- Thursday, 19 December 2024
Kathmandu, Jan 29 : A probe committee formed to carry out study regarding the sale and purchase of shares of Ncell, the telecommunication service provider company of private sector, has submitted its report to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at Singha Durbar on Monday.
Committee Coordinator, Tanka Mani Sharma Dangal submitted the report in presence of Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma. The government on last December 7 had formed the probe committee under coordination of former Auditor General Sharma to investigate into the issues of compliance with existing laws regarding the decision of Ncell share sale and purchase, revenue and possible impacts in foreign investment.
Secretary of the government of Nepal, Phanindra Gautam, Joint-Secretary of the Finance Ministry, Ritesh Kumar Shakya, Joint-Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Baburam Bhandari, and President of ICAN, Sujan Kumar Kafle, were the committee members.
Although one-month timeline was given to the probe committee to submit the report, the deadline was extended after the committee failed to complete the task within deadline.
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Nepal International Tourism Fair to be held
Kathmandu, Jan 29: The Nepal International Tourism Fair is going to be held with the aim of publicizing the tourist destinations of Nepal at the international level.
The fair is going to be organized on coming May 31 to June 1 to promote the tourism sector of Nepal globally, said Bishnu Pandey of Summit Event and Market Limited, the organizer of the fair.
To make the fair a success, the organizers held a discussion with the presidents and representatives of various organizations related to tourism in the capital on Sunday.
On the occasion, Vice President of Nepal Tourism Board, Chandra Prasad Rijal, expressed his belief that the fair will help promote Nepal’s tourism sector at the international level.
The fair will have booths representing all the seven provinces of Nepal as well as booths representing foreign countries. There will be more than 125 booths in the fair to be held at Bhrikutimandap exhibition centre, according to the organizers. Stalls from neighbouring India and China as well as from the Maldives, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Thailand will be included in the fair.
More than two hundred foreign tourism companies from different countries will participate in the fair.
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Nilgiri II hydropower project completed
Kathmandu, Jan 29: The construction of Nilgiri Khola II Cascade hydropower project with a capacity of 71 MW has been completed in Narchang, Annapurna rural municipality-4 of Myagdi.
It is the largest hydropower project constructed in Myagdi so far. The test of power generation will be done by pouring water into the tunnel from today, said Upendraraj Gautam, the representative of Nilgiri Khola Hydropower Company Limited, the promoter company of the project. A 4,275 meter long tunnel has been constructed from Chotepa to the power house in Dovilna.
Meanwhile, the construction of Humkhola Dam and Chotepa Power House of Nilgiri I has reached its final stage. The installation of the equipment has started after the construction of the building of the power house. About 80 percent of the physical progress of the Niligiri first has been accomplished.
Both the projects estimated to cost Rs 13 billion are run-of-river projects. The electricity generated from Niligiri project is connected to the central grid through the 220 KV Dana sub-station. A transmission line of 220 KV capacity of 7.4 km distance connecting Dana substation through Chotepa-Dobilna has been constructed.
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PM Cup Cricket: Sudurpaschim to meet NAC and Gandaki faces NPC
Kathmandu, Jan 29: Two matches are being played today under the Prime Minister’s Cup National One-day Cricket Tournament.
The match between Sudurpaschim Province and Tribhuvan Army Club will be played at Tribhuvan University (TU) cricket ground in Kirtipur. Likewise, the match between Gandaki Province and Nepal Police Club will be held at Mulpani Cricket Ground in Kathmandu.
A total of 10 teams are competing in the tournament. Sudurpaschim Province is in the fifth position in the points table, with eight points in six games played so far. Similarly, NAC is in the fourth position with 10 points.
Gandaki province is in the eighth place while Nepal Police Club leads the points table with 12 points in 6 matches played so far.
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Possibility of Snowfall today
Kathmandu, Jan 29: The weather this morning is cloudy in the hilly areas while clear in the rest of the area of the country. This is due to partial effect of westerly winds in Nepal.
Meanwhile, most of the Tarai region of the country is affected by fog, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Weather Forecasting Division. The weather will remain partly cloudy to mostly clear in the hilly areas of the country this afternoon. However, there is possibility of light snowfall in some places of high hills and mountain areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali provinces.
Later tonight, the weather will be partly cloudy in hilly areas and mainly clear in the rest of the areas.
Daily life, health, transportation and air services may be affected as most of the places in the Tarai will be covered by fog today, says the Department.
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Couple establish fund to improve quality of education
Panchthar, Jan 29: A couple of a school including a former and present Principal in Panchthar has established a fund for ensuring English medium classes in the school.
Yegendra Bahadur Khadka, the former principal of Khalde Secondary School in Kummayak Rural Municipality-1, Khalde, and his wife and current principal of the same school, Gita Khadka, have established a revolving fund of Rs 250,000.
As a result, the school is currently providing classes in English medium up to Grade three. In memory of their parents, they have named the fund ‘Khadga Padma Khadka Memorial Fund’.
Some parents enroll their children in English medium schools from Grade four onwards and to prevent it the fund has been established, said former Principal Khadka.
Yegendra Bahadur, who has been in the teaching profession for almost 37 years, got compulsory retirement eight months ago. Since then, his wife Geeta Khadka has been handling the responsibility as the principal of the school. The interest from the Fund will be spent on the expansion of English medium teaching and improvement of quality of education. Their goal is to collect five hundred rupees in the Fund.
Chairperson of the school management committee, Tanka Bahadur Poudel, says that since the quality of education could not be improved due to lack of resources other than those provided by the government, parents and administrators were requested to invest more in the school. Poudel has also been supporting the school by establishing a Fund of Rs 151,000. Another parent, Basant Chamling, has also established a fund Rs 108,000.
There are 12 permanent, relief, volunteer teachers and one teacher hired with private sources working in the school.
Established in 2018 BS, currently 142 students are studying in the school.
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‘Monlam’ worship organised in Lumbini
Lumbini, Jan 29: The Mahaguru Bhumchhok and Pranidhan Monlam Worship organised at Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha, has concluded. The worship held in front of the Mayadevi Temple and featuring recitation of 100,000 incantations was organised, wishing for world peace.
Vice-chair of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) Dr Lharkyal Lama (Khenpo Chhime) said besides world peace, the worship was solemnized wishing for the wellbeing of nature and the living beings.
He said the Bhumchhok and Monlam rituals were conducted in the presence of Rinpochhe, the Lama priests, bhikkhus and anis (Buddhist monks and nuns) this time to promote religious activities in Lumbini.
Together with the LDT Vice-chair, the first Khando Chhiring Rimpochhe, Chhyogni Rinpochhe, Tungo Karma Sangmbo Rinpocche participated in the Monlam worship organised by Mahaguru World Peace.
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PM Dahal presses for developing country as hub for higher education
Kathmandu, Jan 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has underlined the need of developing Nepal as a hub for higher education.In his address to the ninth Senate of the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences here today, the Prime Minister said he is clear that Nepal should be established as a hub for higher studies.
On the occasion, the PM said he is happy to hear that Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) is welcoming students from outside the country.
He also expressed his hope that the Academy will gain new height ahead and it is rendering direct health services to the citizens of geographically backward community in the Karnali and Far Western provinces. “In addition to this, it has contributed to the production of skilled health workforce.”
“The KAHS is significantly working with a full sense of responsibility and preparedness in each health crises either it was COVID-19 crisis, or during earthquake,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister, it is the responsibility of KAHS to further strengthen quality of its services, making it wider accessible. The graduates of KAHS should be additionally competitive and skilled who could serve the nation with high sense of integrity.
Stating that the Academy had significantly made great strides in the recent years, PM Dahal expressed his confidence that the Academy would take serious initiatives for innovation-based studies, research and invention.
Karnali should take special initiatives for medicine production
Addressing the Senate of the Academy, PM Dahal suggested that the Academy should take special initiatives in medicine production by optimally utilizing the natural resources and heritages.
He also directed the Academy to undertake necessary homework for medicine production. Lauding the Academy for delivering well in spite of resources constraints, the PM pledged his support to the plan to tap the tremendous potentials of Karnali in coming days.
“There are problems such as inconvenience of roads, lack of skilled doctors and technicians which have created challenges in production of skilled human resources and service delivery. Appropriate initiatives will be taken by the government to address it in coming days,” the Head of the Government said.
Stating that he was aware about the concerns and demands of the doctors, technicians and staffs at the Academy, PM Dahal assured, “I assure you that your demands will be addressed gradually.”
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Ambassador Bhandari pays courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Minister of Bangladesh
Kathmandu, Jan 29: Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Dr Hasan Mahmud at the latter’s office on Sunday.
On the occasion, Ambassador Bhandari congratulated Dr Mahmud on his appointment and handed over the congratulatory message addressed to him by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Narayan Prakash Saud.
Referring also to the congratulatory letter sent on 8 January 2024 by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the latter’s re-election, Ambassador Bhandari conveyed the commitment of the Government of Nepal to continue working together with the leadership of Bangladesh for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples.
During the meeting, views were exchanged on ways to further strengthen Nepal-Bangladesh relations with economic cooperation at the centre.
Foreign Minister Dr Mahmud recalled his ‘official visits’ to Nepal and expressed satisfaction over the state of excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. He further highlighted the need to utilize the potential existing in the fields of trade, tourism, energy, climate change, and people-to-people contacts. “We must work together and expedite the negotiations to realize power trade between our countries at the earliest,” he said.
Ambassador Bhandari shared with the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister the progress made under different bilateral mechanisms including the Foreign Office Consultations, Joint Steering Committee on Energy, and Commerce Secretary-Level Meeting, among others. He shed light on the increasing momentum of bilateral engagements and underlined the importance of making concrete advances in sectors such as trade, energy, connectivity, education, and tourism.
Senior Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh were also present on the occasion. Ambassador Bhandari was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Ms Lalita Silwal and Second Secretary Ms Yojana Bamjan during the call on.
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Karnali’s first and only big biogas plant produces energy and organic fertilizer
Karnali, June 29: A biogas plant has been set up in Birendranagar of Surkhet district to produce clean energy and organic fertilizer from biodegradable waste.
The KP Commercial Pvt Ltd is the first and the only industry related to environmental sanitation and hygiene in the Karnali Province. Krishna Prasad Dhakal, a local entrepreneur from Surkhet, established the biogas plant at an investment of Rs 140 million. The biogas plant of 3,000 cubic metres capacity can process 30 tonnes of wastages at its full capacity.
At present, some 9 tonnes of organize nature, 15,000 litre liquid manure and 720 kg compressed natural gas (CNG) are being produced by the biogas plant for which the federal government and provincial government provided Rs 50 million and Rs 17.2 million respectively.
The usage of biogas plant which is based on German technology has contributed in environment protection and minimization of impact of climate change and job creation thereby aiding in obtaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said proprietor Dhakal.
He, however, lamented that the organic fertilizers and liquid fertilizers produced from the biogas are accumulated in big quantity in lack of proper market.
Much to the dismay, the fertilizers also do not fetch handsome price either, bemoaned Dhakal. Organic fertilizer is being sold at Rs 30 per kg while the liquid fertilizer is being sold at Rs 10 or Rs 12 per litre.
He himself has not used LPG gas cylinders for cooking for so long since he uses biogas for the same purpose. According to him, he has set up biogas plant in over 4,000 houses so far.
The biogas enterprise he is running has generated jobs for 17 people, said Dhakal who studied about biogas in Thailand, Cambodia, Germany and India among others.He claimed that his biogas enterprise has been contributing to the Karnali Province’s government campaign to build organic Karnali Province.
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This year’s ‘democratic fighter award’ to Neupane
Kathmandu, Jan 29: This year’s ‘democratic fighter award, 2080 BS’ has been decided to confer on Bhaktapur’s former lawmaker and Nepali Congress former district president Lekhnath Neupane.
The award will be presented to Neupane on coming February 8 amidst a special ceremony at the Rastrapati Bhawan, Shital Niwas, according to Nim Kumari Rana Foundation’s Chair Kabir Rana.
Likewise, this year’s ‘Min Kumari National Journalism Award’ is to be presented to Deshantar Weekly’s founding editor and senior journalist Kishore Nepal. Similarly, ‘National Sports Award’ is to be given to former national boxer Prakash Thapa. The award carries a purse of Rs 51,001 each.
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Long wait for resumption of iron ore mine in Parbat
Parbat, Jan 29: The long closure of the iron ore mine in Mahashila rural municipality-6, Parbat, has left the local residents disappointed.
The mine has been inoperative since the year 2007 BS, and locals express dissatisfaction with the apparent lack of concern from relevant authorities regarding the reopening of the mine. Despite a three-year effort by a squad from the Department of Mines and Geology in Lainchaur to excavate the mine, there has been no significant progress reported so far.
During their study, the team of geologists used electrical resistivity technology and discovered a substantial presence of iron ore in various locations—some on the surface and some beneath the earth. The ore mine spans an area of two kilometers.
Local youth, Jeevan Bikram Uchchai, said that there seems to be a lack of priority for further exploration of the mine. The Department and Nepal Parbat Ore Mine Industry on 23 December, 2010 explored ways to resuming the mine’s operation. The mine is situated 40 kilometers away from the district headquarters Kushma Bazar.
The rural municipality has shown its interest in operating the mine lately. Locals share that the implements made from the iron extracted from this mine 73 years ago could be bought and seen in use even until 1984.
According to the elders, unlike the iron ore mined in other places the iron ore found here does not need to be refined. The ore extracted from the mine can be directly melted to manufacture the different tools and ware. Prem Bahadur Sunar, a local, said the extraction was stopped at the mine later for lack of coal supply.
The home-made implements manufactured using the iron extracted from this mine used to be sold in various villages in Baglung, Palpa and Syngja among other districts. The iron used in the cables for building bridges over the rivers in Parbat and surrounding places also came from this iron mine. The bridges using the cables made out of iron from this mine can still be seen at Modibeni and Jaimini Ghat.
It is said that around 400 households used to eke out a living extracting iron ore from this mine and selling it until five decades back.The ward chair BK said the village itself is named Phalam Khani (iron mine) owing to the large number of iron mines throughout the village.
According to him, operation of the mine here would contribute to the country’s economy and scores of youths will get employment. “We are compelled to use imported iron and steel due to the inability to operate the mine that is eight at our doorstep,” lamented Bal Bahadur Chhetri, a local.
According to him, although several efforts were made at the initiatives of the then District Development Committee 20 years back for operating the mine here after consulting with the central government and various geologists and mines experts, these efforts were not successful.
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Martyrs Shrestha and Chand remembered
Kathmandu, Jan 29: Tribute has been paid to martyrs Gangalal Shrestha and Dasharath Chand today, the sixth day under the Martyrs Week commemorations. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) organized a memorial programme at Shova Bhagawati where Shrestha and Chand were executed this very day in Magh 1997 BS by the then Rana regime on the charge of sedition.
Addressing the memorial programme, KMC Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol spoke on the need of transferring the narrative of the martyrs’ contribution in ushering in the country into democracy to the new generation.
“We should make the new generation aware about the martyrs’ contribution in winning freedom for us and how we the citizens have achieved the rights and achievements due to the sacrifices made by all the martyrs. The time has come for we people’s representatives to make self-evaluation of such narratives,” she said.
Memorial coloumn, and the busts and life-size statues of the two martyrs have been installed at Shova Bhagawati.
The Martyrs Week is commemorated to the memory of the four martyrs – Shukra Raj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dasharath Chand and Ganga Lal Shrestha – who laid down their lives in the struggle against the autocratic Rana rule at different times 83 years ago.
A morning procession will be organized from local Shanti Vatika, Ratna Park at 8 am tomorrow, the last day of the Martyrs Week. The procession will join a memorial function to be organized at the Martyrs Memorial at Lainchaur at 9 am. The Prime Minister and government high officials will attend the function.
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Roles of foreign artists discouraged in Nepali advertisement
Kathmandu, Jan 29: The Advertisement Regulation Act (First Amendment, 2080 BS) has encouraged the roles of domestic artists in advertisements.
Speaking at a programme on the role of artists in advertisement organised by the Advertisement Board here today, Board Chair Laxman Humagain said the roles of foreign artists have been prohibited in advertisements.
In addition to this, advertisements should be gender sensitive and consumer-friendly, he asserted. “The roles of foreign artists have been prohibited in the advertisements to be disseminated through hoarding boards and media,” he said, adding that the provision aims to promote domestic artists.
As he said, the Act and the Advertisement Production, Distribution, Publications and Dissemination Code of Conduct aim to regulate and systematise the advertisement market. He urged artists and media to abide by all these instruments and the violations of the provision is punishable by law.
President of Nepal Film Development Board, Bhuwan KC, said artists are facing problems due to their roles in advertisements prohibited by laws knowingly or unknowingly. He also called for promoting the roles of domestic artists in the advertisement market.
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TU’s exam related services go online from today
Kirtipur, Jan 29: The Tribhuvan University (TU) has started providing exam related services from online system from today.The oldest university in the country, marking its 74th anniversary, launched the online services from today.
Prof Shivalal Bhusal, Acting Chancellor of the TU, launched the online service by clicking mouse of the computer at the Office of the Controller of Examinations Exam Control Office at Balkhu, in Kathmandu.
Acting Chancellor Bhusal said that the University digitalized its service for every examination related process from today and expressed his confidence that it would be a success.
Earlier, students were compelled to visit the Balkhu-based Office for obtaining mark sheet. With the launch of the service, students could apply for admit card, transcript, provisional certificate, correction in the mark sheet among others from their home.
For that, students need to log into www.tuexam.edu.np and apply for the services attaching the specified certificates and thereafter pay the prescribed fee to the Nepal Bank or Global IME Bank.
Students would be notified in office hours whether their applications were accepted or rejected. Acting Chancellor Bhusal said that in case of rejection, the students will be asked to re-apply by correcting the error or filling the missing details.
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PM urges people’s reps to reach at citizens’ doorstep, educate them about spirit of republic
Birgunj, Jan 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the local level people’s representatives should reach at the doorsteps of the people and to educate them about the spirit and system of the federal democratic republic.
Stating that the people have not been educated about the spirit of the republic, he urged the people’s representatives in the local governments to pay special attention towards this.
“The local levels should conduct awareness campaign or door-to-door visit programme to reach at each and every house in order to educate the general public about the rights provided in the constitution,” the Prime Minister said during discussions today with the local level people’s representatives of Bara and Parsa districts.
He clarified that the constitution has made provisions for the identity and rights of the oppressed sections and communities, including the people of Madhesh, women and dalits. “The way the spirit and the provisions made in the constitution should have been disseminated to the people and owned has not happened. It is your responsibility to make the people understand about all these in a systematic way,” the PM said on the occasion.
Prime Minister Dahal shared that works are being carried out with utmost priority for formulating the federal laws as stipulated in the constitution, stating the process has been forwarded for implementing the Police Adjustment Act.
Stating that the Secondary Education Act is under discussion in the parliament, he said preparations are being made to table the Federal Civil Service Act in parliament. In this connection, he further added that a high-level discussion was held on Sunday to speed up the formulation of federal laws and that the list of individual and concurrent rights of the federal, provincial and local levels would be made systematic as per the provisions made in the Schedule of the constitution.
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Nepal-Kailash Manasarovar direct flight resumes
Nepalgunj, Jan 29: A direct flight from Nepalgunj to Kailash Manasarovar in Tibetan Autonomous Region of China has started today after a lot of effort.
A chartered airplane of Shree Airlines boarding 38 Indian tourists its maiden flight to Kailash Manasarovar today, informed Keshav Neupane, regional director of the Siddhartha Business Group.
The Indian tourists from various cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat and the Uttar Pradesh State were flow to Kailash Manasarovar, according to Neupane.
Dr Om Mishra, Managing Director of the Mero Planet, expressed his happiness that the flights to Kailash Manasarovar have started after a long hiatus and direct flight between Nepalgunj and Kailash Manasarovar and believed that Nepalgunj has been established as a tourist destination with the operation of this flight.
Nepal Association of Tour and Travels (NATA), Banke Chapter Chairperson Shreeram Sigdel expressed his confidence that the direct flight from Nepalgunj to Kailash Manasarovara would be fruitful for tourism promotion of Nepalgunj.He urged to make flight between Nepalgunj and Pokhara more effective.
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Government commits to revive long-closed industries: PM Dahal
Birgunj (Parsa), Jan 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said preparations are afoot to revive industries that have remained closed for long.
Addressing the 20th Establishment Day and National Council Meeting of Press Centre Nepal in Parsa of Birgunj today, the Prime Minister said preparations are going on to revive key industrial entities such as the Biratnagar Jute Mill, Hetauda Textile Factory, Gorakhkali Rubber Industry and Butwal Spinning Mills Ltd.
“It has been decided to operate such industries under the private-public partnership model,” he said. The Prime Minister expressed government’s commitment to budget formulation through collaborative efforts of political parties, with upcoming policies and programs designed to prioritize the citizens’ interests, promoting socialism and social justice.
Significant changes are expected through the upcoming budget, policies and programmes and submissions from local and province governments will be sought during the formulation procedures, according to the Prime Minister.
He further added that the government has strongly acted against land mafia and usury practices and the decision to include labour force from informal, self-employment and foreign employments to the Social Security Fund are among the significant achievements of the incumbent government.
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Amendments needed in dozen of laws before organizing Investment Summit
Kathmandu, Jan 29: A taskforce formed by the government to recommend legal reforms to create environment conducive for investment has recommended amendments to a dozen of Acts and Regulations.
The government had formed the taskforce under the leadership of Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, Yek Narayan Aryal, in view of the upcoming Third Investment Summit scheduled for April 21-22 in Kathmandu.
The taskforce submitted its report to Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal on Monday with the recommendation to amend a dozen of laws and regulations to ensure more domestic and foreign investment in the country.
The taskforce has suggested that amendments were needed to the Industrial Enterprises Act 2076; Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act 2075; Special Economic Zone Act 2073; Forest Act 2076 and National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029.
Likewise, the taskforce has suggested the government to amend to the Lands Act 2021; Land Acquisition Act 2034; Environment Conservation Act 2076; Electronic Transaction Act 2063 and Civil Aviation Act 2053. Furthermore, the taskforce has pointed out amendment to Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Regulations 2077 and Forest Regulations 2079.
In order to facilitate the domestic and foreign investments, amendments to the laws would be made by taking a bill to amend some Nepal Acts in the parliament after a decision from the Council of Ministers.
Participation of the private sector was also ensured in the taskforce.
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Federal government not to implement projects worth less than 30 million budget
Parsa, Jan 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has announced that the federal government will not implement the projects having less than Rs 30 million in budget.
The PM said the federal government will implement projects having Rs 30 million plus in budget to give a direct sense of development to the people and to end duplications in the projects among the three tires of government.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 20th establishment day and National Council meeting of Press Centre Nepal here Monday, the PM shared that preparations are ongoing to bring the new budget and policy and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year with the collaboration of all stakeholders.
Saying that the budget, and policy and programmes unveiled unilaterally did not bode well in the past, the PM shared that massive consultations will be carried out now with the civil society, politicians, people’s representatives and other stakeholders to bring the budget.
PM Prachanda shared that the new budget will focus on the completion of the running projects and only then invest in the new ones.
People could not realize the development as addition of new projects unveiled without completing the previous ones have merely created debt trap, according to the PM.
The PM was of the view that production and employment generation would be focused in the new budget. “And, the government is preparing to run the sick industries in the country,” PM Prachanda added.
“The government is preparing to run the Biratnagar Jute Mill, Hetauda Textile Industry, Gorakhkali Tyre Industry and Butwal Yarn Industry in the first phase,” the PM shared.
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Martyrs’ sacrifices unparalleled, VP says
Kathmandu, Jan 30: Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav has said that the dedication and sacrifices made by the martyrs should be recalled to pay tribute to them and to raise awareness in the society.
In a message on the occasion of the Martyrs Day today, the Vice President said that political parties, civil society and all others should work with firm commitment to materialize the dreams and aspirations of the martyrs.
Vice President Yadav said that lasting peace, good-governance, development and the aspiration of prosperity should be completed through the achievements of obtained from the martyrs’ sacrifices.
In his message, the Vice President has recalled that some great souls have taken birth at a certain time of the history and have sacrificed their lives for the country’s security, democracy, inclusiveness and identity and added that the martyrs–after their martyrdom–have given the responsibility of safeguarding country’s independence, indivisibility, sovereignty and security to the patriots.
In his message, the Vice President has recalled all those known and unknown great martyrs for the sacrifice of their lives for the cause of ending all sorts of discrimination, establishing democracy and federal democratic republican system.
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Royal massacre will be investigated-PM Dahal
Kathmandu, Jan 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said investigation will be conducted on the Royal palace massacre that took place in 2001.
Talking to journalists at Simara Airport, Bara on Monday, Prime Minister said the Royal palace massacre wherein the dynasty of the then King Birednra was destroyed will be investigated, according to the Prime Minister’s secretariat.
The federal democratic republic system has given rights to all, PM Dahal said, adding that no one has the right to stand against the system with conspiracy.
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Govt. will collaborate with private sector: PM Dahal
Simara, Jan 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the government would move ahead collaborating with the private sector.
In an interaction with local entrepreneurs after inspecting Jitpursimara sub-metropolis-based Special Economic Zone, PM Dahal laid emphasis on the need of creating environment for investment taking private sector into the confidence.
He mentioned, “The SEZ project will not be successful without involving private sector. The government is with private sector.” Sharing that ailing industries would be brought back into operation adopting private-public partnership, the Prime Minister expressed the belief that SEZ would play significant role to the production and promotion of export, thereby propelling the country to the path of prosperity.
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‘Investigate appointment of NARC executive director’
Kathmandu, Jan 29 : Rastriya Swatrantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Binita Kathayat has demanded prompt investigation into the appointment of Executive Director of National Agriculture Research Council (NARC).
Member of House of Representatives (HoR) Agriculture, Cooperative and Natural Resource Committee, Kathayat demanded the committee investigate into the appointment of newly-recruited NARC Executive Director Dr Dhruba Raj Bhattarai. She drew the attention of committee president Dr Arzoo Deuba.
Parliamentarian Kathayat handed a letter of attention to President Rana noting that appointment of Executive Director Dr Bhattarai was not in line with the NARC Act, 2048 BS. “The appointed person seems not meeting the qualifications stated in the NARC Act, 2048′, it is noted in the letter.
“This deviation from the standards of works published in agricultural research, post-graduate in agricultural subjects, ten years of work experience in agricultural research raises questions about the validity and adherence of established standards”, the letter stated.
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Receiving the letter, President Rana pledged to discuss the issue in the committee and issue necessary directives, Kathayat told RSS.
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Government-owned media should be made accountable towards people: Minister Sharma
Kathmandu, Jan 29: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has said the government has brought Public Service Broadcasting Bill to make the government owned media professional and accountable towards people.
At a discussion on the theme ‘Public Service Broadcasting Bill’ in the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee under the House of Representatives held on Monday, Minister Sharma shared that the proposed bill was introduced with the concept that public media should work as the bridge between the people and government in an independent manner.
“We have been frequently saying that the government-owned media should be accountable and responsible to the people”, she mentioned.
Minister Sharma expected suggestions from the Committee in course of amendment to the bill. “The bill has been introduced with an objective of merging Radio Nepal and Nepal Television and making government-owned media responsible towards the people after further advancing their capacity”, she stressed.
The Communications Minister explained that the government has made preparation to present the bill in coming Parliament session scheduled to take place on February 5.
Lawmakers who registered amendment proposals to the bill expressed the view that the public media should be made independent, professional and accountable.
Lawmakers, including Pradeep Poudel, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, Raghuji Panta, Chandra Bhandari, Madhav Sapkota, Devendra Poudel, Sunita Baral, Suana Shrestha, Toshima Karki, Prem Suwal, Narayani Sharma and Dipa Sharma among others laid emphasis on the need of making the media accountable to the people.
Similarly, Committee Chairperson Bhanu Bhakta Joshi stressed the need of endorsing the bill received in the Committee soon.
The bill would be forwarded for clause-wise discussion from Tuesday’s meeting, he said.
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Embracing constitutional spirit is a respect to martyrs-President
Kathmandu, Jan 30: President Ramchandra Paudel said respect to martyrs would be realized only when the spirit of the constitution and republic were embraced and initiatives were taken for translating aspirations for sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity into action.
In a message delivered on the occasion of the Martyr Day, 2080, he stressed the need of honestly playing remarkable roles from their sides to materialize the dream of martyrs.
President Paudel noted that the country has obtained federal democratic republic as a result of the martyrs’ devotion. The constitution-envisaged federal democratic republic has set a target of dispensing justice to helpless and income to the disadvantaged with political, economic, social, religious and cultural freedoms.
On the occasion, President Paudel offered homage to four martyrs – Shukraraj Shastri, Dharmabhakta Mathema, Dasharath Chand and Gangalal Shrestha along with all known, unknown martyrs for devoting their lives for citizen freedom, establishment of democracy and safeguarding nationality.
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Martyr Day being observed today
Kathmandu, Jan 30: The Martyr Day is being observed across the country today respecting the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of nation and welfare of the people.
The Day is celebrated on Magh 16 every year by organizing various programmes in commemoration of martyrs who scarified their lives for the establishment and restoration of democracy and freedom in different times.
The Day is observed by remembering the struggling life and devotion of martyrs, Shukra Raj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dasharath Chand and Ganga Lal Shrestha as well as contributions of other martyrs to the establishment of democracy in the country.
Martyr Week is observed from Magh 10-16 every year on the initiatives of different non-government organisations in memory of brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives against the then Rana regime.
In 1997, Martyr Shukra Raj Shastri was executed in Teku-based Pachali on Mag 10, Dharma Bhakta Mathema at Shifal on Magh 13 and Gangla Lal Shrestha and Dasharath Chand at Shobha Bhagawati on Magh 15 by Rana ruler while demanding independence.
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