- Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Kathmandu, April 8: The Nepali Army is to collect waste from Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse and Mt Nuptse under the Clean Himalaya Campaign-2024 this year. The Army plans to collect 10 tonnes of waste and as many as five dead bodies from the mountains, the Army informed the media through a news conference on Sunday.
It said trained army personnel will collect trash from the Base Camp up to the Fourth Camp on the Mt Everest.
Director of the Clean Himalaya Campaign, Brigadier General Sanjaya Deuja said that 12 trained army persons will be mobilized for this campaign. Of them, 10 will mobilize above the Base Camp while two will coordinate remaining in Namche.
Similarly, 18 Sherpas will be mobilized for facilitating in the waste collection, it is stated. The leader of the Campaign, Major Aditya Karki said the waste would be collected up to a height of 8,000 metres on Mt Everest.
The waste collection drive would commence from April 11 and will run for 50 days. The campaign will conclude on June 5, 2024 on the day of the World Environment Day.
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02- ‘Cloth bank’ inaugurated in Chandragiri
Kathmandu, April 8: A ‘cloth bank’ has been inaugurated in Chandragiri Municipality. The cloth bank is set up with the municipality’s financial assistance.
People can dump used clothes and bags at the ‘cloth bank’ set up at the main gate to the Municipality, which will then be recycled by the ‘cloth and food bank’. The recycled clothes and bags would be packaged attractively and kept at the bank’s showroom. It is said the needy people can take the clothes and bags from the showroom free of cost.
The cloth bank has also started distributing clothes and bags to the needy people at their home itself.
Chandragiri Municipality is the second local government within the Kathmandu Valley to operate the cloth bank.
Mayor Ghanashyam Giri, Municipality’s spokesperson and Ward No 4 Chairman, Krishna Prasad Khadgi, Chief Administrative Officer Hemraj Aryal and noted film actor Rajesh Hamal jointly inaugurated the cloth bank on Sunday.
On the occasion, Mayor Giri said that the Municipality would extend the possible support for expanding the cloth bank to the Ward-level in order to further promote this service in the coming days. He also stressed on the need of raising public awareness about the usefulness of cloth bank in the community.
Movie star Hamal said along with the cloth bank, preparations have been made to operate food bank in the municipality. He believed that the needy people would be benefitted from the cloth bank.
Cloth and Food Bank chairperson Kamal GC said a campaign has been started to collect and recycle the out-of-use clothes and distribute them to the underprivileged and needy people. According to him, the Bank has been operating a recycling factory at Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City and it is collaborating with 160 local units under this campaign.
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03- By-election: Voters in Ilam constituency-2 excited to elect their lawmaker
Ilam, April 8: The voters in Ilam constituency number 2 are excited to elect their representative to the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Federal Parliament. The by-election is taking place on the 27th of this month.
The by-election is being held here following the death on September 12, 2023 of Subas Chandra Nembang who was elected the HoR member from this constituency.
Altogether 20 candidates are in fray in the by-election.
Kuber Rai of Mahamai, Ilam Municipality-8 is excited with the by-election vivacity in the constituency these days.
“We had no representative to voice our pressing problems like determining the price of tea, market for our dairy products and the poor condition of the Mechi highway in the federal parliament for the last seven months,” he said, adding that they are eagerly waiting for the by-election to choose their representative for the same.
Bishal Dhakal of Sandakpur Rural Municipality-3 echoed Rai, saying, “All the candidates are asking for votes visiting the doorsteps of the electorate. We are telling them that we will give our votes to them. But the voters will elect the qualified candidate.”
Stating that the electorates have many problems and complaints, he said they will press their elected representative to raise these issues in parliament and have them addressed.
Raghunath Bhandari of Phakphokthum Rural Municipality-4 said he will vote for the candidate who can bring about improvements in the condition of roads, health services, education and agriculture. “The roads are lying unrepaired, there is no subsidy for farmers, we are deprived of quality health services and education. The representative to be elected from the by-election should address these demands,” he added.
Arpana Paudel of Chulachuli Rural Municipality-1 said that she will give her vote to the candidate who have come with a positive thinking and are genuinely committed to the development of the constituency. “We cannot blindly support the candidates in the name of independents or new political party,” she added.
Among the registered candidates are Suhang Nembang, the common candidate of the CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) alliance, Dambar Bahadur Khadka of Nepali Congress, Milan Limbu of Rastriya Swatantra Party, Prem Bahadur Limbu of the Janamat Party, and Shyam Bahadur Darji of the Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party.
Additionally, Mani Bahadur Limbu of Mongol National Organisation, Dhanraj Rana Magar of National Republic Nepal, Laxmi Gurung of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Jit Bahadur Rai of CPN (Unified Socialist), Jayawant Bikram Shah from National Liberation Movement Nepal, Ganesh Bahadur Chauhan of RPP Nepal, and Resham Bahadur Sunar Nepali of Nepal Janata Dal have also filed nominations.
The independent candidates include Dak Prasad Gautam, Manoj Niraula, Arjun Kumar Shahi, Keshab Kumar Chapagain, Dipesh Bohora, Yogendra Gurung, Raj Basyal and Dakendra Singh Thegim representing Pahichanbadi (pro-identity group), according to the Office of the Election Officer.
The Election Commission has announced that April 9 is the day for publishing the final list of candidates and allocating election symbols to them. The by-election will take place across 79 polling stations and 149 polling centers from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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04- Two remote settlements in Parbat get water supply
Parbat, April 8: Two remote settlements in Parbat district now have water supply facility with the completion of drinking water supply projects recently.
Purkot of Phalebas Municipality-3 and Luprang of Jaljala Rural Municipality-8 in the district had been facing shortage of drinking water for long. The people of these two remote settlements had been managing water for daily use, including for drinking, by collecting rain water in earthen drums or bringing water from a rivulet walking for hours.
Water is supplied to 200 households at Purkot through deep boring source at Chamleswara. The water is pumped up from the source to the settlement on the hilltop where it is stored in a water tank before being distributed. The water supply project at Purkot was completed at a cost of Rs 40 million.
Similarly, the water supply project at Luprang was constructed at a cost of Rs 10 million. Water brought in pipe from the Lastikhola rivulet at Banau some four kilometres away is supplied to around 130 houses at Luprang.
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05- Press Centre Nepal calls for convening FNJ convention on stipulated date
Kathmandu, April 8: The Press Centre Nepal central office-bearers’ meeting has demanded that the convention of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) should be held mandatorily on the date as fixed in its statute.
The Press Centre Nepal’s this call comes in the wake of various opinions on the fate of the FNJ’s convention. The FNJ is the umbrella organisation of journalists all over Nepal.
At the concluding session of the meeting here on Sunday, Press Centre Nepal president Bishnu Sapkota Jugal appealed to all journalists to move ahead resolving the problems of FNJ on the basis of consensus, as the FNJ is a common organisation.
The meeting has decided upon concluding the FNJ’s membership cleansing campaign as per the mandate of the past general assembly. It decided to urge the government to implement the proportional advertisement policy.
The office-bearers’ meeting was held in the presence of Maoist Centre vice-chair and spokesman Agni Prasad Sapkota.
On the occasion, Sapkota called for implementing policy aimed at sustaining the media and retaining journalists, through coordination among the three tiers of the government.
Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, urged the Press Centre Nepal to give constructive suggestions for the formulation of media laws and policies, saying a restructuring of the mass communication sector was in order through the Mass Communication Bill.
Maoist central member and Press Centre Nepal’s founding president Maheshwar Dahal and Press Advisor to the Prime Minister Govinda Acharya provided training to the meeting’s participants on the Centre’s future plans and its role in common fronts as FNJ, ACORAB and others.
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06- One Nepali national drowns, another missing in sea in Portugal
Lisbon (Portugal), April 8: A Nepali citizen has died due to drowning while another one has been missing in the sea in Portugal. The incident took place at Montijo, close to Lisbon, in the night on April 6.
The deceased is identified as 30-year-old Dhana Bahadur Tamang of Katunje, Netrawati Dabajong Rural Municipality-5, Dhading district of Nepal. The missing one is Tek Bahadur Tamang, 38, of the same place.
The incident happened when the Tamang duo was searching for sea food in the sea at Montijo, said Gopal Yonjan, the President of Tamang Society Portugal. According to Yonjan, a rescue team recovered Dhana Bahadur’s body on Sunday while Tek Bahadur is still reported missing in the incident.
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07- Present government will generate optimism in people: Law Minister
Lekhnath (Kaski), April 8: Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri, has said that the incumbent government based on new political equation will carry out works to generate optimism among the people.
“We will erase the sense of hopelessness towards the government and political parties that is seen in the people since some years. We will carry out works raising hope among the populace as it is a government formed amidst a crisis,” he said in a press meet organized in Pokhara today by Press Chautari Nepal, Kaski chapter.
Stating that the government is serious regarding improving the situation in the country, Minister Giri reiterated that the government work actively towards reviving the economy and attaining prosperity for the people.
He said the parliamentary committees would be activated to formulate pro-people laws required for federalism implementation at the earliest. The people’s suggestions would also be collected and the appropriate ones incorporated while making the laws, he added.
Regarding the Nepali Congress lawmakers’ demand in parliament for forming a parliamentary investigation committee to probe the misappropriation by cooperatives, he said there is no need of forming a parliamentary panel on this topic, reasoning that there are other government bodies to carry out this job.
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08- Price of yellow metal increases, being traded at Rs 136,200 per tola
Kathmandu, April 8: Price of yellow metal has increased in the domestic market today.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of hallmark gold has increased by Rs 600 per tola (11.66 grams) and is being traded at Rs 136,200 per tola.
It was Rs 135,600 per tola on Sunday.
Similarly, worked gold is being traded at Rs 135,550 per tola today against Rs 134,950 on Sunday. Likewise, the Federation has determined the price of silver at Rs 1,685 per tola. It was traded Rs 1,670 on Sunday.
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09- NC Parliamentary Party Working Committee meeting tomorrow
Kathmandu, April 8: A meeting of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party Working Committee is taking place on April 9.The meeting, scheduled at Lhotse Hall of the Federal Parliament Building, New Baneshwor, at 8:00 am tomorrow, would discuss about the preparations for next meeting of the Parliament, according to the NC Central Office.
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10- Health Insurance Programme in Jumla covers 90 thousand people
Jumla, April 8: People in Jumla have lately been attracted to the Health Insurance Programme initiated by the government.
Increased awareness regarding the program’s benefits has led to a surge in participation, with a total of 90,411 individuals associating with it, including 45,724 females and 44,687 males, across eight local levels including one municipality.
According to the National Census 2021, the total population of Jumla is 118,349.
According to Chief of the District-based Health Insurance Office, Prem Bhandari, the programme covers 11,648 households in the district in the Karnali Population. The programme was extended to the district in 2074 BS.
Initially, the Jumla folks were not encouraged to be part of the insurance scheme due to a limited understanding of its benefits. Later, insurance agents visited them with comprehensive information about the benefits, and it resulted in a rising number of beneficiaries.
The office is working in coordination with the local levels to implement its efforts to increase the citizens’ access to the programme. People with disabilities, physically incapacitated, leprosy patients, HIV infected, senior citizens, and disadvantaged households are exempt from paying insurance premiums. The government launched the programme in 2072 BS.
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11- Tourists increasing in Pokhara
Gandaki, April 8: The number of tourists has increased in the touristic capital city Pokhara these days. As the eve of Nepali New Year is nearer, domestic and foreign tourists are thronging here. With it, tourism business and other activities in Pokhara have started regaining momentum. Seeing the progress in tourists’ movement in the city, tourism entrepreneurs are found optimistic.
Lakshman Subedi President of Pokhara Hotel Association said that the number of guests in hotels here has reached by 50 percent of late. “Friday-Saturday, the occupancy of the hotel reaches 60 percent”, he said, “We expect it to reach 90 percent during the New Year.”
The occupancy of hotels in Pokhara was limited to less than ten percent in December to January, which is considered to be the ‘off season’ for tourism. President Subedi further expects that the number of tourists will increase as the ’19th Phewa New Year Festival’ is being organized at Lakeside targeting the New Year 2081 BS.
President Subedi said that a 30 percent discount has been arranged for hotels during the festival. According to him, the hotel in Pokhara has the capacity to accommodate 40,000 tourists daily. “Currently, there are only 20,000 domestic and foreign tourists in Pokhara on a daily basis”, he said, “To fill more than 1,200 hotels here, 40,000 tourists should visit Pokhara every day.”
Basically, hotel entrepreneurs have expressed joy at the resurgence of tourism after a long back, though other entrepreneurs are waiting for good day soon.
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12- 109 one-horned rhinos relocated, 26 gifted to different countries in 38 years
(Bhisma Raj Ojha)
Kathmandu, April 8: Most of the population of rare one-horned rhino is found in the Chitwan National Park (CNP) and it has become the best place for their habitat.
There are 694 one-horned rhinos in the CNP. The CNP covers total 952.63 square meters area. According to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, 102 rhinos were relocated to Bardiya National Park, Shuklaphanta National Park and Koshitappu Wildlife Reserve from CNP from 1986-2023 with an objective of establish a new breeding group.
Similarly, internal translocation of additional seven rhinos was made in the CNP as well as relocated to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in this March, shared Department’s information officer and senior ecologist, Shyam Kumar Shah.
He mentioned that 26 rhinos were gifted to different countries during the period. Nepal for the first time had gifted four rhinos to India’s Dudhwa National Park in 1985. As per Department’s record, it had gifted 22 rhinos to the United States of America, Germany, Singapore, Bangladesh, UK, Japan, Austria and China in different time period till 2018.
According to the CNP, the rhinos were translocated internally to CNP and shifted to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in recent period after the growth rate of the rhinos found decreased following their increasing density of rhinos at western area of the CNP based on feasibility study of internal translocation.
Based on the feasibility study, a secretary-level decision of the Ministry of Forest and Environment held on February 7, six rhinos were shifted to eastern area from western area of the CNP from March 15.
The Department has set a goal of developing ‘Rhino Century’ at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. As per the goal, two female rhinos (Pushpa and Anjali) were relocated to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve from CNP on September 27, 2023, on the occasion of World Tourism Day.
The number of one-horned rhinoceros in the world is 4,000. The one-horned rhinoceros that roams in the basin of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Ganges rivers in the northern region of the Indian continent is now limited to the Terai region of Nepal and the protected area of India only. There are about 4,000 one-horned rhinos in the world. According to the 2022 national rhino census in Nepal, there are 694 one-horned rhinos in Chitwan National Park, 38 in Bardiya National Park, 17 in Shuklaphanta National Park and three in Parsa National Park. With it, a total number of the one-horned rhinos is 752 in Nepal.
This species is included in sensitive category of AYUCN, Schedule 1 of CITES and Schedule 1 (Protected Wildlife) of Nepal’s National Parks and Wildlife Protection Act, 2029. Dil Bahadur Purja Pun, senior conservation officer of Chitwan National Park, said the main challenges for the protection of rhinoceros are poaching, habitat destruction and degradation, and the impact of climate change. According to him, only in the financial year 2079-80 BS, 26 rhinos died due to various causes. Out of them, 22 rhinoceros died due to natural causes, poaching and electrocution, he informed.
Similarly, Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, information officer of CNP, informed the that 19 rhinos died till 21st Chait (April 3) of the current year. Among them, 15 rhinoceros died due to natural causes (due to old age, illness, tiger attack), three due to poaching and one due to other reasons.
Listed in the World Heritage List, this park is home to rare wildlife including the one-horned rhinoceros, royal Bengal tiger, gaur, wild elephants and Alligator crocodiles.Rich in biological diversity, the park is spread over four districts namely Chitwan, Parsa, Makawanpur and Nawalparasi (Bardghat Susta Purva). It is the first park of Nepal which is the main habitat of rare one-horned rhinoceros and Royal Bengal Tiger. This park was established on September 20, 1973.
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13- 10 Bangladeshi citizens presented to Department of Immigration
Kathmandu, April 8: The police have arrested 10 Bangladeshi citizens for visa overstay. They were handed to the Department of Immigration on Sunday.
They had entered Nepal on various dates and were residing here illegally, it is said. Acting on a tip-off regarding their involvement in suspicious activities, a special police squad took them under control from the Sorhakhutte and Thamel areas. Before this, the Nepal Police apprehended five Bangladeshi citizens for overstaying their visas in Nepal.
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14- Teachers and management committee members to educate their children in
community school
Tulsipur (Dang), April 8: A community school in Tulsipur has decided that the teachers and management committee members should compulsorily educate their children in the community school.
The school management committee meeting held Sunday decided to enroll their children in the public schools.According to the head teacher at the school, Bhagbat Poudel, the children of the teachers, management committee members and direct stakeholders should be mandatorily enrolled in the community school.
He further shared that the decision was taken to enhance the teaching learning activities in public schools. He expects that the initiatives would definitely improve the education quality in the school.
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15- Tourist police receive 370 complaints
Kathmandu, April 8: Nepal Police have received 370 complaints related with tourists so far from the beginning of the current fiscal year 2080/81.
Of them, 273 are related with loss of goods, 49 related with theft, 11 related with cheating, five related with looting, 17 related with misbehavior, two related with attack, two related with accident, one related with threating, four related with missing people, one related with misconduct and one related with kidnaping, according to the Nepal Police Headquarters.
According to Spokesperson of the Nepal Police Headquarters, Deputy Inspector General, Bhim Prasad Dhakal, shared that total 79 complaints were filed in the fiscal year 2077/78, 180 in fiscal year 2078/79 and 532 in fiscal year 2079/80 and most of the cases were found related with loss of documents and goods.
Tourist police are active to address the problems, and complaints of tourists, to make their stay in Nepal safe and to promote tourism development, said Chief of Tourist Police office, Bhrikutimandap, Narendra Kunwar.
Tourist police used to provide necessary information and support to tourists, make regular patrolling at tourism areas as well as arresting those found involved in indecent and illegal activities at tourism areas and hand over them to concerned offices for the action, he added.
Tourist police immediately address problems and complaints of tourists, Kunwar mentioned. A tourist can dial hotline no 1144 if they face any problem.
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16- Kathmandu listed world’s third polluted city: stress on containing wildfire
Pragati Dhakal/ RSS
Kathmandu, April 8: Incidences of forest fires reported across Nepal have led to a surge in air pollution in major cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara. Air quality has deteriorated significantly, with Kathmandu ranking as the third most polluted city globally this afternoon, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 165.
It was measured 158 in Khumaltar, 175 around the Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, and 120 in the Ratnapark area and these measurements are highly concerning given public health.
According to environmental activist Rajan Thapa, an AQI above 100 poses a severe risk to human health.
An AQI value of 50 is considered good for public health, from 51-100 moderate, 100-150 unhealthy and it is highly hazardous if measured 150-200. Typically, Nepal experiences approximately 2,500 incidents of wildfires annually, with a majority (80 percent) occurring between the last week of February and the last week of May. The period from mid-March to mid-May is particularly vulnerable, accounting for 60 percent of reported forest fires.
The main contributors to air pollution include carbon emissions from vehicles, dust from road repairs and construction, emissions from industries and brick kilns, poor waste management practices, and forest fires. Addressing these issues systematically is needed, he asserted.
Promoting the use of environmentally friendly vehicles can significantly mitigate air pollution, according to Thapa.
However, meteorologist Barun Paudel warns that the upcoming week is unlikely to see rainfall, posing challenges in containing forest fires. A potential heat wave could exacerbate dry conditions, further increasing the risk of wildfires.
Wildfire expert Sundar Sharma said that the surge in forest fires has worsened air quality in major towns like Kathmandu. Wildfire smoke poses serious health risks, including eye problems. According to the United States-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Nepal reported forest fires at 130 locations across the country on Monday.
Sharma shared about a concerning trend of increasing environmental dryness in Nepal, with a notable rise in forest fires over the past three days. “Control measures for forest fires are required to tackling air pollution,” he asserted.
Similarly, Spokesperson of the Forests and Environment Ministry, Badri Raj Dhungana, said lack of state’s adequate investment, awareness and inter-bodies coordination for the improvement of air quality are reasons behind such problems.
He underlined, “Air pollution is increasing in lack of provision of environmental impact assessment in course of constructing different projects, lack of effective implementation of rules related to garbage management and environmental standard.”
Dhungana pointed out the need of forwarding publicity activities to control forest fire was necessary as pollution is increasing due to forest fire, he stressed. Chest specialist, Dr Niraj Bam, said air pollution has been posing short-term and long-term health problems on human health. Respiratory diseases, common cold and cough, asthma, lung cancer, high blood pressure, paralysis and heart attack are also caused by air pollution.
People suffering from such health problems should be alert during the air pollution, he mentioned. Chest Specialist Bam urged one and all to limit themselves inside the house if possible during pollution hour, to use mask compulsorily if it is urgent to go out and avoid early morning walk as the air is more polluted in the morning.
Management Action Plan for Kathmandu Valley, 2076 BS, an AQI of more than 300 is considered as a disaster. In order to prevent this disaster, it has been mentioned in the action plan not to burn garbage, to increase the use of brooms and vacuums to clean the roads, and to issue public notices to children, senior citizens and patients to take special precautions.
Similarly, in the National Environment Policy, 2076 BS, it is mentioned that national standards related to prevention of water, air, soil, sound, electricity, magnetic waves, radioactive radiation, hazardous chemical pollution will be prepared and implemented in order to reduce pollution. According to the strategy, air, water and sound quality will be mapped by establishing and operating quality measurement centers in areas at risk of pollution including major cities and industrial establishments.
It is mentioned in the policy that environment-friendly technology will be implemented to manage polluted smoke, dust, and water emitted from industries and other businesses sectors.
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17- Industry Minister pledges to promote herb industries
Kathmandu, April 8: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said the government has proceeded towards the formulation of ten new laws based on the submissions of the business community.
Inaugurating the 18th AGM of Nepal Herbs and Herbal Products Association here today, the Minister pledged to introduce those laws before the Nepal Investment Summit scheduled to take place on April 28-29.
The Minister assured of further efforts from the government to promote industries based on natural resources. According to Association Chair Prem Raj Tiwari, there are above 1,000 people are engaged in the herbs industries and one million Nepali are employed in such enterprises. Such industries with Rs 15 billion investment witness annual transactions of approximately Rs five billion.
He urged the government to implement an investment-friendly policy targeting herb production, expansion of herb farming, herb trade fairs, technology handover, marketing, and so on. He also wanted the government to establish an international standard lab for herb production.
Similarly, he has pledged to maintain a balance in the provincial budget allocations in the upcoming fiscal year.
In his address to a programme organised by the Sudurpaschimanchal Concerned Forum here today, the Minister vowed to address concerns that less budget is allocated to Sudurpachim (Far-west).
“Though there are ample potentialities for achieving prosperity for the Sudurpaschim Province, it is relatively lagging behind in terms of development,” he said, urging all the stakeholders concerned to explore its causes and solutions as well.
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18 -80 percent of schools across country receive books for new academic sessions:
JEMC
Bhaktapur, April 8: The Janak Education Materials Centre Ltd ( JEMC) has announced that 80 percent of schools nationwide have received textbooks for the upcoming academic session.The Centre’s data shows that as of March 26, a total of 17,000,000 school textbooks have been printed, with 80 percent of them already supplied to districts.
According to Anil Kumar Jha, General Manager of the Centre, the books have reached 75 out of the 77 districts. The distribution has commenced in Solukhumbu, Banke, and Bardiya today, with plans to start in Kailali tomorrow. Distribution in other districts is scheduled to commence by April 10. In the Kathmandu Valley, distribution will begin after rural districts have been covered.
As Jha said, there has been a slight delay in the distribution due to local levels’ failure to allocate budgets to schools on time.
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19- Prof Dr Panta reelected as Chairperson of NNJS
Kathmandu, April 8 : Prof Dr Chetraj Panta has been re-elected the Chairperson of the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS).
The 28th central assembly and convention of the NNJS recently held in Bharatpur, Chitwan elected Prof Dr Panta for the second term. Prof Dr Panta will be leading a 27-member executive committee comprising one president, 12 members from open category and two members elected unopposed as per the statute of the NNJS.
Krishna Kumar Giri, Chij Kumar Maskey, Manju Kandel and Prof Dr Sabina Shrestha among others were elected unopposed while Shyam Kumar Pokharel was entrusted with responsibility of Vice-Chairperson, Bharat Bahadur Chand with General-Secretary and Chij Kumar Maskey with Treasurer by the central committee meeting held after the session in accordance with the statute’s provision of division of responsibilities among the elected members.
The assembly held on April 5-6 also endorsed the report of the general-secretary and treasurer and audit report of the last fiscal year besides approving the proposal of appointing auditor for the current fiscal year. Established in 1978 as the National Society for Comprehensive Eye Care, the NNJS has 28 eye hospitals, 156 eye treatment centres and 43 district branches at present.
The non-profit making social organization dedicated to provide all facilities with regard to the treatment of eye patients in Nepal has so far provided eye treatment services to over 40 million patients including foreigners. The organization, through its network, has conducted over 5.1 million eye surgeries till date, it was shared.
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20- Ghode Jatra festival observed in Kathmandu
Kathmandu, April 8; President Ramchandra Paudel attended the ‘Ghode Jatra Ceremony, 2080’ organized by the Nepal Army at Tundikhel today.
Also present on the occasion were Vice-President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Speaker Devraj Ghimire. A cavalry of the Nepal Army had performed different equestrian stunts. Various competitions, including horse riding and musical race were also held on the occasion.
It is believed that a demon who lived in a meadow, which is now at Tundikhel, used to unleash terror in Kathmandu, particularly targeting children. After his death, people rejoiced by dancing on his body and riding horses. There is also a belief that the parade of horses at Tundikhel keeps the demon’s spirit away.
The Ghode Jatra festival is celebrated every year on the day of Chaitra Krishna Aunsi
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21- APF’s store room catches fire
Kathmandu, April 8: A store room of the Armed Police Force (APF)’s office at Chandragiri municipality in Kathmandu has caught fire today evening.
District Police Range, Kathmandu’s Spokesperson and SP Nawaraj Adhikari told that the fire brigade has reached the accident site to contain the fire.
SP Adhikari shared, “We have received the information that the store room of the APF has caught a fire. The reason behind how the fire was erupted is yet to be ascertained. Details of the incident are awaited.”
Efforts are underway to douse the fire with support from fire brigade, security personnel and locals, SP Adhikari added.
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22- UML and Maoist Centre withdraw support in Koshi province
Morang, April 8 : The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) have withdrawn their support to the Koshi Province Chief Minister Kedar Karki.
The two parties jointly submitted four separate letters to the Koshi Province Chief Parshuram Khapung withdrawing support to CM Karki. UML province parliamentary party leader Hikmat Bahadur Karki and Maoist Centre’s parliamentary party leader Indra Bahadur Angbo handed over the letters with signatures of 52 province assembly members to province chief Khapung.
They handed over four letters to Province Chief Khapung demanding formation of a new government under the leadership of UML parliamentary party leader Karki, convening a special session of the province, formation of an alternative government and withdrawal of support.
Receiving the letter, Province Chief Khapung said that a special session of the parliament would be convened soon after necessary legal consultation.
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23- Three ministers of Koshi Province resign
Biratnagar, April 8 : Three ministers of the Koshi Province Government resigned en masse today.
Minister for Drinking Water, Irrigation and Energy Narayan Bahadur Magar, Minister for Social Development Rajendra Karki and Minister for Tourism, Forest and Environment Ganesh Prasad Upreti tendered their resignation from their post, according to Dev Narayan Sah, the press advisor of the Chief Minister.
The three ministers are members of the CPN (Maoist Centre) in the Koshi Province Assembly. Meanwhile, the Koshi Province Government has summoned the fifth session of the Koshi Province Assembly on May 24.
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24- HoR Committee decides to print six sensitive govt. documents from Security Printing Centre
Kathmandu, April 8 : The Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) has passed a report on the Security Printing Bill, 2077 deciding to print six different types of government documents relating to the national security only from the Security Printing Centre.
A meeting of the Committee held on Monday gave a final touch to the report concluding that the Centre should exclusively print the citizenship, national identity card, passport, banknote, excise duty sticker and driving license. Earlier, the bill was approved by the National Assembly (NA) with the provision to print citizenship, national identity card, passport and banknotes from the Security Printing Centre.
The Committee under the HoR passed the bill by providing the Centre with the additional responsibility to print the excise duty sticker and driving license too. During the meeting, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma made it clear that the Centre will exclusively print crucial government documents adding that other state-owned agencies or organizations would be given the printing jobs of other documents except the citizenship, national identity card, passport, banknote, excise duty sticker and driving license if the Centre failed to carry out the assignment.
“This provision of giving the printing job to the private sector on the basis of competitive bidding by determining certain standards was kept only if printing could hot happen from this option,” Minister Sharma said. “The issue could have been serious if the printing jobs were given to the private sector directly. Let’s award the private sector by deciding from the cabinet meeting on the basis of competition for printing (the documents) if the task of printing could not happen even by completing these two stages,” Minister Sharma argued.
Taking part in the discussion on the report, most of the lawmakers voiced that only the government should print the government documents that are related to national security.
Lawmakers Devendra Poudel, Chandra Bhandari, Toshima Karki and others called for managing the security printing issue without compromising the national interests.
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25- Home Minister Lamichhane inspects APF’s fire-engulfed store room
Kathmandu, April 8 : Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has inspected the fire-engulfed store room of the Armed Police Force (APF) at Satungal of Chandragiri Municipality in Kathmandu.
He has suggested forming a probe committee to examine through CC cameras in the surrounding settlements. Efforts are underway to contain the fire with the help of fire brigade, police and locals. Nine fire tenders and security personnel have been deployed to take control the fire.
APF Joint Spokesperson Shailendra Thapa said they have received preliminary information that the fire occurred due to power leakage. A nine-member probe committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Additional Inspector General of Armed Police Force Banshi Raj Dahal. Although it is in the middle of the settlement, the houses in the surround of fire-ravaged area are safe, he said.
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26- Stakeholders applaud KMC’s decision of barring schools from selling books and uniforms
Kathmandu, April 8: Stakeholders said that the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s (KMC) barring schools within the Metropolis from selling uniforms and books is a welcome decision.
The KMC had issued a circular three days ago appealing to all the public and private schools within the Metropolis not to compel students and parents purchase stationery materials and uniforms from the schools.
President of Parents’ Association Nepal Keshav Puri said they had long been raising this issue and that all schools within the Metropolis should mandatorily comply with the KMC directives.
He viewed that the compulsion for the parents to procure books and uniforms from the school where their children are studying should be ended. “The KMC’s action towards this end is commendable!” he commended.
Education expert Bidhyanath Koirala argued that the vicious cycle of commission in schools should be ended. He said, “The cycle of commission for uniforms, text books and stationery materials in private and private schools is a wrong thing. Books should be sold by the stationery shops not the schools. Everyone should follow this rule.”
Similarly, Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization (PABSON)-Nepal’s Chairperson DK Dhungana said the rule that schools cannot sell uniform and books by themselves was in place since the beginning and schools affiliated with PABSON-Nepal have been complying with it.
Likewise, Community School Management Committee Federation of Nepal’s Chairperson Gunaraj Moktan, admiring the KMC’s decision, said, “It is a very good decision. Schools should not make parents a customer. Schools are supposed to spread knowledge but it appears that they have started doing business in the place of imparting knowledge. This step is good for controlling business.”
It may be noted that the KMC had notified that schools should utilize text books sanctioned by the Curriculum Development Centre at Sanothimi, Bhaktapur from the new academic session 2081 BS. In case of English medium books or additional text books, schools should utilize books translated and published by the Centre or those enlisted by the Centre.
In the circular, the KMC warned that violation of the rule shall be resulted in the action as per the Education Act-2028 BS, Education Regulations-2059 BS and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Education Act-2075 BS and other pertinent laws.
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27- New jersey for the Nepali team playing World Cup Cricket unveiled
Kathmandu, April 8: The new jersey to be used by the Nepali national cricket team members playing in the upcoming ICC T-20 World Cup Cricket tournament has been unveiled here on Monday.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins on June 1 and will be played across the USA and West Indies. Minister for Youth and Sports Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and National Sports Council’s Member-Secretary Tankalal Ghising jointly made public the new jersey at a programme organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
The jersey has a mixture of red, white and blue colour and the picture of national flag of Nepal lies in both shoulders. Similarly, the highest mountain in the world-Sagarmatha (Mt Everest)- is marked in the lower part of the jersey while one side of the bust has CAN’s logo and another displays sponsor’s logo. There are 20 different teams participating in the T20 World Cup which are divided into four groups- A, B, C and D. Nepal falls on group D which also has South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Netherlands in it.
While Group A includes the USA, India, Pakistan, Ireland and Canada, Group B has England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland and Oman. New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda and Papua New Guinea is in Group C. The top two teams from each group will reach in super 8. Nepal is going to participate in the World Cup for the second time. Earlier it played the World Cup in 2014.
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28- PM praises role of Sisnopani Nepal to end wrongdoings, ill-practices
Kathmandu, April 8: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has appreciated the roles carried out by Sisnopani Nepal for ending wrongdoings and ill-practices in the society.
At a programme organized on Monday at Nepal Academy, the PM said the role of organizations like Sisnopani Nepal is crucial in making the leaders aware.
PM Prachanda viewed that the programmes of Sisnopani Nepal have helped politicians to become transparent and remain cautious. Coinciding with the Ghodejatra festival, Sisnopani Nepal organized the event titled ‘Rastra’ to create national sentiments among the citizens.
Inaugurated by President Ramchandra Paudel, Speaker of the House of Representatives, ministers, lawmakers and leaders of different political parties were present at the event.
On the occasion, President Paudel honoured singer Menuka Poudel with Rs 100,000 in cash and a copper plaque. Also speaking at the programme, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sumana Shrestha emphasized bringing about positive changes in the education sector.
Similarly, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Bhagwan Koirala argued that an efficient bureaucracy was the heart of the country and it was the responsibility of the politics to keep it in good shape. “Politics should create an enabling environment for the bureaucracy to deliver effectively,” he asserted. During the programme, senior singers sang Bhajan Siromani Bhaktaraj Acharya’s devotional song in memory of late Acharya while comedian Manoj Gajurel and Chandra Dawadi staged a play named ‘Shahid Gate’.
Poets Arjun Parajuli and Laxman Gamnage recited their poems satirizing the political and social anomalies in the country. The programme was conceptualized by Tanka Acharya.
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29- Probe committee formed to investigate fire in APF’s store room
Kathmandu, April 8: A committee has been formed to investigate into the incident of fire that occurred at the store room of the Armed Police Force at Satungal of Chandragiri municipality in Kathmandu today.
A nine-member probe commit has been constituted under the leadership of APF’s Additional Inspector General Bamshiraj Dahal, APF’s SSP Rajendra Khadka told RSS.
The committee has been formed to identify the reasons behind the fire, he said. Khadka further shared that the fire incident occurred due to short circuit as per the preliminary investigation.
Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane had instructed the APF to form a committee to probe the incident.
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(Time: 22:30)
(Editors: Krishna Sapkota, Mahendra Subedi & Rosha Basnet)
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