- Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Chitwan, March 24: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane has said that the government is effortful to solve the problems surfaced in the cooperatives across the country.
Talking to journalists here today, Minister Lamichhane said that the government has tried to solve the problem through dialogue with the cooperative victims. He said, “There has been an agreement between the government negotiation team and the cooperative victims. Agreement comes into effect soon.”
He said that the savings of the depositors will be returned even if by adjusting from the property of those who embezzled the cooperative’s money.
The Home Minister said that the government has mobilized its full power to arrest G.B. Rai, who is absconding after misappropriating the cooperative’s money.
Lamichhane expressed his belief that Rai will be arrested soon, saying that investigation and study conducted by the government should not be made public beforehand. He said that the results of the work done by the government will come in full swing.
“The government will do what the law says. The prime minister’s directive is that the innocent should not be caught. That’s how it works.” Minister Lamichhane said that even if there are some complications in the process, we will work to get results.
Speaking in a different context, he said that the government will work for the presence of the State for the Chepang community, the deprived community living in Chitwan district. He said that he is going to work within the budget this year through discussions with experts and concerned representatives to address the issues of marginalized Chepang community.
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‘Country reported 70,000 new TB patients last year’
Kathmandu, March 24 : The country reported almost 70,000 new patients of tuberculosis in the fiscal year 2079/080 BS. According to the, National Tuberculosis Centre, only 37,447 patients received treatment of the total 70,000 new patients reported in the year 2079/080 BS.
Likewise, the TB claims 18,000 lives in the country every year. The information was shared today on the occasion of the World TB Day, which was marked across the country by organizing different events with the theme “Yes! We can end TB”.
Director of the Centre Dr Prajwal Shrestha said that the people aged 15 to 44 are more vulnerable to TB and the prevalence of TB is also among the senior citizens aged over 65. Presently, the government is offering anti-TB medicines for free from 6,000 plus health institutions.
According to Director Shrestha, the country is implementing intervention programmes against TB as a part of ‘TB Free Nepal Campaign’ and the identification, diagnosis and treatment services have been implemented in 125 local levels.
The Government of Nepal has set a target to eradicate TB from the country by 2050.
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Foreigners enjoy Holi festival in Pokhara
Kaski, March 24: A large number of foreigners visiting the touristic capital city of Pokhara marked the Holi festival, the festival of colours, on Sunday with a great fanfare.
The tourists enjoyed the festival by smearing colours each other at Lakeside area in Pokhara at a programme organized by the Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN) Pokhara to promote internal and international tourism.
In the festival, the tourists enjoyed by dancing and singing along with smearing different colours each other. Chairman of REBAN Pokhara Naresh Bahadur Bhattarai said that the Holi festival was marked there playing Panchebaja and other musical events.
REBAN shared that as many as 500 tourists enjoyed the Holi festival on the streets of Lakeside from Gaurighat to Khaharechowk. The REBAN is organizing the Holi festival in Pokhara for the past one decade with the plan to elongate the stay of tourists in Pokhara and developing Holi festival as a tourist product.
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Involvement of parliamentarians is indispensable in diplomacy
Kathmandu, March 24 : Speaker of House of Representatives (HoR) Devraj Ghimire has said parliamentary diplomacy is an important complement to traditional diplomacy and involvement of parliamentarians in diplomacy is indispensable to ensure that the voices and aspirations of the citizens are reflected in decision making in the matters of international affairs.
Addressing the General Debate “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding” in the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva on Sunday, Speaker Ghimire said the parliament in itself is the outcome of democracy and public mandate and thus parliamentary diplomacy adds a democratic dimension as well as legitimacy to international relations.
“It builds trust and goodwill at people’s level. Because the diplomatic actions of parliamentarians who are consistently in close contact with the people will be aimed towards the benefit of the public and supported by the public, it produces sustainable as opposed to temporary results,” he said.
Saying that Nepal has always remained a proponent of peace and coexistence, he added ‘we have witnessed the consequences of larger and powerful nations not tolerating the existence of smaller and less powerful nations’ at different times in history.
A founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Nepal is adamant in its belief that every nation must respect each other’s existence, he said. Speaker Ghimire described that many of the tensions taking place in various parts of the world are the result of action taken by the authorities of the state without taking into consideration the intent of the people and the parliament.
“The scope of diplomacy is not limited to preventing wars and ending ongoing wars. The cooperation and a consolidated effort of the nations with similar interests is necessary to face the burning challenges of the world,” the Speaker said.
Speaker Ghimire shared that Nepal is facing a disproportionately immense impacts of climate change despite Nepal emits a very low amount of carbon. “As the snow in Nepal’s mountains are melting rapidly, the ecosystems below it are in grave danger. This has also put many nations close to the sea level, mainly the island nations, at risk. The nations impacted by this serious threat must raise a united voice in international forums,” he said, adding that the nations that contribute most to global warming must fulfil their commitments to the nations that are most affected by it.
Inter-Parliamentary Union has been practicing parliamentary diplomacy for world peace since the last 135 years and is providing a forum for discussion, brainstorming and cooperation to parliamentarians on the issues of peace, international security, democracy, human rights and sustainable development.
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Woman buried in mound
Doti, March 24 : One more woman who was buried in mound died on Sunday. The woman submerged in the soil while she was digging it for daubing house on the occasion of coming New Year, 2081BS.
The victim is Bhaga Devi Ojha, 60, from Adarsha rural municipality-2, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police in the District Police Office, Doti, Nishant Shreevastav.
Another woman Parbati Khadka, 50, rescued together with Ojha, has been receiving treatment at district hospital. The 21-year-old Nirmala Rosyara from Shikhar municipality-9 had died after she was buried in the mound while digging soil yesterday.
The locals here use red and white mud to daub houses for the New Year.
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Peace warrants all sides’ cooperation: Province Chief Minya
Kailali, March 24 : Chief of Sudurpaschim Province, Najir Minya, has said all sides’ cooperation is imperative to ensure peace and religious tolerance in the country.
Province Chief Minya made such remark while addressing a programme organized by the Inter-Religious Harmony Coordination Association Nepal Rupanedhi Chapter at Dhangadhi on Sunday. Minya was feted during the programme. He underlined the need of creating atmosphere where all religions and ethnic communities foster cooperation and enjoy harmonious relations.
None of the religious community can be suppressed by others, he said, adding that Sudurpaschim Province is peaceful in terms of religious viewpoint. On the occasion, Association’s Vice Chair Chanda Thapa informed that the Association was instituted some months back. Religious gurus from different communities were associated with it. She shared that it was established to maintain religious peace and harmony across the country.
Province Chief Minya himself is the Chair of the Association.
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Socialism key to prosperity: former PM Khanal
Kathmandu, March 24 : Former prime minister and senior leader of CPN (Unified Socialist) Jhalanath Khanal has viewed achievement of socialism ensures national prosperity.
During a programme organized by the party-affiliated student organization at Tri-Chandra Campus on Sunday, the former PM underscored that socialism is key to peace and prosperity. In order to ensure development and end aberrations in the country, socialist system is required, according to him.
The noted leader of CPN (Unified Socialist) further urged the youths to be united against the imperialist and interventionist forces. Time has come for forging unity among people against crony capitalism that exploits and suppresses people within country, leader Khanal reminded, urging student leaders not to indulge in corruption.
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Three children missing in Sunkoshi river
Udayapur, March 24: Three children went missing while swimming in Sunkoshi river at Triyuga Municipality-14 in Udayapur district on Sunday afternoon.
The District Police Office, Udayapur, said those missing are 11-year-old Rekha Magar, Lok Bahadur Magar, 8, and Ritham Magar, 7, of Triyuga Municipality-14 in the district.
Ward chairman of Triyuga Municipality-14 Hemraj Magar said the three kids went missing while swimming as they had gone there after playing Holi, the festival of colours.
Of the five kids swimming in the river there, two managed to come out of the river.
A search for the missing children is ongoing, according to the Information Officer, Harinandan Chaudhary, of District Police Office, Udayapur.
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UN General Assembly adopts resolution for safe, secure and trustworthy AI
Kathmandu, March 24: The seventy-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution on artificial intelligence seeking its ‘safe, secure and trustworthy’ promotion.
The UNGA on March 21 adopted the significant resolution, recognizing proliferation of AI and its impact on achievement of SDGs and seeking global consensus for safe, secure and trustworthy AI.
According to the document, the safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems are human centric which fully respect, promote and protect human rights and international law, maintain privacy, enable progress towards to SDGs and sustainable development in three fronts- economic, social and environment. Similarly, it promotes peace and digital divide within and among countries, the resolution mentioned.
The resolution underlines, “AI systems in the non-military domain, whose life cycle includes the stages: pre-design, design, development, evaluation, testing, deployment, use, sale, procurement, operation and decommissioning, are such that they are human-centric, reliable, explainable, ethical, inclusive, in full respect, promotion and protection of human rights and international law. “
The UN has called upon the member states and invited stakeholders to take action for cooperation and extend assistance to the developing countries so that they could be ensured with inclusive and equitable access to reap benefit from digital transformation and AI system.
The UN member states are encouraged to prepare policies and regulation to foster competition in safe, secure and trustworthy AI system and technologies associated to it. Moreover, it has attached significance on continuation of debates on unfolding incidents and updates relating to the governance of AI in order for the international approaches to be abreast with evolution of AI systems and their uses.
The document read, “It encourages continued efforts by the international community to promote inclusive research, mapping and analysis that benefit all parties on the potential impacts and applications that artificial intelligence systems and rapid technological change can have in the development of existing and new and emerging technologies and on accelerating the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and to inform how to develop, promote and implement effective, internationally interoperable safeguards, practices, standards and tools for artificial intelligence designers, developers, evaluators, deployers, users and other stakeholders for safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems”.
The member states are further called upon to close gender digital divide. They are called to “adopt specific measures to close the gender digital divide and to ensure that particular attention is paid to access, affordability, digital literacy, privacy and online safety, to enhance the use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence systems, and to mainstream a disability, gender and racial equality perspective in policy decisions and the frameworks that guide them”.
In this regard, the UN News wrote: Ms Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, who introduced the draft resolution, highlighted the opportunity and the responsibility of the international community “to govern this technology rather than let it govern us”.
While adopting the resolution, the UNGA reaffirmed international law, Charter of the UN and recollected UDHR. Also reaffirmed for it is the resolution entitled, ‘Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. The United States-led draft resolution was adopted by the UNGA and backed by more than 120 Member States, according to the UN News.
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Rainfall likely in some provinces
Kathmandu, March 24: Light rain or thunder and lightning are likely to occur at a few places of hilly region of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Province and at one or two places of hilly region of rest of the country today, the Meteorological Forecasting Division said.
The weather is partly to generally cloudy in Koshi, Madhesh , Bagmati and Gandaki provinces along with the hilly regions of the country and partly cloudy to mainly fair in the rest of the country, according to the Division.
Likewise, there are chances of light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous region of the country.
Tonight, there will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country. Light rain or thunder and lightning are forecast at a few places of the hilly region of the country. Similarly, there are chances of light snowfall at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous region of the country.
Presently, there is an influence of Westerly low pressure system and of local wind induced low pressure system based in Assam and its adjoining areas.
As Division’s meteorologist Min Kumar Aryal said, today’s maximum temperature in Kathmandu is likely to be measured from 21 to 23 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature is measured to 13.6 degrees Celsius and existing visibility is five kilometers.
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Odissi dance being performed in different cities
Kaski, March 24: Indian classical Odissi dance is being performed in different cities in Nepal on the occasion of Holi festival. The Odissi dance troupe led by Kakali Bose gave its first performance in Pokhara, the tourist capital city of the country, on the eve of Phagupurnima (Holi) festival Saturday evening. The event was supported jointly by the Indian Embassy and Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Kathmandu.
Nepal Tourism Board and Pokhara Tourism Council jointly organized a cultural programme on Saturday evening at Barahighat in Pokhara with the participation of more than 500 people, presenting Odissi dance and Nepali folk dance.
According to the Indian Embassy, the team is scheduled to perform in Lumbini on March 24, in Birgunj on March 25 and in Dharan on March 26.
Sritakamala, Sakhi Hai, Dashavatar and Vasant Bahar: Odissi dances are presented in the difficult moves and emotions of Indian classical dances, presenting the colours of spring. Apart from this, folk dance was performed along with Nepali Lakhe dance, Newari typical dance.
The Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Raj Pandey, Gandaki Province Government and the local government representatives in Kaski and officials of the Indian Embassy participated in the event.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Pandey said that there are many cultural similarities between Nepal and India. He mentioned that this programme helped to show the diversity of the two countries and their cultural harmony.
First Secretary of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Avinash Singh, stressed on centuries-old cultural relationship between India and Nepal.
Odissi is a classical dance from Odisha, India.
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Original cultural traditions linked with Holi celebrations fading with time
Dodhara Chandani (Kanchanpur), March 24: The districts in the Terai/Madhesh, including Kanchanpur, will be celebrating Holi, the festival of colors, tomorrow, Monday. The festival is observed today in the hilly districts.
However, with changing times, the celebratory events of Holi are shrinking, it is said. The traditional Hindu festival, which once featured worship and prayers offered to deities such as Ram and Krishna, as well as presentations of special Holi songs, dances, stories and dramas based on social, natural, and cultural themes, has now become limited to color celebrations.
In the past, dance and singing performances relating to historic and mythical events would be carried out during the festival, symbolizing the victory of truth over falsehood.
However, literary figure Kabiraj Bhatta said that such cultural presentations have vanished over time. The present generation mainly internalizes the festival with playing with colours.
Bhatta sees the need of preserving the cultural values and prestige of the festival. Traditionally, people would visit public places and neighbors’ homes to celebrate Holi. The cultural narrations presented during Holi carry historic and cultural values, according to Ramesh Pant, Chair of the Progressive Writers’ Association in the far-west region.
He expressed concern over the increasing trend of consuming alcohol and haphazardly playing with colors during Holi, which as he believes undermines its aesthetic values.
Moreover, modern music has replaced traditional musical instruments during the celebrations.
The District Police Office in Kanchanpur has urged everyone to refrain from engaging in any untoward activities and to observe the festival in a decent and civilized manner. They warned of taking action against any unwanted behavior.
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Public trust of PSC should not be ruined: Province Chief Bhatt
Lekhnath (Kaski), March 24: Gandaki Province Chief Dilliraj Bhatt has said that the Gandaki Province Public Service Commission should uphold public trust while maintaining the quality of the examination system.
Inaugurating the third anniversary of Provincial Public Service Commission, Gandaki Province Sunday, the Province Chief suggested that the commission should maintain its dignity and continue its activities effectively under the provision of Nepal’s constitution and existing laws.
Expressing gratitude to the Public Service Commission for maintaining its competence, fairness and credibility even to this day, he said, “The commission should move forward more effectively in the future as well. Political interference should not be allowed in the commission.”
Addressing the event, Surendra Raj Pandey, Chief Minister of Gandaki province Government, said that the commission is the only reliable institution of fairness, emphasizing that the commission should carry out its work at a fast pace.
He said that due to the high number of educated persons of Nepal going abroad for employment, the Commission should conduct examinations to fill vacancies and create an environment for them to stay within the country.
He expressed his concern that the Nepali people fought for political change time and time again but political stability has not been achieved in the country. Chief Minister Pandey said that it is necessary for the political parties here to pay attention to how the country can be brought towards political stability and change to people’s lives.
Former Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Khagraj Adhikari said that the fairness, confidentiality and public trust of Public Service Commission should not be allowed to be broken. He emphasized that the Public Service is the permanent government of the country, it should maintain its dignity and increase its effectiveness further in the days to come.
Similarly, addressing the event, Pokhara High Court Chief Justice Rajan Prasad Bhattarai expressed his happiness that the commission has maintained its impartiality and competence since its inception and emphasized that the commission should maintain its effectiveness and public trust in the days to come.
Public Service Commission Gandaki Province Chairperson Bishnu Prasad Nepal chaired the event. The commission’s works and activities were highlighted.
On that occasion, a souvenir published by the Commission on its third anniversary was also released.
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Incidents of forest fire increase this year in Nuwakot
Trishuli (Nuwakot), March 24: A forest area spanning around 2,000 ropani of land (1.02 square kilometers) was damaged by recent wildfire in Nuwakot. The fire has its direct implications in forest products as well as the wildlife.
The fires that spread since the third week of February ravaged forest areas across all 12 local levels in the district, Division Forest Office Roshana Pokharel said. As she said, the preliminary estimate is that fire spread to 28 community forests and a national forest as well.
The escalating frequency of forest fires in the district has prompted the authorities concerned to take proactive measures to mitigate the situation and create public awareness on its consequences. This year, a larger area of forest and a more number of forests were damaged by wild fires than last year. The lack of winter rainfall and human negligence and error are attributed to this situation.
The Office has recruited 10 ‘green volunteers’ and mobilised them to implement preventive measures against possible forest fire during the dry season.
Office information officer Raj Kumar Yadav said local community forest users are also being encouraged to take part in efforts aiming to minimise the risk of forest fires. The public awareness programme is targeted at making citizens aware of legal provisions against those responsible for causing the wild fire.
In some areas, forest fires were deliberately set and the Office is searching for alleged offenders. The law has the provision of a three-year jail sentence and a fine of Rs 60,000 for those guilty in deliberately causing forest fire.
There are around 400 community forests, national forests and private forest in Nuwakot and over 40,000 households have been directly benefited from them.
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New campaign of good governance has been started: Home Minister
Bharatpur, March 24: Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Rabi Lamichhane has said a new campaign of good governance has started in the country.
Participating in Holi festive celebration with the party leaders and workers in Bharatpur, Chitwan today, he asserted that hope has engendered among the people with the formation of new government.
“We have taken the responsibility of four ministries, collaborating with various parties. The main leaders of the big parties are one on promotion of good governance,” he said, adding that all the top leaders were together for running the coalition government and maintaining good governance.
“Now, it is the time to protect the country and not the individual leader’s interests,” he added.
Stating that the wrongdoers would be brought to justice, the Home Minister said ‘all types of fish – big, slippery and scaly – will be caught, referring to the ‘big and powerful’ politicians and businesspersons linked to various scandals.
Lamichhane, who is also the Chairperson of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, extended best wishes on the occasion, saying, “let our life and society as well be colourful and happy as epitomized by the Holi festival.”
Expressing the hope that the social goodwill always flourish along with the Holi festival, the RSP Chair said he was always indebted to his voters and would return this with ‘interest’, meaning good deeds.
According to him, the party has demonstrated its capacity by carrying out ‘impactful works’ within two weeks of joining the government.
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Foreign tourists join Holi celebrations in Thamel
Kathmandu, March 24: Foreign tourists celebrated the Holi festival enthusiastically in Thamel, the major tourist hub in the federal capital Kathmandu and other heritage sites here today.
The foreign visitors who have been here with the arrival of the Spring Season joined the Holi celebrations with much fanfare. Lately, there is an increasing trend of foreign tourists actively participate in the celebrations of Holi, the festival of colors.
The foreign guests were seen since early morning smearing colours on each others, singing and dancing at various locations including Thamel, Basantapur, Durbar Marg, Patan and Boudha areas.
The Thamel Tourism Development Council organised a Holi special programme in front of the Employees’ Provident Fund Building at Kathmandu metropolis-26. The programme featured a musical performance as well.
Council Chair Bhabishwor Sharma expressed hope that the active participation of foreign tourists in such cultural celebrations would contribute to promoting Nepal’s tourism, extending the religious and cultural significance of Nepali festivals globally.
He pressed an idea of preparing a calendar incorporating our cultural festivals so as to connect values for the cause of tourism promotion. “If this happens, we can observe the tourism seasons throughout the year.”
Among foreign tourists visiting Nepal, 80 percent reach the Thamel area, according to Council Vice Chair Sahadev Dahamala.
The Council dedicates the English New Year, Nepali New Year, the Sagarmatha Day, World Tourism Day, Holi and other cultural festival celebrations to entertain foreign tourists.
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Manthali-Lukla direct flights begin
Manthali (Ramechhap), March 24: With the start of trekking and mountaineering season, daily flights to Lukla have started from Ramechhap’s Manthali Airport.
Tara Air, Summit Air and Sita Air started regular flights to Solukhumbu’s Lukla from today. It is believed that operation of flights from Manthali to Lukla and vice-versa will make the travel of tourists to the gateway of Mt Everest easier.
Since the Tribhuvan International Airport is busy during the tourist season, airlines bring tourists to Manthali and fly them to Lukla to avoid traffic jams. A large number of foreign tourists come twice a year to Lukla for hiking and climbing.
Previously, there used to be a large number of tourists visiting Khumbu region from the first week of October to the first week of November. Praveen Subedi, Ramechhap in-charge of Tara Air, said that the number of tourists visiting from March to May this year is very high. He says that even though the flight started on last Friday, flights were not operated that day due to bad weather.
Pooja Thapa, Acting Chief at the Office of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Ramechhap, said that regular flights have been started from today with the improvement in the weather.
It is further shared that supply of aviation fuel has been arranged in Manthali.
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UML nominated candidates for the by-election
Kathmandu, March 24: The CPN (UML) has picked Suhang Nembang as the party’s candidate in the by-election to be held in Ilam Constituency No. 2 for electing a Member for the House of Representatives (HoR), the lower house of the Federal Parliament.
UML Deputy Secretary General Pradeep Gyawali informed that the secretariat meeting of the party held today at the party central office in Chayasal, Lalitpur decided to make him a candidate. Suhang Nembang is the younger son of UML late leader Subas Nembang, who represented the constituency in the HoR.
Likewise, UML has decided to make Daman Bahadur Bhandari a candidate in the by-election to be held in the Province electoral constituency-1 of Bajhang district.
By-elections are going to be held in both these electoral constituencies on April 27, 2024.
Following the meeting, Deputy Secretary General Gyawali shared that some hope has been raised in the country after the new political collaboration with the participation of UML.
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Fiscal equalization grant to province, local levels recommended
Kathmandu, March 24: The National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission has proposed the fiscal equalization grant to be provided to the provinces and local governments in the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) and recommended its implementation to the federal government. The grant is to be sourced from the Federal Consolidated Fund.
According to the Commission, it has recommended allocating Rs 60 billion to the provinces and Rs 88 billion to the local levels for the upcoming fiscal year, in accordance with the Constitution and prevailing laws.
The Constitutional provision mandates that the necessity of expenditures and revenue capacity of provincial governments and local levels be assessed while allocating fiscal equalization grants from the Federal Consolidated Fund. The recommendations are based on the provisions of minimum grants, formula-based grants, and performance-based grants.
According to the Commission, out of the total financial equalization grant of Rs 60 billion proposed for the provinces, Rs 15 billion is allocated as the minimum equalization grant, Rs 42.6 billion is allocated based on the formula, and Rs 2.40 billion is allocated towards performance-based grants.
Of the total Rs 60 billion of the fiscal equalization grant that has been recommended for the provinces in the coming fiscal year, the minimum equalization grant is equivalent to Rs 15 billion, the formula-based equalization grant is equivalent to Rs 42 billion and 600 million and the grant given on the basis of performance is equivalent to Rs 2.40 billion.
Accordingly, towards the fiscal equalization grant, the Commission has recommended providing Rs 8 billion 943 million and 200 thousand to Koshi province, Rs 7 billion 799 million and 200 thousand to the Madhesh province, Rs 8 billion 243 million and 400 thousand to Bagmati province and Rs 7 billion 638 million and 800 thousand to Gandaki province.
Similarly, Rs 8 billion 286 million and 400 thousand has been recommended for Lumbini province, Rs 10 billion366 million and 300 thousand to Karnali province and Rs 8 billion 722 million and 700 thousand to the Sudurpaschim province as the fiscal equalization grant.
Likewise, recommendation has been made to provide Rs 88 billion as the fiscal equalization grant to the local levels in the next fiscal year. The recommended minimum equalization grant to the local levels for the next fiscal year is Rs 26 billion and 685 million, the formula based equalization grant is Rs 57 billion and 795 million and the grant to be provided based on performance is Rs 3 billion and 520 million.
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Jhapa’s Kichakbadh proved to be dated back to 2,200 years
Jhapa, March 24: The archaeological site of Kichakbadh in Prithvinagar, Bhadrapur municipality-3, has been found to be dated back to 2,200 years.
The Department of Archaeology, after seven rounds of assessment of objects extracted from the area, has confirmed its antiquity. This site holds significance as it is believed to be the location where the mythical character Kichak met his demise at the hands of Bhimsen, one of the five Pandav brothers, as said in the Hindu epic Mahabharat.
The Department has been carrying out excavation here since 2058 BS. Traditional utensils made of clay and metal, ornaments, bricks and others were underwent carbon test and it was found that Kichakbadh dated back to 120-200 BC, according to archeologist Uddhav Acharya.
Now the seventh-phase of archaeological exploration is underway which is expected to surprise us by more new findings, he said. The exploration that commenced on March 15 will conclude on March 31. A five-member team is engaged in the excavation efforts. The area is spread to 10 bigha of land (one bigha is equivalent to 27,000 sq ft).
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Male rhinoceros released into Koshitappu
Rajbiraj (Saptari), March 24: A male rhino brought from Chitwan National Park has been released into the Koshitappu Wildlife Reserve.
The male rhino named Meghauli was released in the presence of Minister for Forest and Environment Nawal Kishore Shah in Pathari region of the Reserve located in Kanchanrup Municipality-5 of Saptari.
Prior to this, two female rhinos were released in the Reserve. The two female rhinos named Pushpa and Anjali were brought from Chitwan National Park and released into the Reserve in September last year.
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Over exploitation endangers watershed in Jumla
Jumla, March 24: Overexploitation of natural resources has put the watershed zone of Jumla at high risk. Haphazard construction of roads and the extraction of sand and gravel from the river by the local level has had a negative impact on the watershed area.
Considering the situation, the Land and Watershed Management Office in district head a discussion with local political parties, media persons and stakeholders along with local level heads and deputy heads, and administrative officers in the district about the protection of watersheds and sub-watershed areas.
The discussion program was organized with all stakeholders in the district to collect suggestions of the local government in the next year’s policy and program to be brought by the provincial government.
The Land and Watershed Management Office has also asked all the eight local levels in the district for their feedback for the new financial year’s watershed and sub-watershed annual program, said Himalaya Saud, the head of the office.
On the occasion, Chairperson of Sinja Rural Municipality Purna Prasad Dhital said that the local level will work in cooperation with the watershed management office to preserve the watershed area. He emphasized that necessary technical support should be provided after identifying the high risk and low risk areas of the district.
Likewise, Tatopani Rural Municipality Chair Nanda Prasad Dhital said that the office needs to pay attention in selection of projects as per the requirement of the respective local level.
Head of the District Coordination Committee, Gaurinanda Acharya, said that the role of the local level in protecting the river and environment is important. Acharya said that the political parties of the district have suggested to all the three governments to work with the direct participation of the people.
Chief Administrative Officer of Tila Rural Municipality Tek Bahadur Thapa said that the local level has also allocated funds for the watershed program. But there is a need for coordination between the local level and the watershed office to implement the plan.
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Holi being celebrated in hilly areas
Kathmandu, March 24: Holi, the festival of good will and harmony, is being celebrated today in the hilly parts of the country. The festival is being celebrated in the Tarai tomorrow.
During the festival relatives and friends gather and playing with colors and water.
Also called Phagu Poornima, during this festival people throwing colourful powders and water to each other while dancing and singing as well. People of all ages, the old people, youth and children participate in festival.
It is believed that Holi festival is observed as a celebration of the victory of truth and the destruction of falsehood.
Dhirendra Premarshi, an expert on the cultures of Nepal, said that Holi festival has played contributed to minimizing inequality and discrimination in the society.
Meanwhile, the District Police Range Kathmandu has said that the security apparatus has been strengthened to avoid any untoward incidents during the Holi festival. More than 400 police personnel have been deployed for security in the valley alone, Senior Superintendent of Police Dineshraj Mainali of Kathmandu Valley Police Office.
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New cave discovered in Kurgha of Parbat
Parbat, March 24: A new cave has been found in Kurgha of Phalebas Municipality Ward No. 10 of Parbat.
Various figures of snake god, cows and other attractive idols of gods and goddesses have also been found in the cave said to be of around 100 meters long. The local people have named it ‘Naggufa’ after snake inscription in stones were found in abundance inside the cave.
The cave was actually discovered 30 years ago but the locals ignored it thinking it was a normal hole, said local leader Bhawani Prasad Sharma.
Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor of Phalebas Municipality Sobha Kumari Chhetri said research will be carried out to find out the mythological and historical significance of the cave.
The local residents have planned to perform a special pooja on the upcoming Nagpanchami festival and to promote it as a new tourist destination.
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Yellow breasted bunting in Shuklaphanta
Kanchanpur, March 24: The Yellow breasted bunting, an endangered species of bird, has been spotted in the buffer zone of Shuklaphanta National Park.
Locally known as Bagale Bagedi, the rare was seen for the first time in the area, said Suwan Chaudhary, a conservationist. He said that a flock of the bird was seen in the field of a local farmer in Dhaknia, Shuklaphanta Municipality-2.
Meanwhile, Hirulal Dagaura, ornithologist at Bird Conservation Nepal, said that the bird was first documented in Shuklaphanta National Park in 1980.
This bird has reached the point of extinction from the world after it was hunted excessively for its meat. “The number of yellow breasted bunting has been found to have decreased by 90 percent in the last decade”, said Dagaura. Just a few years ago the number of the bird in Nepal was in thousands but now it has been limited to around 30.
Along with Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Chitwan, Jhapa, the bird has also been found in some districts of Madhes province.
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World Tuberculosis Day: Prevention Campaign in Baglung
Balewa (Baglung), March 24: The World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2024 is being observed in Nepal too by organising a variety of programme under the main theme of ‘Yes !we can end TB’.
Meanwhile, in Baglung, a campaign is under to prevent tuberculosis by increasing the scope of tests for the infection. Leprosy inspector for the district, Dev Prakash Ghimire, said that that there is a plan test the blood of the family members of the infected.
According to Ghimire, 235 people were found infected with tuberculosis in the district last year but the number has increased to 227 within eight months of the current fiscal year.
Head of the district health office, Baburam Acharya, said that the number of people infected with TB has increased with the increase in the scope of tuberculosis testing. Tuberculosis tests are now conducted from 14 laboratories in the district.
Chief of the district coordination committee, Amar Bahadur Thapa, said that all efforts should be made to prevent the infection including an awareness campaign among the people.
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