महँगा मदिराको संसार

काठमाडौ, भेनु : पाँचतारे हयात होटल । आमन्त्रित : गिनेचुनेका पचासजना । कार्यक्रम : एक बोतल (७ सय ५० मिलिलिटर) को ९९ हजार रुपैयाँ पर्ने हि्वस्की जोनी वाकर ओडिसीको स्वाद चखाउने । केही दिनअघि काठमाडौंमा भएको यो कार्यक्रमको अर्को विशेषता के थियो भने, पाहुनालाई मदिरा सर्व गर्नुअघि स्कटल्यान्डबाट आएका बार टेन्डरले उच्च गुणस्तरीय मदिरा कसरी पिउने भनेर सिकाए ।

'मदिरामा पानी फिटिक्कै नहाल्ने,' उक्त कार्यक्रममा आमन्त्रित एक व्यवसायीले बार टेन्डरलाई उद्धृत गर्दै भने, 'एक टुक्रा आइससम्म हाल्न सकिन्छ । पानी वा धेरै बरफ हाले मदिराको स्वाद त्यसैमा हराउने उनले बताए । ग्लास उठाएपछि केहीबेर सुगन्ध लिएरमात्र खाने र मुखमा हाल्नासाथ ननिल्ने,' महँगो रक्सी खाने तरिका उनले यसरी बताए ।  

एक बोतलको एक लाख पर्ने यो महँगो रक्सी जोनी वाकर ओडिसीले नेपाली मिडिया र सोसल मिडियामा ठूलै स्थान पाएको थियो । 'लाख, करोड हुँदै अर्बमा भ्रष्टाचार हुन थाल्दा मदिरा पनि लाख पर्ने आउन थालेछन्,' दीपक भट्टराईले फेसबुकमा लेखे, 'भ्रष्टाचार र रक्सीको नाता गज्जब हुँदो रहेछ, भ्रष्टाचार जति बढ्दै जान्छ उति महँगो रक्सी नेपाल भित्रिँदै जान्छ ।'

तर, काठमाडौंको बजारमा एउटा बोतलको दुई लाखभन्दा बढी पर्ने रक्सी पहिलेदेखि नै उपलब्ध छ । यसको चर्चा नभएकाले एक लाखकै रक्सीले सबभन्दा महँगो रक्सीको उपाधि पायो । पे|mन्च कोन्याग -लुई १३) एक बोतलको दाम २ लाख १५ हजार पर्छ । खसेर फुट्ने डरले दरबारमार्गको स्टोरमा लुई १३ को डमी राखिएको छ । जुन डमीकै दाम ४४ हजार रुपैयाँ छ । स्कच हि्वस्की 'आइल अफ स्काई' एक बोतल किन्न १ लाख २२ हजार खनखनी गन्नुपर्छ । 'यस्तो मदिराको ग्राहक एकदम सीमित हुन्छन्,' गि्रनलाइन सेन्टर -मदिरा स्टोर) का प्रबन्ध निर्देशक अमित अग्रवाल भन्छन्, 'तीसम्म सूचना पुगे भइहाल्छ, आममानिसले थाहा पाए पनि बिक्री हुने होइन ।'  गरिब मुलुकमा यस्तो मदिराको प्रचार गरेर अनावश्यक गालीमात्र खाइने उनलाई लाग्छ । यसैले उनले आफूसँग महँगो रक्सी हुँदा पनि हल्लाखल्ला गरेनन् ।

गि्रनलाइन सेन्टरको दरबारमार्गस्थित स्टोरलाई एसियाकै सबैभन्दा ठूलो -८ हजार वर्गमिटर) लिकर स्टोर दाबी गरिएको छ । इन्टरनेटका सर्च इन्जिनहरूले पनि यही देखाउँछन् । स्टोरमा करिब ६ सय ब्रान्डका रक्सी छन् । 'ती ब्रान्डमा कति हजार भेराइटीका मदिरा छन् भनेर हामीलाई पनि थाहा छैन,' स्टोरका प्रबन्धक विनोद सुवाल भन्छन्, 'गन्न सजिलो छैन, एउटै ब्रान्डमा पचासौंथरी मदिरा हुन्छन् ।'

अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय बजारमा उपलब्ध निकै महँगा मदिरा यहाँ बेच्न नसकिने उनी बताउँछन् । 'अस्ट्रेलियामा छँदा एक बोतल ह्वाइट वाइन १४ लाख अस्ट्रेलियन डलरमा लिलामी भएको थियो,' सुवाल भन्छन्, 'थाहा पाउँदा झन्डै फेन्ट भएको ।' अमित पनि सिंगापुर एअरपोर्टको ड्युटी पि|mमा १२ लाख सिंगापुर डलरको वाइन लिलाममा राखेको देखेको सुनाउँछन् ।   

सय वर्षको 'हेन्ारी फोर्थ डुडगनन हेरिटेज' कोन्याक (ब्रान्डीसँग मिल्दोजुल्दो) सम्भवतः विश्वकै सबैभन्दा महँगो रक्सी मानिएको छ । हीराजडित आकर्षक हातले बनाइएको विशेष किसिमको बोतलको २० लाख अमेरिकी डलरभन्दा बढी पर्छ । यसैगरी 'द म्याकलन १९२६, डलमोर ६२' 'सिंगल हाइल्यान्ड', 'ग्लेन फिडिक १९३७' बढी रुचाइएका महँगा मदिरामा दरिएका छन् ।

मदिराका विविध वर्गीकरणमा 'एलोकेसन' र 'नर्मल' एउटा वर्गीकरण हो । एलोकेसन श्रेणीमा पर्ने मदिराको उत्पादन सीमित संख्यामा हुने भएकाले अचाक्ली महँगा हुन्छन् । किनकि बजारमा माग बढ्दैमा तिनको उत्पादन बढाइँदैन । हेन्ारी फोर्थ डुडगनन हेरिटेज कोन्याक होस् वा आइल अफ स्काईजस्ता महँगा मदिरा एलोकेसन श्रेणीमा पर्छन् । यस्ता मदिराका प्रत्येक बोतललाई विशिष्ट नम्बर र कोड दिइन्छ । पिउनेले मैले यति नम्बरको मदिरा पिएँ भनेर याद गर्छ, साथीभाइलाई सुनाउँछ । आइल अफ स्काई ४ सय बोतलमात्र उत्पादन भएको छ । गि्रनलाइनले ४० वटा बोतल भित्र्याएकोमा १३ वटा बिक्री भएको छ । यस्ता मँहगा मदिरा आफैंले पिउन होइन कि उपहार दिन प्रयोग गर्ने गरिएको पाइन्छ । एक समयमा 'ब्लु लेबल' -बोतलको १६ हजारभन्दा बढी) नै उपहारमा प्रयोग हुन्थ्यो । 'तर ब्लु लेबल क्यासिनोका ग्राहकलाई पनि सर्व हुन थालेपछि स्टाटस मेन्टेन गर्न चाहनेले त्योभन्दा महँगा मदिरा माग गर्न थाले,' महँगा मदिराको मागबारे विनोदको अनुभव छ । बोतलको ६३ हजार रुपैयाँ पर्ने २५ वर्ष पुरानोको सिभास रिगल एकैजनाले ८० बोतल किनेका छन् ।   

मदिराको गुणस्तर त्यसको आयुअनुसार हुन्छ, जति पुरानो रक्सी त्यति धेरै दाम ! 'मदिरा भनेकै सद्दे कुरालाई कुहाएर बनाइने हो,' विनोद भन्छन्, 'यसैले जति पुरानो त्यति गुणस्तरीय ।'  डिस्टिलेसन प्रक्रियाबाट तयार भएको मदिरालाई ओक भन्ने काठले बनेको ड्रममा राख्ने विधिलाई एजिङ भनिन्छ । त्यसरी भण्डार गर्ने ठाउँको तापक्रम स्थिर हुनुपर्छ । जति बढी समय त्यसरी भण्डारण गरियो त्यति नै मदिराको स्वाद र गुणस्तर बढ्छ । र, त्यसैसँग मूल्य पनि बढ्छ । यसैले एउटै ब्रान्डका मदिराको मोल उमेरअनुसार फरक हुन्छ ।

'भण्डार गर्दा लाग्ने खर्च, नासिएर कम हुने भएकाले मात्र महँगो हुने होइन,' विनोद भन्छन्, 'गुणस्तर पनि फरक पर्छ ।'  भण्डार गरिने क्षेत्र वरपरको हावापानीले पनि यस्तो अवधि तलमाथि हुनेगर्छ । भण्डार गरिएको मदिराले विशेष स्वाद र गुणस्तर प्राप्त गर्न स्थिर तापक्रम आवश्यक पर्ने भएकाले स्कटल्यान्ड, आयरल्यान्डजस्ता अति चिसो हावापानी भएका मुलुकहरूमा निकै लामो समयसम्म एजिङ गरिन्छ । र, त्यस्ता मदिराहरू बढी गुणस्तरीय पनि मानिन्छन् । ब्रान्डी, वाइन र हि्वस्कीलाई कम्तीमा ३ वर्ष र रम तथा टकिलाको औसत भण्डारण अवधि २ देखि ८ वर्षको हुन्छ । यसबाहेक ब्लेन्डिङ -मिश्रण) ले पनि हि्वस्कीको गुणस्तर निर्धारण गर्छ । भिन्न स्वाद र फ्लेवरका हि्वस्की मिलाएर बनाइने हुँदा ब्लेन्डेड हि्वस्कीप्रति मदिरा पारखीहरूको विशेष चासो रहने गरेको छ ।  वैवाहिक समारोह वा कुनै जमघटमा मदिरा पियाउने पश्चिमा चलनको सिको नेपाली समाजमा भइरहेको छ । त्यसो त जन्मदेखि मृत्युसम्मको संस्कारमा मदिरा अनिवार्य हुने जातजाति र संस्कृति नेपालको विशेषता नै हो । समयक्रममा ब्रान्ड पनि फेरिँदै गएका छन् । ब्लु लेबल र रोयल स्यालुटको स्थान तीभन्दा महँगा मदिराले लिन थालेका छन् । राजधानीका क्यासिनोमा बढी चल्तीमा रहेका कारण ब्लु लेबलले त नेपालमा क्यासिनो डि्रंक्सकै उपमा पाइसकेको छ । तथापि नियमित सेवनका हिसाबले आज पनि ब्लु लेबल उच्च वर्गमै सीमित रहेको मदिरा व्यवसायी बताउँछन् ।

करिब एक दशकअघि जोनी वाकर कम्पनीले गरेको विश्वव्यापी सर्वेक्षणले प्रत्येक सेकेन्डमा तीनवटा रेड लेबल बोतल बिक्री हुने गरेको तथ्य बाहिर ल्याएको थियो । त्यसताका जोनी वाकर भन्नेबित्तिकै रेड लेबल भन्ने थियो । तर, अहिले पश्चिमा मुलुकहरूमा मात्र नभई नेपालमा पनि अन्य ब्रान्ड र थरीका मदिराका उपलब्ध हुन थालेका छन् । साथै यस्ता पारखीहरू पनि बढ्ने क्रममा छन् । राजधानीका चोकचोकमा ठड्याएका मदिराका होर्डिङ बोर्डले पनि नेपालको मदिरा बजारको विकासक्रमलाई केही हदसम्म प्रतिविम्बित गर्छन् । केही वर्षअघिसम्म विदेशी ब्रान्डमा रेड लेबलका होर्डिङ बोर्ड मात्र भेटिन्थे भने अहिले त्यसको ठाउँ ब्ल्याक लेबल र सिभास रिगलले लिएका छन् । यसले पनि नेपालको विदेशी मदिराको बजार र मदिरा पारखीहरूको रुचिमा आएको बदलाव झल्काउँछ । तर, करिब डेढ दशकभन्दा बढी अस्ट्रेलियलगायतका मुलुकको मदिरा उद्योग र कारोबारको अनुभव सँगालेका सुवालको अनुभवमा विदेशी मदिरा पारखीहरू ब्रान्ड र डिजाइनभन्दा पनि स्वादलाई महत्त्व दिन्छन् जबकि नेपालमा भने त्यसको ठीक उल्टो आकर्षक बोतल र प्याकेजिङप्रति बढी चासो राख्ने गरिएको छ ।

धेरैजसो पारखी एउटा स्वाद बसेपछि त्यसैलाई आफ्नो ब्रान्ड बनाएर मस्त हुन्छन् । र, थरीथरीका मदिराको स्वादबाट वञ्चित हुन्छन् । मदिरामध्ये हि्वस्की, नेपाल र नेपालीको पि्रय डि्रंक्समा दरिएको छ । जोनी वाकर कम्पनीका रेड लेबल, ब्ल्याक लेबलजस्ता पेयमा रमाउने कतिपय पारखीहरू सिङ्गल माल्टतर्फ पनि आकषिर्त हुँदै गएको सुवालको अनुभव छ । काठमाडौंमा विशेषगरी ड्राई वाइनको माग बढी रहेको तर राजधानीबाहिर भने स्विट वाइन बढी रुचाइने गरेको छ । तर, अधिकांश नेपालीले स्वाद र ब्रान्ड पहिचान गरेरभन्दा पनि अरूको लहलहै र देखासिकी गरेर वाइन पिउने गरेको व्यवसायीहरू बताउँछन् । त्यसैले होला, हजारथरीका मदिराको भण्डार रहेको गि्रनलाइनमै पनि रेडलेबल, ब्ल्याक लेबल, भ्याट ६९ र सिभास रिगलको माग चर्को छ । तैपनि मदिरा पारखीमाझ मदिराप्रति चासो बढ्दो छ । सिंगलमाल्टले जोनी वाकरसँग दूरी घटाउँदै छ । हुनेखानेमा अहिले सिंगलमाल्ट स्टाटस मेन्टेन गर्ने माध्यम बन्दै गएको छ । सहरमा अहिले सिंगलमाल्टमा ग्लिनिफिडिक सबैभन्दा चलेको छ । ब्ल्याक लेबल, सिभास रिगलजस्ता चल्तीका पेयलाई गतिलो टक्कर दिन थालेका छन् सिंगल माल्ट हि्वस्कीले । माल्ट हि्वस्कीमा पनि सिंगल, डबल, टि्रपल, प्योर र हाई गरी पाँचथरीका पाइन्छन् । ब्रान्डीहरूमध्ये कोन्याक सिरिजका ब्रान्डी विशिष्ट मानिन्छन् ।

पि|mक आउटका लागि काठमाडौंको ठमेल र पोखराको लेकसाइडका रेस्टुरेन्ट पुग्ने अधिकांश युवाको पहिलो रोजाइ हुने गरेको छ 'टकिला सट' । कागतीको टुक्रा र हर्थुंगोमा राखेको नुन चाट्दै घुटुक्क पारिने मेक्सिन 'टकिला' को सटमा नझुम्ने युवा जमात बिरलै भेटिन्छन् । तर, त्यसको स्वादलाई समेत मात गर्छ पेट्रोनले । त्यसैगरी भरमाउथ, सेरीजस्ता लिकरहरूको स्वाद बेग्लै हुन्छ ।

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नेपालका यौनकर्मी महिलाहरु हेर्न यहाँ किलिक गर्नुस

गईरहेको अध्ययनले देखाएको छ । तराईका ३२ जिल्लाका ९ सय यौनव्यवसायी महिलामा गरेको अनुसन्धानले ४२ प्रतिशत व्यवसायीले यो पेसा अँगालेको एक वर्ष पनि नभएको देखाएको हो । अनुसन्धान राजमार्गवरिपरि यौनव्यवसायमा संलग्न र तराई भेगका यौनकर्मी महिलामा गरिएको थियो । यौनव्यवसायमा संलग्नमध्ये ३८ प्रतिशत २० वर्षभन्दा कम उमेरका रहेको सो अध्ययनले दाबी गरेको छ । ६५ प्रतिशतभन्दा धेरै यौनव्यवसायीले पहिलोपटक यौनसम्पर्क गर्दा १५ वर्षभन्दा पनि कम उमेर रहेको बताए । त्यस्तै, ७६ प्रतिशत यौनकर्मीका परिवार रहेको अनुसन्धानले देखाएको छ । ‘परिवारका सदस्य यौनव्यवसायी महिलाको आम्दानीमा निर्भर छन् अनुसन्धान प्रतिवेदनमा भनिएको छ । त्यस्तै, ५७ प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी यौनव्यवसायीको परिवारमा दुईदेखि तीनजना सदस्य छन् । यौनव्यवसायमा संलग्न महिलाको शैक्षिकस्तर निकै कम भएको अनुसन्धानले देखाएको छ । उनीहरूमध्ये करिब ५२ प्रतिशत निरक्षर छन् । निरक्षर यौनव्यवसायी महिलाले शिक्षाका लागि जीवनमा एकपटक पनि विद्यालय नटेकेको अनुसन्धानले देखाएको छ । ६ प्रतिशतले मात्र एसएलसी र त्योभन्दा बढी अध्ययन गरेका छन् । करिब ५७ प्रतिशत यौनकर्मी विवाहित छन् । १७ प्रतिशत यौनकर्मी महिला कि त डिभोर्स गरेका छन् या त लोग्ने छाडेर बसेका छन् ।
१२ प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी विधवा पनि यौनव्यवसायमा रहेको अनुसन्धानले देखाएको छ । करिब ५९ प्रतिशत यौनकर्मीको परिवारमा आश्रति पनि छन् । करिब ६८ प्रतिशत विवाहित छन् । ३४ प्रतिशत विवाह नगरेका यौनव्यवसायमा छन् । विवाहितमध्ये पनि करिब २९ प्रतिशतले उनीहरूको श्रीमान्को अर्की पनि श्रीमती भएको बताएका थिए । सर्वेक्षणमा सहभागी यौनकर्मी महिलामध्ये ८० प्रतिशतसँग सर्वेक्षणकर्ताले प्रत्यक्ष भेटेका थिए । अन्यसँग यौनकर्मी महिला, विभिन्न संगठनका प्रतिनिधि र रेडक्रसका प्रतिनिधिमार्फत भेट गरिएको थियो । त्यस्तै, अनुसन्धानमा सहभागी ६ सयमध्ये दुई दशमलव तीन प्रतिशतमा एचआइभी एड्सको पनि संक्रमण पाइएको छ । करिब ६८ प्रतिशत यौनकर्मी महिलाका ग्राहक यातायात मजदुर छन् । करिब ७० प्रतिशत यौनकर्मी महिलाले यौनकार्यमा सरिक हुँदा कन्डम प्रयोग गर्ने गरेका छन् । ५८ प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी यौनकर्मीले कन्डम निःशुल्क पाउने गरेका छन् । उनीहरूले कन्डम पाउने स्रोत एनजिओ तथा स्वास्थ्यका क्षेत्रमा कार्यरत स्वास्थ्यकर्मी छन् । उनीहरूले प्रायः स्वास्थ्य मन्त्रालयले बाँड्ने ढाल र नम्बर वान कन्डम प्रयोग गर्ने गरेको भेटिएको अध्ययन प्रतिवेदनमा उल्लेख छ । सर्वेक्षणमा सहभागीमध्ये ६७ प्रतिशतभन्दा बढीले उनीहरूको व्यवसाय सञ्चालित क्षेत्रबाट पाँच मिनेटमै कन्डम प्राप्त गर्न सक्ने बताए । परिवार नियोजनको साधनको प्रयोगबारे सोधिएको प्रश्नमा अधिकांशले कन्डम र सुईमार्फत प्रयोग गरिने परिवार नियोजनका अस्थायी साधनबारे बताएका थिए । त्यस्तै, ५० प्रतिशत यौनकर्मी महिलाले लगाउने कन्डमको बारेमा सुनेका छन् । विवाहित यौनकर्मी महिलामध्ये करिब ८१ प्रतिशतले गर्भधारणबाट जोगिन परिवार नियोजनका साधन प्रयोग गर्ने गरेका छन् । अधिकांश यौनकर्मी महिलाले एचआइभी/एड्स रोगबारे सुनेको बताए । ९२ प्रतिशतले रेडियोबाट एचआइभी/एड्सबारे जानकारी पाएको बताएका थिए । त्यस्तै, सर्वेक्षणकै क्रममा पनि करिब तीन प्रतिशत यौनकर्मी महिलाले आफूलाई विभिन्न यौनसमस्या रहेको बताएका थिए । ३१ प्र्रतिशतले नौदेखि १४ वर्षको उमेरमा पहिलोपटक यौनसम्पर्क गरेको बताएका थिए । १५ देखि १९ वर्षभित्र पहिलो यौनसम्पर्क गर्ने ६२ प्रतिशत रहेको अनुसन्धानले देखाएको छ । त्यस्तै, झन्डै ३२ प्रतिशत यौनव्यवसायीको विवाह ६ देखि १४ वर्ष उमेरमा भएको छ । १५ देखि १९ वर्षमा विवाह गरेका यौनव्यवसायी करिब ६० प्रतिशत छ

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विश्वको सबैभन्दा ठूलो स्तन भएकी महिला !!

झट्ट हेर्दा तँपाईलाई अचम्म लाग्न सक्छ । जर्जियाकी एक महिलाको स्तन विश्वको सबैभन्दा ठूलो स्तन भएकी महिलाको रूपमा गिनिज वुकमा नाम लेखाएकी छिन् । ५३ वषीया नी यनिया हावकिङस् नाम गरेकी महिलाको स्तन साढे तीन फिट लामो र दुई स्तन ५६ –५६ पाउण्डका रहेका छन् ।

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Int'l bidders cry foul over tender specifications

The government´s multi-million dollar project to distribute biometric national ID cards has courted controversy after nearly a dozen aspiring international bidders knocked the doors of Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday, complaining that the tender specifications were manipulated to suit the interests of one specific company.

The international bidders have asked ADB to exert pressure on the government to amend specifications of global tender announced on April 29 for printing national ID cards.

“We have sought an amendment to tender specifications as we strongly feel that the specifications have been designed to suit the interest of one particular company,” a representative of one of the bidders told Republica. He, however, did not name the company in question.

The first phase of the total $117 million project is being undertaken under grant assistance worth $8 million from ADB. The first phase of the project includes development of necessary infrastructures, including the development of software and hardware systems, and distribution of 110,000 national ID cards to Nepali citizens of 16 years or above.

While the World Bank will lead the funding arrangement for the second phase, the government will also invest a certain portion of cost of the project that aims to distribute national ID cards to over 20 million Nepali citizens in the next few years.

The representative claimed that only one company will be in the fray if the specifications are not amended. “We have raised this issue very seriously as we feel there will hardly be any competition,” he said. “It is clear that the specifications have been designed to fulfill vested interests.”

The tender has been designed under QCBS quality and cost base selection model. This means technical aspects of the proposal would carry 80 per cent score and cost aspect 20 percent. Therefore, if the technical parameters favor one company, there will be no competition at all.

Earlier, during the pre-bid meeting held at Singha Durbar last Wednesday, 44 of the 45 companies bidding for the national identity card project had demanded amendments to tender specifications. The government officials, however, had told them that they would issue clarifications over the tender requirements, but “not make amendments”.

Executive Director of National ID Management Centre (NIDMC) Tulasi Prasad Gautam, however, denied any such allegations by the international bidders. “It is natural for some companies to make such allegations. But we have strictly followed international standards that many developed countries have followed. Since the ID cards will be linked with 10 different government services, we have not compromised on its quality,” Gautam told Republica.

Gautam said since it is a new project for a country like Nepal, they have followed the standards set by the countries like Japan, New Zealand and Canada for national ID cards. “We have proposed that the ID cards should last for at least 10 years. Our specifications were also duly approved by ADB,” he said.

The international bidders have sought amendment in clause 2.a.i. of the tender specification, which states “Experience in supplying NID or eID systems (NID or national eResident Cards or ePassport or National Health Cards systems) in at least three successful contracts (national projects) where the scope of supply is substantially similar to the full scope of this procurement.” In this clause, the international bidders have sought removal of health card and inclusion instead of License Card so that many companies can apply for the contract.

Likewise, they have also demanded removal of the word “each” from clause 2.b.ii, which states, “Experience of setup and management of at least five personalization centers (including implementation of personalization systems) for personalizing eID smartcards, including at least 1 each for laser-engraved polycarbonate eID documents and open platform eID cards.

Also in the clause 2.c.ii, which states “At least 1 reference NID or eID project where laser-engraved polycarbonate cards have been supplied and are operational for more than 10 years”, the international bidders have demanded that the provision of “operational for more than 10 years” be removed.
Aspiring companies have also sought amendments to clause 2.d.i. if the bidding is to be made competitive and transparent. They have demanded that the requirement of NIST 2003 certification either be removed or changed to NIST 2003 or equivalent or the latest to allow all major international companies to apply for the project.

The complaint that smart card tender specifications were manipulated to suit the interests of one specific company has also reached the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). The anti-graft body has sought clarifications from NIDMC under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) that is handling the mega project.

Various international companies including Giesecke & Devrient HmbH ,Germany, Irish Corporation Berhad ,Malaysia, Muhlbauer High Tech International, Germany, Gemalto Oy, Finland, Zetes Pass, Belgium, Oberthur Technologies, France, Bundes Drukerei, Germany, SAFRAN Morpho, France, TRUB, Switzerland, Datacard Group Private limited, India have shown interest in the project.

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Umesh Pradhan: An architect of Nepali football's 'Golden Era'

For twelve long years, unavoidable circumstances have forced him to stay away from the game that he wholeheartedly loves. Although he has been living in the United States since 2001, his heart yearns only for Nepali football.

He is none other than Umesh Pradhan, a gifted midfielder during his heydays and a member of the ´Golden Generation´ of Nepali football.

“When one has to shoulder the responsibilities of the family then one´s personal desires become insignificant. I´ve already spent a lot of time struggling in foreign land. But I might return once my sons settle in the US,” Pradhan told Republica during his short visit to Nepal recently. 

He was one of the key players when the Nepali football team won gold twice in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games -- in 1984 and 1993. Those are the only golds Nepal has won in football at the international level so far. Pradhan still recalls the achievement with great pride.

“Whatever fame I gained was all through football. I am still proud of it. And I am glad that my name is written somewhere in the history of Nepali football,” said the 46-year-old.

“Now there is everything (in Nepali football) except the results.”

Pradhan was one of the two playmakers who were the architects of Nepal´s success in the SAF Games, the other being Raju Kaji Shakya. The two also played together in three World Cup qualifying tournaments.

Pradhan made his debut for the senior national team a year after he was adjudged the best player in the Asia Youth Championship in 1983. He was just 17 then. A fresh SLC graduate from St Xavier´s School, the young lad from a middle class family of downtown Bhotahiti raised quite a few eyebrows with his skilful performance and was included in the national team for the SAF Games in 1984. About a decade later, he went on to win the prestigious Rupak Memorial Award in 1993. By then, he had already won two titles with the national team, a feat no other player has achieved since. He called time on his stellar career after the First SAFF Championship in 1997.

“Winning gold in international football is in itself a great achievement. But the gold we won in 1993 was much more special because we defeated India, a football powerhouse which has been dominating the game in the region,” said Pradhan, who arrived in Kathmandu two weeks ago to attend a relative´s wedding ceremony.

“That was probably the first time Nepal had defeated India,” he added.

At that time, Pradhan´s partner in the midfield was Mani Shah, another renowned footballer of that time. Even to this day, those who had seen the Shah-Pradhan duo play admire their partnership in the midfield.

“We knew each other quite well,” said Pradhan. “After playing together for many years, we had a good coordination.”

Pradhan considers Shah to be the all-time best footballer of Nepal. In Pradhan´s own words, Shah was a ´left-footed, fast and skilful player´.

Pradhan recalls that he had scored the first goal against India in the 1993 final but Nepal squandered the lead and was trailing 2-1 as time was running out. Shah then converted a freekick in the dying minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw. Nepal then went on to record a famous victory in the tie-breaker to clinch the title of the Sixth SAF Games.

Pradhan says his coach Dhan Bahadur Basnet played an important role in his success. Impressed with his skills, Basnet picked him directly into the national team when he was playing in the B Division in 1983.

“He selected me after watching me play just once,” said Thapa, who also attributes his success to coach Bhim Thapa.

“Both of them used to stress the importance of tactical and technical aspects of the game.”

After retiring from football, Pradhan began working as a coach. He was the coach of the first batch of young players that won the title of U-13 Subroto Mukherjee Cup in India. He received the UEFA B License in 1999 along with Shakya and was planning to open a football academy in Nepal, but fate had something else in store for him.

He was invited to the USA by a friend and has been living there ever since. Despite his longings for Nepali football, Pradhan says he decided to move on out of a sense of responsibility toward his family.

As far as the Nepali team is concerned, Pradhan says that the squad has the potential to become the champion of South Asia but the players have to take risks.

“There isn´t much difference in the basic training now compared to our time. It is just the players who have changed,” he said.

“Training, techniques and tactics are all the same. But for success, one must take risks in football,” he said.

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Baidya-led 33-party alliance shuns registration at EC

The major parties in the 33-member alliance led by Mohan Baidya´s CPN-Maoist and a majority of the other parties in the alliance have not registered at the Election Commission (EC) and have vowed to further institutionalize their alliance.

CPN-Maoist, which was formed after a split in the UCPN (Maoist), Matrika Yadav-led CPN (Maoist), Pari Thapa´s CPN (Ekikrit), Mani Thapa´s Revolutionary Communist Party of Nepal, Kumar Lingden´s Limbuwan State Council, Kishwor Bishwas-led front and CPN Unified Marxist are some of the major constituent members of the alliance that didn´t register in the EC even as the deadline for party registration expired Thursday. 

"Only a few members of our alliance registered their parties in the EC. They are still committed to the alliance´s programs and policies because they had registered prior to the alliance officially decided to boycott the process," Mani Thapa told Republica. "The major and majority parties of our group haven´t registered at the EC and we are for further intensifying our agitation against the present government."

Mani Thapa said the alliance´s member parties have been encouraged as the government and other major political parties including UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and United Madhesi Democratic Front (UDMF) "failed to create division among the member parties despite their attempts for that."

Even former CA member Pari Thapa, who had already practiced parliamentary politics for years, didn´t register his party.

Pari Thapa said they have decided to further institutionalize the alliance by giving it a formal name. So far the grouping is known just as 33-party alliance led by Mohan Baidya. "But now we will give it a proper name. We will draft a common manifesto and a code of conduct so as to institutionalize the grouping and to further strengthen the unity and the movement," said Pari Thapa.

According to him, they are likely to come up with further programs from an interaction among the member parties scheduled for Saturday.

He informed that they are already decided to launch resistance protest "if the government unilaterally announced the poll date despite their objection."

As the one month deadline expired Thursday, altogether 139 political parties filed applications for registration at the EC for ensuring their participation in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections.

Out of the 139 parties, 110 are new while the remaining 29 political parties were represented in the dissolved CA.

Altogether 75 political parties had registered for the 2008 CA elections. Altogether 54 parties had contested the polls while 25 were elected and the number of political parties in the House reached 33 by the time of its dissolution due to splits in several parties.

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Pvt players chipping away at NOC primacy in oil trade

The private sector involved in distribution and transportation of petroleum products seems to be chipping away at the primacy so far enjoyed by the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in oil trade.

Over the years, tanker operators, tanker workers, petroleum dealers and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) bottlers have made the government bow to their impractical demands by bringing petroleum supplies to halt time and again.

The most recent of such incidents was the strike called by LPG bottlers who have been demanding a hefty hike in commission. Private players have become so powerful that they rule the roost in the petroleum sector.

“Though NOC is a state-owned petroleum monopoly, it is the unscrupulous petroleum traders who call the shots,” says Jyoti Baniya, general secretary of the Consumers´ Rights Protection Forum. “It is a great challenge to the government that the private players have the capacity to bring the supplies of petroleum products to a complete halt whenever they want.”

Though the existing laws do not allow strikes that affect distribution of petroleum products, the government has failed to effectively implement them.
LPG operators have been receiving Rs 50.02 per cylinder from NOC in commission, but they have demanded a hike of Rs 15.61 in line with increased “overhead” expenses. LPG bottlers are even not willing to make public the details of overhead expenses to avoid public criticism.
“There are so many expenses we have included in the overhead costs. But I don´t remember them all,” Shiva Prasad Ghimire, president of Nepal LPG Industries Association.

Even NOC is ignorant about the expenses being included in overhead costs. “We have no idea about the costs included under overhead expenses,” said Suresh Agrawal, acting Executive Director of NOC. NOC has been suffering a loss of Rs 439 in the sale of each cooking gas cylinder. NOC which is suffering from over Rs 24 billion worth of accumulated losses and loan liabilities worth Rs 28 billion will have to face additional loss if the commission is increased.

“The consumers will be the hardest hit though,” said Baniya. LPG bottlers have already been enjoying a profit of Rs 28 per cylinder. Profit on LPG gas for bottlers will increase to Rs 36.74 per cylinder if their demand is fulfilled.

“They resort to protests as a bargaining chip to prevent the government from allowing free competition in transportation of petroleum products,” said Baniya, who has also been involved in the number of negotiations with the private players in the past.

However, an official at NOC begged to differ. “LPG operators are powerful because the government is weak. The government has failed to act tough against unscrupulous transporters and dealers,” the official said.

The petroleum and gas dealers have also challenged the government´s decision to introduce dual color cylinder system with different prices for industrial and household consumption.

Tankers operators had already succeeded in preventing implementation of regulations that would allow private sector players to engage in import, processing and distribution of petroleum products.

“They don´t want to see other private players because they have been benefiting from the inefficiency of NOC,” the NOC official said.

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44-year-old pregnant woman wins marathon

A pregnant 44-year-old mother of three and grandmother of one claimed the women´s title in the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon on Wednesday turning down the request of her family not to participate in the event.

In the course of claiming her second Everest Marathon title, Ang Dami Sherpa clocked 6 hours 2 minutes and 10 seconds to finish ahead of Mani Kala Rai (6 hours 15 minutes 20 seconds). Tara Ketner of the USA stood third with a timing of 7 hours 28 minutes 10 seconds. The top three finishers bagged Rs 50,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

The last time Sherpa had won the title was in 2006. "I feel pleased to win the title at this age and will run in the coming editions as well," said the woman.

"I have been participating in the marathon continuously since 2006. But I was unable to win after 2006 as both my father and mother passed away."
One may think that her family was opposed to her participation in the 42.195 km race due to her age. But the family members´ biggest concern was a three-month baby in her womb.

"I did not compete in the marathon to earn money, but to earn fame. I have also asked other Nepali women to compete in the event," said Sherpa, who lives some 4 km from Namche Bazar.

One startling fact about the winner is that she never practised ahead of the marathon. Her only physical exercise was to travel from her home in Thame to Namche Bazar.

Shouldering the responsibility of looking after two sons, one daughter and a granddaughter and also fulfilling the duties of a housewife, she had a hard time persuading her family members to let her compete in one of the toughest marathons in the world.

She, however, did not answer clearly why her family members did not want her to compete in the marathon.

But later it was learnt from her friend that she was carrying a three-month baby in her womb and that was the reason why her husband Nawang Rapeke Sherpa and other family members did not want her to compete in the event.

Confirming this, Ang Dami said, "My husband and son had asked me not to run. But I consulted with a doctor and he suggested that I could run if it did not make me feel difficult. Actually I wanted to go to the Base Camp, go around and hang out with friends."

Ang Dami also dreams of climbing Mount Everest to gain fame like Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. "I will climb Mount Everest in future if I get sponsor(s). One should try to achieve his/her dream and my dream is to climb Everest," she added.

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Growing concern over Mt Everest turning garbage dump

Ever since the two brave climbers Tenzing Norgay of Nepal and Sir Edmund Percival Hillary of New Zealand set foot on the top of the world´s highest peak via South East Ridge route on May 29, 1953, the Mt Everest has remained the ultimate destination of every mountaineer. 

Over 4,200 climbers have already set foot on this 8,848 meter peak so far, setting various world records in the mountaineering history. But as Wednesday marks the diamond jubilee of the first human ascent of the Mt Everest, one primary concern is being raised from various quarters: Can we preserve the pristine beauty of the Mt Everest? 

As reports of unmanaged garbage strewn along the snowy trail leading to the summit grabs headlines time and again, many even suggest the authorities should limit the number of climbing permits issued every season and enforce stricter rules against garbage disposal.

Five-time Everest climber Pasang Onchu Sherpa said the government should limit the number of permits issued every season to a few hundred. “Besides, the government should strictly impose restrictions on leaving garbage along the trail,” argued Sherpa, who conquered the Mt Everest from Tibet side on April, 22, 2013. 

Sherpa, who scaled the Mt Everest for three times from the Nepali side and two times from the Chinese side, shared that China has properly managed garbage on its side of the Mt Everest by issuing fewer permits and enforcing restrictions on garbage disposal. 

“Though we can find a large number of dead bodies lying on the way due to poor rescue management, we can hardly find any garbage on the Chinese side of the Mount Everest,” he added.

Sherpa suggested to the government to issue permits only to small teams with experienced Sherpa climbers to avoid casualty. “Many casualties are found to have taken place as the climbers did not hire experienced Sherpa guides,” he added.

Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura, who holds the world record as the oldest person to conquer Mount Everest, said, “During my first ascent, Mt Everest was pristine. But I found a lot of garbage along the way during my summit this time. I am very much worried about the situation.” Miura returned to Kathmandu on Thursday after scaling the Mount Everest on Monday. He had first conquered the Mt Everest in 2003.

While 406 climbers had made it to the top of the Mount Everest in the year 2012, the number of climbers has already reached to 512 till date this year.

Government officials, however, appear averse to the idea of limiting the number of permits issued each year. “We should instead focus on managing the expeditions properly. Hundreds of people climb mountains in Europe and the US every day, but there is no such problem,” argued Chief of Tourism Industry Division under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA)

Officials say occasional traffic jams are seen as “fair weather window” on Everest opens only for 4-5 days every year and this is the time when all the climbers attempt to reach the summit. Though there are two seasons -- autumn and spring -- for climbing the Mt Everest, most of the climbers prefer climbing the peak only during spring season, said officials. 

Chief of the Tourism Industry Division Bhattarai said though concerns are being raised over haphazard garbage disposal on the Everest, there is not much garbage above camp III. “Teams have been deployed to collect garbage at the base camp. The situation is not as bad as the media tends to portray,” he said. Moreover, Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) checks pollution in the region. The climbers who bring back oxygen cylinders, for instance, to base camp are paid good amount of money as an incentive. 

Also, various campaigns are launched time and again to collect garbage in the Everest region. As part of such campaigns, a joint team of the Nepal Army and Indian Army recently collected 4,010 kg of garbage. 

Tulasi Ram Bhandari, who successfully climbed the Mount Everest in 2011 as a member of the Everest Expedition Team of Nepalese Civil Servants, believes that stricter regulations and fewer permits alone won´t make much difference. “It is more important to make all climbers aware that they should not throw garbage haphazardly along the trail,” said Bhandari.

Year Ascents

1953 to 2000                     893

2001                               64

2002                                 89

2003                                 159

2004                                 165

2005                                 112

2006                                 193

2007                                 257

2008                                 385

2009                                 367

2010                                 364

2011                                   377

2012                               406

2013                                 512     till date

In a piece entitled The New Age of Exploration published in the National Geographic (June, 2013), Everest Summiteers Mark Jenkins has suggested the following six ways to repair Everest.

Fewer permits: To limit the total number of climbers and Sherpas on the mountain

Smaller teams: To reduce dangerous traffic jams on the standard southeast Ridge route

Certify outfitters: To make sure that they meet acceptable standards of safety and mountain knowledge

Required experience: To ensure that climbers and Sherpas are prepared for high-altitude challenges

Leave no trace: To remove human waste and garbage from the mountain, with penalties for noncompliance

Remove bodies: To show respect not only for the dead but also for the living, who encounter corpses on main routes.

Key records on Everest

1953 Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary      May 29     First ascent

1975 Junko Tabei                                         May 16    First woman

1978 Peter Habeler and Reinhold Messner      May 8   First Ascent without bottled oxygen

1980 Krzysztof Wielicki                                 February 17 First winter ascent

1988 Lydia Bradey                                         October 14   First woman without oxygen

1993 Pasang Lhamu Sherpa                           April 22   First Nepali woman

1998 Thomas Whittaker                                   First handicap (one leg artificial)

1999 Babu Chhiri Sherpa        First climber to spend longest time (21 hrs) on top

2001 Erik Weihenmayer                               May 25   First blind person

2008 First Inclusive Women’s Sagarmatha Expedition  First all women expedition

2011 Apa Sherpa                               May 11   Most ascents (21 times)

2011 Nine Nepali civil service personnel      May 18

2012 Ngim Chhamji Sherpa                     May 19      Youngest (16 years)

2012 Kame Sherpa                                 May 19   Reached summit thrice in nine days

2013 Sudarshan Gautam                          May 20 First double amputee

2013 Raha Moharrak                              May 19   First Arabian woman

2013 Arunima Singh                             May 21    First female amputee

2013 Yuichiro Miura                           May 20      Oldest (80 years)

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Govt to devise plan to expedite VAT evasion probe

The government is soon implementing four major programs under revenue mobilization, including formulation of work plan to intensify probe into pending cases of VAT evasion and identifying the sectors that are still out of tax net.

The programs are mainly targeted at controlling VAT evasion, widening the tax nets and accelerating the pace of revenue mobilization from sectors that are still out of tax net. 

The government has been looking into 495 cases of VAT evasion. So far it has recovered Rs 1.2 billion in revenue from 200 cases settled so far. The government has already completed probe into the 518 cases of VAT frauds and recovered around Rs 7 billion from the concerned firms that also include some big business houses.

VAT is the largest contributor to the state coffer. Out of total revenue collection worth Rs 234.45 billion during the first ten months of the current fiscal year, Rs 68.29 billion was raised through VAT.

“We have already directed the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to devise a strategic plan for expediting probe into VAT evasion. Similarly, a study also be conducted to identify the sectors that are out of the tax net,” a high level source at the MoF told Republica.

The source further added that revenue administration will also focus on recovering outstanding revenue dues from the tax payers by launching awareness campaigns.

“As widening of tax net along is not sufficient to ensure more revenue collection, we are launching campaigns to recover outstanding revenue dues,” the source added.

Tanka Mani Sharma, director general of IRD, said launching of campaign to raise awareness among the tax payers about their responsibility to pay revenue to the state is also among the programs under revenue mobilization strategies. “Mainly the revenue education will focus in the capital where major chunk of tax is collected,” he added.

Recently, Lok Man Singh Karki, the newly appointed chief of the Center for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), had directed the senior finance ministry officials to speed up investigation into the pending cases of revenue frauds and come up with a concrete plan to increase revenue.

“We will soon submit our plan on revenue investigation and mobilization to the MoF,” said Sharma.

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NEA proposes hiking electricity tariff by 20 pc

The board of directors of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to forward a proposal to increase the retail electricity tariff by 20 percent to the Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission ( ETFC) on Sunday.

"The NEA board meeting held on Sunday has formally made a decision to ask the ETFC to increase the retail electricity tariff by 20 percent," Rameshwar Yadav, managing director of the NEA, told Republica. 

ETFC has also indicated that it will endorse the recommendation of the NEA board. The issue of revising the electricity tariff has fallen in limbo for the last 11 years. It has also been a matter of dispute in the hydropower sector. 

Meanwhile, ETFC is also working to develop a system of automatic hike of electricity tariff by 5 percent each year, according to Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, a hydropower expert. 

Currently, the power tariff is Rs 7 per unit. "The hike will help NEA to cut losses which hover around Rs 7 billion annually," experts say. "The hike in tariff should not be taken as a measure to relieve the NEA of losses, rather it should also be seen a measure to encourage the private sector to make fresh investment in the hydropower sector," Pradhan said. 

Most of the countries slap competitive prices of power in order to keep the power sector functional. "We also have to increase the tariff but that shouldn´t be an extra burden on the consumers," Pradhan argued. "Rather it should be helping them to get enough power all the time so that the moribund industrial sector of the county gets a remedy to come out from the current situation." 

The power prices should be in sync with the inflationary pressure in the market. "The 11-year long issue of increasing electricity tariff should be resolved as soon as possible," Pradhan said.

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