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It has happened at last. Two and a half years after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli signed the landmark trade and transit agreement during his state visit to China in 2016, the protocol to make the agreement functional has finally been agreed to. China will now allow Nepal four ports and three dry ports for third-country trade. As per the agreement, Nepali cargo vehicles will be allowed into China to ferry goods to and fro from these ports. When the finalized protocol is signed at the highest level—most probably during the expected Nepal visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, sometime in 2019—it will be a monumental development for the landlocked Nepal.

It will once and for all end the state of Nepal’s near complete dependence on India, with which it does nearly 90 percent of its trade and through which it carries out all of its third-coun­try trade. When the Chinese routes are open, never again will India be able to impose the kind of crippling economic blockades it has resorted to whenever Kathmandu has not agreed to do its bidding. That at least is the idea.

But there are some hitches. The nearest Chi­nese port is over 2,600 km away while the port of Kolkata that Nepal has traditionally relied on for third-country trade is just 627 km from the Nepali bor­der. That being the case, how many traders will choose Chinese routes instead of Indian ones? Thus by the time the finalized protocol is signed, Nepal and Chi­na must explore ways to make transit via China both cheap and hassle-free. For instance one advantage of Chinese ports could be that the freight-handling there is fast and Nepali traders will not have to spend much to store their goods there.

We believe that irrespective of the issue of financial viability, just having the option of reaching the high seas via China will greatly boost the morale of the landlocked country. In today’s interconnected world, no country can afford to completely rely on another; it must rather look to engage with the widest spectrum of countries possible. We also hope that India under­stands this and that it does not look to punish Nepal for ‘cozying up’ to China. Such churlishness will only undercut India’s standing among the smaller countries in the region.

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A slow canoe ride on the gentle rivers of the lower Nepali plains is an experience you will not forget easily. Visit Jungle Safari Lodge and you will sit in an authentic hand-carved Nepali dugout. Not only is the canoe the best way to view the riverside scenery, the 45-minute-ride often guarantees the sighting of aquatic creatures and water birds. Canoe in the Rapti or the Budhi Rapti rivers which borders the Bardia national park and spot the two types of crocodiles, the Gharial and the Mugger. This is a treat for adventure and wildlife lovers!
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 Q. Three adjectives to describe yourself.

A: Sensitive, honest and lazy

Q. Three qualities you seek in your friends.

A: I think it’s the vibe that connects me with someone and once we become friends, I only expect loyalty.

Q. A question you wish people would stop ask­ing.

A: There used to be a question—“Are you an Indian?” But no one has asked me that for quite a long time now. So there’s no question as such right now.

Q. Words you live by.

A: At this particular moment of my life, the words I am living by is, “I want to be happy and feel peace­ful at mind in anything I do.”

Q. Celebrity crush.

A: No one at the moment.

Q. An advice you would like to give to your younger self.

      A: “In the end, everything will be fine and it will be the way it is supposed to be. Just keep going.” This is the advice I would like to give not only to my younger but to            my present self also.

 How important is open space for urban areas?

It is very important. We saw that during the 2015 earthquakes. We also need open spaces to orga­nize sports programs and mass gatherings. In the past we were not able to do much urban planning. But now we are working to set aside at least 5 percent of total city area as open spaces.

Can’t barren open spaces, the few that are still left, be turned into public parks?

Public parks need to be spacious and suitable for all age groups, and they should be disabled-friendly. They should also have amenities such as public toilets and drink­ing water. Narayan Chaur in Naxal, for example, even has a system to recycle rainwater.

Out of total area of Kathmandu valley, how much is open space?

Around 39 percent of the valley is covered by forests whereas houses have been built on 17 percent area. Urbanization is encroaching on agri­cultural land, not the areas covered by the forests. So the valley’s forests are largely intact. Also, we have specified that for a land larger than 8 aanas (254.37m2), up to 60 percent of the area can be taken up by the house. Land smaller than 8 aanas should can have up to 70 percent area covered by the house.

Why can’t the vast open spac­es at Tinkune for instance be turned into a green space?

Sometimes it is hard to evict peo­ple from a piece of land even after giving them due compensations. Talking about the open space at Tin­kune, it is partly privately-owned. Some locals are unhappy with the amount of compensation they are getting, and so the case is currently under the purview of the Supreme Court. Other challenges include poor budget allocation and distribu­tion and lack of coordination among local authorities.

Is budget shortfall a hindrance to building of green spaces?

It is more about government pri­ority than budgeting. If the gov­ernment deems is necessary there will be no problem in mobilizing the budget. It can also invite the private sector. The parks can also be made with the help of local com­munity members, for the benefit of that community. So rather than the budget it is about prioritization and government mindset.

Are there any new plans for creating open spaces?

Not immediately but we have a vision to create four cities in four corners of Kathmandu valley. The demand for public parks is high. There is prospect for green spaces around Tri-Chandra College area and Chhauni if we relocate the col­lege and army barracks respectively. Relocating some governmental bod­ies could also free up much-needed open spaces.

As you pointed out, lack of open spaces was keenly felt during the 2015 earthquakes. But there are fewer open spaces now compared to 2015.

Yes, this is happening because the services are centralized. We have centrally located educational institutions, medical services and entertainment facilities. That is why our city is densely populated and there is lack of open space in city center. But if you go by statistics, only 17 percent area of the valley is covered by houses.

Just for the sake of open space, people cannot be expected to live in outskirts of the valley, can they?

That is why we have come up with the vision of four cities around the valley. The goal is to reduce conges­tion by providing quality services and facilities in these smaller set­tlements are well. The old city will remain as it is but people won’t nec­essarily have to be there to be able to benefit from modern-day facilities.

Where will the four cities be located and how long before they come into being?

The three small cities will take three years and one big city will take about four years. The small cities of around 5 million square meters will be built around the Gundu-Balkot area, Bhainsepati-Bungmati area and Naya Buspark-Jhor area, respec­tively. Likewise, the big city of around 50 million m2 will be built around Changu Narayan munici­pality, Sankharapur municipality, Kageshwori-Manahara municipality and Thimi municipality.

How do you see green spaces evolving in Kathmandu valley?

The areas for green spots will remain intact. The government is aware of its importance and working to protect open public spaces. Also, for the private sector, our new plans have better specifications regarding open spaces in private property. Hopefully, all these efforts will lead to more open public spaces.

Photos by Pritam Chhetri

The constitution confers on all Nepalis over 18 years of age the right to vote in any one electoral constituency in the country. Yet around four million of them were denied a vote in the last electoral cycle in 2017. Electoral laws required that you be present in person if you wanted to vote. As this option was often unavailable for migrants, they were, in a way, disenfranchised. This is why the Supreme Court order to the government to arrange for Nepali migrants abroad to vote in elec­tions in Nepal is timely. For a remittance-dependent country, it was criminal to deny those living and working abroad, Nepal’s lifeblood, their inalienable right to adult franchise.

But while the apex court decision is laudable, it will not be easy to implement. The first thing that the Election Commission must do is find out exactly how many Nepali citizens are living abroad. With Nepalis now scattered all over the world, this will be challenging. In that case, perhaps a start can be made by making voting arrangements for those who show an active inter­est in exercising their franchise. But even this is easier said. How does the commission find out if they have already renounced their Nepali citizenships, in which case they can’t vote?

There are many other technical and logistical hur­dles. But if it was impossible, 110 countries would not be doing it. There is a growing realization that in a world that is getting more and more integrated thanks to the rapid growth of information technology and eas­ier travel, it is both immoral and impractical to deny the legitimate citizens of a particular country their fun­damental right to vote.

As the Nepali government is now under legal obliga­tion to act likewise, and as it is a complicated issue, it may not be a bad idea to constitute a team of experts to suggest feasible ways. Thankfully, the next round of elections are not scheduled for years. The focus over the next few years should thus be on allowing maxi­mum number of Nepalis abroad to vote rather than piloting the idea among select communities. There is enough time.  

Two people were killed when a tanker hit the motorbike they were travelling in at Jhurjhure of east Chitwan on Thursday night. 
Police said those killed in the accident are 34-year-old Sukaman Syangtan of Chhatiwan, Makawanpur district and 29-year-old Prem Bahadur Moktan of Jeetpur-16, Bara district. 

The tanker (registration number Na 3 Kha 8539) on route to Makawanpur from Chitwan knocked down the motorcycle (Ga 5 Pa 6260) heading towards the same direction. 

Syangtan and Moktan who sustained fatal injuries in the accident died on the way to Bharatpur Hospital, police said. The tanker driver has been arrested for necessary action. RSS