Nepal Maoists fail to disrupt opening of India-aided polytechnic

Nepal's Maoist party, set on a collision course with the government, Monday failed to disrupt the opening of an India-aided polytechnic institute in the east by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Nepal flew to Biratnagar city in Morang district to inaugurate the Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic established with an Indian assistance of NRS 460 million.

India had agreed in 2003 to help build the institute named after Manmohan Adhikari, Nepal's first communist prime minister.

Though earlier scheduled to be completed in two years, the project was delayed due to the political turmoil in Nepal.

Established under the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme, the polytechnic, the first of its kind in Nepal, is affiliated to the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training and will offer three years diploma courses in Electronics, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering to fill the gap of middle level human resources and expertise in the field of engineering.

The project, intended to contribute towards the growth and industrial development of Nepal, was executed on a turn-key basis with an outlay of about NRS 460 million. India will also provide Indian experts under faculty support to the polytechnic for five years. The polytechnic is expected to produce its own experts during this period to take over the complete running of the institution.

While on his way to inaugurate the polytechnic, Nepal's motorcade ran into Maoist demonstrators who have begun a series of protests demanding the dissolution of the Nepal government and the formation of a new one under them.

As the demonstrators tried to show black flags to the prime minister, there was a scuffle between them and members of Nepal's Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, resulting in two protesters being injured.

The Indian ambassador to Nepal, Rakesh Sood, inaugurated the approach road from the highway to the polytechnic.

The road, also constructed with an Indian assistance of NRS 19 million, will benefit about 200,000 locals.

The inauguration of the institute was followed by a presentation before local chambers of commerce and industry gauge the expectations of the local industry.

Last updated on Nov 2^nd, 2009 at 18:18 pm IST--IANS