News
11- Suspension bridge constructed over Ritung Rivulet
Babiyachaur (Myagdi),
June 3: A suspension bridge has been constructed over the Ritung Rivulet at the
adjoining point of Niskot and Devisthan of Malika Rural Municipality in the
district.
The 26.6-meter-long
bridge was constructed at the total cost of over 2.6 million rupees. With the
construction of the bridge, over 283 households at the locality have been
directly benefited, said users' committee chair Dut Bahadur Phagami
The bridge was
constructed with support of the District Coordination Committee.
Meanwhile, a building
for Nepal Red Cross Bhurung Tatopani sub branch office at Annapurna Rural
Municipality-2 has been constructed at the total cost of over one million
rupees.
12- Deuba's candidacy for PM
registered
Kathmandu, June 3: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur
Deuba has registered his candidacy for the post of the Prime Minister.
The candidacy registered at the Legislature-Parliament
Secretariat this afternoon was proposed by outgoing Prime Minister and CPN (MC)
Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. Likewise, NC senior leader Ram Chandra
Poudel, Nepal Democratic Forum Chair Bijaya Kumar Gachchadar, Socialist Janata
Dal Chair Prem Bahadur Singh, Akhanda Nepal Party Kumar Khadka and CPN (United)
leader Jayadev Joshi have seconded Deuba's candidacy.
-: 7 :-
The filing of nominations for the post of the new Prime
Minister is taking place from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm today. The election will take
place in the parliament meeting to be held tomorrow.
Earlier, the NC parliamentary party, work execution
committee had decided to propose the party leader Deuba for the post of the
Prime Minister. NC leader Poudel proposed Deuba's name with the responsibility
of implementing the new constitution and ensuring the party's win in the
remaining elections, according to NC Chief Whip Chinkaji Shrestha.
As per the agreement with the NC, Prime Minister Prachanda
resigned from his post on May 24, paving the way for the new election to the
post of the Prime Minister. RSS
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13- Over 40 metric tonnes of garbage managed from major
rivers in Valley
Kathmandu, May 3: As high as 40 metric
tonnes of garbage was collected from various major rivers and ring road areas
in Kathmandu Valley on Saturday.
Around 9 metric tonnes of solid waste
was managed while cleaning the Bagmati River as part of the Bagmati Clean-Up
campaign that entered its 212th week today, according to campaigner
Umesh Bohra.
On the occasion, the Ministry of
Population and Environment (MoPE) organized bicycle rally on the stretch from
Tripureswar to Ram Mandir in the Pashupati Temple area.
A special clean-up drive was conducted
in the Pashupatipati Temple area on the occasion.
The Ministry had distributed some 100
pairs of boot, 500 pairs of gloves and similar number of masks for the
participants in the event.
According to campaigner Bohra, over
500 people from various walks of life and representing several government
agencies in the country joined the clean-up campaign that aims to help the holy
river Bagmati regain its chastity.
Participants joining today's weekly
also included personnel from security agencies including Nepal Army, Nepal
Police and Nepal Police Force as well as Sisnupani Nepal, Advertising
Association of Nepal and officials from the High Powered Committee for
Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization.
In attendance in the clean up drive
were Secretary at the MoEP Dr Bishwanath Oli and Pashupati Area Development
Trust member-secretary Dr Govinda Tondon among other government agencies
representatives and social workers.
-: 8 :-
Similarly, some 100 volunteers
representing Pudasaini Maitri Samaj and Ramro Jorpati Hamro Jorpati campaign
extracted two metric tonnes of solid waste from the Guiheshwori stretch of the
Bagmati river, as well as the Bagmati Batika Pillar in Gokarneshower Municipality-5,
according to Samaj's President Uttam Pudasaini.
Meanwhile, the
Rudramati Clean-up Campaign, which is into its 171st week, scooped out garbage amounting to one
metric tonnes from the Ram Mandir area in the Pashupatinath Temple, shared
campaigner Rohit Giri.
The clean up drive saw
participation of the newly elected ward's chair of ward no 30, Dal Bahadur
Karki, added campaigner Giri added.
Likewise, six metric tonnes of
waste products was extracted Tarkeshower Gumba in Tarkeshower Municipality-10
as the Bishumati Clean-up Campaign entered the 143rd week today.
More than 150 volunteers took part in the event.
Likewise, Tilganga Women's group
collected one metric tonnes of garbage from the Tilganga stretch of the Bagmati
river.
Moreover, Ring Road Clean-up
Campaign that entered its 8th week today managed 22 metric tonnes of
waste from the area starting from Green City Hospital to the Taleju Petrol Pump
in Samakhusi stretch.
Around 550 locals and volunteers
took part in the clean-up drive.
14- One electrocuted
Lahan,
June 3: A person was electrocuted at Nabarajpur Rural Municipality-2 in Siraha
district last night.
Local
resident Bechan Mukhiya, 45, died after he came in contact with live electric
current while picking up an iron rod.
Area Police Jhajhapatti said that seriously hurt Mukhiya died on the way
to hospital.
15- Pol parties in Baitadi intertwining voter
education with political campaign
Baitadi, May 3: The political
parties in Baitadi district that are gearing up for the second phase of local
level elections on June 28 have been imparting voter education while campaigning
for the poll.
The sole objective is to decrease
the number of invalid votes, which was recorded in high numbers in the first
phase of election on June 14.
-: 9 :-
The cadres of various political
parties contesting in the second phase of poll that is taking places in 41
districts across province no 1, 2 5 and 7, are visiting the eligible voters
door-to-door and teaching how to vote in the right way, according to Nepali
Congress Baitadi Chapter Secretary Bir Bahadur Bista.
Bista said that the political
parties have employed sample Swastika sign
and ballot papers to give practical education to the voters on voting in the
right way.
Similarly, CPN-UML Baitdai Chapter
Secretary Leeladhar Bhatta shared that his party has underscored voter education
besides political campaign aiming to attract voters.
Likewise, CPN-Maoist Centre Baitadi
District Coordinator Prem Prakash Bhatta admitted that they were actively
involved in educating voters besides attracting them in view of the upcoming
poll.
Bhatta said that the cadres have
been reaching out to the voters for the same.
On the corollary, the District
Election Office (DEO), Baitadi has also launched voter education and awareness
campaign in the district since May 19, according to the DEO Chief Madhav Prasad
Phuyal. RSS
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16- US-Nepal
cultural fair begins in Pokhara
Pokhara, June 3: The US-Nepal cultural fair has been organized
at Exhibition Hall in Pokhara from today.
The fair
was organized on the occasion of 70 years of US-Nepal diplomatic ties.
The fair is supported by Kathmandu based US embassy and NCell Nepal. As part of the fair, different artists had
shown their talent.
The
cultural programme including dance, live wall painting, face painting and child
games are the major attractions of the fair.
17- Stakeholders for giving rights to local
level to accelerate reconstruction jobs
Kathmandu,
June 3: Education Minister Dhaniram Poudel has said that the grants doled out
from the government would go to the beneficiaries earlier if the local levels
were given rights for the job.
At
a programme in the capital city today, he expressed his confidence that
reconstruction job would accelerate if the local level polls were given the
rights.
-: 10 :-
On
the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local
Development Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said that the reconstruction tasks would be
meaningful if the private residences, public infrastructure, project
development and heritages were reconstructed.
Likewise,
Executive Director of NSET Dr Amodmani Dixit opined that the government should
prioritize the construction of buildings full of technology.
Similarly,
expert member of the National Reconstruction Authority Dr Chandra Bahadur
Shrestha said that the Authority was working with high speed by sending expert
groups in the local levels for the reconstruction efforts.
Also
speaking at the programme were Nepal Tourism Board CEO Dipak Raj Joshi,
Director General of Department of Archeology Bhesh Narayan Dahal, journalist
Shreeram Singh Basnet and others.
RSS
NEWS COMMENTARY:
18- Sagging share of industries in GDP, a
matter of concern for country's economic health
(Deepraj
Sanyal)
Kathmandu: The government on
Monday unveiled the statement of estimated income and expenditure (budget) for
the fiscal year 2017/18. Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara presented the
budget estimates of Rs 1 trillion 278 billion 994 million 855 thousand for the
new fiscal. The relatively jumbo-size
budget compared to the national economy aims for 7.2 percent economic growth
rate. It has the target of creating nearly 500 thousand jobs.
One
of the major thrusts of the budget is transfer of funds to the local level to
support the implementation of federal structure of governance in the country.
Another feature of the budget is that it aims to keep the inflation well under
7 per cent.
The
budget prioritizes implementation of federalism, post-earthquake
reconstruction, job creation, production and productivity growth,
infrastructure development and the projects of national pride, modernization of
the agriculture sector and energy including hydropower production. Similarly,
development of road and railway infrastructure, and reforms in the public
administration and service sectors are also the priority areas in the new
budget.
The
new budget is 21.9 per cent bigger in size than the budget for fiscal year
2016/17 presented by the erstwhile government. The size of the budget for
current fiscal 2016/17 is Rs 1 trillion 48 billion 920 million. Regarding the
relatively big size of the budget for the next fiscal, Finance Minister Mahara
explained that it was because the fiscal transfers to the local and province
levels too are included in the current expenditure.
-: 11 :-
Of
the total budget, 68.28 percent or Rs 803 billion 531 million 454 thousand has
been set aside for general expenditure while 26.2 percent or Rs 335 billion 175
million 970 thousand for capital expenditure. Although the capital expenditure
in the 11 months of the current fiscal year remains dismal, i.e. less than
one-third of the budget, the Finance Minister has claimed that 84 percent of
the capital expenditure would be spent by the end of the current fiscal year.
Diminishing
contribution of industrial sector
Given
the budget's thrust on increasing production and productivity, the diminishing
contribution of the industrial sector in the GDP is a matter of concern. This
shows that the country's economy is import-oriented. The state needs to
vigorously promote industrialization for meeting the twin goals of job creation
and import substitution. As per the Economic Survey for the fiscal year
2016/17, the contribution of the industry sector to the GDP stood at 5.72
percent in fiscal year 2015/16, which is less than the previous years. The
share of the industrial sector in the GDP in fiscal year 2012/13 was 6.35 per
cent and 6.2 percent in the following fiscal. It was 6.03 per cent in fiscal
year 2014/15 but dropped to 5.72 per cent in fiscal year 2015/16. One reason for
the drop in the share of industrial sector in the GDP in fiscal year 2015/16
was due to the contraction of the industrial sector due to the Gorkha Earthquake
and the unofficial border blockade imposed by India immediately after that in
2015.
However,
compared to fiscal year 2015/16, the net value growth in the industrial sector
is estimated to go up by 9.7 per cent in the current fiscal year due to the
sufficient supply of fuel, power and raw materials. Industrialization has not
been able to expand to the desired extent in the country due to the political,
natural and policy reasons. Looking at the status of industries that were in
operation in the last 10 years, the investment capital in industries is seen
increasing between fiscal 2007/08 and 2011/12. Capital investment in 279
industries in fiscal year 2011/12 was Rs 84 billion 427 million. It was Rs 119
billion 601 million for 446 industries in 2012/13.
Compared
to the fiscal year 2012/13, the capital increment in 466 industries increased
by 142 percent and reached 289 billion 308 million in fiscal year 2013/14,
according to the Economic Survey. Nevertheless, the capital increase has not
been in that proportion after 2013/14.
6,834
industries have been registered in the Department of Industries until the first
eight months of the current fiscal year. Based on the type of industries, the
production based industries account for the largest number of industries at
2,713, which is 39.7 percent of all the industries. The number of tourism-based
industries is 1,400 which is 20.6 percent. Likewise, there are 413 agro and
forest based industries (6.1 percent), 283 energy based industries (4.1
percent), 63 mineral based industries (0.9 percent) and 49 construction based
industries (0.7 percent).
-: 12 :-
Based
on the capital investment in industries registered until the first eight months
of the fiscal year 2016/17, 52.9 per cent of the investment is in the energy-based
industries. Similarly, 23.1 percent of the capital investment is in production-based
industries, 10.7 percent of the investment is in service industries, 8 per cent
in tourism industries and 3.4 per cent in construction-based industries.
Likewise, agriculture and forest based industries account for 1.6 per cent and
the mineral-based industries 0.3 per cent of the total capital investment in
industries.
According
to economists, the reasons for decrease in the contribution of the industrial
sector in the country's GDP are low rate of industrialization and lack of the
required laws. The industrialists have been discouraged by the lack of
industry-friendly laws and policies. However, the government has brought some
encouraging legislations and policies in the last couple of years for the
development of the industry sector. These are the Industrial Policy, 2067 BS;
the Foreign Investment Policy, 2071; the National Intellectual Property Policy,
2073; the Industrial Enterprises Act, 2073 BS; and the Special Economic
Zone Act, 2073 BS. The Company Act, 2073
BS has been revised while the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act is
in the process of timely reform.
The
recent announcement by the government to set up an Industrial Development Fund
of Rs 500 billion is a welcome step in the direction of promotion of industries
and building an investment-friendly climate. The government, general public,
non-resident Nepalese, the private sector, and joint-venture companies will
invest in this Fund.
In
this backdrop, it is imperative that the government creates an environment,
which encourages establishment and operation of more industries in the country
to achieve the goal of rapid economic growth.
19- Quality health services
still challenging: President Bhandari
Kathmandu, June 3:
President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that ensuring easy and affordable health
services was still a challenging task in the country.
While inaugurating
the Nepal Cancer Hospital at Harisiddhi in Lalitpur today, President Bhandari
added that people were compelled to spend huge money for the treatment of
killer diseases like cancer. She shared that government was reforming the
health sector while the private sectors also create trust in health service
sector.
Similarly, Health Minister Gagan Kumar Thapa
opined for public support to meet the goals in the health sector adding that
the government was launching various programmes in this connection.
Similarly, Industry Minister Navindra Raj
Joshi said that the private sector was playing a positive role to make all
kinds of treatment possible in the country.
-: 13 :-
Executive Director at
the hospital Dr Sudeep Shrestha shared that the hospital had begun its services
to tackle the challenge of providing quality treatment to the cancer
patients. The hospital is the first for
providing treatment to cancer patients in the private sector.
20- Re-election in Bharatpur-19, EC decides
Kathmandu,
June 3: Ending a week-long deadlock after the disruption in the counting of
votes in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, the Election Commission (EC) today
directed the Chief Returning Officer to conduct polls in ward no. 19 of the
metropolis
Issuing
a press statement today, EC Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma said that based on
two separate reports it was confirmed that vote counting station was captured
and hence a decision taken to declare the entire ballot papers of Ward No. 19
invalid and conduct the re-poll.
Accordingly,
the EC has directed the Chief Returning Officer of Chitwan to make arrangement
for re-poll in the ward by fixing the place, date and time for the same as per
the sub-clause (5) of clause 50 of the Local Level Election Act, 2074.
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21- Mental health policy in the offing:
Minister Thapa
Kathmandu, June 3: Minister for
Health Gagan Kumar Thapa has said that the mental health policy was going to be
formulated soon.
Laying the foundation stone for the
Child Mental Health Centre's building in the premises of Kanti Children
Hospital in Kathmandu today, Minister Thapa expressed his confidence that the
policy will provide guidelines for the treatment of the mentally-ill.
Urging parents to be timely aware
of the mental health issues in children, Thapa said that the government had
started providing mental health services for children in the Kanti Hospital.
Chief Specialist at the Ministry of
Health, Dr Kiran Regmi, spoke of the need for the parents to seek medical
assistance for any mental complications in the children as he argued that the
children's health is very sensitive one.
Similarly, Kanti Children Hospital
Director Dr Ajit Rayamajhi shareds that a new plan has been forwarded by the
Hospital to avail treatment for the children.
The building, estimated to cost Rs
30 million, will be constructed by two years.
-: 14 :-
A study conducted by the Hospital
showed that of the children brought to the Hospital for medical intervention;
around 10-15 per cent, children were found to have mental complications of any
sort.
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22- Re-election in Bharatpur-19, UML to contest
it
Kathmandu,
June 3: Ending a weeklong deadlock after the disruption in the counting of
votes in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, the Election Commission (EC) today
directed the Chief Returning Officer to conduct polls in ward no. 19 of the
metropolis.
Issuing
a press statement today, EC Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma said that based on
two separate reports it was confirmed that vote counting station was captured
and hence a decision taken to declare the entire ballot papers of Ward No. 19
invalid and conduct the re-poll.
Accordingly,
the EC has directed the Chief Returning Officer of Chitwan to make arrangement
for re-poll in the ward by fixing the place, date and time for the same as per
the sub-clause (5) of clause 50 of the Local Level Election Act, 2074.
Meanwhile,
the CPN-UML has said that it would reject the decision of the Commission to
hold re-polling. The meeting today of the UML parliamentary party decided to
contest the decision, seeking all kinds of remedy including the legal recourse.
It
may be noted that the UML has been obstructing the house, calling for
resumption in the counting of votes in Bharatpur-19. Talking to reporters
following the meeting, UML Chair KP Sharma Oli accused the Commission of taking
the decision under the pressure and influence of the ruling parties. "This
decision to encourage those involved in an election offense does not suit
democratic norms and values," he said.
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