At long last, late Pasang Lhamu Sherpa's dream of establishing a hospital to provide health facilities to poor villagers in the district was accomplished by her younger brother Ang Gelu Sherpa this year. Pasang Lhamu was the first Nepali woman to scale Mount Everest. "Except for conquering the daunting 8,848-m peak, many of her other aspirations remained unfulfilled," said Sherpa, adding, "she had great philanthropic motives after climbing Everest, but all of them came to an end in the frosty mountain along with her sad demise." Sherpa made his sister's dream come true with the help of Nicole Niquille, a Swiss woman who had suffered from paralysis after she was hit by a boulder when she had gone to pick mushrooms in the Swiss hills in 1992. Consequently, the Pasang Lhamu Nicole Niquille Hospital, a 13-bed hospital with state-of-the-art equipment, has been constructed here in Lukla. After observing high maternal mortality rates in the villages, Pasang Lhamu had resolved to provide the deprived locals with modern health services after her ascent, according to Sherpa. "The villagers still rely on witch doctors instead of going to hospitals."I'm completely exulted as I could at least fulfils one of her dreams, although it took a hectic and stressful run of ten years," said the cheerful Sherpa, a pilot by profession.

Sherpa, who is also the treasurer of Pasang Lhamu Academy, informed that he had visited several countries in search of donors for the purpose. "It was sheer coincidence that I met Niquille in Switzerland, who also has in-depth knowledge of hills and mountains," he said. Only after Niquille provided US$ 100,000, the amount she had secured from her accidental-insurance, Pasang's dream of constructing the hospital could be accomplished. Locals are also very contented with Sherpa's endeavor. "He has reincarnated Pasang here," said Kami Sherpa. "No words can adequately express our deep felt appreciation for his contribution," said another local, adding, "he has now become our patron." Despite his busy schedule, endeavors are still on to complete his sister's other dreams, which include several benevolent undertakings that are not unlike the recent one.

OTHER NEWS

• Kathmandu Mountain Bike race on Saturday: Himalayan Expedition Nepal is coming back with the Second Kathmandu Mountain Bike Race 2004 this week with a view of promoting Nepal as an adventure sports destination. The race slated for November 20, Saturday will kick off from the historic town of Panauti as cyclists under the two categories of open and senior -over 40 years- finish upon reaching Godavari. The race promoted by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) will be held with two additional categories of junior, below 18 years, and women that features shorter course of 12 kilometers, from Seesneri. Himalayan Expedition, at a press conference today, informed that the course length for open and senior categories would be of 32 kilometers. After being flagged off at 9.30am from Panauti, the course that has been slightly altered from that of last year, runs through Thumki, Phedi Khola, Lankure Bhanjayang, Sisneeri, Lamatar before reaching the St. Xavier School, Godavari. The trail has been promoted as one of the best available in the country for adventure mountain biking.
  
  
• Nepal to study alternative transit route to Tibet: Responding to India's request to provide a permanent Indo-China trade-transit route through Nepal, the government is soon conducting a study to identify and develop an alternative trade-transit route to Tibet. Currently, Nepal uses the sole route of Tatopani-Kodari for trade purpose with the northern neighbor and the identification of possible alternative trade-transit routes to Tibet is necessary before giving a specific reply to India, said a source at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS). During the commerce secretary-level Nepal-India Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) meeting earlier this year, India had formally requested Nepal to pledge the transit facility, allowing it to trade with Tibet through the Nepali territory.
  
  
• E-rupee transactions from next year: If things go as plan, Nepali people no longer need to stand in long queues to clear their utilities bills but could pay their outstanding liabilities sitting at their home using e-rupee via internet. Over the last year, Computer Association of Nepal (CAN), in technical assistance from International Trade Center (ITC), has been working to develop an e-payment mechanism in Nepal to foster electronic transactions and give necessary impetus for the development of e-commerce in Nepal. Talking to the Post, Rajib Subba, first vice-president of the CAN, who has been coordinating efforts on the behalf of CAN for the project, said that a full fledged mechanism for payment via internet, might come into operation by the end of 2005.
  
  
• RNAC looks Boeing-737: Much-talked plan of the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) to purchase a new aircraft has moved a step closer to its materialization after a sub-committee of the RNAC recommended to buy a Boeing -737. "The indecision over the model of aircraft has so far has lingered the RNAC's plan. And, the committee's recommendation will help to speed up the process to acquire new aircraft," said a source at the RNAC.
  
  
• Nepal, P'ppines sign ASA: Nepal and the Philippines recently reached an air service agreement (ASA), with an objective of opening direct flights between the two countries and opening up new business opportunities. As per the ASA, each country can enjoy 2,500 sets a week and will be able to operate three flights a week via Bangkok, carrying up to 40 passengers in each flight.
  
  
  

By Hari Shrestha, Resident Representative in Kathmandu