May 24: The Government of Nepal has formed a task force to acquire a loan of Rs 33 billion from the World…
May 24: The Government of Nepal has formed a task force to acquire a loan of Rs 33 billion from the World…
May 24: Amir Akhter, the founder of Everest Premier League, has expressed concerns over the recent decision of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to halt the Everest Premier…
May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.…
May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on…
May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a…
May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every…
May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH)…
May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation.…
May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power…
May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function.…
May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May…
May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector.…
May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May…
May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the…
May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal.…
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He has urged the cricket governing body to let the the franchise league be held. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a press conference held in Hotel Yak and Yeti on May 23, Akhter expressed his concern over the CAN's decision to restrict the EPL.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Vishal Agrawal, owner of Biratnagar Warriors and director of Bishal Group, shared that the decision of CAN has discouraged the private sector and has jeopardized its investment in the sporting sector of Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> CAN has announced a new league-Nepal T20 League. The cricket regulatory body also announced that it will be the only franchise league in Nepal, which has affected the EPL and the franchise team associated with it. The organizer of EPL and six owners held a joint press conference on Monday and asked CAN to give continuity to the EPL. According to the ICC rules, there will be only one league in a country, and now Nepal will have only one T20 league. But the EPL, founder Aamir Akhtar and the owners of six franchise teams have demanded that they be allowed to continue the EPL.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The cricket authority has cornered us and our effort, time and investment by stopping the EPL. The authorities didn't even make any prior discussion with the concerned stakeholders while coming up with such a major decision, he shared.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Likewise, Kishor Maharjan, former CEO of Civil Bank and owner of Lalitpur Patriots, shared that he is extremely saddened by the decision of CAN to stop EPL. As the owner of the team, we are in trouble. We had put all-our investment, time and effort into our team with a long term vision and now, as things were improving, CAN has deceived us and our faith in investing in sports has become doubtful, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Akhter and the six owners, EPL is the 5th biggest franchise T20 league in the world. EPL finished its fourth edition last year and is the number one T20 franchise among the non-Test playing nations. The fourth edition of the league was broadcasted in 18 countries including, India, Akhter shared. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">CAN has not done justice to our effort as EPL was on the verge to be an export product and would put Nepali cricket on the global map. Our efforts were not recognized by CAN and we want to voice our emotions through the media, Akhter added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kishor Bhattrai shared that the only demand is to allow the continuity of EPL. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are not against the new league but the decision made is a big shock to the entire sports industry. A lot has been invested in the event. Who will give our investment back, why would someone invest in the sector in the days to come if there is no certainty? We only want the event which has been ranked 5th in the world to continue. CAN should think again about the decision and not stop EPL. We are raising the voice here not only for cricket but for all the sports," he shared. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, giving the example of sports industries abroad Bhattrai opined that the issue is due to a lack of professional sports acts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Aditya Shanghai, owner of Bhairahawa Gladiators shared that the step taken by CAN is a big discouragement for the private sector to invest in the sports sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Similarly, EPL is the best example of private and public investment. We were in a situation of bringing in IPL investors. It would have taken the cricket scenario to the next level with personal expertise. EPL is the cleanest league in the world in terms of transparency. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sanjay Agrawal, owner of Kathmandu Kings XI shared that the time, money and effort invested by the corporate house have all gone in vain. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, Sahil Agrawal, owner of Pokhara Rhinos shared that CAN's decision to give license to a new league and discontinue the existing league is nonsensical. Our only demand is to allow the league to happen while continuing the new league, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15065', 'image' => '20220524095205_epl.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 09:50:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15322', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Buddha Air Resumes Flight Service to Varanasi', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the airline company, direct flights to Varanasi from Kathmandu resumed from Monday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Buddha Air informed that the company will conduct two flights a week to India’s Varanasi. The flights will be conducted on Mondays days and Fridays. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As per the flight schedule, an ATR aircraft of Buddha Air left for Varanasi from Kathmandu on May 23 at 7: 15 am carrying 44 passengers and 6 crew members. According to the company, the return flight left Varanasi at 8: 45 am the same day. The return flight carried a total of 39 passengers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement on Monday, Buddha Air said that the flight service to Varanasi will also facilitate foreign tourists. The company further said that Buddha Air’s subsidiary Buddha Holiday has been conducting tours to religious and tourism destinations across the country by announcing attractive packages. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15064', 'image' => '20220524085313_Buddha ATR.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 08:52:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15321', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Assembly Approves Eight Ordinances', 'sub_title' => 'President Bidya Bhandari to Present Policies and Programmes of Government in Parliament on Tuesday ', 'summary' => 'May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ordinances approved include the Social Security (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; Acid and Other Harmful Chemical Substances (Regulation) Ordinance, 2022; the Nepal Police and Province Police (Operation, Supervision and Coordination) First Amendment Ordinance, 2022; the Medicine (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; the Health Professionals and Health Institutions' Security (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; the Ordinance Amending Some Acts Related to Criminal Offence and Criminal Procedures, 2022; the Ordinance Amending Some Acts Against Sexual Violence, 2022 and the Railway Ordinance, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting unanimously approved all these eight ordinances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the conclusion of the meeting, National Assembly chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina directed the lawmakers to be present in the Federal Parliament's assembly hall at the designated time of 4 pm Tuesday (May 24), as President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to address the joint session of the Federal Parliament and present the policies and programmes of the government for the Fiscal Year 2022/23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Assembly will next meet at 6 pm on Tuesday. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15063', 'image' => '20220523091118_RS_KTML8994_1(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 21:10:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15320', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bird Strike Suspected on Jazeera Airways Aircraft ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a bird.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a bird.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“<span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A bird may have collided with the aircraft at 1:45 am on Monday,” the state-owned national news agency RSS reported quoting the chief of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) at the airport, Prabesh Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As a result, the aircraft has been grounded at the airport and is rescheduling its flight, said Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The plane landed successfully but we suspect bird strike as blood stains can be seen on the surface of the plane. However, the dead bird has not been found. A technical team will check whether it has been sucked into the plane engine," he further told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Adhikari, further investigations are underway. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The flight of the aircraft was rescheduled following the incident. Jazeera Airways has managed accommodation for its passengers in a hotel. Thirty eight passengers had booked tickets for Bhairahawa-Kuwait flight, according to the airport authorities. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15062', 'image' => '20220523074434_Jazeera.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 19:43:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15319', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Provincial Governments to Implement Blacktopping of Roads at Local Units ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every municipality.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every municipality. The programme will be carried out by the state governments. The previous government led by KP Sharma Oli had announced the policy, plan and programme to blacktop roads at the municipal level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The work of the road project could not move forward when there was a dispute over whether the state should build it or the federal government. "I heard about the blacktopping of the road at the municipal level in the policy and programme brought by the previous government. It was limited to paper work, not in the budget," Finance Minister Janardhan Sharma told parliament on Friday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Finance Minister Sharma, there is no problem in moving ahead with the work as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have pledged to provide financial assistance for the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is preparing to send most of the small projects to the state and local levels in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY 2022/23).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Finance Minister Sharma, preparation are being made for implementing projects with low investment at the state and local levels in the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there has been a long-running debate about the implementation of such projects by the lower-level government, it has not come into practice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even in the 45th meeting of the National Development Problem Solving Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, it was decided to move small and micro projects forward from the state and local levels. It was also said that the Ministry of Finance should arrange the budget by prioritizing such projects. However, many small and micro projects have not been able to move forward yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the implementation of such projects by the federal government would not be effective on the one hand and would also affect the budget expenditure, on the other hand, Minister Sharma urged the parliamentarians not to demand small projects during the discussion on the principles and priorities of the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In particular, the UML lawmakers had raised questions in the House of Representatives stating that the Ministry of Finance had removed 1,400 road projects put forward by the previous government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma that the projects should be selected only after assessing the level of investment and the return on investment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sharma, it is time to review the failure of national pride projects. He also remarked that projects that do not work should not be called national pride project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15061', 'image' => '20220523072556_DhrubasagarSharma_Galeswor_RSS_07_-himalmunikalopatresadak.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 19:25:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15318', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Backtracks from Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects. NEA, which had already started the process of constructing two PSH projects, has now decided to not construct those projects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For the first time, NEA had started the process of constructing Begnas-Rupa Pumped Storage Hydropower Project in Begnas and Rupa lakes in Kaski district. For that, it had obtained permission for survey from the Department of Electricity Development on November 13, 2017. It has been four and a half years since the survey permission was granted for the 150 MW project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive director of NEA Kulman Ghising had put forward the project as his dream project in his first tenure. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After Ghising's first tenure ended, Hitendra Dev Shakya was appointed the executive director of NEA. He did not give much priority to the Begnas-Rupa PSH project. However, he took forward the process of constructing the 100 MW Kulekhani Sisneri Pumped Storage Hydropower Project using the Kulekhani Dam in Makwanpur District. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For that, the Department of Electricity Development issued permission for the survey in March/April 2021. It has been one year since the survey permission of the project was obtained. However, the NEA is in the mindset of not moving ahead with both the pumped storage projects at present. Ghising says that the pumped storage projects will not be built immediately. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We are focusing on the other types of hydropower projects. This is the need of the hour. So, there is no immediate plan to invest in pumped storage hydropower plants,” he said, “Therefore, there has not been any progress on these projects. However, we will pay attention to this after a certain period of time as we need such projects in the near future.” </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the investment in such projects is high, NEA has backtracked from its decision for the time being. A separate dam should be constructed to collect the used water. Also, a lot of electricity is also needed, which makes the operating cost of the project high. Ghising said that due to these reasons the NEA has backtracked its plan to build pumped storage project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pumped storage project is a new technology to Nepal. In this technology, the water coming out of the power house is collected by constructing another dam nearby. The water is then pumped to the first dam and reused. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NEA had tried to develop Begnas-Rupa pumped storage hydropower project with an investment of around Rs 14 billion as the first pumped storage project in Nepal. The project has been halted as it was found during the study that the construction of the project will be costly. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A study by the Japanese aid agency JICA showed that the project was not financially viable. JICA's study had shown that electricity used to draw water is expensive. However, NEA says it had conducted the study for the future prospect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Kulekhani-Sisneri pumped storage project was planned to be built with an investment of Rs 8 billion. The project was said to be built at Sisneri, two kilometers below Kulekhani Dam. The target was to generate 100 MW of electricity by taking water from Kulekhani Dam during the evening peak hour. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15060', 'image' => '20220523041510_PSH.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 16:14:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15317', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Working on Modality to keep Problematic Industries Afloat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation. The government plans to work on public-private partnership and other modalities to keep such industries afloat. He urged the private sector to make preparations in this regard, saying that they should move towards self-reliance by increasing production and employment by operating such industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He made such remarks at a program organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in Kathmandu on Sunday. "We will bring in the budget and programmes to implement this policy," Badu said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the government has announced industrial zones and has allocated land for opening industries, but the government does not have the budget to invest in infrastructure development. He said that the private sector should come up with plans for establishing chemical fertilizer factories, that are urgently required in the country. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Badu said that the fuel prices have spiked drastically, and the monopoly of Nepal Oil Corporation should be broken to make the price competitive.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The private sector should be allowed to supply petroleum products. This will create competition and will make the price cheaper for consumers. However, the price of cooking gas cannot be subsidized any further, he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Badu said that it was necessary to move towards self-reliance by reducing imports and increasing production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, he added that the recent ban on wheat exports by India will impact the production of flour in a few months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at the same programme, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad Adhikari, said that this year has seen high growth in import and inflation has also remained high.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"However high the prices may be, we as consumers are ready to pay. If we become cautious and consume little less, the economy will return back on track,” said Adhikari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Right now, the private sector needs to focus on the economy as a whole rather than profit," the NRB governor said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion, Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra, joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said that farmers and industries should be involved in the production of raw materials within the country. He emphasized the need to strengthen the supply chain at the local level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha said that an imminent food crisis in Nepal cannot not be ignored as other countries have imposed a ban of export of food products. He urged the minister to form a task force representing officials from the Ministry of Energy, Industry, Agriculture Development and the private sector, as well as Nepal Rastra Bank, to solve the current problem. He said that reducing fuel consumption and improving the agricultural ecosystem was the need of the hour.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15059', 'image' => '20220523032540_Industrial-Policy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 15:24:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15316', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Windstorm Damages 140 Electricity Poles in Bharatpur', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power outage.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power outage. According to Rajendra Poudel, an engineer at the Nepal Electricity Authority's Bharatpur Distribution Center, the poles collapsed in wards number 1 to 6 of the Bharatpur metropolitan city. He said that it will take five days for the management of poles before they can ensure smooth supply of electricity.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Rajiv Kumar Singh, head of the center, the power supply from Bharatpur substation has been disrupted. According to him, the cables at multiple places snapped due to collapsing of poles in Bharatpur due to strong winds. He also informed that the NEA mobilized a team of four contractors and the entire technical force of NEA to repair the collapsed poles and cables. Singh said that the power supply is being restored by prioritizing critical sectors including hospitals and security agencies, polling stations and drinking water utility.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Engineer Poudel said that there were no issues with the distribution of electricity from Chanauli substation. He said that although there is no problem in the flow of electricity in the western region of Bharatpur, problems have surfaced in the flow of electricity to the district headquarters Bharatpur, Narayangarh market area and Ratnanagar Khairhani of East Chitwan. He informed that materials worth Rs 3 million were damaged and electricity consumption of Rs 50 million was disrupted due to the impact of the windstorm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mobile phone service along with drinking water and internet services have also been affected due to prolonged power outage. Three people were killed and 11 others were injured in the storm on Friday. Many trees in the main urban area of Bharatpur were hit by the storm, causing them to collapse. In most places, the collapsing of trees caused the electricity poles to collapse as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15058', 'image' => '20220523025725_Thuderstorm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 13:23:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15315', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Draupadi Dream Trust honours Shreejana Rana with Draupadi Award 2022 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function. Rana was honoured for her contribution to Nepal-India bilateral relations through the development and promotion of religious/spiritual tourism in both the countries as the president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Draupadi Dream Trust is an institution working on the area of ancient eastern civilization, art, culture, religion and history and publication of such related issues for a long time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rana was honoured for her initiation and contribution to publishing a book and dedicated website on Nepal-India religious/spiritual circuits which covers Buddhist circuits, Mahabharat circuits Ramayan circuit, Shiva-Shakti circuit and Sikh circuit aiming to promote pilgrimage tourism in both the countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rana was honoured amid a special programme in New Delhi and was conferred the letter of appreciation by Ajit Doval, chief security advisor to the Indian Government, on 20th May 2022. The trust honoured various other Indian dignitaries from different walks of life, while Rana was the only Nepali to bag such honour.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement that it feels proud at this moment and encourages to work sincerely in the area of Nepal-India economic and bilateral relations in the coming days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr Shankar Sharma was also present on the occasion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15057', 'image' => '20220523120702_IMG-20220521-WA0028.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 12:05:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15314', 'article_category_id' => '269', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Fuel Prices yet Again', 'sub_title' => 'Petrol to cost Rs 180 per litre from today ', 'summary' => 'May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May 23). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May 23). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned NOC increased the prices of petrol, diesel kerosene and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for domestic flights by Rs 10 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the price of cooking gas has been increased by Rs 200 per cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the revision in price list, petrol will now cost Rs 180 per litre while diesel and kerosene will each cost Rs 163 per litre, Likewise, the price of aviation turbine fuel for domestic flights will cost Rs 166 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It may be noted that the NOC had increased the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 10 per litre on May 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the 13th time that the NOC has increased the prices of petroleum products in the last 10 months. The prices have been rising steadily since last July when petrol used to cost just Rs 128 per litre. Two years ago, during the first lockdown in May 2020, the price of petrol was Rs 96 per litre.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NOC has been increasing the prices on the pretext that it has to bear losses if the the prices are not increased. Lately, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is said to have increased the price of fuel in the international market. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15056', 'image' => '20220523082640_20220406103104_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 08:25:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15313', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NCC urges Bangladesh for Energy Cooperation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector. The NCC has requested for electricity trade with Bangladesh as Nepal will soon be exporting electricity. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a programme organized at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Bangladesh, Chairman of NCC Rajendra Malla stressed on the implementation of the tripartite agreement on electricity trade between Nepal, India and Bangladesh. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Nepal, India and Bangladesh have reached a tripartite agreement for energy trade. There should be an immediate result-oriented meeting between the energy ministers of the three countries for its effective implementation,” he said in a discussion with the Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> We’ll take the initiative representing the private sector. The government of Bangladesh should also take initiative. Nepal is preparing to sell electricity to Bangladesh,” added Malla. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla said that Nepal will be able to export electricity in at least one year from now. According to him, at least 50 megawatts of electricity can be generated for export to India from the existing transmission line and the three countries will have to do their homework for the terms and conditions for electricity trade. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the context of the high demand for energy in Bangladesh, there was a discussion between the two countries on various options for exporting electricity from Nepal. Despite the agreement on the energy trade between Nepal, Bangladesh and India, it has not been implemented in practice. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla urged Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal to invest in the hydropower sector of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ambassador Chowdhury said that Bangladesh is ready to buy the electricity produced by Nepal. “Within next few years, Bangladesh will promote green energy,” he said, “Accordingly, our priorities and plans are being made. We are excited to buy electricity from Nepal.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He further said that he would take the initiative to urge the the Government of Bangladesh to start the necessary process to purchase electricity from Nepal through India. Likewise, he said that they are expecting policy improvement for the investment in other sectors as well. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15055', 'image' => '20220522073826_02062016090632Nepal-Bdesh-copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 19:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15312', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Yarsagumba Collection to Start in Dolpa from May 25 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May 25.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May 25. An all-party meeting convened by the District Coordination Committee, Dolpa took a decision to this effect. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting chaired by DCC Chief Sher Bahadur Budha at the district headquarters Dunai on Saturday was attended by the chief representatives of various district bodies. It has decided to allow collection of yarsagumba, which is scientifically known as ophiocordyceps sinensis, in Shephoksundo National Park and various community forests until June 24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the public has not been able to collect yarsagumba for a long time due to COVID-19 pandemic, this time it was opened for about a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Residents of the buffer zone, within the district and outside the district will be charged different entrance fees for the collection of the prized herb as per the National Parks Act and regulations. –- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15054', 'image' => '20220522120955_yarsa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 12:07:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15311', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Demand more Budget for Health and Education', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the people. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Taking part in the deliberations on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for Fiscal Year 2022-23 on Friday, the MPs urged the government to take the existing economic crisis into consideration while announcing programmes in the new budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Dev Prasad Timilsina demanded easy access to medical care for people with chronic and complicated health issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yagyaraj Sunuwar said that his party CPN (UML) was well aware of the economic condition of the nation and was serious about it. Therefore, the main opposition party decided to end the house obstruction, said Sunuwar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Chhakka Bahadur Lama advised to give priorities to the agriculture sector as well as rural development and backward areas in the budget and to strengthen social justice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meena Subba was of the view that the country could become self-sufficient on food provided that the farmers were ensured seeds, fertilizers and other facilities on right time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">She echoed the need of increasing budget in the sectors of health and education, urging the finance minister to address the suggestions of lawmakers in regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rangamati Shahi spoke the need of increasing investment in productive sector and claimed that genuine farmers were deprived of government subsidy. “So the budget should address this issue and lay its focus on job creation by implementing entrepreneurship programmes.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepali Congress lawmaker Bharat Kumar Shah said the economy is not in bad shape and in crisis as it has been potrayed. He drew the attention of the government to take steps taking into account the sensitivity of the situation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We are in the danger zone due to high imports, but we are not in trouble yet," he remarked. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jayapuri Gharti of the CPN (Maoist Center) stressed on the need of prioritizing industries, tourism, agriculture, health and education sectors in the budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Shekh Chandtara of the same party said the economy is facing crisis due to the wrong policy adopted by the past governments and it was wrong to squarely blame the incumbent finance minister for all this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CPN (UML)'s Krishna Prasad Dahal said that the priorities and principles of the budget should be implementable, and more budget should be allocated to the local levels. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15053', 'image' => '20220522120116_budget new.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 12:00:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15310', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India’s Ban on Wheat Export to Impact Nepali Industries after 3 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal. The industrialists said that the problem will emerge in three months even though there is no problem at the moment as the local wheat produce hit the market just recently. They suggested that the government should import wheat from India through G2G agreement since the local production is not going to last long.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industrialists expressed that the government should initiate discussions with the Indian government immediately to tackle the imminent crisis after three months. They also said that there is no other alternative than to shut down the industries as Nepal's production cannot sustain the industries if the import of wheat from India is also halted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bikash Begwani, vice-president of the Morang Merchants’ Association and operator of Bishal Maida Mill said that he has enough stock of wheat for one month. He said that even though the wheat produced in the country can sustain the industry for a few months, wheat from India is necessary to run the industry for the rest of the year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Begwani suggested that the government should negotiate with the Indian government and import wheat to Nepal as soon as possible. He added that the ban imposed by India on wheat export will cause a big impact on the flour mills and other industries including noodles and biscuits industries that rely heavily on wheat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Begwani said that operating industries by importing flour from India will make the products 25 to 35 percent more expensive. “Consumers will be able to get the products at a lower price if wheat itself is imported through G2G process to operate the industries,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported about 336,000 metric tons of wheat worth Rs 6.90 billion from India last year. Ram Chandra Dhungana, information officer at the Biratnagar Customs Office, said that 6,800 metric tons of wheat worth Rs 2.20 billion was imported via Biratnagar last year. According to him, wheat has not been imported from Biratnagar after India announced the ban.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Harivansh Rathi, the operator of Gaumati Foods says that the Nepali industries are dependent on imported wheat from India for nine months while the local produce sustain the industries for three months. He said that if the government of Nepal fails to facilitate the import of wheat by discussing with the government of India, a huge shortage will be created. Recalling the time when India imposed a ban on wheat exports a few years ago, Rathi said, “India provided wheat to Nepal and other neighboring countries by implementing a quota system. Therefore, it is necessary to hold discussions with the Indian government immediately to prevent the shortage.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India is the world's second largest wheat producer after China. Wheat supply through the Black Sea is now halted due to tensions between Russia, the third largest producer of wheat, and Ukraine, the eighth largest producer. This time, India imposed a ban on exports, citing the decline of wheat production in India due to the scorching heat of March as well as the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Rathi said that Nepal's industries are confident of India adopting some lenient policies for neighboring countries. On the other hand, India itself has stated that exports to countries that need wheat for food security will not be halted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operator of Baba Flour Mill Suresh Rathi said that even if India bans wheat export, local production will last for a few months and there will be no immediate problem. He says the ban will impact in the long run. He said that the industry can be run by wheat imported from other countries after paying customs duty and taking advantage of the open border Nepal shares with India.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15052', 'image' => '20220522114859_IMAGE_1646636720.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 11:48:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15323', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government forms Task Force to Acquire Rs 33 Billion from World Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 24: The Government of Nepal has formed a task force to acquire a loan of Rs 33 billion from the World Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: The Government of Nepal has formed a task force to acquire a loan of Rs 33 billion from the World Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A recent meeting of the Council of Ministers decided to form the task force headed by a joint secretary at the Ministry of Finance in order to seek the loan to expand transportation and trade sectors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki informed that the task force has been formed to seek US$ 275 million (approximately Rs 33 billion) from the World Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting decided to approve a grant of Rs 86,13,00,000 from the Swiss government to re-integrate returnee migrant workers in the society.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15066', 'image' => '20220524091355_ROS_KTM-_6483441(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 09:13:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15326', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAN's Decision to Stop EPL will Discourage Private Sector Investment: Franchise Owners ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 24: Amir Akhter, the founder of Everest Premier League, has expressed concerns over the recent decision of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to halt the Everest Premier League.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 24: Amir Akhter, the founder of Everest Premier League, has expressed concerns over the recent decision of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to halt the Everest Premier League. He has urged the cricket governing body to let the the franchise league be held. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a press conference held in Hotel Yak and Yeti on May 23, Akhter expressed his concern over the CAN's decision to restrict the EPL.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Vishal Agrawal, owner of Biratnagar Warriors and director of Bishal Group, shared that the decision of CAN has discouraged the private sector and has jeopardized its investment in the sporting sector of Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> CAN has announced a new league-Nepal T20 League. The cricket regulatory body also announced that it will be the only franchise league in Nepal, which has affected the EPL and the franchise team associated with it. The organizer of EPL and six owners held a joint press conference on Monday and asked CAN to give continuity to the EPL. According to the ICC rules, there will be only one league in a country, and now Nepal will have only one T20 league. But the EPL, founder Aamir Akhtar and the owners of six franchise teams have demanded that they be allowed to continue the EPL.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The cricket authority has cornered us and our effort, time and investment by stopping the EPL. The authorities didn't even make any prior discussion with the concerned stakeholders while coming up with such a major decision, he shared.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Likewise, Kishor Maharjan, former CEO of Civil Bank and owner of Lalitpur Patriots, shared that he is extremely saddened by the decision of CAN to stop EPL. As the owner of the team, we are in trouble. We had put all-our investment, time and effort into our team with a long term vision and now, as things were improving, CAN has deceived us and our faith in investing in sports has become doubtful, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Akhter and the six owners, EPL is the 5th biggest franchise T20 league in the world. EPL finished its fourth edition last year and is the number one T20 franchise among the non-Test playing nations. The fourth edition of the league was broadcasted in 18 countries including, India, Akhter shared. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">CAN has not done justice to our effort as EPL was on the verge to be an export product and would put Nepali cricket on the global map. Our efforts were not recognized by CAN and we want to voice our emotions through the media, Akhter added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kishor Bhattrai shared that the only demand is to allow the continuity of EPL. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are not against the new league but the decision made is a big shock to the entire sports industry. A lot has been invested in the event. Who will give our investment back, why would someone invest in the sector in the days to come if there is no certainty? We only want the event which has been ranked 5th in the world to continue. CAN should think again about the decision and not stop EPL. We are raising the voice here not only for cricket but for all the sports," he shared. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, giving the example of sports industries abroad Bhattrai opined that the issue is due to a lack of professional sports acts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Aditya Shanghai, owner of Bhairahawa Gladiators shared that the step taken by CAN is a big discouragement for the private sector to invest in the sports sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Similarly, EPL is the best example of private and public investment. We were in a situation of bringing in IPL investors. It would have taken the cricket scenario to the next level with personal expertise. EPL is the cleanest league in the world in terms of transparency. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sanjay Agrawal, owner of Kathmandu Kings XI shared that the time, money and effort invested by the corporate house have all gone in vain. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, Sahil Agrawal, owner of Pokhara Rhinos shared that CAN's decision to give license to a new league and discontinue the existing league is nonsensical. Our only demand is to allow the league to happen while continuing the new league, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15065', 'image' => '20220524095205_epl.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 09:50:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15322', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Buddha Air Resumes Flight Service to Varanasi', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the airline company, direct flights to Varanasi from Kathmandu resumed from Monday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Buddha Air informed that the company will conduct two flights a week to India’s Varanasi. The flights will be conducted on Mondays days and Fridays. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As per the flight schedule, an ATR aircraft of Buddha Air left for Varanasi from Kathmandu on May 23 at 7: 15 am carrying 44 passengers and 6 crew members. According to the company, the return flight left Varanasi at 8: 45 am the same day. The return flight carried a total of 39 passengers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement on Monday, Buddha Air said that the flight service to Varanasi will also facilitate foreign tourists. The company further said that Buddha Air’s subsidiary Buddha Holiday has been conducting tours to religious and tourism destinations across the country by announcing attractive packages. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15064', 'image' => '20220524085313_Buddha ATR.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 08:52:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15321', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Assembly Approves Eight Ordinances', 'sub_title' => 'President Bidya Bhandari to Present Policies and Programmes of Government in Parliament on Tuesday ', 'summary' => 'May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ordinances approved include the Social Security (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; Acid and Other Harmful Chemical Substances (Regulation) Ordinance, 2022; the Nepal Police and Province Police (Operation, Supervision and Coordination) First Amendment Ordinance, 2022; the Medicine (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; the Health Professionals and Health Institutions' Security (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; the Ordinance Amending Some Acts Related to Criminal Offence and Criminal Procedures, 2022; the Ordinance Amending Some Acts Against Sexual Violence, 2022 and the Railway Ordinance, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting unanimously approved all these eight ordinances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the conclusion of the meeting, National Assembly chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina directed the lawmakers to be present in the Federal Parliament's assembly hall at the designated time of 4 pm Tuesday (May 24), as President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to address the joint session of the Federal Parliament and present the policies and programmes of the government for the Fiscal Year 2022/23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Assembly will next meet at 6 pm on Tuesday. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15063', 'image' => '20220523091118_RS_KTML8994_1(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 21:10:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15320', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bird Strike Suspected on Jazeera Airways Aircraft ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a bird.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a bird.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“<span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A bird may have collided with the aircraft at 1:45 am on Monday,” the state-owned national news agency RSS reported quoting the chief of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) at the airport, Prabesh Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As a result, the aircraft has been grounded at the airport and is rescheduling its flight, said Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The plane landed successfully but we suspect bird strike as blood stains can be seen on the surface of the plane. However, the dead bird has not been found. A technical team will check whether it has been sucked into the plane engine," he further told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Adhikari, further investigations are underway. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The flight of the aircraft was rescheduled following the incident. Jazeera Airways has managed accommodation for its passengers in a hotel. Thirty eight passengers had booked tickets for Bhairahawa-Kuwait flight, according to the airport authorities. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15062', 'image' => '20220523074434_Jazeera.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 19:43:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15319', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Provincial Governments to Implement Blacktopping of Roads at Local Units ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every municipality.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every municipality. The programme will be carried out by the state governments. The previous government led by KP Sharma Oli had announced the policy, plan and programme to blacktop roads at the municipal level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The work of the road project could not move forward when there was a dispute over whether the state should build it or the federal government. "I heard about the blacktopping of the road at the municipal level in the policy and programme brought by the previous government. It was limited to paper work, not in the budget," Finance Minister Janardhan Sharma told parliament on Friday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Finance Minister Sharma, there is no problem in moving ahead with the work as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have pledged to provide financial assistance for the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is preparing to send most of the small projects to the state and local levels in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY 2022/23).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Finance Minister Sharma, preparation are being made for implementing projects with low investment at the state and local levels in the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there has been a long-running debate about the implementation of such projects by the lower-level government, it has not come into practice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even in the 45th meeting of the National Development Problem Solving Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, it was decided to move small and micro projects forward from the state and local levels. It was also said that the Ministry of Finance should arrange the budget by prioritizing such projects. However, many small and micro projects have not been able to move forward yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the implementation of such projects by the federal government would not be effective on the one hand and would also affect the budget expenditure, on the other hand, Minister Sharma urged the parliamentarians not to demand small projects during the discussion on the principles and priorities of the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In particular, the UML lawmakers had raised questions in the House of Representatives stating that the Ministry of Finance had removed 1,400 road projects put forward by the previous government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma that the projects should be selected only after assessing the level of investment and the return on investment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sharma, it is time to review the failure of national pride projects. He also remarked that projects that do not work should not be called national pride project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15061', 'image' => '20220523072556_DhrubasagarSharma_Galeswor_RSS_07_-himalmunikalopatresadak.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 19:25:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15318', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Backtracks from Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects. NEA, which had already started the process of constructing two PSH projects, has now decided to not construct those projects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For the first time, NEA had started the process of constructing Begnas-Rupa Pumped Storage Hydropower Project in Begnas and Rupa lakes in Kaski district. For that, it had obtained permission for survey from the Department of Electricity Development on November 13, 2017. It has been four and a half years since the survey permission was granted for the 150 MW project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive director of NEA Kulman Ghising had put forward the project as his dream project in his first tenure. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After Ghising's first tenure ended, Hitendra Dev Shakya was appointed the executive director of NEA. He did not give much priority to the Begnas-Rupa PSH project. However, he took forward the process of constructing the 100 MW Kulekhani Sisneri Pumped Storage Hydropower Project using the Kulekhani Dam in Makwanpur District. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For that, the Department of Electricity Development issued permission for the survey in March/April 2021. It has been one year since the survey permission of the project was obtained. However, the NEA is in the mindset of not moving ahead with both the pumped storage projects at present. Ghising says that the pumped storage projects will not be built immediately. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We are focusing on the other types of hydropower projects. This is the need of the hour. So, there is no immediate plan to invest in pumped storage hydropower plants,” he said, “Therefore, there has not been any progress on these projects. However, we will pay attention to this after a certain period of time as we need such projects in the near future.” </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the investment in such projects is high, NEA has backtracked from its decision for the time being. A separate dam should be constructed to collect the used water. Also, a lot of electricity is also needed, which makes the operating cost of the project high. Ghising said that due to these reasons the NEA has backtracked its plan to build pumped storage project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pumped storage project is a new technology to Nepal. In this technology, the water coming out of the power house is collected by constructing another dam nearby. The water is then pumped to the first dam and reused. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NEA had tried to develop Begnas-Rupa pumped storage hydropower project with an investment of around Rs 14 billion as the first pumped storage project in Nepal. The project has been halted as it was found during the study that the construction of the project will be costly. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A study by the Japanese aid agency JICA showed that the project was not financially viable. JICA's study had shown that electricity used to draw water is expensive. However, NEA says it had conducted the study for the future prospect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Kulekhani-Sisneri pumped storage project was planned to be built with an investment of Rs 8 billion. The project was said to be built at Sisneri, two kilometers below Kulekhani Dam. The target was to generate 100 MW of electricity by taking water from Kulekhani Dam during the evening peak hour. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15060', 'image' => '20220523041510_PSH.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 16:14:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15317', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Working on Modality to keep Problematic Industries Afloat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation. The government plans to work on public-private partnership and other modalities to keep such industries afloat. He urged the private sector to make preparations in this regard, saying that they should move towards self-reliance by increasing production and employment by operating such industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He made such remarks at a program organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in Kathmandu on Sunday. "We will bring in the budget and programmes to implement this policy," Badu said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the government has announced industrial zones and has allocated land for opening industries, but the government does not have the budget to invest in infrastructure development. He said that the private sector should come up with plans for establishing chemical fertilizer factories, that are urgently required in the country. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Badu said that the fuel prices have spiked drastically, and the monopoly of Nepal Oil Corporation should be broken to make the price competitive.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The private sector should be allowed to supply petroleum products. This will create competition and will make the price cheaper for consumers. However, the price of cooking gas cannot be subsidized any further, he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Badu said that it was necessary to move towards self-reliance by reducing imports and increasing production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, he added that the recent ban on wheat exports by India will impact the production of flour in a few months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at the same programme, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad Adhikari, said that this year has seen high growth in import and inflation has also remained high.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"However high the prices may be, we as consumers are ready to pay. If we become cautious and consume little less, the economy will return back on track,” said Adhikari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Right now, the private sector needs to focus on the economy as a whole rather than profit," the NRB governor said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion, Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra, joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said that farmers and industries should be involved in the production of raw materials within the country. He emphasized the need to strengthen the supply chain at the local level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha said that an imminent food crisis in Nepal cannot not be ignored as other countries have imposed a ban of export of food products. He urged the minister to form a task force representing officials from the Ministry of Energy, Industry, Agriculture Development and the private sector, as well as Nepal Rastra Bank, to solve the current problem. He said that reducing fuel consumption and improving the agricultural ecosystem was the need of the hour.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15059', 'image' => '20220523032540_Industrial-Policy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 15:24:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15316', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Windstorm Damages 140 Electricity Poles in Bharatpur', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power outage.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power outage. According to Rajendra Poudel, an engineer at the Nepal Electricity Authority's Bharatpur Distribution Center, the poles collapsed in wards number 1 to 6 of the Bharatpur metropolitan city. He said that it will take five days for the management of poles before they can ensure smooth supply of electricity.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Rajiv Kumar Singh, head of the center, the power supply from Bharatpur substation has been disrupted. According to him, the cables at multiple places snapped due to collapsing of poles in Bharatpur due to strong winds. He also informed that the NEA mobilized a team of four contractors and the entire technical force of NEA to repair the collapsed poles and cables. Singh said that the power supply is being restored by prioritizing critical sectors including hospitals and security agencies, polling stations and drinking water utility.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Engineer Poudel said that there were no issues with the distribution of electricity from Chanauli substation. He said that although there is no problem in the flow of electricity in the western region of Bharatpur, problems have surfaced in the flow of electricity to the district headquarters Bharatpur, Narayangarh market area and Ratnanagar Khairhani of East Chitwan. He informed that materials worth Rs 3 million were damaged and electricity consumption of Rs 50 million was disrupted due to the impact of the windstorm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mobile phone service along with drinking water and internet services have also been affected due to prolonged power outage. Three people were killed and 11 others were injured in the storm on Friday. Many trees in the main urban area of Bharatpur were hit by the storm, causing them to collapse. In most places, the collapsing of trees caused the electricity poles to collapse as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15058', 'image' => '20220523025725_Thuderstorm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 13:23:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15315', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Draupadi Dream Trust honours Shreejana Rana with Draupadi Award 2022 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function. Rana was honoured for her contribution to Nepal-India bilateral relations through the development and promotion of religious/spiritual tourism in both the countries as the president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Draupadi Dream Trust is an institution working on the area of ancient eastern civilization, art, culture, religion and history and publication of such related issues for a long time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rana was honoured for her initiation and contribution to publishing a book and dedicated website on Nepal-India religious/spiritual circuits which covers Buddhist circuits, Mahabharat circuits Ramayan circuit, Shiva-Shakti circuit and Sikh circuit aiming to promote pilgrimage tourism in both the countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rana was honoured amid a special programme in New Delhi and was conferred the letter of appreciation by Ajit Doval, chief security advisor to the Indian Government, on 20th May 2022. The trust honoured various other Indian dignitaries from different walks of life, while Rana was the only Nepali to bag such honour.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement that it feels proud at this moment and encourages to work sincerely in the area of Nepal-India economic and bilateral relations in the coming days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr Shankar Sharma was also present on the occasion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15057', 'image' => '20220523120702_IMG-20220521-WA0028.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 12:05:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15314', 'article_category_id' => '269', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Fuel Prices yet Again', 'sub_title' => 'Petrol to cost Rs 180 per litre from today ', 'summary' => 'May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May 23). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May 23). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned NOC increased the prices of petrol, diesel kerosene and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for domestic flights by Rs 10 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the price of cooking gas has been increased by Rs 200 per cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the revision in price list, petrol will now cost Rs 180 per litre while diesel and kerosene will each cost Rs 163 per litre, Likewise, the price of aviation turbine fuel for domestic flights will cost Rs 166 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It may be noted that the NOC had increased the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 10 per litre on May 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the 13th time that the NOC has increased the prices of petroleum products in the last 10 months. The prices have been rising steadily since last July when petrol used to cost just Rs 128 per litre. Two years ago, during the first lockdown in May 2020, the price of petrol was Rs 96 per litre.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NOC has been increasing the prices on the pretext that it has to bear losses if the the prices are not increased. Lately, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is said to have increased the price of fuel in the international market. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15056', 'image' => '20220523082640_20220406103104_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 08:25:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15313', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NCC urges Bangladesh for Energy Cooperation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector. The NCC has requested for electricity trade with Bangladesh as Nepal will soon be exporting electricity. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a programme organized at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Bangladesh, Chairman of NCC Rajendra Malla stressed on the implementation of the tripartite agreement on electricity trade between Nepal, India and Bangladesh. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Nepal, India and Bangladesh have reached a tripartite agreement for energy trade. There should be an immediate result-oriented meeting between the energy ministers of the three countries for its effective implementation,” he said in a discussion with the Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> We’ll take the initiative representing the private sector. The government of Bangladesh should also take initiative. Nepal is preparing to sell electricity to Bangladesh,” added Malla. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla said that Nepal will be able to export electricity in at least one year from now. According to him, at least 50 megawatts of electricity can be generated for export to India from the existing transmission line and the three countries will have to do their homework for the terms and conditions for electricity trade. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the context of the high demand for energy in Bangladesh, there was a discussion between the two countries on various options for exporting electricity from Nepal. Despite the agreement on the energy trade between Nepal, Bangladesh and India, it has not been implemented in practice. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla urged Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal to invest in the hydropower sector of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ambassador Chowdhury said that Bangladesh is ready to buy the electricity produced by Nepal. “Within next few years, Bangladesh will promote green energy,” he said, “Accordingly, our priorities and plans are being made. We are excited to buy electricity from Nepal.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He further said that he would take the initiative to urge the the Government of Bangladesh to start the necessary process to purchase electricity from Nepal through India. Likewise, he said that they are expecting policy improvement for the investment in other sectors as well. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15055', 'image' => '20220522073826_02062016090632Nepal-Bdesh-copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 19:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15312', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Yarsagumba Collection to Start in Dolpa from May 25 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May 25.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May 25. An all-party meeting convened by the District Coordination Committee, Dolpa took a decision to this effect. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting chaired by DCC Chief Sher Bahadur Budha at the district headquarters Dunai on Saturday was attended by the chief representatives of various district bodies. It has decided to allow collection of yarsagumba, which is scientifically known as ophiocordyceps sinensis, in Shephoksundo National Park and various community forests until June 24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the public has not been able to collect yarsagumba for a long time due to COVID-19 pandemic, this time it was opened for about a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Residents of the buffer zone, within the district and outside the district will be charged different entrance fees for the collection of the prized herb as per the National Parks Act and regulations. –- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15054', 'image' => '20220522120955_yarsa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 12:07:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15311', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Demand more Budget for Health and Education', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the people. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Taking part in the deliberations on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for Fiscal Year 2022-23 on Friday, the MPs urged the government to take the existing economic crisis into consideration while announcing programmes in the new budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Dev Prasad Timilsina demanded easy access to medical care for people with chronic and complicated health issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yagyaraj Sunuwar said that his party CPN (UML) was well aware of the economic condition of the nation and was serious about it. Therefore, the main opposition party decided to end the house obstruction, said Sunuwar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Chhakka Bahadur Lama advised to give priorities to the agriculture sector as well as rural development and backward areas in the budget and to strengthen social justice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meena Subba was of the view that the country could become self-sufficient on food provided that the farmers were ensured seeds, fertilizers and other facilities on right time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">She echoed the need of increasing budget in the sectors of health and education, urging the finance minister to address the suggestions of lawmakers in regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rangamati Shahi spoke the need of increasing investment in productive sector and claimed that genuine farmers were deprived of government subsidy. “So the budget should address this issue and lay its focus on job creation by implementing entrepreneurship programmes.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepali Congress lawmaker Bharat Kumar Shah said the economy is not in bad shape and in crisis as it has been potrayed. He drew the attention of the government to take steps taking into account the sensitivity of the situation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We are in the danger zone due to high imports, but we are not in trouble yet," he remarked. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jayapuri Gharti of the CPN (Maoist Center) stressed on the need of prioritizing industries, tourism, agriculture, health and education sectors in the budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Shekh Chandtara of the same party said the economy is facing crisis due to the wrong policy adopted by the past governments and it was wrong to squarely blame the incumbent finance minister for all this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CPN (UML)'s Krishna Prasad Dahal said that the priorities and principles of the budget should be implementable, and more budget should be allocated to the local levels. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15053', 'image' => '20220522120116_budget new.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 12:00:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15310', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India’s Ban on Wheat Export to Impact Nepali Industries after 3 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal. The industrialists said that the problem will emerge in three months even though there is no problem at the moment as the local wheat produce hit the market just recently. They suggested that the government should import wheat from India through G2G agreement since the local production is not going to last long.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industrialists expressed that the government should initiate discussions with the Indian government immediately to tackle the imminent crisis after three months. They also said that there is no other alternative than to shut down the industries as Nepal's production cannot sustain the industries if the import of wheat from India is also halted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bikash Begwani, vice-president of the Morang Merchants’ Association and operator of Bishal Maida Mill said that he has enough stock of wheat for one month. He said that even though the wheat produced in the country can sustain the industry for a few months, wheat from India is necessary to run the industry for the rest of the year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Begwani suggested that the government should negotiate with the Indian government and import wheat to Nepal as soon as possible. He added that the ban imposed by India on wheat export will cause a big impact on the flour mills and other industries including noodles and biscuits industries that rely heavily on wheat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Begwani said that operating industries by importing flour from India will make the products 25 to 35 percent more expensive. “Consumers will be able to get the products at a lower price if wheat itself is imported through G2G process to operate the industries,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported about 336,000 metric tons of wheat worth Rs 6.90 billion from India last year. Ram Chandra Dhungana, information officer at the Biratnagar Customs Office, said that 6,800 metric tons of wheat worth Rs 2.20 billion was imported via Biratnagar last year. According to him, wheat has not been imported from Biratnagar after India announced the ban.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Harivansh Rathi, the operator of Gaumati Foods says that the Nepali industries are dependent on imported wheat from India for nine months while the local produce sustain the industries for three months. He said that if the government of Nepal fails to facilitate the import of wheat by discussing with the government of India, a huge shortage will be created. Recalling the time when India imposed a ban on wheat exports a few years ago, Rathi said, “India provided wheat to Nepal and other neighboring countries by implementing a quota system. Therefore, it is necessary to hold discussions with the Indian government immediately to prevent the shortage.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India is the world's second largest wheat producer after China. Wheat supply through the Black Sea is now halted due to tensions between Russia, the third largest producer of wheat, and Ukraine, the eighth largest producer. This time, India imposed a ban on exports, citing the decline of wheat production in India due to the scorching heat of March as well as the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Rathi said that Nepal's industries are confident of India adopting some lenient policies for neighboring countries. On the other hand, India itself has stated that exports to countries that need wheat for food security will not be halted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operator of Baba Flour Mill Suresh Rathi said that even if India bans wheat export, local production will last for a few months and there will be no immediate problem. He says the ban will impact in the long run. He said that the industry can be run by wheat imported from other countries after paying customs duty and taking advantage of the open border Nepal shares with India.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15052', 'image' => '20220522114859_IMAGE_1646636720.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 11:48:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15323', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government forms Task Force to Acquire Rs 33 Billion from World Bank', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 24: The Government of Nepal has formed a task force to acquire a loan of Rs 33 billion from the World Bank.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: The Government of Nepal has formed a task force to acquire a loan of Rs 33 billion from the World Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A recent meeting of the Council of Ministers decided to form the task force headed by a joint secretary at the Ministry of Finance in order to seek the loan to expand transportation and trade sectors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki informed that the task force has been formed to seek US$ 275 million (approximately Rs 33 billion) from the World Bank.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting decided to approve a grant of Rs 86,13,00,000 from the Swiss government to re-integrate returnee migrant workers in the society.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15066', 'image' => '20220524091355_ROS_KTM-_6483441(2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 09:13:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15326', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CAN's Decision to Stop EPL will Discourage Private Sector Investment: Franchise Owners ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 24: Amir Akhter, the founder of Everest Premier League, has expressed concerns over the recent decision of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to halt the Everest Premier League.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 24: Amir Akhter, the founder of Everest Premier League, has expressed concerns over the recent decision of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) to halt the Everest Premier League. He has urged the cricket governing body to let the the franchise league be held. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a press conference held in Hotel Yak and Yeti on May 23, Akhter expressed his concern over the CAN's decision to restrict the EPL.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Vishal Agrawal, owner of Biratnagar Warriors and director of Bishal Group, shared that the decision of CAN has discouraged the private sector and has jeopardized its investment in the sporting sector of Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> CAN has announced a new league-Nepal T20 League. The cricket regulatory body also announced that it will be the only franchise league in Nepal, which has affected the EPL and the franchise team associated with it. The organizer of EPL and six owners held a joint press conference on Monday and asked CAN to give continuity to the EPL. According to the ICC rules, there will be only one league in a country, and now Nepal will have only one T20 league. But the EPL, founder Aamir Akhtar and the owners of six franchise teams have demanded that they be allowed to continue the EPL.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The cricket authority has cornered us and our effort, time and investment by stopping the EPL. The authorities didn't even make any prior discussion with the concerned stakeholders while coming up with such a major decision, he shared.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Likewise, Kishor Maharjan, former CEO of Civil Bank and owner of Lalitpur Patriots, shared that he is extremely saddened by the decision of CAN to stop EPL. As the owner of the team, we are in trouble. We had put all-our investment, time and effort into our team with a long term vision and now, as things were improving, CAN has deceived us and our faith in investing in sports has become doubtful, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Akhter and the six owners, EPL is the 5th biggest franchise T20 league in the world. EPL finished its fourth edition last year and is the number one T20 franchise among the non-Test playing nations. The fourth edition of the league was broadcasted in 18 countries including, India, Akhter shared. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">CAN has not done justice to our effort as EPL was on the verge to be an export product and would put Nepali cricket on the global map. Our efforts were not recognized by CAN and we want to voice our emotions through the media, Akhter added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kishor Bhattrai shared that the only demand is to allow the continuity of EPL. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are not against the new league but the decision made is a big shock to the entire sports industry. A lot has been invested in the event. Who will give our investment back, why would someone invest in the sector in the days to come if there is no certainty? We only want the event which has been ranked 5th in the world to continue. CAN should think again about the decision and not stop EPL. We are raising the voice here not only for cricket but for all the sports," he shared. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, giving the example of sports industries abroad Bhattrai opined that the issue is due to a lack of professional sports acts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Aditya Shanghai, owner of Bhairahawa Gladiators shared that the step taken by CAN is a big discouragement for the private sector to invest in the sports sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Similarly, EPL is the best example of private and public investment. We were in a situation of bringing in IPL investors. It would have taken the cricket scenario to the next level with personal expertise. EPL is the cleanest league in the world in terms of transparency. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sanjay Agrawal, owner of Kathmandu Kings XI shared that the time, money and effort invested by the corporate house have all gone in vain. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, Sahil Agrawal, owner of Pokhara Rhinos shared that CAN's decision to give license to a new league and discontinue the existing league is nonsensical. Our only demand is to allow the league to happen while continuing the new league, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15065', 'image' => '20220524095205_epl.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 09:50:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15322', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Buddha Air Resumes Flight Service to Varanasi', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the airline company, direct flights to Varanasi from Kathmandu resumed from Monday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Buddha Air informed that the company will conduct two flights a week to India’s Varanasi. The flights will be conducted on Mondays days and Fridays. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As per the flight schedule, an ATR aircraft of Buddha Air left for Varanasi from Kathmandu on May 23 at 7: 15 am carrying 44 passengers and 6 crew members. According to the company, the return flight left Varanasi at 8: 45 am the same day. The return flight carried a total of 39 passengers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement on Monday, Buddha Air said that the flight service to Varanasi will also facilitate foreign tourists. The company further said that Buddha Air’s subsidiary Buddha Holiday has been conducting tours to religious and tourism destinations across the country by announcing attractive packages. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15064', 'image' => '20220524085313_Buddha ATR.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 08:52:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15321', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Assembly Approves Eight Ordinances', 'sub_title' => 'President Bidya Bhandari to Present Policies and Programmes of Government in Parliament on Tuesday ', 'summary' => 'May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ordinances approved include the Social Security (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; Acid and Other Harmful Chemical Substances (Regulation) Ordinance, 2022; the Nepal Police and Province Police (Operation, Supervision and Coordination) First Amendment Ordinance, 2022; the Medicine (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; the Health Professionals and Health Institutions' Security (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; the Ordinance Amending Some Acts Related to Criminal Offence and Criminal Procedures, 2022; the Ordinance Amending Some Acts Against Sexual Violence, 2022 and the Railway Ordinance, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting unanimously approved all these eight ordinances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the conclusion of the meeting, National Assembly chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina directed the lawmakers to be present in the Federal Parliament's assembly hall at the designated time of 4 pm Tuesday (May 24), as President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to address the joint session of the Federal Parliament and present the policies and programmes of the government for the Fiscal Year 2022/23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Assembly will next meet at 6 pm on Tuesday. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15063', 'image' => '20220523091118_RS_KTML8994_1(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 21:10:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15320', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bird Strike Suspected on Jazeera Airways Aircraft ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a bird.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a bird.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“<span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A bird may have collided with the aircraft at 1:45 am on Monday,” the state-owned national news agency RSS reported quoting the chief of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) at the airport, Prabesh Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As a result, the aircraft has been grounded at the airport and is rescheduling its flight, said Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The plane landed successfully but we suspect bird strike as blood stains can be seen on the surface of the plane. However, the dead bird has not been found. A technical team will check whether it has been sucked into the plane engine," he further told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Adhikari, further investigations are underway. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The flight of the aircraft was rescheduled following the incident. Jazeera Airways has managed accommodation for its passengers in a hotel. Thirty eight passengers had booked tickets for Bhairahawa-Kuwait flight, according to the airport authorities. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15062', 'image' => '20220523074434_Jazeera.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 19:43:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15319', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Provincial Governments to Implement Blacktopping of Roads at Local Units ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every municipality.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every municipality. The programme will be carried out by the state governments. The previous government led by KP Sharma Oli had announced the policy, plan and programme to blacktop roads at the municipal level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The work of the road project could not move forward when there was a dispute over whether the state should build it or the federal government. "I heard about the blacktopping of the road at the municipal level in the policy and programme brought by the previous government. It was limited to paper work, not in the budget," Finance Minister Janardhan Sharma told parliament on Friday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Finance Minister Sharma, there is no problem in moving ahead with the work as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have pledged to provide financial assistance for the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is preparing to send most of the small projects to the state and local levels in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY 2022/23).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Finance Minister Sharma, preparation are being made for implementing projects with low investment at the state and local levels in the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there has been a long-running debate about the implementation of such projects by the lower-level government, it has not come into practice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even in the 45th meeting of the National Development Problem Solving Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, it was decided to move small and micro projects forward from the state and local levels. It was also said that the Ministry of Finance should arrange the budget by prioritizing such projects. However, many small and micro projects have not been able to move forward yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the implementation of such projects by the federal government would not be effective on the one hand and would also affect the budget expenditure, on the other hand, Minister Sharma urged the parliamentarians not to demand small projects during the discussion on the principles and priorities of the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In particular, the UML lawmakers had raised questions in the House of Representatives stating that the Ministry of Finance had removed 1,400 road projects put forward by the previous government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma that the projects should be selected only after assessing the level of investment and the return on investment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sharma, it is time to review the failure of national pride projects. He also remarked that projects that do not work should not be called national pride project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15061', 'image' => '20220523072556_DhrubasagarSharma_Galeswor_RSS_07_-himalmunikalopatresadak.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 19:25:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15318', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Backtracks from Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects. NEA, which had already started the process of constructing two PSH projects, has now decided to not construct those projects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For the first time, NEA had started the process of constructing Begnas-Rupa Pumped Storage Hydropower Project in Begnas and Rupa lakes in Kaski district. For that, it had obtained permission for survey from the Department of Electricity Development on November 13, 2017. It has been four and a half years since the survey permission was granted for the 150 MW project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive director of NEA Kulman Ghising had put forward the project as his dream project in his first tenure. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After Ghising's first tenure ended, Hitendra Dev Shakya was appointed the executive director of NEA. He did not give much priority to the Begnas-Rupa PSH project. However, he took forward the process of constructing the 100 MW Kulekhani Sisneri Pumped Storage Hydropower Project using the Kulekhani Dam in Makwanpur District. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For that, the Department of Electricity Development issued permission for the survey in March/April 2021. It has been one year since the survey permission of the project was obtained. However, the NEA is in the mindset of not moving ahead with both the pumped storage projects at present. Ghising says that the pumped storage projects will not be built immediately. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We are focusing on the other types of hydropower projects. This is the need of the hour. So, there is no immediate plan to invest in pumped storage hydropower plants,” he said, “Therefore, there has not been any progress on these projects. However, we will pay attention to this after a certain period of time as we need such projects in the near future.” </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the investment in such projects is high, NEA has backtracked from its decision for the time being. A separate dam should be constructed to collect the used water. Also, a lot of electricity is also needed, which makes the operating cost of the project high. Ghising said that due to these reasons the NEA has backtracked its plan to build pumped storage project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pumped storage project is a new technology to Nepal. In this technology, the water coming out of the power house is collected by constructing another dam nearby. The water is then pumped to the first dam and reused. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NEA had tried to develop Begnas-Rupa pumped storage hydropower project with an investment of around Rs 14 billion as the first pumped storage project in Nepal. The project has been halted as it was found during the study that the construction of the project will be costly. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A study by the Japanese aid agency JICA showed that the project was not financially viable. JICA's study had shown that electricity used to draw water is expensive. However, NEA says it had conducted the study for the future prospect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Kulekhani-Sisneri pumped storage project was planned to be built with an investment of Rs 8 billion. The project was said to be built at Sisneri, two kilometers below Kulekhani Dam. The target was to generate 100 MW of electricity by taking water from Kulekhani Dam during the evening peak hour. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15060', 'image' => '20220523041510_PSH.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 16:14:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15317', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Working on Modality to keep Problematic Industries Afloat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation. The government plans to work on public-private partnership and other modalities to keep such industries afloat. He urged the private sector to make preparations in this regard, saying that they should move towards self-reliance by increasing production and employment by operating such industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He made such remarks at a program organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in Kathmandu on Sunday. "We will bring in the budget and programmes to implement this policy," Badu said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the government has announced industrial zones and has allocated land for opening industries, but the government does not have the budget to invest in infrastructure development. He said that the private sector should come up with plans for establishing chemical fertilizer factories, that are urgently required in the country. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Badu said that the fuel prices have spiked drastically, and the monopoly of Nepal Oil Corporation should be broken to make the price competitive.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The private sector should be allowed to supply petroleum products. This will create competition and will make the price cheaper for consumers. However, the price of cooking gas cannot be subsidized any further, he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Badu said that it was necessary to move towards self-reliance by reducing imports and increasing production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, he added that the recent ban on wheat exports by India will impact the production of flour in a few months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at the same programme, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad Adhikari, said that this year has seen high growth in import and inflation has also remained high.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"However high the prices may be, we as consumers are ready to pay. If we become cautious and consume little less, the economy will return back on track,” said Adhikari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Right now, the private sector needs to focus on the economy as a whole rather than profit," the NRB governor said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion, Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra, joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said that farmers and industries should be involved in the production of raw materials within the country. He emphasized the need to strengthen the supply chain at the local level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha said that an imminent food crisis in Nepal cannot not be ignored as other countries have imposed a ban of export of food products. He urged the minister to form a task force representing officials from the Ministry of Energy, Industry, Agriculture Development and the private sector, as well as Nepal Rastra Bank, to solve the current problem. He said that reducing fuel consumption and improving the agricultural ecosystem was the need of the hour.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15059', 'image' => '20220523032540_Industrial-Policy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 15:24:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15316', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Windstorm Damages 140 Electricity Poles in Bharatpur', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power outage.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power outage. According to Rajendra Poudel, an engineer at the Nepal Electricity Authority's Bharatpur Distribution Center, the poles collapsed in wards number 1 to 6 of the Bharatpur metropolitan city. He said that it will take five days for the management of poles before they can ensure smooth supply of electricity.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Rajiv Kumar Singh, head of the center, the power supply from Bharatpur substation has been disrupted. According to him, the cables at multiple places snapped due to collapsing of poles in Bharatpur due to strong winds. He also informed that the NEA mobilized a team of four contractors and the entire technical force of NEA to repair the collapsed poles and cables. Singh said that the power supply is being restored by prioritizing critical sectors including hospitals and security agencies, polling stations and drinking water utility.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Engineer Poudel said that there were no issues with the distribution of electricity from Chanauli substation. He said that although there is no problem in the flow of electricity in the western region of Bharatpur, problems have surfaced in the flow of electricity to the district headquarters Bharatpur, Narayangarh market area and Ratnanagar Khairhani of East Chitwan. He informed that materials worth Rs 3 million were damaged and electricity consumption of Rs 50 million was disrupted due to the impact of the windstorm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mobile phone service along with drinking water and internet services have also been affected due to prolonged power outage. Three people were killed and 11 others were injured in the storm on Friday. Many trees in the main urban area of Bharatpur were hit by the storm, causing them to collapse. In most places, the collapsing of trees caused the electricity poles to collapse as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15058', 'image' => '20220523025725_Thuderstorm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 13:23:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15315', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Draupadi Dream Trust honours Shreejana Rana with Draupadi Award 2022 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function. Rana was honoured for her contribution to Nepal-India bilateral relations through the development and promotion of religious/spiritual tourism in both the countries as the president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Draupadi Dream Trust is an institution working on the area of ancient eastern civilization, art, culture, religion and history and publication of such related issues for a long time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rana was honoured for her initiation and contribution to publishing a book and dedicated website on Nepal-India religious/spiritual circuits which covers Buddhist circuits, Mahabharat circuits Ramayan circuit, Shiva-Shakti circuit and Sikh circuit aiming to promote pilgrimage tourism in both the countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rana was honoured amid a special programme in New Delhi and was conferred the letter of appreciation by Ajit Doval, chief security advisor to the Indian Government, on 20th May 2022. The trust honoured various other Indian dignitaries from different walks of life, while Rana was the only Nepali to bag such honour.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement that it feels proud at this moment and encourages to work sincerely in the area of Nepal-India economic and bilateral relations in the coming days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr Shankar Sharma was also present on the occasion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15057', 'image' => '20220523120702_IMG-20220521-WA0028.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 12:05:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15314', 'article_category_id' => '269', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Fuel Prices yet Again', 'sub_title' => 'Petrol to cost Rs 180 per litre from today ', 'summary' => 'May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May 23). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May 23). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned NOC increased the prices of petrol, diesel kerosene and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for domestic flights by Rs 10 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the price of cooking gas has been increased by Rs 200 per cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the revision in price list, petrol will now cost Rs 180 per litre while diesel and kerosene will each cost Rs 163 per litre, Likewise, the price of aviation turbine fuel for domestic flights will cost Rs 166 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It may be noted that the NOC had increased the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 10 per litre on May 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the 13th time that the NOC has increased the prices of petroleum products in the last 10 months. The prices have been rising steadily since last July when petrol used to cost just Rs 128 per litre. Two years ago, during the first lockdown in May 2020, the price of petrol was Rs 96 per litre.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NOC has been increasing the prices on the pretext that it has to bear losses if the the prices are not increased. Lately, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is said to have increased the price of fuel in the international market. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15056', 'image' => '20220523082640_20220406103104_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 08:25:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15313', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NCC urges Bangladesh for Energy Cooperation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector. The NCC has requested for electricity trade with Bangladesh as Nepal will soon be exporting electricity. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a programme organized at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Bangladesh, Chairman of NCC Rajendra Malla stressed on the implementation of the tripartite agreement on electricity trade between Nepal, India and Bangladesh. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Nepal, India and Bangladesh have reached a tripartite agreement for energy trade. There should be an immediate result-oriented meeting between the energy ministers of the three countries for its effective implementation,” he said in a discussion with the Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> We’ll take the initiative representing the private sector. The government of Bangladesh should also take initiative. Nepal is preparing to sell electricity to Bangladesh,” added Malla. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla said that Nepal will be able to export electricity in at least one year from now. According to him, at least 50 megawatts of electricity can be generated for export to India from the existing transmission line and the three countries will have to do their homework for the terms and conditions for electricity trade. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the context of the high demand for energy in Bangladesh, there was a discussion between the two countries on various options for exporting electricity from Nepal. Despite the agreement on the energy trade between Nepal, Bangladesh and India, it has not been implemented in practice. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla urged Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal to invest in the hydropower sector of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ambassador Chowdhury said that Bangladesh is ready to buy the electricity produced by Nepal. “Within next few years, Bangladesh will promote green energy,” he said, “Accordingly, our priorities and plans are being made. We are excited to buy electricity from Nepal.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He further said that he would take the initiative to urge the the Government of Bangladesh to start the necessary process to purchase electricity from Nepal through India. Likewise, he said that they are expecting policy improvement for the investment in other sectors as well. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15055', 'image' => '20220522073826_02062016090632Nepal-Bdesh-copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 19:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15312', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Yarsagumba Collection to Start in Dolpa from May 25 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May 25.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May 25. An all-party meeting convened by the District Coordination Committee, Dolpa took a decision to this effect. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting chaired by DCC Chief Sher Bahadur Budha at the district headquarters Dunai on Saturday was attended by the chief representatives of various district bodies. It has decided to allow collection of yarsagumba, which is scientifically known as ophiocordyceps sinensis, in Shephoksundo National Park and various community forests until June 24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the public has not been able to collect yarsagumba for a long time due to COVID-19 pandemic, this time it was opened for about a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Residents of the buffer zone, within the district and outside the district will be charged different entrance fees for the collection of the prized herb as per the National Parks Act and regulations. –- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15054', 'image' => '20220522120955_yarsa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 12:07:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15311', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Demand more Budget for Health and Education', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the people. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Taking part in the deliberations on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for Fiscal Year 2022-23 on Friday, the MPs urged the government to take the existing economic crisis into consideration while announcing programmes in the new budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Dev Prasad Timilsina demanded easy access to medical care for people with chronic and complicated health issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yagyaraj Sunuwar said that his party CPN (UML) was well aware of the economic condition of the nation and was serious about it. Therefore, the main opposition party decided to end the house obstruction, said Sunuwar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Chhakka Bahadur Lama advised to give priorities to the agriculture sector as well as rural development and backward areas in the budget and to strengthen social justice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meena Subba was of the view that the country could become self-sufficient on food provided that the farmers were ensured seeds, fertilizers and other facilities on right time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">She echoed the need of increasing budget in the sectors of health and education, urging the finance minister to address the suggestions of lawmakers in regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rangamati Shahi spoke the need of increasing investment in productive sector and claimed that genuine farmers were deprived of government subsidy. “So the budget should address this issue and lay its focus on job creation by implementing entrepreneurship programmes.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepali Congress lawmaker Bharat Kumar Shah said the economy is not in bad shape and in crisis as it has been potrayed. He drew the attention of the government to take steps taking into account the sensitivity of the situation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We are in the danger zone due to high imports, but we are not in trouble yet," he remarked. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jayapuri Gharti of the CPN (Maoist Center) stressed on the need of prioritizing industries, tourism, agriculture, health and education sectors in the budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Shekh Chandtara of the same party said the economy is facing crisis due to the wrong policy adopted by the past governments and it was wrong to squarely blame the incumbent finance minister for all this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CPN (UML)'s Krishna Prasad Dahal said that the priorities and principles of the budget should be implementable, and more budget should be allocated to the local levels. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15053', 'image' => '20220522120116_budget new.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 12:00:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15310', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India’s Ban on Wheat Export to Impact Nepali Industries after 3 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal. The industrialists said that the problem will emerge in three months even though there is no problem at the moment as the local wheat produce hit the market just recently. They suggested that the government should import wheat from India through G2G agreement since the local production is not going to last long.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industrialists expressed that the government should initiate discussions with the Indian government immediately to tackle the imminent crisis after three months. They also said that there is no other alternative than to shut down the industries as Nepal's production cannot sustain the industries if the import of wheat from India is also halted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bikash Begwani, vice-president of the Morang Merchants’ Association and operator of Bishal Maida Mill said that he has enough stock of wheat for one month. He said that even though the wheat produced in the country can sustain the industry for a few months, wheat from India is necessary to run the industry for the rest of the year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Begwani suggested that the government should negotiate with the Indian government and import wheat to Nepal as soon as possible. He added that the ban imposed by India on wheat export will cause a big impact on the flour mills and other industries including noodles and biscuits industries that rely heavily on wheat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Begwani said that operating industries by importing flour from India will make the products 25 to 35 percent more expensive. “Consumers will be able to get the products at a lower price if wheat itself is imported through G2G process to operate the industries,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported about 336,000 metric tons of wheat worth Rs 6.90 billion from India last year. Ram Chandra Dhungana, information officer at the Biratnagar Customs Office, said that 6,800 metric tons of wheat worth Rs 2.20 billion was imported via Biratnagar last year. According to him, wheat has not been imported from Biratnagar after India announced the ban.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Harivansh Rathi, the operator of Gaumati Foods says that the Nepali industries are dependent on imported wheat from India for nine months while the local produce sustain the industries for three months. He said that if the government of Nepal fails to facilitate the import of wheat by discussing with the government of India, a huge shortage will be created. Recalling the time when India imposed a ban on wheat exports a few years ago, Rathi said, “India provided wheat to Nepal and other neighboring countries by implementing a quota system. Therefore, it is necessary to hold discussions with the Indian government immediately to prevent the shortage.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India is the world's second largest wheat producer after China. Wheat supply through the Black Sea is now halted due to tensions between Russia, the third largest producer of wheat, and Ukraine, the eighth largest producer. This time, India imposed a ban on exports, citing the decline of wheat production in India due to the scorching heat of March as well as the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Rathi said that Nepal's industries are confident of India adopting some lenient policies for neighboring countries. On the other hand, India itself has stated that exports to countries that need wheat for food security will not be halted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operator of Baba Flour Mill Suresh Rathi said that even if India bans wheat export, local production will last for a few months and there will be no immediate problem. He says the ban will impact in the long run. He said that the industry can be run by wheat imported from other countries after paying customs duty and taking advantage of the open border Nepal shares with India.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15052', 'image' => '20220522114859_IMAGE_1646636720.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 11:48:06', '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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He has urged the cricket governing body to let the the franchise league be held. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a press conference held in Hotel Yak and Yeti on May 23, Akhter expressed his concern over the CAN's decision to restrict the EPL.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Vishal Agrawal, owner of Biratnagar Warriors and director of Bishal Group, shared that the decision of CAN has discouraged the private sector and has jeopardized its investment in the sporting sector of Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> CAN has announced a new league-Nepal T20 League. The cricket regulatory body also announced that it will be the only franchise league in Nepal, which has affected the EPL and the franchise team associated with it. The organizer of EPL and six owners held a joint press conference on Monday and asked CAN to give continuity to the EPL. According to the ICC rules, there will be only one league in a country, and now Nepal will have only one T20 league. But the EPL, founder Aamir Akhtar and the owners of six franchise teams have demanded that they be allowed to continue the EPL.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> The cricket authority has cornered us and our effort, time and investment by stopping the EPL. The authorities didn't even make any prior discussion with the concerned stakeholders while coming up with such a major decision, he shared.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Likewise, Kishor Maharjan, former CEO of Civil Bank and owner of Lalitpur Patriots, shared that he is extremely saddened by the decision of CAN to stop EPL. As the owner of the team, we are in trouble. We had put all-our investment, time and effort into our team with a long term vision and now, as things were improving, CAN has deceived us and our faith in investing in sports has become doubtful, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Akhter and the six owners, EPL is the 5th biggest franchise T20 league in the world. EPL finished its fourth edition last year and is the number one T20 franchise among the non-Test playing nations. The fourth edition of the league was broadcasted in 18 countries including, India, Akhter shared. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">CAN has not done justice to our effort as EPL was on the verge to be an export product and would put Nepali cricket on the global map. Our efforts were not recognized by CAN and we want to voice our emotions through the media, Akhter added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Kishor Bhattrai shared that the only demand is to allow the continuity of EPL. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are not against the new league but the decision made is a big shock to the entire sports industry. A lot has been invested in the event. Who will give our investment back, why would someone invest in the sector in the days to come if there is no certainty? We only want the event which has been ranked 5th in the world to continue. CAN should think again about the decision and not stop EPL. We are raising the voice here not only for cricket but for all the sports," he shared. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, giving the example of sports industries abroad Bhattrai opined that the issue is due to a lack of professional sports acts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, Aditya Shanghai, owner of Bhairahawa Gladiators shared that the step taken by CAN is a big discouragement for the private sector to invest in the sports sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Similarly, EPL is the best example of private and public investment. We were in a situation of bringing in IPL investors. It would have taken the cricket scenario to the next level with personal expertise. EPL is the cleanest league in the world in terms of transparency. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sanjay Agrawal, owner of Kathmandu Kings XI shared that the time, money and effort invested by the corporate house have all gone in vain. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, Sahil Agrawal, owner of Pokhara Rhinos shared that CAN's decision to give license to a new league and discontinue the existing league is nonsensical. Our only demand is to allow the league to happen while continuing the new league, he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15065', 'image' => '20220524095205_epl.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 09:50:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15322', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Buddha Air Resumes Flight Service to Varanasi', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">May 24: Buddha Air has resumed Kathmandu-Varanasi flight service that was disrupted since the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the airline company, direct flights to Varanasi from Kathmandu resumed from Monday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Buddha Air informed that the company will conduct two flights a week to India’s Varanasi. The flights will be conducted on Mondays days and Fridays. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As per the flight schedule, an ATR aircraft of Buddha Air left for Varanasi from Kathmandu on May 23 at 7: 15 am carrying 44 passengers and 6 crew members. According to the company, the return flight left Varanasi at 8: 45 am the same day. The return flight carried a total of 39 passengers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement on Monday, Buddha Air said that the flight service to Varanasi will also facilitate foreign tourists. The company further said that Buddha Air’s subsidiary Buddha Holiday has been conducting tours to religious and tourism destinations across the country by announcing attractive packages. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-24', 'modified' => '2022-05-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15064', 'image' => '20220524085313_Buddha ATR.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-24 08:52:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15321', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'National Assembly Approves Eight Ordinances', 'sub_title' => 'President Bidya Bhandari to Present Policies and Programmes of Government in Parliament on Tuesday ', 'summary' => 'May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: A session of the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, approved eight different ordinances on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ordinances approved include the Social Security (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; Acid and Other Harmful Chemical Substances (Regulation) Ordinance, 2022; the Nepal Police and Province Police (Operation, Supervision and Coordination) First Amendment Ordinance, 2022; the Medicine (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; the Health Professionals and Health Institutions' Security (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2022; the Ordinance Amending Some Acts Related to Criminal Offence and Criminal Procedures, 2022; the Ordinance Amending Some Acts Against Sexual Violence, 2022 and the Railway Ordinance, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting unanimously approved all these eight ordinances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">At the conclusion of the meeting, National Assembly chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina directed the lawmakers to be present in the Federal Parliament's assembly hall at the designated time of 4 pm Tuesday (May 24), as President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to address the joint session of the Federal Parliament and present the policies and programmes of the government for the Fiscal Year 2022/23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Assembly will next meet at 6 pm on Tuesday. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15063', 'image' => '20220523091118_RS_KTML8994_1(1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 21:10:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15320', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Bird Strike Suspected on Jazeera Airways Aircraft ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a bird.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: An aircraft of Jazeera Airways that met with disturbances while landing at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa on Monday is suspected to have been hit by a bird.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“<span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A bird may have collided with the aircraft at 1:45 am on Monday,” the state-owned national news agency RSS reported quoting the chief of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) at the airport, Prabesh Adhikari. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As a result, the aircraft has been grounded at the airport and is rescheduling its flight, said Adhikari. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The plane landed successfully but we suspect bird strike as blood stains can be seen on the surface of the plane. However, the dead bird has not been found. A technical team will check whether it has been sucked into the plane engine," he further told RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Adhikari, further investigations are underway. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The flight of the aircraft was rescheduled following the incident. Jazeera Airways has managed accommodation for its passengers in a hotel. Thirty eight passengers had booked tickets for Bhairahawa-Kuwait flight, according to the airport authorities. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15062', 'image' => '20220523074434_Jazeera.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 19:43:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15319', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Provincial Governments to Implement Blacktopping of Roads at Local Units ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every municipality.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: The government is preparing to implement the programme of blacktopping roads in every municipality. The programme will be carried out by the state governments. The previous government led by KP Sharma Oli had announced the policy, plan and programme to blacktop roads at the municipal level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The work of the road project could not move forward when there was a dispute over whether the state should build it or the federal government. "I heard about the blacktopping of the road at the municipal level in the policy and programme brought by the previous government. It was limited to paper work, not in the budget," Finance Minister Janardhan Sharma told parliament on Friday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Finance Minister Sharma, there is no problem in moving ahead with the work as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have pledged to provide financial assistance for the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government is preparing to send most of the small projects to the state and local levels in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY 2022/23).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Finance Minister Sharma, preparation are being made for implementing projects with low investment at the state and local levels in the upcoming fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there has been a long-running debate about the implementation of such projects by the lower-level government, it has not come into practice.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even in the 45th meeting of the National Development Problem Solving Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, it was decided to move small and micro projects forward from the state and local levels. It was also said that the Ministry of Finance should arrange the budget by prioritizing such projects. However, many small and micro projects have not been able to move forward yet.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the implementation of such projects by the federal government would not be effective on the one hand and would also affect the budget expenditure, on the other hand, Minister Sharma urged the parliamentarians not to demand small projects during the discussion on the principles and priorities of the budget.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In particular, the UML lawmakers had raised questions in the House of Representatives stating that the Ministry of Finance had removed 1,400 road projects put forward by the previous government.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sharma that the projects should be selected only after assessing the level of investment and the return on investment.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Sharma, it is time to review the failure of national pride projects. He also remarked that projects that do not work should not be called national pride project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15061', 'image' => '20220523072556_DhrubasagarSharma_Galeswor_RSS_07_-himalmunikalopatresadak.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 19:25:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15318', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEA Backtracks from Pumped Storage Hydropower Projects ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has immediately backtracked from its decision to build a pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects. NEA, which had already started the process of constructing two PSH projects, has now decided to not construct those projects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For the first time, NEA had started the process of constructing Begnas-Rupa Pumped Storage Hydropower Project in Begnas and Rupa lakes in Kaski district. For that, it had obtained permission for survey from the Department of Electricity Development on November 13, 2017. It has been four and a half years since the survey permission was granted for the 150 MW project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive director of NEA Kulman Ghising had put forward the project as his dream project in his first tenure. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After Ghising's first tenure ended, Hitendra Dev Shakya was appointed the executive director of NEA. He did not give much priority to the Begnas-Rupa PSH project. However, he took forward the process of constructing the 100 MW Kulekhani Sisneri Pumped Storage Hydropower Project using the Kulekhani Dam in Makwanpur District. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">For that, the Department of Electricity Development issued permission for the survey in March/April 2021. It has been one year since the survey permission of the project was obtained. However, the NEA is in the mindset of not moving ahead with both the pumped storage projects at present. Ghising says that the pumped storage projects will not be built immediately. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“We are focusing on the other types of hydropower projects. This is the need of the hour. So, there is no immediate plan to invest in pumped storage hydropower plants,” he said, “Therefore, there has not been any progress on these projects. However, we will pay attention to this after a certain period of time as we need such projects in the near future.” </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the investment in such projects is high, NEA has backtracked from its decision for the time being. A separate dam should be constructed to collect the used water. Also, a lot of electricity is also needed, which makes the operating cost of the project high. Ghising said that due to these reasons the NEA has backtracked its plan to build pumped storage project. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pumped storage project is a new technology to Nepal. In this technology, the water coming out of the power house is collected by constructing another dam nearby. The water is then pumped to the first dam and reused. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NEA had tried to develop Begnas-Rupa pumped storage hydropower project with an investment of around Rs 14 billion as the first pumped storage project in Nepal. The project has been halted as it was found during the study that the construction of the project will be costly. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A study by the Japanese aid agency JICA showed that the project was not financially viable. JICA's study had shown that electricity used to draw water is expensive. However, NEA says it had conducted the study for the future prospect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Meanwhile, Kulekhani-Sisneri pumped storage project was planned to be built with an investment of Rs 8 billion. The project was said to be built at Sisneri, two kilometers below Kulekhani Dam. The target was to generate 100 MW of electricity by taking water from Kulekhani Dam during the evening peak hour. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15060', 'image' => '20220523041510_PSH.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 16:14:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15317', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Working on Modality to keep Problematic Industries Afloat', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu informed that the government is doing its homework to keep the ailing industries in operation. The government plans to work on public-private partnership and other modalities to keep such industries afloat. He urged the private sector to make preparations in this regard, saying that they should move towards self-reliance by increasing production and employment by operating such industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He made such remarks at a program organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in Kathmandu on Sunday. "We will bring in the budget and programmes to implement this policy," Badu said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the government has announced industrial zones and has allocated land for opening industries, but the government does not have the budget to invest in infrastructure development. He said that the private sector should come up with plans for establishing chemical fertilizer factories, that are urgently required in the country. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Badu said that the fuel prices have spiked drastically, and the monopoly of Nepal Oil Corporation should be broken to make the price competitive.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The private sector should be allowed to supply petroleum products. This will create competition and will make the price cheaper for consumers. However, the price of cooking gas cannot be subsidized any further, he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Minister Badu said that it was necessary to move towards self-reliance by reducing imports and increasing production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, he added that the recent ban on wheat exports by India will impact the production of flour in a few months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at the same programme, Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad Adhikari, said that this year has seen high growth in import and inflation has also remained high.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"However high the prices may be, we as consumers are ready to pay. If we become cautious and consume little less, the economy will return back on track,” said Adhikari.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"Right now, the private sector needs to focus on the economy as a whole rather than profit," the NRB governor said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On the occasion, Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra, joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said that farmers and industries should be involved in the production of raw materials within the country. He emphasized the need to strengthen the supply chain at the local level.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Likewise, FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha said that an imminent food crisis in Nepal cannot not be ignored as other countries have imposed a ban of export of food products. He urged the minister to form a task force representing officials from the Ministry of Energy, Industry, Agriculture Development and the private sector, as well as Nepal Rastra Bank, to solve the current problem. He said that reducing fuel consumption and improving the agricultural ecosystem was the need of the hour.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15059', 'image' => '20220523032540_Industrial-Policy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 15:24:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15316', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Windstorm Damages 140 Electricity Poles in Bharatpur', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power outage.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: A total of 140 electricity poles collapsed in Bharatpur collapsed due to the windstorm on Friday evening, resulting in electricity power outage. According to Rajendra Poudel, an engineer at the Nepal Electricity Authority's Bharatpur Distribution Center, the poles collapsed in wards number 1 to 6 of the Bharatpur metropolitan city. He said that it will take five days for the management of poles before they can ensure smooth supply of electricity.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Rajiv Kumar Singh, head of the center, the power supply from Bharatpur substation has been disrupted. According to him, the cables at multiple places snapped due to collapsing of poles in Bharatpur due to strong winds. He also informed that the NEA mobilized a team of four contractors and the entire technical force of NEA to repair the collapsed poles and cables. Singh said that the power supply is being restored by prioritizing critical sectors including hospitals and security agencies, polling stations and drinking water utility.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Engineer Poudel said that there were no issues with the distribution of electricity from Chanauli substation. He said that although there is no problem in the flow of electricity in the western region of Bharatpur, problems have surfaced in the flow of electricity to the district headquarters Bharatpur, Narayangarh market area and Ratnanagar Khairhani of East Chitwan. He informed that materials worth Rs 3 million were damaged and electricity consumption of Rs 50 million was disrupted due to the impact of the windstorm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Mobile phone service along with drinking water and internet services have also been affected due to prolonged power outage. Three people were killed and 11 others were injured in the storm on Friday. Many trees in the main urban area of Bharatpur were hit by the storm, causing them to collapse. In most places, the collapsing of trees caused the electricity poles to collapse as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15058', 'image' => '20220523025725_Thuderstorm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 13:23:48', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15315', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Draupadi Dream Trust honours Shreejana Rana with Draupadi Award 2022 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 23: Draupadi Dream Trust of India has honoured Shreejana Rana, president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Hotel Association of Nepal, with Draupadi Letter of Appreciation 2022 in New Delhi amid a recent function. Rana was honoured for her contribution to Nepal-India bilateral relations through the development and promotion of religious/spiritual tourism in both the countries as the president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Draupadi Dream Trust is an institution working on the area of ancient eastern civilization, art, culture, religion and history and publication of such related issues for a long time.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rana was honoured for her initiation and contribution to publishing a book and dedicated website on Nepal-India religious/spiritual circuits which covers Buddhist circuits, Mahabharat circuits Ramayan circuit, Shiva-Shakti circuit and Sikh circuit aiming to promote pilgrimage tourism in both the countries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rana was honoured amid a special programme in New Delhi and was conferred the letter of appreciation by Ajit Doval, chief security advisor to the Indian Government, on 20th May 2022. The trust honoured various other Indian dignitaries from different walks of life, while Rana was the only Nepali to bag such honour.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement that it feels proud at this moment and encourages to work sincerely in the area of Nepal-India economic and bilateral relations in the coming days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr Shankar Sharma was also present on the occasion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15057', 'image' => '20220523120702_IMG-20220521-WA0028.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 12:05:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15314', 'article_category_id' => '269', 'title' => 'NOC Hikes Fuel Prices yet Again', 'sub_title' => 'Petrol to cost Rs 180 per litre from today ', 'summary' => 'May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May 23). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 23: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel and cooking gas (LPG) effective from today (May 23). </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned NOC increased the prices of petrol, diesel kerosene and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for domestic flights by Rs 10 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the price of cooking gas has been increased by Rs 200 per cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the revision in price list, petrol will now cost Rs 180 per litre while diesel and kerosene will each cost Rs 163 per litre, Likewise, the price of aviation turbine fuel for domestic flights will cost Rs 166 per litre. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It may be noted that the NOC had increased the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 10 per litre on May 14. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the 13th time that the NOC has increased the prices of petroleum products in the last 10 months. The prices have been rising steadily since last July when petrol used to cost just Rs 128 per litre. Two years ago, during the first lockdown in May 2020, the price of petrol was Rs 96 per litre.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NOC has been increasing the prices on the pretext that it has to bear losses if the the prices are not increased. Lately, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is said to have increased the price of fuel in the international market. </span></span></span><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-23', 'modified' => '2022-05-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15056', 'image' => '20220523082640_20220406103104_Petrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-23 08:25:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15313', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NCC urges Bangladesh for Energy Cooperation ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has proposed to Bangladesh to cooperate in the energy sector. The NCC has requested for electricity trade with Bangladesh as Nepal will soon be exporting electricity. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Speaking at a programme organized at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Bangladesh, Chairman of NCC Rajendra Malla stressed on the implementation of the tripartite agreement on electricity trade between Nepal, India and Bangladesh. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Nepal, India and Bangladesh have reached a tripartite agreement for energy trade. There should be an immediate result-oriented meeting between the energy ministers of the three countries for its effective implementation,” he said in a discussion with the Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> We’ll take the initiative representing the private sector. The government of Bangladesh should also take initiative. Nepal is preparing to sell electricity to Bangladesh,” added Malla. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla said that Nepal will be able to export electricity in at least one year from now. According to him, at least 50 megawatts of electricity can be generated for export to India from the existing transmission line and the three countries will have to do their homework for the terms and conditions for electricity trade. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the context of the high demand for energy in Bangladesh, there was a discussion between the two countries on various options for exporting electricity from Nepal. Despite the agreement on the energy trade between Nepal, Bangladesh and India, it has not been implemented in practice. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla urged Bangladesh’s ambassador to Nepal to invest in the hydropower sector of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The ambassador Chowdhury said that Bangladesh is ready to buy the electricity produced by Nepal. “Within next few years, Bangladesh will promote green energy,” he said, “Accordingly, our priorities and plans are being made. We are excited to buy electricity from Nepal.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He further said that he would take the initiative to urge the the Government of Bangladesh to start the necessary process to purchase electricity from Nepal through India. Likewise, he said that they are expecting policy improvement for the investment in other sectors as well. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15055', 'image' => '20220522073826_02062016090632Nepal-Bdesh-copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 19:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15312', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Yarsagumba Collection to Start in Dolpa from May 25 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May 25.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Collection of the yarsagumba, an aphrodisiac herb found in the Himalayan region, will be opened for public in Dolpa district from May 25. An all-party meeting convened by the District Coordination Committee, Dolpa took a decision to this effect. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The meeting chaired by DCC Chief Sher Bahadur Budha at the district headquarters Dunai on Saturday was attended by the chief representatives of various district bodies. It has decided to allow collection of yarsagumba, which is scientifically known as ophiocordyceps sinensis, in Shephoksundo National Park and various community forests until June 24. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the public has not been able to collect yarsagumba for a long time due to COVID-19 pandemic, this time it was opened for about a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Residents of the buffer zone, within the district and outside the district will be charged different entrance fees for the collection of the prized herb as per the National Parks Act and regulations. –- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15054', 'image' => '20220522120955_yarsa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 12:07:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15311', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Lawmakers Demand more Budget for Health and Education', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the people. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">May 22: Lawmakers have pressed for ensuring programmes in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that address their basic needs and are easily accessible to the people. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Taking part in the deliberations on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for Fiscal Year 2022-23 on Friday, the MPs urged the government to take the existing economic crisis into consideration while announcing programmes in the new budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Dev Prasad Timilsina demanded easy access to medical care for people with chronic and complicated health issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Yagyaraj Sunuwar said that his party CPN (UML) was well aware of the economic condition of the nation and was serious about it. Therefore, the main opposition party decided to end the house obstruction, said Sunuwar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> Chhakka Bahadur Lama advised to give priorities to the agriculture sector as well as rural development and backward areas in the budget and to strengthen social justice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meena Subba was of the view that the country could become self-sufficient on food provided that the farmers were ensured seeds, fertilizers and other facilities on right time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">She echoed the need of increasing budget in the sectors of health and education, urging the finance minister to address the suggestions of lawmakers in regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rangamati Shahi spoke the need of increasing investment in productive sector and claimed that genuine farmers were deprived of government subsidy. “So the budget should address this issue and lay its focus on job creation by implementing entrepreneurship programmes.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepali Congress lawmaker Bharat Kumar Shah said the economy is not in bad shape and in crisis as it has been potrayed. He drew the attention of the government to take steps taking into account the sensitivity of the situation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We are in the danger zone due to high imports, but we are not in trouble yet," he remarked. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jayapuri Gharti of the CPN (Maoist Center) stressed on the need of prioritizing industries, tourism, agriculture, health and education sectors in the budget. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Shekh Chandtara of the same party said the economy is facing crisis due to the wrong policy adopted by the past governments and it was wrong to squarely blame the incumbent finance minister for all this. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CPN (UML)'s Krishna Prasad Dahal said that the priorities and principles of the budget should be implementable, and more budget should be allocated to the local levels. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15053', 'image' => '20220522120116_budget new.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 12:00:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15310', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India’s Ban on Wheat Export to Impact Nepali Industries after 3 Months', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">May 22: India's ban on wheat exports last week is going to affect the production of six flour mills and dozens of other wheat-based industries in Nepal. The industrialists said that the problem will emerge in three months even though there is no problem at the moment as the local wheat produce hit the market just recently. They suggested that the government should import wheat from India through G2G agreement since the local production is not going to last long.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The industrialists expressed that the government should initiate discussions with the Indian government immediately to tackle the imminent crisis after three months. They also said that there is no other alternative than to shut down the industries as Nepal's production cannot sustain the industries if the import of wheat from India is also halted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bikash Begwani, vice-president of the Morang Merchants’ Association and operator of Bishal Maida Mill said that he has enough stock of wheat for one month. He said that even though the wheat produced in the country can sustain the industry for a few months, wheat from India is necessary to run the industry for the rest of the year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Begwani suggested that the government should negotiate with the Indian government and import wheat to Nepal as soon as possible. He added that the ban imposed by India on wheat export will cause a big impact on the flour mills and other industries including noodles and biscuits industries that rely heavily on wheat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Begwani said that operating industries by importing flour from India will make the products 25 to 35 percent more expensive. “Consumers will be able to get the products at a lower price if wheat itself is imported through G2G process to operate the industries,” he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported about 336,000 metric tons of wheat worth Rs 6.90 billion from India last year. Ram Chandra Dhungana, information officer at the Biratnagar Customs Office, said that 6,800 metric tons of wheat worth Rs 2.20 billion was imported via Biratnagar last year. According to him, wheat has not been imported from Biratnagar after India announced the ban.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Harivansh Rathi, the operator of Gaumati Foods says that the Nepali industries are dependent on imported wheat from India for nine months while the local produce sustain the industries for three months. He said that if the government of Nepal fails to facilitate the import of wheat by discussing with the government of India, a huge shortage will be created. Recalling the time when India imposed a ban on wheat exports a few years ago, Rathi said, “India provided wheat to Nepal and other neighboring countries by implementing a quota system. Therefore, it is necessary to hold discussions with the Indian government immediately to prevent the shortage.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">India is the world's second largest wheat producer after China. Wheat supply through the Black Sea is now halted due to tensions between Russia, the third largest producer of wheat, and Ukraine, the eighth largest producer. This time, India imposed a ban on exports, citing the decline of wheat production in India due to the scorching heat of March as well as the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Rathi said that Nepal's industries are confident of India adopting some lenient policies for neighboring countries. On the other hand, India itself has stated that exports to countries that need wheat for food security will not be halted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operator of Baba Flour Mill Suresh Rathi said that even if India bans wheat export, local production will last for a few months and there will be no immediate problem. He says the ban will impact in the long run. He said that the industry can be run by wheat imported from other countries after paying customs duty and taking advantage of the open border Nepal shares with India.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-05-22', 'modified' => '2022-05-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15052', 'image' => '20220522114859_IMAGE_1646636720.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-05-22 11:48:06', '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
