Dr. Govinda KC resumes his hunger strike

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Senior professor and orthopedic surgeon of Tribhuvan University (TU) Teaching Hospital, Dr. Govinda KC has resumed his hunger strike on Saturday stating that the commitment made to fulfill his demands against interference and politicization in medical sector. As per government’s commitment a new Dean has to be appointed at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on the basis of seniority. Dr. KC who broke his 14 day long hunger strike on 24 January after government assurance to his demands said that he was force to resume his strike as government did not take any step to appoint a new Dean at IOM. He had organized a press conference in the Kathmandu before starting his hunger strike on Saturday. Speaking at a press conference he was very unsatisfied with the inference and influence of medical mafia and political interference in medical sector. Hospitals had closed down all operations except emergency services in harmony with his strike.
This is his fourth hunger strike concerning above issues.
A three-member committee included Prof Dr. Krishna Kumar Oil, Dr. Ratendra Shrestha and Dr Deepak Mahara   was formed by the University to propose names of prospective deans. The committee, however, failed to carry out its task, despite negotiations on Friday. Dr. KC resumed his strike after Dr. Deepak Mahara resigned from the committee on Friday.
A four member government taskforce headed by Secretary at Prime Minister’s Office Krishna Hari Baskota had to assure him about his demands to end his 14 day long hunger strike on January 24, however the government commitment expired on Friday.

Second richest in water resources facing 84 hour power cut per week

Water is the most important natural resources of the country. 1/3 part is covered by water. Nepal is rich in water resources and she is the second highest richest country in it. More than 6000 rivers are here in Nepal but Nepalese people have to face power cutting from many years ago. Nepal has high potentiality in hydro power with 40000 MW capacity but we are only utilizing 600 MW. Only 40 percent of total population has access to electricity. This is the shame on Nepali government that even we are second behind Brazil in the water resources with high potentiality are not utilizing it. We constantly hear the words from some politicians regarding the plan to utilize Air Energy, Solar Energy. Such words are such a shame to us. The electricity demand in Nepal is increasing day by day and power cut is due to low flow of water in river during the winter season and during the summer/rainy season the flow of water increase and Nepal may face 2-3 hours of power cut per day. Due to political instability Nepal is not utilizing the capacity; many government officials desired to invest in hydro power but could not target the aim. If hydro power is properly utilized in Nepal, she may save so many outflows of cash to foreign countries. Nepal may save outflow of cash in petroleum products (LPG Gas, Diesel, Kerosene, and Petrol) instead of them we can use hydro power/ electricity to run electrical gas, electrical buses, and electrical vehicles. Hydro power may be the cheapest energy for us than petroleum products, similarly we can earn foreign currency with the help of hydro power we can sell the hydro power to our neighbor country India. Let’s hope for the best and one day we can use the electricity 24 hours.