- Thursday, 16 January 2025
Jumla, Feb 1: It has been snowing in Jumla since this morning. Snowfall took place late this year compared to the previous years. About half a foot of snow has accumulated across the district, including the headquarters Khalanga.
It is the first snowfall of this year’s winter season.
Parvati Budha, a local resident of Tila Rural Municipality-1 in the district, shared that the farmers who planted winter crops were happy after the snowfall, despite coming late.
The farmers were worried that there would be a drought as there was no snow this winter so far.
According to the Agricultural Development Office, the farmers who planted barley and wheat crops were greatly relieved by the snowfall. Gopal Rokaya, an agricultural entrepreneur, says that the snowfall will help planting of apple and walnut trees.
Meanwhile, due to the snowfall in Jumla and Upper Karnali, air services have been disrupted.
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39k punished for driving under influence of alcohol
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The Traffic Police has taken action against 39,272 people for driving under the influence of alcohol in the last six months in the country. During the period, 242 people were also found driving under the influence of drugs and penalized.
Of them, those found driving under the influence of alcohol include 18,627 from Kathmandu Valley, 2,524 from Koshi Province, 2,021 in Madhesh, 1,098 in Bagmati, 8,923 in Gandaki, 2,773 in Lumbini, 1,264 in Karnali and 2,042 in Sudur Paschim Province.
During the period, 81 people in Kathmandu Valley, 28 in Koshi, 88 in Gandaki, 20 in Lumbini and 25 in Sudurpaschim Province were penalized for driving under the influence of drugs.
Nepal Police Central Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General of Police Bhim Prasad Dhakal shared that Rs.40 million was collected in revenue from the fine imposed on the traffic violators. He said that priority has been given to check drivers for alcohol and drug consumption so as to ensure safety of passengers, vehicles and the road.
Statistics show that the tendency to drive under the influence of alcohol especially during long-distance journeys leads to sudden and serious accidents. Low presence of traffic police and areas with limited access to CCTV are found with more traffic violators.
“Every driver must drive the vehicle in the right condition in order to save his/her life and the lives of passengers from accidents. said DIG Dhakal.
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Attention drawn towards sluggish implementation in Gandaki
Gandaki, Feb 1: The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply of Gandaki Province has been suggested to speed up implementation of its annual policies and programs.
In a meeting of Social Development and Agriculture Committee of Gandaki Provincial Assembly on Wednesday, the committee members including its chair pointed out to the poor implementation of the budget estimates even eight months after it was passed by the Assembly.
“There is delay in the implementation of plans that have a guaranteed budget, the provincial government and the relevant ministries should be serious about this,” said Bed Bahadur Gurung, a member of the committee.
Likewise, another member of the committee Dilmaya Paubi said that the monitoring from the local level was not effective due to the large number of fragmented plans. Furthermore, selection of plans should be need-oriented and scientific.
Chair of the committee, Fanindra Devkota, said that the trend of starting to implement the plan towards the end of the financial year should be stopped. The ministry should share its work achievements in every quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, responding to the questions and queries raised in the meeting, Secretary of the Ministry, Ganesh Raj Wosti, said that the problem has arisen as policies and programs are decided without ensuring resources.
There are 2,468 schemes under the ministry including 2,000 in the province and around 500 from the federal government. Of them, the detailed project report (DPR) of 1200 schemes has been prepared. He said that some schemes could not be carried forward due to lack of budget.
Likewise, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply Saraswati Aryal Tiwari said that the schemes with than Rs 3 million budget from the federal government will not be implemented. Tiwari said that the provincial government has also removed petty projects and that it will be further improved from the coming year. The tendency of selecting plans randomly without estimating and ensuring the budget will also be discouraged.
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Early warning system installed in Doda river banks
Kanchanpur, Feb 1: An early warning system has been installed in Doda (Macheli) river in Kanchanpur. The flood warning device (radar level sensor) has been installed at a cost of Rs. one million rupees with technical support of the Mahakali Basin Field Office under Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
Sanjay Shah, Head of Field Office, in Attaria, Kailali said that the device will inform about the rise and fall of the water level in the river. The early warning system is expected to help reduce the loss of life and property caused by floods every year. Early warning devices will be installed in other areas affected by floods gradually.
The device will give information about the rise and fall of the water level in the river in every 10 seconds. According to Shah, the information provided by the device is updated through the website of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
Furthermore, the residents living in the lower coastal areas will be informed about the possibility of floods after the water level reaches the warning and danger levels. This can be done through group SMS.
Ward president of Krishnapur Municipality-2 Arjun Saud, said the installation of the flood warning system can help save lives and property. The device has been installed in the middle of the Doda river bridge on the East-West Highway.
Head of Rehabilitation Disaster Management Branch of the Municipality, Omnath Dhakal, said that it takes three to four hours for the river flood water to reach the municipal area from the upper coastal area. Hence, the early warning system could help inform the municipality residents of the incoming floods.
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Alarming situation of brain drain should be prevented: Prime Minister Dahal
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the alarming situation of brain drain from the country should be stopped.
Addressing the 7th Assembly of Rajarshi Janak University here today, the Prime Minister said that the exodus of intellectuals and the learned can be prevented through full utilization of the University’s dedication, capacity and creative initiative for the intellectual nourishment of the students.
Stating that every graduate of Rajarshi Janak University carries the present picture and the future of education in the country, the Prime Minister emphasized that the education system should be reformed accordingly. The production of human resource capable of leading the nation is today’s major priority, which requires qualitative improvement in teaching and learning activities.
There is a need to qualitatively improve the policy, curriculum, pedagogy and working style of the universities considering the impact of globalization in the education sector. “Competitive education based on innovation should be emphasized,” he said.
The Prime Minister also lauded the University for conducting undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs in the fields of medical education, management and computer technology in a short period of its establishment.
He also assured that the difficulties faced by the University due to the lack of land and building infrastructure will be addressed gradually with the improvement of the economy.
On a different note, Prime Minister Dahal said under the federal structure, the government’s policy is to develop the entire Madhesh province as a center of knowledge.”The opening of a university in the name of Rajarshi Janak for the purpose of lighting the lamp of knowledge is a profound faith towards ancient civilization, culture and cultural heritage”.
Emphasizing on the need for policy and academic guidance considering the rationale and need of the University, the Prime Minister said the present government has taken various initiatives to build the dignity and academic prestige of the universities.
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Aaha-Rara Pokhara Gold Cup: Church Boys and NAC clash for a spot in the final
Kaski, Feb 1: Church Boys United and Tribhuvan Army Club are playing for a place in the final match of Aaha-Rara Pokhara Gold Cup football tournament underway in Pokhara.
The second semi-final match of the tournament is being held at Pokhara Stadium this afternoon. The winner will enter the final to face Three Star Club that beat Jawalakhel Youth Club 1-0 in the first semi-final at the same venue on Wednesday.
The final is being held on February 3, according to the organizers, Sahara Club Pokhara.
The winner of the tournament will walk home with the gold cup, including a cash prize of Rs.1.2 million. The runner-up team will be awarded a trophy with Rs.601,000.
Similarly, the best footballers in five different categories will be awarded at the rate of Rs. 25,000 each. Likewise, the best player of the tournament will win a scooter.
A total twelve teams including one team from Bhutan competed in the tournament held annually.
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UML Kathmandu to hold programme focused on youth
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The CPN UML Kathmandu district committee has decided to hold a programme focused on youths- youth festival- at Tundikhel, Kathmandu on February 3. The festival is being held under the theme of ‘youth leadership for social change’.
The Kathmandu committee of the party informed that such festival would be organized in other districts as well. Information to this was shared at a press meet organized here on Thursday.
UML’s politburo member Anand Pokhrel informed that the event was organized to make youths aware on use and misuse of technology in the wake of globalization.
Similarly, another leader Dipak Niraula, said youths’ role could be bolstered for strengthening federal democratic republic.
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‘Govt agencies should mandatorily respond to original file in 15 days’
Kathmandu, Feb 1: In its bid to end lackadaisical service delivery and decision-making, the government has come up with a provision for any ministry to compulsorily respond to the files it receives to the origin in 15 days.
The decision was taken following the directives from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and the move is expected to facilitate the decision-making process through an effective inter-ministerial coordination.
As per the directive, it will be regarded as consensus if any ministry, agency or other public body failed to respond to the files within 15 days of submission along with their views.
All the ministries have been written by taking this decision as per the Good-Governance Act, which is aimed at expediting the performance of the government agencies. As stated in the circulation, the ministries and agencies should share their views within 10 days and it will be considered as an approval if the views were not shared in 15 days.
From the decision of the government, the ministries’ hassles to bring proposals in the Cabinet meeting have been cleared and the dillydallying is expected to fizzle out.
Prime Minister’s press advisor Govinda Acharya said that inter-ministerial performance would be expedited, adding that “Now, it should be clearly stated whether or not the jobs will be done. Sluggishness like of the past is not tolerated”.
Likewise, Spokesperson at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Narayan Prasad Bhatta said fixing deadline for giving views has made work performance accessible and the government agencies are required to take views on policy making, implementation, evaluation and other themes.
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Arun Chaudhari and Ajit Man to be kept in detention for four days
Kathmandu, Feb 1: District Court Kathmandu has allowed Nepal Police to keep in detention businessman Arun Chaudhari and then executive chief of board of directors at Bansbari Leather Shoes Factory, Ajitman Singh Thapa, for four days. They were arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police on Thursday itself.
A bench of judge at District Court Kathmandu, Madhav Prasad Ghimire, ordered the police for keeping the arrestees in detention for further investigation, according to information officer at court, Chandra Prasad Panthi. They were arrested in connection with embezzlement of 10 ropanis of land belonging to the Factory.Chaudhari was apprehended from Lainchaur and Thapa from Battisputali, Kathmandu.
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Man held for duping over 600 foreign job aspirants
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The Valley Investigation Office, Kathmandu has arrested a person for duping more than 600 foreign job aspirants. The 32-year-old fraudster was made public by the police on Thursday.
Bikash Tamang (Waiba), 32, from Kanjosom rural municipality-4 of Lalitpur was arrested from Lele, Lalitpur. He had duped hundreds of people- lured them of sending foreign countries and providing jobs.
Senior Superintendent of Police at the Investigation Office, Somendra Singh Rathaur, informed that Tamang was found involved in defrauding millions of rupees from over 600 people. They were falsely assured of jobs in various European countries as Malta, Poland and Croatia, and Canada. Tamang assured the victims that he would send them to these countries, Rathaur added.
Tamang had worked as an agent for different human resource recruitment offices including Ayus Manpower since 2073BS and facilitated sending people to Dubai, Qatar and Malaysia. But since 2077BS, he was absconding and hiding in the country and India after a case filed on fraud and criminal gain.
Moreover, he was even running an educational consultancy at Balaju bearing a fake identity card, the police investigation stated.
Even the government employees were conned by him. Some of such employees quit the jobs. They were allured of employment in Europe. Investigation revealed that he took Rs 1.8 million from a person for false facilitation in sending him/her to Canada, while Rs 800 thousand for Malta, Rs 700 thousand for Poland, Rs 650 thousand for Croatia.
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Guragain elected chair of RSS Employees’ Association
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Pabitra Guragain has been elected the chairperson of the Employees’ Association at . She was elected through the Association’s fourth central convention and General Assembly. Prior to this, she was the Vice Chairperson in the Association.
Guragain was elected to the post by obtaining 45 votes while her competitor Purna Prasad Mishra secured nine votes. Similarly, Chet Bahadur Adhikari (CB) has been elected senior vice chair while Maina Thapa vice chair (inclusive), Chhabi Lal Kumal general secretary, Pramod Karki secretary (open), Laxmi Sapkota secretary (inclusive) and Uma Sharma treasurer. They were elected unopposed in the new committee.
Similarly, new executive committee incorporates Siddharaj Bhatta, Muna Karki, Ram Chandra Basnet, Yadav Prasad Gotame, Firuram Chaudhary, Gyanu Timilsina, Sagur Singh Rana, Shambhu Yadav and Udip Kumar Yadav as members.
The vote count concluded on Thursday and the election committee coordinated by Rajaram Karki handed the certificates to the new committee on Thursday itself. On the occasion, committee coordinator Karki termed the Association as a body to amplify voices for collective and broader interests of RSS employees. He hoped the new leadership would strongly advocate for career enhancement and promotion of the rights of RSS staff.
Newly elected chair Guragain pledged to make the Association more vibrant, uniting the RSS employees for their rights, collective interests as well as for the elevation of the RSS itself.
Outgoing chair Manoj Kumar Lamichhane also suggested the new leadership that it kept in centre the concerns and problems of employees at RSS. Even the contestant for chair, Mishra, believed the new committee would work for RSS employees in line with trade union concept.
The election committee members are Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Bhisma Raj Ojha and Srijana Rai.
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‘Support of all needed for development of sports sector’
Patan, Feb 1: Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has said that all should pay attention for the development of sports sector in the country.
Inaugurating the Krishna Prasad Bhattarai Memorial National Karate Competition on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Khadka stated that three tires of government should coordinate to promote the sports sector.
Khadka argued that sports sector should be promoted to produce the gold medalists by competing in the international tournaments.The Deputy Prime Minister also promised to ensure plenty of facilities to the sportspersons from the upcoming budget to encourage them and make them able to compete in the national and international games.
Likewise, House of Representative (HoR) Member and Nepali Congress leader Udaya Shumsher Rana opined that such competitions help contribute in quality upliftment of the sportsperson.
Nepali Congress leader and Constituent Assembly Member Madan Bahadur Amatya, NC Bagmati Province Committee President Indra Bahadur Baniya and NC Lalitpur District Committee President Jitendra Bahadur Shrestha recalled the contributions of late Krishna Prasad Bhattarai in the Nepali society and added that organizing such tournaments support in making Bhattarai’s contributions more alive.
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Tilak Sapkota Memorial Football Cup kicks off
Nawalpur, Feb 1: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr Shashanka Koirala said local competitions are useful for haunting genius players. Koirala said this while inaugurating the Tilak Prasad Sapkota Memorial Inter-Secondary School District Level knock out football tournament organized by Kalika Sanskrit Vidyapeeth Free Student Union at Gaindakot in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat-Susta East) today.
He stressed that the authorities entrusted with the responsibilities for sports sector development should be serious to promote such tournaments at school level. He argued that such tournaments are spectacular to produce and incentivize talented players. A total of 16 schools of the district are participating in the tournament that kicked off in regional stadium.
The champion team will receive a cash award of Rs 66,600 while the second team will bag Rs 33,300, Informed President of Vidyapeeth’s Free Student Union Narayan Basyal.
Social reformer Sapkota was the founding President of the Vidhyapeeth. He took the lead role in establishing several social, educational and religious organizations in Baglung and Nawalparasi districts on people’s participation.
It was Sapkota who led 13 years of relentless struggle in successfully digging a local irrigation canal, namely Jayshree Sinchai, that enabled local farmers to cultivate crops and sustain their livelihood. Sapkota took the leadership in establishing a dozen of organizations, including Vijaya Development Resource Centre (VDRC-Nepal), Kalika Secondary School, Janak Secondary School and Kalika Mandir Kalika Ashram.
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‘Impacts of carbon emission on human health need to be studied’
Kathmandu, Feb 1: CPN (UML) Chairperson KP Sharma Oli said all sides should be serious to the issues negatively affecting human health.
Chairperson Oli said this at an interaction ‘climate change impacts on environment and resolving measures’ organized by the CPN (UML)’s department of forest and environment at party office in Chyasal, Lalitpur.
Oli, also the former Prime Minister, said human interests and unawareness are negatively impacting the health and environment.
Chairperson Oli said human being should know adaptive skills to check negative impacts of climate change in human life and environment. “All sides should adopt serious efforts to resolve problems by mitigating negative effects of carbon emission on human health”.
Noting the need of study on the effects of carbon emission triggered by brick industries in the Kathmandu Valley, he said the government should incentivize and promote the establishment of industries adopting technology avoiding carbon emission in the Valley.
Department head Bharati Pathak stressed the need to prevent and resolve the carbon emission which is beyond the earth’s bearing capacity.
Security Printing Bill aims to ensure printing of sensitive documents within country: Minister Sharma
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, said the government proceeded with the Security Printing Bill which aims to print sensitive documents, such as bank notes, citizenship certificate, passport, national identity card, driving license, and visa within the country,
In a meeting of the Education, Health and Information Committee on Thursday, the Minister said the security printing is a sensitive issue and the government aspires to conclude the Bill attaching high priority. According to the Spokesperson for the government, a huge amount will be prevented from going outside the country if we can ensure the security printing facilities within the country.
The Bill that was originated in the National Assembly and revised by the Assembly thematic committee is currently under discussion in the HoR committee.
In the HoR, 35 amendment notes have been registered regarding the proposal and the Committee plans to conclude it by holding clause-wise deliberations, according to Committee President Bhanubhakta Joshi.
Some of the lawmakers seeking amendments to the Bill were of the view of including the private sector in security printing except bank notes and passports through a due procedure.
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Chairman Nepal lays emphasis on preservation of all ethnicities, languages
Janakpurdham, Feb 1: CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the government should fulfill its responsibility to preserve all ethnicities and languages in the country by identifying them.
Inaugurating the Fourth Janakpur Literature, Arts and International Theatre Festival in Janakpurdham on Thursday, the former PM said that the state should preserve all ethnic communities and languages as per the aspiration of the Constitution of Nepal.”The government should take responsibility for the preservation of all 136 ethnic communities and 125 languages,” he added.
Chairman Nepal was of the view that national pride can be promoted only if we preserve our identities. Likewise, Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Chairman Upendra Yadav echoed the statements of Chairman Nepal and argued that the state should invest more for the preservation of all languages and cultures since identity of Maithili and some other languages has been pushed to crises due to promotion of a single language and single costume.
Yadav also urged the government to make the official language for Maithili.NC leader Mahendra Yadav, UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai, former chief minister of Madhes Lal Babu Raut, NC leader Ananda Prasad Dhungana, CPN (US) leader Ramchandra Jha, RAstriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader Sobita Gautam and others shared their views for the development and protection of Maithili and other languages.
Physical Infrastructure Minister of Madhes Krishna Prasad Yadav, Economic Affairs Minister of Madhes Sanjya Kumar Yadav and Industry Minister of Madhes Sunita Yadav shared the province government’s plans on protection of languages and arts. The Fourth Janakpur Literature, Arts and International Theatre Festival started on Thursday would run for five days.
In the festival, discussions would be held on 20 different thematic sessions including in literature, arts, politics, social and history. Furthermore, eight dramas in five different languages would also be performed, Chairman of Maithili Development Fund Jibnath Chaudhary said.
The event is being jointly organized by the Maithili Development Fund, Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan Cities and Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of Madhes Province.
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NC parliamentary party meeting on Friday
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The parliamentary party of the ruling Nepali Congress is meeting tomorrow. The meeting is taking place at parliament building at 2:00pm Friday, according to chief whip Ramesh Lekhak.
Lekhak informed that the meeting would discuss how the party would present itself in the winter session which is scheduled to begin on Monday. It also discusses thoroughly on presentation of bills.
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Rs 80 million allocated to upgrade Ganeshman road
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Ganeshman route (Thankot-Chitalng road section) has been inspected after the Finance Ministry allocated budget for its upgrade.
The Finance Ministry at the special request of Mayor of Chandragiri municipality had, on January 26, allocated Rs 80 million to forward upgrading activities of the route immediately.
Meanwhile, a team comprising Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, Mayor Giri, Deputy-Mayor Basanti Shrestha and Municipality Spokesperson Krishna Prasad Khadgi carried out an inspection of the Ganeshman route on Wednesday.
Five people were killed in a car accident that took place at Setopaharo along the road section on January 23.
In course of the inspection, Minister Jwala directed the bodies concerned to upgrade the road immediately and carry out activities in order to complete its construction on time.
He urged the bodies concerned to carry out activities by completing the legal process at the earliest as protecting the lives of the people is the first responsibility of the government.
Similarly, Mayor Giri thanked the Finance Minister for allocating the budget to forward the upgrading works of the Ganeshman route.
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Weather: Light rain, snowfall forecast in Karnali and Sudur Paschim
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The Westerly wind has its influence in Nepal at present. The weather is partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region of the country, including in Sudur Paschim and Karnali provinces, and mainly fair in the rest of the regions.
The Meteorological Forecasting Division stated that moderate snowfall along with intermittent to light rainfall is taking place at many places in the Sudur Paschim province, at a few places of Karnali province and at one or two places of Lumbini province at present. Fog has occurred at a few places of the central and eastern Tarai region of the country.
Meteorologist Rojan Lamichhane said it would be generally cloudy in the hilly region of the country including in Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Paschim provinces while it will remain partly to mainly fair in the rest of the regions towards the afternoon.
Sporadic to light rainfall is taking place at present at a few places of Gandaki, Lumbini, and Karnali and Sudur Paschim provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the hilly region. According to Lamichhane, light to moderate snowfall is taking place at present at some places of the high-hilly and mountainous region of Sudur Paschim, Karnali and Gandaki provinces, and at a few places of the rest of the high-hilly and mountainous region.
The present atmospheric temperature in Kathmandu is 12 degrees Celsius and visibility 2,500 metres, according to the Division. The minimum temperature in Kathmandu this morning was 5.3 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature will be between 15 to 17 degrees Celsius.
The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly region of Sudur Paschim and Karnali province while remaining mainly fair in the rest of the regions tonight. There are chances of traces to light rainfall at one or two places of the hilly region, and light snowfall at a few places of the high-hilly and mountainous region of the country tonight.
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Yadav appointed NPC member
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The government has appointed Umashankar Prasad Yadav from Rautahat as the National Planning Commission (NPC) member.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers held today at the Singha Durbar took a decision to appoint Yadav on the NPC vacant post.
Similarly, the meeting decided to form the National Trade Facilitation Committee with the participation of the private sector. The Committee is headed by Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ramesh Rijal, according to Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma.
As per the meeting decisions, Bikram Rai, the member on the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Board of Directors has been appointed on the vacant post of NAC Vice-Chair. Likewise, Lekhnath Lama from Sindhupalchowk and Dr Sahara Shrestha from Kathmandu have been appointed the members of the Naradevi Ayurveda Hospital Development Board.
The meeting also granted the permission to the government to present the Bill to revise the Secured Transaction Act, 2063 BS (2006) to the Federal Parliament.
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Finance Minister insists on promoting exports of typical goods
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has underlined the need of promoting export trade as the backbone of nation’s economy.
In his address to the fourth anniversary of Federation of Exports Entrepreneurs Nepal here today, the Finance Minister stressed that Nepal should focus on producing typical and specific goods instead of high technology-based goods.
“The future of export trade is brighter and the government is doing its best to build an atmosphere favourable for export economy. Nepali products are unique and original for the export. ”
He also took time to say that it is irrelevant to raise the issue of SAFTA by overlooking possibilities to secure benefits from a trade agreement with India. “The role of exporters is equally significant for economic growth, employment creation, revenue growth and for the promotion of sustainable development,” he further added.
As he said, the government has been presently unable to address the genuine concerns of FENN promptly due to availability of economic resources in the country and the government will consider them when time turns favourable.
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Govt. positive on using CA service in tax administration: Minister Mahat
Kathmandu Feb 1: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said the government is positive to take the services of chartered accountants in tax administration.
Minister Mahat shared so while addressing the 27th anniversary of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal and the sixth convocation ceremony.
“Good governance is guaranteed if chartered accountants carry out their responsibilities honestly in course of fulfilling professional duties,” he asserted.
The Finance Minister mentioned, “Many things would be resolved after accounting and chartered accountants are up to the mark. There is a need to resolve serious types of problems on the basis of their priority after categorizing the arrears. Chartered Accountants should be brought into our tax administration.”
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Nepali doctors themselves are capable of liver transplantation within country: Dr Bhandari
Kathmandu, Feb 1: Liver transplantation can be successfully carried out within Nepal itself now. Nepali doctors for the first time in the country conducted liver transplantation at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH).
Before this, liver transplantation used to be done in India and in Nepal itself with the help of Indian doctors. But it is said that Nepali doctors themselves are capable for this at present.
A team of Nepali physicians led by Prof Dr Ramesh Singh Bhandari, Chief of TUTH Liver Transplant Unit, carried out a successful liver transplant operation on a 41-year-old man on January 12. The person’s 40-year-old wife had donated the organ for the transplantation.
Dr Bhandari shared that after conducting this operation they are now confident that Nepali doctors can carry out liver transplantation within the country itself.
“We have become successful in liver transplantation within Nepal itself. It is a historic and a milestone for liver transplantation within Nepal itself. Before this, we were doing this medical procedure with the help of foreign doctors,” he said. According to him, the help of Indian doctors was taken for carrying out liver transplantation at the hospital before this. This is the11th successful liver transplantation done at the TUTH.
According to Dr Bhandari, both the liver donor and receiver are in good health. The organ recipient has been discharged from hospital today morning itself after recovery. The donor was discharged in 10 days of the liver transplantation.
Senior hepatologist Dr Bhandari said that a team of 50 doctors and surgeons had transplanted liver on that person in about 12 hours.
Liver transplantation at TUTH costs in the range of Rs 2.5 million to Rs 3 million whereas it costs approximately Rs 10 million in foreign countries.
Liver transplantation is done at TUTH and the Human Organ Transplant Centre, both government hospitals, in Nepal. This service was started at the Centre in 2016 and at TUTH in 2019.
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More than 79,000 foreign tourists visit Nepal in January
Kathmandu, Feb 1: A total of 79,100 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in January, the first month of 2024.
The number was up by 24,026 as compared to the month of January, 2023. A total of 55,074 foreign tourists visited Nepal in January, 2023.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 81,897 people went out of the country in January. The highest number of Indian tourists (24,139) visited Nepal in January against 16,436 in January, 2023.
Similarly, 7,267 tourists from China, 7,047 from America, 4,619 from Thailand, 3,812 from South Korea, 3,629 from Bangladesh and 3421 from Australia entered Nepal in January.
Likewise, 3,276 from UK, 2,229 from Bhutan and 1,568 from Japan visited Nepal in the month.
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Govt. forms committee to study for operating int’l airports in PPP model
Kathmandu, Feb 1: The government has formed a committee to study for operating international airports of the country in public private partnership (PPP) model.
A cabinet meeting held today approved the proposal on forming a study committee, submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Former Secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari is the coordinator of the five-member Committee where investment expert Ghanshyam Ojha, Chief of Aviation Division of the Ministry, Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Joint-Secretary of the Investment Board of Nepal and Deputy-Director of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Dipendra Shrestha, are the member-Secretaries.
The Committee was formed to study the issue of operating Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan International Airport, Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara-based Pokhara International Airport in full capacity and the PPP model.
According to the Ministry, a five-member committee has also been formed to manage contract-based employees of Nepal Airlines Corporation.
The Committee has been formed under coordination of former Vice-Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, where management expert Tikaram Rai, Director General of the Tourism Department, representatives of the Finance Ministry and Finance Department of Nepal Airlines Corporation would be the members. This committee has been given 45 days deadline.
With this, the cabinet decided that the Nepali Army should immediately provide land for the expansion of Chitwan-based Bharatpur airport and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to construct the damaged infrastructures.
Similarly, the government took the decision to provide land to Nepali Army at Shaktikhor for horse breeding centre and to bear all possible expenses for the same.
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Final nomination presented for enlisting Tilaurakot in World Heritage Site list
Lumbini, Feb 1: The final nomination document for including Tilaurakot, Kapilbastu in the list of World Heritage Sites has been presented to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on behalf of the Government of Nepal. Tilaurakot is the capital of the ancient Shakya republic.
Ambassador of Nepal to France and Nepal’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Sudheer Bhattarai, formally handed the nomination document to Lazare Eloundou Assomo.
Member-Secretary of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), Sanuraja Shakya, stated in a press release today that the presentation of the strategic nomination document prepared by national and international experts to the central office of World Heritage Centre at Paris, France is a matter of immense pleasure.
“It is a matter of happiness not only for us but also for all the heritage lovers that the works carried out since long by a team of professors from Durham University as experts, together with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Lumbini Development Trust and the Department of Archaeology, have materialized,” reads the press release.
Member-Secretary Shakya said that the positive support and cooperation of all is expected as necessary process along with the preparation has been initiated from the side of the LDT for having Tilaurakot enlisted in the World Heritage Sites list until 2025.
A team of archaeologists led by Prof Robin Cunningham of the Durham University had, through the scientific archaeological excavations carried out since 2014 under the UNESCO Japanese Fund in Trust Project, prepared the basis and collected adequate evidences for enlisting Tilaurakot in the list of World Heritage Sites.
A directive committee was also formed for ensuring from the governmental and stakeholder bodies the means and resources required for enlisting Tilaurakot Kapilbastu in the list of World Heritage Sites and for facilitating and giving directives in this connection.
The Vice Chair of LDT is the coordinator of the directive committee.
The government in the policy, programme and budget of fiscal year 2078/79 BS had included the issue of enlisting Tilaurakot in the list of World Heritage Sites.
A promotional programme related to Tilaurakot Kapilvastu was organised on the 45th meeting of the World Heritage Committee.
With the submission of the final nomination document officially at the central office of the World Heritage Centre, the process has formally moved ahead for the registration of Tilaurakot at the World Heritage Centre.
The press release reads that national and international experts had incorporated required evidences and basses in the strategic document to enlist Tilaurakot Palace, where Siddhartha Gautam spent 29 years, in the World Heritage Sites.
UNESCO in 1996 had put the archeological site, Tilaurakot, in the list of possible world heritage site.
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Businessmen Arun Chaudhary and Thapa arrested
Kathmandu, Feb 1: A team from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested businessman Arun Chaudhary and Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa, the Chairman of the then Bansbari Leather Shoes Factory Ltd.
Chaudhary was held from Lainchaur and Thapa from Battisputali of Kathmandu today, said CIB spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Nawaraj Adhikari.
“Businessman Arun Chaudhary and then Chair Thapa have been arrested. Further information on this would be made public later,” he added. The Bureau said they have been arrested in connection with the misappropriation of the 10 ropani land property of Bansbari Leather and Shoes Factory.
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