Privatisation the answer

Two months ago I applied for water supply from Nepal Drinking Water Corporation and about the same time I applied for a loan from a private bank. While the loan got approved within a month, my application for the water supply is still stuck up in the bureaucratic mess. The number of supporting documents that you have to submit to get a basic amenity like water is simply ridiculous.

The process to get the landline connection was no different a few years ago until it was under the ownership of the government. Only after privatisation of Nepal Telecom could the

customers heave a sigh of relief. That shows that rapid privatisation is the only way to promote the effective management of basic services like electricity, telephone and drinking

water. The government must act swiftly toward privatisation of companies that provide basic services.

C Tuladhar, via e-mail

Reconsider

This is in reference to the news report “Nepalis serving time on fake charges in Thailand” (THT, Oct. 12).

I personally would like to express thanks to THT for publishing the news report and bringing to light the plight of Nepali prisoners in jails abroad. I have known an innocent Nepali who has been imprisoned in the Bangkok jail for the last 14 years and who still is unaware of the charges against him. I understand that Nepal is in troubled waters, but how can the Nepal government ignore the plight of Nepalis who are serving jail terms for no fault of their own? I plead that the government of Thailand should reconsider such cases, allowing the young men get the opportunity to put their education and knowledge to good use.

Susan Ridley, via e-mail

No celeb

This refers to the news report “This celeb dad has a pedestrian wish” (THT, Oct. 13). I couldn’t stop myself from chuckling as I read the title. I think the title should have been “This pedestrian dad has a celeb wish.” THT shouldn’t have made a celebrity out of a politician who is responsible, through armed insurgency, for the death of several thousand people. I believe that Maoist chairman Prachanda is no different from other dictators around the world who don’t hesitate to sacrifice human lives in the name of ideology.

Jitendra Bajracharya, via e-mail

Shortsighted

The failure of the seven party alliance to hold the Assembly elections has proved that none of the leaders are farsighted and committed to bringing peace to the country.

Every party wants a bigger share of the pie in government positions, which apparently has become the source of discord among senior politicians. It is time now for the younger politicians to assume leaderhip and resolve the crisis facing the country.

Binay Mahato, Mahendranagar, Dhanusa

Cartoons

All the leading dailies of Nepal run front page cartoons, but why doesn’t THT? I am sure it would add to the popularity of the newspaper besides making it more readable and visually more appealing. And why have you stopped your international page cartoons?

Ramesh Rathore, Birgunj