Bhaktapur, January 25, 2007

Following the death of Shova Khatri, 32, who killed self by jumping in Muhan Pokhari on 8th January, the Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC), Bhaktapur branch office have constructed fence and gate on the existing wall to prevent suicidal attempt in the pool area.

The fence and gate were constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 100000. “The four line iron fencing and eight feet long Iron Gate have been constructed as per the suggestion of the locals and the NWSC,” said Chandra Kanta Marahatta, chief of the Bhaktapur Branch Office, NWSC. He said, “We are planning to construct a 15 feet high iron fencing outside the existing boundary and 50 meter long net-fence above the pool to prevent anyone from jumping.”

According to Laxman Giri, a local guard, three cases of suicide has been reported in last four years. However, the locals claimed that the number may goes upto more than 30. The Bhaktapur Branch office of the NWSC has been continuously requesting for the budget with its central office but the office is not serious about such issues. “Due to the lack of budget we have not been able to proceed many constructive works,” said Marahatta adding, “We are helpless in absence of budget from the central office.”

Water from Muhan Pokhari is supplied to Water Treatment Center at Bansbari, Bhaktapur for oxidization and purification through natural process. Then it is supplied to 8000 taps in Bhaktapur.

DV winners to stage protest

Kathmandu, January 25, 2007

More than 90 people, claiming that the US embassy rejected their visa application without any basis, have decided to stage a fast unto death from January 29. These people, who won the US Diversity Immigration Visa (DV) lottery of the US government, say they US embassy rejected their visa application without any basis and that they have already spent hundreds of thousands of rupees as visa interview charge. They have been organising various programmes to protest against the rejection of visa since December 26.

Meanwhile, the DV Victims’ Central Struggle Committee (DVCSC) submitted a five-point demand to the US embassy seeking compensation. They have also demanded that the US embassy charge the visa interview fee only when a visa is confirmed and also inform the applicants beforehand if their documents are inappropriate for acquiring a visa. They have also said the documentation fee is very high and that Nepalis cannot afford it. Robert Hugins, spokesperson of the Embassy of US, said , “The protesters are seeking refunding of the non-refundable fee and this is not possible as it is set by the law.”