- Monday, 20 January 2025
Kathmandu, April 4: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has approved investment commitments of Rs 99.20 billion for four energy projects.
The 57th meeting of the Board held today under the chair of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ decided this.
Those projects getting the investment approvals include the 166-megawatt Super Tamor Project (34.59 billion), the 42-megawatt Upper Modi-A Project (10.08 billion), the 250-megawatt Solar Plant Kohalpur and Banganga (Risen Energy Singapore-21.10 billion) and the 139.2-megawatt Lower Manang Marsyangdi Hydro Electricity Project (33.41 billion).
According to the Board, Solar Plant Project, and the Lower Manang Marsyangdi are foreign investment projects.
Similarly, the meeting decided to approve an additional investment of Rs 6.63 billion for the HuaXin Cement Narayani Project, Board Spokesperson Pradyumna Prasad Upadhyay told the RSS.
The meeting constituted a talks team under the chair of Board’s Chief Executive Officer to negotiate with proposed investors for signing of the Project Development Agreement (PDA) regarding the Upper Marsyangdi and Solar Plant.
As Spokesperson Upadhyay said the PDAs regarding these projects are likely during the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit scheduled for April 28-29.
Similarly, the deadline for a license for a survey of Solar Plant (Kohalpur and Banganga) is to be extended till the end of the current fiscal year (July 15) as per the meeting decision.
Likewise, the meeting approved the share purchase agreement of the Dang Cement Plant. The Board endorses the reclaim of around Rs 620 million from the sale of the share.
The meeting decided to give permission to a Malaysian company, ReNIKOLA, to submit bank guarantee for issuing study permit for the establishment of chemical fertilizer factory.
It also decided to extend the term of committee formed to study Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project and the committee formed to prepare a draft of Nijgadh international airport, project development and study regarding investment model till the end of current fiscal year.
Spokesperson Upadhyay said the Board was familiarized about the issue of formation of a study committee under coordination of Chief of Revenue Management Division of the Finance Ministry to study the matter of price adjustment as per the SJVN Arun-III Power Development Company.
The Board took the decision that the Investment Board would remain as security trustee of co-financed investment in direct agreement of the project.
Similarly, a report submitted by a committee formed to prepare amendment draft of Public Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2075 has been presented in the Board.
The meeting also directed to initiate agreement process with NepWaste Pvt. Ltd to forward Integrated Waste Management Project (Package-1) of Kathmandu Valley.
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CIAA sues former minister Shahi, 31 others for corruption on wide-body aircraft
Kathmandu, April 4: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday lodged a charge sheet against 32 persons, including former Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, on the charge of corruption on procurement of wide-body aircraft for the national flag carrier- Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).
Other officials facing the charge sheet include then General Manager of NAC Sugat Ratna Kansakar, the government secretary and Chairman of NAC Board of Directors Shankar Prasad Adhikari, then Director General of Customs Department and then NAC Board of Directors Shishir Kumar Dhungana, Civil Aviation Ministry’s Joint Secretary Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane and others.
The CIAA has sought Rs 1.471 million in recovery for their alleged involvement in the misappropriation in the procurement of the wide-body aircraft.
Similarly, others implicated the case are Board of Directors Teknath Acharya, Jiban Prakash Sitaula, Achyut Raj Pahadi, Nima Nuru Sherpa and Muktiram Pandey, according to the CIAA.
The anti-graft body has also sued aircraft suppliers company’s representatives, citizens from Germany, Romania and Moldova.
AAR International INC’s chief and four others have also been named as the alleged ones claiming Rs 1.471 billion in compensation, CIAA Spokesperson Narahari Ghimire said.
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Regular flights in two int’l airports soon: Prime Minister
Kathmandu, April 4: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said government was at work to conduct regular international flights from Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airports soon.
Responding to the questions of lawmakers at Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee of the National Assembly on Thursday, PM Dahal informed that talks were being held with the Indian government for the air route to Gautam Buddha International Airport, while similar dialogues were continued for direct flights with China and Sri Lanka from the airports.
Similarly, he shared that efforts were on to convert the loan received from Chinese government into a grant in relations to Pokhara International Airport.
According to him, government was in action for reviving sick industries of Hetauda, Butwal, Janakpur, and Biratnagar cities. The process of embankment construction along the Koshi River was underway.
The meeting witnessed PM’s commitment to increase production through irrigation facilities by promoting projects and land reforms. Land reform works are not simply the distribution of the land ownership certificates to the landless squatters but creation of foundation of socialism, the PM reminded.
He also informed lawmakers on government’s seriousness towards justice and relief to the families of the martyrs, injured and missing persons of the conflict-era. He believed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Bill would be finalized by the parliamentary committee soon.
Leader Koirala sees urgency of forming NC-UML government
Morang, Apr 4: Central member of Nepali Congress (NC), Dr Sekhar Koirala, has stressed urgency of forming a new coalition government having NC and UML for country’s political stability.
Talking to media persons briefly at Biratnagar airport on Thursday, central leader Koirala viewed new coalition government is imperative to end present chaos and pave way for economic development.
There was no option but to establish a stable government of NC and UML so that problem of frequent change of government at province would fizzle out. Frequent change of government at federal and province levels create problems in country, he argued, reminding that although four leftist leaders became prime ministers, NC was inevitable to bring new constitution.
“I’ve begun initiative to form a NC-UML government,” he disclosed and expressed belief that it would be realized at a proper time. Comprehensive discussion would be held on how leaders, parties and electoral system could be corrected before forming a coalition government.
Moreover, the leader viewed amendment in constitution, dynamic economy and political stability were essential for country’s development.
In response to a query, he said the Koshi Province government need not take vote of confidence.
Although other parties withdrew support, Koshi government is not in minority. It is not necessary Chief Minister steps down at present, Koirala underlined.
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Civil servants need incentives: Chair Nepal
Kathmandu, Apr 4: Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said the civil servants need incentives. Adoption of reward and punishment policy is essential to recognize devoted government employees, he stressed.
Addressing a function organized on the 26th anniversary of the Rautahat Times weekly in Kathmandu on Thursday, Chairman Nepal viewed State has important role to produce qualified and competent employees. Those involved in wrongdoing warrant punishment while excellent ones rewards, he reiterated.
“Country is getting plagued with corruption. It is because of the failure of State administration,” he observed, adding that he and prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had talked a lot on adoption of such policies that elevate country’s economy.
Also speaking on the occasion were former minister Banshidhar Mishra, Spokesperson at CIAA, Narahari Ghimire, FNJ President Bipul Pokhrel, Press Council Nepal Chair Balkrishna Basnet, and Editor at Rautahat Times Weekly, Govinda Chaulagain. They spoke on the need of press for good governance.
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CM Chaudhari announces resignation
Tulsipur, Apr 4: Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Dilli Bahadur Chaudhari, has announced resignation while addressing the Province Assembly on Thursday.
During his address, CM Chaudhari admitted that the province government failed to ensure effective and smooth administration. “We could not make governance effective. Sycophancy does not make governance result-oriented,” he said, blaming that development budget could not be spent because of employees’ noncooperation.
Power is temporary, so all sides’ unity is essential for protecting and promoting federalism, he reminded.The CM tendered resignation from the post as after effects of change in ruling coalition in the federal government.
Preparation is on among the new coalition partners to make new Chief Minister to the parliamentary party leader of CPN Maoist Centre, Jokh Bahadur Mahara.
For anyone to be elected Chief Minister, he/she requires 44 votes in the 87-member Lumbini Province Assembly. The UML has 29 members, CPN Maoist Centre 10 excluding Speaker, Janata Samajbadi Party three, Unified Socialist one and an independent one. They have agreed for Mahara as new CM.
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NC picks candidates for Ilam-2, Bajhang-1 ‘A’
Kathmandu, April 4: The Nepali Congress (NC) has picked the party’s candidates for the upcoming by-elections to be held in Ilam Constituency No. 2 for House of Representatives (HoR) and Bajhang Constituency No. 1 (A) for Sudurpaschim Province Assembly.
A meeting of the NC parliamentary board and work execution committee held on Thursday finalized the name of Dambar Bahadur Khadka for Ilam and Abishekh Bahadur Singh for Bajhang, NC central office’s Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel said.
The by-elections are taking place on April 27 in Ilam Constituency No. 2 and Bajhang Constituency No. 1 (A).
The NC has also appealed to the voters in the two constituencies to cast their vote for the party’s candidates and make the party candidates victorious.
Filing of nomination papers for the by-elections is scheduled to be held on April 6. The final list of candidates will be published on April 9.The other major political parties have already announced their candidates for the by-elections in Ilam-2 and Bajhang-1 ‘A’.
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Country’s trade deficit totals Rs 929 billion
Kathmandu, April 4: The country has witnessed a total trade deficit of Rs 929.61 billion during the first eight months of the current fiscal year.
Stating that the trade deficit decreased 2.5 per cent compared to the same period of the last fiscal year, the Nepal Rastra Bank mentioned that the export-import ratio in the country decreased to 9.8 per cent in the review period.
In the review period, the country’s merchandise imports totaled Rs 1030.22 billion, according to the Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation released by Nepal Rastra Bank on Thursday.
Destination-wise, imports from India and other countries decreased 2.8 per cent and 22.9 per cent respectively while imports from China increased 33.7 per cent.
On the import side, imports from Bhairahawa, Dry Port, Jaleshwor, Kanchanpur, Krishnanagar, Nepalgunj, Rasuwa and Tatopani Customs Offices increased, it said.
Likewise, merchandise imports from India against payment in convertible foreign currency amounted Rs 98.29 billion. Such amount was Rs 85.12 billion in the same period of the previous year.
“Imports of readymade garments, transport equipment, vehicle and other vehicle spare parts, aircraft spare parts, electrical equipment, textiles among others increased whereas imports of crude soyabean oil, gold, petroleum products, crude palm oil, paddy among others decreased,” the NRB said.
Exports from Bhairahawa, Dry Port, Jaleswor, Kanchanpur, Krishnanagar, Mechi, Rasuwa and Tatopani increased whereas exports from all the other major customs points decreased during the period, according to the NRB.
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Quality stride must on Nepal’s economic development: Foreign Minister Shrestha
Patan, Apr 4: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said Nepal’s economic development needs quality strike.
Inaugurating a five-day Lalitpur International Trade Expo organized by Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce at Jawalakhel on Thursday, DPM Shrestha said it is government’s prime job to make socio-economic development at a time when the country already got a constitution.
“Speedy economic progress can be realized with the collaboration among government and private sectors. Country’s potential should be utilized and political goals achieved,” he said, adding that government was forwarding economic diplomacy accordingly.
Works are continued on how country’s potentials could be identified and utilized for expanding economical cooperation, according to Foreign Minister Shrestha.
The Foreign Minister further viewed such Expo bears historic significance and contributes to promotion and expansion of national industries.
On the occasion, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal, Ralauddhi Noman Chaudhari, viewed the expo not only help boost industrial value in Lalitpur and Nepal but also in the participating countries. The expo has tremendous role on expanding small and mid-scale industries.
Bagmati Province Assembly member Ram Krishna Chitrakar viewed the economic slump was fizzling out and the industries and enterprises were gradually reviving in the country.
Officiating Chairman Kamalesh Agrawal expressed belief that economic activities in the country would expand international trade and unlock industrial potential.
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Minister Pun asks govt agencies to increase spending capacity
Kathmandu, Apr 4: Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun has said government is preparing to allocate the budget only to the projects having the capacity to spend it.
The Finance Minister said so during a meeting with the secretaries of different ministries and security chiefs in the Finance Ministry on Thursday.
On the occasion, Minister Pun stressed that the government agencies should up their capacity to spend the budget, adding that all the ministries except the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation had made less than 40 per cent in capital expenditure.
He pointed out that a lack of competence in budget allocation is also responsible for limited capital expenditure besides poor spending capacity. “But, it will not repeat in the upcoming fiscal year. The Finance Ministry is in the mentality to allocate budget only to the projects where spending is likely.
Finance Minister Pun also announced that unrealistic projects will not get budget in the upcoming fiscal year.
Due to delay in budget implementation, there is adverse impact on employment creation and capital formation, the Finance Minister said, urging to end the trend of not spending budget in time.
He argued that limited capital spending and a shrink in revenue collection have created issues in the country’s economy though the external sector is improving gradually.
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Meeting of JSP central work execution committee commences
Kathmandu, April 4: The meeting of Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal, the central work execution committee has commenced at the party central office at Balkumari, Lalitpur this morning.
The meeting is scheduled to discuss the selection of a lawmaker under the proportional representation quota, said Purna Basnet, the Chief of the JSP’s central publicity and publications department. He said the party will recommend the name of the new lawmaker in the seat that fell vacant following the death of Manju Sharma Ansari, who was elected by the party under the quota before this.
According to him, the meeting will also discuss the upcoming by-elections to be held in April as well as the party’s national convention, among other topics.
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Yellow metal sets new record, trading at Rs 134,000 per tola
Kathmandu, April 4: Price of yellow metal has set a new record in the domestic market today. It has increased by Rs 1,000 per tola (11.66 gram) today and is being traded at Rs 134,000.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of hallmark gold was determined at Rs 133,000 per tola on Wednesday.
Similarly, price of worked gold has reached Rs 133,350 per tola today against Rs 132,350 Wednesday.
Likewise, price of silver is determined at Rs 1,650 per tola, an increase of Rs 40 per tola. It was traded at Rs 1,610 on Wednesday.
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UML’s Kandel to stake claim as Karnali CM
Karnali, April 4: CPN (UML) parliamentary party leader for Karnali Province Assembly, Yamlal Kandel, is to stake a claim for an appointment as the Chief Minister for the province.
Province Chief Tilak Pariyar on Thursday called on political parties to present their claims for forming a new government after Chief Minister Raj Kumar Sharma tendered his resignation before the Province Chief on Wednesday.
He, in accordance with Article 168 (2) of the Constitution, called on any PA member capable of securing a majority with the support of two or more political parties to stake claim as the new Chief Minister.
According to UML chief whip for the Province, Tekraj Pachhain, leader Kandel has the support of the CPN (Maoist Centre). “We are preparing to present the claim today itself,” he said
The deadline for submitting the claim is 5:50 pm on April 9, 2024. Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, the Province Chief assigned the existing government to look after the day-to-day operation of the governance until the formation of a new government.
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Foundation distributes allowance to needy people at refugee camps
Biratnagar, April 4: Senior citizens, disabled and helpless people residing at refugee camp in Beldangi of Jhapa and Pathari of Morang have been provided with sustenance allowance.
An organisation, Intra-National Welfare and Support Foundation of America, provided Rs 5,000 allowance and nutritious food each to 157 senior citizens, the differently-able and helpless people of Beldangi camp and to 57 such people at Pathari camp.
Foundation Chair Dilli Adhikari distributed the allowance and nutritious food on Wednesday. Chair Adhikari has been providing such amount of allowance monthly to senior citizens, the disabled and helpless people of refugee camps since long.
The organisation has been running this programme continuously since long at the permission of the government with the objective of helping such people who have been living a difficult life in refugee camps.
On the occasion, Chair Adhikari urged the government to think seriously about repatriation of Nepali language speaking people, evicted from Bhutan and currently living in the refugee camps, to their country, their resettlement to third country or providing them with opportunity to live as a Nepali citizen.
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Consular services will now be available at home: DPM Shrestha
Kathmandu, April 4: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, has said the government is carrying out works to provide public services in a easy manner at their home itself.
He said so while launching the new ‘module’ inaugurated from today by the Department of Consular Services. Through this module, the Nepalis living in foreign countries can easily register their complaints and problems through the embassy concerned.
On the occasion, DPM Shrestha mentioned that the present government has been carrying out works as per its commitment, made since the beginning, of providing public services to the people in a smooth and easy manner.
“We have launched this service to provide the government’s services to the people in a prompt, efficient and flawless manner at their home using the information technology,” he said, adding that with the start of this service Nepali citizens living abroad will be able to express their problems and complaints from home, and also be able to acquire information online regarding the initiatives to address their complaints and problems.
According to the DPM and Foreign Minister, the Department has made arrangements as per the government’s pledge before this by which the police certificate can be taken online.
At the programme, Department director-general Prakash Mani Poudel gave information about the available services in the new module. “A new folder is created in the module once the service-seeker enters his/her passport number and date of birth. The folder has features in which one can write one’s problems and complaints and also get information on measures to address them,” he said.
Director-general Poudel said this service has been started to facilitate the Nepali embassies abroad to carry out the works of maximum number of service-seekers through limited number of their staffs.
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Nepal’s air quality improving
Kathmandu, April 4: Until a few years ago, winter days in major cities across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley, were characterized by hazardous air quality, posing significant health risks to the public.
On January 4, 2021, the Department of Environment issued an alert to the public regarding the perilous air quality in Kathmandu Valley and other major towns, urging them to take preventive measures when outdoors.
Now, here is good news for us: air quality has relatively enhanced in recent years. According to Deepak Gyawali, the Department’s information officer, although air pollution significantly increased in 2021, it has been gradually decreasing since then.
Major contributors to air pollution include carbon emissions from motor vehicles, dust particles released during road repair and construction and other construction works, emissions from industries and brick kilns, poor waste management practices, and forest fires.
Similarly, using firewood as a cooking fuel in rural areas contributes significantly to indoor air pollution. Moreover, increasing development activities in India and the burning of agricultural residues near the border towns and settlements exacerbate air pollution issues in Nepal.
According to Gyawali, the occurrence of rains and wind during peak pollution seasons, as well as the dry season, significantly contributes to mitigating air pollution.
Furthermore, the decrease in infrastructure development activities following an economic slowdown is speculated to have contributed to the improvement in air quality, although this hypothesis requires further study for confirmation.
Similarly, the use of electric vehicles and electric cookstoves has increased. The brick factories, which are one of the sources of air pollution, have also installed new technology. On the other hand, only around 50 percent of these factories are operating due to the economic slump.
Shankar Bahadur Chand, President of Nepal Brick Factory Federation, said the market for brick has reduced by 80 percent at present. “Only 40-50 percent of all the brick kilns are in operation these days, and that also not in their full capacity. Out of the 1,100 brick factories across the country, only about 500 are in operation at present,” he said. He further added that it is difficult to re-operate a brick factory once it is closed down.
Kathmandu’s air quality below standard
However, the air quality in some big cities, including in Kathmandu, is lower than the WHO standard.
The air quality from 0-50 in the Air Quality Index (AQI) is considered good for health. AQI 50-100 is considered average while AQI above this indicates unhealthy atmosphere.
The AQI in Kathmandu today (Thursday) is 160 on average. Therefore, experts have pointed out that a lot of work has to be done to improve the quality of air in Kathmandu Valley.
The possibility of air pollution resulting from wildfires is always there in Nepal. Dust particles and the smoke, carbon, chemicals and various gases emitted from factories and industries and incidences of fires are mixed in the air due to heightened pollution.
Toxic gases like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide that are produced when burning fossil fuels damage human health as well as contribute to the global temperature rise.
The government has established Air Quality Monitoring Station at 27 different places in the country to measure the air quality. Preparation was underway to set up air quality monitoring station at three more places in the current fiscal year. Air becomes most polluted between 7:00 am-8:00 am.
Programme Director of Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO), Rajendra Shrestha, said opinions regarding improvement in air quality should be verified.
Accepting that sources of air pollution have decreased and people have become aware, he shared, “Air pollution might have decreased due to reduction in factories, increase in use of electric vehicles and stoves, decrease in development construction activities, operation of brick kilns and road upgrading.”
Three major reasons behind the death of the people in Nepal are disease related to heart, liver and brain hemorrhage. These three types of disease have also connection with air pollution. Cases of diseases mainly related with respiratory is found increased due to air pollution.
As per the World Health Organisation, around seven million people in the world die untimely every year due to air pollution. It is said that around 40,000 people lose their lives in Nepal every year from it.
Air pollution has been making negative impacts on overall environment not only on human beings. Therefore, partnership was necessary among all stakeholders to control air pollution.
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Legal amendment a priority to attract foreign investment: PM Dahal
Kathmandu, April 4: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the government accords priority to the amendments to laws to bring in foreign investment as per the commitment.
Addressing the 57th meeting of the Investment Board Nepal today, the Prime Minister who also serves as the Board Chair said the government prioritizes the legal amendments as it seeks to mobilize domestic and foreign investment in the country’s infrastructure and service sectors.
On the occasion, he underlined the need to send a message to the international community that Nepal enables an atmosphere for investment.
This meeting is taking place on the eve of the Investment Summit and time demands to mobilize our mechanism for promoting the message about the situation suitable for investment internally, according to the PM, who insisted on the need for promptness and smartness in our service delivery. “Ministries and departments of office should focus on results-based performance to convince the foreign community to invest in Nepal.”
He stressed that the Board should make additional efforts to enable an atmosphere for the mobilization of private investment on a large scale.
According to the Board Chair, it is necessary for the government and the Board as well to create a base for rapid economic growth and transformations in a short time, instilling a ray of hope among the people.
Underlining the need to build an environment for public-private partnerships in Nepal, the Prime Minister instructed the Board to focus on towards that end.
He also understood the need to orient the government bodies and province and local levels about exploring the results-based PPP projects and implementing them successfully.
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JSP recommends Khan in HoR vacant seat
Kathmandu, April 4: The Janata Samajbadi Party (People’s Socialist Party) has recommended Hasina Khan from Banke as the party’s lawmaker under the proportional representation (PR) system in the lower house.
The party has got its one PR seat in the House of Representatives vacant with the demise of its PR lawmaker Manju Sharma Ansari on March 17.
A central executive meeting of the party today decided to recommend 27-year-old Khan for the post, according to the party’s Central Publicity and Publication Department Chief, Purna Basnet.
Similarly, the party decided not to give a vote of confidence to the Lumbini Province Government.
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Rs 4.50 billion needed for regular operation of Melamchi project
Kathmandu, April 4: It would cost Rs 4.50 billion to bring Melamchi Drinking Water Project into operation throughout the year.
At an interaction related to the long-term management of Melamchi Drinking Water Project organised at Singha Durbar today, Executive Director of Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee, Zakki Ahmed Ansari, said it would cost Rs 4.50 billion for the improvement of the project.
Preparation was underway to bring water from the Melamchi river in Helambu of Sindhupalchok district to Kathmandu Valley in all 12 months by improving the project, he shared, adding it would cost Rs 4.50 billion to construct permanent structures for long-term solution of the project.
Ansari mentioned that it was appropriate to shift head works of the project one kilometer beyond the present intake site for long-term improvement of the project. Water supply of Melamchi project has been stopped after flood occurred on August 1 and 14, 2023, damaged temporary structures constructed earlier. Preparation was underway to shift the head works for regular operation of the project, according to the committee.
Chairperson of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Rishi Pokharel, suggested forwarding the improvement plans only after carrying out study of the cost and managing resources to make project’s activities effective.
Melamchi will not materialize until local people’s demands are met
Nima Gyaljen Hyolmo, Chairman of the Helambu Rural Municipality, Sindhupalchok, said Kathmandu Valley will not be getting the supply of drinking water from Melamchi next year until the demands of the people of Helambu are met.
Speaking in an interaction programme entitled ‘Sustainable Management of the Melamchi Water Supply Project’ organized in Singha Durbar today, he said they will not allow diverting water from the Melamchi river if their demands are not fulfilled.
Among the demands of the Melamchi Project and flood-affected people include construction of embankments for river control, protection of at-risk settlements and waiver of loans taken before the massive flooding incident in the Melamchi river from banks and financial institutions for construction of homes and starting business in the Melamchi corridor.
Similarly, providing compensation of Rs one million as compensation to the family of each person killed in the flooding, making available the drinking water levy through the local government and issuing grant of Rs two million for construction of new houses are among the demands of the 17-point charter of demands put forth by the Project and flood-affected locals.
Stating that the federal government has not shown any concern so far towards fulfilling these demands, Hyolmo, the Rural Municipality Chair, warned of shutting down of the Melamchi Project if the demands are not met.
“The demands of the local people have not been fulfilled even after our repeated request for the same. If the demands are not addressed even now, be assured, water will not be available from Melamchi next year. If you want to drink water from Melamchi, come there along with your pitchers,” he said.
According to him, although the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation is preparing to shift the Project’s head works for the round-the-year supply of water through sustainable management of the project, the proposed site is also not safe.
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Chief Election Officer’s office set up in Ilam-2
Mangalbare (Ilam), April 4: An office of the Chief Election Officer has been set up in view of the House of Representatives (HoR) by-election scheduled to take place on April 27.
The office housed at the Ilam Bazar-based Bar Association Building was inaugurated by Election Commissioner Dr Janaki Tuladhar today. On the occasion, Tuladhar sought support and cooperation from all quarters to ensure that the election would be held in a free, fair and credible atmosphere.
Chief District Officer Indra Dev Yadav said there are no security challenges to hold the election. The day for registering nominations has been set for April 6. Twenty political parties have been registered in the Election Commission given the HoR by-election going to be held due to the demise of the then lawmaker from the constituency, Subash Chandra Nembang, on September 12, 2023.
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8th Bhaktapur Industrial, trade festival kicks off
Bhaktapur, April 4: The eighth Bhaktapur Industrial, Cultural, Tourism and Trade Festival-2081 has begun from today. It is organised on the occasion of Nepali New Year 2081 BS.
Mayor of Changunarayan Municipality, Jeevan Khatri, inaugurated the festival organised by Industrial Peace Nepal and Madhyapur Boy’s Band.
The festival is organized at Sallaghari-based Nepal Trust’s land. The event is organised with an objective of making available all goods in one place to consumers, said Chairperson of Industrial Peace Nepal, Sandip Mahat.
The festival has 50 stalls where all daily essential goods, different types of clothes, shoes, automobile, mobile sets of different brands, electronic appliances and agriculture and handicraft goods are put on sale and display. The event also features cultural programmes and concert by various bands and singers. The festival also features various fun activities and entertainment for children.
An arrangement of 20-50 per cent discount on goods has been made, added Chair Mahat. The organisers expect around 500,000 people and transactions of around Rs 100 million-120 million in the festival which will run till April 14.
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Head Office of Labour Court to be based in Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu, April 4: The government has determined that the Head Office of the Labour Court would be situated in the Kathmandu Valley.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers convened at the Office of the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar today decided to publish a notice related to this in the Nepal Gazette, said Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma.
Before this, the Head Office of the Labour Court was fixed in Kathmandu district.
The government has appointed Prof Dr Padhupati Chaudhary, a resident of Saptari as the Chairman and Dr Birendra Prasad Yadav, a resident of Siraha, as the Member of the Ramraja Prasad Singh Health Sciences Academy Infrastructure Preparedness Development Committee.
Minister Sharma said that the Cabinet meeting has nominated Dr Gyanendra Man Singh Karki of Jhapa to the post of Member of the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan.
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Commitments made before parliament are being implemented: PM Dahal
Kathmandu, April 4: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said commitments made before the parliament are being implemented in a planned way.
In today’s meeting of the Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Dahal shared that activities are underway in good governance, social justice and prosperity sectors with priority as per the government’s roadmap.
“It has been easier to get different services including citizenship certificate, passport, national identity card, no-objection certificate due to improvement made in different sectors as per the determination of making the country line-free in the context of providing public service”, he underscored.
PM Dahal explained that supply of chemical fertilizer has been guaranteed as per the commitment made before the parliament and improvement has been made in distribution system.
Sharing that activities to send textbooks in all districts on time have been started this year too as like in the previous academic session, he opined that dues of sugarcane farmers have already been paid and dairy farmers have started getting their dues.
PM Dahal further said ‘Hello Sarkar’ has been brought into operation round the clock to address the complaints of citizens effectively, sharing that ‘time card’ has been brought into practice in government services for the guarantee of easy and smooth public service and it would be expanded in all districts gradually.
“The government commitment to providing citizenship to those Nepali citizens deprived of it has been implemented within the six months of the assurance,” Prime Minster Dahal said, adding that the government is working on the draft to have legal provisions to ensure the franchise of Nepali residing abroad.
Stating that he has been announcing that the establishment of good governance remains the priority of the government from the parliament, the Prime Minister said,” The government implements a policy of zero tolerance against corruption.” As he said, with the realization that correction should begin within the self, the quota at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has been deducted and the entity has been restructured.
Amidst this period, the government has launched investigations into the fake Bhutanese refugees, gold smuggling, Lalita Niwas, and the Bansbari land grab cases seriously and efforts have started yielding results, according to him.
Collections of applications and the entry of data have been almost completed to address the issues of landless people and the process of presenting bills in the parliament to revise some laws requiring to provide them land has neared the final phase.
Some of the concerns raised by lawmakers over the social justice sectors have been addressed. “The victims of usury have been served justice,” he added.
In the course of the government’s efforts to conclude the remaining affairs of the peace process, a bill about transitional justice has been already registered in the parliament and the government commitments about disaster management are in the process of getting fulfilled.
“Especially dengue, lumpy skin and bird-flu-like pandemic diseases have been skillfully managed. The government has taken an exemplary initiative in the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation during the Jajarkot and Bajhang earthquakes. It has been ensured that the remaining reconstruction works will be completed on time,” he said.
Budget will be implementable and production-centred
On the occasion, PM Dahal insisted that the policies and programmes, and the budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be objective, implementable and production-centred in line with people’s aspirations. He added that the budget will be allocated in a way that the people’s problems are resolved.
According to him, the government under his leadership has from the very beginning taken initiatives for resolving the problems of the people victimized by the micro-finances and the cooperatives as well as for addressing the livelihood issues.
He also stated that some signs of improvement have been seen in the economy of late. Stating that there has been improvement in public finances, revenue and capital expenditure, the PM reiterated the government is carrying out works for bringing improvement in the overall economic indicators b formulating an action plan.
Prime Minister Dahal stressed that the government has initiated a campaign of corruption control by promoting good governance. He said necessary laws are in the process of formulation aimed at federalism implementation. In this connection, preparation is being made to table the Federal Police Bill in Parliament.
PM Dahal also reminded that problems related to federalism implementation have been resolved by convening the meeting of the Inter-Province Council twice after the formation of the government under his leadership.
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Birat gold cup football: Shangrila Club into final
Morang, April 4: Shangrila Football Club Morang has entered final of the ‘Birat Gold Cup’ football tournament by defeating departmental team APF with 4-3.
In the first semi-final match played at the Martyr Stadium on Wednesday evening, Shangrila football club secured its win in the tie-breaker.
The match went goalless draw in the stipulated 90 minutes and extra 30 minutes. Final decision was taken through ‘sudden death’ method when both the teams made equal three goals in the tie-breaker.
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Bise Nagarchi national honour presented
Jhapa, April 4: Five persons were feted with the ‘Bise Nagarchi National Personality Honour, 2080’.
They were honoured with a cash prize of Rs 51,000, commemorating the contributions of Bise Nagarchi, the economic advisor to the nation builder Prithvi Narayan Shah.
At a programme organized by the Gorkha Foundation in Birtamod on Wednesday, National Assembly member Gopal Kumar Basnet handed over cash and letter of appreciation to film director Tulasi Ghimire, film artist Rajesh Hamal, Chief District Officer Sita Pariyar, cooperative campaigner Mahendra Giri and Bhuwan Singh Biswokarma.
Foundation Chair Biru Darnal informed that Giri, who led the country’s largest cooperative, was honoured for his contribution at the local level during the COVID-19 pandemic, actor Hamal’s role in promoting art and culture through acting in more than 170 films, and Ghimire’s work in winning the hearts of the audience by directing quality Nepali cinema.
The nation should honour Bishwokarma, 71, who took the first step in Antarctica and Pariyar, who became the first woman CDO from the Dalit community, he said, noting it was the duty of all to respect those who have established national glory.
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Hundred small irrigation schemes completed in Makawanpur
Bagmati, April 4: A total of 101 small irrigation schemes run in different parts of Makawanpur for enhancing agro productivity have been completed.
According to the Bagmati Province Water Resource and Irrigation Division Office, 101 small irrigation schemes were completed as of mid-February against the target to accomplish 191 schemes in the current fiscal year.
As informed, expenditure of RS 178.9 million was made in the schemes. A total budget appropriated for 191 schemes was Rs 380.09 million.
Among the schemes, four were related to the river control, 80 related to irrigation, one of medium irrigation, and 15 others have been completed.
Office Chief Nirmal Dahal shared that 5,000 meters of wells, seven culverts, two concrete irrigation sources, three irrigation bridges, 124 meters of nets, 3,176 mesh dams, 2,380 meters of dams and irrigation canal through 6,450 meters of pipes have been constructed so far in the current fiscal year.
Irrigation facility has been made available in 500 hectares of land by repairing the old canal structure and 200 hectares of land through additional new irrigation schemes.
Though Makawanpur has 62,017 hectares of cultivable land but irrigation facility has reached only to 20,000 hectares.
Additional 1,050 hectares of land will be irrigated if the old and new irrigation schemes are completed by the end of the current fiscal year.
It may be noted that the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation Development of Bagmati Province had conducted a survey on cultivable land and irrigation facilities in 13 districts of the province two years ago.
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Lawmaker Gupta stresses corruption control to sustain parliamentary system
Nepalgunj, April 4: House of Representatives (HoR) member Mangal Prasad Gupta stressed the need to put measures for corruption control so as to sustain and consolidate parliamentary system.
Talking to RSS, he underlined the need for the general public to remain aware of the characters of the candidates in the elections. “People should be sensitive to link their vote with the development of the constituency”, he added.
Public should keep vigil on the parliamentary members even while operating the House sessions, Gupta noted. “Corruption and conflict of interests should never be a subject of priority. Parliamentary committees should be made active to avert anomalies”.
The process of foreign employment cannot be stopped unless the country’s economy is strengthened, lawmaker Gupta asserted, stressing the need to place policy measures to address the problems in foreign employment sector. “There is no alternative but to manage the sector and prioritize industrialization and agriculture modernization to check brain drain”, he mentioned.
Gupta is the directly elected parliamentary member from Kapilvastu constituency-3.
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Discussion on to manage Bisket Jatra
Bhaktapur, April 4: The District Administration Office, Bhaktapur held discussion with concerned agencies and stakeholders to manage the Bisket Jatra.
A multi-stakeholder meeting held under the coordination of Chief District Officer (CDO) Roshani Kumari Shrestha took various decisions for the proper management of Bisket Jatra. The meeting was attended by police, government office chiefs, representatives from Guthi Sansthan, procession operators, political leaders, local clubs and stakeholders.
The Metropolitan Police Range has decided to completely shut the liquor shops during the procession period.
Chief District Officer Shrestha said CCTV cameras have been installed along the main roads and intersections where the Jatra is being held.
He warned that stern action will be taken against those disrupting the Jatra.
The District Administration Office Bhaktapur and District Police Range Bhaktapur will be responsible for maintaining peace and security in the city area during the period.
The Guthi Sansthan Branch Office, Bhaktapur will make necessary preparations to start and complete all the pujas and jatra related to Bisketjatra on time.
Arrangements have been made to manage the cables, wires and fiber net cables in the Jatra route areas of the city and ambulances, fire engines and disaster preparedness equipment will be kept ready in all the hospitals of the city under the aegis of Nepal Red Cross Society, Bhaktapur.
The Nepal Scouts will mobilize volunteers in crowded areas on April 12, April 13 and April 17.
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