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| Username | Post |
| Arnico | Posted
on 24-Mar-03 11:28 PM
I am not in Kathmandu at the moment, but frOm news reports and personal communication with people in Kathmandu, I can piece together that supposedly the following happened: 1) The start of the Iraq-USA war created fears about petroleum supply and price. 2) Nepal Oil Corporation made a statement that Nepal had adequate supply, that consumers should not worry. 3) Consumers did not believe NOC, and started panic-buying petroleum products. 4) To reduce the rate of stock depletion and hoarding, HMG introduced daily quotas per vehicle/family. So far so good& but& 5) The government also banned every vehicle from the streets for half the time, based on whether the license plate is odd or even. The last measure is a harassment of the public and a blow to the economy that does not do anything to solve the initial problem of panic-buying and dwindling stock. Rationing the available stock to make it last makes sense. But that is no reason to take away vehicle owners freedom and choice about WHEN to travel using the rationed fuel! It is no reason to halve the number of vehicles available to school children and to commuters to get to school and work on time& The measure does NOTHING to conserve fuel beyond what is done by rationing. So what are its benefits? Temporarily it does reduce air pollutant emissions from vehicles by half. The same would be true if there were chakka-jams half the time. But such measures for cleaning up air quality cannot be brought in overnight! Longer-run, it does not even help with air quality! Experiments like this have been tried elsewhere, in other cities in the world& results of which are EASILY available in the literature, on the internet, and even in libraries in Kathmandu. Kathmandu policy makers have NO EXCUSE for being too lazy to learn from elsewhere. For example, in Mexico City: in November 1989 the government introduced a measure aimed at reducing congestion and vehicular air pollution by banning every private vehicle from the road for one day a week -- cars with license plates ending in 1 and 2 would be banned on Mondays, ones with 3 and 4 on Tuesday, and so on. For a short time this did indeed decrease the traffic and ease the ambient air quality. But within a year and a half, 275,000 additional cars were registered in the city and the problem was far worse. What happened was that many families bought old second hand cars (more polluting!) with a different last digit on the license plate, for use on the days when their first car would be banned. And then, instead of letting the second car sit still 6 days a week, a second member of the family would drive -- five days a week these families would now have two cars on the road, making congestion and air pollution even worse. Similar strategies were also tried in Santiago (Chile) and Athens (Greece). There, too, the number of households with two cars increased. Lagos, Nigeria tried what Kathmandu is doing now: a stricter policy of banning every car once every two days (alternating between allowing odd or even numbered cars on the streets). It backfired spectacularly: People found cheap way of circumventing the ban: they did not buy second cars, but rather, obtained second license plates (with a different last digit) for the same car. What is there to stop the same from happening in Kathmandu? Leaving aside conspiracy theories that the policy was brought about BECAUSE it offers opportunity for bribe income to those issuing second license plates for the same car, and for the traffic policemen catching violators, we should still ask WHY not more homework was done before it was announced and enforced in a way that hit every person depending on a vehicle. The chance of a war in Iraq has been high for months. Where were the people who were supposed to be making contingency plans? |
| Arnico | Posted
on 24-Mar-03 11:30 PM
Just read the Kathmandu Post after posting the above. Apparently there is a follow up: (KTM Post, March 25, 2003): ******************************************8 Govt buckles under pressure, relaxes vehicle plying rule Post Report KATHMANDU, March 24 : Following an immense pressure coming from the civil society, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) today relaxed the newly introduced odd-even plying rule for vehicles of public uses and basic services. Incorporating the relaxation, the ministry freed microbuses from the odd-even rules, whereby odd-numbered vehicles are allowed to ply on odd dates and even-numbered vehicles on even dates. Of the small vehicles, only (non-metered) tempos were not effected by the rules earlier. "The latest change has been made following the problems seen in public movement," said Dhruva Kumar Sharma, Under Secretary of the MoLTM. Taxis and metered tempos are still subjected to the odd-even plying rules. Likewise, the ministry has withdrawn the rules in cases of vehicles used by important sectors like education, health, tourism, and the press. The rule now would not effect the vehicles of special class officers as well. Even vehicles of political parties and diplomats, among others would not be subjected to the rule now, according to a press release issued here today. "However, except for the microbuses, other vehicles need to acquire a no-restriction pass from Department of Transport Management (DoTM) or transportation offices or traffic office to enjoy the facility," said Sharma. The ministry was compelled to review the rule, implemented from Saturday, after it affected public life and triggered price rise in the market. "The decision has been reviewed with an aim to curtail adverse impacts seen on various sectors," conceded Sharma. The ministry is observing the impact of the rule keenly and would take necessary steps to curtail its negative impacts, he added. In this regard, the ministry is planning to hold a meeting with Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Association and travel trade entrepreneurs on Wednesday. While the meeting would discuss the impact seen in the public transportation and tourism sector, the government is likely to urge transporters not to rise transportation prices in the wake of the decision. "Such impact assessment programmes would be held with other sectors as well," said Sharma. Sources at the ministry, meanwhile, said that the ministry would not hesitate to revoke the decision if it drew flak from all the sectors. The decision to impose the rule was taken on Friday after the petroleum crisis gripped the capital. It was basically aimed at inducing economical consumption of petroleum products in the wake of US attacks on Iraq, according to officials. |
| Arnico | Posted
on 24-Mar-03 11:38 PM
So, surprise, surprise, the government realized it created a crisis. But why does learning only occur by trying out things? Aren't some things so obviously stupid that one does not even need to try them out to realize that they will backfire? Meanwhile, note that the government has only given the road back to microbuses, plus created a class of VIPs who won't be affected by this, while sarvasadharan taxi drivers and businesspeople will continue to have their incomes several affected. And of course very long lines for a few thousand eligible vehicle owners to go pick up their no-restriction passes... ALSO, note the last sentence in teh third last paragraph: that the government is asking entrepreneurs not to raise prices. The supply just got cut in half. The cost or providing the service just got doubled (for many entrepreneurs). The demand remains unchanged. BUT DON'T RAISE PRICES re. HELLO??? Is anyone awake in HMG who has taken even just ONE course in microeconomics???? |
| isolated freak | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 12:01 AM
The chance of a war in Iraq has been high for months. Where were the people who were supposed to be making contingency plans? I agree with you 100%, arnico. The thing is there was ample time to make preparations, but hardly anyone in the concerned ministry(-ies) were bothered. This unpreparing attitude has taken its toll in every aspect of nepali life time and again, but seems like we don't wnat to learn from our past mistakes. BTW, how is the air in Kathmandu? Is the chemical or whatever the percentage very high? (just curious). |
| dautari | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 06:00 AM
Well, I am in Kathmandu and I, like everyone else, was directly affected by the even / odd rule. Not only the vehicle owners, but even the commuters were affected. Due to the rule, only half the number of taxis were on the road. That created a shortage of taxis. Due to the shortage of taxis, the buses and tempos became overcrowded. Yesterday I had to walk around in the pouring rain because no taxis were available, my bike had odd number on the licence plate (yesterday, it was 10 gate), and the buses were overcrowded (I did not want to hang outside the door). The cartoon caption on today's Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post says: "For travelling comfort, the 'odd-even' rule should be imposed on people too... Day-1 men with moustache, Day-2 without.." However, the Supreme Court has now issued a stay order. Here's what is posted on kantipuronline.com Supreme Court issues interim stay order KOL Report KATHMANDU, March 25 - The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an interim stay order to rescind its decision on the operation of vehicles on the basis on their numbers and date. The government on Friday issued orders to all vehicle owners saying that odd number vehicles would be allowed to operate on odd number dates while even number vehicles would be allowed to operate on even number dates. The government said this was being done in view of possible fuel shortages due to war in the Persian Gulf. However, the single bench of the Chief Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyaya on Tuesday ordered the government to immediately rescind its decision on vehicle operation. Reading out his verdict, Chief Justice Upadhyaya said the government decision did not conform to any existing rules or regulation. However, the Supreme Court said the governments decision to ration fuel had to be further studied and for that purpose the court has called the concerned ministry as well as the cabinet secretariat. Four different writ petitions were filed at the Surpeme Court on Monday saying the decision had violated peoples right to equality and property |
| Arnico | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 09:20 AM
Thanks for the update from Kathmandu. So it looks like the government did not only ignore the fact that the measure would solve nothing while creating havoc, but also ignored the legality! Good job supreme court! |
| vivid | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 09:32 AM
IF ji, You can have your curiosity settled by visiting here, http://www.nepalnews.com/ntimes/issue137/headline_1.htm Hope, it helped. Regards! |
| Arnico | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 10:51 AM
actually vivid ji, that's a pretty poorly written/argued article. I'll post comments later. |
| DWI | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 12:00 PM
Read the lower article on Delhi. Pretty good points there. One questions, how can these govt entities go on exercising these ludacrist (initially I thought it was pretty clever) plans without having a thorough legal consultations? |
| Dilasha | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 01:05 PM
"Jaba paryo raati, taba budi aati" what an absurd way of approaching the fuel crisis!. Like Arnico said, it will definitely reduce pollution but for how long? And the repurcussions are indeed so many that it could be uncontrollable. Thanks for bringing this to our attention Arnico and Vivid ji, I read the Nepali Times article this morning and holy cow I couldn't believe my eyes! What a shocking picture! The horrifying facts of air pollution in Ktm makes me want to live on top of a hill in a remote village for the rest of my life. Seriously, it's so pathetic! I won't be surprised in the coming years if a terrible plane crash makes headlines that states AIR POLLUTION IN THE KTM VALLEY as the MAIN CAUSE. I think our government should learn a lesson from the New Delhi authorities and the way they approached the problem and resolved it to a great extent. Also, those people who mix kerosene with petrol/diesel thus causing adulteration should be severely fined or even jailed for months. I cannot imagine myself living in the city inhaling toxic air 24/7. Can you? btw, here's an editorial piece in the Nepali Times under the heading: Clearing the air Ever since Tyrolean travellers to Nepal in the early 17th century described Kathmandu Valley as the dirtiest place in the orient we seem to be trying our best to live up to that status. That was a time when the entire Valley had no more than a population of 10,000. Today, it has swelled to nearly 1.5 million and it is clear we are now reaching the limits of growth. A metropolis of this size needs either a major river running through it to flush itself, or has to be situated near a sea. We just have three spring-fed streams that by now have turned into sewers. It is a myth that Kathmandu is a valley. Actually it is a plateau, the terrain beyond the valley rim on all sides dips down to less than 900m. All these natural impediments pale in comparison to the human bungling that has turned one of the most spectacularly-located and culturally-vibrant capital cities in the world into a toilet bowl. The fact that Kathmandus old-world charm shines through all the grime, concrete and foul air is a tribute to our ancestors. They left us a legacy of beauty and architectural harmony, but what legacy are we leaving for our grandchildren? It is said that the test of a civilisation is the way it treats its waste. Well, we dont treat it. On that count alone, we fail miserably to attain a civilised status. The raw sewage emptying into the Bagmati, the industrial waste that makes this holy river froth at Chobar, and the powerful odour of death over the bridge at Kopundole all remind us of our own callousness. Then there is the growing garbage crisis, each time we pass the neighbourhood heap, the stench reminds us of our inability to separate and turn its organic constituents into valuable fertiliser, and the failure to stop the growth of non-biodegradables like plastic bags. Even more shocking is our breathtaking disregard for air quality. As our investigative report in this issue ("Gasp") makes clear, we are choking ourselves to death. The paradox here is that we know it, we know what should be done about it, we have the laws in place to do it, but we still cant do it. There are lessons from how New Delhi managed to turn itself from one of the most-polluted cities in Asia to one with one the cleanest air in three years ("How Delhi did it"). Here in Nepal we have great laws, the worlds best, in fact. Our zoning laws, the municipalitys architectural guidelines for new housing, the rules for garbage collection. We have emission standards for vehicles, there are supposed to be tariff incentives for electric transport, and fuel adulteration is a crime. Yet, every 30 litres of diesel sold in Kathmandus gas stations has 15 litres of kerosene mixed with it. This is kerosene supposedly subsidised to make energy more affordable for the rural poor. What is coming out of the tail pipes of the buses and cars on our streets is therefore benzene, an invisible carcinogenic gas. Take a peek at the furnaces of the brick kilns on the towns outskirts: they are burning plastic trash and old tyres to bake bricks. Think about that the next time you buy a lorry load of bricks. Or the next time you take a deep breath. And then think again what we can all do as responsible citizens. |
| Dilasha | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 01:15 PM
btw can someone upload that picture from the nepali times into this thread? I tried but couldn't succeed. That picture makes me want to ask- is that how the roads in Ktm currently look like all the time or does it seem to you as it does to me that it could be some sort of a procession? I think they should make less lanes as it looks proper. Holy mackerel!! |
| vivid | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 01:42 PM
< img src = "http://www.nepalnews.com/ntimes/issue137/images/headlinebpic.jpg" > |
| vivid | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 01:43 PM
sorry didn't work! |
| vivid | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 01:49 PM
 Keeping my fingers crossed! |
| DWI | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 02:41 PM
 Is this guy better than Vatsyayan or what? |
| DWI | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 02:41 PM
This wa the caption for the above cartoon by Rajesh KC: For travelling comfort, the 'odd-even' rule should be imposed on people too... Day-1 men with moustache, Day-2 without.. |
| dautari | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 06:39 PM
DWI jee, the caption is not of the cartoon you posted. The caption is that of another cartoon on yesterday's newspaper, whereas you posted the cartoon on today's newspaper. And the caption reads: "Yes, maam, tomato prices are rising at the rate of one rupee per missile fired by the Allied forces on Iraq." |
| DWI | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 07:14 PM
Thanks Dautari bro. But I did post yesterday's cartoon, and seems like they use the same name for each new cartoons. Hence, you will see a different cartoon tomorrow as even though the link is static, the cartoons are uploaded dynamically(everyday) with same name. |
| Arnico | Posted
on 25-Mar-03 09:23 PM
Hi, I was writing a wrong reply/commentary on the postings by Dilasha when my browser window crashed... will have to try to reconstruct my thoughts... lesson learned: type the postings in Word, and then copy over!! |
| DWI | Posted
on 26-Mar-03 08:00 AM
Lesson corrected: Type the postings in Notepad and copy over. |
| Dilasha | Posted
on 26-Mar-03 10:56 AM
Goodness gracious! thank you vivid ji for fulfilling my request. And that cartoos is simply hilarious! Arnico, uh oh that's too bad you lost what you wrote. I don't know if you do this but if you type in here directly do copy the whole thing so that if you lose it you can hit the reply button again and paste it otherwise word or notepad will be good too and for those who use word document, for some reason Sajha does not accept those quotation marks and some other symbols which appear in the form of box like form once you paste it here. |
| vivid | Posted
on 27-Mar-03 02:33 PM
Dalisha ji, Welcome!, am also a learner in these aspects, :) |
| Car Tick | Posted
on 27-Mar-03 04:14 PM
Hi guys, You guys really brought up some valid points... the odd-even plan is/was doomed to fail. I heard this exact plan was imposed on Mexico City, US (or somewhere in that area), and it failed miserably. This plan failed because people started owning (two or more) cars with odd and even numbered plates, and voila(!) they could drive every day... however, this reason of failing is unlikely in KTM, coz obviously buying cars is not a piece of cake... but all-the-while, i dont believe such a simplistic plan would succeed in KTM, where nothing is simplistic, what say?? And you're right- we should make all the policymakers take basic economics courses for a change. Car Tick. |