- Thursday, 9 July 2026
Kaski, July 9: The Setikhola Hydropower Project has started power production. Located at Pokhara Metropolitan City-33 in Kaski, the project has a capacity of generating 22 megawatts power.
The construction of the project, promoted by Setikhola Hydropower Limited, was started in Mangsir 2078 BS.
The electricity generated from the project began to be fed into the national transmission grid on a trial basis after a technical team from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) inspected and tested the project, said the promoter company’s director, Deepak Baral.
According to him, initially, the event will be in a trial phase for 15 days. After that, regular commercial production will start.
The electricity produced during that period will be fed into the NEA system, and the project’s equipment will be technically tested. The project had aimed to start production since last Mangsir. But it is said that completion was delayed because of the hold back in the approval process for the forest area related to the transmission line construction.
Director Baral said that out of the five towers built for the transmission line, three are in forest areas, so it took time to get the necessary approvals. The dam for the Seti River Hydropower Project has been built at Tiklang, Pokhara-33. From there, water is channeled to the power house in Tallopunditar through a 3,106-meter-long tunnel. Two turbines, each with a capacity of 11 MW, have been installed here.
The project has an investment of Rs 5.05 billion. Once the project is operational commercially, preparations are being made to issue an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public within the next fiscal year.
Various hydropower projects of different capacities are currently being built on the Seti River. Since last year, the 25-megawatt Seti River hydropower project promoted by Vision Lumbini Energy Company has been commercially generating power. Currently, about half a dozen projects are in their initial construction phase, and a few are under construction.
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01- ‘Research results need to reach farmers’ access’
Kathmandu, July 9: Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Gita Chaudhary, directed the authorities to not limit the research process to laboratory but reach out to the agro plots of farmers.
She said this at an orientation programme organized by the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) for its newly-appointed senior scientists and scientists on Wednesday.
The minister said the tangible impacts of agriculture research should be reflected in farmers’ production, productivity and livelihood.
She clarified that the scientists’ role should not merely be confined to the office or lab. ‘The research centers and farmers’ agro plot you reach are the live lab. It is your prime responsibility to explore scientific solutions by identifying problems of farmers’, Minister Chaudhary instructed.
Additionally, she called for further enlivening the collaboration with province and local governments, universities, private sector and farmers, arguing there would be no benefits in real term when the results of research do not reach to the farmers.
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02- Chiefs of Gandaki and Madhesh province hold meeting
Gandaki, July 9: Chief of the Gandaki Province, Dilli Raj Bhatta, and Madhesh Province Chief Surendra Labh Karna, held a meeting on Wednesday.
During an inter-province visit, Madhesh Province Chief Karna, who arrived in Gandaki, met with Province Chief Bhatta at latter’s residence in Pokhara.
According to the Province Chief’s office, matters related to emphatically deepening relations between the two provinces with elevated level of cooperation and collaboration were discussed on the occasion.
The two province chiefs also discussed some best practices taking place in both the provinces. They shared experiences about the ongoing situation and initiatives in their respective provinces.
The two also underlined the need to take strides by leveraging implementation of the Constitution to enhance institutional development and integrity of the provinces.
Madhesh Province Chief Karna shared his plan to visit all seven provinces as part of the national unity campaign.
On this occasion, Madhesh Province Chief Karna also invited Gandaki Province Chief Bhatta to visit his province.
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03- Second edition of historical novel ‘Bakhan’ unveiled
Kathmandu, July 9: The second edition of a biographical novel ‘Bakhan’ – authored by journalist Basanta Parajuli has been made public.
Chairperson of Writers Society Nepal Shree Om Shrestha along with other literary writers launched the book, brought out by Shikha Books Pvt Ltd.
The fiction presents historical details of Chitwan along with anecdotal accounts of the 1950 Bandipur Uprising, and the 1961 Bharatpur rebellion in a fact-based, simple, and literary style.
Presenting the life struggles of Nepal’s first cooperative activist and social worker, Bakhan Singh Gurung, the piece vividly portrays social, political, cultural, and historical transformations of Chitwan in a narrative form.
It also highlights the development of settlements in Chitwan and the conservation of biological diversity, along with the background of various uprisings in the country.
On the occasion, managing director of the Shikha Publications, Pushpa Raj Paudel described ‘Bakhan’ as one of the popular literary pieces among the audience.
Author Parajuli is the President of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Chitwan district chapter.
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04- Revenue Rs 1.86 million collected from traffic action
Kathmandu, July 9: A total of 2,066 vehicle drivers were penalized for violating traffic rules in the past 24 hours.
With the traffic action in place, revenue amounting to Rs 1.86 million was deposited in the state treasury.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police office, 65 people were penalized for consuming drugs, 122 for violating rules with ridesharing, 120 for ignoring traffic signals, and 114 for speeding.
Similarly, 142 were punished for not following lane discipline, 74 for honking in prohibited areas, 103 for parking on the roadside, 89 for driving on one-way streets, and 1,237 others for violating other traffic rules.
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06- Weather update: Rain forecast in many areas, with some regions facing heavy downpour
Kathmandu, July 9: The Meteorological Forecasting Division has announced that the sky will be mostly cloudy across the country today, with chances of rain accompanied by thunder and lightning in the mountainous, hilly, and Tarai regions of various provinces.
The division indicates that this afternoon, moderate rain and even snowfall could be experienced in some high hilly and mountainous areas. Regions in the Tarai, particularly in Koshi, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim Provinces, along with a few places in the Tarai of Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces, are also likely to experience moderate rain with thunder and lightning.
Given the possibility for heavy rain in one or two locations within Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and the hilly areas of Sudurpaschim Province, everyone is urged to exercise caution to avoid the possible risk.
Moderate rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning are expected in many parts of the mountainous and hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces, as well as some areas in the mountainous and hilly regions of Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim Provinces.
Additionally, moderate rain with thunder and lightning may occur in certain areas of the Tarai in Madhesh Province and across Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim Provinces. The division urges everyone to be careful, as heavy rainfall could occur in one or two places in the hills and Tarai of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, as well as in Madhesh Province.
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07- Clause-wise discussion taking place over four bills in NA panel today
Kathmandu, July 9: Clause-wise discussions are taking place over four bills in today’s meeting of the National Assembly (NA)’s Legislation Management Committee. The bills were received with message after endorsement from the House of Representatives.
The discussion on the amendment proposals tabled by members in the meeting continues on the presence of the line ministers.
President of the Committee, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, shared that the committee’s report on these bills is scheduled to be presented in today’s National Assembly meeting.
The bills introduced to replace the ordinance include: Public Procurement (Second Amendment) Bill, 2083; Prevention of Money Laundering (Third Amendment) Bill, 2083; Cooperative (First Amendment) Bill, 2083; and Bill to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to the Institute of Health Sciences, 2083.
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08- Fire hydrants installed at six locations in Chandannath Municipality
Jumla, July 9: Fire hydrants have been installed at six places within Chandanath Municipality in Jumla district.
Ishwara Subedi, the district coordinator of the Super Project run by the Nepal Red Cross Society, said that the fire hydrants have been installed at Ward No. 2 and 3 of the municipality.
The firefighting equipment has been managed with the goal of promoting urban preparedness and emergency response to reduce disaster risk, and to make it easier to control fires with instantaneous water supply when a fire breaks out in settlements.
The Nepal Red Cross Society is running the project by prioritizing densely populated areas of the municipality and places with high fire risk under the community-based disaster risk reduction programme, it is stated.
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09- Study shows increasing human trafficking, sexual exploitation in the entertainment sector
Narayangadh (Chitwan), July 9: A study has shown that the risk of domestic human trafficking and sexual exploitation has been increasing here with the rapid expansion of spas, hotels, and the recreational businesses.
According to a study prepared by ‘Samari Utthan Sewa’ and shared with journalists in Bharatpur, 85 percent people from the Dalit, gender, and sexual minority (queer) communities who face caste discrimination, violence, and exclusion have suffered from internal human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Programme manager of the organization, Shivahari Gyawali, shared that there were three spas operating in Bharatpur Metropolitan City in 2024/25, and that number had gone up to 21 in 2025/26.
He mentioned that the risk of trafficking and sexual exploitation is increasing because there is no separate law to regulate the hotels, the entertainment sector like dance bars and dohori pubs, and spas, and the monitoring powers given by the Local Government Operation Act have not been effectively implemented.
Sixty-nine percent of Dalit queer participants in the study complained that the media didn’t give enough attention to the violence and discrimination they faced.
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10- HoR meeting: Lawmakers draw government’s attention on various pertinent issues
Kathmandu, July 9: In today’s session of the House of Representatives, opposition parties’ lawmakers voiced their protest demanding a straightforward response from the government about the ongoing border dispute.
As the meeting kicked off, opposition MPs rose from their seats, urging Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal to allow one member from the opposition to share their thoughts, given the persistent outcry over the issue.
Harinadevi Kami from the Nepali Congress took the floor to challenge a statement made by Prime Minister Balendra Shah during a previous meeting on May 31, where he claimed, “Nepal has also encroached on India’s land…”
She insisted that the Prime Minister clarify his remarks and requested that they be expunged from the parliamentary records. Following her lead, MPs from various opposition parties sought the opportunity to voice their concerns, and Speaker Aryal granted them the floor.
Yashoda Kumari Baral from the CPN (UML) highlighted the government’s repeated disregard for the issues raised by the opposition. Bhim Kumari Budhamagar from the Nepali Communist Party urged the Prime Minister to amend his comments regarding nationalism, emphasizing the Nepali people’s dedication to safeguarding their territory.
Meanwhile, Purna Prasad Limbu of the Shram Sanskriti Party questioned the Prime Minister’s earlier statements, and Khushbu Oli from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party called for the ruling party to publicly clarify its stance on the matter.
Likewise, lawmakers have urged the government and the House to enhance the provision of specialized health services and ensure peace and security in rural areas.
Nitima Bhandari from the RSP reported that mobile businessman Navraj Sapkota was attacked and robbed by three individuals while traveling from Lalbandi Municipality Ward No. 9 to Ward No. 7 on Wednesday night. During the incident, four shots were fired, prompting a call to the Home Administration to bolster safety in the district.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Firdosh Alam of the Nepali Congress shared the troubling news of a woman’s body discovered under the bridge on the Postal Highway in Rajpur Municipality, demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible.
Shiva Shankar Yadav from RSP highlighted the rising maternal and child mortality rates in Siraha, attributing this to the absence of a well-equipped birthing centre, and called for the immediate operation of the birthing centre at Mahendra Genai Hospital in Dhangadhimai municipality.
Ramesh Malla from the Nepali Communist Party expressed his ongoing concerns about the lack of specialist doctors at Salyan Hospital. Lastly, Prakash Singh Karki from NC pointed out that the hydropower project being developed by the ‘MB Dugad’ group in Likhukhola, which runs along the border of Solukhumbu, Likhupike Rural Municipality and Umakunda Rural Municipality in Ramechhap, has failed to meet its social responsibility commitments as outlined in the agreement.
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11- Parliament briefed about government’s achievements in 100 days
Kathmandu, July 9: The government has informed the House of Representatives’ meeting today about its 100-day achievements, under Prime Minister Balendran Shah’s leadership.
Government spokesperson and Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmit Pokharel, informed the meeting about the government’s hundred-day progress.
Spokesperson Pokharel informed the general public about the government’s hundred-day achievements through a press conference on July 4.
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