Bhadrapur, January 12

The fifth Asian Rural Tourism Festival is set to begin from January 25 in Bahundangi of Jhapa.

The five-day festival aims to promote tourism in Province 1.

According to festival organising committee coordinator Arjun Karki, Nepal, India and Bhutan are taking part in the event.

The festival is being organised with the support of Mechinagar Municipality, Province 1 government, Nepal Tourism Board, Tribhuvan University and organisations such as International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Bahundangi Jaycees and Green Generation and Travel Association of Jhapa.

Tourist-guide training, Gandharva singing competition, art competition and stalls offering local cuisine will be the central attractions of the festival.  Travel Association, Jhapa, chair Neer Bahadur (Netra) Karki expressed hope that the festival would help promote rural tourism in Province 1.

Meanwhile, Inland Revenue Office, Bhadrapur, has decided to control production, distribution and sale of homemade liquor in the district, bearing in mind the growing cases of crime and domestic violence due to increasing alcohol consumption.

Information about this was given at a press meet here yesterday.

It may be noted that on September 7 last year, all the 15 local levels in Jhapa, people involved in hotel business, District Police Office, Jhapa, Jhapa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other organisations had come up with a 12-point commitment to declare the district alcohol-controlled zone from January 15. Various other districts have launched similar campaigns to control production and sale of homemade liquor.

Inland Revenue Office Chief Bodhraj Dahal said various awareness and orientation programmes would be held from January 25 in several wards to make the drive successful.

According to him, the legal provision that bans the sale of alcohol and beverage at a certain distance (within 100 metres) of hospital, academic institutions and places of public importance will be immediately implemented.