May 19: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has tested the production of oxygen gas cylinder for the first time in Nepal.…
May 19: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has tested the production of oxygen gas cylinder for the first time in Nepal.…
May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country.…
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year 20120/21 as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics is now difficult to…
May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility…
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May 18: With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs.…
May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis.…
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May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal).…
May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers.…
May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society…
May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday.…
May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country.…
May 17: Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw…
May 17: The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries.…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 19: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has tested the production of oxygen gas cylinder for the first time in Nepal. At a time when oxygen cylinders are in short supply, new cylinders are being manufactured and tested within the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The test started after Minister for Education Krishna Gopal Shrestha inspected the production facility on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Shrestha expressed commitment to take initiative to fulfill the shortage of zeolite used for making oxygen. Furthermore, he said that the government would extend full support to this initiative of NAST. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that there is no oxygen production plant in big hospitals, he said, “If the provision of an oxygen plant was made mandatory in the hospital when giving permission to operate hospitals in the past, there would have been no shortage at present.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the success of the test, the government will now give permission to various companies to produce cylinders to meet the demand. Chief of the Faculty of Technology at NAST, Dr Rabindra Dhakal, said commercial production will be allowed after discussing with the manufacturing companies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to him, the minimum price of a cylinder available in the country costs around Rs 15,000, while the cylinders produced with the technology of NAST will cost less than Rs 10,000. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister Shrestha, who arrived at NAST’s headquarters in Lalitpur to observe the test, appreciated the team including vice chancellor Dr Sunil Babu Shrestha and scientist Shankar Dhakal. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13163', 'image' => '20210519040512_20210503015716_20210429095930_Medical-Oxygen-Gas-Cylinders-Market.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 16:04:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13417', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Revenue Advisory Committee Recommends the Government to Monitor Ecommerce Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country. In a report submitted to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the committee has suggested the government to formulate tax policies to sustain the growing online business that has boomed with the COVID-19 pandemic and bring it under the network of tax. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report submitted to the Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel suggests programmes that the government should include in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year. It has also suggested the government to bring timely reforms in the tax system. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report states that a detailed study is required to change the revenue structure. It has suggested to look into the demands raised by the private sector regarding VAT issue and form an appropriate policy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Other subject matters of the report include providing compensation packages to the tourism and service sectors, review customs revenue, changing excise duty structure and studying the rate of excise duty being levied on special items. It has recommended the government to adopt a policy that avoids duplication of tax in the three levels of the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Mahesh Dahal, chairman of the committee, said that suggestions have been provided to the government to adopt investment-friendly tax policies to increase production, employment opportunities and attract private sector investment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The report has recommended the government to be mindful of new areas of tax as well as tax policies that the government should introduce in the upcoming fiscal year," said Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Revenue Advisory Committee is an independent body that has been providing recommendations to the Ministry of Finance to carry out tax reforms since 2019. It is authorized to act as a think tank on revenue issues. It carries out interactive programmes in all seven provinces with the participation of the private sector to gather revenue-related recommendations. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13162', 'image' => '20210519021352_20210314014808_20190408115552_20160717125003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 14:12:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13416', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank rules out possibility of achieving 4% growth as projected by CBS ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year 20120/21 as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics is now difficult to achieve. ', 'content' => '<p>May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year (FY20120/21) as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is now difficult to achieve. </p> <p>Releasing its third quarterly report of the monetary policy for the current fiscal year on Wednesday, the central bank ruled out the possibility of achieving the growth of 4.01 percent as estimated by the CBS in April. </p> <p>Stating that the economy was heading toward recovery until nine months of the current fiscal year, the central bank said that the second wave of Covid-19 and subsequent prohbitory measures introduced in many parts of the country pose a challenge even to achieve the economic growth rate of 4 percent. </p> <p>“Economic activities were gaining momentum after the lockdown was lifted following the decline in first wave of Covid-19 infection. Against this backdrop, the CBS projects the economy to grow by 4 percent,” read the third quarterly report of the monetary policy. “However, it is difficult to achieve the estimated growth as the second wave is hitting the economy before the revival,” it added. </p> <p>Earlier on April 30, the CBS had made a preliminary estimate of 4.01 percent of economic growth in the current fiscal year from a contraction of 2.1 percent in the previous fiscal year. The estimate, based on available information and figures of seven to nine months of the current fiscal year, did not take into consideration the impacts of prohibitory measures introduced by local administrations in many parts of the country to control the spread of the second wave of coronavirus. </p> <p>Though the CBS officials had said that their projection was based on an assumption that all economic activities will operate in normal condition after two weeks, the ongoing lockdown, imposed through prohibitory orders from April 29, is already extended till May 27 in the Kathmandu Valley. </p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13161', 'image' => '20210519124440_20210430085017_CBS Growth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 12:34:40', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank Tells BFIs to Save Lives under CSR', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 19</span></span><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The central bank issued such directive on May 18 in the third quarterly review of the monetary policy of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This is expected to help the treatment of COVID-19 infected patients, the central bank said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Under the CSR, arrangement shall be made to contribute funds to save people's lives in public interest and philanthropic works across the country," the state-owned national news agency RSS quoted the central bank as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13160', 'image' => '20210519123138_20200419015315_bank-malware.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 12:30:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks will not be Allowed to Auction Collateral Until One Month after Prohibitory Period: NRB', 'sub_title' => 'NRB also to ban BFIs from imposing penalty, additional charges on borrowers during prohibitory period ', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 18: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has announced to forbid banks and financial institutions (BFIs) from publishing notices for auctioning collateral or recovering loans during the prohibitory period. This new provision will remain in force until one month after the prohibitory orders are lifted by the government authorities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Releasing the third quarterly review report of the monetary policy of the current fiscal year (FY 2020/21), the central bank said that it will make necessary arrangements to bar BFIs from publishing public notices to auction collaterals to recover their loans from borrowers during and after one month of the prohibitory period.<br /> The restriction to recover loans through auction will come into force after the central bank issues a circular to the BFIs to implement the provision, according to NRB officials who say that the circular will be issued 'soon'. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The provision aims at providing protection to borrowers from BFIs auctioning their collateral to recover loans until one month after the prohibitory period ends.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The provision is intended to stop banks and financial institutions from moving ahead with the process of auction to recover loans from defaulters during this crisis. There won’t be much participation in the bank auction during the prohibitory period, either. Halting the recovery of loans through auction will also provide a relief to the borrowers who are hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Dev Kumar Dhakal, spokesperson of NRB, told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, the NRB, in its third quarterly monetary policy review report, said that it will also introduce a provision to prohibit BFIs from imposing any penalty or other additional charges in loan repayment from borrowers during the prohibition period. <br /> </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13159', 'image' => '20210518043705_Nepal Rastra Bank.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 16:30:01', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '2,500 Oxygen Cylinders Imported from China via Tatopani Customs Point', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs. ', 'content' => '<p><em>This file photo shows Tatopani Customs Point. Photo: NBA</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">: </span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali businessmen had placed order for 18,000 empty oxygen cylinders, among which, 2,500 cylinders have been brought to the Tatopani customs point on Monday (May 17).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The cylinders would be sent to the Kathmandu after physical inspection, said Tatopani Customs Chief Naradmani Gautam.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The government has directed us not to queue health-related items. Since the items are not eligible for taxation, the customs clearance procedures are being sped up in order to deliver the goods to Kathmandu soon,” said Gautam. The cylinders have been brought to Tatopani Customs from Khasa by following the proper health and safety measures, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The cylinders of 10 litre capacity were imported by Hima Trade Link. Ramesh Sherpa, chairman of the transport company, Silk Transport, mentioned that 15,000 additional oxygen cylinders, other health items and equipment have also arrived at Lhasa, Membu, Shigatse, Nyalam regions of China. He also notified that it would take approximately two weeks for those items to arrive at Tatopani Customs Point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chairman Sherpa informed that the health items imported by Nepali businessmen include PPE sets, surgical masks, sanitizers and gloves. The Chinese administration has notified that the oxygen cylinders and health items that have arrived at Khasa region would be sent to Nepal only after the completion of medical protocol, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13158', 'image' => '20210518054607_20190510014655_Clipboard04-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:45:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Instructs Officials to Ease Customs Clearance of Oxygen Cylinders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He has directed the government bodies to ease and speed up the customs clearance of health supplies, equipment and medicines related to the prevention, treatment and control of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a virtual discussion held between the concerned bodies, Finance Minister Paudel directed the director general and deputy director general of the Department of Customs and heads of various customs offices to ease the supply by facilitating customs clearance and inspection without any hassles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel also instructed the officials to submit daily report containing information about the quantity and price of imported goods for the treatment of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana issued a directive to implement a brief procedure on customs clearance of goods related to prevention, control and treatment of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Revenue Secretary Ram Saran Pudasaini instructed the officials to work effectively round the clock in coordination with the customs offices of the neighboring countries for speedy inspection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Yamlal Bhusal, director general of the Department of Customs, said that the department has formed a quick response team to facilitate the supply of essential items.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13157', 'image' => '20210518053658_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:35:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Budget Crunch hits Construction of Road Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: The construction of various road projects has been hit by lack of budget in addition to the impact of COVID-19. The Department of Roads (DoR), which has spent 45 percent of budget in capital expenditure for various projects in the last ten months of the current fiscal year, is reeling under budget crunch for projects like the Postal Highway, Industrial Corridor and local bridges. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Kumar Singh, deputy spokesperson of the Department, informed that the low capital expenditure is due to the insufficient budget amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the development process of the Postal Highway and other six-lane industrial corridors have been hit by the lack of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Singh, DoR is experiencing a budget crunch of Rs 11 billion for several road projects. The department itself will manage Rs 2.5 billion budget while the rest needs to be allocated by the Ministry of Finance. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The department has said that the COVID-19 pandemic will also affect the annual target. If the current situation persists, the department has estimated only 65 percent of budget will be spent on capital expenditure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The construction has been affected as workers in some projects have gone home while some others have been infected. About 35 workers involved in the construction of the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel have tested positive for the coronavirus which has affected the construction process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Department of Roads had received a budget of Rs 108 billion in the current fiscal year of which Rs 30.17 billion has been spent. The department has set an annual target of blacktopping 1,800 km roads but only 850 km of roads have been blacktopped so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Of this, 550 km of roads have been newly-blacktop while the remaining 300 km have been upgraded and rehabilitated. A new road track of 284 km has been constructed. Until the second quarter, 504 km of gravel road has been completed out of the set target of 1000 km. Similarly, the DoR has completed the construction of 129 motorable bridges. It had set a target to complete the construction of 300 motorable bridges. Of the constructed bridges, 86 bridges are local bridges and 43 are strategically important ones. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13156', 'image' => '20210518051249_1621292862.Clipboard09 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:12:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Approves EIA Report of Electricity Transmission Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal) with the grant funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), USA, and co-funding from the Government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to MCA-Nepal, the EIA report approved on April 29, 2021 by the government with a ministerial level decision is a major part of the project preparatory works now underway for the construction of transmission lines and substations under the Electricity Transmission Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The achievement is an important milestone to help meet one condition related to site access before the MCC Compact can enter into force,” said Khadga Bahadur Bisht, executive director of MCA-Nepal, in a statement on Tuesday, May 18.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The other important milestone will be ratification of the Compact,” he added. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bisht further said that the</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> report has established the existing status of the physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural environment within the project’s footprint, and has suggested measures to mitigate the potential impacts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The detailed EIA report, prepared according to the existing laws of Nepal, is in compliance with Nepal's Environment Protection Act (EPA), 2019 and Environment Protection Rules (EPR), 2020, the statement further said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to MCA-Nepal, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">a robust methodology for data collection and analysis, for the EIA which also included a number of consultations and public hearings in all 30 municipalities/rural municipalities of 10 districts in the project’s footprint. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report has proposed measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate/manage adverse impacts and to optimize project benefits as per Nepal’s environmental laws and regulations, and international best practices.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Following the approval of the report, MCA-Nepal said it will now initiate a process to receive the approval for the use of national forest area and removal of trees and plants. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Government of Nepal and the US Government’s MCC signed a Compact in September 2017 for undertaking two projects that the Government had identified to address major constraints to Nepal’s development. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">One of the two projects, the Electricity Transmission Project,</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> also </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">a National Pride Project, will </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">build around 314 km of 400 kV transmission lines and three 400 kV sub-stations. The transmission lines will pass through 30 municipalities/rural municipalities in 10 districts. The Project will also ensure affected local stakeholders benefit through partnership program and strengthen the power sector in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The other – Road Maintenance Project – will support maintenance of Nepal’s roads while also introducing a new road maintenance technology in the country, MCA-Nepal added.</span></span><em> </em></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13155', 'image' => '20210518034734_20201218014622_1608248580.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 15:46:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Digital Payment Helps Government in Revenue Collection amid Restrictions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government has imposed prohibitory orders in various districts, including Kathmandu, from the second week of April following an outbreak of the second wave of Covid-19. Meanwhile, tax offices including the Inland Revenue Department had directed the taxpayers to pay the tax ignoring the requests of the private sector for an extension of the tax payment deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Abiding by the tax offices’ calls to pay their tax through digital payment system, most of the taxpayers submitted their taxes on time to avoid penalty. The government was able to collect revenue of Rs 77.12 billion in the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May) alone. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government's revenue from taxes in the review period was Rs 72.91 billion. Out of the total amount of taxes, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) collected Rs 32.4 billion, according to the preliminary data of the department. The department had set a target of collecting Rs 33.99 billion during the review month.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the department, to facilitate the taxpayers during the ongoing crisis, arrangements were made to pay taxes through digital platforms such as connectIPS and eSewa. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">As a result, the government was able almost to meet target of revenue collection for the month of Baisakh, informed Mukti Pandey, deputy director-general at the IRD. According to him, the department had set a target of collecting Rs 345 billion in revenue in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO), 75 percent of the annual revenue collection target has been met as of Baisakh end (mid-May). FCGO’s Spokesperson Gyanendra Poudel said that the government's income was satisfactory amid the ongoing lockdown. He said that the effective implementation of the digital payment system has become helpful for the government in collecting revenue. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the number of people making payments through digital channels like connectIPS has been on an increasing trend. In the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2020/21), Rs 211 billion has been paid through connectIPS and Rs 11 billion through other e-wallets. This also shows that the government's policy of digitizing the payment system is heading towards the right direction.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13154', 'image' => '20210518011138_5f50d.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 13:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Telecom Launches VoLTE Service across the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Manisha Balami</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. Nepal Telecom launched this service under the LTE technology with the aim of modernizing its services as per the demand of the customers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">VoLTE or Voice over LTE is an advanced technology that delivers high definition voice quality calls across the NT 4G network. According to the spokesperson of Nepal Telecom, Rajesh Joshi, with the use of VoLTE, customers can now experience crystal clear voice quality with reduced background noise while calling another VoLTE enabled device. Furthermore, the voice quality will also sound more natural. Moreover, the phone calls will also be established immediately while making calls using the 4G network.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">This service is available in all the places having NT’s 4G coverage. However, in order to use this service, a customer needs to have a handset that supports VoLTE service.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The service is compatible with Nokia 5.3, Nokia 7.2, Nokia 3.4, Redmi 9 Prime, Mi10, Redmi 9C, Redmi Note 9 Pro, and Redmi 8A. In addition, mobile phones including Samsung Galaxy S series, M (Millennial) series, A (Alpha) series, Note series and Z Fold2 are also compatible. Nepal Telecom informed that they are working with all handset suppliers to bring VoLTE support in every phone soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Joshi added that Nepal Telecom subscribers can dial *444# from their VoLTE enabled handset and follow the instructions to activate this service in their Sim card. Likewise, to activate this service on phone set, the customers need to go to the settings of the mobile and enable the call for NTC SIM and then the sign of VoLTE appears on the top of the mobile set. Once the signal appears, customers can dial *111# to get 100 minutes free call pack for the activation. According to Nepal Telecom, the free voice pack is valid up to 28 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecom further informed that there is no additional cost for the VoLTE service and the charge is the same as that for normal 2G and 3G calls. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13153', 'image' => '20210518124104_Nepal-Telecom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 12:40:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Rate of COVID-19 Infection yet to Decline ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. It has been reported that the number of new cases dropped due to the decline in tests but the rate of infection has not dropped yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the Ministry of Health and Population, a total of 22,087 tests were conducted on Monday out of which 9,247 people or 42 percent samples tested positive for coronavirus. The ministry had been conducting less than 20,000 tests in the past weeks but had stepped up testing on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">On Sunday, the ministry had conducted 19,883 tests and 18,548 tests on Saturday. The rate of infection was 37 percent on Sunday and 44 percent on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The rate of infection was more than 50 percent until last week but has now become somewhat stable, according to the available data.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Public health expert Dr Sher Bahadur Pun says it is difficult to predict the future course at the moment but the data show some positive results. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The current crisis is a result of transmission within families. But the chain effect of infection at the community level has been under control to some extent,” said Pun, adding that the infection will reduce if the public abides by the prohibitory order.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“If there is public gatherings, the problem will resurface again,” said Pub.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He says that even if the government lifts prohibitory order, the general public must still follow standard health protocol. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population has stated that the coming weeks would be challenging in view of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic that has spread across the country. Issuing a statement on Monday, the ministry urged the public to be more cautious and to strictly adopt health safety protocol. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">In the statement, joint spokesperson at the ministry Dr Samir Adhikari said that despite rigorous efforts in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of infection has still not declined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Dr Adhikari urged one and all not to organize and participate in any kind of public gathering in the name of religious, cultural and political activities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">The ministry also informed that the rate of infection was high in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Rupandehi, Morang, Kailali, Makawanpur, Dhanusha, Sunsari, Parsa, Bardiya, Banke and Palpa districts. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13152', 'image' => '20210518112229_1621294179.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 11:21:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Infrastructure Projects to be Built under EPC Model', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has introduced and implemented 'Directive on Procurement through EPC-2021' in this regard. The directive allows purchase of contracts through the EPC model for the construction of tunnels, flyovers, bridges as well as airports, stadiums, auditoriums, waste management projects and processing centers. The Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) informed that the directive was approved by the cabinet on May 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">It is said that this model can be applied in the construction of roads and projects related to irrigation, drinking water, hydropower etc. EPC is a model of carrying out engineering, procurement and construction works including design and maintenance of construction, by the selected company itself. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">So far, EPC model has been implemented only by the Nepal Electricity Authority but it has not been used in the construction of infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. However, On May 14, the Nepalese Army (NA) signed a contract to build tunnels and bridges along the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track in the same model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">In order to promote infrastructure development, plans have been announced to prioritize construction of road, tunnels, expressways and special bridges. But the country lacks skilled technical manpower, and required equipment. Siddhababa tunnel project was stalled due to lack of skilled manpower when the EPC model was not in practice. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Sushil Dhakal, spokesperson of the PPMO, said that the directive has been implemented to maintain uniformity in procurement done through EPC. The government bodies can purchase the contracts concerning large and complex projects. It covers issues concerning the basis of contract qualification, evaluation and selection, drawing and design, quality control and quality assurance, payment arrangements, warranty, maintenance and operation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Department of Roads (DoR) is now preparing to issue tenders for the Siddhababa Tunnel Project based on the same model. The Ministry of Finance had allocated Rs 10.15 billion for the construction of the project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The department had sent the document based on EPC model which didn't get approval from PPMO for more than one and half a year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Director General of the Department Arjun Jung Thapa said that the door has been opened to build Siddhababa Tunnel in the same model. He informed that preparations are on to invite tenders as part of the process to initiate the construction of the tunnel. Thapa said that the procurement process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel will be expedited based on the EPC model used by the NA. "Since the directives and the model are introduced, we can now use this model for construction projects with the required parameters," Thapa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the infrastructure experts this is a refined form of design and build concept. This model has been very effective in the construction of bridges in the country. In the design and build model, the concerned body has to approve the design made by the construction company, whereas in EPC, the contract company itself designs and prepares engineering works.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13151', 'image' => '20210517050528_20210408031917_20190825123459_Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 17:04:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Pharmaceutical Companies Stop Producing Major Drugs Used to Treat Covid ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw materials.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17: </span><span style="font-family:Arial">Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major drugs used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw materials. The drug manufacturers have stopped producing drugs such as paracetamol, zinc, vitamin C, and doxycycline, and azithromycin used for treating lung infection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal, which has been pressuring the Department of Health Services for price adjustment for the past three years. The association has informed the department that they cannot produce the medicines at the same rates as the prices of raw materials have increased. They claim that they have to incur more for the raw materials than they earn from selling the medicines at the current rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">President of the </span><span style="font-family:Arial">association Narayan Chhetri said that it is not possible to produce the medicines as the cost price has become higher than the selling price. He said that the government had last adjusted the price 14 years ago and now it is not possible to produce medicines at that same price. "Paracetamol is already in short supply in some places," he said. "Who will produce medicines at a loss?” he questioned.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He admits that the price of essential medicines should not be too high, but says that the government authorities should adjust the price.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Entrepreneurs have been saying that the price of medicine has not been adjusted since the association and the department adjusted the price in September 2008. But the government claims that it had increased the prices of 21 types of medicines some three years ago. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Chhetri argues that the price of the product has gone up as the prices of raw materials have increased four folds. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Stating that paracetamol is still available in the market at Re 1 per tablet while the cost price is around Rs 1.5, he questioned how long will the company produce them bearing loss.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">This has already created shortage of medicines in the market. However, Chhetri says medicines can be imported easily, but the question is about quality assurance of the cheap drugs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The association has demanded that the price of medicine should be adjusted every six months</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Drug manufacturer Deepak Dahal said that the manufacturers have stopped producing drugs because they have been bearing massive loss.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"We could have produced medicine for social service. But with a negative balance sheet, the bank will not give us any loan and it won't be possible for us to operate," he informed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that not only the private industry but also the government-owned Nepal Aushadhi Limited has stopped producing such drugs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"We are not trying to put pressure on the government to increase the price to take advantage of the opportunity. The demand for a price adjustment for the last three years has not been addressed," he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Spokesperson of the department Dr Santosh KC said that the department will form a group to decide on the price adjustment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13150', 'image' => '20210517025320_20200818124630_1597700501.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 14:51:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Provide Discount on Electricity Tariff to Oxygen Industries', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17:</span> <span style="font-family:Arial">The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) held on Sunday (May 16) took the decision to waive electricity tariff. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. The decision to offer a waiver on electricity tariffs to oxygen plants comes in the wake of growing demand for oxygen in hospitals due to the rising cases of Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the CCMC, it also decided to continue the import of liquid oxygen from India as well as increase the supply of oxygen cylinders. The government has already imported 400 cylinders from China and 561 cylinders from Oman. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">CCMC members also claim that oxygen supply to the hospitals would not be a problem anymore as the government has imported additional oxygen cylinders from Lhasa via Tatopani. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also discussed the shortage of financial resources and procedural hassles that have contributed to the suffering of the Covid-19 patients. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Oli directed CCMC to resolve the procedural hassles and act immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the death toll from Covid-19 has crossed 5,000. With 145 deaths reported on Sunday, the total number of people losing their lives to Covid-19 has climbed 5,001, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradip Gyawali, CCMC has decided to intensify its efforts to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak as per the directive of the prime minister.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Stating that procedural hassles on procurement and other works related to the management of Covid-19 have contributed to a surge in deaths, he said that the government was committed to act swiftly to respond and manage the current health crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13149', 'image' => '20210517125357_20210429095930_Medical-Oxygen-Gas-Cylinders-Market.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 12:53:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13418', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAST Succeeds in Test Production of Oxygen Cylinders ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has tested the production of oxygen gas cylinder for the first time in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 19: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has tested the production of oxygen gas cylinder for the first time in Nepal. At a time when oxygen cylinders are in short supply, new cylinders are being manufactured and tested within the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The test started after Minister for Education Krishna Gopal Shrestha inspected the production facility on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Shrestha expressed commitment to take initiative to fulfill the shortage of zeolite used for making oxygen. Furthermore, he said that the government would extend full support to this initiative of NAST. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that there is no oxygen production plant in big hospitals, he said, “If the provision of an oxygen plant was made mandatory in the hospital when giving permission to operate hospitals in the past, there would have been no shortage at present.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the success of the test, the government will now give permission to various companies to produce cylinders to meet the demand. Chief of the Faculty of Technology at NAST, Dr Rabindra Dhakal, said commercial production will be allowed after discussing with the manufacturing companies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to him, the minimum price of a cylinder available in the country costs around Rs 15,000, while the cylinders produced with the technology of NAST will cost less than Rs 10,000. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister Shrestha, who arrived at NAST’s headquarters in Lalitpur to observe the test, appreciated the team including vice chancellor Dr Sunil Babu Shrestha and scientist Shankar Dhakal. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13163', 'image' => '20210519040512_20210503015716_20210429095930_Medical-Oxygen-Gas-Cylinders-Market.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 16:04:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13417', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Revenue Advisory Committee Recommends the Government to Monitor Ecommerce Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country. In a report submitted to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the committee has suggested the government to formulate tax policies to sustain the growing online business that has boomed with the COVID-19 pandemic and bring it under the network of tax. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report submitted to the Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel suggests programmes that the government should include in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year. It has also suggested the government to bring timely reforms in the tax system. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report states that a detailed study is required to change the revenue structure. It has suggested to look into the demands raised by the private sector regarding VAT issue and form an appropriate policy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Other subject matters of the report include providing compensation packages to the tourism and service sectors, review customs revenue, changing excise duty structure and studying the rate of excise duty being levied on special items. It has recommended the government to adopt a policy that avoids duplication of tax in the three levels of the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Mahesh Dahal, chairman of the committee, said that suggestions have been provided to the government to adopt investment-friendly tax policies to increase production, employment opportunities and attract private sector investment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The report has recommended the government to be mindful of new areas of tax as well as tax policies that the government should introduce in the upcoming fiscal year," said Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Revenue Advisory Committee is an independent body that has been providing recommendations to the Ministry of Finance to carry out tax reforms since 2019. It is authorized to act as a think tank on revenue issues. It carries out interactive programmes in all seven provinces with the participation of the private sector to gather revenue-related recommendations. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13162', 'image' => '20210519021352_20210314014808_20190408115552_20160717125003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 14:12:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13416', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank rules out possibility of achieving 4% growth as projected by CBS ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year 20120/21 as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics is now difficult to achieve. ', 'content' => '<p>May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year (FY20120/21) as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is now difficult to achieve. </p> <p>Releasing its third quarterly report of the monetary policy for the current fiscal year on Wednesday, the central bank ruled out the possibility of achieving the growth of 4.01 percent as estimated by the CBS in April. </p> <p>Stating that the economy was heading toward recovery until nine months of the current fiscal year, the central bank said that the second wave of Covid-19 and subsequent prohbitory measures introduced in many parts of the country pose a challenge even to achieve the economic growth rate of 4 percent. </p> <p>“Economic activities were gaining momentum after the lockdown was lifted following the decline in first wave of Covid-19 infection. Against this backdrop, the CBS projects the economy to grow by 4 percent,” read the third quarterly report of the monetary policy. “However, it is difficult to achieve the estimated growth as the second wave is hitting the economy before the revival,” it added. </p> <p>Earlier on April 30, the CBS had made a preliminary estimate of 4.01 percent of economic growth in the current fiscal year from a contraction of 2.1 percent in the previous fiscal year. The estimate, based on available information and figures of seven to nine months of the current fiscal year, did not take into consideration the impacts of prohibitory measures introduced by local administrations in many parts of the country to control the spread of the second wave of coronavirus. </p> <p>Though the CBS officials had said that their projection was based on an assumption that all economic activities will operate in normal condition after two weeks, the ongoing lockdown, imposed through prohibitory orders from April 29, is already extended till May 27 in the Kathmandu Valley. </p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13161', 'image' => '20210519124440_20210430085017_CBS Growth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 12:34:40', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank Tells BFIs to Save Lives under CSR', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 19</span></span><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The central bank issued such directive on May 18 in the third quarterly review of the monetary policy of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This is expected to help the treatment of COVID-19 infected patients, the central bank said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Under the CSR, arrangement shall be made to contribute funds to save people's lives in public interest and philanthropic works across the country," the state-owned national news agency RSS quoted the central bank as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13160', 'image' => '20210519123138_20200419015315_bank-malware.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 12:30:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks will not be Allowed to Auction Collateral Until One Month after Prohibitory Period: NRB', 'sub_title' => 'NRB also to ban BFIs from imposing penalty, additional charges on borrowers during prohibitory period ', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 18: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has announced to forbid banks and financial institutions (BFIs) from publishing notices for auctioning collateral or recovering loans during the prohibitory period. This new provision will remain in force until one month after the prohibitory orders are lifted by the government authorities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Releasing the third quarterly review report of the monetary policy of the current fiscal year (FY 2020/21), the central bank said that it will make necessary arrangements to bar BFIs from publishing public notices to auction collaterals to recover their loans from borrowers during and after one month of the prohibitory period.<br /> The restriction to recover loans through auction will come into force after the central bank issues a circular to the BFIs to implement the provision, according to NRB officials who say that the circular will be issued 'soon'. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The provision aims at providing protection to borrowers from BFIs auctioning their collateral to recover loans until one month after the prohibitory period ends.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The provision is intended to stop banks and financial institutions from moving ahead with the process of auction to recover loans from defaulters during this crisis. There won’t be much participation in the bank auction during the prohibitory period, either. Halting the recovery of loans through auction will also provide a relief to the borrowers who are hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Dev Kumar Dhakal, spokesperson of NRB, told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, the NRB, in its third quarterly monetary policy review report, said that it will also introduce a provision to prohibit BFIs from imposing any penalty or other additional charges in loan repayment from borrowers during the prohibition period. <br /> </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13159', 'image' => '20210518043705_Nepal Rastra Bank.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 16:30:01', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '2,500 Oxygen Cylinders Imported from China via Tatopani Customs Point', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs. ', 'content' => '<p><em>This file photo shows Tatopani Customs Point. Photo: NBA</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">: </span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali businessmen had placed order for 18,000 empty oxygen cylinders, among which, 2,500 cylinders have been brought to the Tatopani customs point on Monday (May 17).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The cylinders would be sent to the Kathmandu after physical inspection, said Tatopani Customs Chief Naradmani Gautam.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The government has directed us not to queue health-related items. Since the items are not eligible for taxation, the customs clearance procedures are being sped up in order to deliver the goods to Kathmandu soon,” said Gautam. The cylinders have been brought to Tatopani Customs from Khasa by following the proper health and safety measures, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The cylinders of 10 litre capacity were imported by Hima Trade Link. Ramesh Sherpa, chairman of the transport company, Silk Transport, mentioned that 15,000 additional oxygen cylinders, other health items and equipment have also arrived at Lhasa, Membu, Shigatse, Nyalam regions of China. He also notified that it would take approximately two weeks for those items to arrive at Tatopani Customs Point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chairman Sherpa informed that the health items imported by Nepali businessmen include PPE sets, surgical masks, sanitizers and gloves. The Chinese administration has notified that the oxygen cylinders and health items that have arrived at Khasa region would be sent to Nepal only after the completion of medical protocol, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13158', 'image' => '20210518054607_20190510014655_Clipboard04-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:45:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Instructs Officials to Ease Customs Clearance of Oxygen Cylinders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He has directed the government bodies to ease and speed up the customs clearance of health supplies, equipment and medicines related to the prevention, treatment and control of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a virtual discussion held between the concerned bodies, Finance Minister Paudel directed the director general and deputy director general of the Department of Customs and heads of various customs offices to ease the supply by facilitating customs clearance and inspection without any hassles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel also instructed the officials to submit daily report containing information about the quantity and price of imported goods for the treatment of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana issued a directive to implement a brief procedure on customs clearance of goods related to prevention, control and treatment of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Revenue Secretary Ram Saran Pudasaini instructed the officials to work effectively round the clock in coordination with the customs offices of the neighboring countries for speedy inspection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Yamlal Bhusal, director general of the Department of Customs, said that the department has formed a quick response team to facilitate the supply of essential items.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13157', 'image' => '20210518053658_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:35:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Budget Crunch hits Construction of Road Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: The construction of various road projects has been hit by lack of budget in addition to the impact of COVID-19. The Department of Roads (DoR), which has spent 45 percent of budget in capital expenditure for various projects in the last ten months of the current fiscal year, is reeling under budget crunch for projects like the Postal Highway, Industrial Corridor and local bridges. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Kumar Singh, deputy spokesperson of the Department, informed that the low capital expenditure is due to the insufficient budget amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the development process of the Postal Highway and other six-lane industrial corridors have been hit by the lack of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Singh, DoR is experiencing a budget crunch of Rs 11 billion for several road projects. The department itself will manage Rs 2.5 billion budget while the rest needs to be allocated by the Ministry of Finance. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The department has said that the COVID-19 pandemic will also affect the annual target. If the current situation persists, the department has estimated only 65 percent of budget will be spent on capital expenditure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The construction has been affected as workers in some projects have gone home while some others have been infected. About 35 workers involved in the construction of the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel have tested positive for the coronavirus which has affected the construction process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Department of Roads had received a budget of Rs 108 billion in the current fiscal year of which Rs 30.17 billion has been spent. The department has set an annual target of blacktopping 1,800 km roads but only 850 km of roads have been blacktopped so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Of this, 550 km of roads have been newly-blacktop while the remaining 300 km have been upgraded and rehabilitated. A new road track of 284 km has been constructed. Until the second quarter, 504 km of gravel road has been completed out of the set target of 1000 km. Similarly, the DoR has completed the construction of 129 motorable bridges. It had set a target to complete the construction of 300 motorable bridges. Of the constructed bridges, 86 bridges are local bridges and 43 are strategically important ones. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13156', 'image' => '20210518051249_1621292862.Clipboard09 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:12:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Approves EIA Report of Electricity Transmission Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal) with the grant funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), USA, and co-funding from the Government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to MCA-Nepal, the EIA report approved on April 29, 2021 by the government with a ministerial level decision is a major part of the project preparatory works now underway for the construction of transmission lines and substations under the Electricity Transmission Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The achievement is an important milestone to help meet one condition related to site access before the MCC Compact can enter into force,” said Khadga Bahadur Bisht, executive director of MCA-Nepal, in a statement on Tuesday, May 18.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The other important milestone will be ratification of the Compact,” he added. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bisht further said that the</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> report has established the existing status of the physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural environment within the project’s footprint, and has suggested measures to mitigate the potential impacts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The detailed EIA report, prepared according to the existing laws of Nepal, is in compliance with Nepal's Environment Protection Act (EPA), 2019 and Environment Protection Rules (EPR), 2020, the statement further said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to MCA-Nepal, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">a robust methodology for data collection and analysis, for the EIA which also included a number of consultations and public hearings in all 30 municipalities/rural municipalities of 10 districts in the project’s footprint. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report has proposed measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate/manage adverse impacts and to optimize project benefits as per Nepal’s environmental laws and regulations, and international best practices.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Following the approval of the report, MCA-Nepal said it will now initiate a process to receive the approval for the use of national forest area and removal of trees and plants. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Government of Nepal and the US Government’s MCC signed a Compact in September 2017 for undertaking two projects that the Government had identified to address major constraints to Nepal’s development. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">One of the two projects, the Electricity Transmission Project,</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> also </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">a National Pride Project, will </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">build around 314 km of 400 kV transmission lines and three 400 kV sub-stations. The transmission lines will pass through 30 municipalities/rural municipalities in 10 districts. The Project will also ensure affected local stakeholders benefit through partnership program and strengthen the power sector in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The other – Road Maintenance Project – will support maintenance of Nepal’s roads while also introducing a new road maintenance technology in the country, MCA-Nepal added.</span></span><em> </em></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13155', 'image' => '20210518034734_20201218014622_1608248580.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 15:46:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Digital Payment Helps Government in Revenue Collection amid Restrictions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government has imposed prohibitory orders in various districts, including Kathmandu, from the second week of April following an outbreak of the second wave of Covid-19. Meanwhile, tax offices including the Inland Revenue Department had directed the taxpayers to pay the tax ignoring the requests of the private sector for an extension of the tax payment deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Abiding by the tax offices’ calls to pay their tax through digital payment system, most of the taxpayers submitted their taxes on time to avoid penalty. The government was able to collect revenue of Rs 77.12 billion in the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May) alone. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government's revenue from taxes in the review period was Rs 72.91 billion. Out of the total amount of taxes, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) collected Rs 32.4 billion, according to the preliminary data of the department. The department had set a target of collecting Rs 33.99 billion during the review month.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the department, to facilitate the taxpayers during the ongoing crisis, arrangements were made to pay taxes through digital platforms such as connectIPS and eSewa. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">As a result, the government was able almost to meet target of revenue collection for the month of Baisakh, informed Mukti Pandey, deputy director-general at the IRD. According to him, the department had set a target of collecting Rs 345 billion in revenue in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO), 75 percent of the annual revenue collection target has been met as of Baisakh end (mid-May). FCGO’s Spokesperson Gyanendra Poudel said that the government's income was satisfactory amid the ongoing lockdown. He said that the effective implementation of the digital payment system has become helpful for the government in collecting revenue. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the number of people making payments through digital channels like connectIPS has been on an increasing trend. In the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2020/21), Rs 211 billion has been paid through connectIPS and Rs 11 billion through other e-wallets. This also shows that the government's policy of digitizing the payment system is heading towards the right direction.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13154', 'image' => '20210518011138_5f50d.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 13:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Telecom Launches VoLTE Service across the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Manisha Balami</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. Nepal Telecom launched this service under the LTE technology with the aim of modernizing its services as per the demand of the customers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">VoLTE or Voice over LTE is an advanced technology that delivers high definition voice quality calls across the NT 4G network. According to the spokesperson of Nepal Telecom, Rajesh Joshi, with the use of VoLTE, customers can now experience crystal clear voice quality with reduced background noise while calling another VoLTE enabled device. Furthermore, the voice quality will also sound more natural. Moreover, the phone calls will also be established immediately while making calls using the 4G network.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">This service is available in all the places having NT’s 4G coverage. However, in order to use this service, a customer needs to have a handset that supports VoLTE service.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The service is compatible with Nokia 5.3, Nokia 7.2, Nokia 3.4, Redmi 9 Prime, Mi10, Redmi 9C, Redmi Note 9 Pro, and Redmi 8A. In addition, mobile phones including Samsung Galaxy S series, M (Millennial) series, A (Alpha) series, Note series and Z Fold2 are also compatible. Nepal Telecom informed that they are working with all handset suppliers to bring VoLTE support in every phone soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Joshi added that Nepal Telecom subscribers can dial *444# from their VoLTE enabled handset and follow the instructions to activate this service in their Sim card. Likewise, to activate this service on phone set, the customers need to go to the settings of the mobile and enable the call for NTC SIM and then the sign of VoLTE appears on the top of the mobile set. Once the signal appears, customers can dial *111# to get 100 minutes free call pack for the activation. According to Nepal Telecom, the free voice pack is valid up to 28 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecom further informed that there is no additional cost for the VoLTE service and the charge is the same as that for normal 2G and 3G calls. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13153', 'image' => '20210518124104_Nepal-Telecom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 12:40:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Rate of COVID-19 Infection yet to Decline ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. It has been reported that the number of new cases dropped due to the decline in tests but the rate of infection has not dropped yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the Ministry of Health and Population, a total of 22,087 tests were conducted on Monday out of which 9,247 people or 42 percent samples tested positive for coronavirus. The ministry had been conducting less than 20,000 tests in the past weeks but had stepped up testing on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">On Sunday, the ministry had conducted 19,883 tests and 18,548 tests on Saturday. The rate of infection was 37 percent on Sunday and 44 percent on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The rate of infection was more than 50 percent until last week but has now become somewhat stable, according to the available data.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Public health expert Dr Sher Bahadur Pun says it is difficult to predict the future course at the moment but the data show some positive results. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The current crisis is a result of transmission within families. But the chain effect of infection at the community level has been under control to some extent,” said Pun, adding that the infection will reduce if the public abides by the prohibitory order.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“If there is public gatherings, the problem will resurface again,” said Pub.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He says that even if the government lifts prohibitory order, the general public must still follow standard health protocol. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population has stated that the coming weeks would be challenging in view of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic that has spread across the country. Issuing a statement on Monday, the ministry urged the public to be more cautious and to strictly adopt health safety protocol. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">In the statement, joint spokesperson at the ministry Dr Samir Adhikari said that despite rigorous efforts in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of infection has still not declined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Dr Adhikari urged one and all not to organize and participate in any kind of public gathering in the name of religious, cultural and political activities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">The ministry also informed that the rate of infection was high in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Rupandehi, Morang, Kailali, Makawanpur, Dhanusha, Sunsari, Parsa, Bardiya, Banke and Palpa districts. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13152', 'image' => '20210518112229_1621294179.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 11:21:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Infrastructure Projects to be Built under EPC Model', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has introduced and implemented 'Directive on Procurement through EPC-2021' in this regard. The directive allows purchase of contracts through the EPC model for the construction of tunnels, flyovers, bridges as well as airports, stadiums, auditoriums, waste management projects and processing centers. The Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) informed that the directive was approved by the cabinet on May 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">It is said that this model can be applied in the construction of roads and projects related to irrigation, drinking water, hydropower etc. EPC is a model of carrying out engineering, procurement and construction works including design and maintenance of construction, by the selected company itself. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">So far, EPC model has been implemented only by the Nepal Electricity Authority but it has not been used in the construction of infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. However, On May 14, the Nepalese Army (NA) signed a contract to build tunnels and bridges along the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track in the same model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">In order to promote infrastructure development, plans have been announced to prioritize construction of road, tunnels, expressways and special bridges. But the country lacks skilled technical manpower, and required equipment. Siddhababa tunnel project was stalled due to lack of skilled manpower when the EPC model was not in practice. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Sushil Dhakal, spokesperson of the PPMO, said that the directive has been implemented to maintain uniformity in procurement done through EPC. The government bodies can purchase the contracts concerning large and complex projects. It covers issues concerning the basis of contract qualification, evaluation and selection, drawing and design, quality control and quality assurance, payment arrangements, warranty, maintenance and operation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Department of Roads (DoR) is now preparing to issue tenders for the Siddhababa Tunnel Project based on the same model. The Ministry of Finance had allocated Rs 10.15 billion for the construction of the project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The department had sent the document based on EPC model which didn't get approval from PPMO for more than one and half a year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Director General of the Department Arjun Jung Thapa said that the door has been opened to build Siddhababa Tunnel in the same model. He informed that preparations are on to invite tenders as part of the process to initiate the construction of the tunnel. Thapa said that the procurement process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel will be expedited based on the EPC model used by the NA. "Since the directives and the model are introduced, we can now use this model for construction projects with the required parameters," Thapa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the infrastructure experts this is a refined form of design and build concept. This model has been very effective in the construction of bridges in the country. In the design and build model, the concerned body has to approve the design made by the construction company, whereas in EPC, the contract company itself designs and prepares engineering works.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13151', 'image' => '20210517050528_20210408031917_20190825123459_Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 17:04:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Pharmaceutical Companies Stop Producing Major Drugs Used to Treat Covid ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw materials.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17: </span><span style="font-family:Arial">Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major drugs used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw materials. The drug manufacturers have stopped producing drugs such as paracetamol, zinc, vitamin C, and doxycycline, and azithromycin used for treating lung infection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal, which has been pressuring the Department of Health Services for price adjustment for the past three years. The association has informed the department that they cannot produce the medicines at the same rates as the prices of raw materials have increased. They claim that they have to incur more for the raw materials than they earn from selling the medicines at the current rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">President of the </span><span style="font-family:Arial">association Narayan Chhetri said that it is not possible to produce the medicines as the cost price has become higher than the selling price. He said that the government had last adjusted the price 14 years ago and now it is not possible to produce medicines at that same price. "Paracetamol is already in short supply in some places," he said. "Who will produce medicines at a loss?” he questioned.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He admits that the price of essential medicines should not be too high, but says that the government authorities should adjust the price.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Entrepreneurs have been saying that the price of medicine has not been adjusted since the association and the department adjusted the price in September 2008. But the government claims that it had increased the prices of 21 types of medicines some three years ago. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Chhetri argues that the price of the product has gone up as the prices of raw materials have increased four folds. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Stating that paracetamol is still available in the market at Re 1 per tablet while the cost price is around Rs 1.5, he questioned how long will the company produce them bearing loss.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">This has already created shortage of medicines in the market. However, Chhetri says medicines can be imported easily, but the question is about quality assurance of the cheap drugs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The association has demanded that the price of medicine should be adjusted every six months</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Drug manufacturer Deepak Dahal said that the manufacturers have stopped producing drugs because they have been bearing massive loss.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"We could have produced medicine for social service. But with a negative balance sheet, the bank will not give us any loan and it won't be possible for us to operate," he informed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that not only the private industry but also the government-owned Nepal Aushadhi Limited has stopped producing such drugs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"We are not trying to put pressure on the government to increase the price to take advantage of the opportunity. The demand for a price adjustment for the last three years has not been addressed," he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Spokesperson of the department Dr Santosh KC said that the department will form a group to decide on the price adjustment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13150', 'image' => '20210517025320_20200818124630_1597700501.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 14:51:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Provide Discount on Electricity Tariff to Oxygen Industries', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17:</span> <span style="font-family:Arial">The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) held on Sunday (May 16) took the decision to waive electricity tariff. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. The decision to offer a waiver on electricity tariffs to oxygen plants comes in the wake of growing demand for oxygen in hospitals due to the rising cases of Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the CCMC, it also decided to continue the import of liquid oxygen from India as well as increase the supply of oxygen cylinders. The government has already imported 400 cylinders from China and 561 cylinders from Oman. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">CCMC members also claim that oxygen supply to the hospitals would not be a problem anymore as the government has imported additional oxygen cylinders from Lhasa via Tatopani. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also discussed the shortage of financial resources and procedural hassles that have contributed to the suffering of the Covid-19 patients. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Oli directed CCMC to resolve the procedural hassles and act immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the death toll from Covid-19 has crossed 5,000. With 145 deaths reported on Sunday, the total number of people losing their lives to Covid-19 has climbed 5,001, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradip Gyawali, CCMC has decided to intensify its efforts to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak as per the directive of the prime minister.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Stating that procedural hassles on procurement and other works related to the management of Covid-19 have contributed to a surge in deaths, he said that the government was committed to act swiftly to respond and manage the current health crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13149', 'image' => '20210517125357_20210429095930_Medical-Oxygen-Gas-Cylinders-Market.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 12:53:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13418', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAST Succeeds in Test Production of Oxygen Cylinders ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has tested the production of oxygen gas cylinder for the first time in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 19: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has tested the production of oxygen gas cylinder for the first time in Nepal. At a time when oxygen cylinders are in short supply, new cylinders are being manufactured and tested within the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The test started after Minister for Education Krishna Gopal Shrestha inspected the production facility on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Shrestha expressed commitment to take initiative to fulfill the shortage of zeolite used for making oxygen. Furthermore, he said that the government would extend full support to this initiative of NAST. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that there is no oxygen production plant in big hospitals, he said, “If the provision of an oxygen plant was made mandatory in the hospital when giving permission to operate hospitals in the past, there would have been no shortage at present.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the success of the test, the government will now give permission to various companies to produce cylinders to meet the demand. Chief of the Faculty of Technology at NAST, Dr Rabindra Dhakal, said commercial production will be allowed after discussing with the manufacturing companies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to him, the minimum price of a cylinder available in the country costs around Rs 15,000, while the cylinders produced with the technology of NAST will cost less than Rs 10,000. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister Shrestha, who arrived at NAST’s headquarters in Lalitpur to observe the test, appreciated the team including vice chancellor Dr Sunil Babu Shrestha and scientist Shankar Dhakal. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13163', 'image' => '20210519040512_20210503015716_20210429095930_Medical-Oxygen-Gas-Cylinders-Market.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 16:04:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13417', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Revenue Advisory Committee Recommends the Government to Monitor Ecommerce Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country. In a report submitted to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the committee has suggested the government to formulate tax policies to sustain the growing online business that has boomed with the COVID-19 pandemic and bring it under the network of tax. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report submitted to the Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel suggests programmes that the government should include in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year. It has also suggested the government to bring timely reforms in the tax system. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report states that a detailed study is required to change the revenue structure. It has suggested to look into the demands raised by the private sector regarding VAT issue and form an appropriate policy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Other subject matters of the report include providing compensation packages to the tourism and service sectors, review customs revenue, changing excise duty structure and studying the rate of excise duty being levied on special items. It has recommended the government to adopt a policy that avoids duplication of tax in the three levels of the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Mahesh Dahal, chairman of the committee, said that suggestions have been provided to the government to adopt investment-friendly tax policies to increase production, employment opportunities and attract private sector investment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The report has recommended the government to be mindful of new areas of tax as well as tax policies that the government should introduce in the upcoming fiscal year," said Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Revenue Advisory Committee is an independent body that has been providing recommendations to the Ministry of Finance to carry out tax reforms since 2019. It is authorized to act as a think tank on revenue issues. It carries out interactive programmes in all seven provinces with the participation of the private sector to gather revenue-related recommendations. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13162', 'image' => '20210519021352_20210314014808_20190408115552_20160717125003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 14:12:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13416', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank rules out possibility of achieving 4% growth as projected by CBS ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year 20120/21 as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics is now difficult to achieve. ', 'content' => '<p>May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year (FY20120/21) as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is now difficult to achieve. </p> <p>Releasing its third quarterly report of the monetary policy for the current fiscal year on Wednesday, the central bank ruled out the possibility of achieving the growth of 4.01 percent as estimated by the CBS in April. </p> <p>Stating that the economy was heading toward recovery until nine months of the current fiscal year, the central bank said that the second wave of Covid-19 and subsequent prohbitory measures introduced in many parts of the country pose a challenge even to achieve the economic growth rate of 4 percent. </p> <p>“Economic activities were gaining momentum after the lockdown was lifted following the decline in first wave of Covid-19 infection. Against this backdrop, the CBS projects the economy to grow by 4 percent,” read the third quarterly report of the monetary policy. “However, it is difficult to achieve the estimated growth as the second wave is hitting the economy before the revival,” it added. </p> <p>Earlier on April 30, the CBS had made a preliminary estimate of 4.01 percent of economic growth in the current fiscal year from a contraction of 2.1 percent in the previous fiscal year. The estimate, based on available information and figures of seven to nine months of the current fiscal year, did not take into consideration the impacts of prohibitory measures introduced by local administrations in many parts of the country to control the spread of the second wave of coronavirus. </p> <p>Though the CBS officials had said that their projection was based on an assumption that all economic activities will operate in normal condition after two weeks, the ongoing lockdown, imposed through prohibitory orders from April 29, is already extended till May 27 in the Kathmandu Valley. </p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13161', 'image' => '20210519124440_20210430085017_CBS Growth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 12:34:40', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank Tells BFIs to Save Lives under CSR', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 19</span></span><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The central bank issued such directive on May 18 in the third quarterly review of the monetary policy of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This is expected to help the treatment of COVID-19 infected patients, the central bank said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Under the CSR, arrangement shall be made to contribute funds to save people's lives in public interest and philanthropic works across the country," the state-owned national news agency RSS quoted the central bank as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13160', 'image' => '20210519123138_20200419015315_bank-malware.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 12:30:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks will not be Allowed to Auction Collateral Until One Month after Prohibitory Period: NRB', 'sub_title' => 'NRB also to ban BFIs from imposing penalty, additional charges on borrowers during prohibitory period ', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 18: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has announced to forbid banks and financial institutions (BFIs) from publishing notices for auctioning collateral or recovering loans during the prohibitory period. This new provision will remain in force until one month after the prohibitory orders are lifted by the government authorities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Releasing the third quarterly review report of the monetary policy of the current fiscal year (FY 2020/21), the central bank said that it will make necessary arrangements to bar BFIs from publishing public notices to auction collaterals to recover their loans from borrowers during and after one month of the prohibitory period.<br /> The restriction to recover loans through auction will come into force after the central bank issues a circular to the BFIs to implement the provision, according to NRB officials who say that the circular will be issued 'soon'. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The provision aims at providing protection to borrowers from BFIs auctioning their collateral to recover loans until one month after the prohibitory period ends.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The provision is intended to stop banks and financial institutions from moving ahead with the process of auction to recover loans from defaulters during this crisis. There won’t be much participation in the bank auction during the prohibitory period, either. Halting the recovery of loans through auction will also provide a relief to the borrowers who are hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Dev Kumar Dhakal, spokesperson of NRB, told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, the NRB, in its third quarterly monetary policy review report, said that it will also introduce a provision to prohibit BFIs from imposing any penalty or other additional charges in loan repayment from borrowers during the prohibition period. <br /> </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13159', 'image' => '20210518043705_Nepal Rastra Bank.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 16:30:01', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '2,500 Oxygen Cylinders Imported from China via Tatopani Customs Point', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs. ', 'content' => '<p><em>This file photo shows Tatopani Customs Point. Photo: NBA</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">: </span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali businessmen had placed order for 18,000 empty oxygen cylinders, among which, 2,500 cylinders have been brought to the Tatopani customs point on Monday (May 17).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The cylinders would be sent to the Kathmandu after physical inspection, said Tatopani Customs Chief Naradmani Gautam.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The government has directed us not to queue health-related items. Since the items are not eligible for taxation, the customs clearance procedures are being sped up in order to deliver the goods to Kathmandu soon,” said Gautam. The cylinders have been brought to Tatopani Customs from Khasa by following the proper health and safety measures, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The cylinders of 10 litre capacity were imported by Hima Trade Link. Ramesh Sherpa, chairman of the transport company, Silk Transport, mentioned that 15,000 additional oxygen cylinders, other health items and equipment have also arrived at Lhasa, Membu, Shigatse, Nyalam regions of China. He also notified that it would take approximately two weeks for those items to arrive at Tatopani Customs Point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chairman Sherpa informed that the health items imported by Nepali businessmen include PPE sets, surgical masks, sanitizers and gloves. The Chinese administration has notified that the oxygen cylinders and health items that have arrived at Khasa region would be sent to Nepal only after the completion of medical protocol, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13158', 'image' => '20210518054607_20190510014655_Clipboard04-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:45:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Instructs Officials to Ease Customs Clearance of Oxygen Cylinders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He has directed the government bodies to ease and speed up the customs clearance of health supplies, equipment and medicines related to the prevention, treatment and control of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a virtual discussion held between the concerned bodies, Finance Minister Paudel directed the director general and deputy director general of the Department of Customs and heads of various customs offices to ease the supply by facilitating customs clearance and inspection without any hassles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel also instructed the officials to submit daily report containing information about the quantity and price of imported goods for the treatment of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana issued a directive to implement a brief procedure on customs clearance of goods related to prevention, control and treatment of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Revenue Secretary Ram Saran Pudasaini instructed the officials to work effectively round the clock in coordination with the customs offices of the neighboring countries for speedy inspection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Yamlal Bhusal, director general of the Department of Customs, said that the department has formed a quick response team to facilitate the supply of essential items.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13157', 'image' => '20210518053658_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:35:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Budget Crunch hits Construction of Road Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: The construction of various road projects has been hit by lack of budget in addition to the impact of COVID-19. The Department of Roads (DoR), which has spent 45 percent of budget in capital expenditure for various projects in the last ten months of the current fiscal year, is reeling under budget crunch for projects like the Postal Highway, Industrial Corridor and local bridges. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Kumar Singh, deputy spokesperson of the Department, informed that the low capital expenditure is due to the insufficient budget amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the development process of the Postal Highway and other six-lane industrial corridors have been hit by the lack of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Singh, DoR is experiencing a budget crunch of Rs 11 billion for several road projects. The department itself will manage Rs 2.5 billion budget while the rest needs to be allocated by the Ministry of Finance. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The department has said that the COVID-19 pandemic will also affect the annual target. If the current situation persists, the department has estimated only 65 percent of budget will be spent on capital expenditure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The construction has been affected as workers in some projects have gone home while some others have been infected. About 35 workers involved in the construction of the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel have tested positive for the coronavirus which has affected the construction process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Department of Roads had received a budget of Rs 108 billion in the current fiscal year of which Rs 30.17 billion has been spent. The department has set an annual target of blacktopping 1,800 km roads but only 850 km of roads have been blacktopped so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Of this, 550 km of roads have been newly-blacktop while the remaining 300 km have been upgraded and rehabilitated. A new road track of 284 km has been constructed. Until the second quarter, 504 km of gravel road has been completed out of the set target of 1000 km. Similarly, the DoR has completed the construction of 129 motorable bridges. It had set a target to complete the construction of 300 motorable bridges. Of the constructed bridges, 86 bridges are local bridges and 43 are strategically important ones. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13156', 'image' => '20210518051249_1621292862.Clipboard09 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:12:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Approves EIA Report of Electricity Transmission Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal) with the grant funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), USA, and co-funding from the Government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to MCA-Nepal, the EIA report approved on April 29, 2021 by the government with a ministerial level decision is a major part of the project preparatory works now underway for the construction of transmission lines and substations under the Electricity Transmission Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The achievement is an important milestone to help meet one condition related to site access before the MCC Compact can enter into force,” said Khadga Bahadur Bisht, executive director of MCA-Nepal, in a statement on Tuesday, May 18.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The other important milestone will be ratification of the Compact,” he added. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bisht further said that the</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> report has established the existing status of the physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural environment within the project’s footprint, and has suggested measures to mitigate the potential impacts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The detailed EIA report, prepared according to the existing laws of Nepal, is in compliance with Nepal's Environment Protection Act (EPA), 2019 and Environment Protection Rules (EPR), 2020, the statement further said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to MCA-Nepal, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">a robust methodology for data collection and analysis, for the EIA which also included a number of consultations and public hearings in all 30 municipalities/rural municipalities of 10 districts in the project’s footprint. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report has proposed measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate/manage adverse impacts and to optimize project benefits as per Nepal’s environmental laws and regulations, and international best practices.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Following the approval of the report, MCA-Nepal said it will now initiate a process to receive the approval for the use of national forest area and removal of trees and plants. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Government of Nepal and the US Government’s MCC signed a Compact in September 2017 for undertaking two projects that the Government had identified to address major constraints to Nepal’s development. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">One of the two projects, the Electricity Transmission Project,</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> also </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">a National Pride Project, will </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">build around 314 km of 400 kV transmission lines and three 400 kV sub-stations. The transmission lines will pass through 30 municipalities/rural municipalities in 10 districts. The Project will also ensure affected local stakeholders benefit through partnership program and strengthen the power sector in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The other – Road Maintenance Project – will support maintenance of Nepal’s roads while also introducing a new road maintenance technology in the country, MCA-Nepal added.</span></span><em> </em></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13155', 'image' => '20210518034734_20201218014622_1608248580.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 15:46:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Digital Payment Helps Government in Revenue Collection amid Restrictions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government has imposed prohibitory orders in various districts, including Kathmandu, from the second week of April following an outbreak of the second wave of Covid-19. Meanwhile, tax offices including the Inland Revenue Department had directed the taxpayers to pay the tax ignoring the requests of the private sector for an extension of the tax payment deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Abiding by the tax offices’ calls to pay their tax through digital payment system, most of the taxpayers submitted their taxes on time to avoid penalty. The government was able to collect revenue of Rs 77.12 billion in the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May) alone. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government's revenue from taxes in the review period was Rs 72.91 billion. Out of the total amount of taxes, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) collected Rs 32.4 billion, according to the preliminary data of the department. The department had set a target of collecting Rs 33.99 billion during the review month.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the department, to facilitate the taxpayers during the ongoing crisis, arrangements were made to pay taxes through digital platforms such as connectIPS and eSewa. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">As a result, the government was able almost to meet target of revenue collection for the month of Baisakh, informed Mukti Pandey, deputy director-general at the IRD. According to him, the department had set a target of collecting Rs 345 billion in revenue in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO), 75 percent of the annual revenue collection target has been met as of Baisakh end (mid-May). FCGO’s Spokesperson Gyanendra Poudel said that the government's income was satisfactory amid the ongoing lockdown. He said that the effective implementation of the digital payment system has become helpful for the government in collecting revenue. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the number of people making payments through digital channels like connectIPS has been on an increasing trend. In the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2020/21), Rs 211 billion has been paid through connectIPS and Rs 11 billion through other e-wallets. This also shows that the government's policy of digitizing the payment system is heading towards the right direction.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13154', 'image' => '20210518011138_5f50d.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 13:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Telecom Launches VoLTE Service across the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Manisha Balami</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. Nepal Telecom launched this service under the LTE technology with the aim of modernizing its services as per the demand of the customers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">VoLTE or Voice over LTE is an advanced technology that delivers high definition voice quality calls across the NT 4G network. According to the spokesperson of Nepal Telecom, Rajesh Joshi, with the use of VoLTE, customers can now experience crystal clear voice quality with reduced background noise while calling another VoLTE enabled device. Furthermore, the voice quality will also sound more natural. Moreover, the phone calls will also be established immediately while making calls using the 4G network.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">This service is available in all the places having NT’s 4G coverage. However, in order to use this service, a customer needs to have a handset that supports VoLTE service.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The service is compatible with Nokia 5.3, Nokia 7.2, Nokia 3.4, Redmi 9 Prime, Mi10, Redmi 9C, Redmi Note 9 Pro, and Redmi 8A. In addition, mobile phones including Samsung Galaxy S series, M (Millennial) series, A (Alpha) series, Note series and Z Fold2 are also compatible. Nepal Telecom informed that they are working with all handset suppliers to bring VoLTE support in every phone soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Joshi added that Nepal Telecom subscribers can dial *444# from their VoLTE enabled handset and follow the instructions to activate this service in their Sim card. Likewise, to activate this service on phone set, the customers need to go to the settings of the mobile and enable the call for NTC SIM and then the sign of VoLTE appears on the top of the mobile set. Once the signal appears, customers can dial *111# to get 100 minutes free call pack for the activation. According to Nepal Telecom, the free voice pack is valid up to 28 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecom further informed that there is no additional cost for the VoLTE service and the charge is the same as that for normal 2G and 3G calls. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13153', 'image' => '20210518124104_Nepal-Telecom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 12:40:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Rate of COVID-19 Infection yet to Decline ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. It has been reported that the number of new cases dropped due to the decline in tests but the rate of infection has not dropped yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the Ministry of Health and Population, a total of 22,087 tests were conducted on Monday out of which 9,247 people or 42 percent samples tested positive for coronavirus. The ministry had been conducting less than 20,000 tests in the past weeks but had stepped up testing on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">On Sunday, the ministry had conducted 19,883 tests and 18,548 tests on Saturday. The rate of infection was 37 percent on Sunday and 44 percent on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The rate of infection was more than 50 percent until last week but has now become somewhat stable, according to the available data.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Public health expert Dr Sher Bahadur Pun says it is difficult to predict the future course at the moment but the data show some positive results. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The current crisis is a result of transmission within families. But the chain effect of infection at the community level has been under control to some extent,” said Pun, adding that the infection will reduce if the public abides by the prohibitory order.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“If there is public gatherings, the problem will resurface again,” said Pub.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He says that even if the government lifts prohibitory order, the general public must still follow standard health protocol. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population has stated that the coming weeks would be challenging in view of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic that has spread across the country. Issuing a statement on Monday, the ministry urged the public to be more cautious and to strictly adopt health safety protocol. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">In the statement, joint spokesperson at the ministry Dr Samir Adhikari said that despite rigorous efforts in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of infection has still not declined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Dr Adhikari urged one and all not to organize and participate in any kind of public gathering in the name of religious, cultural and political activities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">The ministry also informed that the rate of infection was high in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Rupandehi, Morang, Kailali, Makawanpur, Dhanusha, Sunsari, Parsa, Bardiya, Banke and Palpa districts. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13152', 'image' => '20210518112229_1621294179.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 11:21:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Infrastructure Projects to be Built under EPC Model', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has introduced and implemented 'Directive on Procurement through EPC-2021' in this regard. The directive allows purchase of contracts through the EPC model for the construction of tunnels, flyovers, bridges as well as airports, stadiums, auditoriums, waste management projects and processing centers. The Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) informed that the directive was approved by the cabinet on May 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">It is said that this model can be applied in the construction of roads and projects related to irrigation, drinking water, hydropower etc. EPC is a model of carrying out engineering, procurement and construction works including design and maintenance of construction, by the selected company itself. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">So far, EPC model has been implemented only by the Nepal Electricity Authority but it has not been used in the construction of infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. However, On May 14, the Nepalese Army (NA) signed a contract to build tunnels and bridges along the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track in the same model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">In order to promote infrastructure development, plans have been announced to prioritize construction of road, tunnels, expressways and special bridges. But the country lacks skilled technical manpower, and required equipment. Siddhababa tunnel project was stalled due to lack of skilled manpower when the EPC model was not in practice. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Sushil Dhakal, spokesperson of the PPMO, said that the directive has been implemented to maintain uniformity in procurement done through EPC. The government bodies can purchase the contracts concerning large and complex projects. It covers issues concerning the basis of contract qualification, evaluation and selection, drawing and design, quality control and quality assurance, payment arrangements, warranty, maintenance and operation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Department of Roads (DoR) is now preparing to issue tenders for the Siddhababa Tunnel Project based on the same model. The Ministry of Finance had allocated Rs 10.15 billion for the construction of the project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The department had sent the document based on EPC model which didn't get approval from PPMO for more than one and half a year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Director General of the Department Arjun Jung Thapa said that the door has been opened to build Siddhababa Tunnel in the same model. He informed that preparations are on to invite tenders as part of the process to initiate the construction of the tunnel. Thapa said that the procurement process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel will be expedited based on the EPC model used by the NA. "Since the directives and the model are introduced, we can now use this model for construction projects with the required parameters," Thapa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the infrastructure experts this is a refined form of design and build concept. This model has been very effective in the construction of bridges in the country. In the design and build model, the concerned body has to approve the design made by the construction company, whereas in EPC, the contract company itself designs and prepares engineering works.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13151', 'image' => '20210517050528_20210408031917_20190825123459_Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 17:04:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Pharmaceutical Companies Stop Producing Major Drugs Used to Treat Covid ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw materials.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17: </span><span style="font-family:Arial">Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major drugs used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw materials. The drug manufacturers have stopped producing drugs such as paracetamol, zinc, vitamin C, and doxycycline, and azithromycin used for treating lung infection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal, which has been pressuring the Department of Health Services for price adjustment for the past three years. The association has informed the department that they cannot produce the medicines at the same rates as the prices of raw materials have increased. They claim that they have to incur more for the raw materials than they earn from selling the medicines at the current rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">President of the </span><span style="font-family:Arial">association Narayan Chhetri said that it is not possible to produce the medicines as the cost price has become higher than the selling price. He said that the government had last adjusted the price 14 years ago and now it is not possible to produce medicines at that same price. "Paracetamol is already in short supply in some places," he said. "Who will produce medicines at a loss?” he questioned.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He admits that the price of essential medicines should not be too high, but says that the government authorities should adjust the price.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Entrepreneurs have been saying that the price of medicine has not been adjusted since the association and the department adjusted the price in September 2008. But the government claims that it had increased the prices of 21 types of medicines some three years ago. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Chhetri argues that the price of the product has gone up as the prices of raw materials have increased four folds. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Stating that paracetamol is still available in the market at Re 1 per tablet while the cost price is around Rs 1.5, he questioned how long will the company produce them bearing loss.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">This has already created shortage of medicines in the market. However, Chhetri says medicines can be imported easily, but the question is about quality assurance of the cheap drugs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The association has demanded that the price of medicine should be adjusted every six months</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Drug manufacturer Deepak Dahal said that the manufacturers have stopped producing drugs because they have been bearing massive loss.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"We could have produced medicine for social service. But with a negative balance sheet, the bank will not give us any loan and it won't be possible for us to operate," he informed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that not only the private industry but also the government-owned Nepal Aushadhi Limited has stopped producing such drugs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"We are not trying to put pressure on the government to increase the price to take advantage of the opportunity. The demand for a price adjustment for the last three years has not been addressed," he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Spokesperson of the department Dr Santosh KC said that the department will form a group to decide on the price adjustment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13150', 'image' => '20210517025320_20200818124630_1597700501.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 14:51:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Provide Discount on Electricity Tariff to Oxygen Industries', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17:</span> <span style="font-family:Arial">The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) held on Sunday (May 16) took the decision to waive electricity tariff. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. The decision to offer a waiver on electricity tariffs to oxygen plants comes in the wake of growing demand for oxygen in hospitals due to the rising cases of Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the CCMC, it also decided to continue the import of liquid oxygen from India as well as increase the supply of oxygen cylinders. The government has already imported 400 cylinders from China and 561 cylinders from Oman. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">CCMC members also claim that oxygen supply to the hospitals would not be a problem anymore as the government has imported additional oxygen cylinders from Lhasa via Tatopani. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also discussed the shortage of financial resources and procedural hassles that have contributed to the suffering of the Covid-19 patients. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Oli directed CCMC to resolve the procedural hassles and act immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the death toll from Covid-19 has crossed 5,000. With 145 deaths reported on Sunday, the total number of people losing their lives to Covid-19 has climbed 5,001, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradip Gyawali, CCMC has decided to intensify its efforts to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak as per the directive of the prime minister.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Stating that procedural hassles on procurement and other works related to the management of Covid-19 have contributed to a surge in deaths, he said that the government was committed to act swiftly to respond and manage the current health crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13149', 'image' => '20210517125357_20210429095930_Medical-Oxygen-Gas-Cylinders-Market.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 12:53:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 19: Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) has tested the production of oxygen gas cylinder for the first time in Nepal. At a time when oxygen cylinders are in short supply, new cylinders are being manufactured and tested within the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The test started after Minister for Education Krishna Gopal Shrestha inspected the production facility on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Shrestha expressed commitment to take initiative to fulfill the shortage of zeolite used for making oxygen. Furthermore, he said that the government would extend full support to this initiative of NAST. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that there is no oxygen production plant in big hospitals, he said, “If the provision of an oxygen plant was made mandatory in the hospital when giving permission to operate hospitals in the past, there would have been no shortage at present.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the success of the test, the government will now give permission to various companies to produce cylinders to meet the demand. Chief of the Faculty of Technology at NAST, Dr Rabindra Dhakal, said commercial production will be allowed after discussing with the manufacturing companies. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to him, the minimum price of a cylinder available in the country costs around Rs 15,000, while the cylinders produced with the technology of NAST will cost less than Rs 10,000. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Minister Shrestha, who arrived at NAST’s headquarters in Lalitpur to observe the test, appreciated the team including vice chancellor Dr Sunil Babu Shrestha and scientist Shankar Dhakal. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13163', 'image' => '20210519040512_20210503015716_20210429095930_Medical-Oxygen-Gas-Cylinders-Market.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 16:04:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13417', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Revenue Advisory Committee Recommends the Government to Monitor Ecommerce Sector', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 19: The Revenue Advisory Committee has recommended the government to monitor ecommerce businesses and digital payment to facilitate revenue collection in the country. In a report submitted to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the committee has suggested the government to formulate tax policies to sustain the growing online business that has boomed with the COVID-19 pandemic and bring it under the network of tax. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report submitted to the Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel suggests programmes that the government should include in the budget of the upcoming fiscal year. It has also suggested the government to bring timely reforms in the tax system. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report states that a detailed study is required to change the revenue structure. It has suggested to look into the demands raised by the private sector regarding VAT issue and form an appropriate policy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Other subject matters of the report include providing compensation packages to the tourism and service sectors, review customs revenue, changing excise duty structure and studying the rate of excise duty being levied on special items. It has recommended the government to adopt a policy that avoids duplication of tax in the three levels of the government.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Mahesh Dahal, chairman of the committee, said that suggestions have been provided to the government to adopt investment-friendly tax policies to increase production, employment opportunities and attract private sector investment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"The report has recommended the government to be mindful of new areas of tax as well as tax policies that the government should introduce in the upcoming fiscal year," said Dahal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Revenue Advisory Committee is an independent body that has been providing recommendations to the Ministry of Finance to carry out tax reforms since 2019. It is authorized to act as a think tank on revenue issues. It carries out interactive programmes in all seven provinces with the participation of the private sector to gather revenue-related recommendations. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13162', 'image' => '20210519021352_20210314014808_20190408115552_20160717125003_finance-ministy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 14:12:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13416', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank rules out possibility of achieving 4% growth as projected by CBS ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year 20120/21 as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics is now difficult to achieve. ', 'content' => '<p>May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has said that 4.01 percent of economic growth in the curent fiscal year (FY20120/21) as projected by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is now difficult to achieve. </p> <p>Releasing its third quarterly report of the monetary policy for the current fiscal year on Wednesday, the central bank ruled out the possibility of achieving the growth of 4.01 percent as estimated by the CBS in April. </p> <p>Stating that the economy was heading toward recovery until nine months of the current fiscal year, the central bank said that the second wave of Covid-19 and subsequent prohbitory measures introduced in many parts of the country pose a challenge even to achieve the economic growth rate of 4 percent. </p> <p>“Economic activities were gaining momentum after the lockdown was lifted following the decline in first wave of Covid-19 infection. Against this backdrop, the CBS projects the economy to grow by 4 percent,” read the third quarterly report of the monetary policy. “However, it is difficult to achieve the estimated growth as the second wave is hitting the economy before the revival,” it added. </p> <p>Earlier on April 30, the CBS had made a preliminary estimate of 4.01 percent of economic growth in the current fiscal year from a contraction of 2.1 percent in the previous fiscal year. The estimate, based on available information and figures of seven to nine months of the current fiscal year, did not take into consideration the impacts of prohibitory measures introduced by local administrations in many parts of the country to control the spread of the second wave of coronavirus. </p> <p>Though the CBS officials had said that their projection was based on an assumption that all economic activities will operate in normal condition after two weeks, the ongoing lockdown, imposed through prohibitory orders from April 29, is already extended till May 27 in the Kathmandu Valley. </p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13161', 'image' => '20210519124440_20210430085017_CBS Growth.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 12:34:40', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13415', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank Tells BFIs to Save Lives under CSR', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 19: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">May 19</span></span><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">: </span></span></strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions to support people suffering from Covid-19 with oxygen supply and medical aid under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The central bank issued such directive on May 18 in the third quarterly review of the monetary policy of the current fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">This is expected to help the treatment of COVID-19 infected patients, the central bank said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">"Under the CSR, arrangement shall be made to contribute funds to save people's lives in public interest and philanthropic works across the country," the state-owned national news agency RSS quoted the central bank as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-19', 'modified' => '2021-05-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13160', 'image' => '20210519123138_20200419015315_bank-malware.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-19 12:30:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13411', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks will not be Allowed to Auction Collateral Until One Month after Prohibitory Period: NRB', 'sub_title' => 'NRB also to ban BFIs from imposing penalty, additional charges on borrowers during prohibitory period ', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">May 18: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has announced to forbid banks and financial institutions (BFIs) from publishing notices for auctioning collateral or recovering loans during the prohibitory period. This new provision will remain in force until one month after the prohibitory orders are lifted by the government authorities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Releasing the third quarterly review report of the monetary policy of the current fiscal year (FY 2020/21), the central bank said that it will make necessary arrangements to bar BFIs from publishing public notices to auction collaterals to recover their loans from borrowers during and after one month of the prohibitory period.<br /> The restriction to recover loans through auction will come into force after the central bank issues a circular to the BFIs to implement the provision, according to NRB officials who say that the circular will be issued 'soon'. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The provision aims at providing protection to borrowers from BFIs auctioning their collateral to recover loans until one month after the prohibitory period ends.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The provision is intended to stop banks and financial institutions from moving ahead with the process of auction to recover loans from defaulters during this crisis. There won’t be much participation in the bank auction during the prohibitory period, either. Halting the recovery of loans through auction will also provide a relief to the borrowers who are hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Dev Kumar Dhakal, spokesperson of NRB, told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Similarly, the NRB, in its third quarterly monetary policy review report, said that it will also introduce a provision to prohibit BFIs from imposing any penalty or other additional charges in loan repayment from borrowers during the prohibition period. <br /> </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13159', 'image' => '20210518043705_Nepal Rastra Bank.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 16:30:01', 'homepage' => true, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '35' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13414', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '2,500 Oxygen Cylinders Imported from China via Tatopani Customs Point', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs. ', 'content' => '<p><em>This file photo shows Tatopani Customs Point. Photo: NBA</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:Times">: </span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the increase in number of Covid-19 cases, the government has stepped up efforts to facilitate the import oxygen cylinders from China via Tatopani customs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepali businessmen had placed order for 18,000 empty oxygen cylinders, among which, 2,500 cylinders have been brought to the Tatopani customs point on Monday (May 17).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The cylinders would be sent to the Kathmandu after physical inspection, said Tatopani Customs Chief Naradmani Gautam.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The government has directed us not to queue health-related items. Since the items are not eligible for taxation, the customs clearance procedures are being sped up in order to deliver the goods to Kathmandu soon,” said Gautam. The cylinders have been brought to Tatopani Customs from Khasa by following the proper health and safety measures, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The cylinders of 10 litre capacity were imported by Hima Trade Link. Ramesh Sherpa, chairman of the transport company, Silk Transport, mentioned that 15,000 additional oxygen cylinders, other health items and equipment have also arrived at Lhasa, Membu, Shigatse, Nyalam regions of China. He also notified that it would take approximately two weeks for those items to arrive at Tatopani Customs Point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Chairman Sherpa informed that the health items imported by Nepali businessmen include PPE sets, surgical masks, sanitizers and gloves. The Chinese administration has notified that the oxygen cylinders and health items that have arrived at Khasa region would be sent to Nepal only after the completion of medical protocol, he added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13158', 'image' => '20210518054607_20190510014655_Clipboard04-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:45:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13413', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Minister Instructs Officials to Ease Customs Clearance of Oxygen Cylinders', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has instructed concerned officials to ease the customs clearance process for importing oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment taking into consideration the current health crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He has directed the government bodies to ease and speed up the customs clearance of health supplies, equipment and medicines related to the prevention, treatment and control of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In a virtual discussion held between the concerned bodies, Finance Minister Paudel directed the director general and deputy director general of the Department of Customs and heads of various customs offices to ease the supply by facilitating customs clearance and inspection without any hassles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel also instructed the officials to submit daily report containing information about the quantity and price of imported goods for the treatment of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana issued a directive to implement a brief procedure on customs clearance of goods related to prevention, control and treatment of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Revenue Secretary Ram Saran Pudasaini instructed the officials to work effectively round the clock in coordination with the customs offices of the neighboring countries for speedy inspection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Yamlal Bhusal, director general of the Department of Customs, said that the department has formed a quick response team to facilitate the supply of essential items.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13157', 'image' => '20210518053658_20201015115013_1602717511.Clipboard02.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:35:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13412', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Budget Crunch hits Construction of Road Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => '', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: The construction of various road projects has been hit by lack of budget in addition to the impact of COVID-19. The Department of Roads (DoR), which has spent 45 percent of budget in capital expenditure for various projects in the last ten months of the current fiscal year, is reeling under budget crunch for projects like the Postal Highway, Industrial Corridor and local bridges. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Ramesh Kumar Singh, deputy spokesperson of the Department, informed that the low capital expenditure is due to the insufficient budget amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the development process of the Postal Highway and other six-lane industrial corridors have been hit by the lack of budget.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Singh, DoR is experiencing a budget crunch of Rs 11 billion for several road projects. The department itself will manage Rs 2.5 billion budget while the rest needs to be allocated by the Ministry of Finance. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The department has said that the COVID-19 pandemic will also affect the annual target. If the current situation persists, the department has estimated only 65 percent of budget will be spent on capital expenditure. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The construction has been affected as workers in some projects have gone home while some others have been infected. About 35 workers involved in the construction of the Nagdhunga-Naubise tunnel have tested positive for the coronavirus which has affected the construction process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Department of Roads had received a budget of Rs 108 billion in the current fiscal year of which Rs 30.17 billion has been spent. The department has set an annual target of blacktopping 1,800 km roads but only 850 km of roads have been blacktopped so far.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"> </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Of this, 550 km of roads have been newly-blacktop while the remaining 300 km have been upgraded and rehabilitated. A new road track of 284 km has been constructed. Until the second quarter, 504 km of gravel road has been completed out of the set target of 1000 km. Similarly, the DoR has completed the construction of 129 motorable bridges. It had set a target to complete the construction of 300 motorable bridges. Of the constructed bridges, 86 bridges are local bridges and 43 are strategically important ones. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13156', 'image' => '20210518051249_1621292862.Clipboard09 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 17:12:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13410', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Approves EIA Report of Electricity Transmission Project', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: The Ministry of Forest and Environment has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) to be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal) with the grant funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), USA, and co-funding from the Government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to MCA-Nepal, the EIA report approved on April 29, 2021 by the government with a ministerial level decision is a major part of the project preparatory works now underway for the construction of transmission lines and substations under the Electricity Transmission Project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The achievement is an important milestone to help meet one condition related to site access before the MCC Compact can enter into force,” said Khadga Bahadur Bisht, executive director of MCA-Nepal, in a statement on Tuesday, May 18.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“The other important milestone will be ratification of the Compact,” he added. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bisht further said that the</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> report has established the existing status of the physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural environment within the project’s footprint, and has suggested measures to mitigate the potential impacts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The detailed EIA report, prepared according to the existing laws of Nepal, is in compliance with Nepal's Environment Protection Act (EPA), 2019 and Environment Protection Rules (EPR), 2020, the statement further said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to MCA-Nepal, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">a robust methodology for data collection and analysis, for the EIA which also included a number of consultations and public hearings in all 30 municipalities/rural municipalities of 10 districts in the project’s footprint. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The report has proposed measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate/manage adverse impacts and to optimize project benefits as per Nepal’s environmental laws and regulations, and international best practices.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Following the approval of the report, MCA-Nepal said it will now initiate a process to receive the approval for the use of national forest area and removal of trees and plants. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Government of Nepal and the US Government’s MCC signed a Compact in September 2017 for undertaking two projects that the Government had identified to address major constraints to Nepal’s development. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">One of the two projects, the Electricity Transmission Project,</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> also </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">a National Pride Project, will </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">build around 314 km of 400 kV transmission lines and three 400 kV sub-stations. The transmission lines will pass through 30 municipalities/rural municipalities in 10 districts. The Project will also ensure affected local stakeholders benefit through partnership program and strengthen the power sector in Nepal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The other – Road Maintenance Project – will support maintenance of Nepal’s roads while also introducing a new road maintenance technology in the country, MCA-Nepal added.</span></span><em> </em></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13155', 'image' => '20210518034734_20201218014622_1608248580.11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 15:46:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13409', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Digital Payment Helps Government in Revenue Collection amid Restrictions', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Despite increasing cases of Covid-19 and prohibitory orders imposed to contain the spread of the disease, the government’s revenue collection has remained encouraging due to growing use of digital payment methods by taxpayers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government has imposed prohibitory orders in various districts, including Kathmandu, from the second week of April following an outbreak of the second wave of Covid-19. Meanwhile, tax offices including the Inland Revenue Department had directed the taxpayers to pay the tax ignoring the requests of the private sector for an extension of the tax payment deadline.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Abiding by the tax offices’ calls to pay their tax through digital payment system, most of the taxpayers submitted their taxes on time to avoid penalty. The government was able to collect revenue of Rs 77.12 billion in the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May) alone. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The government's revenue from taxes in the review period was Rs 72.91 billion. Out of the total amount of taxes, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) collected Rs 32.4 billion, according to the preliminary data of the department. The department had set a target of collecting Rs 33.99 billion during the review month.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the department, to facilitate the taxpayers during the ongoing crisis, arrangements were made to pay taxes through digital platforms such as connectIPS and eSewa. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">As a result, the government was able almost to meet target of revenue collection for the month of Baisakh, informed Mukti Pandey, deputy director-general at the IRD. According to him, the department had set a target of collecting Rs 345 billion in revenue in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO), 75 percent of the annual revenue collection target has been met as of Baisakh end (mid-May). FCGO’s Spokesperson Gyanendra Poudel said that the government's income was satisfactory amid the ongoing lockdown. He said that the effective implementation of the digital payment system has become helpful for the government in collecting revenue. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the number of people making payments through digital channels like connectIPS has been on an increasing trend. In the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2020/21), Rs 211 billion has been paid through connectIPS and Rs 11 billion through other e-wallets. This also shows that the government's policy of digitizing the payment system is heading towards the right direction.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13154', 'image' => '20210518011138_5f50d.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 13:11:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13408', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Telecom Launches VoLTE Service across the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Manisha Balami</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">May 18: Nepal Telecom has launched the VoLTE (Voice Over Long Term Evolution) service from May 17, on the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. Nepal Telecom launched this service under the LTE technology with the aim of modernizing its services as per the demand of the customers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">VoLTE or Voice over LTE is an advanced technology that delivers high definition voice quality calls across the NT 4G network. According to the spokesperson of Nepal Telecom, Rajesh Joshi, with the use of VoLTE, customers can now experience crystal clear voice quality with reduced background noise while calling another VoLTE enabled device. Furthermore, the voice quality will also sound more natural. Moreover, the phone calls will also be established immediately while making calls using the 4G network.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">This service is available in all the places having NT’s 4G coverage. However, in order to use this service, a customer needs to have a handset that supports VoLTE service.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The service is compatible with Nokia 5.3, Nokia 7.2, Nokia 3.4, Redmi 9 Prime, Mi10, Redmi 9C, Redmi Note 9 Pro, and Redmi 8A. In addition, mobile phones including Samsung Galaxy S series, M (Millennial) series, A (Alpha) series, Note series and Z Fold2 are also compatible. Nepal Telecom informed that they are working with all handset suppliers to bring VoLTE support in every phone soon.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Joshi added that Nepal Telecom subscribers can dial *444# from their VoLTE enabled handset and follow the instructions to activate this service in their Sim card. Likewise, to activate this service on phone set, the customers need to go to the settings of the mobile and enable the call for NTC SIM and then the sign of VoLTE appears on the top of the mobile set. Once the signal appears, customers can dial *111# to get 100 minutes free call pack for the activation. According to Nepal Telecom, the free voice pack is valid up to 28 days.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Telecom further informed that there is no additional cost for the VoLTE service and the charge is the same as that for normal 2G and 3G calls. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13153', 'image' => '20210518124104_Nepal-Telecom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 12:40:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13407', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Rate of COVID-19 Infection yet to Decline ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. It has been reported that the number of new cases dropped due to the decline in tests but the rate of infection has not dropped yet. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the Ministry of Health and Population, a total of 22,087 tests were conducted on Monday out of which 9,247 people or 42 percent samples tested positive for coronavirus. The ministry had been conducting less than 20,000 tests in the past weeks but had stepped up testing on Monday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">On Sunday, the ministry had conducted 19,883 tests and 18,548 tests on Saturday. The rate of infection was 37 percent on Sunday and 44 percent on Saturday.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The rate of infection was more than 50 percent until last week but has now become somewhat stable, according to the available data.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Public health expert Dr Sher Bahadur Pun says it is difficult to predict the future course at the moment but the data show some positive results. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“The current crisis is a result of transmission within families. But the chain effect of infection at the community level has been under control to some extent,” said Pun, adding that the infection will reduce if the public abides by the prohibitory order.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">“If there is public gatherings, the problem will resurface again,” said Pub.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He says that even if the government lifts prohibitory order, the general public must still follow standard health protocol. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population has stated that the coming weeks would be challenging in view of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic that has spread across the country. Issuing a statement on Monday, the ministry urged the public to be more cautious and to strictly adopt health safety protocol. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">In the statement, joint spokesperson at the ministry Dr Samir Adhikari said that despite rigorous efforts in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of infection has still not declined.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Dr Adhikari urged one and all not to organize and participate in any kind of public gathering in the name of religious, cultural and political activities. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial">The ministry also informed that the rate of infection was high in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Rupandehi, Morang, Kailali, Makawanpur, Dhanusha, Sunsari, Parsa, Bardiya, Banke and Palpa districts. </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-18', 'modified' => '2021-05-18', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13152', 'image' => '20210518112229_1621294179.1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-18 11:21:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13406', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Infrastructure Projects to be Built under EPC Model', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17: The government is preparing to adopt the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model in construction of large infrastructure projects like tunnels, flyovers and technically difficult bridges in the country. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The government has introduced and implemented 'Directive on Procurement through EPC-2021' in this regard. The directive allows purchase of contracts through the EPC model for the construction of tunnels, flyovers, bridges as well as airports, stadiums, auditoriums, waste management projects and processing centers. The Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) informed that the directive was approved by the cabinet on May 2.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">It is said that this model can be applied in the construction of roads and projects related to irrigation, drinking water, hydropower etc. EPC is a model of carrying out engineering, procurement and construction works including design and maintenance of construction, by the selected company itself. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">So far, EPC model has been implemented only by the Nepal Electricity Authority but it has not been used in the construction of infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. However, On May 14, the Nepalese Army (NA) signed a contract to build tunnels and bridges along the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track in the same model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">In order to promote infrastructure development, plans have been announced to prioritize construction of road, tunnels, expressways and special bridges. But the country lacks skilled technical manpower, and required equipment. Siddhababa tunnel project was stalled due to lack of skilled manpower when the EPC model was not in practice. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Sushil Dhakal, spokesperson of the PPMO, said that the directive has been implemented to maintain uniformity in procurement done through EPC. The government bodies can purchase the contracts concerning large and complex projects. It covers issues concerning the basis of contract qualification, evaluation and selection, drawing and design, quality control and quality assurance, payment arrangements, warranty, maintenance and operation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Department of Roads (DoR) is now preparing to issue tenders for the Siddhababa Tunnel Project based on the same model. The Ministry of Finance had allocated Rs 10.15 billion for the construction of the project.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The department had sent the document based on EPC model which didn't get approval from PPMO for more than one and half a year. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Director General of the Department Arjun Jung Thapa said that the door has been opened to build Siddhababa Tunnel in the same model. He informed that preparations are on to invite tenders as part of the process to initiate the construction of the tunnel. Thapa said that the procurement process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel will be expedited based on the EPC model used by the NA. "Since the directives and the model are introduced, we can now use this model for construction projects with the required parameters," Thapa said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the infrastructure experts this is a refined form of design and build concept. This model has been very effective in the construction of bridges in the country. In the design and build model, the concerned body has to approve the design made by the construction company, whereas in EPC, the contract company itself designs and prepares engineering works.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13151', 'image' => '20210517050528_20210408031917_20190825123459_Clipboard01.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 17:04:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13405', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Pharmaceutical Companies Stop Producing Major Drugs Used to Treat Covid ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major medicines used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw materials.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17: </span><span style="font-family:Arial">Pharmaceutical companies have stopped production of major drugs used for the treatment of coronavirus patients citing price hike of raw materials. The drug manufacturers have stopped producing drugs such as paracetamol, zinc, vitamin C, and doxycycline, and azithromycin used for treating lung infection.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal, which has been pressuring the Department of Health Services for price adjustment for the past three years. The association has informed the department that they cannot produce the medicines at the same rates as the prices of raw materials have increased. They claim that they have to incur more for the raw materials than they earn from selling the medicines at the current rate.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">President of the </span><span style="font-family:Arial">association Narayan Chhetri said that it is not possible to produce the medicines as the cost price has become higher than the selling price. He said that the government had last adjusted the price 14 years ago and now it is not possible to produce medicines at that same price. "Paracetamol is already in short supply in some places," he said. "Who will produce medicines at a loss?” he questioned.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He admits that the price of essential medicines should not be too high, but says that the government authorities should adjust the price.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Entrepreneurs have been saying that the price of medicine has not been adjusted since the association and the department adjusted the price in September 2008. But the government claims that it had increased the prices of 21 types of medicines some three years ago. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Chhetri argues that the price of the product has gone up as the prices of raw materials have increased four folds. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Stating that paracetamol is still available in the market at Re 1 per tablet while the cost price is around Rs 1.5, he questioned how long will the company produce them bearing loss.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">This has already created shortage of medicines in the market. However, Chhetri says medicines can be imported easily, but the question is about quality assurance of the cheap drugs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The association has demanded that the price of medicine should be adjusted every six months</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Drug manufacturer Deepak Dahal said that the manufacturers have stopped producing drugs because they have been bearing massive loss.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"We could have produced medicine for social service. But with a negative balance sheet, the bank will not give us any loan and it won't be possible for us to operate," he informed.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">He said that not only the private industry but also the government-owned Nepal Aushadhi Limited has stopped producing such drugs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">"We are not trying to put pressure on the government to increase the price to take advantage of the opportunity. The demand for a price adjustment for the last three years has not been addressed," he added.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Spokesperson of the department Dr Santosh KC said that the department will form a group to decide on the price adjustment.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13150', 'image' => '20210517025320_20200818124630_1597700501.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 14:51:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13404', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Provide Discount on Electricity Tariff to Oxygen Industries', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 17: The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">May 17:</span> <span style="font-family:Arial">The government has decided to give discount on electricity tariff consumed by oxygen industries. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">A meeting of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) held on Sunday (May 16) took the decision to waive electricity tariff. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. The decision to offer a waiver on electricity tariffs to oxygen plants comes in the wake of growing demand for oxygen in hospitals due to the rising cases of Covid-19. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the CCMC, it also decided to continue the import of liquid oxygen from India as well as increase the supply of oxygen cylinders. The government has already imported 400 cylinders from China and 561 cylinders from Oman. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">CCMC members also claim that oxygen supply to the hospitals would not be a problem anymore as the government has imported additional oxygen cylinders from Lhasa via Tatopani. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">The meeting also discussed the shortage of financial resources and procedural hassles that have contributed to the suffering of the Covid-19 patients. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Oli directed CCMC to resolve the procedural hassles and act immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Meanwhile, the death toll from Covid-19 has crossed 5,000. With 145 deaths reported on Sunday, the total number of people losing their lives to Covid-19 has climbed 5,001, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradip Gyawali, CCMC has decided to intensify its efforts to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak as per the directive of the prime minister.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Arial">Stating that procedural hassles on procurement and other works related to the management of Covid-19 have contributed to a surge in deaths, he said that the government was committed to act swiftly to respond and manage the current health crisis. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-05-17', 'modified' => '2021-05-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13149', 'image' => '20210517125357_20210429095930_Medical-Oxygen-Gas-Cylinders-Market.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-05-17 12:53:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
