Govt urged to provide petroleum products at concessional rate

Kathmandu, March 18: General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, Pradip Paudel, has urged the government to provide petroleum products at a concessional rate.

Nepal is suffering price hike owing to conflict in West Asia, General Secretary Paudel reminded, requesting the government that it paid heed to ensure essential fuel in discount.

“Not only transport sector but all others will suffer after the price hike of petroleum products, causing increased bills of daily essentials and construction materials,” he said in a video message, stressing the need of promoting vehicles run on alternative energy.

Paudel further said black marketing is an equally worrying issue at such situation, warranting a regular market monitoring.

—

01-       Three firms fined during market monitoring

Kathmandu, March 18: The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection has fined three firms in the Kathmandu Valley for violating consumers’ rights and trade ethics.

Ekatagram Store at Changathali of Mahalaxmi municipality-7, Lalitpur was fined Rs 20,000,  while Kirana Ghar Trade and Suppliers, and Ganapati Trade Suppliers of Babarmahal, Kathmandu were fined Rs 5,000 each. They were taken action during the market monitoring the Department conducted recently.

The authority made it clear that it took action as per Consumers’ Protection Act, 2075. Nineteen other firms were directed for correction in their business practice.

The Department has intensified market monitoring in a bid to curb illegal trade and promote fair business.

—

03-       Province govt records achievements in 100 days: CM Yadav

Janakpurdham, March 18: Chief Minister of Madhes Province, Krishna Prasad Yadav, has said 100 days of province government under his leadership remained significant.

Making public the achievements made in the 100 days of Madhes Province government here Tuesday, CM Yadav asserted that the government was successful in working as per people’s need and expectation in a short time. Noticeable reforms were made in the fronts of education, health, agriculture, infrastructure development and good governance, he added.

“Hospitals are upgraded with the management of necessary workforce and smooth supply of medicine. Teacher’s management and expansion of technical education was in place for school sector reform,” he shared, adding that grants to farmers, availability of chemical fertilizers, irrigation facility and speeding up of construction works like roads, bridges and drinking water projects were also worth mentioning.

In his opinion, the province government stressed good governance and transparency with the adoption and expansion of digital system. Skill-oriented training was provided to foster self-entrepreneurship, Yadav stated during a press meet on Tuesday.

He vowed to work effectively for the betterment of people and province in the days ahead.

—

04-       One dies in motorcycle accident

Deukhuri, March 18: A person died in a motorcycle accident occurred at Deukhuri, Dang last night.

Police Inspector at Gadhwa Area Police Office, Dabal Bahadur Bam, informed that 36-year-old motorcyclist Bhanu Rijal died in the accident.

The incident occurred as the motorcycle hit a tractor, the police said, adding that the dead one is from Gadhwa rural municipality-5.

Tractor driver has been taken under control for the investigation.

—

05-       CJ Raut directs subordinates for prompt, smooth justice delivery

Dang, March 18: Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut has directed the subordinates to ensure prompt and smooth justice delivery as per changed context.

CJ Raut underlined the need of working as per people’s expectation. He made such direction to judges, legal practitioners and employees during an inspection visit to High Court, Tulsipur.

“We’ve picked up the pace after rising from ashes,” Raut said indicating the damaged judiciary infrastructures. Time has come for us to work with resolution.

CJ Raut inspected the High Court building, and structures managed for conducting bench which were damaged during the Gen Z movement last year. Budget allocation would be ensured for the reconstruction of new building for the High Court next year, he assured.

He expressed happiness over the safe stack of documents irrespective of severe damages incurred in court building and vehicles. The judiciary would prioritize the reconstruction of court structures, Raut reiterated.

On the occasion, Chief Judge at High Court, Tulsipur, Rajeshwor Tiwari, informed that the court resumed operation after temporary management. The High Court was destroyed in the arson perpetrated during the Gen Z movement.

Other speakers lauded the activities carried by the High Court in the face of sheer adversity.

—

06-       Tractor hits man to death

Gulmi, March 18: A person was killed after a tractor hit him at Madane rural municipality in the district.

Deputy Superintendent of Police at District Police Office, Gulmi, Ganga Bahadur Saru, informed that Salikram Chand, 35, hit by a tractor breathed his last during treatment. Chand was a resident of Aglungphedi from Madane rural municipality-1.

Injured seriously in the incident, Chand died at Tamghas Hospital.

Police have taken tractor driver under control.

— 

07-       Economic stability after new govt: Prof Dr Gyawali

Kathmandu, March 18: Chief of Economics Department at Tribhuvan University, Prof Dr Ram Prasad Gyawali, said people had expected stability through long-term policy on national economy once the new government is formed.

We can expect policy stability to usher in economic develo0pment and political stability after the formation of near two-thirds majority government, Dr Gyawali said, suggesting that the new government could prioritize reconstruction of damaged infrastructures during the Gen Z movement and create atmosphere for investment from the private sector.

Talking to the , Prof Gyawali viewed a full term government is in sight, which would be instrumental in bringing long term economic policy and activities to spur developments. “In the five-year term, new government should cater clear policy and stability so that people’s expectation of change and development could be realized,” he stressed.

The formation of near two-thirds majority government is an end to the trend of recurring change in governments, which, he argued, had caused uncertainty in industrial and investment sector. Prof Gyawali said, “Once the reconstruction of damaged structures is prioritized, it helps in creating an atmosphere conducive to investment. Investment promotion later contributes to making economy dynamic.”

He, however, observed that investment from private sector was yet to see improvement. Slight increase was recorded in government investment lately. Private sector needs moral boost by the government because they suffered much during the uprising last September.

“Building trust and stability is urgent to restore private sectors’ morale,” he said, adding that government can assure safety to the private sector investors, thereby making economy dynamic.

—-

08-       Security persons face inconvenience after storm blows away office roof in Bhojpur

Taksar (Bhojpur), March 18: The Armed Police Force (APF) staffs of Kotdanda in the district have been facing acute problems after the storm blew away office roof.

The roof of APF No 5 headquarters’ barrack at Kotdanda of Bhojpur municipality-12 was blown away by the storm, causing sheer inconvenience to the accommodation of staffs, according to Dibya Raj Koirala, Superintendent of APF at the company. Security persons were forced to carry out duty irrespective of difficulty on housing.   

Even the roofs of individual houses, and health and educational institutions are swept away during the storm coupled with rains two days back. The radio and telecom towers also faced damage due to hostile weather in the district.

Detail information on the damages is being collected, said DSP Raju Lama, Chief of the District Police Office.

Coordinator of the disaster management committee and Chief District Officer Rajan Paudel informed that once the detail information about the storm damages is collected, it would be discussed for relief distribution.

The local levels are also collecting the details on loss and evaluating situation for relief.

—