Kathmandu, November 10, 2005

Even as an official of the Department of Veterinary Services said here today that bird flu has not been reported in the country, an office bearer of the Nepal Hatchery Industry Association said the fear of bird flu has been causing the industry a loss of about Rs five million every day. Speaking at a programme organised by the Department of Veterinary Services, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Poultry Farmers Group in the capital, poultry farmers said the fear of bird flu has severely affected the poultry business. Noting that Nepal has imposed a ban on the import of poultry and poultry products, Dr DR Ratala, the director at the Department of Veterinary Services, said the move will effectively prevent bird flu from making inroads into Nepal. “Prices have gone down drastically and the consumption of chicken has also decreased,” said Gun Chandra Bista, the president of the Nepal Hatchery Industry Association. The bird flu fear has been causing the industry a loss of five million rupees every day, Bista further stated. About Rs 16 billion has been invested in poultry industry,” Bista said, adding: “Nearly 150,000 kg of chicken is produced in a day.”

NC chief egged on to whip dissenters

Kathmandu, November 10, 2005

Amidst objections coming from some influential leaders of the Nepali Congress (NC) concerning the nomination of some central working committee (CWC) members by the party president, some 57 district party presidents today egged on Girija Prasad Koirala to take action against those opposing the nomination. In a written suggestion, the district presidents believed mostly to be ‘yes men’ of party vice president Sushil Koirala, party CWC members Govinda Raj Joshi, Sujata Koirala and general secretary K B Gurung and others met the party president Koirala at his residence today morning, a party insider conceded.

“They (disgruntled) have no right to speak against the party president’s move,” the source quoted them as saying, adding, the party president reserves the right to nominate anyone in the CWC. It should be noted that Koirala picked up the leaders who had lost seats in the CWC by getting minimal votes, raising discontent among the party leaders and cadres. The district presidents also assured the NC chief that they would face any consequences, come what may. “It is now time for the party president to move ahead notwithstanding the hindrances,” Lalitpur district president, Chandra Maharjan told this daily. He was one among the delegates to suggest the party president to ‘sideline’ those who are defying the party line taken by the 11th general convention. Interestingly, majority of these district presidents had earlier asked G P Koirala not to nominate any members not elected in the party central body.