April 4: Buddha Air is preparing to conduct daily flights between Bhadrapur and Pokhara starting from April…
April 4: Buddha Air is preparing to conduct daily flights between Bhadrapur and Pokhara starting from April…
April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in…
April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation…
April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19.…
April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to…
April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely…
April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases.…
April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two…
April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to…
April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their…
April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding.…
April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent…
April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the…
April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum…
April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal…
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Buddha Air has fixed an initial fare of Rs 6900 for this route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, the flight is scheduled to depart from Pokhara to Bhadrapur at 1:25 pm and from Bhadrapur to Pokhara at 3 pm. The company claims that this route will not only benefit the residents of both the provinces, but also facilitate the entry of tourists from across the border in Silgadhi, Darjeeling and Sikkim.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tourists from across the border will be able to go directly to Pokhara from Bhadrapur. The company claims that tourists can also visit various tourist and religious destinations around Bhadrapur as well as tea gardens of Ilam and view the mountain range. Buddha Holidays, a sister company of Buddha Air, has brought attractive holiday packages for both of these destinations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Buddha Holidays has revealed a package of 2 nights and 3 days at Rs 15000 for Bhadrapur-Pokhara tour. As informed by the company, the package includes two-way air tickets, transportation facility from Pokhara Airport to hotel and hotel to Pokhara Airport, air-conditioned twin sharing room and breakfast in the morning.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Buddha Air has been connecting Pokhara with direct flights to different parts of the country. The company has already expanded direct flights from Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Nepalgunj, Simara, Dhangadhi and Janakpur to Pokhara. Buddha Air has eleven 72-seat ATR-72 aircraft, three 42-seat ATR-42 aircraft and two Beechcraft aircraft.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14780', 'image' => '20220404123139_Buddha-Air.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 12:31:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Lowers Electricity Rate by Rs 13', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in 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:"Arial","sans-serif"">India has reduced the maximum price of electricity from IRs 20 to IRs 12. On the other hand, the production of electricity has started to increase in Nepal due to the melting of snow. With the onset of monsoon in June / July, Nepal's surplus energy is expected to be wasted.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India (CERI) has recently issued a notification lowering the maximum power purchase rate from IRs 20 per unit to IRs 12 per unit.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">At the same time, the electricity that Nepal buys from the Indian Electricity Exchange Market is expected to be cheaper. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from the Indian market at IRs 20 (NRs 32) per unit recently.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Due to the energy crisis in India, NEA was forced to buy electricity at exorbitant price through bidding in the open market.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">This had forced NEA to sell electricity purchased at IRs 32 to be sold at an average price of NRs 10 per unit.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now, NEA is getting electricity at less than that rate.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of the hydropower projects in Nepal are based on river flow. When the amount of water in the river decreases in winter, the production of the hydropower project automatically decreases. NEA has been importing electricity from India and supplying it to the domestic market during the dry season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, India is not able to generate enough electricity due to the shortage of coal. Due to this reason, electricity is being bought and sold at maximum rate in the Indian market due to low production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In view of its negative impact, particularly on the country’s industrial sector, the Indian government has reduced the maximum rate limit. </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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Indian industries and factories have also been affected by the hike of energy prices. They are also forced to buy electricity at expensive rates.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14779', 'image' => '20220404020923_electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 14:08:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15036', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Issue Common Vision on Energy Development ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has been making efforts since a long time for selling surplus electricity produced during the monsoon in the regional market, it had not been successful. Nepal's goal of exporting electricity has got the green signal after the two countries issued the 'India-Nepal Common Vision' on energy development during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to the southern neighbour. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">By issuing the vision, both the countries have agreed to increase mutual cooperation in the energy sector. With this, Nepal's aspiration of entering the regional power market will turn to reality. The prime ministers of both the countries have described the Common Vision as the biggest achievement so far in the energy sector. It is believed that this will pave the way for exporting surplus electricity to India and Bangladesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Common Vision envisages developing some big projects in Nepal through joint investment of both the countries, constructing inter-country transmission line and providing appropriate access based on market demand, among other things. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, the announcement to include the countries in the BBIN, a sub-regional organisation, in the Common Vision is significant in itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the latest agreement with India, Nepal has been ensured the market for electricity in India and up to Bangladesh. It may be noted that during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India, Indian Prime Minister publicly pledged to purchase electricity from Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal and her Indian counterpart Raj Kumar Singh discussed about the development of energy of Nepal during a sideline meeting. </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"">Nepal exported 39 megawatts of electricity to India from two projects in Nuwakot five months ago. The projects were constructed with Indian grants. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In lack of market, approximately Rs 5 billion worth of electricity was wasted, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14778', 'image' => '20220404114358_Classification-of-Overhead-Transmission-lines-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 11:42:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15035', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => 'Paragliding Competition in Pokhara to Promote Tourism', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19. ', '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"">April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19. The three-day competition will kick off on April 6. </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 competition is being organized by Nepal Airsports Association (NAA) with the support of various organizations related to paragliding. Krishna Bhandari, president of the association, said that the competition is being organized to attract domestic and foreign tourists as well as to promote adventure sports activities. </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 him, in the championship this year will feature competitions in various categories including Accuracy, Overall Landing, Women's Landing, Team Landing, Accuracy Tandem and Air Show Costume. </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"">Male and female athletes will participate in four different events towards the accuracy of paragliding. Bhandari said that the first, second, third and position holders of the Overall Landing event will receive cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. </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"">Similarly, the first, second, third and players in the women’s landing will receive cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. </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, the first three winners of Team Accuracy will receive Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Similarly, in other areas under accuracy tandem, the players finishing first, second, third will receive cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. </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 first place winner as Best Acrobat in the Air Show will get Rs 15,000 cash prize, second will get Rs 10,000 and third place winner will get Rs 5,000 along with medals and certificates. Along with this, prize money of Rs 10,000 will also be given to Best Costumes in the competition. </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 organizers have said that the names can be registered online till April 3 to participate in the competition. Nepalis and foreigners are participating in the competition. According to the organizers, it will cost around Rs 3 million to organise the competition. </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 annual competition had not been held for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14777', 'image' => '20220403063530_20220108023033_Clipboard60.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 18:34:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15034', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Citrus Fruits to China remains Stalled', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to China.', '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"">April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to China.</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, not a single citrus fruit has been exported to China so far. Due to the negligence of the Chinese government in the implementation of the agreement, citrus fruits could not be exported to China. Concerned authorities said that even though Nepal completed all the procedures to export citrus fruits to China in trial phase last year, Beijing did not show any interest in implementing the agreement on the pretext of growing Covid-19 cases.</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"">Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Govinda Prasad Sharma said that China has not accepted citrus fruits from Nepal even though Nepal has met all the criteria including quarantine, proper management of diseases, and packaging. According to Sharma, Nepal has already registered the producers’ farms and also facilitated coordination between orange producers, traders and Chinese agents for the exports. However, the process did not move forward as the Chinese government did not agree for the export.</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 Sahadev Humagain, head of the Center for Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management, the process of export has not moved forward due to China’s reluctance citing the Covid-19 pandemic. Nepal completed all its preparations last year itself. Humagain said if China had agreed, exports of citrus fruits to China would have already started since last 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"">Earlier, a similar agreement was signed between the two countries in 2012. The agreement at that time had a clause which stated that the fruits grown in disease-free, insect-free orchards. Exporters were expecting the trade to be easy this time as the fruits were required to be free from diseases and insects as mentioned in the agreement two years ago. However, China's tendency to negotiate and neglect implementation is seen to have complicated export procedures.</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"">After the implementation of Sweet Orange Super Zone in Nepal in the fiscal year 2073/74, the number of farmers cultivating oranges has increased. Varieties of citrus fruits are produced mostly in the hill districts of Nepal including Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Doti, Dandeldhura, Baitadi, Okhaldhunga, Lamjung, Dhankuta and Palpa.</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 the National Citrus Development Program, Nepal produces about 177,000 metric tons of oranges, 39,500 metric tons of lemons and 43,000 metric tons of sweet oranges annually. Although citrus fruits are grown in about 56 districts of Nepal, commercial production is limited to 44 districts. Nepal's internal production meets 80 percent of domestic demand. The remaining 20 percent is imported from abroad.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14776', 'image' => '20220403044004_tangarines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 16:39:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15033', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC says Fuel Supply will Ease from Today Afternoon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely necessarily.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely necessarily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The state-owned oil monopoly made such appeal after reaching an understanding with dealers to resume the distribution of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOC assured that the supply of petroleum products will become normal from Sunday afternoon after the two sides reached an understanding on Saturday evening (April 2).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Deputy Spokesperson of NOC Pushkar Kumar Karki said that the petroleum dealers from across the country, including those in the Kathmandu valley, have already started demanding fuel from the NOC. He said that the dealers have started collecting fuel since 8 am today morning (April 3) and the supply of petroleum products is expected to ease from 3 pm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Supply of petroleum products from different depots has already started from early morning. It might take some time to unload the fuel. The distribution of petroleum products will ease after 3 pm,” said Karki. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the NOC, dealers from Kathmandu to Gandaki, Lumbini, Biratnagar and Amlekhgunj have already started collecting fuel from this morning. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kathmandu valley faced shortage of petrol and diesel on Saturday after the petrol dealers caused obstruction in transportation of fuel demanding a hike in commission a few days ago. Fearing shortage of petroleum products, a large number of people were seen in serpentine queue at fuel stations on Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14775', 'image' => '20220403030059_petrol-pump.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 15:00:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15032', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => 'Tourist Activities up in Chitwan National Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases. ', '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"">April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases. The park confirmed that the number of tourists, especially those from within the country, has started increasing after the decline in Covid-19 infection.</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 the park officials, 108,254 tourists have already visited the park in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, which is more than that of the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. The number of tourists visiting the park was 92,209 in the corresponding period of the previous 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"">The park officials informed that a total of 182,435 people had visited the park in the last fiscal year. According to the park's information officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, 5,394 foreign tourists visited the park in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Among the foreign tourists, the number of female tourists is 2,540 and male tourists is 2,854.</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 the park, 4,865 tourists from SAARC countries visited the park in the current fiscal year. Last year, the number of foreign tourists from SAARC countries was 1,364 when 1,244 people from countries other than SAARC nations had visited the park.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14774', 'image' => '20220403024054_Chitwan-sunset-sauraha-nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 14:40:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15031', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Agree to Take Ahead Pancheshwor Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two sides agreed to advance the project after they held the bilateral talks between visiting Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India on Saturday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Even the detailed project report (DPR) has not be prepared despite the passage of two and half decade since the two countries signed the Mahakali Treaty. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indian Prime Minister Modi termed the Pancheshwor project a 'game changer project' and expressed commitment that the long-awaited project would be advanced hereafter. This announcement has given hope that DPR would be prepared now. The two countries were supposed to prepare the DPR within six months after signing the Mahakali Treaty.</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"">However, issues over sharing of water from the Mahakali River between Nepal and India has not been settled yet, according to Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. As per the Mahakali Treaty, both countries have agreed on five percent of water to be released for the livelihood of upper basin.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Indian PM reiterated that the Pancheshwor project stalled since a long time would be expedited. The Pancheshwor project is to be constructed with the joint investment of Nepal and India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The mega hydropower project aims to produce 1,480 MW electricity to benefit both the countries. </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"">Modi further said discussion was held on multi-dimensional relations between India and Nepal during the meeting with PM Deuba-led Nepali delegation. He also shared that both countries were ready to build partnership and cooperation in the energy sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Other issues relating to energy and water resources including India assisting Nepal with the purchase of hydropower produced in Nepal and promotion of clean energy also figured in the high level meeting. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14773', 'image' => '20220403010542_ROS_KTM_PMDEUBA_INDIA_VISIT_MODI_PRESSMEET.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 13:04:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15030', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India sign 4 Agreements during PM Deuba's State Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to India.</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 two countries signed the agreements following a meeting between Prime Minister Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday (April 2).</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 agreements include Nepal's participation in international solar energy alliance, Indian technical support for Nepal's railway service sector, Indian assistance for fuel supply and technical support in the form of exchange of experts between Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation. </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"">According to informed sources, the prime minister said that the two countries also discussed issues related to border disputes and their resolution through bilateral mechanism.</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"">“We discussed the border dispute and I urged Mr Modi to resolve the issue through bilateral mechanism,” the source quoted Deuba as saying.</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"">Meanwhile, prime ministers of both the countries jointly launched the Kurtha-Jaynagar cross-border rail link on the occasion. Similarly, PM Deuba and his Indian counterpart also inaugurated 132-KV Solu Corridor Transmission Line. The transmission line was constructed in Nepal with India's loan assistance of Rs 3.20 billion. </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"">During the meeting Prime Minister Deuba reportedly urged Modi to avail three additional air entry routes to Nepal.</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"">PM Deuba said during a press conference after the signing ceremony that his state visit was fruitful in holding discussion on various aspects of Nepal-India relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deuba also lauded the progress achieved by India under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Praising the effective management carried out by India to control COVID-19 pandemic, PM Deuba extended gratitude towards India for its support to Nepal's battle against COVID-19. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14772', 'image' => '20220403111308_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 11:12:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15029', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => '22 Groups get Climbing Permits for Spring Expedition', 'sub_title' => ' Government collects royalties of Rs 56 million so far ', 'summary' => 'April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their expeditions.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their expeditions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation informed that 22 expedition groups were granted permission as of March 31. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, five groups have received permission for climbing the highest mountain in the world Mt Everest while four have obtained permission to scale Mt Annapurna. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, one group each was given permit for scaling Mt Ama Dablam, Mt Lhotse, Mt Kanchejungha and Mt Dhaulagiri. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Permits were also issued for climbing peaks such as Mt Nuptse and Minglung Peak. Altogether 153 aspiring climbers, including 37 women and 116 men, have received permits to climb various mountains, the department said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fepartment further shared that over Rs 56 million has been collected in royalties from the climbers so far. - RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14771', 'image' => '20220403080643_Spring Expedition (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 08:05:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15028', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Production of Cement and Iron Rods Declines by 50 Percent as Power Cut Hits Industries', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding. ', '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"">April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding. The cement and rod industries say that they are compelled to lower the production in the main season when there is high demand.</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"">Generally, Nepal imports electricity from India in winter. But this time, there is a shortage of electricity in the Indian market itself. Due to the shortage of coal, the production of electricity has declined and prices have skyrocketed in India. At present, the NEA cannot purchase electricity at previous rates, and therefore it has been submitting proposals to buy electricity at an increased rate. Despite this, the supply of electricity to the industries is not enough to meet the demands.</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"">President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Vishnu Agrawal said that the industries are not getting regular supply of electricity. He says that NEA should ensure regular supply of quality electricity regardless of the fluctuation of rate. </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 problem in power supply might discourage both domestic as well as foreign investors. The cost of production has gone up. The government and Nepal Electricity Authority should be responsible to resolve it,” said Agrawal.</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"">Similarly, Tara Prasad Pokhrel, vice-president of Cement Manufacturers' Association of Nepal, said that the industries are facing 12-13 hours of load shedding. Pokhrel said, “On the one hand, there is load shedding and on the other hand, the industry which needs 6 MW of electricity is getting only 3 MW. The industries are on the verge of closure due to non-availability of electricity.” He also said that as the production and sales cycle deteriorates due to non-availability of electricity, bank interest increases and causes liquidity crisis.</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 there has been no regularity in power supply for the last two years. “Production had already started to take place after Covid-19 slump. The issues with energy are arising again when development work has already started to pick up pace,” said Pokhrel. He said that the electricity goes to waste during the rainy season and industries reach the verge of closure due to scarcity of electricity during the winter.</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"">Pokhrel, who is also the managing director of Agni Cement, said that cement producers have reduced production by 50 percent due to lack of electricity. Although the charge of electricity is constant, industrialists are not able to get electricity. Pokhrel suggested that the government to build reservoir-based projects to solve such problems in the long run.</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"">Hari Neupane, chairman of Ambe Group said the power cuts at the rolling mills caused a lot of problems. Stating that industries are not getting regular electricity for some time now, he said that the factories have cut production by 50 percent. “There is no power. Even if we get electricity supply, it is not regular. Cement and rod industries are in a tight spot due to this reason. The demand cannot be reciprocated with the supply.” He said that they are unable to meet the high demand of the market since the production is low.</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 Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) claims that the electricity supply to the industries as per the demand is halted only when it does not get the electricity at the proposed rate. NEA spokesperson Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai said that electricity is not provided only when the bid is rejected. Bhattarai said, “There is no load shedding situation as the industrialists said. We provided electricity regularly on Wednesday as well.”</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 recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine pushed up the prices of industrial raw materials in the international market. As the price of coal went up, there has been a problem in the supply of electricity to Nepal from India. Now the price of cement and rod has also gone up. The association informed that the prices of OPC and PPC cement have gone up by Rs 30 per sack.</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"">As informed by Pokhrel, at present, the price of OPC cement has reached Rs 640 per sack and PPC cement Rs 540 per sack on average. He said that the price of cement has been affected due to the increase in the price of diesel even when the electricity charge was not increased. Meanwhile, the price of iron rods has gone up significantly as well. The price of rods, which was around 70/75 per kg, has now reached Rs 130 per kg.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14770', 'image' => '20220401031400_1635637400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 15:13:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15027', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Concerned about Abrupt Power Disruption', 'sub_title' => 'Urges stakeholders to end the chaotic situation and create conducive environment for running industries', 'summary' => 'April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement on Friday, the umbrella bodies of industrialists including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the irregular supply of electricity has caused serious problems in operating industries in the corridors of Butwal-Bhairahawa, Bara-Parsa, Sunsari-Morang and other industrial areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The statement says that the erratic supply of electricity in addition to low voltage and abrupt power disruption have prevented them from operating industries as per their regular schedule.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The statement further added that the abrupt power cuts have caused damages to machineries worth Rs millions. The industrialists also drew the attention of the government and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) regarding problems in paying the employees and repayment of bank loans when the industries remain closed due to power outage. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The private sector establishment reminded the NEA about its commitment to supply electricity at any cost. It may be noted that the NEA and its leadership have been pledging time and again that it would not disrupt electricity supply but their action is contrary to their promises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists urged the NEA to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity by purchasing power from the Indian market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“If that is not possible, the NEA should make public the schedule of power cuts,” reads the statement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists also expressed their concern regarding the double standard of NEA for requesting the public to increase electricity consumption when the NEA itself is responsible for hours-long power cuts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The joint statement also urged the stakeholders to end such chaotic situation and create a conducive environment of running industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14769', 'image' => '20220401024403_Classification-of-Overhead-Transmission-lines-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 14:43:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15026', 'article_category_id' => '222', 'title' => 'IBN Suggests Merger of Insurance Companies that fail to Increase Paid-up Capital ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the capital. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operators of insurance companies and institutional investors went to the board on Thursday to discuss about the directive issued by the board recently to double the paid-up capital of insurance companies within a year. During the meeting, chairman of the board Surya Silwal requested the insurance companies to submit their plan for capital increase first and then assured to discuss with them if they face any problem. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the insurance companies have been saying that increasing paid-up capital at the moment is not possible. The board had issued a circular to the insurance companies last Thursday directing them to increase the paid-up capital of life insurance companies to Rs 5 billion and non-life insurance companies to Rs 2.5 billion by April 2023. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, the paid-up capital of a life insurance company is Rs 2 billion and that of a non-life insurance company is Rs 1 billion. The board has also directed the companies to submit a plan to increase the paid-up capital within 30 days. However, insurance companies argue that it is impossible to raise the capital in such a short period and that too during the covid-19 pandemic and liquidity crisis. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive director of the board Raju Raman Poudel said that the practical problems can be known and discussed only after the companies come up with a capital increment plan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> "The directors and investors of insurance companies had visited the board on Thursday to inform us that it would be challenging for them to increase their paid-up capital. We told them that we are ready to discuss the issues once they submit their plan," he told New Business Age, "They were also positive regarding this issue." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajendra Malla, president of the Non-Life Insurance Practitioners' Association, said that they are ready to submit a plan to increase their capital. They are also positive on the issue of increasing the capital. But, he said that the time limit is too short. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are positive that the company should be strengthened and capital should be increased. But we are amid economic crisis at present. In such situation, it would have been easier to raise the capital gradually rather than at once," he said, "Therefore, we have asked the board to facilitate it. We hope that the problems will be heard as soon as we submit the capital increment plan." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the board have suggested a merger for those companies that cannot raise the capital. It seems that the board has decided to increase the capital for the purpose of pressuring the insurance companies to merge. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla, who is also the chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said that companies could be ready for the merger as well. "If required, we are ready to merge. But the board should facilitate it," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the discussion, Silwal said that the decision to increase the paid-up capital of insurance companies was taken with the objective of strengthening the insurance companies, reducing administrative costs, increasing the quality of services and increasing public confidence in insurance. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14768', 'image' => '20220401011717_Insurance board.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 13:16:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15025', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Hikes Public Transportation Fares', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum products.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A ministerial-level decision taken by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has approved a hike in transportation fares within the provinces. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Department of Transport Management informed that the government has allowed transport entrepreneurs to increase the fare by 10 to 13 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, only long-route cargo vehicles transporting goods from one province to another have been allowed to hike the transportation fare, the department informed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The ministry is preparing to allow transport entrepreneurs to adjust the price under an automatic mechanism when the price of petroleum products fluctuates by 5 percent. The government had promised automatic pricing mechanism before but the decision has not been implemented.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government had adjusted transportation fares on July 12, 2021. Since then, the price of diesel has increased by 34 percent, informed the department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14767', 'image' => '20220401112815_1648740586.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 11:27:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15024', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry Seeks Suggestions for Upcoming Budget ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The ministry has already launched a toll free number 1138 to collect suggestions and recommendations in this regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the ministry, the public can make suggestions by calling at the toll free number during office hours. Provision has also been made to submit suggestions by clicking on 'Budget Suggestion' on the website of the ministry and also through email. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In order to make the budget and its programmes more effective and workable, the ministry believes that suggestions from industrialists, businessmen, intellectuals, politicians, social workers, professionals, media persons, general public and all stakeholders will be important. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has already collected suggestions for policies and programmes as well as the upcoming budget from sectors like agriculture, education, banks, financial institutions and insurance, private sector, and economists. The ministry is organizing up to two discussions a week and has been collecting suggestions on the budget from experts in various fields and from other stakeholders. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14766', 'image' => '20220401082319_fin.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 08:22:52', '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' => '15037', 'article_category_id' => '228', 'title' => 'Buddha Air to Operate Bhadrapur-Pokhara Flights from Upcoming New Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: Buddha Air is preparing to conduct daily flights between Bhadrapur and Pokhara starting from April 15.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 4: Buddha Air is preparing to conduct daily flights between Bhadrapur and Pokhara starting from April 15.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has already announced the flight schedule and fares along the route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issuing a statement, Buddha Air informed that they are operating commercial flights along this on the occasion of New Year 2079. Buddha Air has fixed an initial fare of Rs 6900 for this route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, the flight is scheduled to depart from Pokhara to Bhadrapur at 1:25 pm and from Bhadrapur to Pokhara at 3 pm. The company claims that this route will not only benefit the residents of both the provinces, but also facilitate the entry of tourists from across the border in Silgadhi, Darjeeling and Sikkim.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tourists from across the border will be able to go directly to Pokhara from Bhadrapur. The company claims that tourists can also visit various tourist and religious destinations around Bhadrapur as well as tea gardens of Ilam and view the mountain range. Buddha Holidays, a sister company of Buddha Air, has brought attractive holiday packages for both of these destinations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Buddha Holidays has revealed a package of 2 nights and 3 days at Rs 15000 for Bhadrapur-Pokhara tour. As informed by the company, the package includes two-way air tickets, transportation facility from Pokhara Airport to hotel and hotel to Pokhara Airport, air-conditioned twin sharing room and breakfast in the morning.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Buddha Air has been connecting Pokhara with direct flights to different parts of the country. The company has already expanded direct flights from Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Nepalgunj, Simara, Dhangadhi and Janakpur to Pokhara. Buddha Air has eleven 72-seat ATR-72 aircraft, three 42-seat ATR-42 aircraft and two Beechcraft aircraft.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14780', 'image' => '20220404123139_Buddha-Air.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 12:31:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Lowers Electricity Rate by Rs 13', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in 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:"Arial","sans-serif"">India has reduced the maximum price of electricity from IRs 20 to IRs 12. On the other hand, the production of electricity has started to increase in Nepal due to the melting of snow. With the onset of monsoon in June / July, Nepal's surplus energy is expected to be wasted.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India (CERI) has recently issued a notification lowering the maximum power purchase rate from IRs 20 per unit to IRs 12 per unit.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">At the same time, the electricity that Nepal buys from the Indian Electricity Exchange Market is expected to be cheaper. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from the Indian market at IRs 20 (NRs 32) per unit recently.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Due to the energy crisis in India, NEA was forced to buy electricity at exorbitant price through bidding in the open market.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">This had forced NEA to sell electricity purchased at IRs 32 to be sold at an average price of NRs 10 per unit.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now, NEA is getting electricity at less than that rate.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of the hydropower projects in Nepal are based on river flow. When the amount of water in the river decreases in winter, the production of the hydropower project automatically decreases. NEA has been importing electricity from India and supplying it to the domestic market during the dry season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, India is not able to generate enough electricity due to the shortage of coal. Due to this reason, electricity is being bought and sold at maximum rate in the Indian market due to low production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In view of its negative impact, particularly on the country’s industrial sector, the Indian government has reduced the maximum rate limit. </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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Indian industries and factories have also been affected by the hike of energy prices. They are also forced to buy electricity at expensive rates.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14779', 'image' => '20220404020923_electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 14:08:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15036', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Issue Common Vision on Energy Development ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has been making efforts since a long time for selling surplus electricity produced during the monsoon in the regional market, it had not been successful. Nepal's goal of exporting electricity has got the green signal after the two countries issued the 'India-Nepal Common Vision' on energy development during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to the southern neighbour. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">By issuing the vision, both the countries have agreed to increase mutual cooperation in the energy sector. With this, Nepal's aspiration of entering the regional power market will turn to reality. The prime ministers of both the countries have described the Common Vision as the biggest achievement so far in the energy sector. It is believed that this will pave the way for exporting surplus electricity to India and Bangladesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Common Vision envisages developing some big projects in Nepal through joint investment of both the countries, constructing inter-country transmission line and providing appropriate access based on market demand, among other things. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, the announcement to include the countries in the BBIN, a sub-regional organisation, in the Common Vision is significant in itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the latest agreement with India, Nepal has been ensured the market for electricity in India and up to Bangladesh. It may be noted that during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India, Indian Prime Minister publicly pledged to purchase electricity from Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal and her Indian counterpart Raj Kumar Singh discussed about the development of energy of Nepal during a sideline meeting. </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"">Nepal exported 39 megawatts of electricity to India from two projects in Nuwakot five months ago. The projects were constructed with Indian grants. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In lack of market, approximately Rs 5 billion worth of electricity was wasted, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14778', 'image' => '20220404114358_Classification-of-Overhead-Transmission-lines-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 11:42:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15035', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => 'Paragliding Competition in Pokhara to Promote Tourism', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19. ', '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"">April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19. The three-day competition will kick off on April 6. </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 competition is being organized by Nepal Airsports Association (NAA) with the support of various organizations related to paragliding. Krishna Bhandari, president of the association, said that the competition is being organized to attract domestic and foreign tourists as well as to promote adventure sports activities. </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 him, in the championship this year will feature competitions in various categories including Accuracy, Overall Landing, Women's Landing, Team Landing, Accuracy Tandem and Air Show Costume. </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"">Male and female athletes will participate in four different events towards the accuracy of paragliding. Bhandari said that the first, second, third and position holders of the Overall Landing event will receive cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. </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"">Similarly, the first, second, third and players in the women’s landing will receive cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. </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, the first three winners of Team Accuracy will receive Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Similarly, in other areas under accuracy tandem, the players finishing first, second, third will receive cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. </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 first place winner as Best Acrobat in the Air Show will get Rs 15,000 cash prize, second will get Rs 10,000 and third place winner will get Rs 5,000 along with medals and certificates. Along with this, prize money of Rs 10,000 will also be given to Best Costumes in the competition. </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 organizers have said that the names can be registered online till April 3 to participate in the competition. Nepalis and foreigners are participating in the competition. According to the organizers, it will cost around Rs 3 million to organise the competition. </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 annual competition had not been held for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14777', 'image' => '20220403063530_20220108023033_Clipboard60.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 18:34:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15034', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Citrus Fruits to China remains Stalled', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to China.', '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"">April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to China.</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, not a single citrus fruit has been exported to China so far. Due to the negligence of the Chinese government in the implementation of the agreement, citrus fruits could not be exported to China. Concerned authorities said that even though Nepal completed all the procedures to export citrus fruits to China in trial phase last year, Beijing did not show any interest in implementing the agreement on the pretext of growing Covid-19 cases.</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"">Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Govinda Prasad Sharma said that China has not accepted citrus fruits from Nepal even though Nepal has met all the criteria including quarantine, proper management of diseases, and packaging. According to Sharma, Nepal has already registered the producers’ farms and also facilitated coordination between orange producers, traders and Chinese agents for the exports. However, the process did not move forward as the Chinese government did not agree for the export.</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 Sahadev Humagain, head of the Center for Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management, the process of export has not moved forward due to China’s reluctance citing the Covid-19 pandemic. Nepal completed all its preparations last year itself. Humagain said if China had agreed, exports of citrus fruits to China would have already started since last 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"">Earlier, a similar agreement was signed between the two countries in 2012. The agreement at that time had a clause which stated that the fruits grown in disease-free, insect-free orchards. Exporters were expecting the trade to be easy this time as the fruits were required to be free from diseases and insects as mentioned in the agreement two years ago. However, China's tendency to negotiate and neglect implementation is seen to have complicated export procedures.</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"">After the implementation of Sweet Orange Super Zone in Nepal in the fiscal year 2073/74, the number of farmers cultivating oranges has increased. Varieties of citrus fruits are produced mostly in the hill districts of Nepal including Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Doti, Dandeldhura, Baitadi, Okhaldhunga, Lamjung, Dhankuta and Palpa.</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 the National Citrus Development Program, Nepal produces about 177,000 metric tons of oranges, 39,500 metric tons of lemons and 43,000 metric tons of sweet oranges annually. Although citrus fruits are grown in about 56 districts of Nepal, commercial production is limited to 44 districts. Nepal's internal production meets 80 percent of domestic demand. The remaining 20 percent is imported from abroad.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14776', 'image' => '20220403044004_tangarines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 16:39:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15033', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC says Fuel Supply will Ease from Today Afternoon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely necessarily.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely necessarily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The state-owned oil monopoly made such appeal after reaching an understanding with dealers to resume the distribution of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOC assured that the supply of petroleum products will become normal from Sunday afternoon after the two sides reached an understanding on Saturday evening (April 2).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Deputy Spokesperson of NOC Pushkar Kumar Karki said that the petroleum dealers from across the country, including those in the Kathmandu valley, have already started demanding fuel from the NOC. He said that the dealers have started collecting fuel since 8 am today morning (April 3) and the supply of petroleum products is expected to ease from 3 pm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Supply of petroleum products from different depots has already started from early morning. It might take some time to unload the fuel. The distribution of petroleum products will ease after 3 pm,” said Karki. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the NOC, dealers from Kathmandu to Gandaki, Lumbini, Biratnagar and Amlekhgunj have already started collecting fuel from this morning. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kathmandu valley faced shortage of petrol and diesel on Saturday after the petrol dealers caused obstruction in transportation of fuel demanding a hike in commission a few days ago. Fearing shortage of petroleum products, a large number of people were seen in serpentine queue at fuel stations on Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14775', 'image' => '20220403030059_petrol-pump.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 15:00:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15032', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => 'Tourist Activities up in Chitwan National Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases. ', '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"">April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases. The park confirmed that the number of tourists, especially those from within the country, has started increasing after the decline in Covid-19 infection.</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 the park officials, 108,254 tourists have already visited the park in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, which is more than that of the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. The number of tourists visiting the park was 92,209 in the corresponding period of the previous 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"">The park officials informed that a total of 182,435 people had visited the park in the last fiscal year. According to the park's information officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, 5,394 foreign tourists visited the park in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Among the foreign tourists, the number of female tourists is 2,540 and male tourists is 2,854.</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 the park, 4,865 tourists from SAARC countries visited the park in the current fiscal year. Last year, the number of foreign tourists from SAARC countries was 1,364 when 1,244 people from countries other than SAARC nations had visited the park.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14774', 'image' => '20220403024054_Chitwan-sunset-sauraha-nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 14:40:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15031', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Agree to Take Ahead Pancheshwor Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two sides agreed to advance the project after they held the bilateral talks between visiting Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India on Saturday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Even the detailed project report (DPR) has not be prepared despite the passage of two and half decade since the two countries signed the Mahakali Treaty. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indian Prime Minister Modi termed the Pancheshwor project a 'game changer project' and expressed commitment that the long-awaited project would be advanced hereafter. This announcement has given hope that DPR would be prepared now. The two countries were supposed to prepare the DPR within six months after signing the Mahakali Treaty.</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"">However, issues over sharing of water from the Mahakali River between Nepal and India has not been settled yet, according to Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. As per the Mahakali Treaty, both countries have agreed on five percent of water to be released for the livelihood of upper basin.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Indian PM reiterated that the Pancheshwor project stalled since a long time would be expedited. The Pancheshwor project is to be constructed with the joint investment of Nepal and India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The mega hydropower project aims to produce 1,480 MW electricity to benefit both the countries. </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"">Modi further said discussion was held on multi-dimensional relations between India and Nepal during the meeting with PM Deuba-led Nepali delegation. He also shared that both countries were ready to build partnership and cooperation in the energy sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Other issues relating to energy and water resources including India assisting Nepal with the purchase of hydropower produced in Nepal and promotion of clean energy also figured in the high level meeting. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14773', 'image' => '20220403010542_ROS_KTM_PMDEUBA_INDIA_VISIT_MODI_PRESSMEET.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 13:04:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15030', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India sign 4 Agreements during PM Deuba's State Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to India.</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 two countries signed the agreements following a meeting between Prime Minister Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday (April 2).</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 agreements include Nepal's participation in international solar energy alliance, Indian technical support for Nepal's railway service sector, Indian assistance for fuel supply and technical support in the form of exchange of experts between Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation. </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"">According to informed sources, the prime minister said that the two countries also discussed issues related to border disputes and their resolution through bilateral mechanism.</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"">“We discussed the border dispute and I urged Mr Modi to resolve the issue through bilateral mechanism,” the source quoted Deuba as saying.</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"">Meanwhile, prime ministers of both the countries jointly launched the Kurtha-Jaynagar cross-border rail link on the occasion. Similarly, PM Deuba and his Indian counterpart also inaugurated 132-KV Solu Corridor Transmission Line. The transmission line was constructed in Nepal with India's loan assistance of Rs 3.20 billion. </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"">During the meeting Prime Minister Deuba reportedly urged Modi to avail three additional air entry routes to Nepal.</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"">PM Deuba said during a press conference after the signing ceremony that his state visit was fruitful in holding discussion on various aspects of Nepal-India relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deuba also lauded the progress achieved by India under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Praising the effective management carried out by India to control COVID-19 pandemic, PM Deuba extended gratitude towards India for its support to Nepal's battle against COVID-19. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14772', 'image' => '20220403111308_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 11:12:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15029', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => '22 Groups get Climbing Permits for Spring Expedition', 'sub_title' => ' Government collects royalties of Rs 56 million so far ', 'summary' => 'April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their expeditions.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their expeditions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation informed that 22 expedition groups were granted permission as of March 31. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, five groups have received permission for climbing the highest mountain in the world Mt Everest while four have obtained permission to scale Mt Annapurna. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, one group each was given permit for scaling Mt Ama Dablam, Mt Lhotse, Mt Kanchejungha and Mt Dhaulagiri. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Permits were also issued for climbing peaks such as Mt Nuptse and Minglung Peak. Altogether 153 aspiring climbers, including 37 women and 116 men, have received permits to climb various mountains, the department said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fepartment further shared that over Rs 56 million has been collected in royalties from the climbers so far. - RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14771', 'image' => '20220403080643_Spring Expedition (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 08:05:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15028', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Production of Cement and Iron Rods Declines by 50 Percent as Power Cut Hits Industries', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding. ', '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"">April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding. The cement and rod industries say that they are compelled to lower the production in the main season when there is high demand.</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"">Generally, Nepal imports electricity from India in winter. But this time, there is a shortage of electricity in the Indian market itself. Due to the shortage of coal, the production of electricity has declined and prices have skyrocketed in India. At present, the NEA cannot purchase electricity at previous rates, and therefore it has been submitting proposals to buy electricity at an increased rate. Despite this, the supply of electricity to the industries is not enough to meet the demands.</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"">President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Vishnu Agrawal said that the industries are not getting regular supply of electricity. He says that NEA should ensure regular supply of quality electricity regardless of the fluctuation of rate. </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 problem in power supply might discourage both domestic as well as foreign investors. The cost of production has gone up. The government and Nepal Electricity Authority should be responsible to resolve it,” said Agrawal.</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"">Similarly, Tara Prasad Pokhrel, vice-president of Cement Manufacturers' Association of Nepal, said that the industries are facing 12-13 hours of load shedding. Pokhrel said, “On the one hand, there is load shedding and on the other hand, the industry which needs 6 MW of electricity is getting only 3 MW. The industries are on the verge of closure due to non-availability of electricity.” He also said that as the production and sales cycle deteriorates due to non-availability of electricity, bank interest increases and causes liquidity crisis.</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 there has been no regularity in power supply for the last two years. “Production had already started to take place after Covid-19 slump. The issues with energy are arising again when development work has already started to pick up pace,” said Pokhrel. He said that the electricity goes to waste during the rainy season and industries reach the verge of closure due to scarcity of electricity during the winter.</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"">Pokhrel, who is also the managing director of Agni Cement, said that cement producers have reduced production by 50 percent due to lack of electricity. Although the charge of electricity is constant, industrialists are not able to get electricity. Pokhrel suggested that the government to build reservoir-based projects to solve such problems in the long run.</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"">Hari Neupane, chairman of Ambe Group said the power cuts at the rolling mills caused a lot of problems. Stating that industries are not getting regular electricity for some time now, he said that the factories have cut production by 50 percent. “There is no power. Even if we get electricity supply, it is not regular. Cement and rod industries are in a tight spot due to this reason. The demand cannot be reciprocated with the supply.” He said that they are unable to meet the high demand of the market since the production is low.</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 Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) claims that the electricity supply to the industries as per the demand is halted only when it does not get the electricity at the proposed rate. NEA spokesperson Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai said that electricity is not provided only when the bid is rejected. Bhattarai said, “There is no load shedding situation as the industrialists said. We provided electricity regularly on Wednesday as well.”</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 recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine pushed up the prices of industrial raw materials in the international market. As the price of coal went up, there has been a problem in the supply of electricity to Nepal from India. Now the price of cement and rod has also gone up. The association informed that the prices of OPC and PPC cement have gone up by Rs 30 per sack.</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"">As informed by Pokhrel, at present, the price of OPC cement has reached Rs 640 per sack and PPC cement Rs 540 per sack on average. He said that the price of cement has been affected due to the increase in the price of diesel even when the electricity charge was not increased. Meanwhile, the price of iron rods has gone up significantly as well. The price of rods, which was around 70/75 per kg, has now reached Rs 130 per kg.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14770', 'image' => '20220401031400_1635637400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 15:13:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15027', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Concerned about Abrupt Power Disruption', 'sub_title' => 'Urges stakeholders to end the chaotic situation and create conducive environment for running industries', 'summary' => 'April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement on Friday, the umbrella bodies of industrialists including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the irregular supply of electricity has caused serious problems in operating industries in the corridors of Butwal-Bhairahawa, Bara-Parsa, Sunsari-Morang and other industrial areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The statement says that the erratic supply of electricity in addition to low voltage and abrupt power disruption have prevented them from operating industries as per their regular schedule.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The statement further added that the abrupt power cuts have caused damages to machineries worth Rs millions. The industrialists also drew the attention of the government and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) regarding problems in paying the employees and repayment of bank loans when the industries remain closed due to power outage. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The private sector establishment reminded the NEA about its commitment to supply electricity at any cost. It may be noted that the NEA and its leadership have been pledging time and again that it would not disrupt electricity supply but their action is contrary to their promises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists urged the NEA to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity by purchasing power from the Indian market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“If that is not possible, the NEA should make public the schedule of power cuts,” reads the statement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists also expressed their concern regarding the double standard of NEA for requesting the public to increase electricity consumption when the NEA itself is responsible for hours-long power cuts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The joint statement also urged the stakeholders to end such chaotic situation and create a conducive environment of running industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14769', 'image' => '20220401024403_Classification-of-Overhead-Transmission-lines-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 14:43:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15026', 'article_category_id' => '222', 'title' => 'IBN Suggests Merger of Insurance Companies that fail to Increase Paid-up Capital ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the capital. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operators of insurance companies and institutional investors went to the board on Thursday to discuss about the directive issued by the board recently to double the paid-up capital of insurance companies within a year. During the meeting, chairman of the board Surya Silwal requested the insurance companies to submit their plan for capital increase first and then assured to discuss with them if they face any problem. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the insurance companies have been saying that increasing paid-up capital at the moment is not possible. The board had issued a circular to the insurance companies last Thursday directing them to increase the paid-up capital of life insurance companies to Rs 5 billion and non-life insurance companies to Rs 2.5 billion by April 2023. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, the paid-up capital of a life insurance company is Rs 2 billion and that of a non-life insurance company is Rs 1 billion. The board has also directed the companies to submit a plan to increase the paid-up capital within 30 days. However, insurance companies argue that it is impossible to raise the capital in such a short period and that too during the covid-19 pandemic and liquidity crisis. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive director of the board Raju Raman Poudel said that the practical problems can be known and discussed only after the companies come up with a capital increment plan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> "The directors and investors of insurance companies had visited the board on Thursday to inform us that it would be challenging for them to increase their paid-up capital. We told them that we are ready to discuss the issues once they submit their plan," he told New Business Age, "They were also positive regarding this issue." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajendra Malla, president of the Non-Life Insurance Practitioners' Association, said that they are ready to submit a plan to increase their capital. They are also positive on the issue of increasing the capital. But, he said that the time limit is too short. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are positive that the company should be strengthened and capital should be increased. But we are amid economic crisis at present. In such situation, it would have been easier to raise the capital gradually rather than at once," he said, "Therefore, we have asked the board to facilitate it. We hope that the problems will be heard as soon as we submit the capital increment plan." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the board have suggested a merger for those companies that cannot raise the capital. It seems that the board has decided to increase the capital for the purpose of pressuring the insurance companies to merge. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla, who is also the chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said that companies could be ready for the merger as well. "If required, we are ready to merge. But the board should facilitate it," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the discussion, Silwal said that the decision to increase the paid-up capital of insurance companies was taken with the objective of strengthening the insurance companies, reducing administrative costs, increasing the quality of services and increasing public confidence in insurance. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14768', 'image' => '20220401011717_Insurance board.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 13:16:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15025', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Hikes Public Transportation Fares', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum products.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A ministerial-level decision taken by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has approved a hike in transportation fares within the provinces. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Department of Transport Management informed that the government has allowed transport entrepreneurs to increase the fare by 10 to 13 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, only long-route cargo vehicles transporting goods from one province to another have been allowed to hike the transportation fare, the department informed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The ministry is preparing to allow transport entrepreneurs to adjust the price under an automatic mechanism when the price of petroleum products fluctuates by 5 percent. The government had promised automatic pricing mechanism before but the decision has not been implemented.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government had adjusted transportation fares on July 12, 2021. Since then, the price of diesel has increased by 34 percent, informed the department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14767', 'image' => '20220401112815_1648740586.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 11:27:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15024', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry Seeks Suggestions for Upcoming Budget ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The ministry has already launched a toll free number 1138 to collect suggestions and recommendations in this regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the ministry, the public can make suggestions by calling at the toll free number during office hours. Provision has also been made to submit suggestions by clicking on 'Budget Suggestion' on the website of the ministry and also through email. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In order to make the budget and its programmes more effective and workable, the ministry believes that suggestions from industrialists, businessmen, intellectuals, politicians, social workers, professionals, media persons, general public and all stakeholders will be important. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has already collected suggestions for policies and programmes as well as the upcoming budget from sectors like agriculture, education, banks, financial institutions and insurance, private sector, and economists. The ministry is organizing up to two discussions a week and has been collecting suggestions on the budget from experts in various fields and from other stakeholders. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14766', 'image' => '20220401082319_fin.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 08:22:52', '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' => '15037', 'article_category_id' => '228', 'title' => 'Buddha Air to Operate Bhadrapur-Pokhara Flights from Upcoming New Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: Buddha Air is preparing to conduct daily flights between Bhadrapur and Pokhara starting from April 15.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 4: Buddha Air is preparing to conduct daily flights between Bhadrapur and Pokhara starting from April 15.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The company has already announced the flight schedule and fares along the route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issuing a statement, Buddha Air informed that they are operating commercial flights along this on the occasion of New Year 2079. Buddha Air has fixed an initial fare of Rs 6900 for this route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, the flight is scheduled to depart from Pokhara to Bhadrapur at 1:25 pm and from Bhadrapur to Pokhara at 3 pm. The company claims that this route will not only benefit the residents of both the provinces, but also facilitate the entry of tourists from across the border in Silgadhi, Darjeeling and Sikkim.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tourists from across the border will be able to go directly to Pokhara from Bhadrapur. The company claims that tourists can also visit various tourist and religious destinations around Bhadrapur as well as tea gardens of Ilam and view the mountain range. Buddha Holidays, a sister company of Buddha Air, has brought attractive holiday packages for both of these destinations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Buddha Holidays has revealed a package of 2 nights and 3 days at Rs 15000 for Bhadrapur-Pokhara tour. As informed by the company, the package includes two-way air tickets, transportation facility from Pokhara Airport to hotel and hotel to Pokhara Airport, air-conditioned twin sharing room and breakfast in the morning.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Buddha Air has been connecting Pokhara with direct flights to different parts of the country. The company has already expanded direct flights from Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Nepalgunj, Simara, Dhangadhi and Janakpur to Pokhara. Buddha Air has eleven 72-seat ATR-72 aircraft, three 42-seat ATR-42 aircraft and two Beechcraft aircraft.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14780', 'image' => '20220404123139_Buddha-Air.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 12:31:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Lowers Electricity Rate by Rs 13', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in 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:"Arial","sans-serif"">India has reduced the maximum price of electricity from IRs 20 to IRs 12. On the other hand, the production of electricity has started to increase in Nepal due to the melting of snow. With the onset of monsoon in June / July, Nepal's surplus energy is expected to be wasted.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India (CERI) has recently issued a notification lowering the maximum power purchase rate from IRs 20 per unit to IRs 12 per unit.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">At the same time, the electricity that Nepal buys from the Indian Electricity Exchange Market is expected to be cheaper. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from the Indian market at IRs 20 (NRs 32) per unit recently.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Due to the energy crisis in India, NEA was forced to buy electricity at exorbitant price through bidding in the open market.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">This had forced NEA to sell electricity purchased at IRs 32 to be sold at an average price of NRs 10 per unit.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now, NEA is getting electricity at less than that rate.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of the hydropower projects in Nepal are based on river flow. When the amount of water in the river decreases in winter, the production of the hydropower project automatically decreases. NEA has been importing electricity from India and supplying it to the domestic market during the dry season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, India is not able to generate enough electricity due to the shortage of coal. Due to this reason, electricity is being bought and sold at maximum rate in the Indian market due to low production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In view of its negative impact, particularly on the country’s industrial sector, the Indian government has reduced the maximum rate limit. </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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Indian industries and factories have also been affected by the hike of energy prices. They are also forced to buy electricity at expensive rates.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14779', 'image' => '20220404020923_electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 14:08:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15036', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Issue Common Vision on Energy Development ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has been making efforts since a long time for selling surplus electricity produced during the monsoon in the regional market, it had not been successful. Nepal's goal of exporting electricity has got the green signal after the two countries issued the 'India-Nepal Common Vision' on energy development during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to the southern neighbour. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">By issuing the vision, both the countries have agreed to increase mutual cooperation in the energy sector. With this, Nepal's aspiration of entering the regional power market will turn to reality. The prime ministers of both the countries have described the Common Vision as the biggest achievement so far in the energy sector. It is believed that this will pave the way for exporting surplus electricity to India and Bangladesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Common Vision envisages developing some big projects in Nepal through joint investment of both the countries, constructing inter-country transmission line and providing appropriate access based on market demand, among other things. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, the announcement to include the countries in the BBIN, a sub-regional organisation, in the Common Vision is significant in itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the latest agreement with India, Nepal has been ensured the market for electricity in India and up to Bangladesh. It may be noted that during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India, Indian Prime Minister publicly pledged to purchase electricity from Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal and her Indian counterpart Raj Kumar Singh discussed about the development of energy of Nepal during a sideline meeting. </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"">Nepal exported 39 megawatts of electricity to India from two projects in Nuwakot five months ago. The projects were constructed with Indian grants. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In lack of market, approximately Rs 5 billion worth of electricity was wasted, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14778', 'image' => '20220404114358_Classification-of-Overhead-Transmission-lines-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 11:42:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15035', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => 'Paragliding Competition in Pokhara to Promote Tourism', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19. ', '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"">April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19. The three-day competition will kick off on April 6. </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 competition is being organized by Nepal Airsports Association (NAA) with the support of various organizations related to paragliding. Krishna Bhandari, president of the association, said that the competition is being organized to attract domestic and foreign tourists as well as to promote adventure sports activities. </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 him, in the championship this year will feature competitions in various categories including Accuracy, Overall Landing, Women's Landing, Team Landing, Accuracy Tandem and Air Show Costume. </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"">Male and female athletes will participate in four different events towards the accuracy of paragliding. Bhandari said that the first, second, third and position holders of the Overall Landing event will receive cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. </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"">Similarly, the first, second, third and players in the women’s landing will receive cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. </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, the first three winners of Team Accuracy will receive Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Similarly, in other areas under accuracy tandem, the players finishing first, second, third will receive cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. </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 first place winner as Best Acrobat in the Air Show will get Rs 15,000 cash prize, second will get Rs 10,000 and third place winner will get Rs 5,000 along with medals and certificates. Along with this, prize money of Rs 10,000 will also be given to Best Costumes in the competition. </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 organizers have said that the names can be registered online till April 3 to participate in the competition. Nepalis and foreigners are participating in the competition. According to the organizers, it will cost around Rs 3 million to organise the competition. </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 annual competition had not been held for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14777', 'image' => '20220403063530_20220108023033_Clipboard60.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 18:34:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15034', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Citrus Fruits to China remains Stalled', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to China.', '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"">April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to China.</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, not a single citrus fruit has been exported to China so far. Due to the negligence of the Chinese government in the implementation of the agreement, citrus fruits could not be exported to China. Concerned authorities said that even though Nepal completed all the procedures to export citrus fruits to China in trial phase last year, Beijing did not show any interest in implementing the agreement on the pretext of growing Covid-19 cases.</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"">Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Govinda Prasad Sharma said that China has not accepted citrus fruits from Nepal even though Nepal has met all the criteria including quarantine, proper management of diseases, and packaging. According to Sharma, Nepal has already registered the producers’ farms and also facilitated coordination between orange producers, traders and Chinese agents for the exports. However, the process did not move forward as the Chinese government did not agree for the export.</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 Sahadev Humagain, head of the Center for Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management, the process of export has not moved forward due to China’s reluctance citing the Covid-19 pandemic. Nepal completed all its preparations last year itself. Humagain said if China had agreed, exports of citrus fruits to China would have already started since last 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"">Earlier, a similar agreement was signed between the two countries in 2012. The agreement at that time had a clause which stated that the fruits grown in disease-free, insect-free orchards. Exporters were expecting the trade to be easy this time as the fruits were required to be free from diseases and insects as mentioned in the agreement two years ago. However, China's tendency to negotiate and neglect implementation is seen to have complicated export procedures.</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"">After the implementation of Sweet Orange Super Zone in Nepal in the fiscal year 2073/74, the number of farmers cultivating oranges has increased. Varieties of citrus fruits are produced mostly in the hill districts of Nepal including Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Doti, Dandeldhura, Baitadi, Okhaldhunga, Lamjung, Dhankuta and Palpa.</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 the National Citrus Development Program, Nepal produces about 177,000 metric tons of oranges, 39,500 metric tons of lemons and 43,000 metric tons of sweet oranges annually. Although citrus fruits are grown in about 56 districts of Nepal, commercial production is limited to 44 districts. Nepal's internal production meets 80 percent of domestic demand. The remaining 20 percent is imported from abroad.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14776', 'image' => '20220403044004_tangarines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 16:39:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15033', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC says Fuel Supply will Ease from Today Afternoon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely necessarily.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely necessarily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The state-owned oil monopoly made such appeal after reaching an understanding with dealers to resume the distribution of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOC assured that the supply of petroleum products will become normal from Sunday afternoon after the two sides reached an understanding on Saturday evening (April 2).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Deputy Spokesperson of NOC Pushkar Kumar Karki said that the petroleum dealers from across the country, including those in the Kathmandu valley, have already started demanding fuel from the NOC. He said that the dealers have started collecting fuel since 8 am today morning (April 3) and the supply of petroleum products is expected to ease from 3 pm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Supply of petroleum products from different depots has already started from early morning. It might take some time to unload the fuel. The distribution of petroleum products will ease after 3 pm,” said Karki. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the NOC, dealers from Kathmandu to Gandaki, Lumbini, Biratnagar and Amlekhgunj have already started collecting fuel from this morning. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kathmandu valley faced shortage of petrol and diesel on Saturday after the petrol dealers caused obstruction in transportation of fuel demanding a hike in commission a few days ago. Fearing shortage of petroleum products, a large number of people were seen in serpentine queue at fuel stations on Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14775', 'image' => '20220403030059_petrol-pump.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 15:00:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15032', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => 'Tourist Activities up in Chitwan National Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases. ', '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"">April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases. The park confirmed that the number of tourists, especially those from within the country, has started increasing after the decline in Covid-19 infection.</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 the park officials, 108,254 tourists have already visited the park in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, which is more than that of the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. The number of tourists visiting the park was 92,209 in the corresponding period of the previous 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"">The park officials informed that a total of 182,435 people had visited the park in the last fiscal year. According to the park's information officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, 5,394 foreign tourists visited the park in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Among the foreign tourists, the number of female tourists is 2,540 and male tourists is 2,854.</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 the park, 4,865 tourists from SAARC countries visited the park in the current fiscal year. Last year, the number of foreign tourists from SAARC countries was 1,364 when 1,244 people from countries other than SAARC nations had visited the park.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14774', 'image' => '20220403024054_Chitwan-sunset-sauraha-nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 14:40:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15031', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Agree to Take Ahead Pancheshwor Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two sides agreed to advance the project after they held the bilateral talks between visiting Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India on Saturday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Even the detailed project report (DPR) has not be prepared despite the passage of two and half decade since the two countries signed the Mahakali Treaty. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indian Prime Minister Modi termed the Pancheshwor project a 'game changer project' and expressed commitment that the long-awaited project would be advanced hereafter. This announcement has given hope that DPR would be prepared now. The two countries were supposed to prepare the DPR within six months after signing the Mahakali Treaty.</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"">However, issues over sharing of water from the Mahakali River between Nepal and India has not been settled yet, according to Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. As per the Mahakali Treaty, both countries have agreed on five percent of water to be released for the livelihood of upper basin.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Indian PM reiterated that the Pancheshwor project stalled since a long time would be expedited. The Pancheshwor project is to be constructed with the joint investment of Nepal and India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The mega hydropower project aims to produce 1,480 MW electricity to benefit both the countries. </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"">Modi further said discussion was held on multi-dimensional relations between India and Nepal during the meeting with PM Deuba-led Nepali delegation. He also shared that both countries were ready to build partnership and cooperation in the energy sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Other issues relating to energy and water resources including India assisting Nepal with the purchase of hydropower produced in Nepal and promotion of clean energy also figured in the high level meeting. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14773', 'image' => '20220403010542_ROS_KTM_PMDEUBA_INDIA_VISIT_MODI_PRESSMEET.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 13:04:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15030', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India sign 4 Agreements during PM Deuba's State Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to India.</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 two countries signed the agreements following a meeting between Prime Minister Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday (April 2).</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 agreements include Nepal's participation in international solar energy alliance, Indian technical support for Nepal's railway service sector, Indian assistance for fuel supply and technical support in the form of exchange of experts between Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation. </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"">According to informed sources, the prime minister said that the two countries also discussed issues related to border disputes and their resolution through bilateral mechanism.</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"">“We discussed the border dispute and I urged Mr Modi to resolve the issue through bilateral mechanism,” the source quoted Deuba as saying.</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"">Meanwhile, prime ministers of both the countries jointly launched the Kurtha-Jaynagar cross-border rail link on the occasion. Similarly, PM Deuba and his Indian counterpart also inaugurated 132-KV Solu Corridor Transmission Line. The transmission line was constructed in Nepal with India's loan assistance of Rs 3.20 billion. </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"">During the meeting Prime Minister Deuba reportedly urged Modi to avail three additional air entry routes to Nepal.</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"">PM Deuba said during a press conference after the signing ceremony that his state visit was fruitful in holding discussion on various aspects of Nepal-India relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deuba also lauded the progress achieved by India under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Praising the effective management carried out by India to control COVID-19 pandemic, PM Deuba extended gratitude towards India for its support to Nepal's battle against COVID-19. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14772', 'image' => '20220403111308_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 11:12:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15029', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => '22 Groups get Climbing Permits for Spring Expedition', 'sub_title' => ' Government collects royalties of Rs 56 million so far ', 'summary' => 'April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their expeditions.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their expeditions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation informed that 22 expedition groups were granted permission as of March 31. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, five groups have received permission for climbing the highest mountain in the world Mt Everest while four have obtained permission to scale Mt Annapurna. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, one group each was given permit for scaling Mt Ama Dablam, Mt Lhotse, Mt Kanchejungha and Mt Dhaulagiri. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Permits were also issued for climbing peaks such as Mt Nuptse and Minglung Peak. Altogether 153 aspiring climbers, including 37 women and 116 men, have received permits to climb various mountains, the department said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fepartment further shared that over Rs 56 million has been collected in royalties from the climbers so far. - RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14771', 'image' => '20220403080643_Spring Expedition (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 08:05:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15028', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Production of Cement and Iron Rods Declines by 50 Percent as Power Cut Hits Industries', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding. ', '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"">April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding. The cement and rod industries say that they are compelled to lower the production in the main season when there is high demand.</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"">Generally, Nepal imports electricity from India in winter. But this time, there is a shortage of electricity in the Indian market itself. Due to the shortage of coal, the production of electricity has declined and prices have skyrocketed in India. At present, the NEA cannot purchase electricity at previous rates, and therefore it has been submitting proposals to buy electricity at an increased rate. Despite this, the supply of electricity to the industries is not enough to meet the demands.</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"">President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Vishnu Agrawal said that the industries are not getting regular supply of electricity. He says that NEA should ensure regular supply of quality electricity regardless of the fluctuation of rate. </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 problem in power supply might discourage both domestic as well as foreign investors. The cost of production has gone up. The government and Nepal Electricity Authority should be responsible to resolve it,” said Agrawal.</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"">Similarly, Tara Prasad Pokhrel, vice-president of Cement Manufacturers' Association of Nepal, said that the industries are facing 12-13 hours of load shedding. Pokhrel said, “On the one hand, there is load shedding and on the other hand, the industry which needs 6 MW of electricity is getting only 3 MW. The industries are on the verge of closure due to non-availability of electricity.” He also said that as the production and sales cycle deteriorates due to non-availability of electricity, bank interest increases and causes liquidity crisis.</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 there has been no regularity in power supply for the last two years. “Production had already started to take place after Covid-19 slump. The issues with energy are arising again when development work has already started to pick up pace,” said Pokhrel. He said that the electricity goes to waste during the rainy season and industries reach the verge of closure due to scarcity of electricity during the winter.</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"">Pokhrel, who is also the managing director of Agni Cement, said that cement producers have reduced production by 50 percent due to lack of electricity. Although the charge of electricity is constant, industrialists are not able to get electricity. Pokhrel suggested that the government to build reservoir-based projects to solve such problems in the long run.</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"">Hari Neupane, chairman of Ambe Group said the power cuts at the rolling mills caused a lot of problems. Stating that industries are not getting regular electricity for some time now, he said that the factories have cut production by 50 percent. “There is no power. Even if we get electricity supply, it is not regular. Cement and rod industries are in a tight spot due to this reason. The demand cannot be reciprocated with the supply.” He said that they are unable to meet the high demand of the market since the production is low.</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 Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) claims that the electricity supply to the industries as per the demand is halted only when it does not get the electricity at the proposed rate. NEA spokesperson Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai said that electricity is not provided only when the bid is rejected. Bhattarai said, “There is no load shedding situation as the industrialists said. We provided electricity regularly on Wednesday as well.”</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 recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine pushed up the prices of industrial raw materials in the international market. As the price of coal went up, there has been a problem in the supply of electricity to Nepal from India. Now the price of cement and rod has also gone up. The association informed that the prices of OPC and PPC cement have gone up by Rs 30 per sack.</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"">As informed by Pokhrel, at present, the price of OPC cement has reached Rs 640 per sack and PPC cement Rs 540 per sack on average. He said that the price of cement has been affected due to the increase in the price of diesel even when the electricity charge was not increased. Meanwhile, the price of iron rods has gone up significantly as well. The price of rods, which was around 70/75 per kg, has now reached Rs 130 per kg.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14770', 'image' => '20220401031400_1635637400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 15:13:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15027', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Concerned about Abrupt Power Disruption', 'sub_title' => 'Urges stakeholders to end the chaotic situation and create conducive environment for running industries', 'summary' => 'April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement on Friday, the umbrella bodies of industrialists including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the irregular supply of electricity has caused serious problems in operating industries in the corridors of Butwal-Bhairahawa, Bara-Parsa, Sunsari-Morang and other industrial areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The statement says that the erratic supply of electricity in addition to low voltage and abrupt power disruption have prevented them from operating industries as per their regular schedule.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The statement further added that the abrupt power cuts have caused damages to machineries worth Rs millions. The industrialists also drew the attention of the government and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) regarding problems in paying the employees and repayment of bank loans when the industries remain closed due to power outage. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The private sector establishment reminded the NEA about its commitment to supply electricity at any cost. It may be noted that the NEA and its leadership have been pledging time and again that it would not disrupt electricity supply but their action is contrary to their promises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists urged the NEA to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity by purchasing power from the Indian market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“If that is not possible, the NEA should make public the schedule of power cuts,” reads the statement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists also expressed their concern regarding the double standard of NEA for requesting the public to increase electricity consumption when the NEA itself is responsible for hours-long power cuts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The joint statement also urged the stakeholders to end such chaotic situation and create a conducive environment of running industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14769', 'image' => '20220401024403_Classification-of-Overhead-Transmission-lines-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 14:43:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15026', 'article_category_id' => '222', 'title' => 'IBN Suggests Merger of Insurance Companies that fail to Increase Paid-up Capital ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the capital. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operators of insurance companies and institutional investors went to the board on Thursday to discuss about the directive issued by the board recently to double the paid-up capital of insurance companies within a year. During the meeting, chairman of the board Surya Silwal requested the insurance companies to submit their plan for capital increase first and then assured to discuss with them if they face any problem. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the insurance companies have been saying that increasing paid-up capital at the moment is not possible. The board had issued a circular to the insurance companies last Thursday directing them to increase the paid-up capital of life insurance companies to Rs 5 billion and non-life insurance companies to Rs 2.5 billion by April 2023. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, the paid-up capital of a life insurance company is Rs 2 billion and that of a non-life insurance company is Rs 1 billion. The board has also directed the companies to submit a plan to increase the paid-up capital within 30 days. However, insurance companies argue that it is impossible to raise the capital in such a short period and that too during the covid-19 pandemic and liquidity crisis. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive director of the board Raju Raman Poudel said that the practical problems can be known and discussed only after the companies come up with a capital increment plan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> "The directors and investors of insurance companies had visited the board on Thursday to inform us that it would be challenging for them to increase their paid-up capital. We told them that we are ready to discuss the issues once they submit their plan," he told New Business Age, "They were also positive regarding this issue." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajendra Malla, president of the Non-Life Insurance Practitioners' Association, said that they are ready to submit a plan to increase their capital. They are also positive on the issue of increasing the capital. But, he said that the time limit is too short. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are positive that the company should be strengthened and capital should be increased. But we are amid economic crisis at present. In such situation, it would have been easier to raise the capital gradually rather than at once," he said, "Therefore, we have asked the board to facilitate it. We hope that the problems will be heard as soon as we submit the capital increment plan." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the board have suggested a merger for those companies that cannot raise the capital. It seems that the board has decided to increase the capital for the purpose of pressuring the insurance companies to merge. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla, who is also the chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said that companies could be ready for the merger as well. "If required, we are ready to merge. But the board should facilitate it," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the discussion, Silwal said that the decision to increase the paid-up capital of insurance companies was taken with the objective of strengthening the insurance companies, reducing administrative costs, increasing the quality of services and increasing public confidence in insurance. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14768', 'image' => '20220401011717_Insurance board.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 13:16:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15025', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Hikes Public Transportation Fares', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum products.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A ministerial-level decision taken by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has approved a hike in transportation fares within the provinces. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Department of Transport Management informed that the government has allowed transport entrepreneurs to increase the fare by 10 to 13 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, only long-route cargo vehicles transporting goods from one province to another have been allowed to hike the transportation fare, the department informed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The ministry is preparing to allow transport entrepreneurs to adjust the price under an automatic mechanism when the price of petroleum products fluctuates by 5 percent. The government had promised automatic pricing mechanism before but the decision has not been implemented.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government had adjusted transportation fares on July 12, 2021. Since then, the price of diesel has increased by 34 percent, informed the department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14767', 'image' => '20220401112815_1648740586.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 11:27:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15024', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry Seeks Suggestions for Upcoming Budget ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The ministry has already launched a toll free number 1138 to collect suggestions and recommendations in this regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the ministry, the public can make suggestions by calling at the toll free number during office hours. Provision has also been made to submit suggestions by clicking on 'Budget Suggestion' on the website of the ministry and also through email. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In order to make the budget and its programmes more effective and workable, the ministry believes that suggestions from industrialists, businessmen, intellectuals, politicians, social workers, professionals, media persons, general public and all stakeholders will be important. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has already collected suggestions for policies and programmes as well as the upcoming budget from sectors like agriculture, education, banks, financial institutions and insurance, private sector, and economists. The ministry is organizing up to two discussions a week and has been collecting suggestions on the budget from experts in various fields and from other stakeholders. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14766', 'image' => '20220401082319_fin.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 08:22:52', '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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Buddha Air has fixed an initial fare of Rs 6900 for this route.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the company, the flight is scheduled to depart from Pokhara to Bhadrapur at 1:25 pm and from Bhadrapur to Pokhara at 3 pm. The company claims that this route will not only benefit the residents of both the provinces, but also facilitate the entry of tourists from across the border in Silgadhi, Darjeeling and Sikkim.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Tourists from across the border will be able to go directly to Pokhara from Bhadrapur. The company claims that tourists can also visit various tourist and religious destinations around Bhadrapur as well as tea gardens of Ilam and view the mountain range. Buddha Holidays, a sister company of Buddha Air, has brought attractive holiday packages for both of these destinations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Buddha Holidays has revealed a package of 2 nights and 3 days at Rs 15000 for Bhadrapur-Pokhara tour. As informed by the company, the package includes two-way air tickets, transportation facility from Pokhara Airport to hotel and hotel to Pokhara Airport, air-conditioned twin sharing room and breakfast in the morning.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Buddha Air has been connecting Pokhara with direct flights to different parts of the country. The company has already expanded direct flights from Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Nepalgunj, Simara, Dhangadhi and Janakpur to Pokhara. Buddha Air has eleven 72-seat ATR-72 aircraft, three 42-seat ATR-42 aircraft and two Beechcraft aircraft.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14780', 'image' => '20220404123139_Buddha-Air.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 12:31:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15039', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India Lowers Electricity Rate by Rs 13', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in Nepal.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 4: The price of electricity imported from India has come down while domestic production has also increased in 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:"Arial","sans-serif"">India has reduced the maximum price of electricity from IRs 20 to IRs 12. On the other hand, the production of electricity has started to increase in Nepal due to the melting of snow. With the onset of monsoon in June / July, Nepal's surplus energy is expected to be wasted.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India (CERI) has recently issued a notification lowering the maximum power purchase rate from IRs 20 per unit to IRs 12 per unit.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">At the same time, the electricity that Nepal buys from the Indian Electricity Exchange Market is expected to be cheaper. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been importing electricity from the Indian market at IRs 20 (NRs 32) per unit recently.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Due to the energy crisis in India, NEA was forced to buy electricity at exorbitant price through bidding in the open market.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">This had forced NEA to sell electricity purchased at IRs 32 to be sold at an average price of NRs 10 per unit.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now, NEA is getting electricity at less than that rate.</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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Most of the hydropower projects in Nepal are based on river flow. When the amount of water in the river decreases in winter, the production of the hydropower project automatically decreases. NEA has been importing electricity from India and supplying it to the domestic market during the dry season.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">However, India is not able to generate enough electricity due to the shortage of coal. Due to this reason, electricity is being bought and sold at maximum rate in the Indian market due to low production.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In view of its negative impact, particularly on the country’s industrial sector, the Indian government has reduced the maximum rate limit. </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:"Arial","sans-serif"">Indian industries and factories have also been affected by the hike of energy prices. They are also forced to buy electricity at expensive rates.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14779', 'image' => '20220404020923_electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 14:08:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15036', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Issue Common Vision on Energy Development ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 4: India has opened the door for electricity trade with Nepal, rising above the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the declaration of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although Nepal has been making efforts since a long time for selling surplus electricity produced during the monsoon in the regional market, it had not been successful. Nepal's goal of exporting electricity has got the green signal after the two countries issued the 'India-Nepal Common Vision' on energy development during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to the southern neighbour. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">By issuing the vision, both the countries have agreed to increase mutual cooperation in the energy sector. With this, Nepal's aspiration of entering the regional power market will turn to reality. The prime ministers of both the countries have described the Common Vision as the biggest achievement so far in the energy sector. It is believed that this will pave the way for exporting surplus electricity to India and Bangladesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Common Vision envisages developing some big projects in Nepal through joint investment of both the countries, constructing inter-country transmission line and providing appropriate access based on market demand, among other things. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Moreover, the announcement to include the countries in the BBIN, a sub-regional organisation, in the Common Vision is significant in itself. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the latest agreement with India, Nepal has been ensured the market for electricity in India and up to Bangladesh. It may be noted that during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India, Indian Prime Minister publicly pledged to purchase electricity from Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal and her Indian counterpart Raj Kumar Singh discussed about the development of energy of Nepal during a sideline meeting. </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"">Nepal exported 39 megawatts of electricity to India from two projects in Nuwakot five months ago. The projects were constructed with Indian grants. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In lack of market, approximately Rs 5 billion worth of electricity was wasted, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-04', 'modified' => '2022-04-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14778', 'image' => '20220404114358_Classification-of-Overhead-Transmission-lines-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-04 11:42:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15035', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => 'Paragliding Competition in Pokhara to Promote Tourism', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19. ', '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"">April 3: An open paragliding championship is going to be held in Pokhara with the objective of promoting the tourism business which has slowed down due to Covid-19. The three-day competition will kick off on April 6. </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 competition is being organized by Nepal Airsports Association (NAA) with the support of various organizations related to paragliding. Krishna Bhandari, president of the association, said that the competition is being organized to attract domestic and foreign tourists as well as to promote adventure sports activities. </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 him, in the championship this year will feature competitions in various categories including Accuracy, Overall Landing, Women's Landing, Team Landing, Accuracy Tandem and Air Show Costume. </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"">Male and female athletes will participate in four different events towards the accuracy of paragliding. Bhandari said that the first, second, third and position holders of the Overall Landing event will receive cash prizes of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. </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"">Similarly, the first, second, third and players in the women’s landing will receive cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. </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, the first three winners of Team Accuracy will receive Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Similarly, in other areas under accuracy tandem, the players finishing first, second, third will receive cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. </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 first place winner as Best Acrobat in the Air Show will get Rs 15,000 cash prize, second will get Rs 10,000 and third place winner will get Rs 5,000 along with medals and certificates. Along with this, prize money of Rs 10,000 will also be given to Best Costumes in the competition. </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 organizers have said that the names can be registered online till April 3 to participate in the competition. Nepalis and foreigners are participating in the competition. According to the organizers, it will cost around Rs 3 million to organise the competition. </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 annual competition had not been held for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14777', 'image' => '20220403063530_20220108023033_Clipboard60.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 18:34:53', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15034', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Export of Citrus Fruits to China remains Stalled', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to China.', '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"">April 3: The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development had signed an agreement with the Department of Agriculture of China during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019 for the export of citrus fruits to China.</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, not a single citrus fruit has been exported to China so far. Due to the negligence of the Chinese government in the implementation of the agreement, citrus fruits could not be exported to China. Concerned authorities said that even though Nepal completed all the procedures to export citrus fruits to China in trial phase last year, Beijing did not show any interest in implementing the agreement on the pretext of growing Covid-19 cases.</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"">Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Govinda Prasad Sharma said that China has not accepted citrus fruits from Nepal even though Nepal has met all the criteria including quarantine, proper management of diseases, and packaging. According to Sharma, Nepal has already registered the producers’ farms and also facilitated coordination between orange producers, traders and Chinese agents for the exports. However, the process did not move forward as the Chinese government did not agree for the export.</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 Sahadev Humagain, head of the Center for Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management, the process of export has not moved forward due to China’s reluctance citing the Covid-19 pandemic. Nepal completed all its preparations last year itself. Humagain said if China had agreed, exports of citrus fruits to China would have already started since last 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"">Earlier, a similar agreement was signed between the two countries in 2012. The agreement at that time had a clause which stated that the fruits grown in disease-free, insect-free orchards. Exporters were expecting the trade to be easy this time as the fruits were required to be free from diseases and insects as mentioned in the agreement two years ago. However, China's tendency to negotiate and neglect implementation is seen to have complicated export procedures.</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"">After the implementation of Sweet Orange Super Zone in Nepal in the fiscal year 2073/74, the number of farmers cultivating oranges has increased. Varieties of citrus fruits are produced mostly in the hill districts of Nepal including Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Doti, Dandeldhura, Baitadi, Okhaldhunga, Lamjung, Dhankuta and Palpa.</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 the National Citrus Development Program, Nepal produces about 177,000 metric tons of oranges, 39,500 metric tons of lemons and 43,000 metric tons of sweet oranges annually. Although citrus fruits are grown in about 56 districts of Nepal, commercial production is limited to 44 districts. Nepal's internal production meets 80 percent of domestic demand. The remaining 20 percent is imported from abroad.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14776', 'image' => '20220403044004_tangarines.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 16:39:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15033', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC says Fuel Supply will Ease from Today Afternoon', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely necessarily.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the general public not to queue at fuel stations to fill petrol/diesel unless absolutely necessarily.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The state-owned oil monopoly made such appeal after reaching an understanding with dealers to resume the distribution of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NOC assured that the supply of petroleum products will become normal from Sunday afternoon after the two sides reached an understanding on Saturday evening (April 2).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Deputy Spokesperson of NOC Pushkar Kumar Karki said that the petroleum dealers from across the country, including those in the Kathmandu valley, have already started demanding fuel from the NOC. He said that the dealers have started collecting fuel since 8 am today morning (April 3) and the supply of petroleum products is expected to ease from 3 pm.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Supply of petroleum products from different depots has already started from early morning. It might take some time to unload the fuel. The distribution of petroleum products will ease after 3 pm,” said Karki. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the NOC, dealers from Kathmandu to Gandaki, Lumbini, Biratnagar and Amlekhgunj have already started collecting fuel from this morning. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Kathmandu valley faced shortage of petrol and diesel on Saturday after the petrol dealers caused obstruction in transportation of fuel demanding a hike in commission a few days ago. Fearing shortage of petroleum products, a large number of people were seen in serpentine queue at fuel stations on Saturday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14775', 'image' => '20220403030059_petrol-pump.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 15:00:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15032', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => 'Tourist Activities up in Chitwan National Park', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases. ', '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"">April 3: Lately, tourism activities in Chitwan National Park has increased due to the decline in Covid-19 cases. The park confirmed that the number of tourists, especially those from within the country, has started increasing after the decline in Covid-19 infection.</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 the park officials, 108,254 tourists have already visited the park in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, which is more than that of the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. The number of tourists visiting the park was 92,209 in the corresponding period of the previous 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"">The park officials informed that a total of 182,435 people had visited the park in the last fiscal year. According to the park's information officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, 5,394 foreign tourists visited the park in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Among the foreign tourists, the number of female tourists is 2,540 and male tourists is 2,854.</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 the park, 4,865 tourists from SAARC countries visited the park in the current fiscal year. Last year, the number of foreign tourists from SAARC countries was 1,364 when 1,244 people from countries other than SAARC nations had visited the park.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14774', 'image' => '20220403024054_Chitwan-sunset-sauraha-nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 14:40:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15031', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India Agree to Take Ahead Pancheshwor Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal and India have finally agreed to take ahead the Pancheshwor Multi-purpose Hydropower Project, which has been left undecided for a long time since signing the Mahakali Treaty between the two countries. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The two sides agreed to advance the project after they held the bilateral talks between visiting Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India on Saturday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Even the detailed project report (DPR) has not be prepared despite the passage of two and half decade since the two countries signed the Mahakali Treaty. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Indian Prime Minister Modi termed the Pancheshwor project a 'game changer project' and expressed commitment that the long-awaited project would be advanced hereafter. This announcement has given hope that DPR would be prepared now. The two countries were supposed to prepare the DPR within six months after signing the Mahakali Treaty.</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"">However, issues over sharing of water from the Mahakali River between Nepal and India has not been settled yet, according to Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. As per the Mahakali Treaty, both countries have agreed on five percent of water to be released for the livelihood of upper basin.</span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Indian PM reiterated that the Pancheshwor project stalled since a long time would be expedited. The Pancheshwor project is to be constructed with the joint investment of Nepal and India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The mega hydropower project aims to produce 1,480 MW electricity to benefit both the countries. </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"">Modi further said discussion was held on multi-dimensional relations between India and Nepal during the meeting with PM Deuba-led Nepali delegation. He also shared that both countries were ready to build partnership and cooperation in the energy sector. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Other issues relating to energy and water resources including India assisting Nepal with the purchase of hydropower produced in Nepal and promotion of clean energy also figured in the high level meeting. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14773', 'image' => '20220403010542_ROS_KTM_PMDEUBA_INDIA_VISIT_MODI_PRESSMEET.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 13:04:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15030', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, India sign 4 Agreements during PM Deuba's State Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: Nepal and India have signed four different agreements for mutual cooperation and collaboration during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's state visit to India.</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 two countries signed the agreements following a meeting between Prime Minister Deuba and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Saturday (April 2).</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 agreements include Nepal's participation in international solar energy alliance, Indian technical support for Nepal's railway service sector, Indian assistance for fuel supply and technical support in the form of exchange of experts between Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation. </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"">According to informed sources, the prime minister said that the two countries also discussed issues related to border disputes and their resolution through bilateral mechanism.</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"">“We discussed the border dispute and I urged Mr Modi to resolve the issue through bilateral mechanism,” the source quoted Deuba as saying.</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"">Meanwhile, prime ministers of both the countries jointly launched the Kurtha-Jaynagar cross-border rail link on the occasion. Similarly, PM Deuba and his Indian counterpart also inaugurated 132-KV Solu Corridor Transmission Line. The transmission line was constructed in Nepal with India's loan assistance of Rs 3.20 billion. </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"">During the meeting Prime Minister Deuba reportedly urged Modi to avail three additional air entry routes to Nepal.</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"">PM Deuba said during a press conference after the signing ceremony that his state visit was fruitful in holding discussion on various aspects of Nepal-India relations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Deuba also lauded the progress achieved by India under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Praising the effective management carried out by India to control COVID-19 pandemic, PM Deuba extended gratitude towards India for its support to Nepal's battle against COVID-19. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14772', 'image' => '20220403111308_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 11:12:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15029', 'article_category_id' => '239', 'title' => '22 Groups get Climbing Permits for Spring Expedition', 'sub_title' => ' Government collects royalties of Rs 56 million so far ', 'summary' => 'April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their expeditions.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 3: With the onset of spring season, aspiring mountaineers have already started obtaining climbing permits and are all set to begin their expeditions. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation informed that 22 expedition groups were granted permission as of March 31. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, five groups have received permission for climbing the highest mountain in the world Mt Everest while four have obtained permission to scale Mt Annapurna. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, one group each was given permit for scaling Mt Ama Dablam, Mt Lhotse, Mt Kanchejungha and Mt Dhaulagiri. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Permits were also issued for climbing peaks such as Mt Nuptse and Minglung Peak. Altogether 153 aspiring climbers, including 37 women and 116 men, have received permits to climb various mountains, the department said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The fepartment further shared that over Rs 56 million has been collected in royalties from the climbers so far. - RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-03', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14771', 'image' => '20220403080643_Spring Expedition (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-03 08:05:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15028', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Production of Cement and Iron Rods Declines by 50 Percent as Power Cut Hits Industries', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding. ', '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"">April 1: Just when the cement and rod industries finally started gaining momentum after a long gap due to Covid-19, they are again facing crisis because of loadshedding. The cement and rod industries say that they are compelled to lower the production in the main season when there is high demand.</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"">Generally, Nepal imports electricity from India in winter. But this time, there is a shortage of electricity in the Indian market itself. Due to the shortage of coal, the production of electricity has declined and prices have skyrocketed in India. At present, the NEA cannot purchase electricity at previous rates, and therefore it has been submitting proposals to buy electricity at an increased rate. Despite this, the supply of electricity to the industries is not enough to meet the demands.</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"">President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Vishnu Agrawal said that the industries are not getting regular supply of electricity. He says that NEA should ensure regular supply of quality electricity regardless of the fluctuation of rate. </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 problem in power supply might discourage both domestic as well as foreign investors. The cost of production has gone up. The government and Nepal Electricity Authority should be responsible to resolve it,” said Agrawal.</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"">Similarly, Tara Prasad Pokhrel, vice-president of Cement Manufacturers' Association of Nepal, said that the industries are facing 12-13 hours of load shedding. Pokhrel said, “On the one hand, there is load shedding and on the other hand, the industry which needs 6 MW of electricity is getting only 3 MW. The industries are on the verge of closure due to non-availability of electricity.” He also said that as the production and sales cycle deteriorates due to non-availability of electricity, bank interest increases and causes liquidity crisis.</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 there has been no regularity in power supply for the last two years. “Production had already started to take place after Covid-19 slump. The issues with energy are arising again when development work has already started to pick up pace,” said Pokhrel. He said that the electricity goes to waste during the rainy season and industries reach the verge of closure due to scarcity of electricity during the winter.</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"">Pokhrel, who is also the managing director of Agni Cement, said that cement producers have reduced production by 50 percent due to lack of electricity. Although the charge of electricity is constant, industrialists are not able to get electricity. Pokhrel suggested that the government to build reservoir-based projects to solve such problems in the long run.</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"">Hari Neupane, chairman of Ambe Group said the power cuts at the rolling mills caused a lot of problems. Stating that industries are not getting regular electricity for some time now, he said that the factories have cut production by 50 percent. “There is no power. Even if we get electricity supply, it is not regular. Cement and rod industries are in a tight spot due to this reason. The demand cannot be reciprocated with the supply.” He said that they are unable to meet the high demand of the market since the production is low.</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 Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) claims that the electricity supply to the industries as per the demand is halted only when it does not get the electricity at the proposed rate. NEA spokesperson Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai said that electricity is not provided only when the bid is rejected. Bhattarai said, “There is no load shedding situation as the industrialists said. We provided electricity regularly on Wednesday as well.”</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 recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine pushed up the prices of industrial raw materials in the international market. As the price of coal went up, there has been a problem in the supply of electricity to Nepal from India. Now the price of cement and rod has also gone up. The association informed that the prices of OPC and PPC cement have gone up by Rs 30 per sack.</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"">As informed by Pokhrel, at present, the price of OPC cement has reached Rs 640 per sack and PPC cement Rs 540 per sack on average. He said that the price of cement has been affected due to the increase in the price of diesel even when the electricity charge was not increased. Meanwhile, the price of iron rods has gone up significantly as well. The price of rods, which was around 70/75 per kg, has now reached Rs 130 per kg.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14770', 'image' => '20220401031400_1635637400.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 15:13:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15027', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Private Sector Concerned about Abrupt Power Disruption', 'sub_title' => 'Urges stakeholders to end the chaotic situation and create conducive environment for running industries', 'summary' => 'April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent days.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 1: Private sector stakeholders have expressed concern regarding the irregular supply of electricity to the industrial areas in recent days.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Issuing a joint statement on Friday, the umbrella bodies of industrialists including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the irregular supply of electricity has caused serious problems in operating industries in the corridors of Butwal-Bhairahawa, Bara-Parsa, Sunsari-Morang and other industrial areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The statement says that the erratic supply of electricity in addition to low voltage and abrupt power disruption have prevented them from operating industries as per their regular schedule.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The statement further added that the abrupt power cuts have caused damages to machineries worth Rs millions. The industrialists also drew the attention of the government and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) regarding problems in paying the employees and repayment of bank loans when the industries remain closed due to power outage. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The private sector establishment reminded the NEA about its commitment to supply electricity at any cost. It may be noted that the NEA and its leadership have been pledging time and again that it would not disrupt electricity supply but their action is contrary to their promises.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists urged the NEA to provide uninterrupted supply of electricity by purchasing power from the Indian market. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“If that is not possible, the NEA should make public the schedule of power cuts,” reads the statement.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The industrialists also expressed their concern regarding the double standard of NEA for requesting the public to increase electricity consumption when the NEA itself is responsible for hours-long power cuts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The joint statement also urged the stakeholders to end such chaotic situation and create a conducive environment of running industries.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14769', 'image' => '20220401024403_Classification-of-Overhead-Transmission-lines-1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 14:43:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15026', 'article_category_id' => '222', 'title' => 'IBN Suggests Merger of Insurance Companies that fail to Increase Paid-up Capital ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the capital. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 1: The Insurance Board Nepal has made it clear that it will only discuss the problems that may arise in the process of increasing the paid-up capital of the insurance companies after they submit the plan to raise the capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Operators of insurance companies and institutional investors went to the board on Thursday to discuss about the directive issued by the board recently to double the paid-up capital of insurance companies within a year. During the meeting, chairman of the board Surya Silwal requested the insurance companies to submit their plan for capital increase first and then assured to discuss with them if they face any problem. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the insurance companies have been saying that increasing paid-up capital at the moment is not possible. The board had issued a circular to the insurance companies last Thursday directing them to increase the paid-up capital of life insurance companies to Rs 5 billion and non-life insurance companies to Rs 2.5 billion by April 2023. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At present, the paid-up capital of a life insurance company is Rs 2 billion and that of a non-life insurance company is Rs 1 billion. The board has also directed the companies to submit a plan to increase the paid-up capital within 30 days. However, insurance companies argue that it is impossible to raise the capital in such a short period and that too during the covid-19 pandemic and liquidity crisis. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Executive director of the board Raju Raman Poudel said that the practical problems can be known and discussed only after the companies come up with a capital increment plan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> "The directors and investors of insurance companies had visited the board on Thursday to inform us that it would be challenging for them to increase their paid-up capital. We told them that we are ready to discuss the issues once they submit their plan," he told New Business Age, "They were also positive regarding this issue." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Rajendra Malla, president of the Non-Life Insurance Practitioners' Association, said that they are ready to submit a plan to increase their capital. They are also positive on the issue of increasing the capital. But, he said that the time limit is too short. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"We are positive that the company should be strengthened and capital should be increased. But we are amid economic crisis at present. In such situation, it would have been easier to raise the capital gradually rather than at once," he said, "Therefore, we have asked the board to facilitate it. We hope that the problems will be heard as soon as we submit the capital increment plan." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of the board have suggested a merger for those companies that cannot raise the capital. It seems that the board has decided to increase the capital for the purpose of pressuring the insurance companies to merge. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Malla, who is also the chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said that companies could be ready for the merger as well. "If required, we are ready to merge. But the board should facilitate it," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the discussion, Silwal said that the decision to increase the paid-up capital of insurance companies was taken with the objective of strengthening the insurance companies, reducing administrative costs, increasing the quality of services and increasing public confidence in insurance. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14768', 'image' => '20220401011717_Insurance board.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 13:16:39', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15025', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Hikes Public Transportation Fares', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum products.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">April 1: The government has increased public transportation fares following the rise in prices of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A ministerial-level decision taken by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has approved a hike in transportation fares within the provinces. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Department of Transport Management informed that the government has allowed transport entrepreneurs to increase the fare by 10 to 13 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, only long-route cargo vehicles transporting goods from one province to another have been allowed to hike the transportation fare, the department informed.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The ministry is preparing to allow transport entrepreneurs to adjust the price under an automatic mechanism when the price of petroleum products fluctuates by 5 percent. The government had promised automatic pricing mechanism before but the decision has not been implemented.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government had adjusted transportation fares on July 12, 2021. Since then, the price of diesel has increased by 34 percent, informed the department.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14767', 'image' => '20220401112815_1648740586.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 11:27:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15024', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Finance Ministry Seeks Suggestions for Upcoming Budget ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 1: The Ministry of Finance has requested all stakeholders to provide their suggestions for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The ministry has already launched a toll free number 1138 to collect suggestions and recommendations in this regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the ministry, the public can make suggestions by calling at the toll free number during office hours. Provision has also been made to submit suggestions by clicking on 'Budget Suggestion' on the website of the ministry and also through email. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In order to make the budget and its programmes more effective and workable, the ministry believes that suggestions from industrialists, businessmen, intellectuals, politicians, social workers, professionals, media persons, general public and all stakeholders will be important. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has already collected suggestions for policies and programmes as well as the upcoming budget from sectors like agriculture, education, banks, financial institutions and insurance, private sector, and economists. The ministry is organizing up to two discussions a week and has been collecting suggestions on the budget from experts in various fields and from other stakeholders. </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-01', 'modified' => '2022-04-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14766', 'image' => '20220401082319_fin.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-01 08:22:52', '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
