Jungle lodges

LETTERS

Apropos your news article “Ministry decides not to extend CNP lease" (THT, July 20, Page 10), our lodge operators are no less mealy-mouthed to claim now that they should not have been given the concession in the first place many years ago. They know it was no mean feat to win the concession at a time when only one authority could grant it as a favor, almost a

'bardan', to the ingratiating and fawning few. To the rest, it was simply too sour a grape that was way beyond their reach. It is not difficult to imagine what means they might have used to

procure the concession.

Despite their wishy-washy arguments now of their huge investment, of their contribution to revenue and employment, their mourning of the loss of CNP as a popular destination, they know they owe their current status and riches to the concession.

However, to keep the record straight, the government might like to take up on their words and thoroughly investigate and audit the benefits that they have contributed and make the report public. It could reveal many surprising grey areas including the sources of investment. Just as their employees have no right to rue non-extension of their job contracts despite huge

individual contributions, they have no reason to cry foul for non extension of their concession. The concession was clear on the tenure and conditions from day one. If they did not read them or understand them, it is their problem. Also, the government had given them enough notice – it was not like the government turn around at the last minute and gave them the decision. They were told of the last and final extension until 2009 around 1994 that is 15 years ago, which is enough time to build a nation, let alone a company.

The government had shown enough empathy to give them special 3 more years of ex gratis extension till mid-2012. Their blabbering now does not make head or tail.

The simple fact is they somehow would like to stay inside CNP to maintain their 60 degree advantage over the 300! The ministry of forest has taken a wise decision. But Nepal

being the country that it is, there is no guarantee that the decision will not be overturned in which case CNP and all other parks in the country must be thrown wide open to all

aspirants.

J. Talchabhadell, Bhaktapur

Check it

It is a great shame that the politicians are freely looting the national coffer in way or other. The examples are abundant and well documented. The mammoth CA that was killed without letting it do even its only one assigned task of drafting the constitution, that too even after extending its life by over 100 per cent, had made 601 of them richer by at least 35 lakhs individually. Even the well-to-do former PMs and other ex-ministers took away millions of rupees in the name of financial assistance for medical treatment. Now, to add insult to injury of the common Nepali citizen, the past presidents, Vice-presidents, PMs and Home ministers together with the former Chief Justices, HoR Chiefs, etc have been entitled to lifelong perks and privileges. In such a situation, I only wish binding harsh laws were in place that reined in unruly politicians to discipline.Ramesh Bdr. Shrestha, Lalitpur