Not entirely true

This refers to Pratik Chauhan’s letter “No doctors” published in THT on February 7. It is true that many people, especially in the rural areas, are dying of curable diseases in Nepal. However, I disagree with the writer’s view that there are no well-trained doctors in the country. There are enough MBBS doctors who are serving the country to the best of their ability. It is also true that some young doctors have migrated abroad in search of better opportunities. This, however, does not question the quality of our own doctors at home. Lack of medical facilities, poor government policies and the Maoist insurgency are some of the reasons for the lack of doctors in the rural areas.

It is unfair to blame the doctors alone.

Also, if the Nepal Medical Council becomes alert while issuing licences to medical practitioners, it would be very easy to get rid of the ‘cheats’ mentioned by the writer. If corruption is checked, a number of fake doctors would go out of business.

Dr Dipendra Chaudhary, Sinamangal

Good idea

Apropos the news “Government all set to privatise National Parks” published in THT on

February 7, I would like to say that it is a good idea to privatise national parks. Though the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 needs additional clarification, it is good to hand over the management to capable companies that can maintain the parks well and generate profit.

If the private bodies put a little more effort into conservation and development of the

protected areas, the parks can become a great tourist attraction as in the past.

Apar Paudyal, via e-mail

Mere stunt

According to the fifth amendment to the National Park and Wildlife Reserves Act 1973, the government has decided to privatise the national parks of Nepal.

This is an unfortunate move. The state has provided no good reasons for the privatisation stunt.

Nepal’s national parks have never incurred a heavy loss (the latest loss of Rs. 22 lakh could have been easily covered). The WWF alone gives Rs. 3 crore yearly to the government for the maintenance of the parks. So why should the parks be privatised? Privatisation is only going to benefit one particular company. It is a big loss for the country and those currently employed in the parks. The government should reconsider its decision in the larger interest of the nation.

Pratima Shrestha, TU

Water crisis

It is amazing that the problems of the Nepalis are increasing by the day. The public is suffering from acute shortage of water for quite sometime and nothing has been done so far. It is a pity that even with vast water resources more than half the country’s population has to do without adequate water. Scarcity of water has become a national problem.

The Kathmanduites hardly get water for drinking, leave alone for washing and cleaning purposes.

Irregular water supply is another problem. If this is the condition in the capital city, you can imagine the plight of the poor in the remote areas. It is high time the authorities

concerned took some steps to improve the situation.

Sandhya Ghimire,

Dhumbarahi