- Saturday, 30 August 2025
Kathmandu, Aug 18: President Ramchandra Paudel has said all sides must fulfill the commitments made in the Paris Agreement relating to climate change and the measures to containing global temperature rise.
Inaugurating the conference of parliamentarians from Hindu Kush region here today, President Paudel urged all countries- developed and developing, poor and industrial- to adhere to the Paris Agreement to contain temperature rise to 1.5 Degree Celsius since pre-industrial age.
He expressed worry over the rise of temperature above average range in the Hindu Kush Himalaya in recent years, which is further exacerbated by the fast snow melt, causing floods and erosion downstream.
“Climate change, loss of biodiversity and the air pollution are not limited to scientific reports, but became harsh realities of our lives,” President Paudel lamented, adding that the conference is a historic opportunity to shape a roadmap for common and sustainable future.
The Head of the State further reminded, “It is also the moment to make firm commitment towards future of geography, mountain, forest, rivers and environment of the Hindu Kush Himalaya.” More than 2 billion people are sustained by the water emanated from mountains of this region, but growing adversity in the downstream is a severe challenge, he made aware.
Paudel further shared that this region is rich in biodiversity. The protection of biodiversity helps enrich ecosystem, otherwise causes serious impacts on food, culture and economy, he argued. The President also expressed gratitude to the member countries of Hindu Kush region for their continued efforts to face climate change, control air pollution and protect biodiversity.
Nepal has also made significant initiatives like early warning relating to disaster caused by climate change, collaboration on hydropower development and use, promotion of solar power, and participatory community forest conservation, he explained in his address. Also featured in his statement were expansion of reserve area, monitoring of wildlife, improvement in public transport, promotion of electric vehicles and curb on industrial emission.
However, adequate efforts for climate adaptation and resilience were yet to be in place with effective policy. The President expected that such event would institutionalize parliamentary dialogue and foster sustainable cooperation to tackle common challenge.
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Mahakali Highway reopens
Darchula, Aug 18: The Mahakali Highway, which was blocked by landslides triggered by the incessant rainfall on Sunday night, reopened late this morning.
According to Darchula’s Chief District Officer Anil Paudel, landslides had occurred at Terchalek in Mallikarjun rural municipality-3 and at Ranebas in Shailyashikhar municipality-6 along the Gokuleshwor–Darchula road section, causing obstruction.
Authorities have successfully cleared the debris, allowing traffic to resume. Following the reopening, the vehicles and passengers who had been stranded now began their journey towards destinations.
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UML General Secretary, Minister inspect Dodhara Chandani dry port site
Mahendranagar, Aug 18: General Secretary of the CPN UML, Shankar Pokharel, and Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply, Damodar Bhandari, inspected the under-construction dry port at Dodhara Chandani today.
The dry port is considered a significant trade point in Sudurpaschim Province of Nepal. The infrastructure being built with the support of India is undertaken by COMT Construction Company. The company has intensified ‘site clearance’.
Minister Bhandari informed that preparation was afoot for laying a foundation stone for the dry port as part of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s upcoming visit to India. “The foundation stone could be laid jointly by the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India during PM Oli’s visit,” he added.
Efforts are on to complete the undertaking in three years. As many as 1,705 trees in the construction site have been removed by the construction company.
Executive Director at Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee, Ashish Gajurel, informed that the dry port site was inspected on the eve of official ground-breaking event in the prime minister level between the two countries.
He added that there would have depots, customs points, quarantines, immigration, security arrangement and other necessary structures in 25 hectares of land for the first phase of the dry port construction.
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Japanese Encephalitis kills one in Nawalparasi
Madhyabindu, Aug 18: A 52-year-old man from Patabari of Madhyabindu municipality-1 has died of Japanese Encephalitis (JE), a mosquito-borne disease.
Chhabilal Subedi, Information Officer at the Province Public Health Office, Nawalparasi confirmed it. The fatality occurred during the first month (mid July-mid-August) of the current fiscal year, which also saw four confirmed JE cases in the district.
Among the infected, the remaining three: a 44-year-old woman, an 83-year-old woman, and a 53-year-old man successfully recovered and returned home.
In recent years, Nawalparasi district, part of Gandaki Province, has seen frequent JE cases. During the fiscal year 2079/80 BS, the district recorded seven infections with five fatalities. This was followed by eight infections and one death in 2080/81 BS. In the last fiscal year, two cases were reported, and both patients recovered.
JE is a transmissible disease caused by the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. This mosquito, medium-sized and brown with white markings on its abdomen, is active primarily after sunset and during the night. Its primary breeding grounds are stagnant water in paddy fields. The risk of infection is highest during the months of Saun, Bhadau, and Asoj (mid-July to mid-October).
Symptoms of JE include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, exhaustion, headache, fatigue, neck stiffness, and pain. In severe cases, it may lead to epilepsy, paralysis or loss of consciousness.
Worldwide, over 50,000 cases of JE are reported annually, with fatalities ranging between 10,000 and 15,000.
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Climate change is crisis for human civilisation: Minister Dr Rana
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has called for collective efforts at the global level to address a growing impact of climate change, a borderless phenomenon threatening human civilisation.
Addressing an inaugural session of the Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025 in Kathmandu today, Dr Rana said, “Climate change is a common concern against human civilization. It goes beyond any specific boundary, and geography. So, a solution must be found.”
She urged everyone to act and play their crucial roles in addressing the crisis and other challenges like biodiversity loss, and air quality degradation by making laws, mobilising resources, and holding the government accountable. Citing a recent report by the 2025 World Meteorological Organisation that global temperature has reached 1.5 degrees’ threshold for the first time, she stressed the need for resolving the problem through rapid decarbonisation efforts, long-term cost reductions, and the achievement of sustainable development goals.
The Foreign Minister noted that the recent judgment of the International Court of Justice has made states legally responsible to protect climate, reduce emissions, combat its serious impacts and prevent transboundary hazards.
Referring to the recent floods in India, Pakistan and Nepal claiming many lives, leaving many more missing and destroying infrastructures, she said that the Hindu Kush Himalaya is highly vulnerable to the climate change consequences.
Nepal is most vulnerable country dealing with earthquakes, melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, loss of biodiversity, floods and landslides, she said, adding that the country has to suffer a lot despite contributing the least to carbon emissions. She demanded climate justice for the country.
Dr Rana recalled the first edition of the ‘The Sagarmatha Sambaad’ held in Kathmandu last May, where leaders, thinkers and policymakers from around the world gathered and issued a 25-point roadmap for the mitigation of climate change impacts.
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PM Oli briefed on expansion of DNF and Nepal Telecom’s progress
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has garnered information on the expansion of Digital Nepal Framework (DNF) and progress of the Nepal Telecom.
PM Oli sought a brief inquiry from Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, Secretary Radhika Aryal, and Officiating Managing Director at Nepal Telecom, Sabina Maske Pradhan, today. In the meeting, PM Oli reminded the subordinates to intensify the good governance, development and prosperity initiatives through the use of information technology.
He was briefed on recently endorsed artificial intelligence (AI) Policy and ministry’s homework to expand DNF 2.0. The revised version of DNF has focused strengthening digital ecosystem- infrastructure, agriculture, education, tourism, finance, good governance, climate change, disaster, and social security. A digital transformation council has been proposed for the enforcement of the DNF 2.0. The new version will come into force after the Cabinet passes it.
It is worth sharing that first DNF 2076 was also launched in the premiership of KP Oli.
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Committee Chair Thapa stresses collaboration for resilience to climate change
Kathmandu, Aug 17: Chairperson of the Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee under the federal parliament, Kusum Devi Thapa, has echoed the need for combined efforts to cope with impacts of climate change.
During her address to an inaugural session of the Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025 in Kathmandu today, Thapa was of the view that consequences of climate change have posed threats to the entire human civilisation and the natural resources on the earth.
Growing degradation of biodiversity, air pollution and incidents of natural disasters have directly affected a wide range of human life with their implications on economy, health, agriculture, tourism to energy sectors, she reminded. Thapa viewed national politics, economy and regional cooperation also matter in combating climate change besides science and technologies.
“Deeper cooperation among the executive, legislation, judiciary and political-administrative spheres helps resist the impacts of climate change. The parliamentarians as their roles of policymakers and decision makers should further explore their knowledge on the climate science and climate change diplomacy,” she underscored.
According to her, the parliamentarians of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region are discussing the establishment of the ‘regional climate change parliament’. She hoped the two-day regional event is expected to come with measures capable of enhancing the capacities of parliamentarians, promoting climate change diplomacy and biodiversity conservation and controlling the air pollution with the strengthening of friendliness and cooperation among the participating nations.
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Minister Shahi for regional cooperation against climate change impacts
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Minister for Forest and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, has said regional cooperation is warranted to face challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution.
During his address to an inaugural session of the Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025 in Kathmandu, today, the Minister said the event provided an opportunity for them to discuss the future of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region with two billion people associated with it, and express resolutions and partnerships towards building a climate change-resilient zone.
He hoped the participations of parliamentarians and experts in the event would contribute to formulating ‘efficient policies’ and impactful implementation. Stating that he represented the Federal Parliament from Mugu, the Himalayan district in the Karnali Province, the Minister said the depletion of water resources in Himalayan region, and the disappearance of herbs and pastureland are among those consequences of the climate change. As he informed, the Rara Lake, the famous lake in the district, has also been affected by the climate change.
“We are suffering the severe consequences of climate change despite contributing the least to the carbon emission,” Shahi lamented. Stating that Nepal’s forest cover has reached 46 percent, he said the climate change mitigation, adaptation and damage managements have been prioritised through the Third Nationally Determined Contribution.
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Minister Neupane pledges swift finalization of Civil Service Bill
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Bhagawati Neupane, has said the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2080 BS that is presently in the National Assembly would be finalized soon.
Responding to the concerns raised during a theoretical discussion on the Bill at a meeting of the Legislation Management Committee, NA today, the Minister pledged efforts to conclude the Bill unanimously. The government can convince the parliament on some matters and the vice-versa, she added.
During the deliberation, lawmakers called for addressing ‘error’ and ‘weaknesses’ made on the part of the House of Representatives regarding the Bill. As she said, the finalization of the Bill is a must for implementing the administrative federalism.
Committee President Tulasha Kumari Dahal pledged to conclude the Bill soon even by holding regular meetings on it. A total of 193 proposals have been registered in the Upper House seeking amendments to the Bill.
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Two workers of Rahughat Hydropower killed in landslide, five injured
Myagdi, Aug 18: Two workers hired by the Myagdi-based under-construction Rahughat Hydropower Project were killed in a landslide occurred near the approach route to the Project’s major tunnel today.
Five others injured in the incident have been taken to the hospital, according to District Police Office’s Deputy Superintendent of Police, Surya Bahadur Thapa.
The Project is being developed at the Raghuganga rural municipality. As of the time of this news report, the identities of the deceased have not been ascertained. However, workers at the site have reported that one of the two victims is a Nepali national.
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