LETTERS: Don’t waste time

What a funny news item it was to read about the brawling going on between Department of Archaeology (DoA) and Nepal Telecom (NT) regarding the new Dharahara design “NT, DOA split on Dharahara design” (THT, July 18, Page 1).

Is not it a matter of joke after coming to know that these two organizations — one government and the other semi-government — have been sticking to their own stances on reconstruction of Dharahara.

In fact, the previous government had authorized NT to reconstruct Dharahara. It has designed accordingly. Now, DoA seems to be worried about the archaeological value of Dharahara of being lost if NT is allowed to move ahead as per its design. This ongoing tussle has put the Deuba-led government in a fix.

Why did the previous government authorize NT for the reconstruction of Dharahara without consulting DoA? It is a historical site which demands a proper design keeping its archaeological value. It has been now almost two years plus since the killer earthquake shook the country.

Instead of rapidly commencing the reconstruction process, these two organizations continue to fight for their own sake. Albeit NT has asked DoA to add additional structures and is ready to bear the costs of around NRs 3.67 billion, DoA does not seem to budge an inch from its official stance which seems logical since it is the custodian of the archaeological sites of the country.

Looking at this ongoing tussle between the government organizations over the reconstruction process, there could arise other problems related to other historical and archaeological sites in the days to come.

The government has now to step in and make a decision so that the reconstruction process of Dharahara and other archaeological sites will begin soon without wasting any more time.

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj

Social taboo

It is obvious that sex education is something that is an indispensable thing in our life. However, in our country people do not want to talk about issue like sex openly because it is a social taboo.

There is a religious precept that the sanctity of sex or the talk of any sort regarding sex should be within a married couple. This is also giving rise to the popular perception that talking about sex is morally bad. I think there is a fine line between what we talk versus how we talk.

The society in general takes the broad brush approach to disapprove the validity of questions and queries that fall fundamentally within the realm of our natural urge for sex. There are so many things that a person needs to know about what it means to have a good sex life.

When a person is deprived of a proper sex education s/he may end up with sexual frustration or that may in a worst case scenario result in molestation and the rape in the community.

We speak against those who try to rape a woman or a girl. To rape or to force someone to have sex is morally and legally not accepted.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne