- Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Kimathanka (Sankhuwasabha), Dec 29: Two persons were held with a huge quantity of pangolin scales, an endangered animal, from the Makalu Barun National Park area in Sankhuwasabha district.
The District Police Office Sankhuwasabha said that Tshiring Bhote, 35, of Ridak village from Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-2 in the district and a woman were nabbed for possessing more than 200 kilograms of pangolin scales and other residual parts.
Identity of the woman held there is not made public by the police.
The arrestees would be brought to the district headquarters at Khandbari by this evening and their status would be made public by organizing a news conference, according to the police.
As per the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (NPWC) Act, anyone involved in the trade of protected species may be slapped with a fine up to Rs 100,000 and a jail term of five to 15 years. Pangolin is included in Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and falls under protected list in Nepal´s National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act.
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02- Local levels pledge to end child marriage in Gulmi
Gulmi, Dec 29: The people’s representatives from all the local levels in Gulmi district have committed to working to end child marriage in the district.
The representatives of the local governments made such commitment during an interaction programme organized here on “10-year strategy of Lumibi Province, its challenges in implementation and potentials, and role of local level’.
On the occasion, the speakers said that stakeholders and the society should work collectively to discourage the child marriage as it is happening in the society without public notice due to social traditions and other reasons.
The interaction was organized to collect recommendations for the drafting of the strategy to end child marriage.
However, the speakers also complained of limited budget allocation to carryout interventions against such mal-practices in the local levels.
On the occasion, Chief of District Coordination Committee Drona Bahadur Khatri stressed for running awareness raising programmes from the ward level and at schools too to end child marriage.
Likewise, Vice Chairperson of Satyawati Rural Municipality Nirmaya Taramu said that such issues including child marriage have been shadowed as public attention has shifted to construction of physical works.
The Social Development Ministry of Lumbini Province is working for such events with support from UNICEF.
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03- Construction of two motorable bridges benefit 4,000 plus households
Tanahun, Dec 29: Construction of two motorable bridges in Tanahun district has directly benefited almost 16,000 people of 4,000 plus households there.
The Infrastructure Development Office in Tanahun said that the bridges were developed over Mygdekhola linking the wards no. 4 and 7 of Myagde Rural Municipality and over Buldikhola at Sera of Vyas Municipality in the district. Both the bridges were completed in the current fiscal year.
The Myagdekhola bridge was built by Mai Construction and Builders Company with the investment of Rs 14.1 million while the construction cost of the Buldhikhola bridge exceeded Rs 31.2 million. The Buldhikhola bridge was constructed by Mai-DS JV Company and was completed before the given deadline.
Constructed with the financial assistance from the Swiss Government, the local residents are elated as they now get good road access to supply their local produces to the market.
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04- Tusker kills man in Jhapa
Baniyani (Jhapa), Dec 29: A man died in an elephant attack last night in Shivasatakshi Municipality, Jhapa.
The District Police Office, Jhapa said that 45-year-old Megh Raj Rai of Dhudhe in the municipality died on the spot in the elephant attack while chasing away the tusker as it demolished the houses there at midnight.
With this, four people lost their lives in elephant attacks in the past five months in Jhapa district.
According to spokesperson of District Police Office Jhapa, Khagendra Rijal, property worth Rs 150,000 was destroyed in the demolition by the elephant.
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05- Preparations on to blacktop Jamune-Pokhara road section
Damauli, Dec 29: Amid criticisms for the delay in project advancement, the project developers are working to blacktop the west section of the Mugling-Pokhara Road Expansion Project from the first week of February 2024.
Currently, the workers there are working to fix the base along the Jamune-Pokhara road section to commence the blacktop starting next month, Project Engineer Narayan Prasad Poudel said. He added that the base work of around 2 kilometres has been completed.
So far, the achievement of the Jamune-Pokhara road section is just 14 per cent.
According to Poudel, 60 Nepali and 50 Chinese engineers and more than 400 other workers are deployed in the section to expedite the construction works.
Width of the road at Dulegaunda bazaar and main market areas will be 46 metres while it will be 18 metre from Jamune to Kumlekhola section and 23 metres wide in rest of the other sections.
Works have been pursued by dividing the stretch of the highway from Pokhara to Mugling into two sections for completing the road expansion works at the earliest. The western section stretches 39 kilometers from the Seti river bridge at Prithvi Chowk in Pokhara to Jamune of Tanahun. The Mugling-Pokhara Road Project with its office in Pokhara looks after this section while the Project’s office set up at Gunadi looks after the 43 kilometers eastern section from Jamune to Aanbukhaireni.
A contract has been signed with the Chinese company, Anhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Co Ltd, China for the construction of the western sector. The project cost is Rs 7 billion 404 million and 600 thousand. The project deadline is 16 August, 2024, which is 42 months since the signing of the contract.
The two-lane road from Pokhara to Mugling is to be expanded into a four-lane road with the concessional loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
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06- 40,000 cannabis plants destroyed
Jaleshwor, Dec 29: The Nepal Police personnel have destroyed as high as 40,000 cannabis plants cultivated illegally at Baheda village of Yekdara Rural Municipality-5 in Mahottari district.
A team of police deployed on Thursday from the district police office destroyed the cannabis plants farmed at the area of almost four bigha of land, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Prakash Malla.
A team of 25 police personnel uprooted the cannabis plants acting on a tip-off, he said.
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07- One killed in Bajura jeep accident
Bajura, Dec 29: A person died on the spot and next one was injured after a jeep fell some 200 metres off the road last night at Maliban area of Gaumul Rural Municipality in Bajura district.
The deceased is Devendra Nath, 38, of Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality-6 in the district.
Police Inspector Kishor Singh Airi said that the jeep (Se 1 Ja 989) heading to Siyadhunga from Ghatmuna fell off the road after the driver lost control over the vehicle.
Police Inspector Airi shared that Madan Rokaya, who is working at the ticket counter of Jaya Malika Bus Service in the district, has sustained injuries.
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Office of Election Officer to be established from Jan. 1
Kathmandu, Dec 29: Office of the Election Officer is to be established in all provinces from coming January 1 for the National Assembly elections scheduled for January 25.
The Election Commission on December 28 had appointed district judges of seven districts as the election officer in accordance with National Assembly Election Act, 2055, to be effective from January 1.
Following the appointment, election officers should establish Office of the Election Officer in the respective provinces, said EC Spokesperson, Shaligram Sharma Paudel.
The EC has appointed District Court Morang judge Durga Prasad Dhungel in Koshi province, District Court Dhanusha judge Narayan Prasad Subedi in Madhes province, District Court Makawanpur judge Mahendra Bahadur Karki in Bagmati province, District Court Kaski judge Keshav Prasad Bastola in Gandaki province, District Court Dang judge Kripasur Karki in Lumbini province, District Court Surkhet judge Bishnu Prasad Aryal in Karnali province and District Court Kailali judge Om Prasad Aryal in Sudurpaschim province.
January 8 is fixed for filing of nomination paper of candidates for the National Assembly election. The tenure of 20 upper house members, including 19 elected ones and one member nominated by the President, is terminating on March 3. The legal provision requires that the election should be held one month before the conclusion of the tenure.
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09- Aaha! Rara Pokhara Gold Cup from Jan 23
Kaski, Dec 29: The 23rd edition of Aaha! Rara Pokhara Gold Cup Football Tournament is going to be organised from coming January 23-February 3.
Sahara Club Pokhara organises the Tournament every year. Club General-Secretary Ramji Adhikari shared that preparation for the tournament has been started after the Club received the schedule from All Nepal Football Association this year.
The tournament would be organised at Pokhara stadium. According to the Club, foreign teams, ‘A’ division clubs, mofussil teams and the organiser team are competing in the tournament organised every year under the slogan ‘let’s collaborate for Sports development, establish Pokhara as the city of sports tourism’.
The club was established in 2055 BS. Aaha! Rara Gold Cup is one of the oldest tournaments of the country. Aaha Rara Noodles, the production of Himshree Foods Pvt Ltd, is the main sponsor of the tournament since its first edition.
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10- Minister Gurung emphasizes bold and impartial investigation into
corruption
Waling (Syangja), Dec 29: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Dhanraj Gurung, pressed for bold and impartial investigation into cases of corruption.
At a press conference organized by Nepal Press Union, Syangja today, Minister Gurung called for stringent investigation into corruption cases, stating that the involvement of influential people in such cases has led to lax investigation.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the investigation process, Gurung said, “When investigation into corruption and gold smuggling among others begins, the names of influential people are attached which impedes the investigation in the process.”He said that such a tendency should be ended and the culprits should be brought to justice.
On a different note, the Minister said that the Prime Minister could consider reshuffling the Cabinet in the consensus of the coalition partners. “The reshuffling could also be considered through evaluation of the ministers’ performance and at the approval of the party,” the Minister said.
He said, “Those who could work in tandem and in spirit of the PM could be accommodated in his cabinet. Those who can’t deliver well could be sent off.
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11- Karnali Chisapani hydropower project: estimated cost Rs 1.147
trillion
Kathmandu, Dec 29: A process for the study of the Karnali Chisapani Hydropower Project, the largest hydropower project of South Asia, has been forwarded. As per the current price, the estimated cost of the project is Rs 1.147 trillion.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) forwarded the study process of the 10,800-MW project with its own resources.
A high-level team comprising Minister for Energy, Water Resources and irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Energy Secretary Sushil Chandra Tiwari, Director General of Department of Irrigation, Churna Bahadur Oli and NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising carried out onsite visit of the project site as well as the project-affected site on December 25 and 26.
The NEA has forwarded study process of Karnali Chisapani Project in order to complete it within next three years. Locals are very excited after the government forwarded the study process, giving the project special importance.
The talk of construction of this project has enthused the locals in the hope that it will continue the development the construction of the Karnali Chisapani Bridge brought in west Nepal.
Khadga BK, Chairperson of Panchapuri rural municipality, Surkhet, said they would provide meaningful cooperation to make the project successful. “We are excited to know about the news that such a mega project is being constructed in our area. We are exhilarated. We urge the federal government to move ahead the process by addressing the justified demands of the locals,” he added.
The reservoir of the proposed project would be constructed nearly two kilometres above the Karnali Chisapani bridge that connects Bardiya and Kailali districts. The Karnali River would be dammed by constructing a 270 metres tall dam. Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)’s current study stated that it would be a ‘rock fill dam’. The reservoir would be 167 kilometres long – 100 kilometres on the Karnali river, 45 kilometres on the Bheri river, 16 kilometres on the Seti river, six kilometres on the Thuligad river, according to NEA senior engineer Nasib Man Pradhan who was involved in the study.
The project will affect the settlements and structures located near the river in Bardiya, Kailali, Surkhet, Achham and Doti districts. As per a study conducted in 1989, the project will affect a total 11,570 hectares area and 54,600 locals. NEA said the affected area would be clearly identified by studying the latest situation.
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12- Minister Jwala’s vehicle set ablaze, five arrested
Kathmandu, Dec 29: The vehicle of Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, has been set on fire today.
A group of youths set ablaze the vehicle of Minister Jwala in fit of anger for not allowed to fill the application form of the Employment Permit System (EPS) today, said Spokesperson of Nepal Police, DIG Kuber Kadayat.
DIG Kadayat confirmed, “The agitating youths set the vehicle on fire. We have arrested five of them. The Minister has been rescued and sent to the Singha Durbar safely.”
A group of youths has been gathering and protesting in front of the EPS office at Gwarko, Lalitpur from today morning, he said.
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13- Environment created to achieve 6 per cent economic growth rate:
Minister Mahat
Kathmandu, Dec 29: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said an environment has been created to achieve six per cent economic growth rate, as the country’s economy has started returning to its form gradually.
Inaugurating the 20th annual general meeting of Bhrikutimandap based Kathmandu Valley Public Library Society today, Minister Mahat mentioned that overall situation of country’s economy is satisfactory as arrival of tourists, remittance, share price, revenue and economic activities are increasing.
He clarified that anomalies of budget have been controlled by developing budget allocation system based on guarantee of resources in multi-year projects as well as decrease in interest rate of banks has given a positive sign.
The Finance Minister shared that an improvement was made in budget system by ending the trend of extra expenses than stipulated in the budget Red Book. Society president Dr Narayan Khadka underscored on the need of the State to give priority to library as it is the centre of knowledge and information as well as the glory of the change, civilization and history of the nation.
According to him, the government has cut down on the budget for the Society, there is no land plot for the library building and the Social Welfare Council has been increasing the rent of the library block like that for the commercial shops.
Society leading persons Mahesh Agrawal and Tirtha Raj Onta were felicitated on the occasion.The Library was registered with the Kathmandu District Administration Office on September 25, 2003. More than 30,000 visitors annually come to the library. The number of annual members is 2,400.
The Society started running the library from 2005. The library has received 37,614 books as donation while 4,351 books have been purchased, stated the Society.
Balmeeki Vidyapeeth to give land to Library
On the occasion, Chief of Balmeeki Vidyapeeth , Prof Dr Bhagawat Dhakal proposed that land plot can be allotted to the Society for constructing a building of the Society for jointly running the Library at the Vidyapeeth’s premises.
He broached the idea of the Vidyapeeth and the Society together operating the Library as the former was facing shortage of budget for constructing its own library block and suggested the latter to seek funds for constructing the library building.
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14- Federal government should entrust power to provinces: CM Yadav
Hetauda, Dec 29: Chief Minister of Madhes Province, Saroj Kumar Yadav, has said the federal government should entrust powers to each province as soon as possible to make federalism sustainable and strong.
At a programme organised at Hetauda of Makawanpur, Chief Minister Yadav urged the federal government to distribute revenue in provinces and local levels in justifiable manner.
He further said a meeting of Chief Ministers of all seven provinces organised at Hetauda of Makawanpur today itself would submit a report along with different suggestion to the federal government.
The Chief Minister laid emphasis that the three-tier government should honestly involve to make the people aware of federalism and republic.
Similarly, Chairperson of Municipal Association of Nepal, Bhim Prasad Dhungana, and Chairperson of National Federation of Rural Municipalities, Laxmi Devi Pandey, said the existing laws should be revised to make people’s representatives to perform their responsibilities in local levels as per the sentiments of federalism and constitution.
They mentioned that the federalism should move ahead by distributing budget equally to province and local government without neglecting local levels.
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15- UML is a party with vision: party Chair Oli
Chitwan, Dec 29: CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli has said the UML has the onus of defending the nation’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and nationality, thereby raising high the national prestige.
Addressing a party workers’ meeting organised by CPN (UML) Chitwan at Kalika Municipality today, he said the UML has demonstrated that it can work as it is a party with a clear vision.
As he said, the expansion of the Madan Bhandari highway and widening of the East-West highway had been started and the railway extended up to Janakpur by initiating it when the UML was leading the government.
“A separate energy had been transmitted among the people when the UML was in the government. We had made efforts to bring a wave of development,” the UML Chair and former Prime Minister said, adding that the party’s campaign is for bringing change in Nepal and to make the country prosperous.
He asserted that the campaign is also for making the people happy and the party is ready for a movement for addressing the public’s problems.Party Chair Oli also instructed the party cadres to move ahead with self-confidence. He advised the party leaders and cadres to not discriminate among the new and old faces in the party.
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16- Balkumari demonstration: Two killed
Kathmandu, Dec 29: Two persons, who were injured in a clash with police personnel in course of demonstration at Balkumari of Lalitpur today, died.
Spokesperson of the Nepal Police, Deputy Inspector General Kuber Kadayat, confirmed the death of two persons. The deceased have been identified as
Birendra Shah, 22, of Doti and Sujan Rawat, 23, of Dailekh. Both of them died in course of treatment, he added.
Injured Rawat died while undergoing treatment at KIST Hospital while Shah breathed his last at Patan Hospital. Youths demonstrated today, citing they were barred from appearing in the EPS examination.
Earlier, the protestors had set the vehicle of Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, on fire. A clash took place between protestors and police personnel following the incident. Police had fired blank shots and tear gas shells to bring the situation under control.
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17- CM Karki rules out possibility of mid-term election in Koshi Province
Manahari (Makawanpur), Dec 29 : Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Kedar Karki, said that there was no possibility of holding mid-term election in his province.
At a press meet in Hetauda of Makawanpur district today, CM Karki said that the current all-party government will continue to function in his province and assured of taking forward the public service delivery and developmental endeavors.
Pledging to give completion to the incumbent Koshi Province’s government soon in the consensus of political parties in the province, the CM vowed to lead the implementation of the federalism. He said that his Province was playing a strong role in enforcing the federalism.
On a different note, he accused that federal government and parliamentarians were focusing on matters other than their responsibilities for publicity. He observed, “Although the federal government ought to endorse the federalism that played an important role in bringing about positive socio-economic transformation in the lives of general public, it failed to do so and thus there was a mob of people who were trying to threaten the current governance system.”
He pointed out the need for the provincial government to pile up pressure on the federal government and House of Representatives to take away the rights enshrined by the constitution to the provincial government. According to him, discussions on the same were underway in Hetauda for the same.
When it comes to enforcing federalism, the CM expressed his confidence that the discussion would proceed in a different way given the expansion of the right of various levels of government and will prod the federal government for decentralization of power among the three-tier of government.
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18- Economy is growing stronger, claims PM Dahal
Dolakha, Dec 29 : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the economy is growing stronger.
Inaugurating the Trade and Tourism Festival organised by Dolakha Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, PM viewed that the economy at present is not weak as it was when he took the reins of the government. Improvement has been witnessed in the economy recently, he added.
“Remittances and revenue have increased lately. Foreign currency reserves have also gone up. Enthusiasm is seen in the country with the improvement in the economy,” PM Dahal reiterated. Stating that the economy is on an improving trajectory during his term in office, he pledged to work with a different working style now on.
Expressing the belief that the Festival will contribute to boosting production and tourism in Dolakha, the Head of the Government viewed that the district’s economic condition was better than what it was in the previous year.
He shared on the occasion that the government has incorporated in its long-term plan the construction of highway from China to India via Dolakha. PM Dahal added that the government would extend support for building ‘film city’ in Dolakha. Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Chandra Prasad Dhakal said numbers of tourists have increased in the country, the remittance inflow has improved and the foreign currency reserves also grown at present, urging the government to think seriously for making the economy vibrant.
He said the government should join hands with the private sector for improving the economy. Former Minister Parbat Gurung stressed on maintaining good governance by arresting corruption for improving the economy.
Former Minister Jip Chhiring Lama said Dolakha has good potentials in hydroelectricity generation which can contribute to boosting the national economy. The government should invest in hydropower development, he said. Bagmati Province government former minister Bishal Khadka demanded for operating airport in Jiri and urged the government’s support for this.
The Festival that commenced today will run till January 7. A variety of cultural tableaus were performed on the occasion.
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19- FNCCI calls for high-level Commission for resolving dedicated feeder, trunk line dispute
Kathmandu, Dec 29 : FNCCI President Chandra Prasad Dhakal urged the government to form a high-level commission to immediately address the dispute surrounding dedicated power feeders and trunk lines provided to the industries.
It may be noted that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had recently disconnected dedicated electricity lines (named dedicated feed and trunk lines) of some industries citing unpaid dues.
In the Dolakha Festival’s inaugural in Charikot, Dolakha today, President Dhakal said that this dispute would further diminish the morale of the entrepreneurs and would further deteriorate the investment climate in the country.
FNCCI, issuing a press statement here today, Dhakal viewed that formation of a high-level commission would address the current issue once for and all. He also warned the dispute between the Nepal Electricity Authority and entrepreneurs regarding this would create more problems to the country’s economy.
Stating that signs of reforms were seen in the national economy, he urged the government to bring forth programmes that would boost everyone’s confidence, the statement said.
He also extended gratitude towards the government for holding all-parties and all-side discussions to address the private sectors’ concerns and issues.
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20- Three-member probe committee formed to probe into Balkumari incident
Kathmandu, Dec 29 : The Home Ministry has formed a three-member committee to investigate into the Balkumari incident that took place today.
The probe committee is led by Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, Lalmani Acharya, where Assistant Chief District Officer of Lalitpur, Amar Deep Sunuwar, and Deputy Director of Investigation at the National Investigation Department, Basu Sigdel are the members.
The probe committee has been asked to submit the report within seven days after carrying out investigation into the incident. A press release issued today by the Home Ministry expressed grief over the vandalism, arson, and the physical damage and human causalities occurred in Balkumari today on the issue of EPS examination form.
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Water supplies from Melamchi by third week of January: Minister Yadav
Sindhupalchowk, Dec 29: Minister for Water Supplies, Mahendra Ray Yadav, has assured that water supplies from the Melamchi River to Kathmandu will be restored by the third week of January 2024.
The Minister on Friday visited Ambathan to oversee the Melamchi Water Supply Project’s source. As he said on the occasion, ongoing efforts to repair the project are progressing well, and the people of the Kathmandu Valley will have access to water in less than a month.
Project’s senior divisional engineer Padam Bahadur Kunwar said repair works for the Project was speedy, aiming to restore the water supply chain within the specified timeframe.
The government aims to distribute 170 million litres of water daily to the Kathmandu Valley from the Melamchi River based in Sindhupalchowk district.
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22- Anarchy unacceptable: Minister Sharma
Kathmandu, Dec 29: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has said the government is committed to establishing rule of law, so anarchy is unacceptable.
At a programme organized to unveil the decisions of Council of Ministers on Friday, the Minister said it is the responsibility of the government to curb anarchy, for which government is effortful.
Commenting on the Balkumari accident in which the vehicle of Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, was torched and ended up with two casualties, the Minister said, “Whatever happened is regrettable. While everyone has the right to express dissatisfaction over the government peacefully, engaging in violent activities is not warranted,” the Minister said.
Birendra Shah, 22, of Doti and Sujan Rawat, 23, of Dailekh who were injured in a police clash following a demonstration later died during the treatment. Youths demonstrated at Balkumari, citing they were barred from appearing in the EPS examination.
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23- Minister Sharma discontent with ministry performance
Kathmandu, Dec 29: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry and its subordinate bodies over their performance.
During a half-yearly review meeting of the current fiscal year at ministry Friday, Minister Sharma said the ministry and the bodies under it had poor performance. The achievement was slow off the mark.
Although the development problems solution meeting and review meetings record commitment for reform with encouraged employees, the achievements are elusive, she reminded, claiming, “It is not that there were no activities, but we’re not up to the mark. We failed to meet expectation. It is time to consider how we can ensure smooth public service delivery with the enforcement of plan we prepared.”
The Minister also urged the chiefs of the related bodies to come up with reform plans. Another meeting must be the meeting of achievement and progress, she directed. Sharma further asserted that the underperformance reflects unaccountability on the part of the officials in the ministry and the bodies under it.
The meeting reviewed 10 points under policy and programmes, 13 points under budget, 42 activities under annual work plan, 93 milestone and 17 indictors of achievements. Till Mangsir end, there was only 26 percent timely execution of plan, while 54 percent works were under implementation and no initiative began for 19 percent of planned activities.
There is little progress on formulation of data protection policy, purchase of national cyber drill, and restructuring of printing department, security printing centre, department of IT, national IT centre etc.
Similarly, the ministry shared that it failed to initiate works on issuance of tender for study on global trust on digital signature, and purchase software and hardware for establishment of cyber security centre. Annual plan on implementation of Digital Nepal Framework also saw little progress.
Ministry secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut directed all concerned to work responsibly to achieve annual targets.
Activities should be forwarded in a planned manner where economic and administrative indicators are essential to measure progress. Professional competence should be demonstrated with effective performance, he added.
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24- NC aggrieved over Balkumari incident
Kathmandu, Dec 29: The Nepali Congress (NC) has expressed sorrow over the casualties in course of a demonstration held in front of the EPS Office at Balkumari, Lalitpur on Friday.
During the demonstration, a minister’s vehicle was torched and two killed in police interventions.
Issuing a press statement, NC Publicity Department Chief, Min Bahadur Bishwakarma, demanded investigation to find out facts surrounding the incident, and ensure free treatment of those injured in the incident. The government ruling partner has urged the government to be serious towards the concerns of demonstrators.
Urging each citizen to resort to peaceful and violence-free manners while raising voices for rights, the party advised the security and relevant bodies for cautious use of force.
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25- Govt initiates debate on operating international airports on PPP model
Kathmandu, De 29: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, has said the government had started a discussion on exploring the possibility for adopting a public-private partnership (PPP) model in the operations of international airports.
As the Minister shared, the discussions include operations of Tribhuvan International Airport and recently constructed Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport and the Pokhara International Airport.
He shared this information during a meeting of the Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee under the National Assembly at Singha Durbar on Friday.
Likewise, he apprised the meeting that efforts are underway to make the operations of commercial flights from international airports effectively.
Newly built international airports have not been properly utilized and 22 domestic airports had already turned into pasture lands, according to him.
TIA will be unable to resist the traffic flows after some years despite its extension to its full capacity and the government sees the need of accelerating the construction of Nijgadh airport, the Minister argued.
Similarly, lawmakers Nar Bahadur Bista, Gomadevi Timilsina and Narapati Luhar demanded the government that it systematized the Narayanhiti Durbar Museum and objects of archeological importance.
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26- SC scraps public holiday on ‘people’s war day’
Kathmandu, Dec 29: The Supreme Court has ordered to revoke the government decision to give a public holiday on ‘people’s war day’ which is observed on Fagun 1.
The decision to invalidate this public holiday was prompted by a writ petition filed by advocate Gyanendra Raj Aran, challenging the Council of Ministers’ decision to declare Fagun 1 as a public holiday. The division bench, consisting of Anand Mohan Bhattarai and Mahesh Sharma Poudel, quashed the decision through a certiorari order.
“Peace process and the transitional justice issues have not reached to a conclusion and a relevant bill is under consideration in the House. The decision to announce a public holiday without discussing un the sovereign parliament is hereby nullified through a certiorari order as per the preamble of the Constitution,” it is said.
The Cabinet meeting on 12 February, 2023 chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ had decided to observe the ‘people’s war day’ on Fagun 1 and give a holiday.
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27- Fair to foster social comity begins in Lalitpur
Lalitpur, Dec 29: A three-day festival aiming to foster social goodwill kicked off at Lalitpur metropolis-19 on Friday. The event hosted by the local level aims to promote social comity and tourism industry, it is said.
Lalitpur metropolis mayor Chiribabu Maharjan inaugurated the fair.
Exhibitions of wooden crafts that are used for making a chariot during the festival of Rato Machchhindranath Jatra, idols of historical figures like king Narendra Dev, Bandhudutta Acharya and Lalit Jyapu who had roles in bringing Rato Machchhindranath to the Kathmandu Valley are parts of the festival. Likewise, it will feature a ‘Jyapu’ Museum at Agnishal.
The event will focus on the promotion of local products, highlighting objects of historical importance, local culture and arts, it is said.
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Six citizenship cards cancelled on ground of fake details
Kathmandu, Dec 29: The government has cancelled six Nepali citizenship certificates obtained from the District Administration Office, Siraha by submitting fake details.
Making public the decisions of Council of Ministers held on December 21 and 28 on Friday, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma shared that they were removed from Nepali citizens.
The meeting has formed a joint technical task force under coordination of a joint secretary of the MOCIT on behalf of Nepal for reviewing and amending the Nepal-China Trade and Payment Agreement, 1981.
As shared the cabinet has given in-principle approval to draft a bill related to the formation, operation and conditions of services of the Nepal Special Service.
Minister Sharma informed that the cabinet decided to define indigenous minority (except Dalits) as minorities with less than 0.5 percent of the total population of the National Consensus, 2078 BS for the purpose of Clause 2(b) of the National Assembly Member Election Act, 2075 BS.
The government has decided to appoint Ramkrishna Adhiakri of Suryagadhi rural municipality of Nuwakot as a management, economic and printing advisor and Sushila Chaudhary of Ghorahi sub-metropolis-17, Dang as a legal advisor to the Gorkhapatra Corporation for two years.
The government has approved the directive on the use of social media by government office, 2080; national policy on the people with disabilities, 2079 BS; children policy, 2079, national gender equality policy, 2077 implementation action plan; work procedure on providing land for physical infrastructure development in conserved area, 2080 and national health crisis management coordination directive, 2080.
The meeting decided to entrust the management responsibility of the Annapurna Conservation Area and Manaslu Conservation Area to the National Trust for Nature Conservation.
The cabinet has decided to designate Nepali Ambassador to Malaysia, Dilliraj Poudel, also as a non-resident ambassador to the Philippines and promote two brigadier generals to the rank of major general and nine colonels to brigadier generals of the Nepal Army.
The government also decided to use a total of 40.19 hectares of land in the national forest of Makawanpur and Bara in compliance with the conditions involved for the construction of the road section of the Kathmandu-Tarai-Madhes Expressway Road Project and cut 4,345 trees of the forest.
The meeting also approved the use of 10.13 hectares of land in the national forest area of Rasuwa for 24 years and removal of 1,214 trees in the forest area for the construction of the tower and right of way of the transmission line project of Sanjen Khola Hydropower Project.
The government has nominated Srijana (Malla) Rana, who has made special contributions to the tourism and environment sector, and Lokbhakta Shamsher JB Rana as members of the Dream Garden Development Committee.
The meeting has fixed the public holiday and office time to be given in 2081 BS. Minister Sharma informed that the holidays have been extended on the martyrs’ day and Ram Navami.
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29- 73 arrested in Balkumari incident; seven, including security personnel injured
Ratriya Samacahr Samiti (RSS)
Kathmandu, Dec 29: Police arrested 73 persons in an incident occurred in Balkumari, Lalitpur today.
Two persons injured in the incident breathed their last. Seven persons sustained injuries in the incident.
According to local administration, four Armed Police personnel and three demonstrators were injured.
Chief District Officer of Lalitpur, Rudra Prasad Pandit said, “As many as 73 persons, including a woman have been so far arrested in the incident. Further investigation into the incident is undergoing”.
One of the two deceased shot and another had a scar on his chest so the real cause behind the death will be established after post-mortem, he said.
Birendra Shah of Doti and Sujan Rawat of Dailekh died in the incident. Youths had staged demonstration today arguably for not allowing them to participate in the examination of Employment Permit System (EPS) for Korean employment.
During the protest, agitators had set fire on a vehicle of Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala.
In order to take the situation under control, police had opened a few rounds of tear gas shells and fired in the air.
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30- PM drawn attention on ‘dedicated’ and ‘trunk line’ row
Kathmandu, Dec 29: The industrialists and businesspersons have drawn the Prime Minister’s attention on the ‘dedicated’ and ‘trunk line’ row.
The industrialists including Confederation of Nepalese Industry (CNI) met PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal and requested him to take initiatives to resolve the problem.
A delegation led by CNI’s Chairman Rajesh Kumar Agrawal held discussion with PM Dahal and urged him to resolve the problems as per legal provision.
Lately, the industrialists have been irate over government’s direction as per which Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) cut off power supply to the industries that failed to clear tariff.
Agrawal however argued the industrialists were paying regularly to the NEA as per invoice, and enjoying the incentives provided by NEA for timely payment in line with invoice. He also demanded government that it made public meter details of the industries which are said to have run via dedicated feeder and trunk line during load shedding.
In response, PM Dahal stressed seeking solution in a positive manner, according to a press statement released by CNI.
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