- Friday, 18 July 2025
Kathmandu, July 16: The Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal has decided to withdraw its support to the government. The decision to withdraw support was taken by a meeting held at the party’s parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar today.
The party’s support to the current government has no justification as it could not fulfill the expectations of the people and hence a decision was taken to withdraw the support and remain in opposition,” said a statement issued after the meeting.
The statement also notes that the government has not been able to ensure good governance, improve the country’s economy and advance the pace of economic development, while also failing to effectively implement federalism.
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Kalyanpur Municipality Mayor raided
Siraha, July 16: Mayor of Kalyanpur Municipality in the district, Rampukar Sah, has been arrested with a bribe money of one hundred thousand rupees today. A team deputed from the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Bardibas office raided the municipality’s office this afternoon.
According to the Commission, he was arrested while taking a bribe of Rs 100,000 from the consumer committee. Sources said that the Commission has been monitoring him based on prior information and has taken him under control with evidence. The Commission informed that necessary legal procedures have been initiated against Mayor Shah.
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Land bill to be passed soon: Speaker Ghimire
Jhapa, July 16: Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Devraj Ghimire has expressed confidence that the land bill pending in Parliament will be passed soon.
Addressing a programme to distribute land ownership certificates to the landless residents of Arjundhara Municipality in the district today, he said that the land problem that has been surfacing for years will be solved after the enactment of a new law on land by the parliament.
Mentioning that hundreds of landless people need to be made owners of land, he recalled that the previous commission had complained of problems in the distribution of certificate due to the high cost of revenue.
He said that after the current government reduced land revenue to five percent, the number of people willing to take loans is increasing. Today, 96 homeless residents of Arjundhara Municipality-11 received the land ownership certificates.
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Daily penalty of Rs 200,000 for missing deadline for TU cricket stadium
Kathmandu, July 16: The construction companies failing to complete the works to build a parapet and fix floodlights at the Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University (TU) Cricket Stadium have been penalized for being unable to meet the deadlines.
The companies have been penalized as per the contract agreements that mandated them to pay 0.05 percent of the total budget of the project on a daily basis in fine.
According to Spokesperson at the Ministry of Urban Development, Narayan Prasad Mainali, BKOI-KCDC-BG JV has been contracted for constructing the parapet while Vishan Ishwori Joint Venture has been contracted for fixing floodlights at the cricket stadium.
It was agreed to construct the parapet at the cost of Rs 492.5 million and install floodlights at the cost of Rs 473.7 million. Both companies missed the deadlines for completing the projects by July 14.
The construction companies have been informed about the penalties imposed on them since Tuesday or July 15 for missing the deadlines. It shall remain in effect until the works get completed, said Chief of Federal Secretariat Construction and Management Office, Chakravarti Kantha.
As per the provision, the companies are allowed to continue work for a maximum of 200 additional days or by paying a fine equal to 10 percent of the total project cost. If they miss the extended deadline again, they will be blacklisted.
Kantha said the companies have promised to complete the works by a month. So far, 4,000 chairs have been set up for the parapet ant it reports 63 percent fiscal progress and 77 percent physical progress. Towards the floodlight installation, the fiscal progress is 29 percent followed by 45 percent physical progress.
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Water tankers to supply water in Birgunj
Birgunj (Parsa), July 16: The District Disaster Management Committee has decided to distribute drinking water to various local levels including Birgunj municipal corporation using tankers received from the Madhesh province government and other agencies.
Furthermore, security agencies will be mobilized and fire engines will be used to distribute water in the district, said Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal.
The Water Supply Corporation has been requested to manage the water for distribution.
The Committee has also decided to request the concerned federal and provincial agencies to take initiatives for a long-term solution.
Meanwhile, Nepal Telecom has decided to provide a toll-free number for people to report about drinking water shortage.
Branch Chief of the Water Supply Corporation Prabin Kumar Sah said that the corporation produces more than 8 million liters of drinking water daily but the distribution system has not been managed due to funds shortage. “More than 900 customers have applied for the installation of new taps in the last 15 days due to the water shortage.”
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Public holiday in Karnali Province tomorrow
Karnali, July 16: A public holiday has been declared in Karnali Province for Thursday i.e. the first of the month of Shawan in the Lunar Calendar.
The provincial government has decided to announce a public holiday on the occasion of Shawan Sankranti as well as Deuda festival.
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Neupane takes oath as Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration
Kathmandu, July 16: Newly appointed Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Bhagawati Neupane, took oath of office and secrecy before President Ramchandra Paudel. The oath taking ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas.
The Head-of-the-State had, on the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, appointed Neupane to the ministerial post on Tuesday.
Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Oli, National Assembly (NA) Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal, ministers, chiefs of security bodies, chiefs of the constitutional bodies, Chief Secretary Eaknarayan Aryal and political leaders were among those present on the occasion.
Prior to this, Neuapne, was the Chief Whip of the CPN (UML) in the National Assembly. She assumed office upon reaching the Singha Durbar Wednesday itself.
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Minister Chaudhary focuses on quality reform in sports
Kathmandu, July 16: Minister for Youth and Sports, Tejulal Chaudhary, has said that Nepal’s sports sector is presently focused on quality reform.
During his interaction with officials from the National Sports Associations on Wednesday, Minister Chaudhary expressed commitments to increasing facilities for national athletes under the Mission-2026 initiative. He also stressed the need for promoting good governance and transparency to strengthen the overall sports ecosystem.
Member-Secretary of the National Sports Council, Tankalal Ghishing, and Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Hari Prasad Lamsal, echoed the need for constructive criticism for the progress in the sector.
The meeting also discussed key issues including preparations for the Tenth National Games, player rewards, staff quotas, international exposure opportunities, auditing practices, training programs, budget allocations, and other pertinent matters.
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Elderly woman buried in landslide
Myagdi, July 16: An elderly woman was buried in a landslide that collapsed her house at Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 in Myagdi on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the District Police Office, a 72-year-old Sita Phagami died after in the dry landslide. Police Inspector Sagar Poudel informed that Fagami died on the spot after the landslide buried her house.
Locals and police recovered her lifeless body from the wreckage.
However, Sita’s husband, 72-year-old Tuk Bahadur Phagami, escaped the tragedy. Vice-Chair at Annapurna Rural Municipality, Diva Tilija Pun, informed that five families who were at risk of landslide have been shifted to a safe place.
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Chief Minister Shah directs secretary to clear legal hurdles
Sudurpaschim, July 16: Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, has directed the secretary at law ministry to identify legal and policy hurdles and to suggest measures for solution so that investment-friendly atmosphere could be developed.
During an interaction organized in Dhangadhi on Wednesday, CM Shah urged the secretary and other officials to create investment-friendly atmosphere by wiping out legal hindrances. He even suggested the issuance of ordinance in case of need.
Sudurpaschim Province government has planned to hold the investment and development conference after two months- on September 17-18. The Minister made such remark during the interaction organized by the policy and law study and recommendation subcommittee formed for the conference.
“Identify legal and policy hurdles within a week by holding discussion with stakeholders,” he reiterated, expressing belief that the conference would be a milestone for the province’s development on socioeconomic fronts and infrastructures.
Undersecretary at Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law Ministry, Amod Dahal, said the ministry could facilitate for correcting related laws like Cooperatives Act, Tourism Act and Partnership Industrial Act.
In this regard, the province government held a virtual meeting with Koshi Province government on Wednesday itself.
During the virtual meeting, policy and laws relating to development were exchanged.
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Old legal documents are historic heritages: CJ Raut
Kathmandu, July 16: Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut has termed old legal documents as historic heritages.
Speaking at the launch of Pradhannyalaya – 2010 BS, Nepal law journal (an old edition) published by the Editorial and Publication Committee, Supreme Court (SC), on Wednesday, the Chief Justice stated, “The modern judiciary must be made glorious and prosperous. The efforts to rediscover and compile old verdicts are truly commendable and should be continued.”
The study and research about past judicial practices will be useful for future researchers, university and law students, he said.
Hari Phuyal, the SC Judge and Committee Chief, said the history of law is significant in the relevant sector. “Nepal’s legal history before the arrival of the Mugals in India is little known. It is necessary to preserve our ancient legal values,” he underlined.
Meanwhile, it was reported that cases dating back to eight years have been sorted out by the SC.
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Awards distributed in different categories
Kathmandu, July 16: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, handed over various national and provincial awards on Wednesday. The national award carries the purse of Rs 100,000 to each recipient.
The National Talent Award in the field of language and literature was handed over to Amrit Yonzan Tamang from Ramechhap, in culture to Dr Som Bahadur Dhimal from Morang, in music and theatre to Rajendra Bahadur Shah from Bajura, and in fine arts to Mukesh Malla from Kathmandu.
Similarly, in the field of language and literature, the provincial award were given to Bimala Tumkhewa from Koshi Province, Shyam Sundar Shah from Madhesh Province, Narmadeshwari Satyal from Bagmati Province, Meenraj Basant Regmi from Gandaki Province, Bhagwan DasYadav from Lumbini Province, Samir Shah from Karnali Province, and Narendra Prasad Bhatt from Sudurpashchim Province.
In the cultural field, the provincial award winners include Kamal Jung Rai from Koshi Province, Shital Giri from Madhesh Province, Tara Devi Sunar from Bagmati Province, Bhakti Prasad Sharma from Gandaki Province, Idris Khan from Lumbini Province, Motiram Bam from Karnali Province, and Devendra Prasad Bhatt from Sudurpashchim Province.
Similarly, in the field of music and drama, the provincial award winners are Bipin Paudel from Koshi Province, Shiva Shankar Rizal from Madhesh Province, Sudeshraj Sharma from Bagmati Province, Diya Maske from Gandaki Province, Udiram Khadka from Lumbini Province, Tilak Pariyar from Karnali Province, and Prakash Thapa from Sudurpashchim Province.
The provincial talent awards were presented to Himmat Bahadur Limbu from Koshi, Gatikumari Thakur from Madhesh, Pramila Bajracharya from Bagmati, Shashidwaj Tulachan from Gandaki, Hariram Adhikari from Lumbini, Thekshok Tamang from Karnali, and Mithu Chaudhary from Sudurpashchim provinces.
Five individuals have been awarded the Mahakavi Devkota National Award. He award carries a purse of Rs 100 thousand each. The recipients of the award include Tirtha Shrestha for poetry, Lakshman Gautam for essays, Narayan Dhakal for prose, Kalpana Pradhan for folk literature, and Resham Birahi for language and literature.
The Ministry has also honored writer Ram Prasad Ghyawali with the Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya National Award, which also carries a prize of Rs 100 thousand. Bharat Bahadur Bhandari has been conferred on the Gopal Prasad Rimal National Award. Similar award was handed over to Kiran Chamling Rai in the drama category. The award bears Rs 100 thousand.
The Yogmaya National Award has handed over to Neelam Karki Niharika, while Bhagatsarvajit Manav Maryada Award to Man Bahadur Bishwakarma and Bhim Kant Panthi. The Yugakavi Siddhicharan Shrestha National Award has been conferred on Devi Prasad Nepal. The award also carries a purse of Rs 100 thousand.
Likewise, the Itihas Shironmani Baburam Acharya National Award has been provided to British citizen John Whelpton for his historical research in Nepal. The amount for this award is Rs 200 thousand.
The Shatabdi Purush Satyamohan Joshi National Award has been given to Bina Paudel.
Minister for Culture Badri Prasda Pandey handed over the awards in a programme organized in the federal capital, Kathmandu.
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