November 9: The prices of food items have skyrocketed after the end of Dashain.…
November 9: The prices of food items have skyrocketed after the end of Dashain.…
November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its…
November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus…
November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant.…
November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers.…
November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government…
November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year.…
November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational.…
November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined.…
November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus.…
November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving…
November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu…
November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to…
November 5: Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year.…
November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand.…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 9: The prices of food items have skyrocketed after the end of Dashain. The sudden price hike has occurred at a time when the country is preparing to celebrate the festival of Tihar. It has been reported that the prices of food items have increased by up to 25 percent.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Retail Business Association of Nepal, the prices of lentil, edible oil, sugar and pulses have increased recently. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The retail price of beans has increased from Rs 120 to Rs 150 per kg after Dashain, which is a 25 percent hike. Likewise, the price of grams has increased by 14 percent from Rs 110 to Rs 125 per kg.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the price of green peas has increased by Rs 20 per kg from Rs 115 to Rs 135. Sugar, which used to cost Rs 80 per kg before Dashain, now costs Rs 90 per kg.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of sunflower oil has increased by 9 percent from Rs 170 per litre to Rs 185 per litre. Likewise, mustard oil price has shot up by 13 percent from Rs 230 per litre to Rs 260 per litre while the price of soybean oil has increased by 14 percent from Rs 150 per litre to Rs 170 per litre.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Local businessmen say that the price of food items generally go up during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Chhath because there is high demand during the festive season. However, they admit that there hasn’t been any significant rise in demand at the moment and the supply chain also remains smooth. In this context, the price hike in the country is a result of the impact of international market, says Subodh Kumar Gupta, chairman of Association of Nepalese Pulses, Rice and Oil Industry. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, Nepal imports lentil, pulses and edible oil from countries like Australia, Canada, Malaysia and India. He argues that the prices of food items in those countries itself have increased, resulting in a price hike in Nepal.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, retailers have been accusing the wholesalers of fixing the prices arbitrarily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12404', 'image' => '20201109014234_1604880198.Clipboard16.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 13:42:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12656', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ICP Infrastructure Inadequate to Meet its Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its objectives.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its objectives. The infrastructure of ICP has become insufficient as the import and export through Inarwa checkpoint of Birgunj have been diverted to the ICP. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The government had planned to merge the Birgunj Dry Port with the ICP by expanding the latter’s infrastructure. The plan to acquire 63 bighas of land between ICP and the dry port has been awaiting the decision of the Council of Ministers since five years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The land acquisition process has not been able to progress as the government has not taken the final decision to acquire the land even after fixing the compensation amount. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Although some raw materials of cement and iron industries and petroleum products enter through the Inarwa customs, most of the imports and exports take through the ICP. However, the government's decision to merge the dry port with the ICP has not been implemented yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Ashok Temani, chairman of the Road Transport and Transit Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), says that the existing infrastructures of the ICP have become insufficient within three years of its operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px"> "We have been saying that the structure of the ICP is not practical. However, the government did not listen to the concerned parties at that time. Now, the ICP has become chaotic without being able to operate in full capacity,” said Temani. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The importer says that the ICP lacks essential infrastructure including parking lot, warehouse and shed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">“If for any reason the inspection of goods gets delayed, the importers are forced to pay for the detention of vehicles,” said Ashok Kumar Baidya, vice-president of Province 2 chapter of FNCCI.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Customs officials say that the infrastructure of the ICP has become inadequate after the import and export of goods from Inarwa were channelized to the ICP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The ICP’s infrastructure has become inadequate to deal with all the goods because it has been handling the works of two customs offices,” said a customs official requesting anonymity.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ICP was built with Indian assistance and is spread across 116 bigha land toward the Nepali side and covers 100 bigha of land on the Indian soil. Although both sides of the ICP have similar infrastructure, the Nepali side seems to be congested, says Temani.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Since India exports more goods, it doesn’t require as much parking lots and warehouse as we do,” said Temani.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He suggests that the government should immediately acquire the land in between the ICP and the dry port and develop facilities such as warehouses and parking lots.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“If the government is not capable to do so, it can hand over the responsibility to the private sector,” he added.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Other importers say that the import has been increasing every year and therefore urged the government not to neglect the issue.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Another importer Suresh Rungata says they have been forced to station their vehicles on the road due to lack of adequate infrastructure within the ICP. He complained that the ICP has been charging parking fare even for vehicles that are parked on the road.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has handed the responsibility of operating the ICP to Nepal Intermodal Transportation Development Committee.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12403', 'image' => '20201109121743_1604880316.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 12:17:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12655', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CCMC Recommends Ending Chartered Flights for Rescue Operation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The CCMC took such decision during a meeting held on Sunday (November 8), arguing that most of the stranded Nepalis have been already rescued from foreign countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">CCMC decided to recommend the government to halt the rescue flights as all diplomatic missions of Nepal have reported rescuing almost all stranded citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">If there is need to rescue any citizens then the government can provide help through regular flights instead of chartered flights, CCMC said in the recommendation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Mahendra Prasad Guragain informed that the CCMC has also suggested the government to reopen cable cars, jungle safari and adventure tourism in the country. </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:Arial">The CCMC has also requested the government to set up health units at local levels for consultations considering the increase in number of people staying in home isolation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the CCMC, the government has so far rescued a total of 136,216 citizens stranded in 60 different countries since the pandemic started spreading across the globe. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Altogether 40,230 Nepali citizens were rescued from Dubai which is the maximum number of people brought home from any particular country. Likewise, the lease number of Nepali rescued from abroad was from Somalia, where only one Nepali citizen was stranded.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Nepalis returned home during the pandemic from India through land route but only 89 were airlifted from the neighbouring country.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 634 Nepali citizens stranded in China were rescued during the crisis.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 930 flights were conducted to airlift the stranded citizens. Among those flights, 454 were regular flights while the remaining were chartered flights.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had decided to rescue its stranded citizens five months ago although it had imposed lockdown seven months ago. The citizens were rescued on priority basis, taking into consideration the age, gender and other factors such as health.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12402', 'image' => '20201109112912_1604878353.14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 11:28:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRA Fixes Final Deadline for Grant Distribution', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant. The NRA has fixed the final deadline for the beneficiaries to receive all three installments of private housing grant as its five-year mandate to complete the reconstruction task is nearing its end.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the new deadline, the beneficiaries who have signed agreement for reconstruction and retrofitting will have to collect the first installment by December 30. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, all the beneficiaries who have already acquired the first installment and have started reconstruction work will have to apply for the certification at the concerned local level by mid-January (January 12) to get the second installment. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The final installment can be claimed after providing the certification to the local level by mid-May next year (May 14). </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:Arial">Deputy Spokesperson of NRA, Manohar Ghimire said that this will be the final deadline as the authority's term will end by that time.</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:Arial">The NRA has also requested all eligible beneficiaries who want to demolish their old house and re-build a new house to apply to the concerned local units as soon as possible.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12400', 'image' => '20201108055523_1604793244.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 17:54:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Countries Demand 100,000 Nepali workers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers. ', '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"">November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers. </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"">Despite the demand for a large number of workers from those countries at a time when Nepal is facing rising unemployment due to COVID-19, the concerned authorities are yet to attest the demand letter. </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"">Due to a large number of migrant workers returning home from Gulf countries amid COVID-19 pandemic, there is a huge demand for workers in those countries. </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 manpower agents, human resource companies have been bankrupt for some time due to the coronavirus crisis, but as the situation has returned to normal, there is a demand for workers from those countries, especially in the service sector, such as hospitals, hotels, super stores and construction. </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 demand of workers in Saudi Arabia alone is around 50,000. Likewise, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and other countries have also asked to send workers to their countries. However, Bishnu Gaire, president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), said that the problem has arisen because Nepal’s embassies and foreign missions there have not verified the demand letter. </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"">He said that even though the government of Nepal lifted the ban on foreign employment in August, the diplomatic missions did not certify the demand letter citing coronavirus as the main reason. </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"">An official at Nepal’s embassy in Saudi Arabia admitted that they have not been able to focus on certifying the demand letter as they were struggling to manage workers who have lost employment due to coronavirus. </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"">"There is a lot of work to be done with limited manpower. There is a need to verify a large number of demand forms. Due to lack of human resources, it is difficult to verify the demand immediately," a senior official at the Nepalese Embassy in Abu Dhabi told New Business Age. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12399', 'image' => '20201108051031_20201006114242_1601941837.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 17:09:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lack of Coordination Among Different Tiers of Government Takes Toll on Tourism Revival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government bodies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government bodies.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry remained closed ever since March for seven months due to the impact of coronavirus. The government recently granted permission to reopen trekking and mountaineering on October 17. However, tourism activities and flights remain disrupted in some tourism destinations due to prohibitory orders issued by the local units. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry is returning back on track after a long time. Tourists have started arriving for trekking and mountaineering. The government had earlier banned all activities related to trekking and mountaineering during the spring season. But it later decided to revoke the ban after lifting the lockdown a few months ago. However, the restrictions are yet to be removed by various local units.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Soluhumbu district issued a notice to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the Lukla-based Tenjing Hillary Airport on October 23 instructing all the airline companies not to bring any passengers to the airport until another notice.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">In contrast, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai has been claiming that Nepal is a safe destination for international tourists following recent high-profile visits by foreign delegates for mountaineering. The conflicting move of the rural municipality comes amid the minister’s claim that the government is preparing to open other tourism activities in the country after allowing trekking and mountain expeditions. This clearly indicates lack of coordination among the three levels of government.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Tikaram Gurung, besides Khumbu the locals of Ghalegaun in Annapurna region have also banned the entry of tourists citing the risk of coronavirus. The said that the tourism industry that had been crawling back to normalcy has been affected due to the lack of coordination among the three tiers of government.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Gurung was of the view that instead of imposing a ban, the local authorities should have allowed tourists after PCR tests.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“There is confusion because the government has announced reopening of the tourism sector but its actions indicate otherwise,” said Gurung.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12398', 'image' => '20201108023033_1604792178.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 14:30:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Dry Fruits and other essentials for Tihar Decline', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year. The price of dry fruits has also declined with the decrease in demand for the much needed-item.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Businessmen believe that the demand for dry fruits has declined because of the decline in purchasing power of the people due to the coronavirus pandemic.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The sale of dry fruits normally goes up by 50 percent during Tihar compared to normal days but this year the sale is hovering around 30 percent, says Raj Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Retail Business Association.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that hotels and restaurants as well as sweet shops that normally buy large quantities of dry fruits have not been operation in optimal condition. This is also one of the reasons for the decline in demand for dry fruits, says Shrestha.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shrestha says that businessmen are considering to sell the dry fruits at lower price this year fearing that the goods stored for long time in their godown might get damaged.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The association informed that the price of dry fruits has decreased by Rs 200 per kilogram in the retail market compared to previous years. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of pistachio has declined by Rs 50 per kg and is currently being sold at Rs 1850.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of cashew nuts has dropped from Rs 1750 to Rs 1550 per kilogram. The association informed that the prices of apricot, beetle nuts, small cardamom among others have also declined.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pabitra Bajracharya, a retail store owner, says that the demand for sugar and flour used to increase during Tihar in previous years. But it has not happened this year. Instead, they are finding it difficult to sell the products.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Businessmen used to trade goods including spices and dry fruits worth Rs 600 million in Tihar. Most of them used to be imported from India.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre, Nepal imported dry fruits and other essentials for Tihar worth Rs 1.46 billion in the current fiscal year. The import of the same goods during last year was worth Rs 4 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12397', 'image' => '20201108122407_1604793552.Clipboard18.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 12:23:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12649', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Importers Paying 17 times more to Import Goods from China', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">After the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and border reopened, Chinese authorities have been delivering goods near the border area every day. China has been sending around five containers of goods in the border area, which lies in their territory. However, Nepali side has not been allowed to take their container across the border to that particular point. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">China had closed its border points with Nepal in late January following a rise in coronavirus cases in the country. Due to repeated requests from the Government of Nepal, China agreed to reopen the border in June/July but it limited the trade to five containers per day.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Due to pressure from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, China agreed to facilitate the flow of goods in September/October but again reimposed restrictions in October/November. Most of the northern border points of Nepal are almost closed. Nepali importers say they are hardly able to bring in five containers of goods per day.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Before January, Nepali importers used to take their own containers across the border and bring back goods. They had to pay around Rs 7 to 8 million for bringing goods in their own containers. However, China denied permission for Nepali containers to enter its territory due to coronavirus crisis. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transportation charge skyrocketed after China decided to transport goods up to the border points. Nepali importers say they have to spend at least Rs 1.2 million to import just one container of goods.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Chinese containers supply goods just up to the border point. Nepali containers are not allowed to enter China anymore,” informed Bachhu Poudel, chairman of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Commerce Association (NTHBCA).</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Earlier, it used to cost Rs 80,000 to transport the goods from across the border but the price has now shot up to Rs 1.2 million.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the association, goods stuck across the border have started entering Nepal after 11 months but more than 2200 containers are still stranded in China.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Some importers have returned the goods while others are still waiting for the consignment, informed Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“We are unaware about the condition of the goods. We don’t know whether the goods have rotten or not. On top of that, the transportation cost has increased 17 folds,” said Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Poudel said that although the government has assured to facilitate the flow of goods, there hasn’t been any progress.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary of the association, Lopsang Sherpa, said that they have informed the customs office about the exorbitant price they have to pay across the border but the government is yet to address their issue.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He said that China has reportedly decided to end the rotation of its containers after November 14 and they are currently in a “wait and watch” situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12396', 'image' => '20201108114816_1604792852.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 11:47:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12648', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Report Decline in number of Blacklisted Customers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined. The number of customers on the blacklist had skyrocketed when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown and prohibitory order from March 24 to mid-July.</span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the month of June/July, 9,626 borrowers were blacklisted by BFIs. But that number has dropped to 359 now. According to the Credit Information Center, inclusion of the names of customers that bounced their cheques during the lockdown in the blacklist was the reason for the increase in blacklisted customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Center, 10,732 people were added to the blacklist from April to the end of August. However, the number has plummeted now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"From that period until last Thursday (November 5), the number has dropped as most of the check bouncers have been removed from the blacklist after correcting their mistake and making the payments to the check bearer," the center said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had issued a unified directive on mid-August 2019, making an arrangement to blacklist the person, firm, company or organization issuing the check if they signed the check incorrectly and did not pay the amount within one year due to insufficient amount. Earlier, check issuers were blacklisted only if they were found to have bounced checks repeatedly.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the removal of the names added during the lockdown from the blacklist, only 212 names in March, 84 names in April, 359 names in May, 359 names in June, 443 names in July and 313 names in August remain in the blacklist.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, the chairman of the Nepal Bankers' Association, says that the blacklist has not increased as the entrepreneurs or businesses that weren’t able to repay their loans during the lockdown were not converted into non-performing loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have not blacklisted bad debtors because of COVID-19. The new non-performing loans have not been blacklisted and the old ones have been making their repayments," he said, adding, “More names have been sent for the blacklist for bouncing cheques.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Banks and financial institutions issue circulars to the credit information center to blacklist customers listing the names of customers with loans that are inactive or overdue, and customers giving bounced cheques. The center then blacklists such debtors. Banks and financial institutions are not allowed to provide loans to blacklisted borrowers. In addition, the blacklisted person is denied various facilities from the state.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12395', 'image' => '20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 17:53:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12647', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Hotel Industry of Province 1 in Extreme Crisis'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus. However, hotels in Province 1 have started to close one after another due to the problems in meeting the operational costs. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the lockdown and prohibitory order have been lifted, the hotel industry is struggling due to lack of tourists. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Hotel Asiatique of Biratnagar has converted itself into a 100-bed isolation centre after the arrival of tourists stopped.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Operator of the hotel Punya Bhattarai, who is also the provincial chairman of Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA), informed that they were forced to convert the hotel into an isolation centre after failing to raise the operational costs.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that the hotel business had started to return back on track after the lockdown was lifted. However, their business has again declined due to the rise in number of coronavirus cases across the country. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Bhattarai informed that the reason behind the closure of two big hotels of Biratnagar including Genelia and Namaskar is the failure to meet the operational cost.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that the tourism industry in Province 1 is under existential crisis as the old hotels have started closing down while the new ones are unable to start their business.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12394', 'image' => '20201106031330_0410441105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 15:12:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12646', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coronavirus Insurance Claims to be Settled within 2 Weeks ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving compensation.', '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"">November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving compensation.</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 and the Insurance Board on Tuesday had directed insurance companies to settle the claims within a week of receiving all documents. </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"">However, due to the practical difficulties, the insurance companies are preparing to settle the claims within two weeks. According to a source, there has been preliminary agreement between the Insurance Board and insurance companies in this regard. </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"">A discussion was held between Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of the Insurance Board and insurance companies on Wednesday. </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"">CEO of NLG Insurance Sunil Ballav Pant stated that they are making effort to complete the process within 10 to 12 days. </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"">“There are lots of pending applications. On top of that, the documents received should be verified,” he said, adding, “So it is practically difficult to pay the claim in time. However, the processes are being done so that the claim can be paid within two weeks.” </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"">He further said that in some cases, the PCR report is also likely to be fake and therefore the documents should be properly verified. </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"">Moreover, he said that some people are found to have taken the compensation twice. </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"">“Those who have been insured are trying to cheat regarding the coronavirus insurance. Therefore, it needs to be strictly regulated,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12393', 'image' => '20201106024806_1604619588.Clipboard11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 14:47:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12645', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Issues new Order for Management of Valley Transportation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had decided to form the Valley Transport Authority two and a half years ago after uprooting the transport syndicate prevalent in the country. Back the, the government had envisaged making the public transportation sector more reliable and properly managed within five years. However, the move faced backlash and was criticized by a certain sector for the central government’s allegedly attempt to interfere in matters of the province in the new federal setup. The government has finally took a cabinet decision in this regard with the issuance of the order.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee will undertake the task of endorsing the annual plans, programmes and budget of the authority in addition to checking the standard of vehicles in the valley.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had established a fitness centre in Teku to check the standard of vehicles some 11 years ago. But the centre could not be operated for a long time. The equipment used for testing the vehicles broke down after which the centre had to abort its work. The centre will now be revived and required equipment will be fixed as the authority will be looking after the matter from now onward.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Information Officer at the Department of Transport Management Dr Loknath Bhusal, the committee will prepare all the required infrastructure as well as fix the rate, route permit among others before the bill gets endorsed by the House of Representatives.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12392', 'image' => '20201106011522_20200721030826_1595264681.yatayat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 13:14:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12644', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prime Minister tells Well Wishers to Brace for the Worst', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to climax.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to climax.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The two leaders of the ruling party met after a gap of five days in an attempt to resolve their differences.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the chairmen duo held discussions for two and a half hours, they were unable to reach an understanding on any of the contentious issues.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Dahal had told leaders close to him that Oli, during the last meeting held on Saturday, had proposed parting ways if his faction could not agree to the terms of the prime minister.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The internal rift within the party reached the boiling point after Dahal revealed Oli’s proposal to part ways.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">On Wednesday, Oli had said he attained his current position through the support of the people and not by means of any deception and therefore he would not tender his resignation at any cost. The prime minister’s statement had ripple effect within the ruling NCP.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">During Thursday’s meeting, Dahal reportedly proposed calling the party’s Secretariat Meeting to sort out the differences but Oli stood by his guns saying that the Secretariat Meeting would be useless unless the differences between the two leaders were sorted out first. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Oli said maintained that some forces have started conspiracy against the government and urged his supporters to brace for any adverse situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12391', 'image' => '20201106103608_1604619379.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 10:35:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12643', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Decorative Lights worth Rs 180 Million Imported for Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Devanagari Sangam MN"">November 5: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year. The local businessmen have imported the electric lights for decoration especially for Tihar and Chhath festivals.</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:"Bangla MN"">The import of such sparkling lights during the last fiscal year was worth Rs 400 million. The demand for the lights has declined this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, informed Nepal Electronic Entrepreneurs Federation.</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:"Bangla MN"">Chairman of the federation, Sundar Prasad Poudel, informed that the electronic goods market of Nepal has shrunk by almost 60 percent this year due to the effects of the pandemic.</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:"Bangla MN"">The decorative lights are imported in Nepal from India and China. Almost 85 percent of them come from China while the remaining 15 percent is imported from India.</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:"Bangla MN"">During pervious years, the importers used to visit China and India in person to bring the lights. They used to check the standard of the lights and then place the order. However, this year, they were unable to visit the neighbouring countries and had to place the order online, says Shankar Agrawal, who has been involved in the business of importing the decorative lights.</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:"Bangla MN"">“During the previous years, people used to fix the lights at their houses and compounds soon after Dashain. However, there isn’t any excitement among the people this year. Our business is also not very encouraging this time,” says Agrawal.</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:"Bangla MN"">The consumption of decorative lights goes up during Tihar, which is also known as the festival of lights. This year, the five-day festival of Tihar begins from November 12 next week.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-05', 'modified' => '2020-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12390', 'image' => '20201105052211_1604534186.Clipboard20.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-05 17:21:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12642', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Businessmen Visit Nepal to Purchase Black Cardamom', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Farmers of Nepal are expecting good price for their produce than last year after the Indian businessmen established purchase centre in Birtamode of Jhapa district.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of Black Cardamom Producers Association, Raj Kumar Karki, informed that the production of black cardamom in Assam was low this year compared to last year. Due to this, Indian businessmen have set up purchase centers in Birtamode, said Karki. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of black cardamom has already increased with the onset of the new season. Nepali exporters can now sell their products under the trademark of ‘Everest Big Cardamom’. The government had registered the trademark on July 3, 2016 with the objective of selling the product under its own brand name. Pakistan has approved the trademark after four years. However, Nepal needs to send the product to Pakistan through land route via India, which is problematic due to the tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal hasn’t been able to benefit from the trademark because it is costly to send black cardamom to Pakistan through air cargo, says Karki.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-05', 'modified' => '2020-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12389', 'image' => '20201105031905_1604533819.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-05 15:18:28', '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
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 9: The prices of food items have skyrocketed after the end of Dashain. The sudden price hike has occurred at a time when the country is preparing to celebrate the festival of Tihar. It has been reported that the prices of food items have increased by up to 25 percent.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Retail Business Association of Nepal, the prices of lentil, edible oil, sugar and pulses have increased recently. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The retail price of beans has increased from Rs 120 to Rs 150 per kg after Dashain, which is a 25 percent hike. Likewise, the price of grams has increased by 14 percent from Rs 110 to Rs 125 per kg.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the price of green peas has increased by Rs 20 per kg from Rs 115 to Rs 135. Sugar, which used to cost Rs 80 per kg before Dashain, now costs Rs 90 per kg.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of sunflower oil has increased by 9 percent from Rs 170 per litre to Rs 185 per litre. Likewise, mustard oil price has shot up by 13 percent from Rs 230 per litre to Rs 260 per litre while the price of soybean oil has increased by 14 percent from Rs 150 per litre to Rs 170 per litre.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Local businessmen say that the price of food items generally go up during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Chhath because there is high demand during the festive season. However, they admit that there hasn’t been any significant rise in demand at the moment and the supply chain also remains smooth. In this context, the price hike in the country is a result of the impact of international market, says Subodh Kumar Gupta, chairman of Association of Nepalese Pulses, Rice and Oil Industry. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, Nepal imports lentil, pulses and edible oil from countries like Australia, Canada, Malaysia and India. He argues that the prices of food items in those countries itself have increased, resulting in a price hike in Nepal.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, retailers have been accusing the wholesalers of fixing the prices arbitrarily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12404', 'image' => '20201109014234_1604880198.Clipboard16.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 13:42:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12656', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ICP Infrastructure Inadequate to Meet its Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its objectives.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its objectives. The infrastructure of ICP has become insufficient as the import and export through Inarwa checkpoint of Birgunj have been diverted to the ICP. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The government had planned to merge the Birgunj Dry Port with the ICP by expanding the latter’s infrastructure. The plan to acquire 63 bighas of land between ICP and the dry port has been awaiting the decision of the Council of Ministers since five years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The land acquisition process has not been able to progress as the government has not taken the final decision to acquire the land even after fixing the compensation amount. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Although some raw materials of cement and iron industries and petroleum products enter through the Inarwa customs, most of the imports and exports take through the ICP. However, the government's decision to merge the dry port with the ICP has not been implemented yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Ashok Temani, chairman of the Road Transport and Transit Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), says that the existing infrastructures of the ICP have become insufficient within three years of its operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px"> "We have been saying that the structure of the ICP is not practical. However, the government did not listen to the concerned parties at that time. Now, the ICP has become chaotic without being able to operate in full capacity,” said Temani. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The importer says that the ICP lacks essential infrastructure including parking lot, warehouse and shed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">“If for any reason the inspection of goods gets delayed, the importers are forced to pay for the detention of vehicles,” said Ashok Kumar Baidya, vice-president of Province 2 chapter of FNCCI.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Customs officials say that the infrastructure of the ICP has become inadequate after the import and export of goods from Inarwa were channelized to the ICP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The ICP’s infrastructure has become inadequate to deal with all the goods because it has been handling the works of two customs offices,” said a customs official requesting anonymity.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ICP was built with Indian assistance and is spread across 116 bigha land toward the Nepali side and covers 100 bigha of land on the Indian soil. Although both sides of the ICP have similar infrastructure, the Nepali side seems to be congested, says Temani.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Since India exports more goods, it doesn’t require as much parking lots and warehouse as we do,” said Temani.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He suggests that the government should immediately acquire the land in between the ICP and the dry port and develop facilities such as warehouses and parking lots.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“If the government is not capable to do so, it can hand over the responsibility to the private sector,” he added.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Other importers say that the import has been increasing every year and therefore urged the government not to neglect the issue.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Another importer Suresh Rungata says they have been forced to station their vehicles on the road due to lack of adequate infrastructure within the ICP. He complained that the ICP has been charging parking fare even for vehicles that are parked on the road.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has handed the responsibility of operating the ICP to Nepal Intermodal Transportation Development Committee.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12403', 'image' => '20201109121743_1604880316.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 12:17:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12655', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CCMC Recommends Ending Chartered Flights for Rescue Operation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The CCMC took such decision during a meeting held on Sunday (November 8), arguing that most of the stranded Nepalis have been already rescued from foreign countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">CCMC decided to recommend the government to halt the rescue flights as all diplomatic missions of Nepal have reported rescuing almost all stranded citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">If there is need to rescue any citizens then the government can provide help through regular flights instead of chartered flights, CCMC said in the recommendation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Mahendra Prasad Guragain informed that the CCMC has also suggested the government to reopen cable cars, jungle safari and adventure tourism in the country. </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:Arial">The CCMC has also requested the government to set up health units at local levels for consultations considering the increase in number of people staying in home isolation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the CCMC, the government has so far rescued a total of 136,216 citizens stranded in 60 different countries since the pandemic started spreading across the globe. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Altogether 40,230 Nepali citizens were rescued from Dubai which is the maximum number of people brought home from any particular country. Likewise, the lease number of Nepali rescued from abroad was from Somalia, where only one Nepali citizen was stranded.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Nepalis returned home during the pandemic from India through land route but only 89 were airlifted from the neighbouring country.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 634 Nepali citizens stranded in China were rescued during the crisis.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 930 flights were conducted to airlift the stranded citizens. Among those flights, 454 were regular flights while the remaining were chartered flights.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had decided to rescue its stranded citizens five months ago although it had imposed lockdown seven months ago. The citizens were rescued on priority basis, taking into consideration the age, gender and other factors such as health.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12402', 'image' => '20201109112912_1604878353.14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 11:28:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRA Fixes Final Deadline for Grant Distribution', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant. The NRA has fixed the final deadline for the beneficiaries to receive all three installments of private housing grant as its five-year mandate to complete the reconstruction task is nearing its end.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the new deadline, the beneficiaries who have signed agreement for reconstruction and retrofitting will have to collect the first installment by December 30. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, all the beneficiaries who have already acquired the first installment and have started reconstruction work will have to apply for the certification at the concerned local level by mid-January (January 12) to get the second installment. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The final installment can be claimed after providing the certification to the local level by mid-May next year (May 14). </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:Arial">Deputy Spokesperson of NRA, Manohar Ghimire said that this will be the final deadline as the authority's term will end by that time.</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:Arial">The NRA has also requested all eligible beneficiaries who want to demolish their old house and re-build a new house to apply to the concerned local units as soon as possible.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12400', 'image' => '20201108055523_1604793244.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 17:54:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Countries Demand 100,000 Nepali workers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers. ', '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"">November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers. </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"">Despite the demand for a large number of workers from those countries at a time when Nepal is facing rising unemployment due to COVID-19, the concerned authorities are yet to attest the demand letter. </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"">Due to a large number of migrant workers returning home from Gulf countries amid COVID-19 pandemic, there is a huge demand for workers in those countries. </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 manpower agents, human resource companies have been bankrupt for some time due to the coronavirus crisis, but as the situation has returned to normal, there is a demand for workers from those countries, especially in the service sector, such as hospitals, hotels, super stores and construction. </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 demand of workers in Saudi Arabia alone is around 50,000. Likewise, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and other countries have also asked to send workers to their countries. However, Bishnu Gaire, president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), said that the problem has arisen because Nepal’s embassies and foreign missions there have not verified the demand letter. </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"">He said that even though the government of Nepal lifted the ban on foreign employment in August, the diplomatic missions did not certify the demand letter citing coronavirus as the main reason. </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"">An official at Nepal’s embassy in Saudi Arabia admitted that they have not been able to focus on certifying the demand letter as they were struggling to manage workers who have lost employment due to coronavirus. </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"">"There is a lot of work to be done with limited manpower. There is a need to verify a large number of demand forms. Due to lack of human resources, it is difficult to verify the demand immediately," a senior official at the Nepalese Embassy in Abu Dhabi told New Business Age. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12399', 'image' => '20201108051031_20201006114242_1601941837.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 17:09:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lack of Coordination Among Different Tiers of Government Takes Toll on Tourism Revival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government bodies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government bodies.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry remained closed ever since March for seven months due to the impact of coronavirus. The government recently granted permission to reopen trekking and mountaineering on October 17. However, tourism activities and flights remain disrupted in some tourism destinations due to prohibitory orders issued by the local units. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry is returning back on track after a long time. Tourists have started arriving for trekking and mountaineering. The government had earlier banned all activities related to trekking and mountaineering during the spring season. But it later decided to revoke the ban after lifting the lockdown a few months ago. However, the restrictions are yet to be removed by various local units.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Soluhumbu district issued a notice to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the Lukla-based Tenjing Hillary Airport on October 23 instructing all the airline companies not to bring any passengers to the airport until another notice.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">In contrast, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai has been claiming that Nepal is a safe destination for international tourists following recent high-profile visits by foreign delegates for mountaineering. The conflicting move of the rural municipality comes amid the minister’s claim that the government is preparing to open other tourism activities in the country after allowing trekking and mountain expeditions. This clearly indicates lack of coordination among the three levels of government.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Tikaram Gurung, besides Khumbu the locals of Ghalegaun in Annapurna region have also banned the entry of tourists citing the risk of coronavirus. The said that the tourism industry that had been crawling back to normalcy has been affected due to the lack of coordination among the three tiers of government.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Gurung was of the view that instead of imposing a ban, the local authorities should have allowed tourists after PCR tests.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“There is confusion because the government has announced reopening of the tourism sector but its actions indicate otherwise,” said Gurung.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12398', 'image' => '20201108023033_1604792178.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 14:30:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Dry Fruits and other essentials for Tihar Decline', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year. The price of dry fruits has also declined with the decrease in demand for the much needed-item.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Businessmen believe that the demand for dry fruits has declined because of the decline in purchasing power of the people due to the coronavirus pandemic.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The sale of dry fruits normally goes up by 50 percent during Tihar compared to normal days but this year the sale is hovering around 30 percent, says Raj Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Retail Business Association.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that hotels and restaurants as well as sweet shops that normally buy large quantities of dry fruits have not been operation in optimal condition. This is also one of the reasons for the decline in demand for dry fruits, says Shrestha.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shrestha says that businessmen are considering to sell the dry fruits at lower price this year fearing that the goods stored for long time in their godown might get damaged.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The association informed that the price of dry fruits has decreased by Rs 200 per kilogram in the retail market compared to previous years. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of pistachio has declined by Rs 50 per kg and is currently being sold at Rs 1850.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of cashew nuts has dropped from Rs 1750 to Rs 1550 per kilogram. The association informed that the prices of apricot, beetle nuts, small cardamom among others have also declined.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pabitra Bajracharya, a retail store owner, says that the demand for sugar and flour used to increase during Tihar in previous years. But it has not happened this year. Instead, they are finding it difficult to sell the products.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Businessmen used to trade goods including spices and dry fruits worth Rs 600 million in Tihar. Most of them used to be imported from India.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre, Nepal imported dry fruits and other essentials for Tihar worth Rs 1.46 billion in the current fiscal year. The import of the same goods during last year was worth Rs 4 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12397', 'image' => '20201108122407_1604793552.Clipboard18.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 12:23:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12649', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Importers Paying 17 times more to Import Goods from China', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">After the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and border reopened, Chinese authorities have been delivering goods near the border area every day. China has been sending around five containers of goods in the border area, which lies in their territory. However, Nepali side has not been allowed to take their container across the border to that particular point. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">China had closed its border points with Nepal in late January following a rise in coronavirus cases in the country. Due to repeated requests from the Government of Nepal, China agreed to reopen the border in June/July but it limited the trade to five containers per day.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Due to pressure from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, China agreed to facilitate the flow of goods in September/October but again reimposed restrictions in October/November. Most of the northern border points of Nepal are almost closed. Nepali importers say they are hardly able to bring in five containers of goods per day.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Before January, Nepali importers used to take their own containers across the border and bring back goods. They had to pay around Rs 7 to 8 million for bringing goods in their own containers. However, China denied permission for Nepali containers to enter its territory due to coronavirus crisis. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transportation charge skyrocketed after China decided to transport goods up to the border points. Nepali importers say they have to spend at least Rs 1.2 million to import just one container of goods.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Chinese containers supply goods just up to the border point. Nepali containers are not allowed to enter China anymore,” informed Bachhu Poudel, chairman of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Commerce Association (NTHBCA).</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Earlier, it used to cost Rs 80,000 to transport the goods from across the border but the price has now shot up to Rs 1.2 million.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the association, goods stuck across the border have started entering Nepal after 11 months but more than 2200 containers are still stranded in China.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Some importers have returned the goods while others are still waiting for the consignment, informed Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“We are unaware about the condition of the goods. We don’t know whether the goods have rotten or not. On top of that, the transportation cost has increased 17 folds,” said Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Poudel said that although the government has assured to facilitate the flow of goods, there hasn’t been any progress.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary of the association, Lopsang Sherpa, said that they have informed the customs office about the exorbitant price they have to pay across the border but the government is yet to address their issue.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He said that China has reportedly decided to end the rotation of its containers after November 14 and they are currently in a “wait and watch” situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12396', 'image' => '20201108114816_1604792852.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 11:47:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12648', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Report Decline in number of Blacklisted Customers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined. The number of customers on the blacklist had skyrocketed when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown and prohibitory order from March 24 to mid-July.</span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the month of June/July, 9,626 borrowers were blacklisted by BFIs. But that number has dropped to 359 now. According to the Credit Information Center, inclusion of the names of customers that bounced their cheques during the lockdown in the blacklist was the reason for the increase in blacklisted customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Center, 10,732 people were added to the blacklist from April to the end of August. However, the number has plummeted now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"From that period until last Thursday (November 5), the number has dropped as most of the check bouncers have been removed from the blacklist after correcting their mistake and making the payments to the check bearer," the center said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had issued a unified directive on mid-August 2019, making an arrangement to blacklist the person, firm, company or organization issuing the check if they signed the check incorrectly and did not pay the amount within one year due to insufficient amount. Earlier, check issuers were blacklisted only if they were found to have bounced checks repeatedly.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the removal of the names added during the lockdown from the blacklist, only 212 names in March, 84 names in April, 359 names in May, 359 names in June, 443 names in July and 313 names in August remain in the blacklist.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, the chairman of the Nepal Bankers' Association, says that the blacklist has not increased as the entrepreneurs or businesses that weren’t able to repay their loans during the lockdown were not converted into non-performing loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have not blacklisted bad debtors because of COVID-19. The new non-performing loans have not been blacklisted and the old ones have been making their repayments," he said, adding, “More names have been sent for the blacklist for bouncing cheques.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Banks and financial institutions issue circulars to the credit information center to blacklist customers listing the names of customers with loans that are inactive or overdue, and customers giving bounced cheques. The center then blacklists such debtors. Banks and financial institutions are not allowed to provide loans to blacklisted borrowers. In addition, the blacklisted person is denied various facilities from the state.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12395', 'image' => '20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 17:53:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12647', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Hotel Industry of Province 1 in Extreme Crisis'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus. However, hotels in Province 1 have started to close one after another due to the problems in meeting the operational costs. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the lockdown and prohibitory order have been lifted, the hotel industry is struggling due to lack of tourists. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Hotel Asiatique of Biratnagar has converted itself into a 100-bed isolation centre after the arrival of tourists stopped.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Operator of the hotel Punya Bhattarai, who is also the provincial chairman of Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA), informed that they were forced to convert the hotel into an isolation centre after failing to raise the operational costs.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that the hotel business had started to return back on track after the lockdown was lifted. However, their business has again declined due to the rise in number of coronavirus cases across the country. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Bhattarai informed that the reason behind the closure of two big hotels of Biratnagar including Genelia and Namaskar is the failure to meet the operational cost.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that the tourism industry in Province 1 is under existential crisis as the old hotels have started closing down while the new ones are unable to start their business.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12394', 'image' => '20201106031330_0410441105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 15:12:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12646', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coronavirus Insurance Claims to be Settled within 2 Weeks ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving compensation.', '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"">November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving compensation.</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 and the Insurance Board on Tuesday had directed insurance companies to settle the claims within a week of receiving all documents. </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"">However, due to the practical difficulties, the insurance companies are preparing to settle the claims within two weeks. According to a source, there has been preliminary agreement between the Insurance Board and insurance companies in this regard. </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"">A discussion was held between Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of the Insurance Board and insurance companies on Wednesday. </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"">CEO of NLG Insurance Sunil Ballav Pant stated that they are making effort to complete the process within 10 to 12 days. </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"">“There are lots of pending applications. On top of that, the documents received should be verified,” he said, adding, “So it is practically difficult to pay the claim in time. However, the processes are being done so that the claim can be paid within two weeks.” </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"">He further said that in some cases, the PCR report is also likely to be fake and therefore the documents should be properly verified. </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"">Moreover, he said that some people are found to have taken the compensation twice. </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"">“Those who have been insured are trying to cheat regarding the coronavirus insurance. Therefore, it needs to be strictly regulated,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12393', 'image' => '20201106024806_1604619588.Clipboard11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 14:47:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12645', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Issues new Order for Management of Valley Transportation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had decided to form the Valley Transport Authority two and a half years ago after uprooting the transport syndicate prevalent in the country. Back the, the government had envisaged making the public transportation sector more reliable and properly managed within five years. However, the move faced backlash and was criticized by a certain sector for the central government’s allegedly attempt to interfere in matters of the province in the new federal setup. The government has finally took a cabinet decision in this regard with the issuance of the order.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee will undertake the task of endorsing the annual plans, programmes and budget of the authority in addition to checking the standard of vehicles in the valley.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had established a fitness centre in Teku to check the standard of vehicles some 11 years ago. But the centre could not be operated for a long time. The equipment used for testing the vehicles broke down after which the centre had to abort its work. The centre will now be revived and required equipment will be fixed as the authority will be looking after the matter from now onward.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Information Officer at the Department of Transport Management Dr Loknath Bhusal, the committee will prepare all the required infrastructure as well as fix the rate, route permit among others before the bill gets endorsed by the House of Representatives.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12392', 'image' => '20201106011522_20200721030826_1595264681.yatayat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 13:14:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12644', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prime Minister tells Well Wishers to Brace for the Worst', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to climax.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to climax.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The two leaders of the ruling party met after a gap of five days in an attempt to resolve their differences.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the chairmen duo held discussions for two and a half hours, they were unable to reach an understanding on any of the contentious issues.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Dahal had told leaders close to him that Oli, during the last meeting held on Saturday, had proposed parting ways if his faction could not agree to the terms of the prime minister.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The internal rift within the party reached the boiling point after Dahal revealed Oli’s proposal to part ways.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">On Wednesday, Oli had said he attained his current position through the support of the people and not by means of any deception and therefore he would not tender his resignation at any cost. The prime minister’s statement had ripple effect within the ruling NCP.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">During Thursday’s meeting, Dahal reportedly proposed calling the party’s Secretariat Meeting to sort out the differences but Oli stood by his guns saying that the Secretariat Meeting would be useless unless the differences between the two leaders were sorted out first. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Oli said maintained that some forces have started conspiracy against the government and urged his supporters to brace for any adverse situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12391', 'image' => '20201106103608_1604619379.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 10:35:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12643', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Decorative Lights worth Rs 180 Million Imported for Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Devanagari Sangam MN"">November 5: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year. The local businessmen have imported the electric lights for decoration especially for Tihar and Chhath festivals.</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:"Bangla MN"">The import of such sparkling lights during the last fiscal year was worth Rs 400 million. The demand for the lights has declined this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, informed Nepal Electronic Entrepreneurs Federation.</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:"Bangla MN"">Chairman of the federation, Sundar Prasad Poudel, informed that the electronic goods market of Nepal has shrunk by almost 60 percent this year due to the effects of the pandemic.</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:"Bangla MN"">The decorative lights are imported in Nepal from India and China. Almost 85 percent of them come from China while the remaining 15 percent is imported from India.</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:"Bangla MN"">During pervious years, the importers used to visit China and India in person to bring the lights. They used to check the standard of the lights and then place the order. However, this year, they were unable to visit the neighbouring countries and had to place the order online, says Shankar Agrawal, who has been involved in the business of importing the decorative lights.</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:"Bangla MN"">“During the previous years, people used to fix the lights at their houses and compounds soon after Dashain. However, there isn’t any excitement among the people this year. Our business is also not very encouraging this time,” says Agrawal.</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:"Bangla MN"">The consumption of decorative lights goes up during Tihar, which is also known as the festival of lights. This year, the five-day festival of Tihar begins from November 12 next week.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-05', 'modified' => '2020-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12390', 'image' => '20201105052211_1604534186.Clipboard20.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-05 17:21:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12642', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Businessmen Visit Nepal to Purchase Black Cardamom', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Farmers of Nepal are expecting good price for their produce than last year after the Indian businessmen established purchase centre in Birtamode of Jhapa district.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of Black Cardamom Producers Association, Raj Kumar Karki, informed that the production of black cardamom in Assam was low this year compared to last year. Due to this, Indian businessmen have set up purchase centers in Birtamode, said Karki. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of black cardamom has already increased with the onset of the new season. Nepali exporters can now sell their products under the trademark of ‘Everest Big Cardamom’. The government had registered the trademark on July 3, 2016 with the objective of selling the product under its own brand name. Pakistan has approved the trademark after four years. However, Nepal needs to send the product to Pakistan through land route via India, which is problematic due to the tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal hasn’t been able to benefit from the trademark because it is costly to send black cardamom to Pakistan through air cargo, says Karki.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-05', 'modified' => '2020-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12389', 'image' => '20201105031905_1604533819.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-05 15:18:28', '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
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 9: The prices of food items have skyrocketed after the end of Dashain. The sudden price hike has occurred at a time when the country is preparing to celebrate the festival of Tihar. It has been reported that the prices of food items have increased by up to 25 percent.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Retail Business Association of Nepal, the prices of lentil, edible oil, sugar and pulses have increased recently. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The retail price of beans has increased from Rs 120 to Rs 150 per kg after Dashain, which is a 25 percent hike. Likewise, the price of grams has increased by 14 percent from Rs 110 to Rs 125 per kg.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the price of green peas has increased by Rs 20 per kg from Rs 115 to Rs 135. Sugar, which used to cost Rs 80 per kg before Dashain, now costs Rs 90 per kg.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of sunflower oil has increased by 9 percent from Rs 170 per litre to Rs 185 per litre. Likewise, mustard oil price has shot up by 13 percent from Rs 230 per litre to Rs 260 per litre while the price of soybean oil has increased by 14 percent from Rs 150 per litre to Rs 170 per litre.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Local businessmen say that the price of food items generally go up during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Chhath because there is high demand during the festive season. However, they admit that there hasn’t been any significant rise in demand at the moment and the supply chain also remains smooth. In this context, the price hike in the country is a result of the impact of international market, says Subodh Kumar Gupta, chairman of Association of Nepalese Pulses, Rice and Oil Industry. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, Nepal imports lentil, pulses and edible oil from countries like Australia, Canada, Malaysia and India. He argues that the prices of food items in those countries itself have increased, resulting in a price hike in Nepal.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, retailers have been accusing the wholesalers of fixing the prices arbitrarily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12404', 'image' => '20201109014234_1604880198.Clipboard16.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 13:42:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12656', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ICP Infrastructure Inadequate to Meet its Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its objectives.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its objectives. The infrastructure of ICP has become insufficient as the import and export through Inarwa checkpoint of Birgunj have been diverted to the ICP. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The government had planned to merge the Birgunj Dry Port with the ICP by expanding the latter’s infrastructure. The plan to acquire 63 bighas of land between ICP and the dry port has been awaiting the decision of the Council of Ministers since five years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The land acquisition process has not been able to progress as the government has not taken the final decision to acquire the land even after fixing the compensation amount. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Although some raw materials of cement and iron industries and petroleum products enter through the Inarwa customs, most of the imports and exports take through the ICP. However, the government's decision to merge the dry port with the ICP has not been implemented yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Ashok Temani, chairman of the Road Transport and Transit Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), says that the existing infrastructures of the ICP have become insufficient within three years of its operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px"> "We have been saying that the structure of the ICP is not practical. However, the government did not listen to the concerned parties at that time. Now, the ICP has become chaotic without being able to operate in full capacity,” said Temani. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The importer says that the ICP lacks essential infrastructure including parking lot, warehouse and shed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">“If for any reason the inspection of goods gets delayed, the importers are forced to pay for the detention of vehicles,” said Ashok Kumar Baidya, vice-president of Province 2 chapter of FNCCI.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Customs officials say that the infrastructure of the ICP has become inadequate after the import and export of goods from Inarwa were channelized to the ICP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The ICP’s infrastructure has become inadequate to deal with all the goods because it has been handling the works of two customs offices,” said a customs official requesting anonymity.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ICP was built with Indian assistance and is spread across 116 bigha land toward the Nepali side and covers 100 bigha of land on the Indian soil. Although both sides of the ICP have similar infrastructure, the Nepali side seems to be congested, says Temani.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Since India exports more goods, it doesn’t require as much parking lots and warehouse as we do,” said Temani.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He suggests that the government should immediately acquire the land in between the ICP and the dry port and develop facilities such as warehouses and parking lots.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“If the government is not capable to do so, it can hand over the responsibility to the private sector,” he added.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Other importers say that the import has been increasing every year and therefore urged the government not to neglect the issue.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Another importer Suresh Rungata says they have been forced to station their vehicles on the road due to lack of adequate infrastructure within the ICP. He complained that the ICP has been charging parking fare even for vehicles that are parked on the road.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has handed the responsibility of operating the ICP to Nepal Intermodal Transportation Development Committee.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12403', 'image' => '20201109121743_1604880316.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 12:17:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12655', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CCMC Recommends Ending Chartered Flights for Rescue Operation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The CCMC took such decision during a meeting held on Sunday (November 8), arguing that most of the stranded Nepalis have been already rescued from foreign countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">CCMC decided to recommend the government to halt the rescue flights as all diplomatic missions of Nepal have reported rescuing almost all stranded citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">If there is need to rescue any citizens then the government can provide help through regular flights instead of chartered flights, CCMC said in the recommendation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Mahendra Prasad Guragain informed that the CCMC has also suggested the government to reopen cable cars, jungle safari and adventure tourism in the country. </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:Arial">The CCMC has also requested the government to set up health units at local levels for consultations considering the increase in number of people staying in home isolation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the CCMC, the government has so far rescued a total of 136,216 citizens stranded in 60 different countries since the pandemic started spreading across the globe. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Altogether 40,230 Nepali citizens were rescued from Dubai which is the maximum number of people brought home from any particular country. Likewise, the lease number of Nepali rescued from abroad was from Somalia, where only one Nepali citizen was stranded.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Nepalis returned home during the pandemic from India through land route but only 89 were airlifted from the neighbouring country.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 634 Nepali citizens stranded in China were rescued during the crisis.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 930 flights were conducted to airlift the stranded citizens. Among those flights, 454 were regular flights while the remaining were chartered flights.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had decided to rescue its stranded citizens five months ago although it had imposed lockdown seven months ago. The citizens were rescued on priority basis, taking into consideration the age, gender and other factors such as health.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12402', 'image' => '20201109112912_1604878353.14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 11:28:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRA Fixes Final Deadline for Grant Distribution', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant. The NRA has fixed the final deadline for the beneficiaries to receive all three installments of private housing grant as its five-year mandate to complete the reconstruction task is nearing its end.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the new deadline, the beneficiaries who have signed agreement for reconstruction and retrofitting will have to collect the first installment by December 30. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, all the beneficiaries who have already acquired the first installment and have started reconstruction work will have to apply for the certification at the concerned local level by mid-January (January 12) to get the second installment. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The final installment can be claimed after providing the certification to the local level by mid-May next year (May 14). </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:Arial">Deputy Spokesperson of NRA, Manohar Ghimire said that this will be the final deadline as the authority's term will end by that time.</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:Arial">The NRA has also requested all eligible beneficiaries who want to demolish their old house and re-build a new house to apply to the concerned local units as soon as possible.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12400', 'image' => '20201108055523_1604793244.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 17:54:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Countries Demand 100,000 Nepali workers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers. ', '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"">November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers. </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"">Despite the demand for a large number of workers from those countries at a time when Nepal is facing rising unemployment due to COVID-19, the concerned authorities are yet to attest the demand letter. </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"">Due to a large number of migrant workers returning home from Gulf countries amid COVID-19 pandemic, there is a huge demand for workers in those countries. </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 manpower agents, human resource companies have been bankrupt for some time due to the coronavirus crisis, but as the situation has returned to normal, there is a demand for workers from those countries, especially in the service sector, such as hospitals, hotels, super stores and construction. </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 demand of workers in Saudi Arabia alone is around 50,000. Likewise, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and other countries have also asked to send workers to their countries. However, Bishnu Gaire, president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), said that the problem has arisen because Nepal’s embassies and foreign missions there have not verified the demand letter. </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"">He said that even though the government of Nepal lifted the ban on foreign employment in August, the diplomatic missions did not certify the demand letter citing coronavirus as the main reason. </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"">An official at Nepal’s embassy in Saudi Arabia admitted that they have not been able to focus on certifying the demand letter as they were struggling to manage workers who have lost employment due to coronavirus. </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"">"There is a lot of work to be done with limited manpower. There is a need to verify a large number of demand forms. Due to lack of human resources, it is difficult to verify the demand immediately," a senior official at the Nepalese Embassy in Abu Dhabi told New Business Age. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12399', 'image' => '20201108051031_20201006114242_1601941837.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 17:09:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lack of Coordination Among Different Tiers of Government Takes Toll on Tourism Revival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government bodies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government bodies.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry remained closed ever since March for seven months due to the impact of coronavirus. The government recently granted permission to reopen trekking and mountaineering on October 17. However, tourism activities and flights remain disrupted in some tourism destinations due to prohibitory orders issued by the local units. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry is returning back on track after a long time. Tourists have started arriving for trekking and mountaineering. The government had earlier banned all activities related to trekking and mountaineering during the spring season. But it later decided to revoke the ban after lifting the lockdown a few months ago. However, the restrictions are yet to be removed by various local units.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Soluhumbu district issued a notice to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the Lukla-based Tenjing Hillary Airport on October 23 instructing all the airline companies not to bring any passengers to the airport until another notice.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">In contrast, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai has been claiming that Nepal is a safe destination for international tourists following recent high-profile visits by foreign delegates for mountaineering. The conflicting move of the rural municipality comes amid the minister’s claim that the government is preparing to open other tourism activities in the country after allowing trekking and mountain expeditions. This clearly indicates lack of coordination among the three levels of government.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Tikaram Gurung, besides Khumbu the locals of Ghalegaun in Annapurna region have also banned the entry of tourists citing the risk of coronavirus. The said that the tourism industry that had been crawling back to normalcy has been affected due to the lack of coordination among the three tiers of government.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Gurung was of the view that instead of imposing a ban, the local authorities should have allowed tourists after PCR tests.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“There is confusion because the government has announced reopening of the tourism sector but its actions indicate otherwise,” said Gurung.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12398', 'image' => '20201108023033_1604792178.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 14:30:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Dry Fruits and other essentials for Tihar Decline', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year. The price of dry fruits has also declined with the decrease in demand for the much needed-item.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Businessmen believe that the demand for dry fruits has declined because of the decline in purchasing power of the people due to the coronavirus pandemic.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The sale of dry fruits normally goes up by 50 percent during Tihar compared to normal days but this year the sale is hovering around 30 percent, says Raj Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Retail Business Association.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that hotels and restaurants as well as sweet shops that normally buy large quantities of dry fruits have not been operation in optimal condition. This is also one of the reasons for the decline in demand for dry fruits, says Shrestha.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shrestha says that businessmen are considering to sell the dry fruits at lower price this year fearing that the goods stored for long time in their godown might get damaged.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The association informed that the price of dry fruits has decreased by Rs 200 per kilogram in the retail market compared to previous years. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of pistachio has declined by Rs 50 per kg and is currently being sold at Rs 1850.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of cashew nuts has dropped from Rs 1750 to Rs 1550 per kilogram. The association informed that the prices of apricot, beetle nuts, small cardamom among others have also declined.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pabitra Bajracharya, a retail store owner, says that the demand for sugar and flour used to increase during Tihar in previous years. But it has not happened this year. Instead, they are finding it difficult to sell the products.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Businessmen used to trade goods including spices and dry fruits worth Rs 600 million in Tihar. Most of them used to be imported from India.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre, Nepal imported dry fruits and other essentials for Tihar worth Rs 1.46 billion in the current fiscal year. The import of the same goods during last year was worth Rs 4 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12397', 'image' => '20201108122407_1604793552.Clipboard18.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 12:23:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12649', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Importers Paying 17 times more to Import Goods from China', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">After the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and border reopened, Chinese authorities have been delivering goods near the border area every day. China has been sending around five containers of goods in the border area, which lies in their territory. However, Nepali side has not been allowed to take their container across the border to that particular point. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">China had closed its border points with Nepal in late January following a rise in coronavirus cases in the country. Due to repeated requests from the Government of Nepal, China agreed to reopen the border in June/July but it limited the trade to five containers per day.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Due to pressure from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, China agreed to facilitate the flow of goods in September/October but again reimposed restrictions in October/November. Most of the northern border points of Nepal are almost closed. Nepali importers say they are hardly able to bring in five containers of goods per day.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Before January, Nepali importers used to take their own containers across the border and bring back goods. They had to pay around Rs 7 to 8 million for bringing goods in their own containers. However, China denied permission for Nepali containers to enter its territory due to coronavirus crisis. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transportation charge skyrocketed after China decided to transport goods up to the border points. Nepali importers say they have to spend at least Rs 1.2 million to import just one container of goods.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Chinese containers supply goods just up to the border point. Nepali containers are not allowed to enter China anymore,” informed Bachhu Poudel, chairman of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Commerce Association (NTHBCA).</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Earlier, it used to cost Rs 80,000 to transport the goods from across the border but the price has now shot up to Rs 1.2 million.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the association, goods stuck across the border have started entering Nepal after 11 months but more than 2200 containers are still stranded in China.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Some importers have returned the goods while others are still waiting for the consignment, informed Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“We are unaware about the condition of the goods. We don’t know whether the goods have rotten or not. On top of that, the transportation cost has increased 17 folds,” said Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Poudel said that although the government has assured to facilitate the flow of goods, there hasn’t been any progress.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary of the association, Lopsang Sherpa, said that they have informed the customs office about the exorbitant price they have to pay across the border but the government is yet to address their issue.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He said that China has reportedly decided to end the rotation of its containers after November 14 and they are currently in a “wait and watch” situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12396', 'image' => '20201108114816_1604792852.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 11:47:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12648', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Report Decline in number of Blacklisted Customers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined. The number of customers on the blacklist had skyrocketed when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown and prohibitory order from March 24 to mid-July.</span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the month of June/July, 9,626 borrowers were blacklisted by BFIs. But that number has dropped to 359 now. According to the Credit Information Center, inclusion of the names of customers that bounced their cheques during the lockdown in the blacklist was the reason for the increase in blacklisted customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Center, 10,732 people were added to the blacklist from April to the end of August. However, the number has plummeted now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"From that period until last Thursday (November 5), the number has dropped as most of the check bouncers have been removed from the blacklist after correcting their mistake and making the payments to the check bearer," the center said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had issued a unified directive on mid-August 2019, making an arrangement to blacklist the person, firm, company or organization issuing the check if they signed the check incorrectly and did not pay the amount within one year due to insufficient amount. Earlier, check issuers were blacklisted only if they were found to have bounced checks repeatedly.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the removal of the names added during the lockdown from the blacklist, only 212 names in March, 84 names in April, 359 names in May, 359 names in June, 443 names in July and 313 names in August remain in the blacklist.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, the chairman of the Nepal Bankers' Association, says that the blacklist has not increased as the entrepreneurs or businesses that weren’t able to repay their loans during the lockdown were not converted into non-performing loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have not blacklisted bad debtors because of COVID-19. The new non-performing loans have not been blacklisted and the old ones have been making their repayments," he said, adding, “More names have been sent for the blacklist for bouncing cheques.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Banks and financial institutions issue circulars to the credit information center to blacklist customers listing the names of customers with loans that are inactive or overdue, and customers giving bounced cheques. The center then blacklists such debtors. Banks and financial institutions are not allowed to provide loans to blacklisted borrowers. In addition, the blacklisted person is denied various facilities from the state.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12395', 'image' => '20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 17:53:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12647', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Hotel Industry of Province 1 in Extreme Crisis'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus. However, hotels in Province 1 have started to close one after another due to the problems in meeting the operational costs. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the lockdown and prohibitory order have been lifted, the hotel industry is struggling due to lack of tourists. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Hotel Asiatique of Biratnagar has converted itself into a 100-bed isolation centre after the arrival of tourists stopped.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Operator of the hotel Punya Bhattarai, who is also the provincial chairman of Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA), informed that they were forced to convert the hotel into an isolation centre after failing to raise the operational costs.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that the hotel business had started to return back on track after the lockdown was lifted. However, their business has again declined due to the rise in number of coronavirus cases across the country. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Bhattarai informed that the reason behind the closure of two big hotels of Biratnagar including Genelia and Namaskar is the failure to meet the operational cost.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that the tourism industry in Province 1 is under existential crisis as the old hotels have started closing down while the new ones are unable to start their business.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12394', 'image' => '20201106031330_0410441105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 15:12:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12646', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coronavirus Insurance Claims to be Settled within 2 Weeks ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving compensation.', '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"">November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving compensation.</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 and the Insurance Board on Tuesday had directed insurance companies to settle the claims within a week of receiving all documents. </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"">However, due to the practical difficulties, the insurance companies are preparing to settle the claims within two weeks. According to a source, there has been preliminary agreement between the Insurance Board and insurance companies in this regard. </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"">A discussion was held between Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of the Insurance Board and insurance companies on Wednesday. </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"">CEO of NLG Insurance Sunil Ballav Pant stated that they are making effort to complete the process within 10 to 12 days. </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"">“There are lots of pending applications. On top of that, the documents received should be verified,” he said, adding, “So it is practically difficult to pay the claim in time. However, the processes are being done so that the claim can be paid within two weeks.” </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"">He further said that in some cases, the PCR report is also likely to be fake and therefore the documents should be properly verified. </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"">Moreover, he said that some people are found to have taken the compensation twice. </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"">“Those who have been insured are trying to cheat regarding the coronavirus insurance. Therefore, it needs to be strictly regulated,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12393', 'image' => '20201106024806_1604619588.Clipboard11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 14:47:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12645', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Issues new Order for Management of Valley Transportation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had decided to form the Valley Transport Authority two and a half years ago after uprooting the transport syndicate prevalent in the country. Back the, the government had envisaged making the public transportation sector more reliable and properly managed within five years. However, the move faced backlash and was criticized by a certain sector for the central government’s allegedly attempt to interfere in matters of the province in the new federal setup. The government has finally took a cabinet decision in this regard with the issuance of the order.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee will undertake the task of endorsing the annual plans, programmes and budget of the authority in addition to checking the standard of vehicles in the valley.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had established a fitness centre in Teku to check the standard of vehicles some 11 years ago. But the centre could not be operated for a long time. The equipment used for testing the vehicles broke down after which the centre had to abort its work. The centre will now be revived and required equipment will be fixed as the authority will be looking after the matter from now onward.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Information Officer at the Department of Transport Management Dr Loknath Bhusal, the committee will prepare all the required infrastructure as well as fix the rate, route permit among others before the bill gets endorsed by the House of Representatives.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12392', 'image' => '20201106011522_20200721030826_1595264681.yatayat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 13:14:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12644', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prime Minister tells Well Wishers to Brace for the Worst', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to climax.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to climax.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The two leaders of the ruling party met after a gap of five days in an attempt to resolve their differences.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the chairmen duo held discussions for two and a half hours, they were unable to reach an understanding on any of the contentious issues.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Dahal had told leaders close to him that Oli, during the last meeting held on Saturday, had proposed parting ways if his faction could not agree to the terms of the prime minister.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The internal rift within the party reached the boiling point after Dahal revealed Oli’s proposal to part ways.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">On Wednesday, Oli had said he attained his current position through the support of the people and not by means of any deception and therefore he would not tender his resignation at any cost. The prime minister’s statement had ripple effect within the ruling NCP.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">During Thursday’s meeting, Dahal reportedly proposed calling the party’s Secretariat Meeting to sort out the differences but Oli stood by his guns saying that the Secretariat Meeting would be useless unless the differences between the two leaders were sorted out first. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Oli said maintained that some forces have started conspiracy against the government and urged his supporters to brace for any adverse situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12391', 'image' => '20201106103608_1604619379.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 10:35:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12643', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Decorative Lights worth Rs 180 Million Imported for Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Devanagari Sangam MN"">November 5: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year. The local businessmen have imported the electric lights for decoration especially for Tihar and Chhath festivals.</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:"Bangla MN"">The import of such sparkling lights during the last fiscal year was worth Rs 400 million. The demand for the lights has declined this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, informed Nepal Electronic Entrepreneurs Federation.</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:"Bangla MN"">Chairman of the federation, Sundar Prasad Poudel, informed that the electronic goods market of Nepal has shrunk by almost 60 percent this year due to the effects of the pandemic.</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:"Bangla MN"">The decorative lights are imported in Nepal from India and China. Almost 85 percent of them come from China while the remaining 15 percent is imported from India.</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:"Bangla MN"">During pervious years, the importers used to visit China and India in person to bring the lights. They used to check the standard of the lights and then place the order. However, this year, they were unable to visit the neighbouring countries and had to place the order online, says Shankar Agrawal, who has been involved in the business of importing the decorative lights.</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:"Bangla MN"">“During the previous years, people used to fix the lights at their houses and compounds soon after Dashain. However, there isn’t any excitement among the people this year. Our business is also not very encouraging this time,” says Agrawal.</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:"Bangla MN"">The consumption of decorative lights goes up during Tihar, which is also known as the festival of lights. This year, the five-day festival of Tihar begins from November 12 next week.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-05', 'modified' => '2020-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12390', 'image' => '20201105052211_1604534186.Clipboard20.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-05 17:21:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12642', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Businessmen Visit Nepal to Purchase Black Cardamom', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Farmers of Nepal are expecting good price for their produce than last year after the Indian businessmen established purchase centre in Birtamode of Jhapa district.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of Black Cardamom Producers Association, Raj Kumar Karki, informed that the production of black cardamom in Assam was low this year compared to last year. Due to this, Indian businessmen have set up purchase centers in Birtamode, said Karki. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of black cardamom has already increased with the onset of the new season. Nepali exporters can now sell their products under the trademark of ‘Everest Big Cardamom’. The government had registered the trademark on July 3, 2016 with the objective of selling the product under its own brand name. Pakistan has approved the trademark after four years. However, Nepal needs to send the product to Pakistan through land route via India, which is problematic due to the tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal hasn’t been able to benefit from the trademark because it is costly to send black cardamom to Pakistan through air cargo, says Karki.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-05', 'modified' => '2020-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12389', 'image' => '20201105031905_1604533819.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-05 15:18:28', '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:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 9: The prices of food items have skyrocketed after the end of Dashain. The sudden price hike has occurred at a time when the country is preparing to celebrate the festival of Tihar. It has been reported that the prices of food items have increased by up to 25 percent.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Retail Business Association of Nepal, the prices of lentil, edible oil, sugar and pulses have increased recently. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The retail price of beans has increased from Rs 120 to Rs 150 per kg after Dashain, which is a 25 percent hike. Likewise, the price of grams has increased by 14 percent from Rs 110 to Rs 125 per kg.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Likewise, the price of green peas has increased by Rs 20 per kg from Rs 115 to Rs 135. Sugar, which used to cost Rs 80 per kg before Dashain, now costs Rs 90 per kg.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of sunflower oil has increased by 9 percent from Rs 170 per litre to Rs 185 per litre. Likewise, mustard oil price has shot up by 13 percent from Rs 230 per litre to Rs 260 per litre while the price of soybean oil has increased by 14 percent from Rs 150 per litre to Rs 170 per litre.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Local businessmen say that the price of food items generally go up during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Chhath because there is high demand during the festive season. However, they admit that there hasn’t been any significant rise in demand at the moment and the supply chain also remains smooth. In this context, the price hike in the country is a result of the impact of international market, says Subodh Kumar Gupta, chairman of Association of Nepalese Pulses, Rice and Oil Industry. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to him, Nepal imports lentil, pulses and edible oil from countries like Australia, Canada, Malaysia and India. He argues that the prices of food items in those countries itself have increased, resulting in a price hike in Nepal.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">However, retailers have been accusing the wholesalers of fixing the prices arbitrarily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12404', 'image' => '20201109014234_1604880198.Clipboard16.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 13:42:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12656', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'ICP Infrastructure Inadequate to Meet its Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its objectives.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">November 9: The infrastructure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP), which was conceptualized for managing the import and export from Birgunj customs through a single point, has become inadequate to meet its objectives. The infrastructure of ICP has become insufficient as the import and export through Inarwa checkpoint of Birgunj have been diverted to the ICP. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The government had planned to merge the Birgunj Dry Port with the ICP by expanding the latter’s infrastructure. The plan to acquire 63 bighas of land between ICP and the dry port has been awaiting the decision of the Council of Ministers since five years. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The land acquisition process has not been able to progress as the government has not taken the final decision to acquire the land even after fixing the compensation amount. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Although some raw materials of cement and iron industries and petroleum products enter through the Inarwa customs, most of the imports and exports take through the ICP. However, the government's decision to merge the dry port with the ICP has not been implemented yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Ashok Temani, chairman of the Road Transport and Transit Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), says that the existing infrastructures of the ICP have become insufficient within three years of its operation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px"> "We have been saying that the structure of the ICP is not practical. However, the government did not listen to the concerned parties at that time. Now, the ICP has become chaotic without being able to operate in full capacity,” said Temani. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">The importer says that the ICP lacks essential infrastructure including parking lot, warehouse and shed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">“If for any reason the inspection of goods gets delayed, the importers are forced to pay for the detention of vehicles,” said Ashok Kumar Baidya, vice-president of Province 2 chapter of FNCCI.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:18px">Customs officials say that the infrastructure of the ICP has become inadequate after the import and export of goods from Inarwa were channelized to the ICP.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">“The ICP’s infrastructure has become inadequate to deal with all the goods because it has been handling the works of two customs offices,” said a customs official requesting anonymity.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The ICP was built with Indian assistance and is spread across 116 bigha land toward the Nepali side and covers 100 bigha of land on the Indian soil. Although both sides of the ICP have similar infrastructure, the Nepali side seems to be congested, says Temani.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Since India exports more goods, it doesn’t require as much parking lots and warehouse as we do,” said Temani.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He suggests that the government should immediately acquire the land in between the ICP and the dry port and develop facilities such as warehouses and parking lots.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“If the government is not capable to do so, it can hand over the responsibility to the private sector,” he added.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Other importers say that the import has been increasing every year and therefore urged the government not to neglect the issue.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Another importer Suresh Rungata says they have been forced to station their vehicles on the road due to lack of adequate infrastructure within the ICP. He complained that the ICP has been charging parking fare even for vehicles that are parked on the road.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government has handed the responsibility of operating the ICP to Nepal Intermodal Transportation Development Committee.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12403', 'image' => '20201109121743_1604880316.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 12:17:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12655', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CCMC Recommends Ending Chartered Flights for Rescue Operation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">November 9: The Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) has recommended the government to halt chartered flights to rescue Nepali citizens stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The CCMC took such decision during a meeting held on Sunday (November 8), arguing that most of the stranded Nepalis have been already rescued from foreign countries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">CCMC decided to recommend the government to halt the rescue flights as all diplomatic missions of Nepal have reported rescuing almost all stranded citizens.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">If there is need to rescue any citizens then the government can provide help through regular flights instead of chartered flights, CCMC said in the recommendation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Mahendra Prasad Guragain informed that the CCMC has also suggested the government to reopen cable cars, jungle safari and adventure tourism in the country. </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:Arial">The CCMC has also requested the government to set up health units at local levels for consultations considering the increase in number of people staying in home isolation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the CCMC, the government has so far rescued a total of 136,216 citizens stranded in 60 different countries since the pandemic started spreading across the globe. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Altogether 40,230 Nepali citizens were rescued from Dubai which is the maximum number of people brought home from any particular country. Likewise, the lease number of Nepali rescued from abroad was from Somalia, where only one Nepali citizen was stranded.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Nepalis returned home during the pandemic from India through land route but only 89 were airlifted from the neighbouring country.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 634 Nepali citizens stranded in China were rescued during the crisis.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">A total of 930 flights were conducted to airlift the stranded citizens. Among those flights, 454 were regular flights while the remaining were chartered flights.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had decided to rescue its stranded citizens five months ago although it had imposed lockdown seven months ago. The citizens were rescued on priority basis, taking into consideration the age, gender and other factors such as health.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-09', 'modified' => '2020-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12402', 'image' => '20201109112912_1604878353.14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-09 11:28:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12653', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRA Fixes Final Deadline for Grant Distribution', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">November 8: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has fixed the final date for people affected by the 2015 earthquake to receive housing grant. The NRA has fixed the final deadline for the beneficiaries to receive all three installments of private housing grant as its five-year mandate to complete the reconstruction task is nearing its end.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to the new deadline, the beneficiaries who have signed agreement for reconstruction and retrofitting will have to collect the first installment by December 30. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Similarly, all the beneficiaries who have already acquired the first installment and have started reconstruction work will have to apply for the certification at the concerned local level by mid-January (January 12) to get the second installment. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The final installment can be claimed after providing the certification to the local level by mid-May next year (May 14). </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:Arial">Deputy Spokesperson of NRA, Manohar Ghimire said that this will be the final deadline as the authority's term will end by that time.</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:Arial">The NRA has also requested all eligible beneficiaries who want to demolish their old house and re-build a new house to apply to the concerned local units as soon as possible.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12400', 'image' => '20201108055523_1604793244.Clipboard14.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 17:54:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12652', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Foreign Countries Demand 100,000 Nepali workers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers. ', '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"">November 8: Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia that are considered attractive for foreign employment have demanded 100,000 labourers. </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"">Despite the demand for a large number of workers from those countries at a time when Nepal is facing rising unemployment due to COVID-19, the concerned authorities are yet to attest the demand letter. </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"">Due to a large number of migrant workers returning home from Gulf countries amid COVID-19 pandemic, there is a huge demand for workers in those countries. </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 manpower agents, human resource companies have been bankrupt for some time due to the coronavirus crisis, but as the situation has returned to normal, there is a demand for workers from those countries, especially in the service sector, such as hospitals, hotels, super stores and construction. </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 demand of workers in Saudi Arabia alone is around 50,000. Likewise, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and other countries have also asked to send workers to their countries. However, Bishnu Gaire, president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), said that the problem has arisen because Nepal’s embassies and foreign missions there have not verified the demand letter. </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"">He said that even though the government of Nepal lifted the ban on foreign employment in August, the diplomatic missions did not certify the demand letter citing coronavirus as the main reason. </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"">An official at Nepal’s embassy in Saudi Arabia admitted that they have not been able to focus on certifying the demand letter as they were struggling to manage workers who have lost employment due to coronavirus. </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"">"There is a lot of work to be done with limited manpower. There is a need to verify a large number of demand forms. Due to lack of human resources, it is difficult to verify the demand immediately," a senior official at the Nepalese Embassy in Abu Dhabi told New Business Age. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12399', 'image' => '20201108051031_20201006114242_1601941837.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 17:09:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12651', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lack of Coordination Among Different Tiers of Government Takes Toll on Tourism Revival', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government bodies.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: Tourism activities which resumed after seven months of restrictions have been affected once again due to lack of coordination among the government bodies.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry remained closed ever since March for seven months due to the impact of coronavirus. The government recently granted permission to reopen trekking and mountaineering on October 17. However, tourism activities and flights remain disrupted in some tourism destinations due to prohibitory orders issued by the local units. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The tourism industry is returning back on track after a long time. Tourists have started arriving for trekking and mountaineering. The government had earlier banned all activities related to trekking and mountaineering during the spring season. But it later decided to revoke the ban after lifting the lockdown a few months ago. However, the restrictions are yet to be removed by various local units.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Soluhumbu district issued a notice to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the Lukla-based Tenjing Hillary Airport on October 23 instructing all the airline companies not to bring any passengers to the airport until another notice.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">In contrast, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai has been claiming that Nepal is a safe destination for international tourists following recent high-profile visits by foreign delegates for mountaineering. The conflicting move of the rural municipality comes amid the minister’s claim that the government is preparing to open other tourism activities in the country after allowing trekking and mountain expeditions. This clearly indicates lack of coordination among the three levels of government.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association, Tikaram Gurung, besides Khumbu the locals of Ghalegaun in Annapurna region have also banned the entry of tourists citing the risk of coronavirus. The said that the tourism industry that had been crawling back to normalcy has been affected due to the lack of coordination among the three tiers of government.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Gurung was of the view that instead of imposing a ban, the local authorities should have allowed tourists after PCR tests.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“There is confusion because the government has announced reopening of the tourism sector but its actions indicate otherwise,” said Gurung.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12398', 'image' => '20201108023033_1604792178.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 14:30:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12650', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Dry Fruits and other essentials for Tihar Decline', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: The demand for dry fruits, which is excessively used during the festival of Tihar, has gone down this year. The price of dry fruits has also declined with the decrease in demand for the much needed-item.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Businessmen believe that the demand for dry fruits has declined because of the decline in purchasing power of the people due to the coronavirus pandemic.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The sale of dry fruits normally goes up by 50 percent during Tihar compared to normal days but this year the sale is hovering around 30 percent, says Raj Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Retail Business Association.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that hotels and restaurants as well as sweet shops that normally buy large quantities of dry fruits have not been operation in optimal condition. This is also one of the reasons for the decline in demand for dry fruits, says Shrestha.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Shrestha says that businessmen are considering to sell the dry fruits at lower price this year fearing that the goods stored for long time in their godown might get damaged.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The association informed that the price of dry fruits has decreased by Rs 200 per kilogram in the retail market compared to previous years. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of pistachio has declined by Rs 50 per kg and is currently being sold at Rs 1850.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of cashew nuts has dropped from Rs 1750 to Rs 1550 per kilogram. The association informed that the prices of apricot, beetle nuts, small cardamom among others have also declined.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Pabitra Bajracharya, a retail store owner, says that the demand for sugar and flour used to increase during Tihar in previous years. But it has not happened this year. Instead, they are finding it difficult to sell the products.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Businessmen used to trade goods including spices and dry fruits worth Rs 600 million in Tihar. Most of them used to be imported from India.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre, Nepal imported dry fruits and other essentials for Tihar worth Rs 1.46 billion in the current fiscal year. The import of the same goods during last year was worth Rs 4 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12397', 'image' => '20201108122407_1604793552.Clipboard18.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 12:23:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12649', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepali Importers Paying 17 times more to Import Goods from China', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 8: Nepal’s international border transit points with China, which was closed since late January, haven’t become fully operational. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">After the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and border reopened, Chinese authorities have been delivering goods near the border area every day. China has been sending around five containers of goods in the border area, which lies in their territory. However, Nepali side has not been allowed to take their container across the border to that particular point. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">China had closed its border points with Nepal in late January following a rise in coronavirus cases in the country. Due to repeated requests from the Government of Nepal, China agreed to reopen the border in June/July but it limited the trade to five containers per day.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Due to pressure from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, China agreed to facilitate the flow of goods in September/October but again reimposed restrictions in October/November. Most of the northern border points of Nepal are almost closed. Nepali importers say they are hardly able to bring in five containers of goods per day.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Before January, Nepali importers used to take their own containers across the border and bring back goods. They had to pay around Rs 7 to 8 million for bringing goods in their own containers. However, China denied permission for Nepali containers to enter its territory due to coronavirus crisis. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The transportation charge skyrocketed after China decided to transport goods up to the border points. Nepali importers say they have to spend at least Rs 1.2 million to import just one container of goods.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Chinese containers supply goods just up to the border point. Nepali containers are not allowed to enter China anymore,” informed Bachhu Poudel, chairman of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Commerce Association (NTHBCA).</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“Earlier, it used to cost Rs 80,000 to transport the goods from across the border but the price has now shot up to Rs 1.2 million.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the association, goods stuck across the border have started entering Nepal after 11 months but more than 2200 containers are still stranded in China.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Some importers have returned the goods while others are still waiting for the consignment, informed Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">“We are unaware about the condition of the goods. We don’t know whether the goods have rotten or not. On top of that, the transportation cost has increased 17 folds,” said Poudel.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Poudel said that although the government has assured to facilitate the flow of goods, there hasn’t been any progress.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Secretary of the association, Lopsang Sherpa, said that they have informed the customs office about the exorbitant price they have to pay across the border but the government is yet to address their issue.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He said that China has reportedly decided to end the rotation of its containers after November 14 and they are currently in a “wait and watch” situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-08', 'modified' => '2020-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12396', 'image' => '20201108114816_1604792852.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-08 11:47:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12648', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Report Decline in number of Blacklisted Customers ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined. ', 'content' => '<h1><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">November 6: The number of customers on the blacklist of Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), which had increased during the lockdown period, has now declined. The number of customers on the blacklist had skyrocketed when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown and prohibitory order from March 24 to mid-July.</span></span></h1> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">In the month of June/July, 9,626 borrowers were blacklisted by BFIs. But that number has dropped to 359 now. According to the Credit Information Center, inclusion of the names of customers that bounced their cheques during the lockdown in the blacklist was the reason for the increase in blacklisted customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to the Center, 10,732 people were added to the blacklist from April to the end of August. However, the number has plummeted now. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"From that period until last Thursday (November 5), the number has dropped as most of the check bouncers have been removed from the blacklist after correcting their mistake and making the payments to the check bearer," the center said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had issued a unified directive on mid-August 2019, making an arrangement to blacklist the person, firm, company or organization issuing the check if they signed the check incorrectly and did not pay the amount within one year due to insufficient amount. Earlier, check issuers were blacklisted only if they were found to have bounced checks repeatedly.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">With the removal of the names added during the lockdown from the blacklist, only 212 names in March, 84 names in April, 359 names in May, 359 names in June, 443 names in July and 313 names in August remain in the blacklist.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, the chairman of the Nepal Bankers' Association, says that the blacklist has not increased as the entrepreneurs or businesses that weren’t able to repay their loans during the lockdown were not converted into non-performing loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have not blacklisted bad debtors because of COVID-19. The new non-performing loans have not been blacklisted and the old ones have been making their repayments," he said, adding, “More names have been sent for the blacklist for bouncing cheques.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Banks and financial institutions issue circulars to the credit information center to blacklist customers listing the names of customers with loans that are inactive or overdue, and customers giving bounced cheques. The center then blacklists such debtors. Banks and financial institutions are not allowed to provide loans to blacklisted borrowers. In addition, the blacklisted person is denied various facilities from the state.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12395', 'image' => '20201106055408_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 17:53:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12647', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ''Hotel Industry of Province 1 in Extreme Crisis'', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: The government has announced concessional loans as a relief to the tourism industry that has been badly affected by coronavirus. However, hotels in Province 1 have started to close one after another due to the problems in meeting the operational costs. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the lockdown and prohibitory order have been lifted, the hotel industry is struggling due to lack of tourists. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Hotel Asiatique of Biratnagar has converted itself into a 100-bed isolation centre after the arrival of tourists stopped.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Operator of the hotel Punya Bhattarai, who is also the provincial chairman of Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA), informed that they were forced to convert the hotel into an isolation centre after failing to raise the operational costs.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that the hotel business had started to return back on track after the lockdown was lifted. However, their business has again declined due to the rise in number of coronavirus cases across the country. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Bhattarai informed that the reason behind the closure of two big hotels of Biratnagar including Genelia and Namaskar is the failure to meet the operational cost.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">He says that the tourism industry in Province 1 is under existential crisis as the old hotels have started closing down while the new ones are unable to start their business.</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12394', 'image' => '20201106031330_0410441105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 15:12:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12646', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coronavirus Insurance Claims to be Settled within 2 Weeks ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving compensation.', '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"">November 6: Non-life insurance companies have agreed to settle the insurance claims for coronavirus within two weeks amid complaints from the claimants that they are not receiving compensation.</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 and the Insurance Board on Tuesday had directed insurance companies to settle the claims within a week of receiving all documents. </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"">However, due to the practical difficulties, the insurance companies are preparing to settle the claims within two weeks. According to a source, there has been preliminary agreement between the Insurance Board and insurance companies in this regard. </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"">A discussion was held between Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of the Insurance Board and insurance companies on Wednesday. </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"">CEO of NLG Insurance Sunil Ballav Pant stated that they are making effort to complete the process within 10 to 12 days. </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"">“There are lots of pending applications. On top of that, the documents received should be verified,” he said, adding, “So it is practically difficult to pay the claim in time. However, the processes are being done so that the claim can be paid within two weeks.” </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"">He further said that in some cases, the PCR report is also likely to be fake and therefore the documents should be properly verified. </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"">Moreover, he said that some people are found to have taken the compensation twice. </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"">“Those who have been insured are trying to cheat regarding the coronavirus insurance. Therefore, it needs to be strictly regulated,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12393', 'image' => '20201106024806_1604619588.Clipboard11.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 14:47:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12645', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Issues new Order for Management of Valley Transportation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: The government has issued the Valley Public Transport Authority Infrastructure Development Committee Order 2077 for proper management of public transportation in the Kathmandu Valley.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had decided to form the Valley Transport Authority two and a half years ago after uprooting the transport syndicate prevalent in the country. Back the, the government had envisaged making the public transportation sector more reliable and properly managed within five years. However, the move faced backlash and was criticized by a certain sector for the central government’s allegedly attempt to interfere in matters of the province in the new federal setup. The government has finally took a cabinet decision in this regard with the issuance of the order.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The committee will undertake the task of endorsing the annual plans, programmes and budget of the authority in addition to checking the standard of vehicles in the valley.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The government had established a fitness centre in Teku to check the standard of vehicles some 11 years ago. But the centre could not be operated for a long time. The equipment used for testing the vehicles broke down after which the centre had to abort its work. The centre will now be revived and required equipment will be fixed as the authority will be looking after the matter from now onward.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to Information Officer at the Department of Transport Management Dr Loknath Bhusal, the committee will prepare all the required infrastructure as well as fix the rate, route permit among others before the bill gets endorsed by the House of Representatives.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12392', 'image' => '20201106011522_20200721030826_1595264681.yatayat.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 13:14:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12644', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prime Minister tells Well Wishers to Brace for the Worst', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to climax.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 6: Prime Minister and chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) KP Sharma Oli met with executive chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday (November 5) amid intra-party tensions and internal rift inching closer to climax.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The two leaders of the ruling party met after a gap of five days in an attempt to resolve their differences.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Although the chairmen duo held discussions for two and a half hours, they were unable to reach an understanding on any of the contentious issues.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Dahal had told leaders close to him that Oli, during the last meeting held on Saturday, had proposed parting ways if his faction could not agree to the terms of the prime minister.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">The internal rift within the party reached the boiling point after Dahal revealed Oli’s proposal to part ways.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">On Wednesday, Oli had said he attained his current position through the support of the people and not by means of any deception and therefore he would not tender his resignation at any cost. The prime minister’s statement had ripple effect within the ruling NCP.</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:"Arial Unicode MS"">During Thursday’s meeting, Dahal reportedly proposed calling the party’s Secretariat Meeting to sort out the differences but Oli stood by his guns saying that the Secretariat Meeting would be useless unless the differences between the two leaders were sorted out first. </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:"Arial Unicode MS"">Oli said maintained that some forces have started conspiracy against the government and urged his supporters to brace for any adverse situation.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-06', 'modified' => '2020-11-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12391', 'image' => '20201106103608_1604619379.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-06 10:35:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12643', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Decorative Lights worth Rs 180 Million Imported for Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:10pt"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Devanagari Sangam MN"">November 5: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Bangla MN"">Decorative lights worth Rs 180 million have been imported for the festive season this year. The local businessmen have imported the electric lights for decoration especially for Tihar and Chhath festivals.</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:"Bangla MN"">The import of such sparkling lights during the last fiscal year was worth Rs 400 million. The demand for the lights has declined this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, informed Nepal Electronic Entrepreneurs Federation.</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:"Bangla MN"">Chairman of the federation, Sundar Prasad Poudel, informed that the electronic goods market of Nepal has shrunk by almost 60 percent this year due to the effects of the pandemic.</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:"Bangla MN"">The decorative lights are imported in Nepal from India and China. Almost 85 percent of them come from China while the remaining 15 percent is imported from India.</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:"Bangla MN"">During pervious years, the importers used to visit China and India in person to bring the lights. They used to check the standard of the lights and then place the order. However, this year, they were unable to visit the neighbouring countries and had to place the order online, says Shankar Agrawal, who has been involved in the business of importing the decorative lights.</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:"Bangla MN"">“During the previous years, people used to fix the lights at their houses and compounds soon after Dashain. However, there isn’t any excitement among the people this year. Our business is also not very encouraging this time,” says Agrawal.</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:"Bangla MN"">The consumption of decorative lights goes up during Tihar, which is also known as the festival of lights. This year, the five-day festival of Tihar begins from November 12 next week.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-05', 'modified' => '2020-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12390', 'image' => '20201105052211_1604534186.Clipboard20.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-05 17:21:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '12642', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Indian Businessmen Visit Nepal to Purchase Black Cardamom', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">November 5: Low production of black cardamom in Assam this year has forced Indian businessmen to set up purchase centers in Nepal to fulfill their demand. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Farmers of Nepal are expecting good price for their produce than last year after the Indian businessmen established purchase centre in Birtamode of Jhapa district.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Chairman of Black Cardamom Producers Association, Raj Kumar Karki, informed that the production of black cardamom in Assam was low this year compared to last year. Due to this, Indian businessmen have set up purchase centers in Birtamode, said Karki. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The price of black cardamom has already increased with the onset of the new season. Nepali exporters can now sell their products under the trademark of ‘Everest Big Cardamom’. The government had registered the trademark on July 3, 2016 with the objective of selling the product under its own brand name. Pakistan has approved the trademark after four years. However, Nepal needs to send the product to Pakistan through land route via India, which is problematic due to the tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Nepal hasn’t been able to benefit from the trademark because it is costly to send black cardamom to Pakistan through air cargo, says Karki.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2020-11-05', 'modified' => '2020-11-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12389', 'image' => '20201105031905_1604533819.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2020-11-05 15:18:28', '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
