- Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Kathmandu, November 24: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Kulman Ghising, has said the delayed budget release is one of the primary reasons for the low development spending in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
Minister Ghising, who also heads the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Urban Development, said it while speaking at today’s meeting of the Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee under the National Assembly.
He argued development endeavours have hit snags repeatedly due to budget pause amounting to Rs 195 billion across three ministries. Of this, around Rs 61 billion has been paused under the Ministry of Urban Development alone. He noted that the first-quarter progress should still be viewed positively despite the budget abeyance.
“If we deduct the paused budget, the progress stands above 20 percent. The current expenditure data does not reflect the actual situation; it is the result of the suspension of budget allocation. Similarly, the recent Gen Z protest also hindered the progress of various projects,” he shared.
The Minister stated that contractors who repeatedly missed deadlines have been penalised. Of the 269 projects in the process of contract termination, 49 have already been officially terminated.
Acknowledging that some projects were proposed and approved in a haphazard manner, the Minister said that the government is ready to cut the budget for such boondoggles. According to him, these funds should instead be utilised to build essential infrastructures such as much-needed bridges in districts like Jumla and Humla and other facilities vital for daily life.
The Minister added that ongoing discussions are being held with the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister regarding this issue. He said that the design and construction of reconstruction structures are progressing rapidly, and that long-term as well as short-term projects in energy, irrigation, roads, and urban development will now advance at a faster pace.
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Biratnagar Kings batting first today
Kathmandu, Nov 24: Biratnagar Kings is batting against Janakpur Bolts in the first match under the ongoing second edition of Nepal Premier League today.
Winning the toss at Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Janakpur Bolts chose to field.
Janakpur Bolts is looking to find its first win of the season. Earlier, it was lost to Kathmandu Gorkhas by five wickets in the first match. However, Biratnagar Kings has already won two matches in the ongoing NPL.
Similarly, Sudurpaschim Royals and Karnali Yaks are facing each other in today’s second match. The second edition of NPL organised by Cricket Association of Nepal is taking place from November 17-December 13.
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08- Drinking water facility elates Pauwadungma people in Bhojpur
Bhojpur, Nov 24: Installation of drinking water taps at their houses has elated the locals from Shyamshila Chanpe village of Pauwadungma rural municipality-1 in Bhojpur district.
The people have felt huge relief with the convenience materialized under the ‘one house, one tap’ scheme in the local level. As many as 30 households facing sheer difficulty of drinking water have been directly benefited with the scheme, according to ward Chairman Rajendra Tamang.
“We’ve been successful to supply drinking water as per villagers’ need. It is a matter for happiness both for local level representatives and the beneficiaries,” he said, expressing hope that availability of clean drinking water would also contribute to better health and hygiene.
Vice Chairperson of the rural municipality, Jyatshna Rai, informed that the drinking water project was accomplished with the allocation of Rs 450 thousand from the rural municipality. Based on the population and geography, both big and small-scale projects are launched to ensure basic facility in other villages as well.
The spring/source of the water would also be protected side by side.
A local Tara Tamang remembered those old days of hassles to fetch drinking water from distant places. “With the taps installed at home, the difficulty to collect water has ended,” she expressed happiness.
It used to take hours to collect water.
The water running from the taps can also be used for kitchen gardens in addition to drinking and sanitation, according to Sangita Rai, another local.
“Availability of drinking water at our homes has also lessened other burdens and saved much time. It has in deed changed our lifestyle,” she observed.
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09- Feasibility study launched to construct lake at Jaljala
Myagdi, Nov 24: A feasibility study has been launched for the construction of a lake in the Jaljala area of Kalanjar Hampal, the natural and religious tourism site located at the border of three districts- Myagdi, Parbat and Kaski.
The Jaljala area stretches up to Annapurna rural municipality of Myagdi, Jaljala and Modi rural municipalities of Parbat, and Annapurna rural municipality of Kaski district.
Vice-Chairperson of Jaljala rural municipality, Deepak Acharya, said the feasibility study has been initiated to develop the Jaljala area located above 3,200 meters from sea level as a religious and tourist attraction.
The Irrigation and Water Resources Management Project Office, Pokhara has allocated four million rupees budget for the feasibility study and to prepare detailed project report in the current fiscal year.
A team under the leadership of office chief Bidur Man Shrestha comprising people’s representatives including Vice-Chairperson Acharya, representatives of political parties and employees last week had conducted onsite visit of the lake construction site.
Acharya added that the team inspected the geographical features, feasibility, environmental impacts, availability of water resources and long-term impacts of the construction site for the proposed lake. He mentioned that the site was appropriate for the undertaking. Even an extensive discussion was held about water resource management and measures for the safety.
Office chief Shrestha stated that the Kalanjar-Hampal and Jaljala area would be developed both as a religious and touristic hub, attracting domestic and foreign tourists after the construction of the lake.
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10- NPL 2025: Biratnagar Kings posts 136-run victory target before Janakpur Bolts
Kathmandu, Nov 24: Biratnagar Kings has posted a 136-run victory target before Janakpur Bolts in the first match under ongoing Nepal Premier League today.
Losing the toss at Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Biratnagar was invited to bat first and made 135 runs at 20 overs losing seven wickets.
For Biratnagar, Shubham Ranjane contributed highest 37 runs in 29 balls while Bashir Ahmad made 36 runs, Lokesh Bam 28 runs, Martin Guptill 13 runs and George Munsey 10 runs.
Towards bowling, Janakpur’s Rupesh Singh and Sangeeth Kure took two wickets each while Aditya Mahata one wicket.
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11- Farmers yearn for hassle-free harvest, plantation
Devdaha (Rupandehi), Nov 24: As were the previous years, the plight and worries the farmers are facing this year are the same- short supply of chemical fertilizers and seed, and adversity caused by the unseasonal rains.
The farmers inflicted with unseasonal rains saw the harvest time paddy drenched some weeks back and now worry over the cultivation of winter crops. The unavailability of chemical fertilizers and seeds have added further hassles to them as it is time to sow wheat after paddy harvest.
However, some are still harvesting the paddy planted in the late summer.
Sumer Yadav from Marchwar rural municipality-2 of Rupandehi is now engaged in preparing fields for wheat and legumes. But, he is in distress, as he has not been able to receive adequate fertilizer and seeds. “Government is unable to provide agricultural inputs as it time for winter cultivation. So, we have no option but to depend on neighbouring country, India, to import the chemical fertilizer,” he said, adding that sometime they even brave the hostility meted out by border security.
Yadav wonders why they were facing such trouble. “Is it all because of their agriculture profession?”
Dinesh Lodh from Kotahimai rural municipality-7 shares similar problems. It is his routine to run towards a cooperative and stand in line early in the morning for chemical fertilizers. If he is returned empty-handed, he has to go for Indian market for the purchase.
“If we fail to secure standing in the line at the cooperative gate early in the morning, there is less chance we get the agricultural supply,” he said, adding that agriculture is impossible without fertilizer.
However, Sahul Harijan from Sammarimai rural municipality-7 has different story that he is facing a challenge to manage the paddy as the unseasonal rains drenched it recently.
Most of the paddy crops were destroyed also because there was no proper drain system for water outlet. The plants left from getting drenched in the waterlogged field are being collected for the rice, he shared.
“When do we get freedom from worries,” he wondered.
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12- World Women’s Conference: Kathmandu to host second theoretical seminar
Kathmandu, Nov 24: The second theoretical seminar of the World Women’s Conference is to take place in Kathmandu from November 27 to 29. The 3rd Women’s World Conference held in Tunis in September, 2022 had decided that the second theoretical seminar would be organized in Kathmandu, it is said.
According to Durga Paudel, Asian regional coordinator for the seminar, women from more than 20 countries across four continents are expected to attend the seminar.
She added that the seminar will include theoretical discussions on the impact of rising global imperialism on women, the need for women’s unity for socialist revolution, and building consensus among women against imperialism.
Paudel said that the seminar is being organized in collaboration with six different women’s organizations. At a press conference held today, participating women’s rights activists were univocal that imperialism remains as the root cause of women’s issues, exploitation, and oppression.
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13- Cooperation among three-tier govt stressed for effective federalism
Kathmandu, Nov 24: Cooperation, collaboration and co-existence among the three tiers of government have been emphasized in line with the spirit of the Constitution.
Speaking at a programme organized by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Sunday, Chief Secretary Eaknarayan Aryal said these fundamental aspects of federalism are however overlooked while drafting laws, creating challenges in implementing federalism.
According to him, issues related to the sharing of natural resources—which were expected to be easier to implement during the Constitution drafting process now appear thorny. The failure to fully implement administrative restructuring and natural resource management has witnessed host of challenges.
He added that overlapping powers among the three levels of government have inconvenienced citizens in accessing state services. “The principles have not worked,” Aryal argued. The lack of clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of the different levels of government, he said, goes against the spirit and intent of the Constitution. The Chief Secretary stressed the need for an umbrella act to clearly define matters related to natural resource sharing.
Former lawmaker Khimlal Devkota said that any new law must be formulated without infringing on the exclusive rights of the three levels of government and should properly address the concurrent list. Highlighting Nepal’s longstanding struggle regarding rights and political authority, he proposed scrapping Schedule 9 of the Constitution related to concurrent powers of the federal, provincial, and local governments and redefining those rights to avoid confusion.
Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Phanindra Prasad Gautam, said experts’ feedback is essential to address ambiguities in drafting laws and policies necessary for the Constitution’s implementation.
Former Finance Secretary Shishir Dhungana, attending the event as a thematic expert, proposed endorsing the Federal, Province and Local Level Unbundling Report (Amendment)–2080 BS to address issues while putting constitutional provisions into practice.
Government Secretary Nirmala Adhikari and Joint Secretary Bhishma Bhusal said that concerns were repeatedly raised regarding rights over forests, minerals, and water resources in terms of the exercise of power by three-tier governments.
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14- Construction of industrial village in limbo for seven years
Parbat, Nov 24: An under-construction industrial village at Pang of Kusma municipality under the ‘one local-level, one industrial village’ programme is in limbo for seven years.
The undertaking has hit the snag especially after budget crunch and legal issues. According to Kushma municipality, construction of the industrial village has not gained pace for lack of documentation related to forest area, local levels’ consent and administrative lethargy.
Though construction activities had started after taking consent from Nepane community forest located at ward no 1 in 2076 BS after fulfilling legal process, it failed to make expected progress.
Chairperson of Kushma municipality-1, Khagaraj Poudel, shared that the establishment of industrial facility was launched based on municipality’s priority. But, sheer absence of coordination between Ministry of Forest and Environment and stakeholders pushed the work to a grinding halt.
Stakeholders have demanded the immediate resumption of facility by cutting through obstacles.
Mayor of Kushma municipality, Ram Chandra Joshi, however, mentioned that initiatives were underway to complete the construction of the industrial village, adding that they were prodding the federal and province governments to ensure necessary budget for it.
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16- NPL 2025: Sudurpaschim Royals batting against Karnali Yaks
Kathmandu, Nov 24: In the ongoing second edition of Nepal Premier League (NPL), the second match is being played between Sudurpaschim Royals and Karnali Yaks in the TU International Cricket Ground today.
Karnali Yaks chose fielding after winning the toss. Sudurpaschim playing under Captain Dipendra Singh Airee is aiming third straight win.
Similarly, Karnali Yaks playing under Captain Sompal Kami is yearning for the second victory. Karnali had lost to Chitwan Rhino in the first match, while it defeated Lumbini Lions in the second match played last Saturday.
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17- Biratnagar Kings defeats Janakpur Bolts by nine runs
Kathmandu, Nov 24: Biratnagar Kings has won today’s match against Janakpur Bolts with the help of best bowling of its Captain Sandeep Lamichhane in the ongoing second edition of Nepal Premier League. It is the third consecutive win of Biratnagar Kings in this NPL.
Biratnagar Kings defeated Janakpur Bolts by nine runs in today’s match. Chasing the 136-run victory target posted by Biratnagar Kings, Janakpur Bolts was limited to 126 runs in 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets.
For Janakpur, Loftie Eaton made 41 runs while Lahiru Milantha 23 runs, Sanjay Krishnamurthi 20 runs and Aasif Sheikh 13 runs.
Towards bowling, Captain Lamichhane took four wickets for Biratnagar while Surya Ramang two wickets and Marchant de Lange and Shubham Ranjane one wicket each. With this victory, Biratnagar Kings is on the top position with six points.
Earlier, losing the toss at Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Biratnagar Kings was invited to bat first and made 135 runs at 20 overs losing seven wickets.
For Biratnagar, Shubham Ranjane contributed highest 37 runs in 29 balls while Bashir Ahmad made 36 runs, Lokesh Bam 28 runs, Martin Guptill 13 runs and George Munsey 10 runs.
Towards bowling, Janakpur’s Rupesh Singh and Sangeeth Kure took two wickets each while Aditya Mahata one wicket.
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18- PM Karki congratulates Nepali blind women’s cricket team
Kathmandu, Nov 24: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has congratulated the Nepali blind women’s cricket team for its historic achievement in the 1st Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind-2025 concluded in Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister took to social media to applaud the team for becoming the first runner-up in the tournament and for upholding the pride of Nepal and Nepalis, despite the challenges they face in their daily lives due to their physical conditions.
Nepal was defeated by India by seven wickets in the final match.
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