November 9: Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota inspected the Tatopani Customs Point located in the northern border of Nepal on Monday.…
November 9: Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota inspected the Tatopani Customs Point located in the northern border of Nepal on Monday.…
November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined.…
November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings.…
November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years…
November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November…
November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on…
November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every…
November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian…
November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini…
November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to…
November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila…
November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion.…
November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays.…
November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19…
November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">November 9: Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota inspected the Tatopani Customs Point located in the northern border of Nepal on Monday. After the inspection, he shared that the government should invest in the customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The checkpoint has been generating billions of rupees as revenue annually and the government should not hesitate to strengthen it,” said Sapkota adding, “Landslides, earthquakes and repeated natural disasters have greatly damaged the customs point. It has been observed that the government of Nepal has to invest in order to make the checkpoint fully operational.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Stating that the development from Barhabise to Kodari should be taken as a multi-year plan, he emphasized on the need to move ahead by making a short-term and long-term blueprint for it. “In the long run, the road from Dhulikhel to Kodari can be made of two lanes,” said Sapkota adding, “For the short-term, the damaged structures should be repaired immediately.” Sapkota even requested the finance minister, Janardan Sharma to allocate a budget to proceed with the works.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A team including the Speaker Sapkota and the Minister Sharma had inspected Friendship Bridge and the Liping Market. Liping Market is directly connected to the bridge that acts as a border between Nepal and China. The situation here is pitiful after the earthquake. The market alone had a turnover of tens of millions before the earthquake. Large hotels, banks and other commercial shops were running in the market. Sapkota stressed on the need to resume those activities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, who accompanied the speaker to inspect the customs point said that a diplomatic initiative was being taken to strengthen the Tatopani customs point to facilitate the business. “The dry port has improved significantly, and an agreement has been reached with the Chinese government to expand the port,” said Sharma claiming that the customs point would be fully operational on a regular basis within a few months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have already given detailed information to the Chinese government for the construction of physical infrastructure, upgrading the Barhabise-Kodari road and preventing soil erosion,” said Sharma, adding, “The Chinese government seems to support the idea of making the customs point fully operational”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaker Sapkota and Minister Sharma jointly inspected the current status from the Tatopani Customs Point to the Friendship Bridge. They inspected the status of Araniko Highway as well. The motive of the investigation was to note the required maintenance and new constructions to be made along the 26 km from Barhabise to Nepal-China border as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaker’s press advisor, Shridhar Neupane said that discussions have been made with the local entrepreneurs, Tatopani Customs Point and others to effectively operate the Tatopani Customs Point which has been extremely unstable after the earthquake. “Discussions were mainly focused on further coordination with China to improve the checkpoint and Araniko Highway,” Neupane said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Imports and exports from Tatopani have not been able to normalize also due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14009', 'image' => '20211109014016_20210518054607_20190510014655_Clipboard04-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:39:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14263', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Boundaries of Pushpalal Highway yet to be Fixed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined. Although the width of the national highway is generally considered to be 25/25 meters, it has not been possible to determine the boundaries of the highway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Pushpalal Highway Project Directorate has informed that the land required for the construction of the two-lane highway is not available yet. Project chief Arjun Prasad Aryal said that the project has not been able to provide compensation to all the affected households while compensation has been distributed only on the section that falls under the construction funded by foreign aid. Aryal said that the problem has arisen due to the unequal distribution of compensation. “We are facing problem because we have not been able to acquire the land required for construction of the highway,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a problem in some places as the route has to cross the market area by demolishing houses. This problem has surfaced in Sundar Bazaar of Lamjung, Bhorletar Ram Bazaar and Bhanse-Bajpatan-Yamdi bridge of Kaski. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a legal provision that a contract cannot be signed without completing the process of land acquisition. Aryal said that due to the property rights guaranteed by the constitution, the project directorate cannot build roads on the personal property against the owner’s will. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project informed that the land dispute has not been resolved in the roads that have already been constructed. Aryal said that the problem is that some of the lands where roads are being operated are still in the name of individuals. According to him, the government should formulate new law and bring the road in its name. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that this problem is also present in other projects and the information should be published in the Nepal Gazette by determining the boundaries of strategic roads. He said, “Once the road demarcation and road boundaries have been finalized, the land acquisition and handover to the project should be done in a simple and quick way.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On one hand, the government is planning to widen the existing roads, while on the other hand, the locals are demanding to reduce the width of the existing highways. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of mid-October, the physical progress of the project is 58.35 percent and the financial progress is 63.85 percent. The project has spent 6.28 percent of the allocated budget this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">See related article in this link:</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><a href="https://www.newbusinessage.com/Articles/view/14205" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">https://www.newbusinessage.com/Articles/view/14205</a></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14008', 'image' => '20211109013101_636974886072531824.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:30:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14262', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Province 1 has the Potential to become Second-Largest Source of Forex Earning', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings. A study of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) shows that remittances are the key source of foreign exchange earnings, and Province 1 has the potential to become the second-largest source of forex. The finding is based on a research conducted by NRB last year on the economic activities of Province 1.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that the tourism sector of Province 1 can be developed as a sustainable alternative source of earning foreign exchange after remittances.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study suggests that the state needs to invest in tourism infrastructure to benefit from its geographical and climatic diversity, biodiversity, social, religious, and cultural diversity, recreational potential, and proximity to two neighboring countries, India and China. The NRB report states that the tourism sector can be made a source of foreign exchange if investment in infrastructure is increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study further states that Province 1 will also make a great contribution to the commercialization of agriculture. The state has the highest share of the country's agricultural production at 21.5 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200922031750_20190507024542_aaa.jpg" style="height:600px; width:800px" /></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to this fact, the state can contribute to import substitution of agricultural products by commercializing the agricultural sector through the use of modern technology, expansion of investment, and development of infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Irrigation, hydropower, and water transport development also have high potential. It is mentioned in the report that there is potential for the development of irrigation, hydropower, and water transport due to the rivers like Arun, Tamor, Dudhkoshi, Mechi, Kankai, and Triyuga, and the high Himalayas and the Mahabharata range.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that if electricity generation and irrigation can be properly developed by mobilizing domestic and foreign investment, seasonal dependence on agriculture will be reduced and productivity of arable land and agricultural production can be increased and industrialization will be supported.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Establishing industries and factories in Province 1 will make it easier to export manufactured goods and services. The state shares borders with both India and China, and the Koshi and Mechi highways facilitate access to both neighboring countries. Therefore, the establishment of foreign-invested industries and factories would be relatively easy to export manufactured goods and services, the report states.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the internal and external markets for rural products are being ensured, the internal and export trade of agricultural and industrial products is also likely to expand, according to the report.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that this is possible due to the rapid construction and expansion of Mid-Hill Highway and access roads to the highway.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, if the industries in the Sunsari-Morang corridor of Province 1 can be operated at full capacity, it will significantly contribute to the promotion of export trade. The contribution of the industrial sector of Province 1 to the GDP of the country is in second place. In this context, it is mentioned in the report that industrial production will help in promotion of export trade and import substitution.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the possibilities, there are some challenges in the province. There is a challenge to allocate a sufficient amount in the annual budget in line with the strategic goals of economic development specified by the Periodic Plan. Achieving the goals of such schemes by providing continuity to regional priorities is also seen as a challenge.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the data, information, and details related to agriculture, industry, services, and infrastructure are not completely reliable, there is a challenge to formulate a sustainable policy based on facts. The report states that such a problem has arisen due to a lack of systematic storage of information and data in data providers, establishments, and organizations related to agriculture, industry, services, and infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is also seen that there will be a challenge to effectively distribute and mobilize resources by identifying the goals and priorities of the federal, state, and local governments. The province will likely face a challenge to protect the domestic industries from being replaced due to increasing imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report also states that it will be challenging to create an environment that can benefit from the market of two big neighboring countries by promoting the production and business of goods and services within the state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the difficult geographical location, expanding financial access and increasing financial inclusion through financial awareness will also be a challenge to increase the use of available financial products and instruments, the report said. The NRB says that there is a challenge to attract domestic and foreign investment for the prosperity and development of the state as the internal investment capacity is limited.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14007', 'image' => '20211109011356_20181213020242_tea farm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:12:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14261', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Keeps Public Expenditure Review Committee Report Secret', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years ago. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years ago. The 300-page report with suggestions to improve public expenditure was prepared after six months of investigation by a committee formed three years ago under the leadership of economist Dr Dilliraj Khanal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After completing necessary study and research, the committee had submitted the report to the then Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada. The report had suggested the government to increase development expenditure by cutting down the current expenditure through reduction in the number of ministries at the center and scrapping of more than 1,000 unnecessary government bodies. Instead of releasing the report and implementing it, the government is increasing the financial burden by allocating billions of rupees from the state coffers to the bodies that were recommended to be scrapped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Public Expenditure Review Committee had recommended in 2019 to scrap the Trade and Export Promotion Center, Industrial Enterprise Development Institute, Technology Development Fund and other bodies under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Cotton Development Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Dairy Development Board, Livestock Development Farm Working Fund and National Cooperative Development Board were also recommended to be closed. The report had suggested removing and merging about 1,000 bodies under various federal ministries and their handover to the state and local levels.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report, which has been kept secret by the government till now, has stated expenditure of billions have been made by various bodies like development boards, promotion centers, and commissions without any productive results. It had asked the government to reduce the number of ministries at the center from 18 to 15 and reduce the number of departments from 58 to 35. Instead of implementing the report, the government has been employing its own people by setting up additional non-essential bodies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala says that keeping such reports secret would not benefit the country. “Such reports should be released and implemented immediately.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report had also suggested to increase development expenditure. However, the government has failed to even spend the allocated budget. According to the Finance Comptroller General Office, only about 17 percent of the total budget has been spent so far. “The share of development expenditure accounts for only 4.53 percent,” said Nawaraj Dhungana, spokesperson of the Finance Comptroller General Office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has also introduced a policy of spending development budget at the rate of 10 percent every month to implement the current budget. However, this policy is limited only to paper. Meanwhile, Ritesh Shakya, spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, says that the ministry is working to increase development expenditure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shakya, reports prepared during different time periods have not been made public but are being implemented. He argues that the problems existing in the expenditure system will be addressed through the budget and the remaining issues will be addressed gradually.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The confidential report had pointed out that the current system of establishing a link between the periodic plan, the mid-term expenditure structure and the annual budget is poor. The report also states priorities and goals are not set in accordance with the factual analysis and in-depth analysis of policies, strategies, regional priorities and programmes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14006', 'image' => '20211109121750_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 12:17:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14260', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ministry Seeks Clarification from NTB CEO Regmi ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November 6. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November 6. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A dispute erupted had between the customs staffers and CEO Regmi on Saturday morning while he was returning home after attending the International Travel Mart in the UK, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">News reportedly stating that Regmi and customs staffers had a scuffle became viral on social media. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has directed the concerned authorities to seek written clarification from NTB's CEO Regmi after collecting information from the both sides involved in the incident. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, NTB, issued a press statement in an attempt to clarify the incident, which according to the NTB was blown out of proportion. According to the NTB, CEO Regmi had raised question about the careless attitude of the customs staffers while he arrived to the customs clearance section of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTB explained there was an argument between Dr Regmi and customs staffers when he urged them to improve their service and render prompt services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the customs staffers hurled foul words at Dr Regmi, an altercation ensued between the staffers and Dr Regmi, the NTB said, adding that the incident was exaggerated. The NTB refuted that Dr Regmi mistreated the customs staffers under the influence of alcohol, RSS further reported. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14005', 'image' => '20211109111146_20200811014735_1597095498.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 11:10:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14259', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Minister Pledges to Restructure Department of Drug Administration', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department's scope would be made wider by adding quota for employees, said Minister Khatiwada, adding that the ministry was holding discussion on how the price of medicine could be adjusted in a scientific manner. According to him, the price of medicines would be adjusted to make it reasonable for all. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokhrel also stressed the need of augmenting quota for employees so that the department could function well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General at the Department, Narayan Dhakal, complained that lack of human resources had hindered the monitoring of medicine. There are only 76 employees in the department at present. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14004', 'image' => '20211109082919_20200722125043_1595369813.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 08:28:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14258', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations for National Census 2021 Completed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen. The national Census is being conducted from November 11 through 25. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS has already trained 40,000 enumerators and 8,016 superintendents for the census. Coordination mechanisms have been set up from the centre down to the ward level to cover social, economic, geographical, physical infrastructure and other issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the CBS, 80 questionnaires including 25 for the purpose of listing houses and households and 55 main questionnaires as well as the 'community questionnaires' will be used for the National Census 2021. The community questionnaires are being used for the first time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS has completed the task of enlisting house and household particulars. CBS stated that an enumerator has been assigned with the responsibility of reaching nearly 150 houses for the census. The census would be taken at an individual's place of residence where that individual frequently resides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they have made preparations to collect data so as to augment the constitutional provision of guaranteeing the rights of all sections of society including the ethnic groups, castes, languages, gender, religion, classes, region and people with disabilities etc. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS is under the National Planning Commission. Director General Shrestha urged everyone to extend cooperation for the smooth conduction of the National Census, especially in the urban areas including Kathmandu where this task is going to be quite challenging. He also urged people to provide all the information sought by the enumerators and warned that not doing so would be tantamount to breaking the law. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating the particulars of the census would be treated as confidential information, he said the CBS would conduct the National Agriculture Census after completing the National Census. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the first National Census after the promulgation of the new constitution. However, it is being conducted as per the Statistics Act 2015 BS. This census will prepare the disaggregated statistics on the basis of the sustainable development goals, prosperity and good governance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The constitution has the provision which states that statistics available from the national census should be linked to development planning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The main questionnaires of the National Census are related to the economic activities, profession, details as per the production of goods and services, status of drinking water, fuel, communications media in the family, property in the name of women, domestic enterprises, estimation of maternal death and individuals in abroad employment etc. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The preliminary results of the National Census would be available in three months since its conclusion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director Dhundi Raj Lamichhane said that the statistics from the national census would be useful for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction purposes at times of disasters like earthquake since the statistics related to the house and house structure is being enumerated for the first time throughout the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a media orientation programme organised by Media Action Nepal in the context of the National Census 2021, UNFPA deputy representative for Nepal Dr Hashina Begam hoped for proper media space for the news relating to the national census going to be held amidst challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The national census in Nepal takes place in every decade and the first census was held 109 years ago in 1911 during the regime of Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumser. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14003', 'image' => '20211109080004_20211108052804_National-Census-2021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 07:59:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14256', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Light Snowfall Forecast in Some Parts of Mountainous Region ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian Sea. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian Sea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted partly to generally cloudy weather in Province 1 and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy in rest of the provinces today (November 8) because of the influence of the development in the Arabian Sea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, there is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places of the eastern and central high mountainous regions. The same weather pattern is likely to continue in the night as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Though there was sunshine till the morning in the Kathmandu Valley today, the temperature turned chilly later in the day. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Tuesday, there will be partly to generally cloudy weather in the hill areas of the country and the sky is expected to remain clear in the rest of the country. Some parts of the highlands in Province 1 and Gandaki Province are likely to see light snowfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces and in the hill areas of Province 1, Bagmati Province and Lumbini Province. Light snowfall has been forecast at one or two places of the mountainous regions in the Gandaki Province as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the latest weather bulletin issued by the Division, today, the Kathmandu Valley’s maximum temperature was measured 23.8 degrees Celsius followed by the minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees Celsius. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14001', 'image' => '20211108051750_20190228040359_DSC_2752.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 17:17:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14255', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'AEROTHAI to Conduct Calibration Flight at Gautam Buddha Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini Province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">AEROTHAI is a state-owned enterprise of the Government of Thailand under the Ministry of Transport. It was founded in 1948 by airlines with the consent of the Royal Thai Government to provide air traffic control and aeronautical communication services for airline operations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has given permission to AEROTHAI as per its previous agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Gautam Buddha International Airport, a national pride project in Bhairahawa (Rupandehi district), is all set for the calibration flight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN Director-General Raj Kumar Chhetri said all the preparations have been completed for conducting the calibration flight with AEROTHAI getting permission for the same. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, the test flight would be conducted within a month from now. CAAN will carry out internal preparations in the meantime. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN said AEROTHAI will carry out the necessary process including bringing the airplane and the required technicians for conducting the calibration flight on November 22. This task will be conducted of a week's duration. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14000', 'image' => '20211108045115_202210918_159060146263964_2119943427537608617_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 16:50:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14254', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Trade will Gradually Compensate for Trade Deficit: Minister Bhusal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaking with media persons, Minister Bhusal said this type of trade is one of its kind in the entire South Asian region.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">She also shared that the discussions with Bangladesh for electricity trade is moving forward in a positive manner.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhusal said that the domestic consumption of electricity should be increased as hydropower generation is gradually increasing in the country. She also added that if the electricity trade continues to improve, it would help in minimizing the trade deficit as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have a gradual increase in hydropower generation and there is a need to increase the domestic consumption as well,” said Minister Bhusal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhusal said that the country’s trade deficit would be reduced if the energy including the LP gas used in kitchens could be replaced by electricity. She also requested the energy consuming industries to come up with new ideas, saying that the industries can now be given as much electricity as they need.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Stating that the electricity tariff has been reduced for internal consumption, she said that a policy will be introduced to encourage electric vehicles while purchasing vehicles.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13999', 'image' => '20211108043856_electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 16:38:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14253', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chhath Festival Formally Begins from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila region.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila region. People's mobility has upped in and around the region ahead of the four-day grand festival where the 'Sun God' is worshipped with devotion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees begin the festival from today onward (November 8) on the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar calendar. They adopt 'Araba Arabain' method on the eve of the festival by giving up ‘impure food’ such as boiled rice, millet, lintel and flesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a tradition that the fasting starts on the third day after consuming regular meal. Songs are being chanted signifying the Sun God and Chhathi Devi (Goddess) now in the Mithila region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Devotees say that they are free to celebrate the Chhath festival this time with the decline in coronavirus cases. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The celebrations were affected last years due to the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, devotees recalled, adding now they are euphoric to mark the grand festive celebration without any hesitation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the advent of the Chhath, the premises of ponds and river banks having religious importance in Mithila are decorated just like a bride. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Though there is a traditional belief that devotees, irrespective of gender, can observe fasting in the Chhath, mostly women are seen taking fast and worshipping the Sun God. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the first day of the Chhath celebrations, devotees take holy dip and only eat pure food items with a resolution for rigorous fasting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival has increased mobility of the people in market places and public areas. Devotees are seen busy in managing materials for Chhath celebrations across the Mithila region. The Chhath festival is being observed as a common cultural symbol of Tarai/Madhes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festive atmosphere is also seen in different places including Ranipokhari, Gaurighat, and Kupondole in the Kathmandu valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival is dedicated to the Sun God, with offerings made to the rising and setting Sun. It is observed for four days, from the fourth day of the bright half of lunar calendar till the seventh day in the month of Kartik . It usually falls between October and November in the Gregorian calendar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Sun considered as the God of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ritual of Chhath festival includes taking holy bath, fasting and worshiping the Sun for a long time and offering prasad and argha (curd) to the ‘rising and setting Sun'. Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.-- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13998', 'image' => '20211108011435_Chhathtransparent-wom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 13:13:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14252', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank Auctioning off Treasury Bills worth Rs 6.1 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion. Among them, the 91-day treasury bills worth Rs 100 million will mature on February 8 and 182-day treasury bills worth Rs 6 billion on 10 May, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NRB issues treasury bills to mobilise short term loans for the government. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The online auctioning will open today at 2 pm (November 8), according to the NRB. Financial institutions categorised as Group 'A', 'B' and 'C' by the central bank, other financial institutions, non-banks and financial institutions can participate in the bidding. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The central bank will issue the bills to the highest bidders on Tuesday (November 9). Earlier, the central bank had auctioned treasury bills worth Rs 1.66 billion on November 1. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13997', 'image' => '20211108125753_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 12:56:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14251', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Price of Gold up by Rs 1500 after Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays. The price of gold has increased by Rs 1500 per tola (11 grams approx.) on Monday (November 8) compared to the price on the previous business day (ie Thursday, November 4).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Federation of Gold and Silver Dealers Association of Nepal, fine gold is being traded for Rs 92,500 per tola on Monday. The precious yellow metal was being traded for Rs 91,000 on Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the price of silver has also increased. As per the latest price list, silver is being traded for Rs 1250 per tola compared to Rs 1225 per tola on Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/gold%20chart%28236%29.jpg" style="height:150px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13996', 'image' => '20211108123252_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 12:31:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14250', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flower Business in Nepal Shrinks by Rs 1.21 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to stakeholders, the annual turnover of flower business has declined because of the closure of hotels, restaurants and party palaces as well as low-key marriage ceremonies and other functions during the lockdown period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Floriculture Association of Nepal informed that the annual turnover of this business was Rs 2.42 billion in fiscal year 2075/78 before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2077/78, the business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion to Rs 1.63 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chairman of the association Min Bahadur Tamang said that the people involved in flower business had to sustain a great loss because the market associated with the flower business had come to a standstill during the lockdown period. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to him, the flower market was growing by an average of 10 to 15 percent annually in Nepal. The businessmen had increased their investment considering this trend ahead of the pandemic. But the Covid-19 pandemic unexpectedly affectedly the business to a large extent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During normal circumstances, the domestic market of Nepal used to consume more than 2.2 million units of garlands made of marigold flowers during the Tihar festival. However, during the last fiscal year, only 1.8 million units of garlands were sold during the festive season. The association has estimated the same amount of sale during this year’s Tihar festival.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The flower entrepreneurs have imported 250,000 units of garlands from India while the demand for the remaining garlands was met from domestic production. However, Tamang says that the garlands were brought into Nepal from India through unofficial channels as well, thereby causing loss to the local farmers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13995', 'image' => '20211108115210_20190214040655__RAB0977.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 11:51:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14249', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tihar Festival Losing Traditional Colour in Palpa ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent years. In the past, every nook and corner and the courtyard of the house used to be illuminated with oil lamps made of clay. This used to add a traditional tinge to the festival of lights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">But these days, the clay-made lamps have become a rarity during the Tihar festivity. The Kumal (potter) community used to make clay pots and lamps for the Tihar. The locals also used to buy clay lamps and pots from the Kumals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Before, people used to illuminate the house lighting clay lamps. Using clay lamps and pots was good in that it preserved the culture and tradition of Tihar on the one hand and also provided some income to the potter on the other. But these days people have started using electric lights instead," said Devraj Dhakal, a local social worker of Rampur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The increasing import and use of electric lights for illumination has displaced the use of traditional clay lamps. Moreover, the potters too are abandoning their ancestral profession these days and the clay lamps and pots are in short supply. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We do not get clay lamps in the market. There are only few people who manufacture clay lamps these days and there is shortage in the market. Instead we can get the electric lights easily and it is also easy to use them," said Parbati Neupane, a housewife. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the Kumals used to make clay lamps in limited number in the previous years even for the sake of preserving the tradition, they could not manufacture clay lamps this year due to the incessant rainfall. So, many people who came to the Kumals to buy clay lamps had to return empty-handed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The new generation of our community are no longer interested in their ancestral profession. Only some older Kumals like me are making clay wares these days merely for the sake of preserving our tradition and culture. We could not produce enough clay lamps this time due to the rains," said Som Bahadur Kumal of Rampur-6. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, shortage of suitable clay for making clay pots is another reason why the potter community is abandoning their traditional profession. He said the local government has banned collecting clay in large quantity and they have to do so during the night to avoid being caught. He demanded that the local government should make arrangements for the supply of clay. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rampur ward no 6 chairperson Lok Maya Kumal however said that the local ward office would make arrangements for the supply of clay if the interested people applied for the it. There are around 250 Kumal households residing in Rampur-6. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13994', 'image' => '20211108081949_Diwali_Diya_20190523130802.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 08:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">November 9: Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota inspected the Tatopani Customs Point located in the northern border of Nepal on Monday. After the inspection, he shared that the government should invest in the customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The checkpoint has been generating billions of rupees as revenue annually and the government should not hesitate to strengthen it,” said Sapkota adding, “Landslides, earthquakes and repeated natural disasters have greatly damaged the customs point. It has been observed that the government of Nepal has to invest in order to make the checkpoint fully operational.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Stating that the development from Barhabise to Kodari should be taken as a multi-year plan, he emphasized on the need to move ahead by making a short-term and long-term blueprint for it. “In the long run, the road from Dhulikhel to Kodari can be made of two lanes,” said Sapkota adding, “For the short-term, the damaged structures should be repaired immediately.” Sapkota even requested the finance minister, Janardan Sharma to allocate a budget to proceed with the works.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A team including the Speaker Sapkota and the Minister Sharma had inspected Friendship Bridge and the Liping Market. Liping Market is directly connected to the bridge that acts as a border between Nepal and China. The situation here is pitiful after the earthquake. The market alone had a turnover of tens of millions before the earthquake. Large hotels, banks and other commercial shops were running in the market. Sapkota stressed on the need to resume those activities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, who accompanied the speaker to inspect the customs point said that a diplomatic initiative was being taken to strengthen the Tatopani customs point to facilitate the business. “The dry port has improved significantly, and an agreement has been reached with the Chinese government to expand the port,” said Sharma claiming that the customs point would be fully operational on a regular basis within a few months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have already given detailed information to the Chinese government for the construction of physical infrastructure, upgrading the Barhabise-Kodari road and preventing soil erosion,” said Sharma, adding, “The Chinese government seems to support the idea of making the customs point fully operational”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaker Sapkota and Minister Sharma jointly inspected the current status from the Tatopani Customs Point to the Friendship Bridge. They inspected the status of Araniko Highway as well. The motive of the investigation was to note the required maintenance and new constructions to be made along the 26 km from Barhabise to Nepal-China border as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaker’s press advisor, Shridhar Neupane said that discussions have been made with the local entrepreneurs, Tatopani Customs Point and others to effectively operate the Tatopani Customs Point which has been extremely unstable after the earthquake. “Discussions were mainly focused on further coordination with China to improve the checkpoint and Araniko Highway,” Neupane said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Imports and exports from Tatopani have not been able to normalize also due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14009', 'image' => '20211109014016_20210518054607_20190510014655_Clipboard04-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:39:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14263', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Boundaries of Pushpalal Highway yet to be Fixed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined. Although the width of the national highway is generally considered to be 25/25 meters, it has not been possible to determine the boundaries of the highway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Pushpalal Highway Project Directorate has informed that the land required for the construction of the two-lane highway is not available yet. Project chief Arjun Prasad Aryal said that the project has not been able to provide compensation to all the affected households while compensation has been distributed only on the section that falls under the construction funded by foreign aid. Aryal said that the problem has arisen due to the unequal distribution of compensation. “We are facing problem because we have not been able to acquire the land required for construction of the highway,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a problem in some places as the route has to cross the market area by demolishing houses. This problem has surfaced in Sundar Bazaar of Lamjung, Bhorletar Ram Bazaar and Bhanse-Bajpatan-Yamdi bridge of Kaski. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a legal provision that a contract cannot be signed without completing the process of land acquisition. Aryal said that due to the property rights guaranteed by the constitution, the project directorate cannot build roads on the personal property against the owner’s will. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project informed that the land dispute has not been resolved in the roads that have already been constructed. Aryal said that the problem is that some of the lands where roads are being operated are still in the name of individuals. According to him, the government should formulate new law and bring the road in its name. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that this problem is also present in other projects and the information should be published in the Nepal Gazette by determining the boundaries of strategic roads. He said, “Once the road demarcation and road boundaries have been finalized, the land acquisition and handover to the project should be done in a simple and quick way.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On one hand, the government is planning to widen the existing roads, while on the other hand, the locals are demanding to reduce the width of the existing highways. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of mid-October, the physical progress of the project is 58.35 percent and the financial progress is 63.85 percent. The project has spent 6.28 percent of the allocated budget this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">See related article in this link:</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><a href="https://www.newbusinessage.com/Articles/view/14205" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">https://www.newbusinessage.com/Articles/view/14205</a></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14008', 'image' => '20211109013101_636974886072531824.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:30:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14262', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Province 1 has the Potential to become Second-Largest Source of Forex Earning', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings. A study of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) shows that remittances are the key source of foreign exchange earnings, and Province 1 has the potential to become the second-largest source of forex. The finding is based on a research conducted by NRB last year on the economic activities of Province 1.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that the tourism sector of Province 1 can be developed as a sustainable alternative source of earning foreign exchange after remittances.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study suggests that the state needs to invest in tourism infrastructure to benefit from its geographical and climatic diversity, biodiversity, social, religious, and cultural diversity, recreational potential, and proximity to two neighboring countries, India and China. The NRB report states that the tourism sector can be made a source of foreign exchange if investment in infrastructure is increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study further states that Province 1 will also make a great contribution to the commercialization of agriculture. The state has the highest share of the country's agricultural production at 21.5 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200922031750_20190507024542_aaa.jpg" style="height:600px; width:800px" /></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to this fact, the state can contribute to import substitution of agricultural products by commercializing the agricultural sector through the use of modern technology, expansion of investment, and development of infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Irrigation, hydropower, and water transport development also have high potential. It is mentioned in the report that there is potential for the development of irrigation, hydropower, and water transport due to the rivers like Arun, Tamor, Dudhkoshi, Mechi, Kankai, and Triyuga, and the high Himalayas and the Mahabharata range.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that if electricity generation and irrigation can be properly developed by mobilizing domestic and foreign investment, seasonal dependence on agriculture will be reduced and productivity of arable land and agricultural production can be increased and industrialization will be supported.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Establishing industries and factories in Province 1 will make it easier to export manufactured goods and services. The state shares borders with both India and China, and the Koshi and Mechi highways facilitate access to both neighboring countries. Therefore, the establishment of foreign-invested industries and factories would be relatively easy to export manufactured goods and services, the report states.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the internal and external markets for rural products are being ensured, the internal and export trade of agricultural and industrial products is also likely to expand, according to the report.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that this is possible due to the rapid construction and expansion of Mid-Hill Highway and access roads to the highway.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, if the industries in the Sunsari-Morang corridor of Province 1 can be operated at full capacity, it will significantly contribute to the promotion of export trade. The contribution of the industrial sector of Province 1 to the GDP of the country is in second place. In this context, it is mentioned in the report that industrial production will help in promotion of export trade and import substitution.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the possibilities, there are some challenges in the province. There is a challenge to allocate a sufficient amount in the annual budget in line with the strategic goals of economic development specified by the Periodic Plan. Achieving the goals of such schemes by providing continuity to regional priorities is also seen as a challenge.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the data, information, and details related to agriculture, industry, services, and infrastructure are not completely reliable, there is a challenge to formulate a sustainable policy based on facts. The report states that such a problem has arisen due to a lack of systematic storage of information and data in data providers, establishments, and organizations related to agriculture, industry, services, and infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is also seen that there will be a challenge to effectively distribute and mobilize resources by identifying the goals and priorities of the federal, state, and local governments. The province will likely face a challenge to protect the domestic industries from being replaced due to increasing imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report also states that it will be challenging to create an environment that can benefit from the market of two big neighboring countries by promoting the production and business of goods and services within the state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the difficult geographical location, expanding financial access and increasing financial inclusion through financial awareness will also be a challenge to increase the use of available financial products and instruments, the report said. The NRB says that there is a challenge to attract domestic and foreign investment for the prosperity and development of the state as the internal investment capacity is limited.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14007', 'image' => '20211109011356_20181213020242_tea farm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:12:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14261', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Keeps Public Expenditure Review Committee Report Secret', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years ago. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years ago. The 300-page report with suggestions to improve public expenditure was prepared after six months of investigation by a committee formed three years ago under the leadership of economist Dr Dilliraj Khanal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After completing necessary study and research, the committee had submitted the report to the then Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada. The report had suggested the government to increase development expenditure by cutting down the current expenditure through reduction in the number of ministries at the center and scrapping of more than 1,000 unnecessary government bodies. Instead of releasing the report and implementing it, the government is increasing the financial burden by allocating billions of rupees from the state coffers to the bodies that were recommended to be scrapped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Public Expenditure Review Committee had recommended in 2019 to scrap the Trade and Export Promotion Center, Industrial Enterprise Development Institute, Technology Development Fund and other bodies under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Cotton Development Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Dairy Development Board, Livestock Development Farm Working Fund and National Cooperative Development Board were also recommended to be closed. The report had suggested removing and merging about 1,000 bodies under various federal ministries and their handover to the state and local levels.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report, which has been kept secret by the government till now, has stated expenditure of billions have been made by various bodies like development boards, promotion centers, and commissions without any productive results. It had asked the government to reduce the number of ministries at the center from 18 to 15 and reduce the number of departments from 58 to 35. Instead of implementing the report, the government has been employing its own people by setting up additional non-essential bodies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala says that keeping such reports secret would not benefit the country. “Such reports should be released and implemented immediately.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report had also suggested to increase development expenditure. However, the government has failed to even spend the allocated budget. According to the Finance Comptroller General Office, only about 17 percent of the total budget has been spent so far. “The share of development expenditure accounts for only 4.53 percent,” said Nawaraj Dhungana, spokesperson of the Finance Comptroller General Office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has also introduced a policy of spending development budget at the rate of 10 percent every month to implement the current budget. However, this policy is limited only to paper. Meanwhile, Ritesh Shakya, spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, says that the ministry is working to increase development expenditure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shakya, reports prepared during different time periods have not been made public but are being implemented. He argues that the problems existing in the expenditure system will be addressed through the budget and the remaining issues will be addressed gradually.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The confidential report had pointed out that the current system of establishing a link between the periodic plan, the mid-term expenditure structure and the annual budget is poor. The report also states priorities and goals are not set in accordance with the factual analysis and in-depth analysis of policies, strategies, regional priorities and programmes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14006', 'image' => '20211109121750_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 12:17:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14260', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ministry Seeks Clarification from NTB CEO Regmi ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November 6. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November 6. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A dispute erupted had between the customs staffers and CEO Regmi on Saturday morning while he was returning home after attending the International Travel Mart in the UK, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">News reportedly stating that Regmi and customs staffers had a scuffle became viral on social media. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has directed the concerned authorities to seek written clarification from NTB's CEO Regmi after collecting information from the both sides involved in the incident. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, NTB, issued a press statement in an attempt to clarify the incident, which according to the NTB was blown out of proportion. According to the NTB, CEO Regmi had raised question about the careless attitude of the customs staffers while he arrived to the customs clearance section of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTB explained there was an argument between Dr Regmi and customs staffers when he urged them to improve their service and render prompt services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the customs staffers hurled foul words at Dr Regmi, an altercation ensued between the staffers and Dr Regmi, the NTB said, adding that the incident was exaggerated. The NTB refuted that Dr Regmi mistreated the customs staffers under the influence of alcohol, RSS further reported. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14005', 'image' => '20211109111146_20200811014735_1597095498.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 11:10:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14259', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Minister Pledges to Restructure Department of Drug Administration', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department's scope would be made wider by adding quota for employees, said Minister Khatiwada, adding that the ministry was holding discussion on how the price of medicine could be adjusted in a scientific manner. According to him, the price of medicines would be adjusted to make it reasonable for all. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokhrel also stressed the need of augmenting quota for employees so that the department could function well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General at the Department, Narayan Dhakal, complained that lack of human resources had hindered the monitoring of medicine. There are only 76 employees in the department at present. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14004', 'image' => '20211109082919_20200722125043_1595369813.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 08:28:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14258', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations for National Census 2021 Completed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen. The national Census is being conducted from November 11 through 25. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS has already trained 40,000 enumerators and 8,016 superintendents for the census. Coordination mechanisms have been set up from the centre down to the ward level to cover social, economic, geographical, physical infrastructure and other issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the CBS, 80 questionnaires including 25 for the purpose of listing houses and households and 55 main questionnaires as well as the 'community questionnaires' will be used for the National Census 2021. The community questionnaires are being used for the first time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS has completed the task of enlisting house and household particulars. CBS stated that an enumerator has been assigned with the responsibility of reaching nearly 150 houses for the census. The census would be taken at an individual's place of residence where that individual frequently resides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they have made preparations to collect data so as to augment the constitutional provision of guaranteeing the rights of all sections of society including the ethnic groups, castes, languages, gender, religion, classes, region and people with disabilities etc. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS is under the National Planning Commission. Director General Shrestha urged everyone to extend cooperation for the smooth conduction of the National Census, especially in the urban areas including Kathmandu where this task is going to be quite challenging. He also urged people to provide all the information sought by the enumerators and warned that not doing so would be tantamount to breaking the law. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating the particulars of the census would be treated as confidential information, he said the CBS would conduct the National Agriculture Census after completing the National Census. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the first National Census after the promulgation of the new constitution. However, it is being conducted as per the Statistics Act 2015 BS. This census will prepare the disaggregated statistics on the basis of the sustainable development goals, prosperity and good governance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The constitution has the provision which states that statistics available from the national census should be linked to development planning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The main questionnaires of the National Census are related to the economic activities, profession, details as per the production of goods and services, status of drinking water, fuel, communications media in the family, property in the name of women, domestic enterprises, estimation of maternal death and individuals in abroad employment etc. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The preliminary results of the National Census would be available in three months since its conclusion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director Dhundi Raj Lamichhane said that the statistics from the national census would be useful for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction purposes at times of disasters like earthquake since the statistics related to the house and house structure is being enumerated for the first time throughout the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a media orientation programme organised by Media Action Nepal in the context of the National Census 2021, UNFPA deputy representative for Nepal Dr Hashina Begam hoped for proper media space for the news relating to the national census going to be held amidst challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The national census in Nepal takes place in every decade and the first census was held 109 years ago in 1911 during the regime of Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumser. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14003', 'image' => '20211109080004_20211108052804_National-Census-2021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 07:59:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14256', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Light Snowfall Forecast in Some Parts of Mountainous Region ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian Sea. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian Sea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted partly to generally cloudy weather in Province 1 and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy in rest of the provinces today (November 8) because of the influence of the development in the Arabian Sea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, there is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places of the eastern and central high mountainous regions. The same weather pattern is likely to continue in the night as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Though there was sunshine till the morning in the Kathmandu Valley today, the temperature turned chilly later in the day. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Tuesday, there will be partly to generally cloudy weather in the hill areas of the country and the sky is expected to remain clear in the rest of the country. Some parts of the highlands in Province 1 and Gandaki Province are likely to see light snowfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces and in the hill areas of Province 1, Bagmati Province and Lumbini Province. Light snowfall has been forecast at one or two places of the mountainous regions in the Gandaki Province as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the latest weather bulletin issued by the Division, today, the Kathmandu Valley’s maximum temperature was measured 23.8 degrees Celsius followed by the minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees Celsius. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14001', 'image' => '20211108051750_20190228040359_DSC_2752.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 17:17:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14255', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'AEROTHAI to Conduct Calibration Flight at Gautam Buddha Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini Province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">AEROTHAI is a state-owned enterprise of the Government of Thailand under the Ministry of Transport. It was founded in 1948 by airlines with the consent of the Royal Thai Government to provide air traffic control and aeronautical communication services for airline operations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has given permission to AEROTHAI as per its previous agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Gautam Buddha International Airport, a national pride project in Bhairahawa (Rupandehi district), is all set for the calibration flight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN Director-General Raj Kumar Chhetri said all the preparations have been completed for conducting the calibration flight with AEROTHAI getting permission for the same. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, the test flight would be conducted within a month from now. CAAN will carry out internal preparations in the meantime. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN said AEROTHAI will carry out the necessary process including bringing the airplane and the required technicians for conducting the calibration flight on November 22. This task will be conducted of a week's duration. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14000', 'image' => '20211108045115_202210918_159060146263964_2119943427537608617_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 16:50:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14254', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Trade will Gradually Compensate for Trade Deficit: Minister Bhusal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaking with media persons, Minister Bhusal said this type of trade is one of its kind in the entire South Asian region.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">She also shared that the discussions with Bangladesh for electricity trade is moving forward in a positive manner.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhusal said that the domestic consumption of electricity should be increased as hydropower generation is gradually increasing in the country. She also added that if the electricity trade continues to improve, it would help in minimizing the trade deficit as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have a gradual increase in hydropower generation and there is a need to increase the domestic consumption as well,” said Minister Bhusal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhusal said that the country’s trade deficit would be reduced if the energy including the LP gas used in kitchens could be replaced by electricity. She also requested the energy consuming industries to come up with new ideas, saying that the industries can now be given as much electricity as they need.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Stating that the electricity tariff has been reduced for internal consumption, she said that a policy will be introduced to encourage electric vehicles while purchasing vehicles.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13999', 'image' => '20211108043856_electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 16:38:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14253', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chhath Festival Formally Begins from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila region.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila region. People's mobility has upped in and around the region ahead of the four-day grand festival where the 'Sun God' is worshipped with devotion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees begin the festival from today onward (November 8) on the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar calendar. They adopt 'Araba Arabain' method on the eve of the festival by giving up ‘impure food’ such as boiled rice, millet, lintel and flesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a tradition that the fasting starts on the third day after consuming regular meal. Songs are being chanted signifying the Sun God and Chhathi Devi (Goddess) now in the Mithila region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Devotees say that they are free to celebrate the Chhath festival this time with the decline in coronavirus cases. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The celebrations were affected last years due to the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, devotees recalled, adding now they are euphoric to mark the grand festive celebration without any hesitation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the advent of the Chhath, the premises of ponds and river banks having religious importance in Mithila are decorated just like a bride. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Though there is a traditional belief that devotees, irrespective of gender, can observe fasting in the Chhath, mostly women are seen taking fast and worshipping the Sun God. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the first day of the Chhath celebrations, devotees take holy dip and only eat pure food items with a resolution for rigorous fasting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival has increased mobility of the people in market places and public areas. Devotees are seen busy in managing materials for Chhath celebrations across the Mithila region. The Chhath festival is being observed as a common cultural symbol of Tarai/Madhes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festive atmosphere is also seen in different places including Ranipokhari, Gaurighat, and Kupondole in the Kathmandu valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival is dedicated to the Sun God, with offerings made to the rising and setting Sun. It is observed for four days, from the fourth day of the bright half of lunar calendar till the seventh day in the month of Kartik . It usually falls between October and November in the Gregorian calendar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Sun considered as the God of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ritual of Chhath festival includes taking holy bath, fasting and worshiping the Sun for a long time and offering prasad and argha (curd) to the ‘rising and setting Sun'. Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.-- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13998', 'image' => '20211108011435_Chhathtransparent-wom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 13:13:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14252', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank Auctioning off Treasury Bills worth Rs 6.1 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion. Among them, the 91-day treasury bills worth Rs 100 million will mature on February 8 and 182-day treasury bills worth Rs 6 billion on 10 May, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NRB issues treasury bills to mobilise short term loans for the government. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The online auctioning will open today at 2 pm (November 8), according to the NRB. Financial institutions categorised as Group 'A', 'B' and 'C' by the central bank, other financial institutions, non-banks and financial institutions can participate in the bidding. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The central bank will issue the bills to the highest bidders on Tuesday (November 9). Earlier, the central bank had auctioned treasury bills worth Rs 1.66 billion on November 1. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13997', 'image' => '20211108125753_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 12:56:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14251', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Price of Gold up by Rs 1500 after Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays. The price of gold has increased by Rs 1500 per tola (11 grams approx.) on Monday (November 8) compared to the price on the previous business day (ie Thursday, November 4).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Federation of Gold and Silver Dealers Association of Nepal, fine gold is being traded for Rs 92,500 per tola on Monday. The precious yellow metal was being traded for Rs 91,000 on Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the price of silver has also increased. As per the latest price list, silver is being traded for Rs 1250 per tola compared to Rs 1225 per tola on Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/gold%20chart%28236%29.jpg" style="height:150px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13996', 'image' => '20211108123252_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 12:31:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14250', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flower Business in Nepal Shrinks by Rs 1.21 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to stakeholders, the annual turnover of flower business has declined because of the closure of hotels, restaurants and party palaces as well as low-key marriage ceremonies and other functions during the lockdown period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Floriculture Association of Nepal informed that the annual turnover of this business was Rs 2.42 billion in fiscal year 2075/78 before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2077/78, the business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion to Rs 1.63 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chairman of the association Min Bahadur Tamang said that the people involved in flower business had to sustain a great loss because the market associated with the flower business had come to a standstill during the lockdown period. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to him, the flower market was growing by an average of 10 to 15 percent annually in Nepal. The businessmen had increased their investment considering this trend ahead of the pandemic. But the Covid-19 pandemic unexpectedly affectedly the business to a large extent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During normal circumstances, the domestic market of Nepal used to consume more than 2.2 million units of garlands made of marigold flowers during the Tihar festival. However, during the last fiscal year, only 1.8 million units of garlands were sold during the festive season. The association has estimated the same amount of sale during this year’s Tihar festival.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The flower entrepreneurs have imported 250,000 units of garlands from India while the demand for the remaining garlands was met from domestic production. However, Tamang says that the garlands were brought into Nepal from India through unofficial channels as well, thereby causing loss to the local farmers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13995', 'image' => '20211108115210_20190214040655__RAB0977.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 11:51:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14249', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tihar Festival Losing Traditional Colour in Palpa ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent years. In the past, every nook and corner and the courtyard of the house used to be illuminated with oil lamps made of clay. This used to add a traditional tinge to the festival of lights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">But these days, the clay-made lamps have become a rarity during the Tihar festivity. The Kumal (potter) community used to make clay pots and lamps for the Tihar. The locals also used to buy clay lamps and pots from the Kumals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Before, people used to illuminate the house lighting clay lamps. Using clay lamps and pots was good in that it preserved the culture and tradition of Tihar on the one hand and also provided some income to the potter on the other. But these days people have started using electric lights instead," said Devraj Dhakal, a local social worker of Rampur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The increasing import and use of electric lights for illumination has displaced the use of traditional clay lamps. Moreover, the potters too are abandoning their ancestral profession these days and the clay lamps and pots are in short supply. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We do not get clay lamps in the market. There are only few people who manufacture clay lamps these days and there is shortage in the market. Instead we can get the electric lights easily and it is also easy to use them," said Parbati Neupane, a housewife. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the Kumals used to make clay lamps in limited number in the previous years even for the sake of preserving the tradition, they could not manufacture clay lamps this year due to the incessant rainfall. So, many people who came to the Kumals to buy clay lamps had to return empty-handed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The new generation of our community are no longer interested in their ancestral profession. Only some older Kumals like me are making clay wares these days merely for the sake of preserving our tradition and culture. We could not produce enough clay lamps this time due to the rains," said Som Bahadur Kumal of Rampur-6. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, shortage of suitable clay for making clay pots is another reason why the potter community is abandoning their traditional profession. He said the local government has banned collecting clay in large quantity and they have to do so during the night to avoid being caught. He demanded that the local government should make arrangements for the supply of clay. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rampur ward no 6 chairperson Lok Maya Kumal however said that the local ward office would make arrangements for the supply of clay if the interested people applied for the it. There are around 250 Kumal households residing in Rampur-6. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13994', 'image' => '20211108081949_Diwali_Diya_20190523130802.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 08:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14264', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Should Invest in Tatopani Customs Point: Speaker Sapkota', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota inspected the Tatopani Customs Point located in the northern border of Nepal on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">November 9: Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota inspected the Tatopani Customs Point located in the northern border of Nepal on Monday. After the inspection, he shared that the government should invest in the customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The checkpoint has been generating billions of rupees as revenue annually and the government should not hesitate to strengthen it,” said Sapkota adding, “Landslides, earthquakes and repeated natural disasters have greatly damaged the customs point. It has been observed that the government of Nepal has to invest in order to make the checkpoint fully operational.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Stating that the development from Barhabise to Kodari should be taken as a multi-year plan, he emphasized on the need to move ahead by making a short-term and long-term blueprint for it. “In the long run, the road from Dhulikhel to Kodari can be made of two lanes,” said Sapkota adding, “For the short-term, the damaged structures should be repaired immediately.” Sapkota even requested the finance minister, Janardan Sharma to allocate a budget to proceed with the works.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A team including the Speaker Sapkota and the Minister Sharma had inspected Friendship Bridge and the Liping Market. Liping Market is directly connected to the bridge that acts as a border between Nepal and China. The situation here is pitiful after the earthquake. The market alone had a turnover of tens of millions before the earthquake. Large hotels, banks and other commercial shops were running in the market. Sapkota stressed on the need to resume those activities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, who accompanied the speaker to inspect the customs point said that a diplomatic initiative was being taken to strengthen the Tatopani customs point to facilitate the business. “The dry port has improved significantly, and an agreement has been reached with the Chinese government to expand the port,” said Sharma claiming that the customs point would be fully operational on a regular basis within a few months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have already given detailed information to the Chinese government for the construction of physical infrastructure, upgrading the Barhabise-Kodari road and preventing soil erosion,” said Sharma, adding, “The Chinese government seems to support the idea of making the customs point fully operational”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaker Sapkota and Minister Sharma jointly inspected the current status from the Tatopani Customs Point to the Friendship Bridge. They inspected the status of Araniko Highway as well. The motive of the investigation was to note the required maintenance and new constructions to be made along the 26 km from Barhabise to Nepal-China border as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaker’s press advisor, Shridhar Neupane said that discussions have been made with the local entrepreneurs, Tatopani Customs Point and others to effectively operate the Tatopani Customs Point which has been extremely unstable after the earthquake. “Discussions were mainly focused on further coordination with China to improve the checkpoint and Araniko Highway,” Neupane said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Imports and exports from Tatopani have not been able to normalize also due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14009', 'image' => '20211109014016_20210518054607_20190510014655_Clipboard04-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:39:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14263', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Boundaries of Pushpalal Highway yet to be Fixed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined. Although the width of the national highway is generally considered to be 25/25 meters, it has not been possible to determine the boundaries of the highway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Pushpalal Highway Project Directorate has informed that the land required for the construction of the two-lane highway is not available yet. Project chief Arjun Prasad Aryal said that the project has not been able to provide compensation to all the affected households while compensation has been distributed only on the section that falls under the construction funded by foreign aid. Aryal said that the problem has arisen due to the unequal distribution of compensation. “We are facing problem because we have not been able to acquire the land required for construction of the highway,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a problem in some places as the route has to cross the market area by demolishing houses. This problem has surfaced in Sundar Bazaar of Lamjung, Bhorletar Ram Bazaar and Bhanse-Bajpatan-Yamdi bridge of Kaski. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a legal provision that a contract cannot be signed without completing the process of land acquisition. Aryal said that due to the property rights guaranteed by the constitution, the project directorate cannot build roads on the personal property against the owner’s will. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project informed that the land dispute has not been resolved in the roads that have already been constructed. Aryal said that the problem is that some of the lands where roads are being operated are still in the name of individuals. According to him, the government should formulate new law and bring the road in its name. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that this problem is also present in other projects and the information should be published in the Nepal Gazette by determining the boundaries of strategic roads. He said, “Once the road demarcation and road boundaries have been finalized, the land acquisition and handover to the project should be done in a simple and quick way.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On one hand, the government is planning to widen the existing roads, while on the other hand, the locals are demanding to reduce the width of the existing highways. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of mid-October, the physical progress of the project is 58.35 percent and the financial progress is 63.85 percent. The project has spent 6.28 percent of the allocated budget this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">See related article in this link:</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><a href="https://www.newbusinessage.com/Articles/view/14205" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">https://www.newbusinessage.com/Articles/view/14205</a></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14008', 'image' => '20211109013101_636974886072531824.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:30:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14262', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Province 1 has the Potential to become Second-Largest Source of Forex Earning', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings. A study of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) shows that remittances are the key source of foreign exchange earnings, and Province 1 has the potential to become the second-largest source of forex. The finding is based on a research conducted by NRB last year on the economic activities of Province 1.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that the tourism sector of Province 1 can be developed as a sustainable alternative source of earning foreign exchange after remittances.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study suggests that the state needs to invest in tourism infrastructure to benefit from its geographical and climatic diversity, biodiversity, social, religious, and cultural diversity, recreational potential, and proximity to two neighboring countries, India and China. The NRB report states that the tourism sector can be made a source of foreign exchange if investment in infrastructure is increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study further states that Province 1 will also make a great contribution to the commercialization of agriculture. The state has the highest share of the country's agricultural production at 21.5 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200922031750_20190507024542_aaa.jpg" style="height:600px; width:800px" /></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to this fact, the state can contribute to import substitution of agricultural products by commercializing the agricultural sector through the use of modern technology, expansion of investment, and development of infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Irrigation, hydropower, and water transport development also have high potential. It is mentioned in the report that there is potential for the development of irrigation, hydropower, and water transport due to the rivers like Arun, Tamor, Dudhkoshi, Mechi, Kankai, and Triyuga, and the high Himalayas and the Mahabharata range.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that if electricity generation and irrigation can be properly developed by mobilizing domestic and foreign investment, seasonal dependence on agriculture will be reduced and productivity of arable land and agricultural production can be increased and industrialization will be supported.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Establishing industries and factories in Province 1 will make it easier to export manufactured goods and services. The state shares borders with both India and China, and the Koshi and Mechi highways facilitate access to both neighboring countries. Therefore, the establishment of foreign-invested industries and factories would be relatively easy to export manufactured goods and services, the report states.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the internal and external markets for rural products are being ensured, the internal and export trade of agricultural and industrial products is also likely to expand, according to the report.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that this is possible due to the rapid construction and expansion of Mid-Hill Highway and access roads to the highway.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, if the industries in the Sunsari-Morang corridor of Province 1 can be operated at full capacity, it will significantly contribute to the promotion of export trade. The contribution of the industrial sector of Province 1 to the GDP of the country is in second place. In this context, it is mentioned in the report that industrial production will help in promotion of export trade and import substitution.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the possibilities, there are some challenges in the province. There is a challenge to allocate a sufficient amount in the annual budget in line with the strategic goals of economic development specified by the Periodic Plan. Achieving the goals of such schemes by providing continuity to regional priorities is also seen as a challenge.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the data, information, and details related to agriculture, industry, services, and infrastructure are not completely reliable, there is a challenge to formulate a sustainable policy based on facts. The report states that such a problem has arisen due to a lack of systematic storage of information and data in data providers, establishments, and organizations related to agriculture, industry, services, and infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is also seen that there will be a challenge to effectively distribute and mobilize resources by identifying the goals and priorities of the federal, state, and local governments. The province will likely face a challenge to protect the domestic industries from being replaced due to increasing imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report also states that it will be challenging to create an environment that can benefit from the market of two big neighboring countries by promoting the production and business of goods and services within the state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the difficult geographical location, expanding financial access and increasing financial inclusion through financial awareness will also be a challenge to increase the use of available financial products and instruments, the report said. The NRB says that there is a challenge to attract domestic and foreign investment for the prosperity and development of the state as the internal investment capacity is limited.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14007', 'image' => '20211109011356_20181213020242_tea farm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:12:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14261', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Keeps Public Expenditure Review Committee Report Secret', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years ago. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years ago. The 300-page report with suggestions to improve public expenditure was prepared after six months of investigation by a committee formed three years ago under the leadership of economist Dr Dilliraj Khanal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After completing necessary study and research, the committee had submitted the report to the then Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada. The report had suggested the government to increase development expenditure by cutting down the current expenditure through reduction in the number of ministries at the center and scrapping of more than 1,000 unnecessary government bodies. Instead of releasing the report and implementing it, the government is increasing the financial burden by allocating billions of rupees from the state coffers to the bodies that were recommended to be scrapped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Public Expenditure Review Committee had recommended in 2019 to scrap the Trade and Export Promotion Center, Industrial Enterprise Development Institute, Technology Development Fund and other bodies under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Cotton Development Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Dairy Development Board, Livestock Development Farm Working Fund and National Cooperative Development Board were also recommended to be closed. The report had suggested removing and merging about 1,000 bodies under various federal ministries and their handover to the state and local levels.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report, which has been kept secret by the government till now, has stated expenditure of billions have been made by various bodies like development boards, promotion centers, and commissions without any productive results. It had asked the government to reduce the number of ministries at the center from 18 to 15 and reduce the number of departments from 58 to 35. Instead of implementing the report, the government has been employing its own people by setting up additional non-essential bodies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala says that keeping such reports secret would not benefit the country. “Such reports should be released and implemented immediately.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report had also suggested to increase development expenditure. However, the government has failed to even spend the allocated budget. According to the Finance Comptroller General Office, only about 17 percent of the total budget has been spent so far. “The share of development expenditure accounts for only 4.53 percent,” said Nawaraj Dhungana, spokesperson of the Finance Comptroller General Office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has also introduced a policy of spending development budget at the rate of 10 percent every month to implement the current budget. However, this policy is limited only to paper. Meanwhile, Ritesh Shakya, spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, says that the ministry is working to increase development expenditure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shakya, reports prepared during different time periods have not been made public but are being implemented. He argues that the problems existing in the expenditure system will be addressed through the budget and the remaining issues will be addressed gradually.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The confidential report had pointed out that the current system of establishing a link between the periodic plan, the mid-term expenditure structure and the annual budget is poor. The report also states priorities and goals are not set in accordance with the factual analysis and in-depth analysis of policies, strategies, regional priorities and programmes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14006', 'image' => '20211109121750_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 12:17:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14260', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ministry Seeks Clarification from NTB CEO Regmi ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November 6. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November 6. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A dispute erupted had between the customs staffers and CEO Regmi on Saturday morning while he was returning home after attending the International Travel Mart in the UK, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">News reportedly stating that Regmi and customs staffers had a scuffle became viral on social media. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has directed the concerned authorities to seek written clarification from NTB's CEO Regmi after collecting information from the both sides involved in the incident. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, NTB, issued a press statement in an attempt to clarify the incident, which according to the NTB was blown out of proportion. According to the NTB, CEO Regmi had raised question about the careless attitude of the customs staffers while he arrived to the customs clearance section of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTB explained there was an argument between Dr Regmi and customs staffers when he urged them to improve their service and render prompt services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the customs staffers hurled foul words at Dr Regmi, an altercation ensued between the staffers and Dr Regmi, the NTB said, adding that the incident was exaggerated. The NTB refuted that Dr Regmi mistreated the customs staffers under the influence of alcohol, RSS further reported. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14005', 'image' => '20211109111146_20200811014735_1597095498.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 11:10:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14259', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Minister Pledges to Restructure Department of Drug Administration', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department's scope would be made wider by adding quota for employees, said Minister Khatiwada, adding that the ministry was holding discussion on how the price of medicine could be adjusted in a scientific manner. According to him, the price of medicines would be adjusted to make it reasonable for all. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokhrel also stressed the need of augmenting quota for employees so that the department could function well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General at the Department, Narayan Dhakal, complained that lack of human resources had hindered the monitoring of medicine. There are only 76 employees in the department at present. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14004', 'image' => '20211109082919_20200722125043_1595369813.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 08:28:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14258', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations for National Census 2021 Completed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen. The national Census is being conducted from November 11 through 25. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS has already trained 40,000 enumerators and 8,016 superintendents for the census. Coordination mechanisms have been set up from the centre down to the ward level to cover social, economic, geographical, physical infrastructure and other issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the CBS, 80 questionnaires including 25 for the purpose of listing houses and households and 55 main questionnaires as well as the 'community questionnaires' will be used for the National Census 2021. The community questionnaires are being used for the first time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS has completed the task of enlisting house and household particulars. CBS stated that an enumerator has been assigned with the responsibility of reaching nearly 150 houses for the census. The census would be taken at an individual's place of residence where that individual frequently resides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they have made preparations to collect data so as to augment the constitutional provision of guaranteeing the rights of all sections of society including the ethnic groups, castes, languages, gender, religion, classes, region and people with disabilities etc. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS is under the National Planning Commission. Director General Shrestha urged everyone to extend cooperation for the smooth conduction of the National Census, especially in the urban areas including Kathmandu where this task is going to be quite challenging. He also urged people to provide all the information sought by the enumerators and warned that not doing so would be tantamount to breaking the law. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating the particulars of the census would be treated as confidential information, he said the CBS would conduct the National Agriculture Census after completing the National Census. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the first National Census after the promulgation of the new constitution. However, it is being conducted as per the Statistics Act 2015 BS. This census will prepare the disaggregated statistics on the basis of the sustainable development goals, prosperity and good governance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The constitution has the provision which states that statistics available from the national census should be linked to development planning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The main questionnaires of the National Census are related to the economic activities, profession, details as per the production of goods and services, status of drinking water, fuel, communications media in the family, property in the name of women, domestic enterprises, estimation of maternal death and individuals in abroad employment etc. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The preliminary results of the National Census would be available in three months since its conclusion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director Dhundi Raj Lamichhane said that the statistics from the national census would be useful for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction purposes at times of disasters like earthquake since the statistics related to the house and house structure is being enumerated for the first time throughout the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a media orientation programme organised by Media Action Nepal in the context of the National Census 2021, UNFPA deputy representative for Nepal Dr Hashina Begam hoped for proper media space for the news relating to the national census going to be held amidst challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The national census in Nepal takes place in every decade and the first census was held 109 years ago in 1911 during the regime of Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumser. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14003', 'image' => '20211109080004_20211108052804_National-Census-2021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 07:59:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14256', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Light Snowfall Forecast in Some Parts of Mountainous Region ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian Sea. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian Sea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted partly to generally cloudy weather in Province 1 and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy in rest of the provinces today (November 8) because of the influence of the development in the Arabian Sea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, there is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places of the eastern and central high mountainous regions. The same weather pattern is likely to continue in the night as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Though there was sunshine till the morning in the Kathmandu Valley today, the temperature turned chilly later in the day. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Tuesday, there will be partly to generally cloudy weather in the hill areas of the country and the sky is expected to remain clear in the rest of the country. Some parts of the highlands in Province 1 and Gandaki Province are likely to see light snowfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces and in the hill areas of Province 1, Bagmati Province and Lumbini Province. Light snowfall has been forecast at one or two places of the mountainous regions in the Gandaki Province as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the latest weather bulletin issued by the Division, today, the Kathmandu Valley’s maximum temperature was measured 23.8 degrees Celsius followed by the minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees Celsius. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14001', 'image' => '20211108051750_20190228040359_DSC_2752.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 17:17:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14255', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'AEROTHAI to Conduct Calibration Flight at Gautam Buddha Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini Province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">AEROTHAI is a state-owned enterprise of the Government of Thailand under the Ministry of Transport. It was founded in 1948 by airlines with the consent of the Royal Thai Government to provide air traffic control and aeronautical communication services for airline operations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has given permission to AEROTHAI as per its previous agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Gautam Buddha International Airport, a national pride project in Bhairahawa (Rupandehi district), is all set for the calibration flight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN Director-General Raj Kumar Chhetri said all the preparations have been completed for conducting the calibration flight with AEROTHAI getting permission for the same. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, the test flight would be conducted within a month from now. CAAN will carry out internal preparations in the meantime. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN said AEROTHAI will carry out the necessary process including bringing the airplane and the required technicians for conducting the calibration flight on November 22. This task will be conducted of a week's duration. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14000', 'image' => '20211108045115_202210918_159060146263964_2119943427537608617_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 16:50:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14254', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Trade will Gradually Compensate for Trade Deficit: Minister Bhusal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaking with media persons, Minister Bhusal said this type of trade is one of its kind in the entire South Asian region.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">She also shared that the discussions with Bangladesh for electricity trade is moving forward in a positive manner.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhusal said that the domestic consumption of electricity should be increased as hydropower generation is gradually increasing in the country. She also added that if the electricity trade continues to improve, it would help in minimizing the trade deficit as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have a gradual increase in hydropower generation and there is a need to increase the domestic consumption as well,” said Minister Bhusal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhusal said that the country’s trade deficit would be reduced if the energy including the LP gas used in kitchens could be replaced by electricity. She also requested the energy consuming industries to come up with new ideas, saying that the industries can now be given as much electricity as they need.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Stating that the electricity tariff has been reduced for internal consumption, she said that a policy will be introduced to encourage electric vehicles while purchasing vehicles.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13999', 'image' => '20211108043856_electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 16:38:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14253', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chhath Festival Formally Begins from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila region.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila region. People's mobility has upped in and around the region ahead of the four-day grand festival where the 'Sun God' is worshipped with devotion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees begin the festival from today onward (November 8) on the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar calendar. They adopt 'Araba Arabain' method on the eve of the festival by giving up ‘impure food’ such as boiled rice, millet, lintel and flesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a tradition that the fasting starts on the third day after consuming regular meal. Songs are being chanted signifying the Sun God and Chhathi Devi (Goddess) now in the Mithila region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Devotees say that they are free to celebrate the Chhath festival this time with the decline in coronavirus cases. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The celebrations were affected last years due to the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, devotees recalled, adding now they are euphoric to mark the grand festive celebration without any hesitation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the advent of the Chhath, the premises of ponds and river banks having religious importance in Mithila are decorated just like a bride. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Though there is a traditional belief that devotees, irrespective of gender, can observe fasting in the Chhath, mostly women are seen taking fast and worshipping the Sun God. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the first day of the Chhath celebrations, devotees take holy dip and only eat pure food items with a resolution for rigorous fasting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival has increased mobility of the people in market places and public areas. Devotees are seen busy in managing materials for Chhath celebrations across the Mithila region. The Chhath festival is being observed as a common cultural symbol of Tarai/Madhes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festive atmosphere is also seen in different places including Ranipokhari, Gaurighat, and Kupondole in the Kathmandu valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival is dedicated to the Sun God, with offerings made to the rising and setting Sun. It is observed for four days, from the fourth day of the bright half of lunar calendar till the seventh day in the month of Kartik . It usually falls between October and November in the Gregorian calendar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Sun considered as the God of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ritual of Chhath festival includes taking holy bath, fasting and worshiping the Sun for a long time and offering prasad and argha (curd) to the ‘rising and setting Sun'. Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.-- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13998', 'image' => '20211108011435_Chhathtransparent-wom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 13:13:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14252', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank Auctioning off Treasury Bills worth Rs 6.1 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion. Among them, the 91-day treasury bills worth Rs 100 million will mature on February 8 and 182-day treasury bills worth Rs 6 billion on 10 May, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NRB issues treasury bills to mobilise short term loans for the government. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The online auctioning will open today at 2 pm (November 8), according to the NRB. Financial institutions categorised as Group 'A', 'B' and 'C' by the central bank, other financial institutions, non-banks and financial institutions can participate in the bidding. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The central bank will issue the bills to the highest bidders on Tuesday (November 9). Earlier, the central bank had auctioned treasury bills worth Rs 1.66 billion on November 1. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13997', 'image' => '20211108125753_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 12:56:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14251', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Price of Gold up by Rs 1500 after Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays. The price of gold has increased by Rs 1500 per tola (11 grams approx.) on Monday (November 8) compared to the price on the previous business day (ie Thursday, November 4).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Federation of Gold and Silver Dealers Association of Nepal, fine gold is being traded for Rs 92,500 per tola on Monday. The precious yellow metal was being traded for Rs 91,000 on Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the price of silver has also increased. As per the latest price list, silver is being traded for Rs 1250 per tola compared to Rs 1225 per tola on Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/gold%20chart%28236%29.jpg" style="height:150px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13996', 'image' => '20211108123252_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 12:31:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14250', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flower Business in Nepal Shrinks by Rs 1.21 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to stakeholders, the annual turnover of flower business has declined because of the closure of hotels, restaurants and party palaces as well as low-key marriage ceremonies and other functions during the lockdown period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Floriculture Association of Nepal informed that the annual turnover of this business was Rs 2.42 billion in fiscal year 2075/78 before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2077/78, the business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion to Rs 1.63 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chairman of the association Min Bahadur Tamang said that the people involved in flower business had to sustain a great loss because the market associated with the flower business had come to a standstill during the lockdown period. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to him, the flower market was growing by an average of 10 to 15 percent annually in Nepal. The businessmen had increased their investment considering this trend ahead of the pandemic. But the Covid-19 pandemic unexpectedly affectedly the business to a large extent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During normal circumstances, the domestic market of Nepal used to consume more than 2.2 million units of garlands made of marigold flowers during the Tihar festival. However, during the last fiscal year, only 1.8 million units of garlands were sold during the festive season. The association has estimated the same amount of sale during this year’s Tihar festival.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The flower entrepreneurs have imported 250,000 units of garlands from India while the demand for the remaining garlands was met from domestic production. However, Tamang says that the garlands were brought into Nepal from India through unofficial channels as well, thereby causing loss to the local farmers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13995', 'image' => '20211108115210_20190214040655__RAB0977.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 11:51:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14249', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tihar Festival Losing Traditional Colour in Palpa ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent years. In the past, every nook and corner and the courtyard of the house used to be illuminated with oil lamps made of clay. This used to add a traditional tinge to the festival of lights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">But these days, the clay-made lamps have become a rarity during the Tihar festivity. The Kumal (potter) community used to make clay pots and lamps for the Tihar. The locals also used to buy clay lamps and pots from the Kumals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Before, people used to illuminate the house lighting clay lamps. Using clay lamps and pots was good in that it preserved the culture and tradition of Tihar on the one hand and also provided some income to the potter on the other. But these days people have started using electric lights instead," said Devraj Dhakal, a local social worker of Rampur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The increasing import and use of electric lights for illumination has displaced the use of traditional clay lamps. Moreover, the potters too are abandoning their ancestral profession these days and the clay lamps and pots are in short supply. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We do not get clay lamps in the market. There are only few people who manufacture clay lamps these days and there is shortage in the market. Instead we can get the electric lights easily and it is also easy to use them," said Parbati Neupane, a housewife. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the Kumals used to make clay lamps in limited number in the previous years even for the sake of preserving the tradition, they could not manufacture clay lamps this year due to the incessant rainfall. So, many people who came to the Kumals to buy clay lamps had to return empty-handed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The new generation of our community are no longer interested in their ancestral profession. Only some older Kumals like me are making clay wares these days merely for the sake of preserving our tradition and culture. We could not produce enough clay lamps this time due to the rains," said Som Bahadur Kumal of Rampur-6. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, shortage of suitable clay for making clay pots is another reason why the potter community is abandoning their traditional profession. He said the local government has banned collecting clay in large quantity and they have to do so during the night to avoid being caught. He demanded that the local government should make arrangements for the supply of clay. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rampur ward no 6 chairperson Lok Maya Kumal however said that the local ward office would make arrangements for the supply of clay if the interested people applied for the it. There are around 250 Kumal households residing in Rampur-6. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13994', 'image' => '20211108081949_Diwali_Diya_20190523130802.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 08:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">November 9: Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota inspected the Tatopani Customs Point located in the northern border of Nepal on Monday. After the inspection, he shared that the government should invest in the customs point.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“The checkpoint has been generating billions of rupees as revenue annually and the government should not hesitate to strengthen it,” said Sapkota adding, “Landslides, earthquakes and repeated natural disasters have greatly damaged the customs point. It has been observed that the government of Nepal has to invest in order to make the checkpoint fully operational.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Stating that the development from Barhabise to Kodari should be taken as a multi-year plan, he emphasized on the need to move ahead by making a short-term and long-term blueprint for it. “In the long run, the road from Dhulikhel to Kodari can be made of two lanes,” said Sapkota adding, “For the short-term, the damaged structures should be repaired immediately.” Sapkota even requested the finance minister, Janardan Sharma to allocate a budget to proceed with the works.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A team including the Speaker Sapkota and the Minister Sharma had inspected Friendship Bridge and the Liping Market. Liping Market is directly connected to the bridge that acts as a border between Nepal and China. The situation here is pitiful after the earthquake. The market alone had a turnover of tens of millions before the earthquake. Large hotels, banks and other commercial shops were running in the market. Sapkota stressed on the need to resume those activities.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, who accompanied the speaker to inspect the customs point said that a diplomatic initiative was being taken to strengthen the Tatopani customs point to facilitate the business. “The dry port has improved significantly, and an agreement has been reached with the Chinese government to expand the port,” said Sharma claiming that the customs point would be fully operational on a regular basis within a few months.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have already given detailed information to the Chinese government for the construction of physical infrastructure, upgrading the Barhabise-Kodari road and preventing soil erosion,” said Sharma, adding, “The Chinese government seems to support the idea of making the customs point fully operational”.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaker Sapkota and Minister Sharma jointly inspected the current status from the Tatopani Customs Point to the Friendship Bridge. They inspected the status of Araniko Highway as well. The motive of the investigation was to note the required maintenance and new constructions to be made along the 26 km from Barhabise to Nepal-China border as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaker’s press advisor, Shridhar Neupane said that discussions have been made with the local entrepreneurs, Tatopani Customs Point and others to effectively operate the Tatopani Customs Point which has been extremely unstable after the earthquake. “Discussions were mainly focused on further coordination with China to improve the checkpoint and Araniko Highway,” Neupane said.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Imports and exports from Tatopani have not been able to normalize also due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14009', 'image' => '20211109014016_20210518054607_20190510014655_Clipboard04-2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:39:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14263', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Boundaries of Pushpalal Highway yet to be Fixed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: With only two years left to complete the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, the boundaries of the national pride project have not yet been determined. Although the width of the national highway is generally considered to be 25/25 meters, it has not been possible to determine the boundaries of the highway. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Pushpalal Highway Project Directorate has informed that the land required for the construction of the two-lane highway is not available yet. Project chief Arjun Prasad Aryal said that the project has not been able to provide compensation to all the affected households while compensation has been distributed only on the section that falls under the construction funded by foreign aid. Aryal said that the problem has arisen due to the unequal distribution of compensation. “We are facing problem because we have not been able to acquire the land required for construction of the highway,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a problem in some places as the route has to cross the market area by demolishing houses. This problem has surfaced in Sundar Bazaar of Lamjung, Bhorletar Ram Bazaar and Bhanse-Bajpatan-Yamdi bridge of Kaski. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There is a legal provision that a contract cannot be signed without completing the process of land acquisition. Aryal said that due to the property rights guaranteed by the constitution, the project directorate cannot build roads on the personal property against the owner’s will. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project informed that the land dispute has not been resolved in the roads that have already been constructed. Aryal said that the problem is that some of the lands where roads are being operated are still in the name of individuals. According to him, the government should formulate new law and bring the road in its name. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that this problem is also present in other projects and the information should be published in the Nepal Gazette by determining the boundaries of strategic roads. He said, “Once the road demarcation and road boundaries have been finalized, the land acquisition and handover to the project should be done in a simple and quick way.” </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On one hand, the government is planning to widen the existing roads, while on the other hand, the locals are demanding to reduce the width of the existing highways. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As of mid-October, the physical progress of the project is 58.35 percent and the financial progress is 63.85 percent. The project has spent 6.28 percent of the allocated budget this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">See related article in this link:</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><strong><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><a href="https://www.newbusinessage.com/Articles/view/14205" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">https://www.newbusinessage.com/Articles/view/14205</a></span></span></strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14008', 'image' => '20211109013101_636974886072531824.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:30:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14262', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Province 1 has the Potential to become Second-Largest Source of Forex Earning', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: Province 1 is likely to become the second-largest alternative source of foreign exchange earnings. A study of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) shows that remittances are the key source of foreign exchange earnings, and Province 1 has the potential to become the second-largest source of forex. The finding is based on a research conducted by NRB last year on the economic activities of Province 1.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that the tourism sector of Province 1 can be developed as a sustainable alternative source of earning foreign exchange after remittances.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study suggests that the state needs to invest in tourism infrastructure to benefit from its geographical and climatic diversity, biodiversity, social, religious, and cultural diversity, recreational potential, and proximity to two neighboring countries, India and China. The NRB report states that the tourism sector can be made a source of foreign exchange if investment in infrastructure is increased.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The study further states that Province 1 will also make a great contribution to the commercialization of agriculture. The state has the highest share of the country's agricultural production at 21.5 percent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20200922031750_20190507024542_aaa.jpg" style="height:600px; width:800px" /></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to this fact, the state can contribute to import substitution of agricultural products by commercializing the agricultural sector through the use of modern technology, expansion of investment, and development of infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Irrigation, hydropower, and water transport development also have high potential. It is mentioned in the report that there is potential for the development of irrigation, hydropower, and water transport due to the rivers like Arun, Tamor, Dudhkoshi, Mechi, Kankai, and Triyuga, and the high Himalayas and the Mahabharata range.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that if electricity generation and irrigation can be properly developed by mobilizing domestic and foreign investment, seasonal dependence on agriculture will be reduced and productivity of arable land and agricultural production can be increased and industrialization will be supported.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Establishing industries and factories in Province 1 will make it easier to export manufactured goods and services. The state shares borders with both India and China, and the Koshi and Mechi highways facilitate access to both neighboring countries. Therefore, the establishment of foreign-invested industries and factories would be relatively easy to export manufactured goods and services, the report states.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the internal and external markets for rural products are being ensured, the internal and export trade of agricultural and industrial products is also likely to expand, according to the report.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report states that this is possible due to the rapid construction and expansion of Mid-Hill Highway and access roads to the highway.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the report, if the industries in the Sunsari-Morang corridor of Province 1 can be operated at full capacity, it will significantly contribute to the promotion of export trade. The contribution of the industrial sector of Province 1 to the GDP of the country is in second place. In this context, it is mentioned in the report that industrial production will help in promotion of export trade and import substitution.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the possibilities, there are some challenges in the province. There is a challenge to allocate a sufficient amount in the annual budget in line with the strategic goals of economic development specified by the Periodic Plan. Achieving the goals of such schemes by providing continuity to regional priorities is also seen as a challenge.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As the data, information, and details related to agriculture, industry, services, and infrastructure are not completely reliable, there is a challenge to formulate a sustainable policy based on facts. The report states that such a problem has arisen due to a lack of systematic storage of information and data in data providers, establishments, and organizations related to agriculture, industry, services, and infrastructure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">It is also seen that there will be a challenge to effectively distribute and mobilize resources by identifying the goals and priorities of the federal, state, and local governments. The province will likely face a challenge to protect the domestic industries from being replaced due to increasing imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report also states that it will be challenging to create an environment that can benefit from the market of two big neighboring countries by promoting the production and business of goods and services within the state.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Due to the difficult geographical location, expanding financial access and increasing financial inclusion through financial awareness will also be a challenge to increase the use of available financial products and instruments, the report said. The NRB says that there is a challenge to attract domestic and foreign investment for the prosperity and development of the state as the internal investment capacity is limited.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14007', 'image' => '20211109011356_20181213020242_tea farm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 13:12:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14261', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Keeps Public Expenditure Review Committee Report Secret', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years ago. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">November 9: The government has kept the report on ‘public expenditure review’ secret even though it was submitted two years ago. The 300-page report with suggestions to improve public expenditure was prepared after six months of investigation by a committee formed three years ago under the leadership of economist Dr Dilliraj Khanal.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After completing necessary study and research, the committee had submitted the report to the then Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada. The report had suggested the government to increase development expenditure by cutting down the current expenditure through reduction in the number of ministries at the center and scrapping of more than 1,000 unnecessary government bodies. Instead of releasing the report and implementing it, the government is increasing the financial burden by allocating billions of rupees from the state coffers to the bodies that were recommended to be scrapped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Public Expenditure Review Committee had recommended in 2019 to scrap the Trade and Export Promotion Center, Industrial Enterprise Development Institute, Technology Development Fund and other bodies under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Cotton Development Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Dairy Development Board, Livestock Development Farm Working Fund and National Cooperative Development Board were also recommended to be closed. The report had suggested removing and merging about 1,000 bodies under various federal ministries and their handover to the state and local levels.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report, which has been kept secret by the government till now, has stated expenditure of billions have been made by various bodies like development boards, promotion centers, and commissions without any productive results. It had asked the government to reduce the number of ministries at the center from 18 to 15 and reduce the number of departments from 58 to 35. Instead of implementing the report, the government has been employing its own people by setting up additional non-essential bodies.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala says that keeping such reports secret would not benefit the country. “Such reports should be released and implemented immediately.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The report had also suggested to increase development expenditure. However, the government has failed to even spend the allocated budget. According to the Finance Comptroller General Office, only about 17 percent of the total budget has been spent so far. “The share of development expenditure accounts for only 4.53 percent,” said Nawaraj Dhungana, spokesperson of the Finance Comptroller General Office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has also introduced a policy of spending development budget at the rate of 10 percent every month to implement the current budget. However, this policy is limited only to paper. Meanwhile, Ritesh Shakya, spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, says that the ministry is working to increase development expenditure.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Shakya, reports prepared during different time periods have not been made public but are being implemented. He argues that the problems existing in the expenditure system will be addressed through the budget and the remaining issues will be addressed gradually.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The confidential report had pointed out that the current system of establishing a link between the periodic plan, the mid-term expenditure structure and the annual budget is poor. The report also states priorities and goals are not set in accordance with the factual analysis and in-depth analysis of policies, strategies, regional priorities and programmes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14006', 'image' => '20211109121750_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 12:17:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14260', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Ministry Seeks Clarification from NTB CEO Regmi ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November 6. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has sought clarification from the CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjay Regmi regarding an altercation with customs staffers at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on November 6. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A dispute erupted had between the customs staffers and CEO Regmi on Saturday morning while he was returning home after attending the International Travel Mart in the UK, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">News reportedly stating that Regmi and customs staffers had a scuffle became viral on social media. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ministry has directed the concerned authorities to seek written clarification from NTB's CEO Regmi after collecting information from the both sides involved in the incident. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, NTB, issued a press statement in an attempt to clarify the incident, which according to the NTB was blown out of proportion. According to the NTB, CEO Regmi had raised question about the careless attitude of the customs staffers while he arrived to the customs clearance section of the airport. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NTB explained there was an argument between Dr Regmi and customs staffers when he urged them to improve their service and render prompt services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">After the customs staffers hurled foul words at Dr Regmi, an altercation ensued between the staffers and Dr Regmi, the NTB said, adding that the incident was exaggerated. The NTB refuted that Dr Regmi mistreated the customs staffers under the influence of alcohol, RSS further reported. </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14005', 'image' => '20211109111146_20200811014735_1597095498.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 11:10:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14259', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Health Minister Pledges to Restructure Department of Drug Administration', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on Monday. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: Minister for Health and Population Birodh Khatiwada has pointed out the need for organizational restructuring of the Department of Drug Administration. Minister Khatiwada made such remarks during a policy discussion held on Monday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The department's scope would be made wider by adding quota for employees, said Minister Khatiwada, adding that the ministry was holding discussion on how the price of medicine could be adjusted in a scientific manner. According to him, the price of medicines would be adjusted to make it reasonable for all. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokhrel also stressed the need of augmenting quota for employees so that the department could function well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Director General at the Department, Narayan Dhakal, complained that lack of human resources had hindered the monitoring of medicine. There are only 76 employees in the department at present. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14004', 'image' => '20211109082919_20200722125043_1595369813.Clipboard06.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 08:28:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14258', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Preparations for National Census 2021 Completed ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 9: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has completed all preparations for the National Census 2021, with the aim of reaching the doorstep of every citizen. The national Census is being conducted from November 11 through 25. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS has already trained 40,000 enumerators and 8,016 superintendents for the census. Coordination mechanisms have been set up from the centre down to the ward level to cover social, economic, geographical, physical infrastructure and other issues. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the CBS, 80 questionnaires including 25 for the purpose of listing houses and households and 55 main questionnaires as well as the 'community questionnaires' will be used for the National Census 2021. The community questionnaires are being used for the first time. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS has completed the task of enlisting house and household particulars. CBS stated that an enumerator has been assigned with the responsibility of reaching nearly 150 houses for the census. The census would be taken at an individual's place of residence where that individual frequently resides. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director General Nebin Lal Shrestha said they have made preparations to collect data so as to augment the constitutional provision of guaranteeing the rights of all sections of society including the ethnic groups, castes, languages, gender, religion, classes, region and people with disabilities etc. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CBS is under the National Planning Commission. Director General Shrestha urged everyone to extend cooperation for the smooth conduction of the National Census, especially in the urban areas including Kathmandu where this task is going to be quite challenging. He also urged people to provide all the information sought by the enumerators and warned that not doing so would be tantamount to breaking the law. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating the particulars of the census would be treated as confidential information, he said the CBS would conduct the National Agriculture Census after completing the National Census. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">This is the first National Census after the promulgation of the new constitution. However, it is being conducted as per the Statistics Act 2015 BS. This census will prepare the disaggregated statistics on the basis of the sustainable development goals, prosperity and good governance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The constitution has the provision which states that statistics available from the national census should be linked to development planning. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The main questionnaires of the National Census are related to the economic activities, profession, details as per the production of goods and services, status of drinking water, fuel, communications media in the family, property in the name of women, domestic enterprises, estimation of maternal death and individuals in abroad employment etc. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The preliminary results of the National Census would be available in three months since its conclusion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CBS Director Dhundi Raj Lamichhane said that the statistics from the national census would be useful for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction purposes at times of disasters like earthquake since the statistics related to the house and house structure is being enumerated for the first time throughout the country. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a media orientation programme organised by Media Action Nepal in the context of the National Census 2021, UNFPA deputy representative for Nepal Dr Hashina Begam hoped for proper media space for the news relating to the national census going to be held amidst challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The national census in Nepal takes place in every decade and the first census was held 109 years ago in 1911 during the regime of Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumser. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-09', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14003', 'image' => '20211109080004_20211108052804_National-Census-2021.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-09 07:59:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14256', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Light Snowfall Forecast in Some Parts of Mountainous Region ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian Sea. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The country is currently witnessing the general impact of a monsoon trough being developed in the Arabian Sea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Meteorological Forecasting Division has predicted partly to generally cloudy weather in Province 1 and Gandaki Province and partly cloudy in rest of the provinces today (November 8) because of the influence of the development in the Arabian Sea. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, there is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places of the eastern and central high mountainous regions. The same weather pattern is likely to continue in the night as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Though there was sunshine till the morning in the Kathmandu Valley today, the temperature turned chilly later in the day. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Tuesday, there will be partly to generally cloudy weather in the hill areas of the country and the sky is expected to remain clear in the rest of the country. Some parts of the highlands in Province 1 and Gandaki Province are likely to see light snowfall. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces and in the hill areas of Province 1, Bagmati Province and Lumbini Province. Light snowfall has been forecast at one or two places of the mountainous regions in the Gandaki Province as well. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the latest weather bulletin issued by the Division, today, the Kathmandu Valley’s maximum temperature was measured 23.8 degrees Celsius followed by the minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees Celsius. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14001', 'image' => '20211108051750_20190228040359_DSC_2752.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 17:17:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14255', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'AEROTHAI to Conduct Calibration Flight at Gautam Buddha Airport ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini Province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) has been granted permission to conduct calibration flight at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini Province. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">AEROTHAI is a state-owned enterprise of the Government of Thailand under the Ministry of Transport. It was founded in 1948 by airlines with the consent of the Royal Thai Government to provide air traffic control and aeronautical communication services for airline operations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has given permission to AEROTHAI as per its previous agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Gautam Buddha International Airport, a national pride project in Bhairahawa (Rupandehi district), is all set for the calibration flight. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN Director-General Raj Kumar Chhetri said all the preparations have been completed for conducting the calibration flight with AEROTHAI getting permission for the same. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, the test flight would be conducted within a month from now. CAAN will carry out internal preparations in the meantime. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CAAN said AEROTHAI will carry out the necessary process including bringing the airplane and the required technicians for conducting the calibration flight on November 22. This task will be conducted of a week's duration. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14000', 'image' => '20211108045115_202210918_159060146263964_2119943427537608617_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 16:50:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14254', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity Trade will Gradually Compensate for Trade Deficit: Minister Bhusal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to India.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">November 8: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal on Sunday said that Nepal has already started exporting electricity to India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Speaking with media persons, Minister Bhusal said this type of trade is one of its kind in the entire South Asian region.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">She also shared that the discussions with Bangladesh for electricity trade is moving forward in a positive manner.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhusal said that the domestic consumption of electricity should be increased as hydropower generation is gradually increasing in the country. She also added that if the electricity trade continues to improve, it would help in minimizing the trade deficit as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">“We have a gradual increase in hydropower generation and there is a need to increase the domestic consumption as well,” said Minister Bhusal.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhusal said that the country’s trade deficit would be reduced if the energy including the LP gas used in kitchens could be replaced by electricity. She also requested the energy consuming industries to come up with new ideas, saying that the industries can now be given as much electricity as they need.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Stating that the electricity tariff has been reduced for internal consumption, she said that a policy will be introduced to encourage electric vehicles while purchasing vehicles.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13999', 'image' => '20211108043856_electricity.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 16:38:11', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14253', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chhath Festival Formally Begins from Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila region.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The fervour of the Chhath festival has gripped the Mithila region. People's mobility has upped in and around the region ahead of the four-day grand festival where the 'Sun God' is worshipped with devotion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees begin the festival from today onward (November 8) on the fourth day of the bright half of the lunar calendar. They adopt 'Araba Arabain' method on the eve of the festival by giving up ‘impure food’ such as boiled rice, millet, lintel and flesh. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">There is a tradition that the fasting starts on the third day after consuming regular meal. Songs are being chanted signifying the Sun God and Chhathi Devi (Goddess) now in the Mithila region. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Devotees say that they are free to celebrate the Chhath festival this time with the decline in coronavirus cases. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The celebrations were affected last years due to the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, devotees recalled, adding now they are euphoric to mark the grand festive celebration without any hesitation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the advent of the Chhath, the premises of ponds and river banks having religious importance in Mithila are decorated just like a bride. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Though there is a traditional belief that devotees, irrespective of gender, can observe fasting in the Chhath, mostly women are seen taking fast and worshipping the Sun God. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the first day of the Chhath celebrations, devotees take holy dip and only eat pure food items with a resolution for rigorous fasting. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival has increased mobility of the people in market places and public areas. Devotees are seen busy in managing materials for Chhath celebrations across the Mithila region. The Chhath festival is being observed as a common cultural symbol of Tarai/Madhes. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festive atmosphere is also seen in different places including Ranipokhari, Gaurighat, and Kupondole in the Kathmandu valley. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The festival is dedicated to the Sun God, with offerings made to the rising and setting Sun. It is observed for four days, from the fourth day of the bright half of lunar calendar till the seventh day in the month of Kartik . It usually falls between October and November in the Gregorian calendar. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Sun considered as the God of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The ritual of Chhath festival includes taking holy bath, fasting and worshiping the Sun for a long time and offering prasad and argha (curd) to the ‘rising and setting Sun'. Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.-- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-09', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13998', 'image' => '20211108011435_Chhathtransparent-wom.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 13:13:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14252', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Central Bank Auctioning off Treasury Bills worth Rs 6.1 Billion ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is auctioning off treasury bills worth Rs 6.1 billion. Among them, the 91-day treasury bills worth Rs 100 million will mature on February 8 and 182-day treasury bills worth Rs 6 billion on 10 May, 2022. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NRB issues treasury bills to mobilise short term loans for the government. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The online auctioning will open today at 2 pm (November 8), according to the NRB. Financial institutions categorised as Group 'A', 'B' and 'C' by the central bank, other financial institutions, non-banks and financial institutions can participate in the bidding. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The central bank will issue the bills to the highest bidders on Tuesday (November 9). Earlier, the central bank had auctioned treasury bills worth Rs 1.66 billion on November 1. -- RSS </span><br /> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13997', 'image' => '20211108125753_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 12:56:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14251', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' Price of Gold up by Rs 1500 after Tihar', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 8: The price of gold has increased after the Tihar holidays. The price of gold has increased by Rs 1500 per tola (11 grams approx.) on Monday (November 8) compared to the price on the previous business day (ie Thursday, November 4).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Federation of Gold and Silver Dealers Association of Nepal, fine gold is being traded for Rs 92,500 per tola on Monday. The precious yellow metal was being traded for Rs 91,000 on Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the price of silver has also increased. As per the latest price list, silver is being traded for Rs 1250 per tola compared to Rs 1225 per tola on Thursday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/gold%20chart%28236%29.jpg" style="height:150px; width:800px" /></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13996', 'image' => '20211108123252_gold.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 12:31:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14250', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flower Business in Nepal Shrinks by Rs 1.21 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">November 8: The flower business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to stakeholders, the annual turnover of flower business has declined because of the closure of hotels, restaurants and party palaces as well as low-key marriage ceremonies and other functions during the lockdown period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Floriculture Association of Nepal informed that the annual turnover of this business was Rs 2.42 billion in fiscal year 2075/78 before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2077/78, the business has shrunk by Rs 1.21 billion to Rs 1.63 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Chairman of the association Min Bahadur Tamang said that the people involved in flower business had to sustain a great loss because the market associated with the flower business had come to a standstill during the lockdown period. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to him, the flower market was growing by an average of 10 to 15 percent annually in Nepal. The businessmen had increased their investment considering this trend ahead of the pandemic. But the Covid-19 pandemic unexpectedly affectedly the business to a large extent.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During normal circumstances, the domestic market of Nepal used to consume more than 2.2 million units of garlands made of marigold flowers during the Tihar festival. However, during the last fiscal year, only 1.8 million units of garlands were sold during the festive season. The association has estimated the same amount of sale during this year’s Tihar festival.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The flower entrepreneurs have imported 250,000 units of garlands from India while the demand for the remaining garlands was met from domestic production. However, Tamang says that the garlands were brought into Nepal from India through unofficial channels as well, thereby causing loss to the local farmers. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13995', 'image' => '20211108115210_20190214040655__RAB0977.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 11:51:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14249', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tihar Festival Losing Traditional Colour in Palpa ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent years.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">November 8: The use of clay-made wares, including lamps, is greatly declining in Palpa and other districts during the Tihar festival in recent years. In the past, every nook and corner and the courtyard of the house used to be illuminated with oil lamps made of clay. This used to add a traditional tinge to the festival of lights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">But these days, the clay-made lamps have become a rarity during the Tihar festivity. The Kumal (potter) community used to make clay pots and lamps for the Tihar. The locals also used to buy clay lamps and pots from the Kumals. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Before, people used to illuminate the house lighting clay lamps. Using clay lamps and pots was good in that it preserved the culture and tradition of Tihar on the one hand and also provided some income to the potter on the other. But these days people have started using electric lights instead," said Devraj Dhakal, a local social worker of Rampur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The increasing import and use of electric lights for illumination has displaced the use of traditional clay lamps. Moreover, the potters too are abandoning their ancestral profession these days and the clay lamps and pots are in short supply. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"We do not get clay lamps in the market. There are only few people who manufacture clay lamps these days and there is shortage in the market. Instead we can get the electric lights easily and it is also easy to use them," said Parbati Neupane, a housewife. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Although the Kumals used to make clay lamps in limited number in the previous years even for the sake of preserving the tradition, they could not manufacture clay lamps this year due to the incessant rainfall. So, many people who came to the Kumals to buy clay lamps had to return empty-handed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The new generation of our community are no longer interested in their ancestral profession. Only some older Kumals like me are making clay wares these days merely for the sake of preserving our tradition and culture. We could not produce enough clay lamps this time due to the rains," said Som Bahadur Kumal of Rampur-6. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, shortage of suitable clay for making clay pots is another reason why the potter community is abandoning their traditional profession. He said the local government has banned collecting clay in large quantity and they have to do so during the night to avoid being caught. He demanded that the local government should make arrangements for the supply of clay. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Rampur ward no 6 chairperson Lok Maya Kumal however said that the local ward office would make arrangements for the supply of clay if the interested people applied for the it. There are around 250 Kumal households residing in Rampur-6. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-11-08', 'modified' => '2021-11-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13994', 'image' => '20211108081949_Diwali_Diya_20190523130802.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-11-08 08:18:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
