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letters to the editor
DEC 02 - Aircraft purchase
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), both past and present, has had issues with virtually every Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) deal (“Wait and watch!” Dec. 1, Page 7; “Govt must purchase Airbus: Kansakar,” Dec. 1, Page 9). Where was PAC when two 727 jets of NAC were sold at throwaway prices while they were still flying to Gulf countries? Where was PAC during Dhamija, Lauda and Chase Air scandals? The political parties, over the years, have siphoned off millions of rupees from the national career. When the ministers and top bureaucrats who were caught red handed while making dubious deals were given clean chits, where was pAC?
Though I don’t know NAC Executive Chairman Sugat Ratna Kansakar personally, I fully support his bid to procure new airliners. Kanasakar has time and again spoken in public about the transparency in the current dealings with Airbus. Ranjan Aryal, Representative of the Tourism ministry at the NAC Board, has rightly said that NAC executive chairman has the right to send the lock-up money to secure the purchase. Thus far, there doesn’t seem to be any malafide on the part of Kansakar.
Rajendra Gurubarchaya
New Baneshwor
PAC has every right to doubt Kansakar’s intent. NAC executive chairmanship is a political appointment, which might easily be terminated by any future government. And when he (Kansakar) leaves, it will be difficult to hold him accountable for the damages he has caused. Doubts over Kansakar’s decision to buy GSM equipment while he was the head of Nepal Telecom has also come under cloud in recent times. Kansakar should keep in mind that NAC is a public company and he has no right to act as its owner. Furthermore, he has despatched advance to Airbus without government permission, thereby ‘trapping’ the government in his own words. I hope Kansakar knows what he is doing.
Praveen Shrestha
Lalitpur
Eco-friendly cycles
Anil Bhattarai’s article on eco-friendly bicycles is not just a good read but also practical (“It’s embarrassingly simple,” Dec.1, Page 6). I, time and again, have been in Cold War with my friends on the feasibility of this go-green-ride in the Kathmandu Valley. They say it is improper and inappropriate in modern Kathmandu. They even blame the topography and the narrow roads without bicycle lanes for why they cannot pedal around.
It has been almost one-and-a-half month since I started cycling. This experience has proven to me beyond doubt that the only reason why our brothers and sisters do not cycle is their wrong perception about cycling.
Bicycle was a ‘low-class’ thing for me a few months ago. But now I lament the days I cried with my parents for a petrol-bike. The concept of ‘riding bicycle to fight climate change’ is not that compatible to our society. But it surely can contribute to the fight against pollution, ill health of valley dwellers and fuel crisis. We ought to pedal to ensure our sustainable future.
Rajan Kathet
Kathmandu University,
Member of Kathmandu Cycle City 2020
Forest clearing
Until a few years ago, Nepal was renowned for its green forests; it now feels like a distant dream (“Maoists spearhead forest seizure,” Dec. 1, Page 1). The forests in Tarai are being cleared in the name of settling squatters and bonded labourers. Some years ago thousands of hectares of forest was cleared to settle bonded labourers in Kailali and now political parties of the same district, especially the Maoists, are encouraging landless squatters to clear the forest areas for settlement. Every year, thousands of squatters seize vulnerable forest areas all over the country. The government should form an independent commission to investigate these settlements. Otherwise, vanishing forests might soon bwe endangering human existence.
David Kainee
By email
Cleaning Bagmati
It is good to hear that locals of Patan have taken the initiative to clean up the Bagmati river (“Locals clearing Bagmati banks,” Nov. 29, Page 3). A clean Bagmati is not just important for environmental reasons but also because of the river’s religious importance. The political parties should not interfere in the clean up effort by speaking on the behalf of the settlers illegally occupying the river banks. Let us hope the spirit of cooperation shown by Patan residents will help keep the river clean.
Binod Rijal
Lainchour, Kathmandu
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