Rankings of Nepal

#1.Nepal ahead of India in Open Budget ranking 

Nepal ranks at 45th position in Open Budget Survey (OBI) among 94 countries‚ surveyed in 2010.
“Nepal’s ranking is slightly higher than the average score of 42 but lower than several other South Asian countries in the survey including Bangladesh (48)‚ India (67) and Sri Lanka (67)‚” said Taranath Dahal‚ chairperson of the Freedom Forum that was the local partner of the survey. In the South Asian region‚ Afghanistan is at 21st and Pakistan at 38th positions.
 

#2.FIFA ranking, joke for Nepal 

Nepal is on 163 FIFA ranking which was published yesterday by FIFA. Few months ago Nepal was on 161 and before that it was on 152. FIFA ranking is done after the performance of national teams in international matches

#3.Nepal Rank 25; New WC Qualifier Structure

 Nepal is ranked 25th among 96 cricket nations of the world, according to International Cricket Council (ICC).The ranking is based according to the ICC Trophy 2005 and World Cup Qualifying Series II 2005.The ranking of the non-Test playing nations:

 

11 Kenya                12 Scotland              13 Ireland             14 Canada          15 Bermuda
16 Holland             17 UAE                    18 Namibia            19 Denmark        20 Oman
21 USA                   22 PNG                    23 Uganda               24 Fiji                  25 Nepal
26 Qatar                 27 Cayman Islands    28 Kuwait           29 Italy              30 Zambia

  

#4.Nepal Net Readiness: Notable Individual Efforts 

 Nepal's ranking on Network Readiness Index (NRI) slightly improves. Individual efforts to be credited.

Nepal’s ranking on the Networked Readiness Index 2009–2010 has improved slightly, by around 3 points as compared to last year. It ranks 124th among 133 countries. In 2008-2009, Nepal’s ranking was 127 out of 134 countries.

#5.Nepal's rank slips to 82nd: Report 

 A study conducted by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) has ranked Nepal 82nd, among 104 countries, in the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).

Petrol draws a long line

Fuel Crisis In Kathmandu

Long Lines for petrol with empty tanks increasing. Seems no way out of this fuel crisis in Kathmandu.The petrol shortage reached crisis point today with taxi drivers blocking off main roads into Kathmandu city and clashing with police.

In a world where oil and petrol is an increasingly valuable commodity, Nepal is experiencing what perhaps the rest of the world will have to endure in the future, a very limited fuel supply.  Nepal's situation however has been brought on by the Nepal Oil Company's inability to pay for the oil and natural gas it recieves from India.  These bills have mounted so high that India recently refused to sell Nepal enough petrol.  The government stepped in to reduce the bill last month but it appears we have quickly consumed the little petrol available.  The situation wasn't helped by the truck drivers who transport the oil striking last week either.  Instead of increasing the price of fuel in line with global oil prices Nepal has subsidized it

Bikes in line for petrol

.  So while the bill from India per gallon has grown increasingly larger, the intake from the bowser has remained the same.  Put the two together and you have severe fuel crisis and some very agitated drivers, particularly those that make a living from driving.

For months the fuel lines have been growing longer. In the few weeks I have been here I have been amazed how far the lines, of mainly taxes or motorbikes, stretch.   Only a few days ago did I reflect on how patiently the drivers seemed to wait until the petrol station would open.  Taxi drivers have informed us that they have waited over 10 hours in line.  There must be a booming black market occurring too.  The absence of government or, in particular, UN vehicles in the lines also raises peoples suspicions and doesn't help the situation.  

Today seemed like any other day until I stepped out on to our normally fairly quiet road and noticed the traffic lined up down the street.  After a quick analysis I decided aaja Nepali bhol chaina (no language lesson today) which was a wise move as I suspect I would be still sitting in a hot and steamy tuk-tuk in the traffic.  It turns out the taxi drivers had enough and had blocked off the main road from Patan city into Kathmandu city.  I decided to walk to the main road but this turned out to be a lesson in dodging motos and weaving through cars all jammed down the side streets.  These streets should really be one way traffic at the best of times, although generally with a bit of squeezing and stop and starting they manage to be two way.  When there are hundreds of motorists, buses, bike and people all trying to squeeze down them though it becomes rather chaotic.  I've attached a photo of our normally peaceful 'dairy corner' (our curd shop), today it was like a main road

Police moving in

.

In contrast the main road was eerily quiet.  Normally a hive of activity, car horns beeping, and people everywhere, today it was deserted.  It was afternoon by the time I made it to the spot where the taxi drivers were striking, just in time to see the police charge towards a group batons raised.  I wasn't close enough to capture the action but when I walked up the road it was all fairly calm with the police moving the last of the taxis off the road.  

It is unclear how this crisis will be resolved.  The interim government has previously advised they will not increase fuel prices before the election but clearly, without financial assistance the oil and petrol crisis looks set to worsen.What will be the next step??????

Treasure Trove

Here is the information of latest treasure trove...............

The Ministry of Culture is likely to hand over the ownership of the treasure trove found at the Basantapur Durbar Square on June 27 to the Guthi Sansthan.A committee that is in the last leg of its formation, according to Joint Secretary at the Culture Ministry Jal Krishna Shrestha, is likely to decide in favour of Sansthan.

“The committee may decide to hand over the ownership of all state-owned religious and cultural properties to Guthi Sansthan,” he said, adding that the antique gold and silver jewelleries found at Hanuman Dhoka last Monday were worn by the idols of gods and goddesses.“As all the jewelleries exposed are allied to religion and culture, their ownership goes to Sansthan,” said Shrestha. “But no formal decision has been taken so far. If the committee finds Guthi unable to handle the property properly, an alternative will be sought.”

The alternative could be the Department of Archaeology (DoA), which has also been demanding ownership of the property since it was discovered last week. The DoA has sought ownership on the grounds that all the jewellery and antique coins as well as masks are older than 100 years. “All the national properties older than 100 years having historical and archaeological importance come under the responsibility of DoA,” he said.

According to him, if the property’s ownership were passed on to DoA, it would display everything to public by classifying the precious items against other utensils as per their historical importance.

However, Shrestha said there was little chance that the property will be handed over to DoA as all museums owned by it are in a “dilapidated” condition. “DoA itself is in a poor state and it is unlikely to take proper care of the treasure found at Hanuman Dhoka,” he said.

Guthi Sansthan too has its own logic behind its demand for the property.

“The treasure must have been hidden in this place by the then government before 1943,” said Guthi Sansthan Joint Administrator Hem Raj Subedi. “After Guthi Sansthan was established in 1964, the ownership of state-owned religious properties was transferred to it. As the structure of properties found recently resembles the jewellery worn by idols of gods and goddesses, Guthi Sansthan should have its ownership.” If the Sansthan gets its ownership, according to Subedi, the first thing it would do is “classify items”. “We will decide what items need to be placed in a museum and what need to be held by the Sansthan,” Subedi said.

The committee to decide on the ownership of the treasure will have representatives from the ministry, the DoA, the District Administration office, Hanuman Dhoka Herchaha Adda, Army deployed at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar and Basantapur locals.

The treasure was stumbled upon by workers during renovation of the kings’ living room in the main palace at the durbar square.

Out of the three safes and a tank found by workers, only one safe and the tank were unlocked.

The gold and silver jewellery and old coins having an estimated weight of 200 kg as well as the two untouched safes of identical shape and size have been kept under the care of the Nepal Army’s Shardul Junga Gulma at Hanuman Dhoka.

The committee to be formed under the ministry will also decide about unlocking the remaining two “mysterious safes”.