Transport strike called off in far-western region

Kanchanpur, Aug 1: The transport strike enforced by eight bus entrepreneurs' committees in the far-western region for the past two days was called off today.

Transportation resumed from the early morning hours after an understanding was reached at a late night all party meeting held at District Administration Office (DAO) Kailali.

As part of the understanding, the local administration has agreed to release the workers arrested during the strike related scuffle, and call a dialogue in Dhangadi by inviting the Badimalika Transport Pvt Chairman among its other officials within a week.

Far-western Transport Entrepreneurs' Association Chairman, Tek Raj Joshi, said the strike was called off following an agreement.

The Badimalika Transport Pvt will be prohibited from running bus services until a dialogue takes place with its officials at an all party meeting, Kailali's Chief District Officer (CDO), Govinda Rijal said. RSS 

Locals enraged at decision to dump waste by riverside

Melamchi, Aug 1: The swollen Indrawati river has entered the dumping site constructed on its bank by Melamchi Municipality in order to do away with waste products.

With the monsoon downpour in full swing, the river breached its bank to enter the temporary pit used as a dumping site for the waste materials the town produces. The locals had been resisting the Municipality Office's determination to dispose of the waste products by the river's bank and create a long term impact on the river's ecosystem.

The locals accuse the Municipality of allocating Rs 300,000 to dig up the pit and not using the money effectively. The Melamchi Municipality's Executive Chief, Purna Dulal, had recently led a campaign to throw waste products into the pit to mark the occasion of Environment Day.

Local of the area, Bishnu Dhital, said the floodwaters usually pour into the pit during the intermittent flooding in the river. RSS 

More than a million under CDP freezes

Phalebash (Parbat), July 31: A considerable portion of the fund allocated for Constituency Development Programme (CDP) here in the district has ended up as unused.

The amount allocated under CDP in name of two directly elected lawmakers for the fiscal year 2072-73 is on freeze, District Development Committee (DDC), Parbat said.

The money remained on hold after the public at the local level could not complete the constituency development projects on time.

The highest fund allocated for the district development was channelled in the name of Nepali Congress lawmaker, Arjun Prasad Joshi, for constituency – 1 whereas the money allocated in name of lawmaker, Kalpana Chapagain, of the proportional representation quota has been used up as all of her projects were completed on time.

Of the total fund allocated in name of lawmaker Joshi, Rs 1.13 million remained on freeze along with Rs 319, 198 of lawmaker Bikash Lamsal.      

The budget allocated for development of trek route, sports venue, drinking water project, blacktopping of inner roads, construction of VDC building and irrigation of Rotepani Gunte field remains on freeze.

The budget froze after the development projects failed to complete on time. A huge chunk of the budget under CDP had been allocated for road infrastructure development in Parbat. RSS 

Transportation in Dhangadhi disrupted

Dhangadhi (Kailali), July 30: Transportation in Dhangadhi came to a halt today, affecting normal life of people.

As a result, long and short-route vehicles did not ply while people are finding it hard to travel.

A clash between Far Western Transport Entrepreneur Committee (FWTEC) and Badimalika Transport Entrepreneur Committee over a dispute led to the transportation disruption.

Following the clash that also resulted in one of transport workers injured, police arrested some office bearers of the FWTEC in connection with the incident.

The FWTEC office bearers said that they resorted to the transport strike to protest the police suppression over their transport workers. RSS

Industrialists being consulted for mining fuel: Industry Minister

Kathmandu, July 29: Minister for Industry, Som Prasad Pandey, today said the government is holding consultations with national and international industrialists to extract the petroleum products in various parts of the country.

Inaugurating the Sixth Central Convention of Integrated Employees Association under the Cottage and Small Industry Development Committee, Minister Pandey called for using the national resources and tools to move forward to build the nation. There is need for industrialization in the country for economic prosperity, he added.

More than a hundred representatives from 48 districts are taking part in the convention to continue until Saturday. RSS 

Hydropower burial puts village at dark

Baitadi, July 28: A landslide has buried a canal of Kathmadi micro hydropower project at Shikharpur-2 of Baitadi.

Krishna Saud, a local, informed that the landslide triggered by incessant rain has buried the canal that has thrown the electricity service of the village out of gear.

With the disruption of power, as many as 180 households of ward no 1, 2 and 3 of Shikharpur are being compelled to stay at dark.

Locals have voiced their concern that the damages caused to the canal of the micro hydropower project constructed in 2068 BS have created much trouble in their daily lives.

There is no likelihood to remove the landslide debris from the canal right now. RSS

Stakeholders stress need for energy expansion

Kathmandu, April 1: Various stakeholders and participants at the one-day workshop in the Capital have stressed the need to seek the role of federal, provincial and local government for expansion of the reach of consumers to energy in consistent with the federal republic setup.

Speaking at the event organised by Nepal Energy Foundation (NEF) and the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-Nepal (ISET-Nepal) on Thursday, the participants viewed that the purview of federal, provincial and local government should be stated in laws to increase the use of energy infrastructure for economic development of the country.

On the occasion, joint secretary at the Ministry of Energy Dinesh Ghimire said that policies and laws related to energy to be formulated will ensure that big hydropower projects to be constructed through bilateral or multilateral investment will be carried at federal level.

Likewise, the projects to be constructed for providing outputs at home will be done at provincial level and alternative energy projects will be carried out at local level.

Similarly, joint secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Udaya Raj Sapkota informed that 63 laws will be made within the second week of April as per the constitution and discussions were underway on the issue of authority to be given to federal, provincial and local levels.

Pointing out the need for sustainable development of energy and the expansion of access of people to energy, joint secretary at the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat Jibatsha Mandal viewed that Nepal should develop its own model in hydropower.

Lkewise, Ajaya Dixit of ISET stressed the need for formulating new policies and making amendment to laws for overall development of energy.

The event also discussed separate reports on role of provincial and local government to the reach of energy and regional practice and technical management to accelerate energy access under province and local government presented by Dilli Raj Ghimire, Dil Raj Khanal and Mahesh Acharya.

The event was also attended by NEF Chairman Mohan Das Manandhar, former president of the Federation of Kathmandu District Development Committee Krishna Prasad Sapkota, spokesperson Krishna Prasad Jaisi, representative of Energy 4 All Suman Basnet, Satish Gautam of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, Energy expert Debendra Prasad Adhikari, Rojan Bajracharya of the NEF among others. RSS    

Expansion of cooperatives' investment for country's economic development stressed

Butwal, March 31: Various stakeholders have placed emphasis on the expansion of cooperatives' investment for the economic development of the country.

They noted that the cooperatives need to identify the areas for investment and broaden its scope of work so that the sector would substantially contribute to the economic advancement of the country.

Presenting a working paper at a programme organized by the Division Cooperative Office Rupandehi and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations Rupandehi on Wednesday, Chief of Division Cooperative Office Rupandehi Netra Prasad Ghimire stressed that the integrated and organized development of cooperative is the need of the hour.

Underlining that all should comply with the laws concerning cooperative organization, he said the cooperative is the area which can contribute to reduce poverty level and generate employment opportunities.

On the occasion, journalist Bharat Bhusal also presented a working paper on the problems and challenges of cooperative sector. RSS

ADB ready to provide additional support for reconstruction

Kathmandu, March 28: Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Wencai Zhang has said that the ADB was ready to provide additional support for post-earthquake reconstruction if the Government of Nepal wanted to.

Speaking in a news conference organised by ADB country office here today, he said the ADB would provide approximately Rs 6 billion additional support for reconstruction if Nepal deemed it necessary.

The ADB has expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in the reconstruction works in the earthquake-affected districts and in the distribution of relief to the victims.

Zhang said that during his meetings held separately with Prime Minister KP Oli, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Culture,Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel, the National Planning Commission (NOC) vice-chairman Dr Yubraj Khatiwada and high government officials, he urged them to expedite the post-quake reconstruction works and speed upADB-funded projects.

Meanwhile, the ADB stated that Vice President Zhang, currently on a 4-day visit to Nepal, in his meeting with high government officials and discussed how Nepal could accelerate its economic recovery and develop plans for sustained higher growth.
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"There is an urgent need to accelerate reconstruction and implementation of development programmes to prevent furrther slowdown in growth and to ensure rapid recovery," Mr Zhang said.

During his meetings, the ADB Vice President welcomed the finalization of the Reconstruction Policy and NRAGrant Guidelines, and progress towards the formulation of Post Disaster Risk Recovery Framework, following the recent establishment of the NRA and the appointment of its Chief Executive Officer, the ADB news release states.

ADB forecasts Nepal's economy to grow 1.5 percent in FY2016 ending on 15 July 2016 after 3 percent growth last year, due to the severe earthquake in April 2015, aftershocks, and subsequent supply disruptions. ADB expects growth will pick up to 4.8 percent in FY2017.

Mr Zhang added, "To expedite unhindered implementation of reconstruction works, the NRA needs to release sufficient budget immediately, enforce fast-track decision making, and adopt building-back-better principles and innovative approaches for time and cost-efficiency."

Under ADB's country partnership strategy with Nepal for 2013-2017, ADB is prioritizing major investments in hydropower generation and transmission, enhancing the capacity of international airports, building new economic corridors to promote regional trade, and reforming higher education systems.

ADB also stated that it will continue its support for inclusive growth through investments in agricultural diversification and productivity, water supply and sanitation, and rural roads. ADB will also work to attract private sector investment andpublic-private partnerships for large-scale hydropower and transmission projects and high-value agricultural value chains.

In his meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister RRayamajhi, Mr Zhang noted the government's efforts to address Nepal's energy crisis. "ADB will build on its existing support in the energy sector and will extend assistance for 25 MWgrid solar power plants and two major storage hydropower projects - the 300 MW Dudhkosi plant and the 410 MW Nalsingh Gadh plant."

The ADB Vice President also noted the government's intent to graduate from least developed country status by 2022, and become a middle income country by 2030 while achieving the sustainable development goals.

"This calls for a credible vision and a strategy to achieve it by setting out policies, prioritizing public expenditure and investments to build physical and human capital, improving governance and the business environment, building a competitive industrial base and enhancing regional cooperation and integration. ADB will continue to provide the support for that," Mr Zhang said.



During his visit to Nepal, Mr Zhang visited the project sites of Erathquake Emergency Assistance Project in Kavrepalanchok district as well as the Melamchi Water Supply Project in Sindhupalchowk district. He also participated in the International Seminar on Envisioning Nepal 2030 organised by the National Planning Commission. RSS

Tourism Promotion in Lumbini discussed

Ghandruk (Kaski), March 20: The Rupandehi Business Association has organised a two-day seminar at Ghandruk to formulate a two-year strategic action plan related to tourism promotion of Lumbini area.

At the two-day seminar begun Sunday, Association Chairman Motilal Pandey said the Association would make a common concept regarding possible works for the promotion of Lumbini area by interacting with officials of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Area Office Ghandruk Centre.

Programme Coordinator and senior Chairman of the Association, Padam Shrestha, said the Association organised the seminar with an objective of formulating strategic plan in order to work in other sectors as self-employment, tourism, agriculture, education and health along with business.

The Association is to focus the activities with the theme: Promotion of domestic tourism; self-employment and self-dependency by promoting business based on agriculture; and business expansion from village to city.' RSS

Do not close industries in name of movement: FNCCI president Murarka

Janakpurdham, March 19: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Pashupati Murarka has called for ending the trend of targeting the industrialists and business community in the name of agitation movement.

Addressing the 49th annual general meeting of the Janakpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, he said those people who in the past instigated the industrialists and businessmen not to pay tax to the state became the ministers and prime ministers, but they never gave a thought to the negative impact of their call on the economy.

"Your eyes are filled with tears listening to the agony of the industrialists and entrepreneurs. The general shutdown has really, really debilitated the industry and business sector and impeded the country's progress towards prosperity," he shared.

Lawmaker Dinesh Saha spoke of the need of cooperation from all in establishing industrial corridor in Janakpur.

The AGM was chaired by Janakpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Shiva Shankar Saha. RSS

Tea company and hoteliers reach agreement

Melamchi, March 19: A dispute among the Everest Tea Company and hotel entrepreneurs in Bhotechaur – 7 of Sindhupalchowk has come to an end.

The tea company operating for the last two decades had barred the hotel entrepreneurs and tourists from entering the tea cultivation area citing production of organic tea.

A meeting between the tea company management, hoteliers and representatives of the political parties held on Friday at the Area Police Office ended in an agreement to lift the bar on entrance to the tea garden, Inspector, Niraj Dangi, of the Area Police Office, Melamchi said.

The tea company has set a condition that those visiting the tea cultivation would only be allowed to use the public path and not stray randomly inside the garden. The hoteliers will also be allowed to commute between the hotel and their destination on two wheel motor vehicle.

The hoteliers were enraged after the company's decision to prohibit access to the area. The tea garden known as Nepal's 'Mini Ilam' lies at a distance of 30 km from the capital city. The dispute between the tea company and the hoteliers had impacted the tourism business with a decline in tourists' visit to the area. RSS

Minister Gajurel hints at special programmes for farmers

Kalaiya, March 18: Minister for Agriculture Haribol Gajurel has said that the government was planning to unveil special programmes in agriculture sector to uplift the farmers' living standards.

Inaugurating a programme for the mechanization in paddy farming at Dumarbana in Bara district today, Minister Gajurel appealed to the farmers to use advance technology for the commercialisation of the agriculture.

On the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Uttam Kumar Bhattarai, Director General at Department of Agriculture Dr Yubak Dhoj GC, former lawmaker Jayaram Dahal and other speakers shed light on different aspects for farmers' self-dependency and overall development of the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, Minister Gajurel inaugurated the 20th anniversary of the Dumarbana-based Sana Kisan Agriculture Cooperatives Limited and said that development of the agriculture was the major aspect as it was the country's backbone. RSS

Nepal International Trade Fair kicks off

Kathmandu, March 17: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has inaugurated the fifth Nepal International Trade Fair-2016 amidst a special function organised here today.


Stating that the fair would plat key role in expansion of trade relations in South Asia, President Bhandari said that national economy should be uplifted by giving priority to the domestic products in between the opportunity and challenge of modernization and liberalization.

She stressed the need of paying attention to attract foreign investment and increase export at a time when the new constitution has been heading the country towards the economic development by ending political transition.

President Bhandari suggested to move ahead for self-reliant economy after identification of new business partners and prioritizing industries based on locally available raw materials and internalizing the development of human resource management, tourism development, employment generation, skills, mutual benefits and unique arts.

She also expressed belief that the fair would be successful to establish Nepal as an active and reliable business partner as well as to disseminate a message that Nepal is safe for foreign investment.

Saying that there is a lack of appropriate space and infrastructure development despite increasing trend of organising trade fairs lately, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Pashupati Murarka demanded that a venue be built to organise international trade fair at Chovar as per government’s plan.

He said that organising such fairs could boost country’s economy as market of home-made products could be increased through such fairs and such products could be exported.

Likewise, Director General of Indian Chamber of Commerce Dr Rajeev Singh said that Indian industrialists were eager to work for energy development in Nepal.

With the slogan ‘Promotion of Nepal-made products, building of prosperous Nepal’, the five-day fair is organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and FNCCI.

Fair coordinator Keshab Raj Pandey said that there are 350 stalls showcasing handidraft, information and technology products, agricultural tools in the fair.

Similarly, other different products made in Nepal, India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan among others, are also put on display. RSS

5th Nepal-International Trade Fair

Kathmandu, March 16: The 5th Nepal-International Trade Fair is to kick start on Thursday in the capital city. It is jointly be organised by Nepal government and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI).

At a press meet Wednesday, the organisers said that a total of 350 stalls with various goods would be showcased from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China.It is said that the products of handicraft, tourism, leather would be kept in the fair to be held till 21 March.

Executive Director of Trade and Exports Promotion Centre, Ishwori Prasad Ghimire, said that the fair is expected to promote and increase the trade volume of Nepali goods at a time when the country’s economy has suffered from the blockade imposed by India and April 25 ‘Gorkha Earthquake’.

On the occasion, senior vice-president of FNCCI Bhawani Rana said that country’s development was not possible sans industrial development and infrastructure development. RSS

First National Seminar of Chiefs of FCGO kicks off

Kathmandu, March 16: The first national level seminar of the Chiefs of Financial Comptroller General's Office (FCGO) has kicked off in the capital city from today.

Inaugurating the 3-day seminar, Minister for Finance Bishnu Poudel spoke of the need for the financial sector of the country to be made more accountable and transparent.

Minister Poduel urged the concerned authority to maintain financial discipline although this sector was more regularized lately.

Poudel said, "We should best utilize the government property/ fund by tackling the challenges in terms of challenges."

Addressing the Chiefs convened from 89 offices of FCGO across the country, he said that they too had roles to play collection of revenue, control of leakage and maintain transparency in government's expenditure.

Minister Poudel underscored the need for putting in place a scientific system wherein the transfer and promotion of government employees would be made transparent and in consistent with laws.

Also speaking at the event, Acting Chief Secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari argued that the more the national expenditure and income are made transparent, the better fiscal discipline observed in the country.

He was of the opinion that the national account system ought to implement in all the ministries and government bodies for the same.

Also speaking at the programme, Comptroller General Rajendra Prasad Nepal pointed out the need for building capacity of the employees and revising the existing system so as to strengthen public financial management in the country.

He pledged that the financial management will be revised and be made technology-friendly in coming days.

A total of 160 participants are taking part in the seminar, including the Chief Financial Administrator of various ministries, according to Deputy Comptroller General Jagannath Devkota. RSS

Induction cookers handed over

Kathmandu, March 16: Ten thousand induction cookers provided by the government of China in subsidy price have been handed over today.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Wu Chuntai, handed over the MoU on this to Secretary at the Ministry of Supplies, Shreedhar Sapkota.

Lauding the support provided by Chinese government during earthquake and border blockade, Secretary Sapkota expressed the belief that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's China visit would further strengthen economic and social relations of Nepal and China.


Similarly, the Chinese Ambassador said that the PM's China visit would further strengthen Nepal-China relation. He said, "We want to establish further deep relation with each other." RSS

E-system in effect to make public procurement transparent

Kathmandu, March 13: The Public Procurement Monitoring Office and Commercial Bank of 'A' Category signed a Memorandum of Understanding Sunday to bring the electronic procurement system to effect.

Secretary at Public Procurement Monitoring Office Ramesh Kumar Sharma and and the Chiefs of 'A' category Commercial Banks signed separate Memorandum of Understandings, amid a programme organized here on Sunday.

The system, also known as National Electronic Government Procurement (EGP), is expected to make public procurement more transparent by making bidding process simple and easy.

Secretary Sharma shared that the public procurement works being carried out under the Nepal Drinking Water Corporation, Department of Irrigation, Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DOLIDAR) would be put in accordance with the system in first phase.

According to the newly-launched system, the public procurement monitoring office accepts bidding once the commercial firms or contractors involved in any tender process roped in banking system giving all necessary information to this effect.

The system has been put in place so as to ease the works of Public Procurement Monitoring Office, 'A' category commercial banks and contractors. RSS

Nawalparasi unveils Rs 4.54 billion budget

Nawalparasi, March 13: The 24th district council of Nawalparasi District Development Committee (DDC) has unveiled Rs 4.54 billion budget for the fiscal year 2073/74 BS.

Unveiling the estimated budget, Local Development Officer Lal Krishna Sharma proposed Rs 1.44 billion for capital expenditure and Rs 3.10 billion for the general expenditure in the district.

Of the allocated amount, the largest chunk of the budget is proposed for population and social development committee followed by infrastructure development.

The DDC has given priority for the development of agriculture; forestry and environment development, land and water resources from its budget. RSS

State Minister Chaudhary inaugurates district council

Gaighat (Udaypur), March 11: Minister of State for Urban Development, Manju Kumari Chaudhari, has today inaugurated the ninth District Council of Udaypur district.

Local Development Officer, Pitamber Adhikari, presented the budget programme of Rs 994 million for the fiscal year 2015/16.

Budget has been allocated for the development of agriculture, cottage and small industries, livestock service, women and sports towards development topic.

Similarly, budget has also been allocated towards drinking water and sanitation, road construction, small irrigation, eroding of river, construction of suspension bridges, among others.

Lawmaker Bhesh Kumari Raut and Chief District Officer, Krishna Chandra Ghimire, were also present on the occasion. RSS