Kathmandu, October 29, 2005

At a time when a number of languages are on the verge of extinction, experts today highlighted the need of a language academy in the country to preserve and promote existing languages. Vice-chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy Prof Dr Basudev Tripathi said there was an urgent need of a language academy to preserve various native languages. He was addressing a seminar on “The Indigenous languages of Nepal (ILN): Situation, Policy Planning & Coordination”, organised by the National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN). He also highlighted the need of a cultural academy. The head of the Department of Linguistics at Tribhuvan University Prof Dr Yogendra Prasad Yadav said students in grades one three should be taught in their native languages. He said the TU had decided to include three languages in the syllabus of Intermediate in Arts (IA), but their syllabi were not yet ready. Member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Ram Prasad Chaudhary said languages are closely related to traditional knowledge. Similarly, the Minister of Local Development Khadga Bahadur GC, said, “We will lose our identity if we fail to preserve our culture.” The assistant minister of local development Chhakka Bahadur Lama said indigenous nationalities were lagging behind because the government had not recognised their native languages.

NEA denied access to MMC building design

Lalitpur, October 29, 2005

The Nepal Engineers Association (NEA) field visit report on the collapse of the roof truss at Manipal Medical College, Pokhara, could not come up with any specific conclusion on the cause of the cave in that killed 10 people on October 20. MMC refused to provide a detailed design or drawings of the building for investigation, said the NEA team members in a press conference organised here today. During their preliminary one day-visit engineers Suresh Pokherel, Shurid Kumar Sharma and Bharat Mandal of NEA on October 22 approached the MMC through Zonal Administration and District Administration Office but were denied access to the detailed design and drawings of the building. “When we reached the spot on October 22, the debris had already been cleared,” said Suresh Pokherel, executive member of NEA. He added that the day’s findings showed the accident was not a result of thunderbolt as claimed by the hospital administration. The report revealed no maintenance had been made till date although the building was constructed in 2000. He added the collapse might have occurred due to the sophisticated design of the roof which is quite uncommon in Nepal’s context.