He is neither an engineer nor a road construction expert. He does not have sufficient knowledge of the techniques of 'road systems' as well, yet he has been endeavoring to construct a trail from Namche Bazaar, the last post to the Everest base camp for the benefit of trekkers and mountaineers. The previously perilous journey to and from Everest base camp has been remarkably improved by Pasang Thorke Sherpa's ambitious work. This determined 60-year-old Sherpa has started constructing a trail to the base camp from Namche via Feruche, Somare and Tengboche area. The earlier slippery path has been changed into a smooth stone paved path, which could, he claims, be sufficient to allow a small car to drive through. A 15-km stretch up to Feruche, including a bridge at Phungidhanga over the Dudhkoshi river has so far been completed. Further, it is worth noting that Pasang has not taken any financial assistance of the government. What he has been able to achieve so far is through donations from travelers and tourists. He has put up a tiny donation box at his construction site, with a notice atop that reads: "I, Pasang Sherpa, have been constructing an easier trail to Sagarmatha and hence ask for your benevolent help. Your entire donation will be spent on completing the trail which you are walking on now". During the trekking and mountaineering season, a good amount of money flows into the donation box. "Mostly an individual tourist gives 500 to 700 rupee", said he.


It has been 15 years since he initiated this road construction, with no encouragement whatsoever from the government for such a commendable endeavor. "I was told not to proceed with the construction by the staff at Sagarmatha National Park as the area falls within their boundar", Pasang said adding, "They even had me arrested on several occasions as I turned a deaf ear to their protestations". But now, the locals and the park authority as well, are positive and supportive towards his dream project, according to him. He says that the donations have been adequate to pay for the labor of two hired workers and that eventually he would reach his goal. Pasang, who is delighted for being able to contribute something for the welfare of the people, promises to be engaged in similar activities. "After fulfilling my desire to reach base camp with this trail, I will engage myself to other philanthropic work in the future also", he says.

OTHER NEWS

• HAN: Promote hotels performance: A delegation of th Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bharat Mohan Adhikari recently and discussed the poor performance of hotels despite this year's rise in tourist arrivals, states a press statement issued by the HAN. President of the HAN Narendra Bajracharya demanded that the government freeze interest rates for the next two years. In case hotels are unable to pay the interest, he asked Adhikari to defer the provisional payments commercial banks have to make to the Nepal Rastra Bank, adds the release.
  
  
• RNAC to acquire two Boeing 737s: Newly appointed Tourism Minister, Dip Kumar Upadhaya, said that the government will provide essential support to the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), the national flag carrier, in acquiring new planes. "In order to promote tourism industry and to enhance the RNAC's competitiveness, we will help initiate the process of adding new planes," he said. The RNAC is preparing to add two Boeing 737s to its fleet for international flights. However, the planes will not arrive for another year. In the meantime, a proposal has been put to the Board of Directors to hire a Boeing 757 from to give continuity to international flights.
  
  
• 80pc small industries closed: Plagued by the ongoing conflict, around 80 percent of small and cottage industries in the district have been closed down so far. According to figures released by the district office of the Small and Cottage Industry (SCI), only 358 industries out of 1,746 registered with the office, are currently in operation.
  
  
• Sobhraj to stand trial for double murder: Over nine months after his arrest, suspense in the murder cases filed against infamous serial killer Charles Sobhraj would start uncovering from Monday with the Kathmandu District Court formally beginning to dust off the nearly three-decade old files. "The hearings before this were on immigration offence and then on his bail plea," said Bishwo Lal Shrestha, the former Police Inspector who headed the investigation team on the two murders back in 1975. "The real show starts Monday." Sanjeev Ghimire, Charles Sobhraj's lawyer, confirmed this. It could be a tightrope walk for Judge Bishwombhar Prasad Shrestha with the kind of interest the case has generated, especially after the concern shown by French Embassy last week about the delay in court proceedings.
  
  
• Govt introduces new procedure on airlines: In a bid to systemize and make transparent the licensing of airline companies, the government has recently introduced a new working procedure. With the introduction of the new procedure, any airline hoping to operate national or international flights from Nepal is entitled to a license within a month, provided it has followed the correct application procedures and met all the set requirements. To apply for a license, an airline must supply full details of its economic and institutional capacity, its fleet size and its business plan.
  
  
  

By Hari Shrestha, Resident Representative in Kathmandu