Kathmandu,November 19, 2005

A study has revealed that food served in many eateries across Kathmandu Valley is unhealthy and that the authorities concerned have not paid due attention to improve the situation. Hotels and restaurants have been an essential part of life in the fast growing Valley, but the food served at these eateries in the city is not healthy and that the situation is alarming, the study has revealed. Recommendations made by a base line survey on food safety situation of lower and medium scale hotels and restaurants in Kathmandu have never be implemented, posing serious threat to the health of Kathmanduites, the report says. The study team had recommended the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) to train hoteliers and workers on food safety, hygiene and sanitation, establish minimum food safety measures such as toilets, apron and cleanliness, establishing regular inspection system, promote regular check up drives, time-frame for regular monitoring of prepared foods among others. However, the KMC has not even included any of these recommendations in its plans and programmes. “We don’t have the funds for all these,” head of the Public Health Department (PHD) of KMC Dr Baburam Gautam, said. According to Dr Gautam, the recent study was conducted citing the responsibility of KMC toprotect Valley denizens from the harmful effects of unsafe food. The survey of food situation of lower/medium scale hotels and restaurants was conducted by the Urban Nutrition Programme of PHD.

Air tickets in short supply in Nepalgunj

Nepalgunj, November 19, 2005

Following the suspension of flights by Cosmic Airlines, air tickets are in short supply in Nepalgunj. Locals who had benefited from cheap ticket prices of Cosmic Air are now worried after the cancellation of regular flights. The shortage of air tickets at offices of other airlines in Nepalgunj started following Cosmic’s flight cancellations. Earlier, a Fokker jet of Cosmic Airlines was operating regular flights on Nepalgunj- Kathmandu-Nepalgunj route twice daily. Cosmic Airlines has suspended all domestic flights since today after Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) refused to provide it with fuel as the airlines is yet to clear out its dues of Rs 85 million to NOC. “Due to shortage of air tickets, I am compelled to miss an important meeting,” Jaydew Awasthi, a local wholesale dealer of medicines, said.

All tickets of available flights had been booked for the upcoming week, he said. He said tickets were easily available while Cosmic Airlines was operational. Many local entrepreneurs, including drugs suppliers, are stranded due to the cancellation of flights.

Meanwhile, people thronged ticket counters of Buddha Air and Yeti Air but no tickets were available.