- Monday, 20 January 2025
Kanchanpur, March 14: Chairman of CPN (UML) and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli has said national interest could be served better with unity among all political parties.
All parties’ unity counts much for country’s territorial unity, independence and national interest. Chairman Oli was putting forth such views at a programme organized to inaugurate a ward office building for Dodhara Chandani municipality-6 of Kanchapur district. “Unity is essential also for curbing corruption and taking action against those involved in financial sleaze,” he underscored.
He argued that development activities could not move forward in absence of political concord. Oli further viewed importance of public service is reflected on how effectively they are delivered to the people. “I take initiative to solve the problems facing the people here,” the former Prime Minister vowed.
On the occasion, Mayor of Dodhara Chandani municipality, Kishor Limbu, sought UML Chairman Oli’s cooperation on resolving problems facing the local people.
“Mahakali River erosion is a severe problem here. Shuklaphanta Reserve creates obstruction on development activities,” he made aware.
Meanwhile, Chairman Oli inspected the four-lane motorable bridge over the Mahakali River and the site where the dry port is proposed.
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Project affected locals demand land compensation and release
Gandaki, March 14: Residents of the Rupatal Integrated Conservation Development Project affected areas in Kaski district submitted a memorandum to the Chief District Officer on Wednesday, demanding compensation for and release of their land acquired for the project.
Coordinator of the Dam Area Problem Resolution Committee, Hari Prasad Adhikari said they demanded proper compensation for the acquired land and return of the land not required by the project.
As many as 1,472 ropanis of land belonging to the locals has been acquired since 2066 BS.
“Although some families have received compensation, around 300 families are yet to get it”, he said, blaming the project office and the local administration for not being able to take any action despite repeated calls.
The affected locals called for proper compensation as per the prevailing price if the project takes over all the land acquired.
Sita Adhikari, a local of Rupakot Rural Municipality-6, said they have not been able to sell their land for years.
She said their struggle would not cease until determination of proper compensation for the land and release of their land.
Project information officer and engineer Krishna BK said compensation has already been distributed for 995 ropanis of land. “Compensation of Rs 870 million has already been distributed, 477 ropanis of land is yet to be acquired and compensation is yet to be paid”, he said.
Information Officer BK said the decision of compensation and release could not be taken at the same time. Discussion however has moved ahead towards fulfilling demands of the agitating locals.
The project aims to develop Rupatal, located along the border of Pokhara Metropolitan City and Rupakot Rural Municipality, as a tourist destination with conservation. After dam construction, the lake area will be expanded to 180 hectares, according to project information officer BK. He shared that the arget is to complete the dam construction by 2082 BS and the entire project work by 2085 BS.
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02- Campaign to build pesticide-free province gains pace
Karnali, March 14: The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Karnali province has continued its efforts to make Karnali an organic province.
In this connection, the province government has adopted a slogan ‘Whatever Karnali sells are valuable’.
Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Bhim Prakash Sharma said the logo has identified that all types of crops and clothes produced here are organic products.
He further shared the federal government has been urged to provide subsidy to purchase organic pesticides laying special emphasis on building an organic province. “The province government has taken initiative to organically authenticate the agricultural produce here”, he said, adding, “The pesticide-free week has also been completed recently”. It has also imparted a message that the province government has sped up the campaign for building an organic province.
Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Narahari Prasad Ghimire, said the campaign to transform Karnali into an organic province was initiated in 2074 BS.
“The province government has already issued the Organic Agriculture Act, 2076 BS, the Agricultural Business Promotion Act, Regulations and Working Procedures to make Karnali an organic province”, he informed.
The secretary sought support from all stakeholders in this campaign launched by the government.
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03- Development parttners laud Chandragiri’s efforts in localizing SDGs
Kathmandu, March 14: Representatives of major development partners and the United Nations (UN) agencies in Nepal lauded Chandragiri Municipality’s practice to localize the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs).
The municipality has been incorporating and implementing its policies in its plan, taking up SDGs the main basis for making education, health, gender equality, drinking water and sanitation, safe, beautiful and accessible to all. Representatives of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN HABITAT), the European Union, the World Bank, the United States Development Agency (USAID) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) said the municipality’s efforts for sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic and social development to achieve the SDGs were laudable and suggested to continue it.
In a meeting with the representatives of these agencies on Wednesday, the municipality delivered a presentation about the contents included in its policy plan and the works being carried out to achieve the SDGs.
It may be noted that Chandragiri municipality was selected for ‘City for Women’ project under the SDGs.
Chandragiri Municipality mayor Ghanashyam Giri shared the municipality has already prepared a draft of the local volunteer review report and has been giving equal priority to the conservation of public land, education, health and social development.
“The municipality has adopted the policy of one ward one garden and one ward one open space. Gender equality, participation of all classes and communities has been made in the selection and implementation of plans from the community level.
Deputy mayor Basanti Shrestha shared the municipality has been giving priority to localizing sustainable development and adopted women, children, tribals, Dalits, disabled and senior citizen friendly policies.
Chief Administrative Officer Hemraj Aryal made a presentation about the efforts being made by the municipality in the economic and social sectors to achieve the SDGs of the municipality.
European Union Nepal representative Eloisa Astidullo enquired about gender equality and inclusion in the local planning process and suggested focusing on the economic and social empowerment of women and marginalized communities.
Dr. Odicea Angelo Barrios, representative of UN Habitat Asia Pacific Regional Office, Japan, appreciated the practices adopted by the municipality to localize the SDGs such as education, health, gender equality, drinking water and sanitation, safe, beautiful and accessible cities.
USAID Nepal representative David Mann pointed out the need for collective efforts to achieve the SDGs and suggested to protect open areas, meaningful participation of minorities, marginalized and vulnerable communities in decision-making and make the local development process inclusive.
UNOPS representative Ilija GUBIC stressed the need to localize SDGs.
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04- Parliamentarians not to remain spectator if government turns rampant-Lawmaker Thapa
Kathmandu, March 14: Lawmaker Surya Thapa said the government did not create adequate business for the parliament in the past one and a half years.
Talking to RSS, he said the parliament could enact the loan-sharking related bill except the appropriation bill.
“In parliamentary system, it depends on government activities to ensure effectiveness of the parliament”, he said, adding the parliament should also effectively deliver on the issues of public concerns.
Lawmaker Thapa further said, “We the Marxists observe the issues objectively and reach to a truth based on facts. We remain thankful to the government when it performs well and we will not remain mute spectator when the things go wrong from the government”.
CPN (UML) leader Thapa is the parliamentary member from Pyuthan.
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05- Comprehensive approach needed to address complex challenges of climate change: PM Dahal
Kathmandu, March 14: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has underlined the need of a comprehensive strategy to address complex challenges of climate change, health and social justice.
In his address to an inaugural session of the South and Southeast Asia Regional Conference on Connecting the Dots between Climate Change, Health, and Equity here today, the Prime Minister highlighted the need of a unified and comprehensive approach to addressing these pressing issues.
“While acknowledging the significance of this monumental event, the Government of Nepal sees it as a crucial step forward in our journey towards a future characterized by justice, sustainability, and fairness,” he said.
He further added that the challenges posed by climate change are immense, touching every corner of our planet, impacting our societies, health systems, and the natural environment.
“The trumpet call from climate scientists is clear and urgent: we must significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5° Celsius. This is especially vital for nations like ours, with our beautiful yet vulnerable mountainous landscapes and as a Least Developed Country (LDC), where the consequences of climate change are not just abstract statistics but harsh realities,” he said.
“The scientists have explicitly said that the emission of green house gases should be significantly reduced to maintain the temperature limit of 1.5 degree Celsius. Not only the harsh reality of climate change, but also its consequences are significant especially for least developed and mountainous country like ours,” he said.
Noting that landslides, floods, wild fires, glacial lake outburst and drought are becoming more frequent and deadlier, PM Dahal said, “Such disasters have impacted the most vulnerable populations. The poor, women, children and indigenous nationalities have been impacted of all.”
The Prime Minister, referring to the latest reports, said that one-third of the global natural resources, including in the Himalayan range, have been lost and these loss and damage have not only put at risk the biodiversity but also the livelihood of billions of people living in the downstream areas.
Recalling that he has voiced in the international forums from the COP-28 held in Dubai to the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations on various challenges the least developed nations are facing due to climate change, he called on the developed economies to support the least developed and vulnerable countries by means of the urgently needed resources and technologies.
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06- HoR session: NC wants PM’s reply over Lamichhane’s appointment as Home Minister
Kathmandu, March 14: The major opposition Nepali Congress has sought the reply from government regarding the appointment of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President and lawmaker Rabi Lamichhane as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs.
In a session of the House of Representatives, the NC demanded the government response over the Home Minister’s appointment.
Once the session commenced, the NC lawmakers stood from their respective seats, prompting Speaker Devraj Ghimire to grant time to Badri Prasad Pandey to put forth his views.
Pandey expressed his concerns over the appointment of a person who is under investigation for his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of cooperatives funds. The appointment has cast doubt over a fair investigation into the matter.
He demanded the Speaker’s ruling to the Prime Minister for proper response. The Speaker said the House attention was drawn into the issue, expressing his hope that the government would also pay heed to it.
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07- Inquiry Commission submits report on gold smuggling to government
Kathmandu, March 14: The Inquiry Commission on the Illicit Import of Gold (Smuggling) -2080 BS presented its report to the government. Commission Chairperson Dilli Raj Acharya today submitted the report to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane.
Receiving the document, the Home Minister pledged to implement its recommendations. “The submission for action against the guilty and for corrections will be implemented,” he said.
The government is committed to taking action against any entities and individuals responsible for weaknesses, he said. According to the Home Minister, those responsible for allowing the guilty to walk free in the past will be legally responded.
The government on October 2, 2023 constituted the Commission led by former judge Acharya. It comprises Sahakul Bahadur Thapa, Kishore Jung Karki and Prem Raj Joshi as its members.
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08- Six killed in jeep accident
Taksar (Bhojpur), March 14: Six people were killed and eight others injured when a jeep they were travelling in met with an accident at Mainamaini of Udayapur today, the District Police Office, Bhojpur said. Fourteen people were on board the vehicle, it is stated.
The jeep (Ko 1 Ja 2593) was heading towards Dakshin Ghoretar of Bhojpur from Dharan at the time of the mishap.
Police have been dispatched to the accident site and details of the mishap are awaited. The victims’ identity except for the jeep driver Man Bahadur Basnet is not ascertained yet. Rescue work is ongoing at the site now and preparations are on for taking the injured people to Dharan for further medical attention, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudip Raj Pathak, the Chief of the District Police Office, Bhojpur.
Local eyewitnesses said the jeep fell some 800 metres down from the road.
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09- Declining barley plantation, a matter of concern in Myagdi
Galeshwor (Myagdi), March 14: The senior people here have been worried over fading barley crops which is full of nutrition and bears religious values as well.
Barley is not only a nutritious food for human health but also an essential paraphernalia for religious events. The senior people also expressed concern why the new generation was not interested to cultivate the cereal.
Bed Prasad Upadhyay, 89, from Beni Municipality-2 viewed, “We cannot conduct religious rituals without having barley in assortment. Not only for we people but also for livestock, it is a useful feed.” Once the roasted barley grains are fed to milch cows and buffalos, it restores energy, he added.
Similarly, Tek Bahadur Pun from Malika rural municipality-6 reminded that those past days used to see famine. Rice was not available. So, the people had no option but to eat roasted barley flour with milk or curd.
Although this cereal is a good source of nutrition to human health, the locals are not aware about it, which has led to fading cultivation.
Moreover, Hari Krishna Paudel from Mangala rural municipality-2 informed that although the farmers used to cultivate barley in almost all wards of Mangala, Malika, Dhawalagiri, Raghuganga and Annapurna rural municipalities in the past, it is not anywhere now. He added that barley consumption was good for people suffering various health problems including high blood pressure, constipation, heart disease, diabetes.
The agriculture knowledge centre in the district said the cultivation of barley significantly dropped in the district in recent years. It was cultivated in nearly 1,000 hectares of land.
The people are lured towards wheat crops now, the Centre added.
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10- New political alliance will last till election: UML Vice-Chair Gyawali
Tulasipur (Dang), March 14: CPN (UML) Vice-Chair Yubaraj Gyawali has said the new political alliance will continue till the upcoming elections to be held in 2028.
Speaking at a press meet organised by the Press Chautari Nepal, Dang at Tulasipur today, the leader said the existing ruling alliance will not collapse in the mid. “There is no need to have apprehensions whether the UML and Nepali Congress will forge a new allowance. There is no such possibility and the NC can stay in the opposition confidently.”
He also talked about the possibility of the Communist unification if the new alliance delivered in the interests of the citizens. “The alliance was formed as per the need of the nation and it is considered as the socialist front.”
As he argued, onwards the country will see a peaceful competitive politics between the capitalist and socialist ideologies. The UML Vice-Chair said the political revolution in the country has been over and it is time for an economic, cultural and social revolution.
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11- Vehicular traffic closed on Kanti Highway
Makawanpur, March 14: Vehicular traffic has been closed on a section of the Kanti highway connecting Hetauda and Kathmandu from today morning. The traffic has been suspended from today until April 27, 2024 as a section of the highway located at Bhattedanda, Lalitpur has to be repaired and maintained, the District Police Office, Makawanpur said.
Spokesperson for the District Police Office Makawanpur, Deputy Superintendent Laxmi Bhandari, said the Department of Roads informed the District Police Office about this. Bhandari said the vehicles operating on the Kathmandu Kanti Highway have been urged to use the Thankot-Chitlang-Hetauda road until that period.
More than 2,000 light vehicles plied the Kathmandu Kanti Highway daily, according to the Area Police Office, Makawanpur.
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12- Jeep accident update: Death toll reaches seven
Taksar (Bhojpur), March 14: The number of people killed in a jeep accident at Bakhakuwa, Belaka-7, Udayapur district, has reached seven. The deceased include a minor, three men and three women, said the District Police Office Bhojpur. Fourteen people were travelling in the jeep.
The jeep (Ko 1 Ja 2593) was heading towards Dakshin Ghoretar of Bhojpur from Dharan when it met accident at around 1.30 pm today.
The seven injured people have been sent to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan for further treatment, police said. Police preliminary guess is that the accident might have occurred on the slope as the jeep was carrying more passengers than its capacity.
Police Inspector Dal Kumar Rai, the Information Officer at the District Police Office, Bhojpur, said the identity of the deceased except that of Man Bahadur Basnet, the jeep driver, is not yet ascertained.
Police said the jeep fell some 300 metres from the road.
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13- DPM Yadav calls for global cooperation to minimise climate change impacts
Kathmandu, March 14: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav, has said Nepal’s health sector has been significantly affected by consequences of climate change. Nepal’s health sector is at grave risk due to the impact of climate change and this is a challenging issue for the country, according to him.
Speaking at an inaugural session of the South and Southeast Asia Regional Conference on Connecting the Dots between Climate Change, Health, and Equity here today, the Deputy Prime Minister said this.
He highlighted the need of implementing a master plan to cope with the impact of climate change and promoting a transnational cooperation to mitigate the risk.
Similarly, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, said time demands us to start thinking right from now for the sustainable development of the country, taking the climate change factor into consideration. He was of the opinion of enforcing a special policy at the national-level and promoting international support and cooperation to minimise the impact of climate change.
NAST Vice Chancellor Dr Dilip Subba, Secretary Dr Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, and Izabella Koziell, ICIMOD’s Deputy Director General, among other speakers, said impacts of climate change are global and combined efforts are needed to tackle with them.
According to Nepal Health Research Council’s executive director Dr Pramod Joshi, the two-day event will navigate new measures for minimizing the implications of climate change in health and environmental sectors and for intensifying further studies and research in the relevant sector.
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14- Federal Civil Service Bill lands in parliament
Kathmandu, March 14: The Federal Civil Service Bill has been presented in the House of Representatives.
Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Bhanubhakta Joshi, tabled the ‘Federal Civil Service Bill, 2024’ in the meeting of the lower house of the Federal Parliament today.
On the occasion, Minister Joshi said the legislation has been brought to address the need of operating and managing the laws related to the service, terms and conditions and facilities of the government employees in line with the federal set-up. According to him, the bill has been brought to implement the administrative restructuring in tune with the restructuring of the State.
He pointed out to the need of issuing the Federal Civil Service Act to make the country’s administrative system well-managed, functional and result-oriented in accordance with the governance system and to rendering the administrative federalization more effective.
The Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister argued that the bill has been brought as it is necessary to make provisions on organization, operation and the service terms and conditions of the civil service so as to run the services to be provided by the State in an effective way, making the civil servants politically neutral and professionally capable, inclusive, professional, participatory and with high morale and integrity.
He added that the has been presented in the House as it is expedient to developing the civil service as a good governance oriented mechanism that is committed to the national interest and the federal democratic republic, is politically neutral and professionally efficient, strong, accountable and professional.
According to him, the bill will make it easy for managing the employees in the federal, provincial and local levels.
Before this, the HoR meeting rejected with a majority a notice of dissent that lawmaker Prem Suwal put on the proposal seeking permission to present the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2024.
The government had registered the bill in the Federal Parliament on March 4.
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15- HoR approves proposal for consideration on bill
Kathmandu, March 14: The House of Representatives (HoR) has approved the proposal seeking consideration on the Construction Materials (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2024.
The lower house of the Federal Parliament unanimously approved the proposal presented by the Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Bhanubhakta Joshi.
Raghuji Panta, Damodar Poudel ‘Bairagi’, Chanda Karki (Bhandari), Basudev Ghimire, Lekhnath Dahal, Pradip Poudel, Shishir Khanal, Abdul Khan, Nisha Dangi, Surya Prasad Dhakal, Prem Suwal, Ganesh Parajuli, Shiva Nepali, Manish Jha, Binita Kathayat, Badri Prasad Pandey, Madhav Sapkota, Sanjaya Gautam, among the lawmakers, participated in the deliberations on the proposal.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire informed the lawmakers that those who want to present amendment proposal on the bill should notify the Legislation Section within 72 hours from the time of the approval of the proposal.
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16- Health Minister Yadav urges people for organ donation
Kathmandu, March 14: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav, has encouraged the general public to donate organs posthumously.
In his address to an event organised on the occasion of the World Kidney Day here today, the Minister said the culture of organ donations could save multiple lives.
“The organs extracted from individuals suffering the brain death could save lives of many,” he said, underlining the need of increasing public awareness on kidney donation.
The world including Nepal observed the World Kidney Day with the theme of ‘Kidney Health for All-Advancing equitable access to care and optimal medication practice’.
People with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and heart diseases and taking imbalanced diet are vulnerable to kidney diseases. The data shows 10 percent of the total population in the world suffers from kidney diseases.
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18- Ambassadors from three nations call on DPM Shrestha
Kathmandu, March 14: Norway’s ambassador to Nepal, Torun Dramdal, today paid a courtesy call on newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
In the meeting held at the Ministry, matters relating to strengthening the bilateral relations and mutual interests between the two countries were discussed, according to Ministry Spokesperson Amrit Bahadur Rai.
On the occasion, the two also exchanged views on the enhancement of Norway’s support to Nepal.
Similarly, Pakistan’s ambassador to Nepal, Abrar H Hashmi and the Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Nepal, Saad Nasser Abdullah Abu Haimed, called on Minister Shrestha. On the occasions, both ambassadors wished the Minister a successful tenure.
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19- Ex-finance ministers for revising priorities of Appropriation Bill
Kathmandu, March 14: Vice Chairman of CPN (UML), Bishnu Prasad Paudel, has urged the government that it rewrote the principles and priorities of Appropriation Bill. He reasoned that present principles and priorities of the bill cannot direct nation’s economy to socialism and prosperity.
Also the former finance minister, Paudel said it while participating in the parliament deliberation on the appropriation bill’s principles and priorities set for the coming fiscal year. National economy must be lifted from slump, he underlined.
Similarly, CPN (Maoist Centre) leader and former Finance Minister Janardan Sharma demanded revision on the bill so that the budget would be oriented to prepare base for socialism.
Moreover, RSP Vice Chair Swarnim Wagle viewed clear priorities of development should be reflected in the forthcoming budget. He blamed that the priorities of appropriation bill were scattered, so they must be concentrated on how SDGs could be achieved.
Also essential is the courage and commitment for industrialization and green economy, according to him.
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20- Jeep accident- all eight killed identified
Taksar (Bhojpur), March 14: All those eight people killed in a jeep accident at Mainamaini of Belaka-7, Udayapur district, have been identified.
The jeep (Ko 1 Ja 2593) was heading towards Dakshin Ghoretar of Bhojpur from Dharan when it met accident at around 10.30 am today. Police said the jeep fell some 300 metres off the road.
Seven were killed on the spot while one died amidst the treatment in Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.
Police preliminary assessment is that the accident might have occurred on the slope as the jeep was carrying more passengers than its capacity.
According to the District Police Office, Bhojpur, the deceased are driver Man Bahadur Basnet, 40, of Itahari-9 in Sunsari; Parbat Maya Rai, 70, Chandra Prakash Rai, 23 and six-month-old child Bisang Chamling of Hatuwagadhi rural municipality-2 in Bhojpur; Raj Kumari Rai, 32, of Hatuwagadhi-5, Padam Bahadur Thapa, 68, Kamala Adhikari, 45, of Hatuwagadhi-9, and Kishan Rai, 42, of Hatuwagadhi-5.
Among them, Kishan Rai died in course of the treatment, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sudip Raj Pathak said.
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