Thursday, September 28, 2000

Heritage conservation in IT age

[POST PLATFORM]
By Razen Manandhar

We must be lucky that our great,great grandfathers have built so many monuments for us. They constructed giant temples like Pashupatinath, Changu Narayan, Boudha, Swayambhu so that the people would pray for the country's prosperity. And the rulers of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur were also so benevolent that they had their palaces built amid the common people's residences and made them full of temples so that people might tread over the palace premise every day..."

These are the common speeches intelligent people love to deliver now and then. They never miss talking about the bird called heritage conservation when they see some white skinned audience, probably from World Heritage Committee or UNESCO itself.

We have become very conscious about this topic, at least in front of the foreigners - because UNESCO believes they are valuable for the world. To please them, we have to work as if we have a room in our heart for the monuments we have acquired from our ancestors. And optimistic foreigners clap their hands (They will never know how easy it is to draw donations in the name of heritage conservation).

Next reason to conserve the cultural heritage: A big part of national income is backed by the tourism industry. It is easy to promote this industry because you have to invest nothing for raw materials. Your grandfather planted a tree three hundred years ago and now you are the legitimate heir - you don't have to love the tree to pluck fruits. Let's conserve the temples for the tourism industry's sake.

Driven by these two major incentives, we have determined to conserve our cultural heritage. But the bitter side of the truth is that it is not as easy a job in this IT age.

The world has changed. Today our mind has "memory space" only for cement constructions, roller shutters, air-conditions, Toyotas, leather jackets, hamburgers and computers. But we have to pretend as if we really care for heritage conservation. How?

No worry, we have secret techniques of conserving UNESCO's heritage in this modern world. This would satisfy the annoyed UNESCO team as well as other white skinned heritage lovers.

We are doing all this for the foreigners' sake, so we don't have to worry about genuineness. They can find no wrong in the way we "conserve" the monuments in decorating style. Indeed, we are clever enough to dupe the westerners.

The international experts demand use of indigenous materials and art in renovation of the heritage sites and surrounding buildings. We cant' do this but there are lots of things that can be done. Here are some common tricks: Erect concrete pillars or walls, wrap them with brick-shaped tiles and cover the joining with mud. Instead of genuine wood carvings, stick machine cut pieces of wood. Use iron beams or pillars and cover them with wood pieces. You can paint copper roofs with enamel. Allow buildings can be built over water spouts and the spouts can be made to drip from water tanks. Build a fake temple over the underground-like place where the gods reside.

Let Tibetans build giant structures in the name of preserving the jungle. Don't renovate a courtyard for decades, lock it instead. Everything is okay if you can satisfy the demon called the High Level Mission of World Heritage Centre.

But above all, the best way to please them must be to throw a handsome party somewhere in a starry hotel.
[Kathmandu Thursday September 28, 2000 Aswin 12, 2057.]
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/ktmpost/2000/sep/sep28/editorial.htm#3

Saturday, September 23, 2000

TU decree stirs job panic among teachers

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Sept 22 - The "stern" decision of Tribhuvan University (TU) to prevent teachers from working outside has created havoc among over 3,000 teachers working in the government supported oldest university of Nepal.

Last week, TU Conference and Executive Council issued a circular to its campuses, calling all the teachers to take more classes and asked them to refrain from teaching or holding administrative posts in other institutions.

With the new decision, any teacher taking classes in other shifts than their regular work time in private colleges or schools need to get permission. All the teachers working outside are demanded to produce the proof of their resignation from other institutions. It is also mentioned that TU campuses will also be taken action, if they fail to inform the TU administration about the status of their teachers.

TU Rector Prof Dr Premraj Pant said the decision was the need of the time. He said, "Everybody knows, we made the decision to enforce law and to create a better academic environment."

A TU official requesting anonymity said that among 6,200 teachers, over 80 percent are involved in outside jobs. He said, "Those teaches earn money and goodwill from TU and at the same time, they sell the fame to promote private institutes. Many have their own campuses."

The TU salary was increased around 50 percent last July. TU officials stress that given the significant hike in the salary, the teachers should also be honest and loyal to their profession.

However, TU has so far no record of the number of teachers engaged in other full-time professions.

Assistant Professor Ghataraj Bhattarai, who has been teaching in Ratna Rajya Campus and also running Pashupati Campus, is one among the victims. He said the decision has affected over 3,000 teachers and created havoc among them. The owners of private campuses also had a two-day meeting last Sunday and Monday.

He said the decision lacks homework, and is only a result of revenge. "TU's present resource and capacity cannot control this situation. Even the government does not know what its staff do in the mornings and evenings."

Bhattarai easily said that he would go for the private campus if the need be. He said, "If teachers like me with 32 years of experience have to leave, it is certain that TU would be deserted by competent teachers and only learners will be there to teach."

Educationist Dr Ballav Mani Dahal said that the rules themselves are not bad. "But, TU should have strengthened its position before imposing such a decision. They should also be providing the teachers with certain time before implementing the decision."

"The decision makers should be ensured of their resources to make the teachers devote themselves for TU's development," he added.

Dr Mohan Himanshu Thapa, who taught in TU for 40 years, said the decision as such is not bad but would be a difficult task to implement.

On the other hand, the decision has also affected the administrative staff too. TU Employees' Association Chairman Bhola Prasad Dhakal claimed that the decision has cut facilities of the staff.

He added the new change has neglected the administrative staff. "We are discriminated against. We are not allowed to compete for parallel promotion as the teachers claim for."
[Kathmandu Saturday September 23, 2000 Aswin 07 2057.]

TU decree stirs job panic among teachers

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Sept 22 - The "stern" decision of Tribhuvan University (TU) to prevent teachers from working outside has created havoc among over 3,000 teachers working in the government supported oldest university of Nepal.

Last week, TU Conference and Executive Council issued a circular to its campuses, calling all the teachers to take more classes and asked them to refrain from teaching or holding administrative posts in other institutions.

With the new decision, any teacher taking classes in other shifts than their regular work time in private colleges or schools need to get permission. All the teachers working outside are demanded to produce the proof of their resignation from other institutions. It is also mentioned that TU campuses will also be taken action, if they fail to inform the TU administration about the status of their teachers.

TU Rector Prof Dr Premraj Pant said the decision was the need of the time. He said, "Everybody knows, we made the decision to enforce law and to create a better academic environment."

A TU official requesting anonymity said that among 6,200 teachers, over 80 percent are involved in outside jobs. He said, "Those teaches earn money and goodwill from TU and at the same time, they sell the fame to promote private institutes. Many have their own campuses."

The TU salary was increased around 50 percent last July. TU officials stress that given the significant hike in the salary, the teachers should also be honest and loyal to their profession.

However, TU has so far no record of the number of teachers engaged in other full-time professions.

Assistant Professor Ghataraj Bhattarai, who has been teaching in Ratna Rajya Campus and also running Pashupati Campus, is one among the victims. He said the decision has affected over 3,000 teachers and created havoc among them. The owners of private campuses also had a two-day meeting last Sunday and Monday.

He said the decision lacks homework, and is only a result of revenge. "TU's present resource and capacity cannot control this situation. Even the government does not know what its staff do in the mornings and evenings."

Bhattarai easily said that he would go for the private campus if the need be. He said, "If teachers like me with 32 years of experience have to leave, it is certain that TU would be deserted by competent teachers and only learners will be there to teach."

Educationist Dr Ballav Mani Dahal said that the rules themselves are not bad. "But, TU should have strengthened its position before imposing such a decision. They should also be providing the teachers with certain time before implementing the decision."

"The decision makers should be ensured of their resources to make the teachers devote themselves for TU's development," he added.

Dr Mohan Himanshu Thapa, who taught in TU for 40 years, said the decision as such is not bad but would be a difficult task to implement.

On the other hand, the decision has also affected the administrative staff too. TU Employees' Association Chairman Bhola Prasad Dhakal claimed that the decision has cut facilities of the staff.

He added the new change has neglected the administrative staff. "We are discriminated against. We are not allowed to compete for parallel promotion as the teachers claim for."
[Kathmandu Saturday September 23, 2000 Aswin 07 2057.]

Sunday, September 10, 2000

Business complex to be erected in Sundhara

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Sept 9 - Employees Provident Fund Office (EPFO) and Ward No 22 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City have recently reached a verbal understanding to provide Rs 1.6 million to a renovation committee to start building business complex just behind the capital's famous Sundhara spout.

The construction works had been stalled for 14 years following a squabble with the locals who blamed that drying of the spout was due to the construction works. The amount to be received from EPFO will be used in renovation of the stone spout, according to Ward chairman Hari Krishna Dangol.

Dangol said Friday that he would help EPFO to have the house map approved to build its complex today after the latter had agreed to pay the sum they needed to renovate the spout that has been lying useless for over a decade. "EPFO will start building its complex there very soon," he said. A renovation committee has already been formed, of which, Ward Chairman Dangol is the coordinator.

The locals stopped EPFO's building project in 1986 as the water spout started drying as soon as the digging began behind the spout. They claimed that the digging tampered the water source for the over 150 years old spout.

Engineer Saroj Basnet of WeLink Consultants said that it would start the renovation works either by finding out its real source, or by constructing wells in nearby Tebahal area or by deep-boring for the ground water. "We have produced the preliminary report. However, If we have to go for deep boring, the amount would be insufficient," he said.

The search for the water source is to start after six weeks, when EPFO will complete demolishing the existing building there.

Whereas, the locals are not happy with the proposed scheme. Srikrishna Darshandhari, a local, said Ward Office should help EPFO to have the map approved only after the problem of Sundhara is totally solved. He asked, "Who will take the responsibility if EPFO constructed the building but Sundhara remained dry?"

He said that such serious steps should have been taken only after a thorough discussion with the locals.

He also opposed pumping out underground water, saying it would destroy the historic value of Sundhara and also waste the ground water too. "Deep boring will damage the valley's geological feature and the volume of water from deep-boring will create a problem for its outlet," he said.

On the other hand, EPFO officials maintained that the drying of the spout had no relation with the building of the complex. "Still, we agreed to grant Rs 1.6 million as per the demand of the Ward Office and we also wanted to help restore the national monument," said Shashi Bikram Rana, the Department Chief of EPFO.

However, officials at the Department of Archaeology-- which takes care of the all the historic monuments of the country-- said that they had no information about the Ward Office's steps.
[Kathmandu Sunday September 10, 2000 Bhadra 25, 2057.]

Friday, September 08, 2000

1/3 houses in KMC illegal

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Sept 7 - One third of the total mushrooming buildings in the capital city are illegal as they are not approved by the municipality. Kathmandu Municipal Corporation (KMC) claims that even among the two third of the buildings under-construction that have acquired formal approval, many have not followed the exact blue print they have registered with the office.

According to Devendra Dangol, a senior municipal engineer, only about 3100 applications have registered planned map in his office, whereas once third of that number start construction without bothering to follow any official procedure.

Even the houses with proper authorization do not care to amend their maps if they wish to add a room or two here or there. The officials add that a few daring ones even add a storey or two more than stipulated in their original maps.

"Majority of the houses built in the city are in contrary to the blue prints they produce to acquire permission for the building from the metropolis office," claims Ganesh Dhoj GC, legal officer in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).

GC considers the trend as a negligence fuelled due to lack of stern action against the defaulters. However, despite being aware of illegal constructions, KMC’s hands are legally bound. They can do nothing until any affected party lodges a complain. Though the number of such complains are meagre, "the complains on unauthorised construction occupy over 75 percent of all sorts of complains together," he added.

KMC’s actions are always prompted by the complains made by defaulters’ neighbours. However, the legal procedure is so clumsy and time consuming that any building or structure completes by the time even when a decree to halt the construction is issued.

KMC’s office has now stacks of such default cases which are either not pursued or not solved. There are cases since the last one decade languishing in old files of the office. Not only KMC, Kathmandu Valley Town Development Implementation Committee (KVTDIC) also has the authority to drag the wrongdoers to the court, halt construction works and even demolish illegal structures. The similar rights to two different organizations is also making the issue "everybody’s responsibility" and being neglected in many cases by the both parties.

"Unless the contradictory acts are amended or a coordination method is developed, we can’t completely change this ugly cityscape." says Suresh P Acharya, town controller of KVTDIC. Coordinator of Kathmandu Valley Mapping Programme Padma Sundar Joshi said the problem lies in the policy. "Instead of dividing the valley into more sectors and thus dividing authorities, the whole valley should be united and the government should devise a grand plan for better housing policies," he said.

However, there is a light in the tunnel. Days are coming when buildings will be made only under a widely planned ‘Building Codes’. Deputy Director General of Urban Development and Building Works Purna Kadariya said discussion with Ministry for Law to implement the ‘Building Codes’ developed in 1994 under UNDP’s assistance is about to complete. "Regulating the urban housing is a long process and it needs different components like electricity, drinking water, drainage telephone etc. Now, building code is being implemented shortly which will regulate the buildings at affordable expense," he says.
[Kathmandu Friday September 08, 2000 Bhadra 23, 2057.]