained historical documents, but nothing was found. The panel member said a search should have been carried out right after the decision to depose the king.

The National Archives does not have copies of Nepal-India Sugauli Treaty, Nepal India Treaty of 1950 and other documents related with the changes of 1951, 1960 and 1990.

“We have plenty of religious, cultural and literary documents here, but do not have important documents related with great political changes,” said Bhim Prasad Nepal, chief of the National Archives.

Joint-secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jala Krishna Shrestha said no one is bothering to follow the Archives Preservation Act. “The present government will be held responsible if documents of historic importance are lost from the palace,” he said.

Panel misses deadline:

KATHMANDU: The committee formed to collect details of property at the palace failed to submit its report on Wednesday. “We could not submit report today due to technical reasons,” Dr Govinda Kusum, secretary at the Ministry of General Administration and convener of the committee, said. Kusum did not disclose anything about the property details at the palace. Source said the committee could not submit its report as it could not fix an appoint with PM Girija Prasad Koirala. HNS

Published: June 19, 2008 12:00 am On: Kathmandu

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/no-historic-documents-found-in-palace/

Biodegradable waste a gold mine: Experts

RAZEN MANANDHAR

Call for waste utilisation

Kathmandu, June 6:

Environmentalists say Rs 22 million can be earned annually by managing biodegradable waste produced in the Kathmandu valley in an environmentally-friendly manner.

“If we follow the Clean Development Mechanism, we can earn up to Rs 22 million annually. On top of it, we can make extra bucks by selling manure,” says Bhusan Tuladhar, environmentalist and executive director of the Environment and Public Health Organisation.

CDM is a mechanism that makes developed countries responsible for generating greenhouse gases and pay developing countries that follow environment-friendly methods.

In the international carbon market, a tonne of ‘carbon credit’ can be sold at $7 to $15. The ENPHO has conducted a feasibility study with an aim to launch a CDM project in the capital by utilising capital’s biodegradable waste.

The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre has received Rs 33.2 million for installing 9,807 biogas plants across the nation for the period of 2004 to 2006.

“Through aerobic composting, we cut the emission of carbon. That means, we are saving the world from emission of 300 tonnes of carbon every day. We can sell our ‘carbon credits’ to developed countries,” he says.

According to Tuladhar, a biogas plant can be built in 100 to 200 ropani at a cost of Rs 10-

22 million.

Such a plant operates throughout the year and generates income. The plant can also generate around Rs 60 million per year through the sale of manure.

Though the process is lengthy and difficult, the AEPC has proved that selling of carbon is possible in Nepal.

Sandip Chamling Rai, climate change officer at the WWF Nepal, says the turning of a garbage plant into a carbon financing project is possible. “We can keep the city clean if sectors concerned are committed,” Rai says.

“The idea of launching a CDM project is a welcome step,” according to chief of the Environment Department at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Rabin Man Shrestha.

Published: June 07, 2008 12:00 am On: Kathmandu

https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/biodegradable-waste-a-gold-mine-experts/