Alternative energy

There are long queues of vehicles waiting to fill petrol at the petrol pumps in the Valley. The reason behind the scarcity is the inability of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to clear its outstanding dues to the Indian Oil Corporation. Meanwhile, the NOC is said to be losing billions of rupees as a result of providing subsidised petrol to the urban-dwellers. It is sad that the underprivileged people of the remote villages are made to pay for the privileges that the state provide to the rich in the cities.

Why doesn’t the government import vehicles run by ethanol instead of petrol? Ethanol could easily be produced in the villages of the country by planting sugarcane. Sugarcane farming could thus be a renewable source of fuel for the vehicles.

Also, gas for cooking purposes could be produced from night soil found in abundance in our villages and it could be another source of fuel for vehicles. Nepal can also consider using solar panels in the vehicles. It is high time we started looking for alternative sources of energy.

Ravi Manandhar, Kathmandu

Scribe’s snap

Apropos of the front-page photo accompanying the news report “Cops, Maoists clash in Dang; 50 hurt” (THT, May 10), I wonder why a photograph of a journalist has been published when there is no mention of the cause of his arrest in the report. Was he too involved in torching of government offices in Ghorahi, Dang? If the reason for the publication of the photo is that he is a journalist, you should remember that the law of land is applicable to all citizens, irrespective of their profession. The same applies to journalists as well. By publishing the photo of his arrest, aren’t you tacitly backing him even while being totally unaware of his involvement in the riots?

Arpan Shakya, via e-mail

Suspicious

It is incredible that the Maoists who are part of the government are attacking government security forces across the country. I totally agree with the US government’s assertion that the Maoists will have to prove their democratic credentials if they are to be accepted as a legitimate political force. The YCL, which has given continuity to the violent activities of the PLA during insurgency, is especially to be blamed. This raises the suspicion that some of the PLA soldiers, instead of being registered with the UN, have been mobilised in YCL’s garb. If the Maoists do not mend their ways soon, the SPA will have to accept the responsibility of welcoming them into the parliament and making them a part of the government without making sure that they had renounced violence completely.

Ishan Shah, via e-mail

Step down

Although much younger than our own Prime Minister, Tony Blair is stepping down after 10 years as Britain’s prime minister. PM Koirala has contributed a lot for the cause of democracy but he has remained in the topmost post for the longest period during the 15 years of democracy in the country. He is now at the pinnacle of his life and has achieved enough during his political career of more than six decades. It would be wise on his part to follow Blair’s example and step down.

Dorji Tsering Sherpa, Galfutar, Kathmandu