January 7: More than 25,000 trees are being cut down for the expansion of the 220 KV Koshi Corridor transmission line- a national pride project which is currently under…
January 7: More than 25,000 trees are being cut down for the expansion of the 220 KV Koshi Corridor transmission line- a national pride project which is currently under…
January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational.…
January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried…
January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s…
January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G…
January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current fiscal…
January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November.…
January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development…
January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a…
January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in…
January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on…
January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage.…
January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues.…
January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity…
January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ishwar Thapa</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: More than 25,000 trees are being cut down for the expansion of the 220 KV Koshi Corridor transmission line- a national pride project which is currently under construction. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the extension of power transmission line right through the centre of Tinjure Milke Jaljale (TMJ), a tri-junction junction of Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung, also known as the capital of Rhododendron, would have a negative impact on the environment and the livelihood of the people. The locals have demanded the government to find an alternative route. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stakeholders are concerned that there will be a negative impact on tourism and environment after a large number of trees will be cut down in the TMJ forest area. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Locals fear that the tourism business, which has flourished due to the rhododendron forests, will decline after the trees are cut down. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the work of power expansion can be done without cutting down the trees, the project has started the work by cutting down the dense forest. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The construction of the Koshi Corridor, considered to be the biggest project of the eastern hill districts till date, is in full swing. The work of laying poles and connecting wires in Dhankuta and Tehrathum has already started. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The preliminary environmental impact assessment was conducted in 2073 for the operation of the project. During the line expansion, 25,000 trees including rhododendron of six community forests in Tinjure will be cut down. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dambar Bahadur Budathoki, chairman of the Tinjure Hattisar Community Forest Users Group of Dharmadevi Municipality-1 in Sankhuwasabha district, said that the project officials had agreed to extend the transmission lines through the hills of Tinjure after the first survey conducted by the project. However, the project officials decided to take the transmission lines through the dense forest after the second survey, informed Budhathoki. He claims that the project did not take anyone’s consent in the second survey. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“After the deforestation, there is a possibility of loss of animal habitat, wildlife and drying up of water sources that would directly impact the tourism in the region,” Budathoki said, “The Koshi Corridor seems to have a major impact on climate and biodiversity as well.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of Laligurans Municipality Arjun Mabohang informed that the risk of drinking water crisis has increased in Basantapur city due to the cutting down of trees. He also said that they are repeatedly urging the project to look for other alternatives to save the forest. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Someshwor Kumar Das, assistant forest officer of the Sub-Divisional Forest Office, Basantapur, said that the environmental impact assessment was done as it was a project of national pride. He claims that the trees including the rhododendron forests were cut down through a decision taken by the Council of Ministers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Das said that the project has agreed to plant 25 saplings in place of one tree cut down in the affected area and regenerate the forest within five years. He is of the view that deforestation will affect the environment but things will return back to normal after the new plants grow up. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14358', 'image' => '20220107020222_1641506391.Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 13:59:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14613', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Inaruwa Bus Park yet to Come into Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational. The bus park could not come into operation after the Inaruwa Municipality did not receive the budget allocated by the federal government for the operation of the bus park.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bus park at Inaruwa Municipality-4 has become a hot spot for drug addicts and a dating spot.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bus park constructed by Kalika Construction was inaugurated by the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav on January 9, 2019. The construction company had completed the project ahead of its two-year deadline. A committee was formed to operate the bus park under the chairmanship of Anjani Pokhrel, ward chairman of Inaruwa Municipality-5. At present, the committee is also without leadership.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Locals, including landlords, are furious over the non-operation of the bus park even after three years. Ramesh Shrestha, a local who donated land for the bus park, has demanded that the land be returned. He had provided 5 katas of land free of cost for the operation of the bus park. He is preparing to submit a memorandum to the district administration office saying that the land should be returned if the bus park is not operated. He said that the municipality was not interested in operating the bus park.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The municipality has not shown any interest to bring the bus park into operation as the Ministry of Urban Development has not released the required amount to the municipality.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The tender for the construction of roads, sewerage, and other infrastructures in Inaruwa municipality, including the bus park built on 1.5 bighas of land in Inaruwa municipality, was worth Rs 1.80 billion. Mayor Rajan Mehta has been saying that the bus park will be brought into operation only if Inaruwa Municipality gets the pending Rs 200 million and an additional amount under the urban smart city project.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14356', 'image' => '20220107014349_1641505897.1 buspark.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 13:43:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14612', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fixes Support Price of Sugarcane after the Produce Dry Up', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried up.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried up. Expressing their dissatisfaction, the sugarcane farmers complained that the government fixed the support price too late due to the temptation shown by the middlemen and industrialists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Sugarcane Farmers' Struggle Committee, the delay in setting the price by the government for about a month and a half has caused huge financial loss to them.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday (January 5) fixed the support price of sugarcane at Rs 590 per quintal for this year. The struggle committee has been repeatedly requesting the government to fix the support price of sugarcane at the right time. Despite this, the government fixed the support price of sugarcane late while ignoring the farmers’ requests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the struggle committee Hari Shyam Raya said that most of the farmers' sugarcane has already dried up due to the government's delay in fixing the support price. According to him, the government should have fixed the support price by mid-November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “The government did not fix the support price of sugarcane in time, so the operation of sugarcane mills was delayed this year. It has resulted in the delay in harvesting and selling sugarcane. When there is a delay in cutting and selling sugarcane, the sugarcane starts drying and the production starts declining. We don't understand why the government is doing this,” he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raya estimates that the production may decrease up to 4 quintals per kattha due to delay in selling sugarcane which was ready for sales in mid-November. On the one hand, the farmers are worried that millions of rupees will be lost this year due to the drying up of sugarcane, while on the other hand, they are worried about not being able to plant another crop on the land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Farmers dissatisfied with support price</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sugarcane farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the support price set by the government. Farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the support price even though the government has increased the price by Rs 46 per quintal compared to last year and fixed it at Rs 590 per quintal. Farmers have demanded a price of Rs 700 per quintal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the farmers, tt costs Rs 382 to produce one quintal of sugarcane and Rs 62 for transportation. They will be able to make a profit of only Rs 76 per quintal as per the price fixed by the government. Farmers complain that this profit amount is very low. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said the price was relevant as it was determined in consultation with sugarcane producers and sugar industrialists. The farmers on the other hand said that the quantity of sugarcane produced in Nepal is decreasing every year as the government has always been ignoring the sugarcane farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14355', 'image' => '20220107121413_img-20210306-wa0011.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 12:13:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14611', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Submits Report on Lalita Niwas Land Scam to District Attorney ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s office. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s office. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu is preparing to file charge-sheets against the accused on the basis of the report prepared by the CIB.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB report found that more than 350 individuals were involved in financial embezzlement in the land transaction, informed CIB Spokesperson Shyam Kumar Mahato.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that some names have been repeated because the report includes four separate cases. According to him, it took two years to complete the investigation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report has implicated 360 persons including some high-profile individuals in the land scam. Those implicated by the report also include five former government secretaries. The CIB report has demanded action against those accused in the land scam in accordance to Section 2976 of the Criminal Code 2074 and also submitted recommendations to the district attorney’s office.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sources at the District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu said that the office has started verification of the report on Thursday itself and will file case as soon as the process is completed. The limitation of the case is of two years. Therefore, the case must be filed before January 11. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The reports shows that land mafia were involved in illegally transferring the ownership of the 143 ropanis of land of Lalita niwas between 2049BS to 2069BS byu bribing government officials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had formed a probe committee in 2075 BS under the leadership of former secretary Sharada Prasad Trital to investigate into the embezzlement case. Based upon the report prepared by the committee, the then government in the same year had instructed the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the CIB to conduct investigations and take action against those involved in the scam. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIAA has already filed a case against 175 individuals involved in the Lalita Niwas land scam after a year-long investigation. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14354', 'image' => '20220107111859_1454675709cib-nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 11:18:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14609', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Preparing to Purchase Chemical Fertilizers from India on G2G Model', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G model.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G model. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday has decided to sign an agreement with India for the purchase of chemical fertilizers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The cabinet meeting has decided to sign a five-year agreement with the Government of India for the purchase of chemical fertilizers. Agriculture Minister Mahendra Raya Yadav said that 1.5 million metric tons of fertilizers will be purchased in the first year and then an agreement will be reached to increase it by 10 percent every year. A secretarial-level agreement will be signed during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the high prices of fertilizer in the international market, its impact can be seen in Nepal as well. There is a shortage of chemical fertilizers in Nepal as the contractors have not been able to bring fertilizers due to the price hike.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the government has fixed the minimum support price of sugarcane. The cabinet meeting has decided to fix the price of sugarcane at Rs 590 per quintal. According to Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Yadav, the ministry fixed the price after holding discussions with the sugarcane farmers and the sugar mills. The proposal to fix the price of sugarcane was submitted to the Council of Ministers by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14353', 'image' => '20220106045648_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 16:56:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14610', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Reluctant to use Land Reform Information Management System', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current fiscal year. ', '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"">January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current 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"">BFIs are advocating for digital banking but lack confidence in the government-owned system. The officials of the department say BFIs are worried the banking system might be hacked if they connect to the LRIMS system. Balaram Kafle, computer officer at the Information Technology Branch of the department said no security threat has been detected in the system which was launched in 2015. </span></span></span></span></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 department's system is an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certified website. Even in that case if BFIs have any doubts they can launch the system in a separate network," said Kafle. But BFIs are not using the system and queuing themselves up physically at the land management offices.</span></span></span></span></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 land management service center has not interfered in any process of BFIs," he said, adding, “We have just asked BFIs to scan the paper meant for land release from their own computer. But they visit the land revenue office instead for this small task."</span></span></span></span></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, Vinay Kumar Regmi, deputy CEO of Nabil Bank, said that the banks could not start the service as the department has not updated the system. "And the department has not even provided training to BFIs to run the system," he added. On the other hand, the department argues that the training has been provided to the BFIs and the system is running 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"">Technology is rarely used in cooperatives compared to BFIs. Out of thousands of cooperatives, very few cooperatives are providing services like ATM, online banking and SMS banking.</span></span></span></span></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, cooperatives are ahead of banks and financial institutions in the use of technology in land management services. While 40 banks and financial institutions have received permits to use LRIMS, the number of cooperatives is only half, i.e. 26. However, the department estimates that the number of cooperatives using this system has almost doubled compared to the number of BFIs.</span></span></span></span></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 department has issued such permits to BFIs to make the Land Revenue Office technology friendly and reduce the physical presence of people at the Land Revenue Office.</span></span></span></span></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 department had projected that pressure of land management work would reduce by half if BFIs use the system. But the reluctance of BFIs to start the system has not helped to reduce their physical presence at the land revenue office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">EPF contributors lack confidence in LRIMS</span></span></strong></span></span></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"">Mahendra Raj Shakya, head of the credit department at the Employee Provident Fund, said that though they are willing to go online the contributors lack confidence in the system.</span></span></span></span></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"">"Contributors believe the work is done in one day if we visit the land revenue office. However there are uncertainties if they use the online service," said Shakya. He said that people take time to get used to the system. “It will take another year for its full implementation.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14352', 'image' => '20220106061755_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 18:17:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14608', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Growth of Digital Payment Slows Down', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November. According to a report prepared by Nepal Rastra Bank, digital transactions done through wallet, mobile banking, internet banking, connectIPS have declined in November compared to October in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In October, transactions worth Rs 87.73 billion were made through mobile banking while in November such transactions stood at Rs 78.15 billion. Likewise, transactions worth Rs 239.14 billion were completed through connectIPS, a drop from Rs 203.03 billion. Similarly, the payment through digital wallet has dropped to Rs 13.94 billion in November from Rs 14.42 billion in September. Similarly, transactions through QR code, internet banking, IPS and other online payment gateways also declined in November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A total of 13.5 million transactions were made through mobile wallets in October while it dropped to 13.3 million in November. Similarly, 137 million transactions were made through mobile banking in October which dropped to 12.6 million in November. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB said that the number of transactions made through digital payments has declined. Digital wallet, mobile banking, internet banking and connect IPS are the major means for online payments which saw a decline in November. The transaction could have declined in the month of December as well but data is not available yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr. Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson of NRB said that the number of digital payment transactions has declined lately but they are yet to conduct a study on what led to the slowdown. "Until September, festivals had led to an increase in the digital payments so it might have declined owing to absence of any such occasions," he said. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14351', 'image' => '20220106044128_digital payment.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 16:40:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14607', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Deuba Dissatisfied with Pace of Development Works ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development works.', '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"">January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development works.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar on Wednesday, Deuba expressed dissatisfaction over the increasing liquidity crunch in the market due to the non-mobilization of government funds.</span></span></span></span></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 also drew the attention of concerned ministries that development works have not been able to pick up pace. "To speed up development projects, try to eliminate unnecessary hassles," the prime minister instructed the line ministries.</span></span></span></span></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"">Deuba also expressed concern that the national pride projects have not gained momentum. "As the pace of national pride projects is not satisfactory, monitor them to work effectively," he ordered.</span></span></span></span></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 Prime Minister gave nine-point instructions to all the ministers, secretaries, and high-ranking officials to implement the common minimum program of the government and to prioritize development, and promote good governance.</span></span></span></span></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"">Addressing the meeting, he said that all the government offices at all levels should be held accountable to expedite the services provided to the people.</span></span></span></span></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"">Deuba also directed the Ministry of Health and Population to make the vaccination campaign against COVID effective for all eligible citizens as the risk of infection remains high.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14350', 'image' => '20220106011918_1641427053.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 13:18:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14606', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Seasonal Vegetables Drop up to 60 Percent ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a month. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, the prices of seasonal vegetables including beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, tomato and green leafy vegetables have declined in Kathmandu during the last one month. It is said that the price has come down due to an increase in production of seasonal vegetables. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The average wholesale price of beans, which was Rs 110 per kg a month ago, has declined by 66 per cent to Rs 37 per kg in the last one month. The price of tunnel tomato has also dropped by 58 percent from Rs 65 per kg to Rs 27. Likewise, the price of carrot has also declined by 50 percent from Rs 110 to Rs 55 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the price of garden cress (leafy vegetable) has also come down by 50 percent from Rs 130 to Rs 65 per kg. The price of local cauliflower has also decreased by Rs 10 from Rs 40 to Rs 30 per kg, turnip from Rs 75 to Rs 65 and white radish from Rs 35 to Rs 22 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gita Prasad Acharya, chairperson of the board, said that the price of seasonal vegetables has decreased due to increase in production. According to him, most of the vegetables imported to Kalimati are from Dhading, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Chitwan, Makwanpur and other districts. At present, 700 to 900 tons of vegetables are brought to Kalimati on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14349', 'image' => '20220106010443_vegetable-store.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 13:03:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14605', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Eighth Summer Ski Festival in February ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in February.', 'content' => '<p><em> Photo Courtesy: Krishna Thapa</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in February.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The event is being organized by the Sustainable Himalayan Fund from February 10 to 18. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The week-long festival primarily aims to develop and promote ski tourism in Nepal, said Prabhat Adhikari, member of the organizing committee.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This edition of the Summer Ski Event has been named as the ‘Great Himalayan Ski Visit’. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The estimated cost of organizing the event is Rs 1.6 million. The organisers have allocated Rs 220,000 for the insurance of participants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Chairman of the fund Ram Bahadur Thapa, the ski festival was earlier held in tourist destinations such as Manaslu and Kalinchowk. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">International ski coach Krishna Thapa Magar will coach and coordinate the festival, informed the organisers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A local Sudeep Gautam believes that this event will help promote trekking along the Mardi Himal trail as well.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14348', 'image' => '20220106115443_ski227894148948033536_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 11:53:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14604', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC's Property likely to be Auctioned as the Flag Carrier of Nepal Defaults on Loan Repayment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Current circumstances indicate that NAC might need to auction its property if the government does not pay the loan and installment on time. NAC had received a loan from the Citizens Investment Trust (CIT) and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) six years ago with the government pledging to be the guarantor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NAC has not paid any installment or interest of the loan taken from CIT and EPF since 2075 BS. The flag carrier of Nepal has not shown any interest in repaying the loan despite receiving repeated requests from the two bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of both the funds are now appealing to the finance ministry to recover the loan. On Monday alone, the representatives of CIT and EPF met officials of the finance ministry, including Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar. During the meeting, they did not receive a satisfactory answer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pushkar urged the representatives of the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Trust to collect the loan from the NAC as the government is not able to provide the amount in the current circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Revenue Secretary Pushkar reportedly suggested the officials to collect the loan by auctioning the property of NAC. Both the CIT and EPF are opting for auctioning NAC’s property kept as collateral as the government has shown no interest to repay the loan and neither has NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NAC had borrowed Rs 34 billion from these two bodies at different times to procure two narrow-body and a wide-body aircraft. Similarly, the corporation also has a long-term debt of Rs 37.60 billion, including Rs 3.60 billion taken to purchase Chinese aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NAC had agreed to repay the loan of all four Airbus aircraft with within 15 years in 60 installments with both EPF and CIT . The airline has not paid any new installments except 17 installments of Citizens Investment Fund for narrow-body aircraft and one installment of wide-body Airbus aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raman Nepal, executive director of the Citizens Investment Trust, said that the Ministry of Finance has suggested auctioning the assets of NAC to collect the loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, discussions are underway to take necessary action.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NAC had taken Rs 12 billion loan from the CIT alone, and now the total loan with interest has reached Rs 16 billion. The total debt of NAC is Rs 50 billion and the accumulated loss is Rs 11 billion, according to the information shared recently by Finance Minister Janardan Sharma with high-ranking government officials.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the officials, NAC has incurred such huge loss because it has recruited more than 500 unnecessary staffers.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14347', 'image' => '20220105060004_20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 17:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14603', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tender Process for Construction of Siddhababa Tunnel in Final Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage. Nine different companies had submitted technical proposals for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Roads has shortlisted four out of the nine companies that had participated in the bidding process announced in May last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the approval of the technical proposals of the four companies, the Department of Roads has now fixed a date for opening their financial proposals. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Quality, Research and Development Center under the department has selected four companies and informed that the financial proposals will be opened next Wednesday, January 12 at 1 pm. While making such announcement on Tuesday, the center has made public the names of the four companies whose technical proposals for the construction of the tunnel have been approved. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the centre, all the four companies are Chinese companies. After opening the financial proposal, the lowest bidding company will be given the responsibility for the construction of the tunnel. There is a law that allows companies whose proposals are not approved to oppose the decision. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the center, the companies whose technical proposals have been approved are China First Highway Engineering Corporation, COVEC-CREGC JV, China State Construction Engineering Corporation and CCECC-CRCC 14-Xiuan JV. One of these companies will be responsible for the construction after the financial proposal is approved. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The tunnel, to be constructed under the Engineering, Procurement Construction (EPC) model, is targeted to be completed within five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Finance had secured an investment of Rs 10.15 billion in Nov/Dec 2019 for construction of tunnels with the amount raised within the country. Within 9 months of signing the contract, the concerned company will provide the design of the tunnel to the department. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of the center Dr. Bijay Jaisi said that the Swiss Development Corporation had provided the preliminary design and report to the department two years ago. Accordingly, the department has announced the tender bids for the tunnel based on various parameters. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The construction company should build the tunnel and hand it over to Nepal within five years," he said, adding, "As the contract is in EPC model, it is certain that the tunnel will be ready in the estimated time." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Landslides in an area of 4 to 5 km of the Siddhababa section of the road have been causing loss of life and property every year. The government had put forward this tunnel project in the policy and program of the Fiscal Year 2075/76 with the objective of minimizing this loss. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the project, 900 meters of road from Chidiya Khola to Upper Siddhababa will be upgraded to two lanes and the other 500 meters of the tunnel will also be upgraded to two lanes. The distance of the tunnel will be 1.126 km. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14346', 'image' => '20220105030510_20201111043429_1605049013.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 15:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14602', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Five Sugar Mills Fail to Settle Dues of Farmers', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues. According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Himalaya Sugar Mill, Shri Ram Sugar Mill, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Annapurna Sugar Mill and Indira Sugar Mill are yet to pay Rs 87 million to the farmers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Commerce Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai informed that the ministry has written separate letters to the ministries of land management, home affairs and finance to block the bank accounts and land of the defaulting industries for their failure to pay the long-standing dues to the farmers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee under the House of Representatives, Secretary Bhattarai said that they were taking initiative to get the dues of the sugarcane farmers. He informed that the number of sugarcane farmers has declined and the industries has also come down from 29 to 8 due to the failure of industries to pay the farmers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the committee meeting, the MPs sharply criticized the government for not being sensitive towards the problems of the sugarcane farmers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the discussion, Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar said that despite discussions regarding the removal of VAT on sugar since a long time, an immediate decision cannot be taken. He said that although discussions were held to include the issue in the budget replacement bill, preparations were not enough to take this measure immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Agriculture Secretary Govind Sharma said that a proposal has been sent to the Council of Ministers to fix the support price of sugarcane and that a decision regarding this issue will be taken on Wednesday, January 5.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The MPs drew the attention of the government that the sugarcane farmers have not yet received the amount for selling sugarcane to the sugar mills. The parliamentary committee pointed out that the directives given on the issues of sugarcane farmers have not been followed as well. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Farmers claim that they still are yet to receive Rs 87 million from the sugar mills. In the meeting, MP Dharmashila Chapagain complained that the directive given by the Public Accounts Committee in 2018 regarding pricing of sugarcane has not been implemented yet and this issue has to be discussed time and again. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MP of Nepali Congress, Rajendra KC said that farmers would be discouraged towards sugarcane cultivation as there are still problems in payment of sugarcane. He said that the government should also give an answer as to why the number of sugar industries has dropped from 29 to 8.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg" style="height:843px; width:1500px" /></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14345', 'image' => '20220105010604_20190107104522_sugarcane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 13:04:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14601', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Estimated cost of Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is Rs 160 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity Development. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity Development. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A feasibility study conducted by the Department has estimated the preliminary cost of construction of the 636 megawatts reservoir-type project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The feasibility study of the project is in the final stage. The department's engineer Subas Thapaliya said preparation is almost complete to finalize a draft of the study report which includes the design drawing, geological survey, topography survey, estimated project cost, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the biological, economic and social study of the project. "The study shows that the estimated cost of the project will be Rs 160 billion," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department has written to the local governments of the project-affected areas seeking their feedback on the draft report after carrying out the feasibility study. The Khandadevi and Sunapati rural municipalities of Ramechhap and the Sunkoshi rural municipality of Sindhuli district will give their suggestions on the draft report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The report will be forwarded to the Ministry of Forests and Environment after the local levels give their feedback," Thapaliya said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to him, the EIA-related works are also being carried out. The department organized public hearings in four districts of the project-affected areas in this connection. The individuals and institutions concerned gave their suggestions regarding various aspects of the project. The public hearings were held in Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap and Sindhuli districts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">People of three rural municipalities and two municipalities of Sindhupalchowk district, three rural municipalities and two municipalities of Kavrepalanchowk district, two rural municipalities of Ramechhap district and one rural municipality of Sindhuli district would be affected by the project. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14344', 'image' => '20220105124905_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 12:48:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14599', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tax Evasion Case Filed against Prime Accused of Lalita Niwas Land Scam ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land scam.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Other persons charged by the department include Saroj Dhakal, Uma Kumari Dhakal, Santu Shrestha and Rajeswor Shrestha, proprietor of Rajeswor and Company that carried out audit of the land transaction. The department had filed the case-sheet at the High Court Patan on Tuesday, January 4. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shova Kanta Dhakal is the prime accused of the land scam related to Lalita Niwas residence in Baluwatar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department has asked the high court to recover a sum of Rs 1.24 billion equivalent to the tax evasion amount from the accused. The ANSAN International and Rajeswor and Company are charged of producing fake value added tax details as well as income tax details for the purpose of tax evasion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department registered the charge-sheet at the high court demanding cent percent amount of the fine labeled against Shova Kanta Dhakal. Likewise, the department has demanded half of the amount from Shrestha for his involvement as an accomplice in tax evasion. (With inputs from RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14343', 'image' => '20220105115627_tax evasion.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 11:51:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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' => '14614', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Koshi Corridor Project Depleting Forests in the Capital of Rhododendron', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: More than 25,000 trees are being cut down for the expansion of the 220 KV Koshi Corridor transmission line- a national pride project which is currently under construction. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ishwar Thapa</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: More than 25,000 trees are being cut down for the expansion of the 220 KV Koshi Corridor transmission line- a national pride project which is currently under construction. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the extension of power transmission line right through the centre of Tinjure Milke Jaljale (TMJ), a tri-junction junction of Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung, also known as the capital of Rhododendron, would have a negative impact on the environment and the livelihood of the people. The locals have demanded the government to find an alternative route. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stakeholders are concerned that there will be a negative impact on tourism and environment after a large number of trees will be cut down in the TMJ forest area. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Locals fear that the tourism business, which has flourished due to the rhododendron forests, will decline after the trees are cut down. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the work of power expansion can be done without cutting down the trees, the project has started the work by cutting down the dense forest. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The construction of the Koshi Corridor, considered to be the biggest project of the eastern hill districts till date, is in full swing. The work of laying poles and connecting wires in Dhankuta and Tehrathum has already started. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The preliminary environmental impact assessment was conducted in 2073 for the operation of the project. During the line expansion, 25,000 trees including rhododendron of six community forests in Tinjure will be cut down. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dambar Bahadur Budathoki, chairman of the Tinjure Hattisar Community Forest Users Group of Dharmadevi Municipality-1 in Sankhuwasabha district, said that the project officials had agreed to extend the transmission lines through the hills of Tinjure after the first survey conducted by the project. However, the project officials decided to take the transmission lines through the dense forest after the second survey, informed Budhathoki. He claims that the project did not take anyone’s consent in the second survey. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“After the deforestation, there is a possibility of loss of animal habitat, wildlife and drying up of water sources that would directly impact the tourism in the region,” Budathoki said, “The Koshi Corridor seems to have a major impact on climate and biodiversity as well.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of Laligurans Municipality Arjun Mabohang informed that the risk of drinking water crisis has increased in Basantapur city due to the cutting down of trees. He also said that they are repeatedly urging the project to look for other alternatives to save the forest. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Someshwor Kumar Das, assistant forest officer of the Sub-Divisional Forest Office, Basantapur, said that the environmental impact assessment was done as it was a project of national pride. He claims that the trees including the rhododendron forests were cut down through a decision taken by the Council of Ministers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Das said that the project has agreed to plant 25 saplings in place of one tree cut down in the affected area and regenerate the forest within five years. He is of the view that deforestation will affect the environment but things will return back to normal after the new plants grow up. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14358', 'image' => '20220107020222_1641506391.Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 13:59:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14613', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Inaruwa Bus Park yet to Come into Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational. The bus park could not come into operation after the Inaruwa Municipality did not receive the budget allocated by the federal government for the operation of the bus park.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bus park at Inaruwa Municipality-4 has become a hot spot for drug addicts and a dating spot.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bus park constructed by Kalika Construction was inaugurated by the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav on January 9, 2019. The construction company had completed the project ahead of its two-year deadline. A committee was formed to operate the bus park under the chairmanship of Anjani Pokhrel, ward chairman of Inaruwa Municipality-5. At present, the committee is also without leadership.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Locals, including landlords, are furious over the non-operation of the bus park even after three years. Ramesh Shrestha, a local who donated land for the bus park, has demanded that the land be returned. He had provided 5 katas of land free of cost for the operation of the bus park. He is preparing to submit a memorandum to the district administration office saying that the land should be returned if the bus park is not operated. He said that the municipality was not interested in operating the bus park.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The municipality has not shown any interest to bring the bus park into operation as the Ministry of Urban Development has not released the required amount to the municipality.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The tender for the construction of roads, sewerage, and other infrastructures in Inaruwa municipality, including the bus park built on 1.5 bighas of land in Inaruwa municipality, was worth Rs 1.80 billion. Mayor Rajan Mehta has been saying that the bus park will be brought into operation only if Inaruwa Municipality gets the pending Rs 200 million and an additional amount under the urban smart city project.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14356', 'image' => '20220107014349_1641505897.1 buspark.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 13:43:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14612', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fixes Support Price of Sugarcane after the Produce Dry Up', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried up.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried up. Expressing their dissatisfaction, the sugarcane farmers complained that the government fixed the support price too late due to the temptation shown by the middlemen and industrialists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Sugarcane Farmers' Struggle Committee, the delay in setting the price by the government for about a month and a half has caused huge financial loss to them.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday (January 5) fixed the support price of sugarcane at Rs 590 per quintal for this year. The struggle committee has been repeatedly requesting the government to fix the support price of sugarcane at the right time. Despite this, the government fixed the support price of sugarcane late while ignoring the farmers’ requests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the struggle committee Hari Shyam Raya said that most of the farmers' sugarcane has already dried up due to the government's delay in fixing the support price. According to him, the government should have fixed the support price by mid-November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “The government did not fix the support price of sugarcane in time, so the operation of sugarcane mills was delayed this year. It has resulted in the delay in harvesting and selling sugarcane. When there is a delay in cutting and selling sugarcane, the sugarcane starts drying and the production starts declining. We don't understand why the government is doing this,” he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raya estimates that the production may decrease up to 4 quintals per kattha due to delay in selling sugarcane which was ready for sales in mid-November. On the one hand, the farmers are worried that millions of rupees will be lost this year due to the drying up of sugarcane, while on the other hand, they are worried about not being able to plant another crop on the land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Farmers dissatisfied with support price</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sugarcane farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the support price set by the government. Farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the support price even though the government has increased the price by Rs 46 per quintal compared to last year and fixed it at Rs 590 per quintal. Farmers have demanded a price of Rs 700 per quintal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the farmers, tt costs Rs 382 to produce one quintal of sugarcane and Rs 62 for transportation. They will be able to make a profit of only Rs 76 per quintal as per the price fixed by the government. Farmers complain that this profit amount is very low. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said the price was relevant as it was determined in consultation with sugarcane producers and sugar industrialists. The farmers on the other hand said that the quantity of sugarcane produced in Nepal is decreasing every year as the government has always been ignoring the sugarcane farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14355', 'image' => '20220107121413_img-20210306-wa0011.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 12:13:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14611', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Submits Report on Lalita Niwas Land Scam to District Attorney ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s office. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s office. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu is preparing to file charge-sheets against the accused on the basis of the report prepared by the CIB.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB report found that more than 350 individuals were involved in financial embezzlement in the land transaction, informed CIB Spokesperson Shyam Kumar Mahato.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that some names have been repeated because the report includes four separate cases. According to him, it took two years to complete the investigation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report has implicated 360 persons including some high-profile individuals in the land scam. Those implicated by the report also include five former government secretaries. The CIB report has demanded action against those accused in the land scam in accordance to Section 2976 of the Criminal Code 2074 and also submitted recommendations to the district attorney’s office.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sources at the District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu said that the office has started verification of the report on Thursday itself and will file case as soon as the process is completed. The limitation of the case is of two years. Therefore, the case must be filed before January 11. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The reports shows that land mafia were involved in illegally transferring the ownership of the 143 ropanis of land of Lalita niwas between 2049BS to 2069BS byu bribing government officials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had formed a probe committee in 2075 BS under the leadership of former secretary Sharada Prasad Trital to investigate into the embezzlement case. Based upon the report prepared by the committee, the then government in the same year had instructed the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the CIB to conduct investigations and take action against those involved in the scam. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIAA has already filed a case against 175 individuals involved in the Lalita Niwas land scam after a year-long investigation. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14354', 'image' => '20220107111859_1454675709cib-nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 11:18:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14609', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Preparing to Purchase Chemical Fertilizers from India on G2G Model', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G model.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G model. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday has decided to sign an agreement with India for the purchase of chemical fertilizers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The cabinet meeting has decided to sign a five-year agreement with the Government of India for the purchase of chemical fertilizers. Agriculture Minister Mahendra Raya Yadav said that 1.5 million metric tons of fertilizers will be purchased in the first year and then an agreement will be reached to increase it by 10 percent every year. A secretarial-level agreement will be signed during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the high prices of fertilizer in the international market, its impact can be seen in Nepal as well. There is a shortage of chemical fertilizers in Nepal as the contractors have not been able to bring fertilizers due to the price hike.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the government has fixed the minimum support price of sugarcane. The cabinet meeting has decided to fix the price of sugarcane at Rs 590 per quintal. According to Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Yadav, the ministry fixed the price after holding discussions with the sugarcane farmers and the sugar mills. The proposal to fix the price of sugarcane was submitted to the Council of Ministers by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14353', 'image' => '20220106045648_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 16:56:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14610', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Reluctant to use Land Reform Information Management System', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current fiscal year. ', '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"">January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current 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"">BFIs are advocating for digital banking but lack confidence in the government-owned system. The officials of the department say BFIs are worried the banking system might be hacked if they connect to the LRIMS system. Balaram Kafle, computer officer at the Information Technology Branch of the department said no security threat has been detected in the system which was launched in 2015. </span></span></span></span></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 department's system is an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certified website. Even in that case if BFIs have any doubts they can launch the system in a separate network," said Kafle. But BFIs are not using the system and queuing themselves up physically at the land management offices.</span></span></span></span></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 land management service center has not interfered in any process of BFIs," he said, adding, “We have just asked BFIs to scan the paper meant for land release from their own computer. But they visit the land revenue office instead for this small task."</span></span></span></span></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, Vinay Kumar Regmi, deputy CEO of Nabil Bank, said that the banks could not start the service as the department has not updated the system. "And the department has not even provided training to BFIs to run the system," he added. On the other hand, the department argues that the training has been provided to the BFIs and the system is running 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"">Technology is rarely used in cooperatives compared to BFIs. Out of thousands of cooperatives, very few cooperatives are providing services like ATM, online banking and SMS banking.</span></span></span></span></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, cooperatives are ahead of banks and financial institutions in the use of technology in land management services. While 40 banks and financial institutions have received permits to use LRIMS, the number of cooperatives is only half, i.e. 26. However, the department estimates that the number of cooperatives using this system has almost doubled compared to the number of BFIs.</span></span></span></span></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 department has issued such permits to BFIs to make the Land Revenue Office technology friendly and reduce the physical presence of people at the Land Revenue Office.</span></span></span></span></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 department had projected that pressure of land management work would reduce by half if BFIs use the system. But the reluctance of BFIs to start the system has not helped to reduce their physical presence at the land revenue office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">EPF contributors lack confidence in LRIMS</span></span></strong></span></span></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"">Mahendra Raj Shakya, head of the credit department at the Employee Provident Fund, said that though they are willing to go online the contributors lack confidence in the system.</span></span></span></span></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"">"Contributors believe the work is done in one day if we visit the land revenue office. However there are uncertainties if they use the online service," said Shakya. He said that people take time to get used to the system. “It will take another year for its full implementation.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14352', 'image' => '20220106061755_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 18:17:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14608', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Growth of Digital Payment Slows Down', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November. According to a report prepared by Nepal Rastra Bank, digital transactions done through wallet, mobile banking, internet banking, connectIPS have declined in November compared to October in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In October, transactions worth Rs 87.73 billion were made through mobile banking while in November such transactions stood at Rs 78.15 billion. Likewise, transactions worth Rs 239.14 billion were completed through connectIPS, a drop from Rs 203.03 billion. Similarly, the payment through digital wallet has dropped to Rs 13.94 billion in November from Rs 14.42 billion in September. Similarly, transactions through QR code, internet banking, IPS and other online payment gateways also declined in November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A total of 13.5 million transactions were made through mobile wallets in October while it dropped to 13.3 million in November. Similarly, 137 million transactions were made through mobile banking in October which dropped to 12.6 million in November. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB said that the number of transactions made through digital payments has declined. Digital wallet, mobile banking, internet banking and connect IPS are the major means for online payments which saw a decline in November. The transaction could have declined in the month of December as well but data is not available yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr. Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson of NRB said that the number of digital payment transactions has declined lately but they are yet to conduct a study on what led to the slowdown. "Until September, festivals had led to an increase in the digital payments so it might have declined owing to absence of any such occasions," he said. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14351', 'image' => '20220106044128_digital payment.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 16:40:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14607', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Deuba Dissatisfied with Pace of Development Works ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development works.', '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"">January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development works.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar on Wednesday, Deuba expressed dissatisfaction over the increasing liquidity crunch in the market due to the non-mobilization of government funds.</span></span></span></span></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 also drew the attention of concerned ministries that development works have not been able to pick up pace. "To speed up development projects, try to eliminate unnecessary hassles," the prime minister instructed the line ministries.</span></span></span></span></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"">Deuba also expressed concern that the national pride projects have not gained momentum. "As the pace of national pride projects is not satisfactory, monitor them to work effectively," he ordered.</span></span></span></span></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 Prime Minister gave nine-point instructions to all the ministers, secretaries, and high-ranking officials to implement the common minimum program of the government and to prioritize development, and promote good governance.</span></span></span></span></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"">Addressing the meeting, he said that all the government offices at all levels should be held accountable to expedite the services provided to the people.</span></span></span></span></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"">Deuba also directed the Ministry of Health and Population to make the vaccination campaign against COVID effective for all eligible citizens as the risk of infection remains high.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14350', 'image' => '20220106011918_1641427053.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 13:18:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14606', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Seasonal Vegetables Drop up to 60 Percent ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a month. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, the prices of seasonal vegetables including beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, tomato and green leafy vegetables have declined in Kathmandu during the last one month. It is said that the price has come down due to an increase in production of seasonal vegetables. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The average wholesale price of beans, which was Rs 110 per kg a month ago, has declined by 66 per cent to Rs 37 per kg in the last one month. The price of tunnel tomato has also dropped by 58 percent from Rs 65 per kg to Rs 27. Likewise, the price of carrot has also declined by 50 percent from Rs 110 to Rs 55 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the price of garden cress (leafy vegetable) has also come down by 50 percent from Rs 130 to Rs 65 per kg. The price of local cauliflower has also decreased by Rs 10 from Rs 40 to Rs 30 per kg, turnip from Rs 75 to Rs 65 and white radish from Rs 35 to Rs 22 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gita Prasad Acharya, chairperson of the board, said that the price of seasonal vegetables has decreased due to increase in production. According to him, most of the vegetables imported to Kalimati are from Dhading, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Chitwan, Makwanpur and other districts. At present, 700 to 900 tons of vegetables are brought to Kalimati on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14349', 'image' => '20220106010443_vegetable-store.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 13:03:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14605', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Eighth Summer Ski Festival in February ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in February.', 'content' => '<p><em> Photo Courtesy: Krishna Thapa</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in February.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The event is being organized by the Sustainable Himalayan Fund from February 10 to 18. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The week-long festival primarily aims to develop and promote ski tourism in Nepal, said Prabhat Adhikari, member of the organizing committee.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This edition of the Summer Ski Event has been named as the ‘Great Himalayan Ski Visit’. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The estimated cost of organizing the event is Rs 1.6 million. The organisers have allocated Rs 220,000 for the insurance of participants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Chairman of the fund Ram Bahadur Thapa, the ski festival was earlier held in tourist destinations such as Manaslu and Kalinchowk. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">International ski coach Krishna Thapa Magar will coach and coordinate the festival, informed the organisers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A local Sudeep Gautam believes that this event will help promote trekking along the Mardi Himal trail as well.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14348', 'image' => '20220106115443_ski227894148948033536_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 11:53:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14604', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC's Property likely to be Auctioned as the Flag Carrier of Nepal Defaults on Loan Repayment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Current circumstances indicate that NAC might need to auction its property if the government does not pay the loan and installment on time. NAC had received a loan from the Citizens Investment Trust (CIT) and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) six years ago with the government pledging to be the guarantor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NAC has not paid any installment or interest of the loan taken from CIT and EPF since 2075 BS. The flag carrier of Nepal has not shown any interest in repaying the loan despite receiving repeated requests from the two bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of both the funds are now appealing to the finance ministry to recover the loan. On Monday alone, the representatives of CIT and EPF met officials of the finance ministry, including Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar. During the meeting, they did not receive a satisfactory answer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pushkar urged the representatives of the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Trust to collect the loan from the NAC as the government is not able to provide the amount in the current circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Revenue Secretary Pushkar reportedly suggested the officials to collect the loan by auctioning the property of NAC. Both the CIT and EPF are opting for auctioning NAC’s property kept as collateral as the government has shown no interest to repay the loan and neither has NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NAC had borrowed Rs 34 billion from these two bodies at different times to procure two narrow-body and a wide-body aircraft. Similarly, the corporation also has a long-term debt of Rs 37.60 billion, including Rs 3.60 billion taken to purchase Chinese aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NAC had agreed to repay the loan of all four Airbus aircraft with within 15 years in 60 installments with both EPF and CIT . The airline has not paid any new installments except 17 installments of Citizens Investment Fund for narrow-body aircraft and one installment of wide-body Airbus aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raman Nepal, executive director of the Citizens Investment Trust, said that the Ministry of Finance has suggested auctioning the assets of NAC to collect the loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, discussions are underway to take necessary action.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NAC had taken Rs 12 billion loan from the CIT alone, and now the total loan with interest has reached Rs 16 billion. The total debt of NAC is Rs 50 billion and the accumulated loss is Rs 11 billion, according to the information shared recently by Finance Minister Janardan Sharma with high-ranking government officials.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the officials, NAC has incurred such huge loss because it has recruited more than 500 unnecessary staffers.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14347', 'image' => '20220105060004_20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 17:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14603', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tender Process for Construction of Siddhababa Tunnel in Final Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage. Nine different companies had submitted technical proposals for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Roads has shortlisted four out of the nine companies that had participated in the bidding process announced in May last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the approval of the technical proposals of the four companies, the Department of Roads has now fixed a date for opening their financial proposals. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Quality, Research and Development Center under the department has selected four companies and informed that the financial proposals will be opened next Wednesday, January 12 at 1 pm. While making such announcement on Tuesday, the center has made public the names of the four companies whose technical proposals for the construction of the tunnel have been approved. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the centre, all the four companies are Chinese companies. After opening the financial proposal, the lowest bidding company will be given the responsibility for the construction of the tunnel. There is a law that allows companies whose proposals are not approved to oppose the decision. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the center, the companies whose technical proposals have been approved are China First Highway Engineering Corporation, COVEC-CREGC JV, China State Construction Engineering Corporation and CCECC-CRCC 14-Xiuan JV. One of these companies will be responsible for the construction after the financial proposal is approved. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The tunnel, to be constructed under the Engineering, Procurement Construction (EPC) model, is targeted to be completed within five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Finance had secured an investment of Rs 10.15 billion in Nov/Dec 2019 for construction of tunnels with the amount raised within the country. Within 9 months of signing the contract, the concerned company will provide the design of the tunnel to the department. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of the center Dr. Bijay Jaisi said that the Swiss Development Corporation had provided the preliminary design and report to the department two years ago. Accordingly, the department has announced the tender bids for the tunnel based on various parameters. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The construction company should build the tunnel and hand it over to Nepal within five years," he said, adding, "As the contract is in EPC model, it is certain that the tunnel will be ready in the estimated time." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Landslides in an area of 4 to 5 km of the Siddhababa section of the road have been causing loss of life and property every year. The government had put forward this tunnel project in the policy and program of the Fiscal Year 2075/76 with the objective of minimizing this loss. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the project, 900 meters of road from Chidiya Khola to Upper Siddhababa will be upgraded to two lanes and the other 500 meters of the tunnel will also be upgraded to two lanes. The distance of the tunnel will be 1.126 km. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14346', 'image' => '20220105030510_20201111043429_1605049013.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 15:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14602', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Five Sugar Mills Fail to Settle Dues of Farmers', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues. According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Himalaya Sugar Mill, Shri Ram Sugar Mill, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Annapurna Sugar Mill and Indira Sugar Mill are yet to pay Rs 87 million to the farmers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Commerce Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai informed that the ministry has written separate letters to the ministries of land management, home affairs and finance to block the bank accounts and land of the defaulting industries for their failure to pay the long-standing dues to the farmers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee under the House of Representatives, Secretary Bhattarai said that they were taking initiative to get the dues of the sugarcane farmers. He informed that the number of sugarcane farmers has declined and the industries has also come down from 29 to 8 due to the failure of industries to pay the farmers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the committee meeting, the MPs sharply criticized the government for not being sensitive towards the problems of the sugarcane farmers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the discussion, Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar said that despite discussions regarding the removal of VAT on sugar since a long time, an immediate decision cannot be taken. He said that although discussions were held to include the issue in the budget replacement bill, preparations were not enough to take this measure immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Agriculture Secretary Govind Sharma said that a proposal has been sent to the Council of Ministers to fix the support price of sugarcane and that a decision regarding this issue will be taken on Wednesday, January 5.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The MPs drew the attention of the government that the sugarcane farmers have not yet received the amount for selling sugarcane to the sugar mills. The parliamentary committee pointed out that the directives given on the issues of sugarcane farmers have not been followed as well. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Farmers claim that they still are yet to receive Rs 87 million from the sugar mills. In the meeting, MP Dharmashila Chapagain complained that the directive given by the Public Accounts Committee in 2018 regarding pricing of sugarcane has not been implemented yet and this issue has to be discussed time and again. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MP of Nepali Congress, Rajendra KC said that farmers would be discouraged towards sugarcane cultivation as there are still problems in payment of sugarcane. He said that the government should also give an answer as to why the number of sugar industries has dropped from 29 to 8.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg" style="height:843px; width:1500px" /></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14345', 'image' => '20220105010604_20190107104522_sugarcane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 13:04:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14601', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Estimated cost of Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is Rs 160 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity Development. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity Development. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A feasibility study conducted by the Department has estimated the preliminary cost of construction of the 636 megawatts reservoir-type project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The feasibility study of the project is in the final stage. The department's engineer Subas Thapaliya said preparation is almost complete to finalize a draft of the study report which includes the design drawing, geological survey, topography survey, estimated project cost, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the biological, economic and social study of the project. "The study shows that the estimated cost of the project will be Rs 160 billion," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department has written to the local governments of the project-affected areas seeking their feedback on the draft report after carrying out the feasibility study. The Khandadevi and Sunapati rural municipalities of Ramechhap and the Sunkoshi rural municipality of Sindhuli district will give their suggestions on the draft report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The report will be forwarded to the Ministry of Forests and Environment after the local levels give their feedback," Thapaliya said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to him, the EIA-related works are also being carried out. The department organized public hearings in four districts of the project-affected areas in this connection. The individuals and institutions concerned gave their suggestions regarding various aspects of the project. The public hearings were held in Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap and Sindhuli districts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">People of three rural municipalities and two municipalities of Sindhupalchowk district, three rural municipalities and two municipalities of Kavrepalanchowk district, two rural municipalities of Ramechhap district and one rural municipality of Sindhuli district would be affected by the project. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14344', 'image' => '20220105124905_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 12:48:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14599', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tax Evasion Case Filed against Prime Accused of Lalita Niwas Land Scam ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land scam.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Other persons charged by the department include Saroj Dhakal, Uma Kumari Dhakal, Santu Shrestha and Rajeswor Shrestha, proprietor of Rajeswor and Company that carried out audit of the land transaction. The department had filed the case-sheet at the High Court Patan on Tuesday, January 4. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shova Kanta Dhakal is the prime accused of the land scam related to Lalita Niwas residence in Baluwatar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department has asked the high court to recover a sum of Rs 1.24 billion equivalent to the tax evasion amount from the accused. The ANSAN International and Rajeswor and Company are charged of producing fake value added tax details as well as income tax details for the purpose of tax evasion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department registered the charge-sheet at the high court demanding cent percent amount of the fine labeled against Shova Kanta Dhakal. Likewise, the department has demanded half of the amount from Shrestha for his involvement as an accomplice in tax evasion. (With inputs from RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14343', 'image' => '20220105115627_tax evasion.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 11:51:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ishwar Thapa</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: More than 25,000 trees are being cut down for the expansion of the 220 KV Koshi Corridor transmission line- a national pride project which is currently under construction. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the extension of power transmission line right through the centre of Tinjure Milke Jaljale (TMJ), a tri-junction junction of Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung, also known as the capital of Rhododendron, would have a negative impact on the environment and the livelihood of the people. The locals have demanded the government to find an alternative route. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stakeholders are concerned that there will be a negative impact on tourism and environment after a large number of trees will be cut down in the TMJ forest area. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Locals fear that the tourism business, which has flourished due to the rhododendron forests, will decline after the trees are cut down. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the work of power expansion can be done without cutting down the trees, the project has started the work by cutting down the dense forest. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The construction of the Koshi Corridor, considered to be the biggest project of the eastern hill districts till date, is in full swing. The work of laying poles and connecting wires in Dhankuta and Tehrathum has already started. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The preliminary environmental impact assessment was conducted in 2073 for the operation of the project. During the line expansion, 25,000 trees including rhododendron of six community forests in Tinjure will be cut down. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dambar Bahadur Budathoki, chairman of the Tinjure Hattisar Community Forest Users Group of Dharmadevi Municipality-1 in Sankhuwasabha district, said that the project officials had agreed to extend the transmission lines through the hills of Tinjure after the first survey conducted by the project. However, the project officials decided to take the transmission lines through the dense forest after the second survey, informed Budhathoki. He claims that the project did not take anyone’s consent in the second survey. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“After the deforestation, there is a possibility of loss of animal habitat, wildlife and drying up of water sources that would directly impact the tourism in the region,” Budathoki said, “The Koshi Corridor seems to have a major impact on climate and biodiversity as well.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of Laligurans Municipality Arjun Mabohang informed that the risk of drinking water crisis has increased in Basantapur city due to the cutting down of trees. He also said that they are repeatedly urging the project to look for other alternatives to save the forest. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Someshwor Kumar Das, assistant forest officer of the Sub-Divisional Forest Office, Basantapur, said that the environmental impact assessment was done as it was a project of national pride. He claims that the trees including the rhododendron forests were cut down through a decision taken by the Council of Ministers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Das said that the project has agreed to plant 25 saplings in place of one tree cut down in the affected area and regenerate the forest within five years. He is of the view that deforestation will affect the environment but things will return back to normal after the new plants grow up. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14358', 'image' => '20220107020222_1641506391.Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 13:59:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14613', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Inaruwa Bus Park yet to Come into Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational. The bus park could not come into operation after the Inaruwa Municipality did not receive the budget allocated by the federal government for the operation of the bus park.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bus park at Inaruwa Municipality-4 has become a hot spot for drug addicts and a dating spot.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bus park constructed by Kalika Construction was inaugurated by the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav on January 9, 2019. The construction company had completed the project ahead of its two-year deadline. A committee was formed to operate the bus park under the chairmanship of Anjani Pokhrel, ward chairman of Inaruwa Municipality-5. At present, the committee is also without leadership.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Locals, including landlords, are furious over the non-operation of the bus park even after three years. Ramesh Shrestha, a local who donated land for the bus park, has demanded that the land be returned. He had provided 5 katas of land free of cost for the operation of the bus park. He is preparing to submit a memorandum to the district administration office saying that the land should be returned if the bus park is not operated. He said that the municipality was not interested in operating the bus park.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The municipality has not shown any interest to bring the bus park into operation as the Ministry of Urban Development has not released the required amount to the municipality.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The tender for the construction of roads, sewerage, and other infrastructures in Inaruwa municipality, including the bus park built on 1.5 bighas of land in Inaruwa municipality, was worth Rs 1.80 billion. Mayor Rajan Mehta has been saying that the bus park will be brought into operation only if Inaruwa Municipality gets the pending Rs 200 million and an additional amount under the urban smart city project.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14356', 'image' => '20220107014349_1641505897.1 buspark.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 13:43:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14612', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fixes Support Price of Sugarcane after the Produce Dry Up', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried up.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried up. Expressing their dissatisfaction, the sugarcane farmers complained that the government fixed the support price too late due to the temptation shown by the middlemen and industrialists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Sugarcane Farmers' Struggle Committee, the delay in setting the price by the government for about a month and a half has caused huge financial loss to them.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday (January 5) fixed the support price of sugarcane at Rs 590 per quintal for this year. The struggle committee has been repeatedly requesting the government to fix the support price of sugarcane at the right time. Despite this, the government fixed the support price of sugarcane late while ignoring the farmers’ requests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the struggle committee Hari Shyam Raya said that most of the farmers' sugarcane has already dried up due to the government's delay in fixing the support price. According to him, the government should have fixed the support price by mid-November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “The government did not fix the support price of sugarcane in time, so the operation of sugarcane mills was delayed this year. It has resulted in the delay in harvesting and selling sugarcane. When there is a delay in cutting and selling sugarcane, the sugarcane starts drying and the production starts declining. We don't understand why the government is doing this,” he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raya estimates that the production may decrease up to 4 quintals per kattha due to delay in selling sugarcane which was ready for sales in mid-November. On the one hand, the farmers are worried that millions of rupees will be lost this year due to the drying up of sugarcane, while on the other hand, they are worried about not being able to plant another crop on the land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Farmers dissatisfied with support price</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sugarcane farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the support price set by the government. Farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the support price even though the government has increased the price by Rs 46 per quintal compared to last year and fixed it at Rs 590 per quintal. Farmers have demanded a price of Rs 700 per quintal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the farmers, tt costs Rs 382 to produce one quintal of sugarcane and Rs 62 for transportation. They will be able to make a profit of only Rs 76 per quintal as per the price fixed by the government. Farmers complain that this profit amount is very low. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said the price was relevant as it was determined in consultation with sugarcane producers and sugar industrialists. The farmers on the other hand said that the quantity of sugarcane produced in Nepal is decreasing every year as the government has always been ignoring the sugarcane farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14355', 'image' => '20220107121413_img-20210306-wa0011.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 12:13:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14611', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Submits Report on Lalita Niwas Land Scam to District Attorney ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s office. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s office. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu is preparing to file charge-sheets against the accused on the basis of the report prepared by the CIB.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB report found that more than 350 individuals were involved in financial embezzlement in the land transaction, informed CIB Spokesperson Shyam Kumar Mahato.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that some names have been repeated because the report includes four separate cases. According to him, it took two years to complete the investigation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report has implicated 360 persons including some high-profile individuals in the land scam. Those implicated by the report also include five former government secretaries. The CIB report has demanded action against those accused in the land scam in accordance to Section 2976 of the Criminal Code 2074 and also submitted recommendations to the district attorney’s office.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sources at the District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu said that the office has started verification of the report on Thursday itself and will file case as soon as the process is completed. The limitation of the case is of two years. Therefore, the case must be filed before January 11. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The reports shows that land mafia were involved in illegally transferring the ownership of the 143 ropanis of land of Lalita niwas between 2049BS to 2069BS byu bribing government officials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had formed a probe committee in 2075 BS under the leadership of former secretary Sharada Prasad Trital to investigate into the embezzlement case. Based upon the report prepared by the committee, the then government in the same year had instructed the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the CIB to conduct investigations and take action against those involved in the scam. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIAA has already filed a case against 175 individuals involved in the Lalita Niwas land scam after a year-long investigation. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14354', 'image' => '20220107111859_1454675709cib-nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 11:18:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14609', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Preparing to Purchase Chemical Fertilizers from India on G2G Model', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G model.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G model. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday has decided to sign an agreement with India for the purchase of chemical fertilizers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The cabinet meeting has decided to sign a five-year agreement with the Government of India for the purchase of chemical fertilizers. Agriculture Minister Mahendra Raya Yadav said that 1.5 million metric tons of fertilizers will be purchased in the first year and then an agreement will be reached to increase it by 10 percent every year. A secretarial-level agreement will be signed during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the high prices of fertilizer in the international market, its impact can be seen in Nepal as well. There is a shortage of chemical fertilizers in Nepal as the contractors have not been able to bring fertilizers due to the price hike.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the government has fixed the minimum support price of sugarcane. The cabinet meeting has decided to fix the price of sugarcane at Rs 590 per quintal. According to Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Yadav, the ministry fixed the price after holding discussions with the sugarcane farmers and the sugar mills. The proposal to fix the price of sugarcane was submitted to the Council of Ministers by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14353', 'image' => '20220106045648_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 16:56:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14610', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Reluctant to use Land Reform Information Management System', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current fiscal year. ', '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"">January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current 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"">BFIs are advocating for digital banking but lack confidence in the government-owned system. The officials of the department say BFIs are worried the banking system might be hacked if they connect to the LRIMS system. Balaram Kafle, computer officer at the Information Technology Branch of the department said no security threat has been detected in the system which was launched in 2015. </span></span></span></span></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 department's system is an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certified website. Even in that case if BFIs have any doubts they can launch the system in a separate network," said Kafle. But BFIs are not using the system and queuing themselves up physically at the land management offices.</span></span></span></span></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 land management service center has not interfered in any process of BFIs," he said, adding, “We have just asked BFIs to scan the paper meant for land release from their own computer. But they visit the land revenue office instead for this small task."</span></span></span></span></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, Vinay Kumar Regmi, deputy CEO of Nabil Bank, said that the banks could not start the service as the department has not updated the system. "And the department has not even provided training to BFIs to run the system," he added. On the other hand, the department argues that the training has been provided to the BFIs and the system is running 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"">Technology is rarely used in cooperatives compared to BFIs. Out of thousands of cooperatives, very few cooperatives are providing services like ATM, online banking and SMS banking.</span></span></span></span></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, cooperatives are ahead of banks and financial institutions in the use of technology in land management services. While 40 banks and financial institutions have received permits to use LRIMS, the number of cooperatives is only half, i.e. 26. However, the department estimates that the number of cooperatives using this system has almost doubled compared to the number of BFIs.</span></span></span></span></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 department has issued such permits to BFIs to make the Land Revenue Office technology friendly and reduce the physical presence of people at the Land Revenue Office.</span></span></span></span></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 department had projected that pressure of land management work would reduce by half if BFIs use the system. But the reluctance of BFIs to start the system has not helped to reduce their physical presence at the land revenue office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">EPF contributors lack confidence in LRIMS</span></span></strong></span></span></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"">Mahendra Raj Shakya, head of the credit department at the Employee Provident Fund, said that though they are willing to go online the contributors lack confidence in the system.</span></span></span></span></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"">"Contributors believe the work is done in one day if we visit the land revenue office. However there are uncertainties if they use the online service," said Shakya. He said that people take time to get used to the system. “It will take another year for its full implementation.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14352', 'image' => '20220106061755_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 18:17:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14608', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Growth of Digital Payment Slows Down', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November. According to a report prepared by Nepal Rastra Bank, digital transactions done through wallet, mobile banking, internet banking, connectIPS have declined in November compared to October in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In October, transactions worth Rs 87.73 billion were made through mobile banking while in November such transactions stood at Rs 78.15 billion. Likewise, transactions worth Rs 239.14 billion were completed through connectIPS, a drop from Rs 203.03 billion. Similarly, the payment through digital wallet has dropped to Rs 13.94 billion in November from Rs 14.42 billion in September. Similarly, transactions through QR code, internet banking, IPS and other online payment gateways also declined in November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A total of 13.5 million transactions were made through mobile wallets in October while it dropped to 13.3 million in November. Similarly, 137 million transactions were made through mobile banking in October which dropped to 12.6 million in November. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB said that the number of transactions made through digital payments has declined. Digital wallet, mobile banking, internet banking and connect IPS are the major means for online payments which saw a decline in November. The transaction could have declined in the month of December as well but data is not available yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr. Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson of NRB said that the number of digital payment transactions has declined lately but they are yet to conduct a study on what led to the slowdown. "Until September, festivals had led to an increase in the digital payments so it might have declined owing to absence of any such occasions," he said. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14351', 'image' => '20220106044128_digital payment.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 16:40:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14607', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Deuba Dissatisfied with Pace of Development Works ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development works.', '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"">January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development works.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar on Wednesday, Deuba expressed dissatisfaction over the increasing liquidity crunch in the market due to the non-mobilization of government funds.</span></span></span></span></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 also drew the attention of concerned ministries that development works have not been able to pick up pace. "To speed up development projects, try to eliminate unnecessary hassles," the prime minister instructed the line ministries.</span></span></span></span></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"">Deuba also expressed concern that the national pride projects have not gained momentum. "As the pace of national pride projects is not satisfactory, monitor them to work effectively," he ordered.</span></span></span></span></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 Prime Minister gave nine-point instructions to all the ministers, secretaries, and high-ranking officials to implement the common minimum program of the government and to prioritize development, and promote good governance.</span></span></span></span></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"">Addressing the meeting, he said that all the government offices at all levels should be held accountable to expedite the services provided to the people.</span></span></span></span></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"">Deuba also directed the Ministry of Health and Population to make the vaccination campaign against COVID effective for all eligible citizens as the risk of infection remains high.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14350', 'image' => '20220106011918_1641427053.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 13:18:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14606', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Seasonal Vegetables Drop up to 60 Percent ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a month. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, the prices of seasonal vegetables including beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, tomato and green leafy vegetables have declined in Kathmandu during the last one month. It is said that the price has come down due to an increase in production of seasonal vegetables. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The average wholesale price of beans, which was Rs 110 per kg a month ago, has declined by 66 per cent to Rs 37 per kg in the last one month. The price of tunnel tomato has also dropped by 58 percent from Rs 65 per kg to Rs 27. Likewise, the price of carrot has also declined by 50 percent from Rs 110 to Rs 55 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the price of garden cress (leafy vegetable) has also come down by 50 percent from Rs 130 to Rs 65 per kg. The price of local cauliflower has also decreased by Rs 10 from Rs 40 to Rs 30 per kg, turnip from Rs 75 to Rs 65 and white radish from Rs 35 to Rs 22 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gita Prasad Acharya, chairperson of the board, said that the price of seasonal vegetables has decreased due to increase in production. According to him, most of the vegetables imported to Kalimati are from Dhading, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Chitwan, Makwanpur and other districts. At present, 700 to 900 tons of vegetables are brought to Kalimati on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14349', 'image' => '20220106010443_vegetable-store.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 13:03:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14605', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Eighth Summer Ski Festival in February ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in February.', 'content' => '<p><em> Photo Courtesy: Krishna Thapa</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in February.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The event is being organized by the Sustainable Himalayan Fund from February 10 to 18. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The week-long festival primarily aims to develop and promote ski tourism in Nepal, said Prabhat Adhikari, member of the organizing committee.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This edition of the Summer Ski Event has been named as the ‘Great Himalayan Ski Visit’. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The estimated cost of organizing the event is Rs 1.6 million. The organisers have allocated Rs 220,000 for the insurance of participants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Chairman of the fund Ram Bahadur Thapa, the ski festival was earlier held in tourist destinations such as Manaslu and Kalinchowk. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">International ski coach Krishna Thapa Magar will coach and coordinate the festival, informed the organisers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A local Sudeep Gautam believes that this event will help promote trekking along the Mardi Himal trail as well.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14348', 'image' => '20220106115443_ski227894148948033536_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 11:53:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14604', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC's Property likely to be Auctioned as the Flag Carrier of Nepal Defaults on Loan Repayment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Current circumstances indicate that NAC might need to auction its property if the government does not pay the loan and installment on time. NAC had received a loan from the Citizens Investment Trust (CIT) and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) six years ago with the government pledging to be the guarantor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NAC has not paid any installment or interest of the loan taken from CIT and EPF since 2075 BS. The flag carrier of Nepal has not shown any interest in repaying the loan despite receiving repeated requests from the two bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of both the funds are now appealing to the finance ministry to recover the loan. On Monday alone, the representatives of CIT and EPF met officials of the finance ministry, including Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar. During the meeting, they did not receive a satisfactory answer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pushkar urged the representatives of the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Trust to collect the loan from the NAC as the government is not able to provide the amount in the current circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Revenue Secretary Pushkar reportedly suggested the officials to collect the loan by auctioning the property of NAC. Both the CIT and EPF are opting for auctioning NAC’s property kept as collateral as the government has shown no interest to repay the loan and neither has NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NAC had borrowed Rs 34 billion from these two bodies at different times to procure two narrow-body and a wide-body aircraft. Similarly, the corporation also has a long-term debt of Rs 37.60 billion, including Rs 3.60 billion taken to purchase Chinese aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NAC had agreed to repay the loan of all four Airbus aircraft with within 15 years in 60 installments with both EPF and CIT . The airline has not paid any new installments except 17 installments of Citizens Investment Fund for narrow-body aircraft and one installment of wide-body Airbus aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raman Nepal, executive director of the Citizens Investment Trust, said that the Ministry of Finance has suggested auctioning the assets of NAC to collect the loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, discussions are underway to take necessary action.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NAC had taken Rs 12 billion loan from the CIT alone, and now the total loan with interest has reached Rs 16 billion. The total debt of NAC is Rs 50 billion and the accumulated loss is Rs 11 billion, according to the information shared recently by Finance Minister Janardan Sharma with high-ranking government officials.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the officials, NAC has incurred such huge loss because it has recruited more than 500 unnecessary staffers.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14347', 'image' => '20220105060004_20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 17:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14603', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tender Process for Construction of Siddhababa Tunnel in Final Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage. Nine different companies had submitted technical proposals for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Roads has shortlisted four out of the nine companies that had participated in the bidding process announced in May last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the approval of the technical proposals of the four companies, the Department of Roads has now fixed a date for opening their financial proposals. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Quality, Research and Development Center under the department has selected four companies and informed that the financial proposals will be opened next Wednesday, January 12 at 1 pm. While making such announcement on Tuesday, the center has made public the names of the four companies whose technical proposals for the construction of the tunnel have been approved. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the centre, all the four companies are Chinese companies. After opening the financial proposal, the lowest bidding company will be given the responsibility for the construction of the tunnel. There is a law that allows companies whose proposals are not approved to oppose the decision. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the center, the companies whose technical proposals have been approved are China First Highway Engineering Corporation, COVEC-CREGC JV, China State Construction Engineering Corporation and CCECC-CRCC 14-Xiuan JV. One of these companies will be responsible for the construction after the financial proposal is approved. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The tunnel, to be constructed under the Engineering, Procurement Construction (EPC) model, is targeted to be completed within five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Finance had secured an investment of Rs 10.15 billion in Nov/Dec 2019 for construction of tunnels with the amount raised within the country. Within 9 months of signing the contract, the concerned company will provide the design of the tunnel to the department. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of the center Dr. Bijay Jaisi said that the Swiss Development Corporation had provided the preliminary design and report to the department two years ago. Accordingly, the department has announced the tender bids for the tunnel based on various parameters. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The construction company should build the tunnel and hand it over to Nepal within five years," he said, adding, "As the contract is in EPC model, it is certain that the tunnel will be ready in the estimated time." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Landslides in an area of 4 to 5 km of the Siddhababa section of the road have been causing loss of life and property every year. The government had put forward this tunnel project in the policy and program of the Fiscal Year 2075/76 with the objective of minimizing this loss. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the project, 900 meters of road from Chidiya Khola to Upper Siddhababa will be upgraded to two lanes and the other 500 meters of the tunnel will also be upgraded to two lanes. The distance of the tunnel will be 1.126 km. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14346', 'image' => '20220105030510_20201111043429_1605049013.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 15:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14602', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Five Sugar Mills Fail to Settle Dues of Farmers', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues. According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Himalaya Sugar Mill, Shri Ram Sugar Mill, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Annapurna Sugar Mill and Indira Sugar Mill are yet to pay Rs 87 million to the farmers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Commerce Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai informed that the ministry has written separate letters to the ministries of land management, home affairs and finance to block the bank accounts and land of the defaulting industries for their failure to pay the long-standing dues to the farmers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee under the House of Representatives, Secretary Bhattarai said that they were taking initiative to get the dues of the sugarcane farmers. He informed that the number of sugarcane farmers has declined and the industries has also come down from 29 to 8 due to the failure of industries to pay the farmers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the committee meeting, the MPs sharply criticized the government for not being sensitive towards the problems of the sugarcane farmers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the discussion, Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar said that despite discussions regarding the removal of VAT on sugar since a long time, an immediate decision cannot be taken. He said that although discussions were held to include the issue in the budget replacement bill, preparations were not enough to take this measure immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Agriculture Secretary Govind Sharma said that a proposal has been sent to the Council of Ministers to fix the support price of sugarcane and that a decision regarding this issue will be taken on Wednesday, January 5.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The MPs drew the attention of the government that the sugarcane farmers have not yet received the amount for selling sugarcane to the sugar mills. The parliamentary committee pointed out that the directives given on the issues of sugarcane farmers have not been followed as well. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Farmers claim that they still are yet to receive Rs 87 million from the sugar mills. In the meeting, MP Dharmashila Chapagain complained that the directive given by the Public Accounts Committee in 2018 regarding pricing of sugarcane has not been implemented yet and this issue has to be discussed time and again. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MP of Nepali Congress, Rajendra KC said that farmers would be discouraged towards sugarcane cultivation as there are still problems in payment of sugarcane. He said that the government should also give an answer as to why the number of sugar industries has dropped from 29 to 8.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg" style="height:843px; width:1500px" /></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14345', 'image' => '20220105010604_20190107104522_sugarcane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 13:04:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14601', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Estimated cost of Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is Rs 160 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity Development. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity Development. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A feasibility study conducted by the Department has estimated the preliminary cost of construction of the 636 megawatts reservoir-type project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The feasibility study of the project is in the final stage. The department's engineer Subas Thapaliya said preparation is almost complete to finalize a draft of the study report which includes the design drawing, geological survey, topography survey, estimated project cost, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the biological, economic and social study of the project. "The study shows that the estimated cost of the project will be Rs 160 billion," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department has written to the local governments of the project-affected areas seeking their feedback on the draft report after carrying out the feasibility study. The Khandadevi and Sunapati rural municipalities of Ramechhap and the Sunkoshi rural municipality of Sindhuli district will give their suggestions on the draft report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The report will be forwarded to the Ministry of Forests and Environment after the local levels give their feedback," Thapaliya said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to him, the EIA-related works are also being carried out. The department organized public hearings in four districts of the project-affected areas in this connection. The individuals and institutions concerned gave their suggestions regarding various aspects of the project. The public hearings were held in Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap and Sindhuli districts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">People of three rural municipalities and two municipalities of Sindhupalchowk district, three rural municipalities and two municipalities of Kavrepalanchowk district, two rural municipalities of Ramechhap district and one rural municipality of Sindhuli district would be affected by the project. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14344', 'image' => '20220105124905_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 12:48:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14599', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tax Evasion Case Filed against Prime Accused of Lalita Niwas Land Scam ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land scam.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Other persons charged by the department include Saroj Dhakal, Uma Kumari Dhakal, Santu Shrestha and Rajeswor Shrestha, proprietor of Rajeswor and Company that carried out audit of the land transaction. The department had filed the case-sheet at the High Court Patan on Tuesday, January 4. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shova Kanta Dhakal is the prime accused of the land scam related to Lalita Niwas residence in Baluwatar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department has asked the high court to recover a sum of Rs 1.24 billion equivalent to the tax evasion amount from the accused. The ANSAN International and Rajeswor and Company are charged of producing fake value added tax details as well as income tax details for the purpose of tax evasion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department registered the charge-sheet at the high court demanding cent percent amount of the fine labeled against Shova Kanta Dhakal. Likewise, the department has demanded half of the amount from Shrestha for his involvement as an accomplice in tax evasion. 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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ishwar Thapa</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: More than 25,000 trees are being cut down for the expansion of the 220 KV Koshi Corridor transmission line- a national pride project which is currently under construction. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the extension of power transmission line right through the centre of Tinjure Milke Jaljale (TMJ), a tri-junction junction of Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung, also known as the capital of Rhododendron, would have a negative impact on the environment and the livelihood of the people. The locals have demanded the government to find an alternative route. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stakeholders are concerned that there will be a negative impact on tourism and environment after a large number of trees will be cut down in the TMJ forest area. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Locals fear that the tourism business, which has flourished due to the rhododendron forests, will decline after the trees are cut down. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the work of power expansion can be done without cutting down the trees, the project has started the work by cutting down the dense forest. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The construction of the Koshi Corridor, considered to be the biggest project of the eastern hill districts till date, is in full swing. The work of laying poles and connecting wires in Dhankuta and Tehrathum has already started. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The preliminary environmental impact assessment was conducted in 2073 for the operation of the project. During the line expansion, 25,000 trees including rhododendron of six community forests in Tinjure will be cut down. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dambar Bahadur Budathoki, chairman of the Tinjure Hattisar Community Forest Users Group of Dharmadevi Municipality-1 in Sankhuwasabha district, said that the project officials had agreed to extend the transmission lines through the hills of Tinjure after the first survey conducted by the project. However, the project officials decided to take the transmission lines through the dense forest after the second survey, informed Budhathoki. He claims that the project did not take anyone’s consent in the second survey. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“After the deforestation, there is a possibility of loss of animal habitat, wildlife and drying up of water sources that would directly impact the tourism in the region,” Budathoki said, “The Koshi Corridor seems to have a major impact on climate and biodiversity as well.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of Laligurans Municipality Arjun Mabohang informed that the risk of drinking water crisis has increased in Basantapur city due to the cutting down of trees. He also said that they are repeatedly urging the project to look for other alternatives to save the forest. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Someshwor Kumar Das, assistant forest officer of the Sub-Divisional Forest Office, Basantapur, said that the environmental impact assessment was done as it was a project of national pride. He claims that the trees including the rhododendron forests were cut down through a decision taken by the Council of Ministers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Das said that the project has agreed to plant 25 saplings in place of one tree cut down in the affected area and regenerate the forest within five years. He is of the view that deforestation will affect the environment but things will return back to normal after the new plants grow up. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14358', 'image' => '20220107020222_1641506391.Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 13:59:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14613', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Inaruwa Bus Park yet to Come into Operation', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: A bus park built in Inaruwa of Sunsari district three years ago is still not operational. The bus park could not come into operation after the Inaruwa Municipality did not receive the budget allocated by the federal government for the operation of the bus park.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bus park at Inaruwa Municipality-4 has become a hot spot for drug addicts and a dating spot.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bus park constructed by Kalika Construction was inaugurated by the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav on January 9, 2019. The construction company had completed the project ahead of its two-year deadline. A committee was formed to operate the bus park under the chairmanship of Anjani Pokhrel, ward chairman of Inaruwa Municipality-5. At present, the committee is also without leadership.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Locals, including landlords, are furious over the non-operation of the bus park even after three years. Ramesh Shrestha, a local who donated land for the bus park, has demanded that the land be returned. He had provided 5 katas of land free of cost for the operation of the bus park. He is preparing to submit a memorandum to the district administration office saying that the land should be returned if the bus park is not operated. He said that the municipality was not interested in operating the bus park.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The municipality has not shown any interest to bring the bus park into operation as the Ministry of Urban Development has not released the required amount to the municipality.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The tender for the construction of roads, sewerage, and other infrastructures in Inaruwa municipality, including the bus park built on 1.5 bighas of land in Inaruwa municipality, was worth Rs 1.80 billion. Mayor Rajan Mehta has been saying that the bus park will be brought into operation only if Inaruwa Municipality gets the pending Rs 200 million and an additional amount under the urban smart city project.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14356', 'image' => '20220107014349_1641505897.1 buspark.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 13:43:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14612', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fixes Support Price of Sugarcane after the Produce Dry Up', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried up.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 7: The government has fixed the support price of sugarcane for this year after the sugarcane produced by the farmers dried up. Expressing their dissatisfaction, the sugarcane farmers complained that the government fixed the support price too late due to the temptation shown by the middlemen and industrialists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Sugarcane Farmers' Struggle Committee, the delay in setting the price by the government for about a month and a half has caused huge financial loss to them.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday (January 5) fixed the support price of sugarcane at Rs 590 per quintal for this year. The struggle committee has been repeatedly requesting the government to fix the support price of sugarcane at the right time. Despite this, the government fixed the support price of sugarcane late while ignoring the farmers’ requests.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the struggle committee Hari Shyam Raya said that most of the farmers' sugarcane has already dried up due to the government's delay in fixing the support price. According to him, the government should have fixed the support price by mid-November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> “The government did not fix the support price of sugarcane in time, so the operation of sugarcane mills was delayed this year. It has resulted in the delay in harvesting and selling sugarcane. When there is a delay in cutting and selling sugarcane, the sugarcane starts drying and the production starts declining. We don't understand why the government is doing this,” he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raya estimates that the production may decrease up to 4 quintals per kattha due to delay in selling sugarcane which was ready for sales in mid-November. On the one hand, the farmers are worried that millions of rupees will be lost this year due to the drying up of sugarcane, while on the other hand, they are worried about not being able to plant another crop on the land.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><strong>Farmers dissatisfied with support price</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sugarcane farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the support price set by the government. Farmers have expressed dissatisfaction over the support price even though the government has increased the price by Rs 46 per quintal compared to last year and fixed it at Rs 590 per quintal. Farmers have demanded a price of Rs 700 per quintal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the farmers, tt costs Rs 382 to produce one quintal of sugarcane and Rs 62 for transportation. They will be able to make a profit of only Rs 76 per quintal as per the price fixed by the government. Farmers complain that this profit amount is very low. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development said the price was relevant as it was determined in consultation with sugarcane producers and sugar industrialists. The farmers on the other hand said that the quantity of sugarcane produced in Nepal is decreasing every year as the government has always been ignoring the sugarcane farmers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14355', 'image' => '20220107121413_img-20210306-wa0011.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 12:13:08', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14611', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CIB Submits Report on Lalita Niwas Land Scam to District Attorney ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s office. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">January 7: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has completed its investigation related to Baluwatar-based Lalita Niwas land scam and submitted its report to the district attorney’s office. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu is preparing to file charge-sheets against the accused on the basis of the report prepared by the CIB.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB report found that more than 350 individuals were involved in financial embezzlement in the land transaction, informed CIB Spokesperson Shyam Kumar Mahato.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that some names have been repeated because the report includes four separate cases. According to him, it took two years to complete the investigation. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report has implicated 360 persons including some high-profile individuals in the land scam. Those implicated by the report also include five former government secretaries. The CIB report has demanded action against those accused in the land scam in accordance to Section 2976 of the Criminal Code 2074 and also submitted recommendations to the district attorney’s office.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Sources at the District Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu said that the office has started verification of the report on Thursday itself and will file case as soon as the process is completed. The limitation of the case is of two years. Therefore, the case must be filed before January 11. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The reports shows that land mafia were involved in illegally transferring the ownership of the 143 ropanis of land of Lalita niwas between 2049BS to 2069BS byu bribing government officials. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had formed a probe committee in 2075 BS under the leadership of former secretary Sharada Prasad Trital to investigate into the embezzlement case. Based upon the report prepared by the committee, the then government in the same year had instructed the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the CIB to conduct investigations and take action against those involved in the scam. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIAA has already filed a case against 175 individuals involved in the Lalita Niwas land scam after a year-long investigation. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-07', 'modified' => '2022-01-07', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14354', 'image' => '20220107111859_1454675709cib-nepal.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-07 11:18:06', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14609', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Preparing to Purchase Chemical Fertilizers from India on G2G Model', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G model.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: Nepal is likely to purchase fertilizers from India on the G2G model. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday has decided to sign an agreement with India for the purchase of chemical fertilizers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The cabinet meeting has decided to sign a five-year agreement with the Government of India for the purchase of chemical fertilizers. Agriculture Minister Mahendra Raya Yadav said that 1.5 million metric tons of fertilizers will be purchased in the first year and then an agreement will be reached to increase it by 10 percent every year. A secretarial-level agreement will be signed during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's visit to India.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the high prices of fertilizer in the international market, its impact can be seen in Nepal as well. There is a shortage of chemical fertilizers in Nepal as the contractors have not been able to bring fertilizers due to the price hike.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the government has fixed the minimum support price of sugarcane. The cabinet meeting has decided to fix the price of sugarcane at Rs 590 per quintal. According to Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Yadav, the ministry fixed the price after holding discussions with the sugarcane farmers and the sugar mills. The proposal to fix the price of sugarcane was submitted to the Council of Ministers by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14353', 'image' => '20220106045648_Flag-Pins-Nepal-India_600x600.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 16:56:02', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14610', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'BFIs Reluctant to use Land Reform Information Management System', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current fiscal year. ', '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"">January 6: Banks and financial institutions are reluctant to use the Land Reform Information Management System (LRIMS) despite recommendation to the BFIs by the Department of Land Management and Archive to integrate the system from the beginning of the current 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"">BFIs are advocating for digital banking but lack confidence in the government-owned system. The officials of the department say BFIs are worried the banking system might be hacked if they connect to the LRIMS system. Balaram Kafle, computer officer at the Information Technology Branch of the department said no security threat has been detected in the system which was launched in 2015. </span></span></span></span></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 department's system is an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certified website. Even in that case if BFIs have any doubts they can launch the system in a separate network," said Kafle. But BFIs are not using the system and queuing themselves up physically at the land management offices.</span></span></span></span></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 land management service center has not interfered in any process of BFIs," he said, adding, “We have just asked BFIs to scan the paper meant for land release from their own computer. But they visit the land revenue office instead for this small task."</span></span></span></span></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, Vinay Kumar Regmi, deputy CEO of Nabil Bank, said that the banks could not start the service as the department has not updated the system. "And the department has not even provided training to BFIs to run the system," he added. On the other hand, the department argues that the training has been provided to the BFIs and the system is running 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"">Technology is rarely used in cooperatives compared to BFIs. Out of thousands of cooperatives, very few cooperatives are providing services like ATM, online banking and SMS banking.</span></span></span></span></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, cooperatives are ahead of banks and financial institutions in the use of technology in land management services. While 40 banks and financial institutions have received permits to use LRIMS, the number of cooperatives is only half, i.e. 26. However, the department estimates that the number of cooperatives using this system has almost doubled compared to the number of BFIs.</span></span></span></span></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 department has issued such permits to BFIs to make the Land Revenue Office technology friendly and reduce the physical presence of people at the Land Revenue Office.</span></span></span></span></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 department had projected that pressure of land management work would reduce by half if BFIs use the system. But the reluctance of BFIs to start the system has not helped to reduce their physical presence at the land revenue office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">EPF contributors lack confidence in LRIMS</span></span></strong></span></span></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"">Mahendra Raj Shakya, head of the credit department at the Employee Provident Fund, said that though they are willing to go online the contributors lack confidence in the system.</span></span></span></span></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"">"Contributors believe the work is done in one day if we visit the land revenue office. However there are uncertainties if they use the online service," said Shakya. He said that people take time to get used to the system. “It will take another year for its full implementation.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14352', 'image' => '20220106061755_Banks.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 18:17:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14608', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Growth of Digital Payment Slows Down', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: The growth of digital payment has slowed down since November. According to a report prepared by Nepal Rastra Bank, digital transactions done through wallet, mobile banking, internet banking, connectIPS have declined in November compared to October in the current fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In October, transactions worth Rs 87.73 billion were made through mobile banking while in November such transactions stood at Rs 78.15 billion. Likewise, transactions worth Rs 239.14 billion were completed through connectIPS, a drop from Rs 203.03 billion. Similarly, the payment through digital wallet has dropped to Rs 13.94 billion in November from Rs 14.42 billion in September. Similarly, transactions through QR code, internet banking, IPS and other online payment gateways also declined in November.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A total of 13.5 million transactions were made through mobile wallets in October while it dropped to 13.3 million in November. Similarly, 137 million transactions were made through mobile banking in October which dropped to 12.6 million in November. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NRB said that the number of transactions made through digital payments has declined. Digital wallet, mobile banking, internet banking and connect IPS are the major means for online payments which saw a decline in November. The transaction could have declined in the month of December as well but data is not available yet. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr. Gunakar Bhatta, spokesperson of NRB said that the number of digital payment transactions has declined lately but they are yet to conduct a study on what led to the slowdown. "Until September, festivals had led to an increase in the digital payments so it might have declined owing to absence of any such occasions," he said. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14351', 'image' => '20220106044128_digital payment.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 16:40:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14607', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Deuba Dissatisfied with Pace of Development Works ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development works.', '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"">January 6: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development works.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar on Wednesday, Deuba expressed dissatisfaction over the increasing liquidity crunch in the market due to the non-mobilization of government funds.</span></span></span></span></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 also drew the attention of concerned ministries that development works have not been able to pick up pace. "To speed up development projects, try to eliminate unnecessary hassles," the prime minister instructed the line ministries.</span></span></span></span></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"">Deuba also expressed concern that the national pride projects have not gained momentum. "As the pace of national pride projects is not satisfactory, monitor them to work effectively," he ordered.</span></span></span></span></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 Prime Minister gave nine-point instructions to all the ministers, secretaries, and high-ranking officials to implement the common minimum program of the government and to prioritize development, and promote good governance.</span></span></span></span></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"">Addressing the meeting, he said that all the government offices at all levels should be held accountable to expedite the services provided to the people.</span></span></span></span></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"">Deuba also directed the Ministry of Health and Population to make the vaccination campaign against COVID effective for all eligible citizens as the risk of infection remains high.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14350', 'image' => '20220106011918_1641427053.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 13:18:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14606', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prices of Seasonal Vegetables Drop up to 60 Percent ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a month. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 6: The prices of seasonal vegetables have decreased by almost 66 percent in a month. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, the prices of seasonal vegetables including beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, tomato and green leafy vegetables have declined in Kathmandu during the last one month. It is said that the price has come down due to an increase in production of seasonal vegetables. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The average wholesale price of beans, which was Rs 110 per kg a month ago, has declined by 66 per cent to Rs 37 per kg in the last one month. The price of tunnel tomato has also dropped by 58 percent from Rs 65 per kg to Rs 27. Likewise, the price of carrot has also declined by 50 percent from Rs 110 to Rs 55 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the price of garden cress (leafy vegetable) has also come down by 50 percent from Rs 130 to Rs 65 per kg. The price of local cauliflower has also decreased by Rs 10 from Rs 40 to Rs 30 per kg, turnip from Rs 75 to Rs 65 and white radish from Rs 35 to Rs 22 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Gita Prasad Acharya, chairperson of the board, said that the price of seasonal vegetables has decreased due to increase in production. According to him, most of the vegetables imported to Kalimati are from Dhading, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Chitwan, Makwanpur and other districts. At present, 700 to 900 tons of vegetables are brought to Kalimati on a daily basis.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14349', 'image' => '20220106010443_vegetable-store.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 13:03:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14605', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Eighth Summer Ski Festival in February ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in February.', 'content' => '<p><em> Photo Courtesy: Krishna Thapa</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 6: Mardi Himal, a popular tourist destination in Annapurna mountain range, is ready to host the eighth edition of the Summer Ski Festival in February.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The event is being organized by the Sustainable Himalayan Fund from February 10 to 18. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The week-long festival primarily aims to develop and promote ski tourism in Nepal, said Prabhat Adhikari, member of the organizing committee.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">This edition of the Summer Ski Event has been named as the ‘Great Himalayan Ski Visit’. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The estimated cost of organizing the event is Rs 1.6 million. The organisers have allocated Rs 220,000 for the insurance of participants. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to Chairman of the fund Ram Bahadur Thapa, the ski festival was earlier held in tourist destinations such as Manaslu and Kalinchowk. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">International ski coach Krishna Thapa Magar will coach and coordinate the festival, informed the organisers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A local Sudeep Gautam believes that this event will help promote trekking along the Mardi Himal trail as well.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-06', 'modified' => '2022-01-06', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14348', 'image' => '20220106115443_ski227894148948033536_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-06 11:53:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14604', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NAC's Property likely to be Auctioned as the Flag Carrier of Nepal Defaults on Loan Repayment', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on time.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: Cash-strapped Nepal Airlines Corporation’s (NAC) property is likely to be auctioned due to the state-owned company’s failure to repay its loan on time.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Current circumstances indicate that NAC might need to auction its property if the government does not pay the loan and installment on time. NAC had received a loan from the Citizens Investment Trust (CIT) and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) six years ago with the government pledging to be the guarantor.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NAC has not paid any installment or interest of the loan taken from CIT and EPF since 2075 BS. The flag carrier of Nepal has not shown any interest in repaying the loan despite receiving repeated requests from the two bodies.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Officials of both the funds are now appealing to the finance ministry to recover the loan. On Monday alone, the representatives of CIT and EPF met officials of the finance ministry, including Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar. During the meeting, they did not receive a satisfactory answer.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Pushkar urged the representatives of the Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Trust to collect the loan from the NAC as the government is not able to provide the amount in the current circumstances.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Revenue Secretary Pushkar reportedly suggested the officials to collect the loan by auctioning the property of NAC. Both the CIT and EPF are opting for auctioning NAC’s property kept as collateral as the government has shown no interest to repay the loan and neither has NAC.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NAC had borrowed Rs 34 billion from these two bodies at different times to procure two narrow-body and a wide-body aircraft. Similarly, the corporation also has a long-term debt of Rs 37.60 billion, including Rs 3.60 billion taken to purchase Chinese aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NAC had agreed to repay the loan of all four Airbus aircraft with within 15 years in 60 installments with both EPF and CIT . The airline has not paid any new installments except 17 installments of Citizens Investment Fund for narrow-body aircraft and one installment of wide-body Airbus aircraft.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raman Nepal, executive director of the Citizens Investment Trust, said that the Ministry of Finance has suggested auctioning the assets of NAC to collect the loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, discussions are underway to take necessary action.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The NAC had taken Rs 12 billion loan from the CIT alone, and now the total loan with interest has reached Rs 16 billion. The total debt of NAC is Rs 50 billion and the accumulated loss is Rs 11 billion, according to the information shared recently by Finance Minister Janardan Sharma with high-ranking government officials.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the officials, NAC has incurred such huge loss because it has recruited more than 500 unnecessary staffers.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14347', 'image' => '20220105060004_20210709080354_20180727021334_2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 17:58:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14603', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tender Process for Construction of Siddhababa Tunnel in Final Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: The tender process for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel along the Butwal-Palpa section of Siddhartha Highway has reached the final stage. Nine different companies had submitted technical proposals for the construction of Siddhababa tunnel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Roads has shortlisted four out of the nine companies that had participated in the bidding process announced in May last year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the approval of the technical proposals of the four companies, the Department of Roads has now fixed a date for opening their financial proposals. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Quality, Research and Development Center under the department has selected four companies and informed that the financial proposals will be opened next Wednesday, January 12 at 1 pm. While making such announcement on Tuesday, the center has made public the names of the four companies whose technical proposals for the construction of the tunnel have been approved. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the centre, all the four companies are Chinese companies. After opening the financial proposal, the lowest bidding company will be given the responsibility for the construction of the tunnel. There is a law that allows companies whose proposals are not approved to oppose the decision. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the center, the companies whose technical proposals have been approved are China First Highway Engineering Corporation, COVEC-CREGC JV, China State Construction Engineering Corporation and CCECC-CRCC 14-Xiuan JV. One of these companies will be responsible for the construction after the financial proposal is approved. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The tunnel, to be constructed under the Engineering, Procurement Construction (EPC) model, is targeted to be completed within five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Finance had secured an investment of Rs 10.15 billion in Nov/Dec 2019 for construction of tunnels with the amount raised within the country. Within 9 months of signing the contract, the concerned company will provide the design of the tunnel to the department. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of the center Dr. Bijay Jaisi said that the Swiss Development Corporation had provided the preliminary design and report to the department two years ago. Accordingly, the department has announced the tender bids for the tunnel based on various parameters. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">"The construction company should build the tunnel and hand it over to Nepal within five years," he said, adding, "As the contract is in EPC model, it is certain that the tunnel will be ready in the estimated time." </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Landslides in an area of 4 to 5 km of the Siddhababa section of the road have been causing loss of life and property every year. The government had put forward this tunnel project in the policy and program of the Fiscal Year 2075/76 with the objective of minimizing this loss. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the project, 900 meters of road from Chidiya Khola to Upper Siddhababa will be upgraded to two lanes and the other 500 meters of the tunnel will also be upgraded to two lanes. The distance of the tunnel will be 1.126 km. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14346', 'image' => '20220105030510_20201111043429_1605049013.Clipboard05.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 15:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14602', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Five Sugar Mills Fail to Settle Dues of Farmers', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">January 5: Five sugar mills are yet to pay their dues to the sugarcane farmers despite an understanding to settle the dues. According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Himalaya Sugar Mill, Shri Ram Sugar Mill, Lumbini Sugar Mill, Annapurna Sugar Mill and Indira Sugar Mill are yet to pay Rs 87 million to the farmers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Commerce Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai informed that the ministry has written separate letters to the ministries of land management, home affairs and finance to block the bank accounts and land of the defaulting industries for their failure to pay the long-standing dues to the farmers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">At a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee under the House of Representatives, Secretary Bhattarai said that they were taking initiative to get the dues of the sugarcane farmers. He informed that the number of sugarcane farmers has declined and the industries has also come down from 29 to 8 due to the failure of industries to pay the farmers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the committee meeting, the MPs sharply criticized the government for not being sensitive towards the problems of the sugarcane farmers. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the discussion, Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar said that despite discussions regarding the removal of VAT on sugar since a long time, an immediate decision cannot be taken. He said that although discussions were held to include the issue in the budget replacement bill, preparations were not enough to take this measure immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Agriculture Secretary Govind Sharma said that a proposal has been sent to the Council of Ministers to fix the support price of sugarcane and that a decision regarding this issue will be taken on Wednesday, January 5.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The MPs drew the attention of the government that the sugarcane farmers have not yet received the amount for selling sugarcane to the sugar mills. The parliamentary committee pointed out that the directives given on the issues of sugarcane farmers have not been followed as well. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Farmers claim that they still are yet to receive Rs 87 million from the sugar mills. In the meeting, MP Dharmashila Chapagain complained that the directive given by the Public Accounts Committee in 2018 regarding pricing of sugarcane has not been implemented yet and this issue has to be discussed time and again. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">MP of Nepali Congress, Rajendra KC said that farmers would be discouraged towards sugarcane cultivation as there are still problems in payment of sugarcane. He said that the government should also give an answer as to why the number of sugar industries has dropped from 29 to 8.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20210730041505_20210125102806_20201229113333_1609164432.jpg" style="height:843px; width:1500px" /></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14345', 'image' => '20220105010604_20190107104522_sugarcane.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 13:04:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14601', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Estimated cost of Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is Rs 160 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity Development. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 5: The cost of constructing the Sunkoshi III Hydro Power Project is estimated to be Rs 160 billion, according to the Department of Electricity Development. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A feasibility study conducted by the Department has estimated the preliminary cost of construction of the 636 megawatts reservoir-type project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The feasibility study of the project is in the final stage. The department's engineer Subas Thapaliya said preparation is almost complete to finalize a draft of the study report which includes the design drawing, geological survey, topography survey, estimated project cost, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the biological, economic and social study of the project. "The study shows that the estimated cost of the project will be Rs 160 billion," he said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department has written to the local governments of the project-affected areas seeking their feedback on the draft report after carrying out the feasibility study. The Khandadevi and Sunapati rural municipalities of Ramechhap and the Sunkoshi rural municipality of Sindhuli district will give their suggestions on the draft report. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"The report will be forwarded to the Ministry of Forests and Environment after the local levels give their feedback," Thapaliya said. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to him, the EIA-related works are also being carried out. The department organized public hearings in four districts of the project-affected areas in this connection. The individuals and institutions concerned gave their suggestions regarding various aspects of the project. The public hearings were held in Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap and Sindhuli districts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">People of three rural municipalities and two municipalities of Sindhupalchowk district, three rural municipalities and two municipalities of Kavrepalanchowk district, two rural municipalities of Ramechhap district and one rural municipality of Sindhuli district would be affected by the project. -- RSS</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14344', 'image' => '20220105124905_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 12:48:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14599', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tax Evasion Case Filed against Prime Accused of Lalita Niwas Land Scam ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land scam.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">January 5: The Revenue Investigation Department has filed a case of revenue evasion against the proprietor of ANSAN International Pvt Ltd, Shova Kanta Dhakal, the main person accused in the Lalita Niwas land scam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Other persons charged by the department include Saroj Dhakal, Uma Kumari Dhakal, Santu Shrestha and Rajeswor Shrestha, proprietor of Rajeswor and Company that carried out audit of the land transaction. The department had filed the case-sheet at the High Court Patan on Tuesday, January 4. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shova Kanta Dhakal is the prime accused of the land scam related to Lalita Niwas residence in Baluwatar. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department has asked the high court to recover a sum of Rs 1.24 billion equivalent to the tax evasion amount from the accused. The ANSAN International and Rajeswor and Company are charged of producing fake value added tax details as well as income tax details for the purpose of tax evasion. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The department registered the charge-sheet at the high court demanding cent percent amount of the fine labeled against Shova Kanta Dhakal. Likewise, the department has demanded half of the amount from Shrestha for his involvement as an accomplice in tax evasion. (With inputs from RSS) </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-01-05', 'modified' => '2022-01-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14343', 'image' => '20220105115627_tax evasion.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-01-05 11:51:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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
