Wednesday, August 19, 2015

पोखरा केबलकार मा अधिकार क्षेत्र बाहिर गएर निर्णय

संसदीय समितिहरूले आफ्नो अधिकार क्षेत्रभित्र रहेर चलखेल गरेका घटनाहरू त प्रशस्तै सुनिएकै हो । तर पछिल्लो समयमा आफ्नो अधिकार क्षेत्रभन्दा बाहिर गएर पनि चलखेल सुरु गर्न थालेका छन् । नेपालको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्बन्ध तथा वैदेशिक श्रम र रोजगारसँग जोडिएका विषयहरूमा सरकारलाई खबरदारी व्यवस्थापिका संसद्मा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्बन्ध तथा श्रम समिति खडा गरिएको हो । तर उक्त समिति आफ्नो अधिकार क्षेत्रभन्दा बाहिर गएर कार्यसञ्चालन गर्न थालेपछि त्यसले अर्को खाले आतंक पैदा भएको छ ।
एमाओवादी सभासद् प्रभु साह सभापति रहेको उक्त समितिले गत शुक्रबार आफ्नो अधिकार क्षेत्रभन्दा बाहिर गएर संसद्को मर्यादा नै उल्लंघन हुने गरी एउटा बैठक डाकेर कार्यक्षेत्रसँग असम्बन्धित निर्णयहरू गरेपछि त्यस्तो आतंक पैदा भएको हो । समितिले पर्यटन प्रवद्र्धन गर्ने उद्देश्यले पोखराको लेकसाइडस्थित बसुन्धरा पार्कदेखि फेवाताल, रानीवन हुँदै पुम्दीभुम्दीस्थित डाँडामा रहेको शान्ति स्तूपसम्मका लागि केवलकार निर्माण गर्ने परियोजना प्रक्रिया अघि बढाएको सम्बन्धमा बुझ्न भन्दै भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायात विकास मन्त्रालयका अधिकारीहरूलाई शुक्रबार बैठकमा डाक्यो । असम्बन्धित विषयलाई लिएर सरकारी अधिकारीलाई डाकेको मात्र हैन संसद्को मर्यादा नै उल्लघंन गर्ने गरी बैठकको सञ्चालन गर्दै र सो परियोजना सम्बन्धमा हास्यास्पद निर्णयसमेत गरेपछि त्यसले संसदीय समितिको औचित्यमाथि प्रश्न उब्जाएको छ । 
सरकारले करिब दुई वर्षअघि पर्यटन प्रवद्र्धन गर्ने उद्देश्यले पोखराको लेकसाइडस्थित बसुन्धरा पार्कदेखि फेवाताल, रानीवन हुँदै पुम्दीभुम्दीस्थित डाँडामा रहेको शान्ति स्तूपसम्मका लागि केवलकार निर्माणको  योजना ल्याएको थियो । यसका लागि नेपाल भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायात विकास मन्त्रालयले पर्यटन पूर्वाधार परियोजना निर्माण सञ्चालन र हस्तान्तरण (बुट) प्रणालीअन्तर्गत आशयपत्र माग्यो । त्यसका लागि पाँचवटा कम्पनीले आवेदन दिए जसमा तीन कम्पनी सर्ट लिस्टमा छानिए । उक्त तीन कम्पनीसँग आर्थिक र प्राविधिक छुट्टाछुट्टै प्रस्ताव मागियो ।
त्यसमा चितवनको मनकामना दर्शन प्रालिलगायत दुई कम्पनीले प्रस्ताव दिए । प्राविधिक प्रस्तावमा मनकामना दर्शन प्रालि उत्तीर्ण भयो । त्यसपछि मन्त्रालयले आर्थिक प्रस्ताव माग्यो । तर मन्त्रालयको प्रस्ताव आह्वानमा अनियमिता गरेको तथा प्रक्रिया पूरा नगरेको भन्दै त्यसविरुद्ध सर्वोच्च अदालतमा मुद्दा गरियो । तर, अदालतले १९ महिनापछि केवलकार निर्माणको लागि सरकारलाई बाटो खुला गरिदियो । 
त्यसपछि सार्वजनिक निर्माण, सञ्चालन र हस्तान्तरण अनुसार मन्त्रालयले मनकामना दर्शन प्रालिलाई विस्तृत परियोजना प्रतिवेदन (डीपीआर) बनाउने सम्झौता गर्‍यो । तर, हाल कास्कीका एमाले सभासद्हरूले उक्त परियोजनाविरुद्ध अनर्गल प्रचार गर्दै योजना तुहाउने षड्यन्त्र रचेपछि हाल डीपीआरको काम सम्पन्न हुन सकेको छैन । तर, एमाले कार्यकर्ता एवं पश्चिमाञ्चल होटेल एसोसिएसनका अध्यक्ष भरत पराजुली र आफूलाई पर्यटन व्यवसायी भन्न रुचाउने एमाले कार्यकर्ता बासु त्रिपाठीले फेवाताल संकटमा पर्ने, वातावरणमा प्रतिकूल असर पर्ने तथा पोखरा फेवातालको प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्य नष्ट हुने जस्ता अनर्गल प्रचार गर्दै परियोजनाको विरोध सुरु गरेर काममा अवरोध पुर्‍याइरहेका छन् ।
शुक्रबार संसद्को अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय विकास समितिले भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायात विकास मन्त्रालयका अधिकारीलाई उक्त परियोजनाबारे बुझ्न भनेर डाकिएको बैठकमा तिनै उनै वासु त्रिपाठी र अर्का एमाले कार्यकर्ता भगवती पहाडी उपस्थित थिए । समितिले परियोजनाबारे बुझ्न चाहेपछि त्यसैअुनसारको तयारीका साथ मन्त्रालयका सहसचिवहरू परियोजनाको पूर्ण विवरणसहित उपस्थित भएका थिए ।
तर बैठकमा सहसचिवहरूले सभासद्हरूलाई परियोजनाबारे बिफ्रिङ गर्ने मौकै पाएनन् । उल्टो गैरसभासद् त्रिपाठी र पहाडीको हप्की खेप्नु पर्‍यो । त्रिपाठी र पहाडीले परियोजनाको विरोधमा अनर्गल र तथ्यहीन कुरा सुनाइरहे तर समितिको सभापति त्यसलाई रोकेर मन्त्रालयका अधिकारीलाई वास्तविकता बताउने मौका समेत दिएनन् । त्रिपाठी र पहाडी परियोजनाविरुद्ध तथाकथित रूपमा खडा गरिएको बसुन्धरा पार्क बचाउ समितिका पदाधिकारीहरू हुन् जुन समिति वैधानिक रूपमा कतै दर्ता भएको छैन । त्यसका अलावा त्रिपाठी पश्चिमाञ्चल होटेल व्यवसायी संघका अध्यक्ष हुन् । पहाडी र त्रिपाठी दुवै एमालेका संगठित कार्यकर्ता हुन् ।
उनीहरूकै एकोहोरो कुरा सुनेर उक्त समितिले परियोजनाविरुद्ध निर्णय दियो । निर्णयमा भनिएको छ, ‘पोखरास्थित बसुन्धरा पार्कबाट विश्वशान्ति स्तूपासम्म केबुलकार सञ्चालन गर्न अगाडि बढाइएको परियोजनाको सम्बन्धमा फेवातालको संरक्षण गर्न अधिग्रहण भएको जग्गा केवलकार सञ्चालन गर्न दिनु उद्देश्य विपरीत हुने, फेवाताल तथा रानीवनको सौन्दर्यता र क्षेत्रका साथै तालको अस्तित्वमा नै असर पर्ने, सीमसार क्षेत्र वरपरको निश्चित दूरीसम्म कुनै संरचना निर्माण गर्न नहुने गरी तोकिएको मापदण्ड विपरीत हुने तथा बसुन्धरा पार्कको जग्गा लिजमा दिने सम्झौता हुँदा सम्बन्धित मन्त्रालय र निकायहरूसग पर्याप्त समन्वय र सहकार्य नभएकोले उपरोक्त कुरालाई दृष्टिगत गरी बसुन्धरा पार्कको जग्गा केबुलकार सञ्चालन गर्न २० वर्षको लागि लिजमा दिने निर्णय बदर गर्न सम्बन्धित मन्त्रालयलाई निर्देशन दिने ।’
त्यस्तै अर्को बुँदामा भनिएको छ, ‘नेपालको सुन्दर फेवातालको क्षेत्र बाढीपहिरो र अतिक्रमणले गर्दा ज्यादै संकुचन हुँदै गइरहेको गम्भीर अवस्थाले नेपालको पर्यटन प्रवद्र्धनमा नकारात्मक असर परेको कुरामा समितिको गम्भीर ध्यानाकर्षण भएको हुँदा फेवाताललगायत पोखरास्थित सरकारी जग्गाको अतिक्रमणलाई रोकी सरकारी जग्गाको संरक्षणका लागि ठोस कदम चाल्न सम्बन्धित मन्त्रालयलाई निर्देशन दिन्छ ।’ जबकि यी दुवै निर्णय समितिले आफ्नो कार्यक्षेत्रभन्दा बाहिर गएर गरेको छ । त्यसैले यसबाट स्पष्ट बुझ्न समिति कुनै निजी प्रलोभनमा परी समितिका सभापतिले यस्तो निर्णय दिए ।
स्रोतका अनुसार हाललाई परियोजनालाई सफल हुन नदिएर पछि नयाँ ढंगबाट उक्त परियोजना कास्कीकै लगानीकर्तालाई दिने उद्देश्यसहित एमालेका सभासद्हरू यसका विरुद्ध प्रयोग भएका छन् । यसका लागि त्रिपाठी र पहाडीजस्ता व्यवसायी पनि रहेका एमालेका कार्यकर्ताहरूलाई उनीहरूले अघि बढाएका छन् । केही दिन अघि परियोजना रोकी पाऊ भन्दै सार्वजनिक लेखा समितिलाई गुहारिएको थियो । तर लेखा समितिले मन्त्रालयलाई नडाकी यस्तो नहुनुपर्ने भए किन योजना अघि बढाइयो भनि प्रश्न गर्दै पत्र काट्यो । तर बैठकमा डाकेर परियोजना रोक्ने निर्णय गर्न लेखा समितिले मानेन । त्यसअघि संसद्को विकास समितिलाई प्रयोग गरेर परियोजनाविरुद्ध निर्णय गराइए पनि त्यो पर्याप्त हुन सकेको थिएन । यी दुवै प्रयास फलदायी नभए पनि असम्बन्धित नै भए पनि अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्बन्ध तथा श्रम समितिकाृ प्रयोग गरिएको स्रोतले जानकारी दियो ।
यता परियोजनाको विस्तृत परियोजना प्रतिवेदन तयार नभइकनै त्यसलाई रोक्ने काम आफैंमा अवैधानिक भएको मन्त्रालयका अधिकारीहरू बताउँछन् । ‘विस्तृत परियोजना प्रतिवेदन नआइकन परियोजना बनाउन मिल्छ, मिल्दैन भन्ने निर्णय लिन मिल्दैन, यसरी नै अवरोध गर्ने हो भने नेपालमा कसैले पनि लगानी गर्न सक्दैनन् र पीपीपी र बुट मोडलमा विकास निर्माण अघि बढाउने सरकारी नीतिको पनि कुनै काम छैन’, भौतिक पूर्वाधार विकास मन्त्रालयका एक अधिकारीले देशान्तरसँग भने ।

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Govt’s attention drawn towards cable car project

Pokhara Cable car

The Public Accounts Committee under the Legislature-Parliament has drawn the attention of the authority concerned not to allow construction of a cable car project in Basundhara Park near Lakeside in Pokhara.
The proposed Rs 1.3 billion Cable Car Project was going to be undertaken by the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd across the 108 ropanis of public land in Basundhara Park in Pokhara.
In on Friday’s meeting of the PAC, lawmakers Rabindra Adhikari, Sita Giri Oli and Kumar Khadka from Kaski district drew the attention of the committee not to allow furthering the 1.3 kilometres long Cable Car Project in light of misuse of the public land for commercial purpose.
The Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport had granted permission to the Pokhara Valley City Development Committee to allow the land for the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd for the same.
Earlier, the locals in the Lakeside area criticised the idea of running a cable car on public land of the park although it was proposed to be developed on build-own-operate-transfer model under which the ownership of the company would be handed over to the government after 20 years.
PAC Chairperson Janardan Sharma shared the committee would make decisions on the same as it had directed the MoPIT to look into the matter and inform the committee.
Source: The Himalayan Times.

PAC concerned over Pokhara cable car project

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the Legislature-Parliament has drawn attention of the concerned authority not to allow construction of a cable car project in Basundhara Park, Lakeside in Pokhara.
The proposed Rs 1.3-billion cable car project was going to be undertaken by the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd across the 108 ropani public land in Basundhara Park of the Lake City.
In today’s meeting of the PAC, various lawmakers from Kaski district including Rabindra Adhikari, Sita Giri Oli and Kumar Khadka have drawn the attention of Committee not to allow forwarding the 1.3-kilometre cable car project in light of accusations that the project is misusing the public land for a commercial purpose.
The Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) had granted permission to the Pokhara Valley City Development Committee to allow the land for the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd for the same.
Earlier, the locals in the area were reported to have criticised the idea of running a cable car in the public land although it was proposed to be developed as per the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model and the ownership of the company to be handed to the government after 20 years.
The PAC Chairperson Janardan Sharma shared that the Committee will make decisions on the same after examining the issue as it had directed the MoPIT to look into the matter and inform the Committee. “The action will be taken accordingly,” he added.

Chandragiri cable car to be launched next year

Top station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is under construction in Kathmandu Valley, on Saturday. Courtesy: Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd
Top station of Chandragiri Cable car Project that is und
A cable car services is being rolled out in Kathmandu Valley for the very first time by the beginning of 2016, as the developer has said that they have completed 75 per cent of the works of Chandragiri Cable Car Project (CCCP). The project is being developed by a privately-owned company — Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd.
Since the construction of the project commenced 15 months ago, the developer has completed building the top station, bottom station and foundations of the towers so far. The site development and tower and cable erection are projected to take another three months, as per Dilip Shrestha, project manager of CCCP.
Bottom station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is under construction in Kathmandu Valley, on Saturday. Courtesy: Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd
Bottom station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is under construction in Kathmandu Valley, on Saturday. Courtesy: Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd
“Earlier, we had planned to commence operation by October this year, but the launch date had to be postponed due to the devastating earthquake in April and subsequent powerful aftershocks,” Shrestha explained, adding the company is planning to test the operation by October but the commercial operation will only begin by January 2016.
CCCP was forced to halt construction works  for a month after the devastating earthquake of April 25.
Altogether 11 towers will be erected for the 2.5 kilometre-long cable car from Godam (Thankot) to Chandragiri hill. The cable car has a capacity to serve 1,000 people in one hour and will be operated for at least 12 hours a day.
More interestingly, the distance between tower seven to eight is about 900 metres, which is one of the longest distances between towers and will be a thrilling experience for cable car riders.
“The foundations of all 11 towers have been laid and construction materials for the towers have also been delivered by helicopters in different tower stations, where the track has not been developed,” said Shrestha.
As per him, the project has also taken bio-engineering techniques into consideration for eco-friendly development. Altogether 300 labourers are involved in the project.
The total project cost of the CCCP is expected to hover around Rs 3.36 billion, which is financed by 50 per cent debt and 50 per cent equity investment. The project is financed by a consortium of seven commercial banks of the country.
The bottom station is being developed on 120 ropanis of property owned by Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd at Godam of Thankot. The 700 ropanis of land for the top station that lies on top of the Chandragiri hill has been taken on a 40-year lease from the government. The developer also plans to construct a five-star hotel, view tower, 4D theatre, zip flyer and botanical garden, among others in the area to lure tourists.
The top and bottom stations of the cable car will provide full facilities, like food court, restaurant and bar, branded shops, banking services and parking. In addition, a fun park is also scheduled to be developed in the bottom station.
The pre-feasibility study of the project was done six years back and the government had invited the private sector to develop the project. The developer had signed the agreement with the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to lease the land at Chandragiri hill three years back. CCCP is the second cable car project in the country after Manakamana Darshan Ltd’s Manakamana Cable Car.

Source: The Himalayan Times.

Govt’s attention drawn towards cable car project

The Public account committee under the Legislature-Parliament has drawn the attention of the authority concerned not to allow construction of a cable car project in Basundhara Park near Lakeside in Pokhara.
The proposed Rs 1.3 billion Cable Car Project was going to be undertaken by the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd across the 108 ropanis of public land in Basundhara Park in Pokhara.
In on Friday’s meeting of the PAC, lawmakers Rabindra Adhikari, Sita Giri Oli and Kumar Khadka from Kaski district drew the attention of the committee not to allow furthering the 1.3 kilometres long Cable Car Project in light of misuse of the public land for commercial purpose.
The Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport had granted permission to the Pokhara Valley City Development Committee to allow the land for the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd for the same.
Earlier, the locals in the Lakeside area criticised the idea of running a cable car on public land of the park although it was proposed to be developed on build-own-operate-transfer model under which the ownership of the company would be handed over to the government after 20 years.
PAC Chairperson Janardan Sharma shared the committee would make decisions on the same as it had directed the MoPIT to look into the matter and inform the committee.

Source: The Himalayan 

Two new cable car lines to be built in Pokhara

POKHARA, Nepal – Two new cable car lines are scheduled to be built in Pokhara . The government has given clearance to Annapurna Cable Car to develop a cable car system linking Sedibagar at the north of Phewa Lake with Sarangkot. Annapurna Cable Car said that that it had completed all the preparations to construct the cable car line, adding that the foundation stone of the project would be laid this month. Similarly, Manakamana Darshan is set to start the construction of a cable car from Basundhara Park at Lakeside to the World Peace Pagoda at Pumdibhumdi. It recently obtained the go-ahead from the government. The company and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport signed an agreement on April 1 to build the project. The 1.5-km aerial tramway is estimated to cost more than Rs1.3 billion excluding land acquisition. The signing of the construction contract has got locals and entrepreneurs excited. Meanwhile, Tirtha Raj Tripathi, director of the Annapurna Cable Car said that they have already got clearance from the Cabinet for licensing, industry registration and use right of the forest area. “We have completed detailed feasibility and engineering studies, and the construction work will start soon,” he said. “We have planned to bring the cable car system into operation within the next one and a half years to two years,” said Tripathi. The company will be investing Rs800 million to build the 2.2-km cable car line. Entrepreneurs from Pokhara own 55 percent of the company while a Japanese company Japan Cable Car owns 30 percent, and the rest of the shares are owned by a Nepali citizen of Japanese origin. Annapurna Cable Car also plans to erect a large temple of Lord Shiva and a hotel in Sarangkot besides developing a picnic spot. “People will enjoy travelling on the cable car as they can enjoy views of the lake and the Himalaya at the same time,” said Tripathi. “It will contribute to tourism in Pokhara .” Meanwhile, president of the Pokhara Tourism Council Som Thapa said that the cable car line would help boost tourism in the renowned tourism destination further. “The plan should be devised in such a way that local tourists too benefit from it besides foreign visitors,” he added. Lakeside locals oppose project A few locals from Lakeside have protested against the construction of a cable car line connecting Basundhara Park with the World Peace Pagoda due to disagreements over land acquisition. However, locals from Pumdibhumdi have said that no obstructions should be placed before the project under any pretext. The land originally acquired by the Pokhara Town Development Plan to establish a park was handed over to the cable car project by the Town Development Committee of Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City on July 1, 2014. “As the construction of the cable car will help to develop Pumdibhumdi besides promoting tourism in Pokhara , there should not be any obstruction against the project,” said a local Raju Chhetri. “We will mount pressure on the government to ensure that the project is completed without hindrance.”

POKHARA, Nepal – Two new cable car lines are scheduled to be built in Pokhara. The government has given clearance to Annapurna Cable Car to develop a cable car system linking Sedibagar at the north of Phewa Lake with Sarangkot.
Annapurna Cable Car said that that it had completed all the preparations to construct the cable car line, adding that the foundation stone of the project would be laid this month.
Similarly, Manakamana Darshan is set to start the construction of a cable car from Basundhara Park at Lakeside to the World Peace Pagoda at Pumdibhumdi. It recently obtained the go-ahead from the government. The company and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport signed an agreement on April 1 to build the project. The 1.5-km aerial tramway is estimated to cost more than Rs1.3 billion excluding land acquisition. The signing of the construction contract has got locals and entrepreneurs excited.
Meanwhile, Tirtha Raj Tripathi, director of the Annapurna Cable Car said that they have already got clearance from the Cabinet for licensing, industry registration and use right of the forest area.
“We have completed detailed feasibility and engineering studies, and the construction work will start soon,” he said. “We have planned to bring the cable car system into operation within the next one and a half years to two years,” said Tripathi.
The company will be investing Rs800 million to build the 2.2-km cable car line. Entrepreneurs from Pokhara own 55 percent of the company while a Japanese company owns 30 percent, and the rest of the shares are owned by a Nepali citizen of Japanese origin.
Annapurna Cable Car also plans to erect a large temple of Lord Shiva and a hotel in Sarangkot besides developing a picnic spot. “People will enjoy travelling on the cable car as they can enjoy views of the lake and the Himalaya at the same time,” said Tripathi. “It will contribute to tourism in Pokhara .”
Meanwhile, president of the Pokhara Tourism Council Som Thapa said that the cable car line would help boost tourism in the renowned tourism destination further. “The plan should be devised in such a way that local tourists too benefit from it besides foreign visitors,” he added.
Lakeside locals oppose project
A few locals from Lakeside have protested against the construction of a cable car line connecting Basundhara Park with the World Peace Pagoda due to disagreements over land acquisition. However, locals from Pumdibhumdi have said that no obstructions should be placed before the project under any pretext.
The land originally acquired by the Pokhara Town Development Plan to establish a park was handed over to the cable car project by the Town Development Committee of Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City on July 1, 2014.
“As the construction of the cable car will help to develop Pumdibhumdi besides promoting tourism in Pokhara , there should not be any obstruction against the project,” said a local Raju Chhetri. “We will mount pressure on the government to ensure that the project is completed without hindrance.”
EKANTIPUR.COM