- Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Kathmandu, April 14: The main opposition party Nepali Congress has objected to the government’s decision to end the current session of the Federal Parliament. The meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party held today has said that serious attention has been drawn to the recommendation made by the government to end the current budget session while there is enough time for the budget session.
While sharing the decision of the meeting, chief whip Ramesh Lekhak said that this decision of the government is undemocratic and against the parliamentary values and practice.
According to him, the Congress has criticized and condemned the government’s decision. “In the House, all the opposition parties have been raising the issue of misappropriation of the funds of the cooperatives. The minister in the government was involved in the misappropriation of the funds of the cooperatives, so they were demanding the formation of a parliamentary investigation committee to ensure a fair and independent investigation,” he said, adding that their demand has been ignored.
“The ruling party is alleging that the House was blocked because of the opposition party. It is merely an allegation,” he said, adding that the Congress has been raising the issue of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s involvement in the misappropriation of the cooperative’s funds with facts and evidence. Lekhak said that the government was not serious about it and the House was suspended for a few days, so the government itself should take responsibility for it.
This meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party has committed to stand more firmly for an independent, fair and credible investigation on the matter of defrauding the funds of the cooperative, informed the chief whip.
The meeting also concluded that since the government could not give enough time to the House, the necessary laws regarding the implementation of the Constitution and federalism and public concerns could not be passed in this session.
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Goods worth over Rs 56 million seized in Parsa
Birgunj (Parsa), April 14: Security personnel of Parsa have seized goods worth Rs 561 million six thousand and 900 smuggled in by evading revenue in the nine months of the current financial year.
A joint and separate team of the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force seized the goods brought into the country by evading customs and that were not in accordance with the bill and invoice during that period.
Chief District Officer of Parsa, Dineshsagar Bhusal, said that illegal goods worth more than Rs 56 million were recovered. “One hundred and seven kilometers area of the district has an open border with India. We are controlling the smuggling activities with the help of limited security personnel,” he added.
Nepal Police have seized the goods worth Rs 363 million 989 thousand 969 which were smuggled in and brought by evading customs duty. The Armed Police Force have also seized goods worth Rs 234 million 921 thousand 145 in the fiscal year 2022/23.
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Rai, Budha win title of Jumla Rara Ultra Marathon
Jumla, April 14: Priya Rai from Khotang and Dhir Budha of Jumla have emerged as the champions in the women’s and men’s categories respectively of the Jumla-Rara Ultra Marathon Tournament. The 49-kilometer race from Jumla to Rara Lake in Mugu was organized by the Karnali Sports Club, Jumla.
With their victories, Priya and Dhir have each bagged a cash prize of Rs 100,000.
Rajyalaxmi Rawat from Guthichaur rural municipality of Jumla (women) and Dal Kunwar from Tatopani rural municipality-7 (men) claimed the second positions, receiving Rs 75,000 each. Similarly, Anita Budha from Tila rural municipality and Sher Bahadur Budha from Kanakasundari-3 secured third positions, receiving Rs 50,000 each.
The competition witnessed the participation of 80 athletes from within the country and abroad. Besides, the main marathon, various short-distance competitions were also organized, including a 5-kilometer open race, a 1-kilometer event for children, a 5-kilometer race for school-level participants, a 1-kilometer run for senior citizens, a 5-kilometer competition among employees, and a 5-kilometer race for the business community.
The primary objective of the event is to promote sports tourism globally and the identity of Karnali province through sports, it is said.
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Traffic Awareness Special Campaign launched
Kathmandu, April 14: The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office has launched the ‘Traffic Awareness Special Campaign-2081’ beginning today. The campaign aims to develop a civilized road culture through the promotion of traffic awareness.
Inaugurating the Campaign today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane, announced coming up with a special operation aimed at making public transport more reliable and safe. As he said, amendments to policies, rules, and acts needed for promoting road safety will be carried out.
According to him, the Ministry is focused on improvements in public transport to make it widely accessible, reliable, and convenient.
Expressing his concerns over the negligence in compliance with traffic rules, he advised the traffic police to maintain politeness in verbal treatment but to act toughly against the violation of traffic rules.
As the Home Minister warned, the government will be responding to the culture of traffic rule violation toughly and this will be to save lives. But before, switching to that policy, some time will be given for unlearning this culture by organizing an awareness programme. He also took time to express his concern over what he argued growing politicization in each sector.
As he said, the government is thinking about coming up with a provision for awarding those who will report to the traffic police cases of violation of traffic rules.
“The government is focused on promoting a technology-friendly traffic management system,” he added.
Seeking the report prepared by the road security task force in the past, he said the government is committed to improvements aiming to promote road safety.
Stating that there should be additional standards in the license issuing process, he said a road trial is necessary before granting a driving license.
“Any area reporting cases of accidents due to negligence on the part of traffic police, an in-charge in the given area will get fewer marks during an official evaluation and the career development procedures,” according to the Home Minister.
Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Sunita Dangol said that this campaign is very significant, as the traffic awareness programme makes everyone responsible. She emphasized on improving the behavior of the traffic police. Deputy Chief Dangol pointed out the need for citizens to use the roads responsibly.
Mentioning that some policy reforms are necessary, she said it is necessary to make citizens aware.
Chief of Kathmandu Valley Police Office, Additional Inspector General of Police Deepak Thapa said that the work has started with special attention on traffic management and public transport management in the valley.
He stated that if CC cameras can be installed in the transport, it will be easier to stop abuse and informed that the matter has been discussed with the Sajha Yatayat.
President of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs Association, Bijay Bahadur Swanr, said that everyone should work together to reduce accidents. Stressing on increasing public awareness, he urged immediate implementation of the report of the Public Transport Improvement Task Force.
He expressed his belief that 80 percent of public transport will improve only if the report is implemented.
An expert on road safety, Bhagwati Sedhai, said that by raising awareness in the community, 20 percent of accidents will be reduced. He suggested recruiting traffic volunteers and said that citizens should also be sensitive. He also urged people to change their thinking that following the rules of the road is only for the police.
Chief of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office (KVTPO), Deputy Inspector General of Police Poshraj Pokharel said the campaign has been launched with the objective of raising awareness of and making the general public and the organisations responsible in following the traffic rules.
Stating that humanitarian traffic management is a challenge, he said the traffic management of Kathmandu will be somewhat easier if the infrastructure could be improved, vehicles parking well-managed and corridors are opened.
A traffic awareness rally was held in Kathmandu prior to this.
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This session of HoR remained more successful than previous ones: Speaker Ghimire
Kathmandu, April 14: Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Devraj Ghimire has said that the third session of the Parliament was comparatively more successful than the previous sessions.
In the meeting held Sunday in the context of prorogue of the third session, he said that the third session was comparatively more successful than the previous session in terms of law making and voicing issues of public concern among others.
Speaker Ghimire said, “Compared to the previous session, the third session was successful, but it was not adequately long enough. I am confident that the next session will be more effective and result-oriented based on high understanding and prudent decisions between political parties.”
He expressed his gratitude to the members who participated actively throughout the sessions and expressed his gratitude to all the mechanisms including security and the staff of the Federal Parliament Secretariat who assisted in the parliamentary business.
“Parliament is the main place where people’s feelings are expressed by representatives elected by the people, people’s hopes and expectations are expressed here as well as dissatisfaction and anger,” he said,
The speaker said that if the voices expressed in the parliament can be addressed and brought to a conclusion at the right time, the importance and time of this dignified institution could be properly utilized. He opined that the more active and enlightened parliament ensures qualitative impact on law making process.
On that occasion, he expressed his best wishes for the New Year 2081 BS.
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Current session of parliament passes three bills, session prorogues from today
Kathmandu, April 14: The current session of the House of Representatives (HoR) has been prorogued from today.
In the HoR meeting today Speaker Devraj Ghimire read out a letter related to this and received from the President.
The Speaker announced that the HoR current session automatically ends at 12 midnight today, April 14. In the meeting, he informed about the work carried out by the House of Representatives in the current session. The current session started on January 16.
It is said the HoR conducted its parliamentary business, convening 23 times in 23 days and for a total 81 hours and 55 minutes. Three bills, namely, the Monitoring and Evaluation Bill, the Food Purity and Quality Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, in this session.
After the Nepali Congress lawmakers stood from their respective seats at the outset of the meeting, the Speaker said that the meeting of the HoR would be moved ahead as per the decision and understanding reached in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.
The meeting continued after the Speaker informed the House that the item no 1 to 7 of the agenda of the meeting set for today have been removed.
Speaker Ghimire presented in the HoR for its approval the notice relating to the lawmakers remaining absent in 10 or more meetings in the current session, in accordance with Rule 213 (1) of the House of Representatives Regulations. The meeting approved the proposal.
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Agricultural fair underway to promote Mundum trail in Bhojpur
Bhojpur, April 14: A fair has been organized in Bhojpur to promote the Mundum trail, one of the 100 tourist destinations identified by the government.
The “Agriculture, Tourism, and Cultural Fair” has been underway since April 13 at Chakhewa Bhanjyang in Temkemaiyung rural municipality-4, situated along the Mundum trail, coinciding with the Nepali New Year 2081 BS.
Local products, including culinary and radhipakhi (traditional Nepali rugs and blankets), are featured in the fair. The food stalls showcase items made from locally produced millet, barley, and maize, and other non-vegetarian items, according to Chakhewa Bazaar and Facilitation Management Committee. The use of lead materials and products is prohibited at the event.
Ramadevi Rai, the vice-chair of the rural municipality, said the promotion of agriculture and tourism is a priority for the local government and this has been reflected in the fair. The event is expected to further explore the local tourism industry and boost the market for locally grown agricultural produce, according to local representatives.
Scheduled to conclude on April 15, Monday, the local government funded Rs one million the Chakhewa Bazar Management Committee Rs 0.3 million to organise the event. Rural municipality Chair Saroj Basnet expressed hopes that the fair would contribute to the further promotion of Chakhewa and the Mundum trail.
Overall, the fair aims to facilitate the holistic development of the area, it is said. “Temkemaiyung is known for its immense tourist beauty,” local representatives said.
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FTTH service launched in Dolpa
Kathmandu, April 14: Nepal Telecom has launched the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network service in Dolpa.
The service supported by a high-speed internet facility, was launched in Dolpa under the government campaign to expand the high-speed internet across the country.
Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, today inaugurated the service for the district in the Karnali Province, virtually. With this, the service is available in all 77 districts except Mugu and Humla which are parts of Karnali.
According to the Nepal Telecom, in Mugu, the process is underway to launch the service while in Humla, it plans to make it accessible by the next year.
On the occasion, Minister Sharma said the moment indicates the government’s campaign to make the optical fiber-supported broadband internet facility available across the country becoming successful. She urged Nepal Telecom officials to extend the service to the center of at least one local level, enriching the quality of the service and its effectiveness.
“The government does not only think about profit. It aims to provide information and communication facilities to the citizens of far-flung areas despite the losses. The government highly accords priority to spread the internet service across the country,” she added.
In some cases, only dependence on solar plants in the absence of electricity to sustain the service could hamper the quality of services and in such a situation, the use of an alternative power system is needed, according to the Minister.
“Interment remains a vital service in the government efforts to build a digital Nepal,” the government Spokesperson said.
Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Nepal Telecom Board of Directors Chair, Ramkrishna Subedi, pledged to connect all the entire with internet facilities in the near future. The NT will reach Mugu and Humla with the internet facility in the near future, he said.
Nepal Telecom Karnali Province Directorate Umesh Prasad Shah who joined the programme virtually said the service heavily relies on solar power while Dolpa’s Chief District Officer Tulasi Prasad Dahal said the telecommunications service in the district is limited. “The launch of the FTTH in the district is a significant achievement for it.”
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