October 4: The prices of green vegetables have increased by as much as 280 percent in the last two weeks.…
October 4: The prices of green vegetables have increased by as much as 280 percent in the last two weeks.…
October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days.…
October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility…
October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel…
October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19…
October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet…
October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers…
October 3: Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a…
October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families.…
October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year.…
October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower…
October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. …
October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the…
October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil…
October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: The prices of green vegetables have increased by as much as 280 percent in the last two weeks. The daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB) shows the price of vegetables has skyrocketed recently. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there is no problem in the arrival of vegetables in the market, the general consumers have been directly affected by the unnatural price hike. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of tomatoes has increased the most. The average wholesale price of small local tomatoes, which was Rs 12 per kg on September 30, has risen by 280 percent to Rs 45 per kg in the last two weeks. The price of tomatoes grown in tunnels has also increased by 178 percent from Rs 20 to Rs 55 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the price of gourd has increased by 73 percent from Rs 55 per kg to Rs 95 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of local cauliflower has also increased by 50 percent from Rs 60 to Rs 90 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the high-priced vegetables are bitter gourd, beans, okra and gourd. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the board, 800 to 900 tons of vegetables enter Kalimati every day. Although there is no problem in the supply system, the prices of vegetables have been increasing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Binay Shrestha, information officer of the KFVMDB, said that the prices of some vegetables have increased unnaturally due to the unequal supply of vegetables. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The price of vegetables has escalated as the supply of expensive vegetables decreased. The price of vegetables will not decline until new vegetables arrive at the market,” he told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Consumer rights activists say the steady rise in vegetable prices is not a good sign, while there is no problem with the supply system. President of the Consumer Rights Investigation Forum Madhav Timilsina said that the general consumers are being affected due to the layers of middlemen between the farmers and the consumers. He says consumer fraud will not stop until the government sidelines the middlemen. He is of the view that the government should implement the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2075 to protect the consumers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13824', 'image' => '20211004011751_20210701020007_20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:17:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Arrival Picks Up Pace with Implementation of On-arrival Visa', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days. The positive impact in tourist arrival is due to the new visa arrangements that the government has announced for the foreign tourists amidst the risk of COVID-19. <br /> Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said this positive impact is seen in tourist arrival after the government made arrangements for the 'on-arrival visa' especially to the foreign tourists. <br /> The statistics shared by the Board shows that the arrival of foreign tourists has increased nearly by two times in September. Almost 10 thousand tourists have arrived in Nepal in September compared to around 5,000 tourists who had visited the country in August. <br /> A total of 9,974 foreign tourists visited Nepal in September, according to the NTB. Meanwhile, 6,942 foreign tourists left Nepal in the review month. This figure includes only the tourists who entered Nepal via air route. Altogether, 5,919 foreign tourists had arrived in Nepal in August. <br /> The new arrangement made by the government for the foreign tourists has had a positive impact on tourist arrivals, which has slightly improved, NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said. <br /> "The provision of on-arrival visa for foreign tourists has attracted the tourists and their arrival has increased. Based on this, the arrival of foreign tourists will likely increase in the coming season," he added. <br /> Seventy six thousand nine hundred thirteen foreign tourists entered Nepal in the last nine months of 2021. This figure is from January to September. <br /> The tourism sector was hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic with a sharp fall in the number of tourist arrivals. Only 548 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in September 2020 whereas 92,604 foreign tourists had visited Nepal in September of 2019. <br /> A Cabinet meeting on September 21 has approved on-arrival visas for foreign tourists visiting Nepal on condition that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The same meeting also removed the provision for tourists to stay at hotel quarantine. <br /> According to the NTB, the number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal drastically dropped to 230,000 in 2020 from 1,197,191 in 2019. COVID-19 is blamed for the situation. -- RSS </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13823', 'image' => '20211004011638_20211004082006_2021062902022430115831_1601420205.89.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:15:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Internet Service Providers Required to Sign Contract with NEA by Mid-November', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility poles.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility poles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On Sunday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal held a discussion with the Ministry of Information and Communication, NEA and the service providers after the NEA cut the cable wires of the service providers. NEA was instructed to reconnect the wires immediately after the discussion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the service providers have to reach an agreement with NEA on the issue of overdue pole rent within mid-November. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Communications, Information and Technology, Binod Prakash Singh said that such companies have come in contact with the authority and an agreement has been reached. He said that it was agreed to continue the service immediately on the condition of paying the overdue amount.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A task force has also been formed with the objective of resolving the dispute in the short and long term. The task force formed under the coordination of the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Communications includes representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Nepal Electricity Authority, and service providers. Spokesperson Singh said that the task force was given two months to resolve the issue.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The task force will make necessary decisions regarding the details of the overdue amounts and their payments. It will be coordinated by the Ministry of Communications, Telecommunications Authority and the Ministry of Energy. It has been said that the service providers should disclose the details of the structures of the authority they have used.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NEA on Saturday "symbolically" cut off wires after some service providers failed to pay pole rent for years. According to NEA, some companies have used authority’s structures without any agreement and that they had to take such a step after not receiving the rent. According to NEA, the wires have been reconnected considering the impact on the general consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The service provider has to pay the designated fare for using the NEA's pole and other structures. However, NEA has stated that some companies have not paid such rent since 2072 BS (2015 AD). NEA had introduced a new fare from 2075 BS (2018 AD). However, some companies have not paid the new fare, saying it is too expensive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on the recommendation of a committee formed by the government, the fare was implemented from August 17, 2020. The NEA has stated that the companies did not come to negotiate, renew and pay the overdue amounts at all.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13822', 'image' => '20211004010838_20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:07:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Record-High Prices of Petroleum Products in India to Impact NOC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively. In the wake of the price hike in the Indian market, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is concerned that its losses on petroleum products will further go up to Rs 1.5 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increase in price in India, petrol is being sold for IRs 102.39 per litre in Delhi and IRs 108.43 in Mumbai. Likewise, the price of diesel in Delhi has gone up to IRs 90.77 per litre and IRs 98.48 per liter in Mumbai, as per the Times of India. In India, prices vary from one state to another due to the different taxes levied by the state gvernments. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has already received the new price list from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). In a period of fifteen days, NOC estimates that it would incur loss of Rs 1.5 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">When the new price sent by IOC is adjusted along with the tax and other various costs, NOC has to pay Rs 139.18 for a liter of petrol, Rs 120.01 for a litre of diesel, Rs 93.94 for a litre of kerosene, Rs 84.07 for domestic aviation fuel and Rs 76.44 for fuel used for international flights. Likewise, cooking gas costs Rs 1,961.88 per cylinder.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The corporation had last adjusted the price of petroleum products on August 23. With the adjusted prices, petrol costs Rs 130, diesel and kerosene costs Rs 113, domestic aviation fuel costs Rs 86 and cooking gas costs Rs 1450. Considering this price, NOC incurs a loss of Rs 9.18 per liter on petrol, Rs 7.01 on diesel, while it earns a profit of Rs 19.59 on kerosene, Rs 1.93 on domestic aviation fuel and Rs 15.10 on international aviation fuel. NOC says that it is facing a loss of Rs 511.88 per cylinder.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Binit Mani Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the NOC, the demand for kerosene and aviation fuel is relatively low and the demand for petrol, diesel and cooking gas is high. So NOC incurs loss of Rs 1.5 billion in fifteen days by selling the petroleum products at the above mentioned prices. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of crude oil has reached around $80 in the international market. Upadhyaya said that the loss of NOC will increase along with the increase in the prices of crude oil</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13821', 'image' => '20211004120502_20210824101943_202etrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 12:04:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Activities Reopen in Chitwan National Park ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism activities inside the park, which is closed every year during the rainy season, reopens as soon as the rains subside. This year however the activities had remained closed due to COVID-19 and has now reopened. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All kinds of tourism activities inside and outside the park have been opened, Chief Conservation Officer of the park, Ananath Baral said. He added that jeep safari has also begun after the road inside the park was repaired. Elephant safaris along with jeep rides and jungle walks are also available at the community forest adjacent to the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Visitors can also spend nights in the tower-houses built inside the community forest and take boat rides on the Rapti River, which flows through the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Deepak Bhattarai, president of the Regional Hotel Association Sauraha, tourists visiting Sauraha will now be able to participate in all the activities of the national park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of tourists is expected to increase as soon as the park opens. Bhattarai said that the number of domestic tourists has been gradually increasing since the beginning of the festive season. Even foreign tourists have started arriving. Small gatherings, conferences, seminars and other programs are being held in Sauraha, Patihani, Jagatpur and Meghauli. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13819', 'image' => '20211004080906_CNP.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 08:08:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Calls for Making Arrangements for Unobstructed Use of Internet ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet service. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the internet service has become disrupted at many places of the country due to the haphazard cutting off of the optical fibres at various places, the NTA urged for making arrangements for the unhindered use of the internet service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a press release issued on Sunday (October 2), NTA urged the bodies concerned not to cut off the optical fibre at a time when efforts are being made to resolve the dispute over the rate of pole rent between the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal (ISPAN) and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) by holding discussions among the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the NTA, NEA and ISPAN. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"A highly essential service of the State has been disrupted with the cutoff of the optical fibres. There is provision in the Telecommunications Act, 2053 BS that says it would be punishable offence if anyone disrupts this essential service. The Authority expresses its regrets over the act of disruption of telecommunication service like this," NTA stated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NTA has called on all the bodies concerned to take legal action against anyone causing obstruction to the state's very essential service and to safeguard such infrastructures, laying emphasis on seeking solution through talks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"All sides should sit together and sort out the problems through mutual discussions, and we heartily request all sides concerned including NEA and the ISPAN to make arrangements for the unobstructed use of the internet service, as only talks are the solution to every problem," reads the press release. --RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13818', 'image' => '20211004080233_adsfasf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 08:02:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Internet Service Disrupted after NEA Removes Cables from Utility Poles', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers (ISPs).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers (ISPs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepal Electricity Authority and the Internet Service Providers are at loggerheads after the former increased rental charges for utility poles used by ISPs. The authority has blamed that ISPs are yet to clear their longstanding arrears for using utility poles. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA said it has asked ISPs time and again to clear the arrears. It had been warning to remove internet cables from utility poles if they continued to ignore its calls and failed to clear the arrears until October 1, NEA claimed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Federation of Computer Association Nepal has protested against NEA’s move to remove internet cables. Internet service has been affected in areas including Kathmandu, Bharatpur, Butwal, Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Dharan, Taplejung, Khadichaur and Dhangadhi after NEA removed internet cables, according to a statement issued by the CAN Federation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the move, CAN Federation has demanded the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to increase internet charge by Rs 150 to Rs 300 per subscriber. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“But our demand has been ignored so far,” according to the statement issued by CAN Federation General Secretary Narayan Thapa. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13817', 'image' => '20211004075355_internet_image.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 07:53:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism and Hotel Entrepreneurs Rejoice as Government Allows Entry of Private Vehicles from India', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a half.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3:<strong> </strong>Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a half. The traffic movement has become easier for the locals after the government removed the restriction of vehicular movement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Indian border was reopened on Friday, after being closed for more than a year on March 26, 2020, to control the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Even after the daily life returned to normal, the ban on vehicular movement remained in force making the situation uncomfortable for tourism entrepreneurs in border areas. This affected hotels and tourism businesses that were opened targeting Indian customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chairman of the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association Birgunj Hari Pant said that the resumption of vehicular movement has brought relief to the tourism entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Despite the decision of the Council of Ministers to open the border on September 20, the vehicles only started arriving on Friday due to procedural delays. The decision of the Council of Ministers could not be implemented after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance delayed sending the circular to the local bodies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The letter to open the checkpoint had reached the local administration and customs after the businessmen repeatedly raised the issue. Harihar Poudel, Chief Customs Officer of Birgunj Customs, said that the Indian passenger vehicles were allowed to enter the country after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance sent a letter to allow the entry of Indian vehicles following the required criteria.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In Birgunj, hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs had been taking the initiative to open traffic at the checkpoint. The decision was taken after a team of businessmen met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and requested him to open the checkpoint.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chief of the Birgunj Metropolitan City, Vijay Kumar Sarawgi, has claimed that the hotel and tourism business in the border area will revive now as private vehicles have been allowed entry into the country.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13816', 'image' => '20211003025703_20210516024759_20210118020708_1610926784.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 14:56:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Distribute Rs 5 billion to Half a Million Poor Families', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has prepared a work procedure and submitted the proposal to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) with a plan to distribute Rs 10,000 each to around 500,000 impoverished families.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to a source at the MoF, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has already submitted the work procedure to the Cabinet and it will be approve in the next meeting to distribute the cash to the beneficiaries before the Dashain festival. People who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 will also be provided with the relief. In this regard, the cabinet has sought for further clear provisions and sent the work procedure to the law division of the OPMCM. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"The work procedure is being presented in the cabinet with more clarity. Cabinet is likely to approve it in the next meeting," said a source close to the MoF. The government had announced a cash relief package for poor families through the bill brought to replace the ordinance budget. To implement the decision, the officials of the ministry had started working to prepare the work procedure in 20 days. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Identifying a poor family</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Ministry of Finance, the government is relying on the data of the National Planning Commission for the distribution of cash to the families. The study done by (NPC) has found out that five million people are living below the poverty line. Estimating a family of five members, the work procedure has been prepared to benefit 2.5 million people of 500,000 households. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Money distribution process</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As soon as the procedure is passed, the government will send the money to the members of the poor families who have opened bank accounts while the families with no bank accounts will be provided money through the village councils and local bodies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The work procedure has provisioned that at least two neighbours should recommend that the respective family is poor and the ward chairperson should certify the recommendation. Then the poor families will receive the cash grant. The details of the beneficiaries' families should be kept safe by the respective local bodies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Concerns about misuse of funds</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Since the government has not identified any poor families so far, there are concerns that the funds meant for this program will be misused. "This cash grant should have been distributed to the affected families last year. Though late it is being distributed, the process of identifying beneficiaries is not ideal. "The budget should have clearly set the criteria of the beneficiaries which has not happened so there are concerns the real poor families might be left out," said Keshav Acharya, an economist. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to Acharya, it would have been better if the government had collected the details of the poor families from the local level and distributed the money to the poor families. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13815', 'image' => '20211003031124_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 15:10:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'People Entering Kathmandu More Than Those Leaving the Valley', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year. The number of people entering the valley seems to outnumber the people leaving the valley. It has been speculated that due to the prevalent fear of Covid-19 infection, there is absence of excitement for the Dashain festival resulting in decrease in the number of people travelling to their villages.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the data provided by the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, a total of 227,500 passengers left the Kathmandu Valley in 6,500 vehicles on October 1, while 238,000 passengers entered the Kathmandu Valley in 6,800 vehicles on the same day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On that day, the number of passengers entering the valley was 10,500 more than that of people leaving the valley. Spokesperson of the Division, SP Sanjeev Sharma Das said that the number of passengers returning to their respective homes to celebrate Dashain this year is less compared to last year due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, the number of passengers entering the Kathmandu Valley on September 30 was also more than the number of passengers leaving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government has opened advance ticket booking for long-distance passenger vehicles by increasing the fare by 28 percent since September 17. Saroj Sitaula, the general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), said that the number of passengers leaving the Kathmandu Valley from September 17 to 28 was only around 300,000. According to him, the number of passengers leaving the valley compared to those entering is still less.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that the number of passengers leaving the valley has decreased due to poor road conditions caused by rain in some hill districts. He said that vehicles from some hill districts were entering the Kathmandu valley as late as 2 am.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to transport entrepreneurs, passengers are not showing any interest in booking tickets in advance. According to bus operator Narendra Neupane, the number of passengers going home is significantly less compared to previous years even though there are only four days left for Ghatsthapana, the first day of the Dashain festival.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13814', 'image' => '20211003123534_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 12:34:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IPPAN Objects to Directive Issued by Insurance Board ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower projects. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a recent statement, IPPAN has expressed concerns regarding the hike in the amount of insurance policy for the hydropower sector by the Insurance Board under undue influence. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN chair Krishna Prasad Acharya argued that it is not appropriate to issue directives under the influence of some non-life insurance companies. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Instead of the Insurance Board taking the initiative to provide full compensation for the projects that suffered damages due to recent floods, the amount of the insurance policy has been increased,” said IPPAN Chair Acharya, adding that such decision is not acceptable to IPPAN. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN has said that effort are being made to hurt the energy producers with mala fide intention instead of compensating for the damage caused to some river basin corridor projects in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces during the recent floods. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN has demanded that the government and concerned ministry take immediate action to revoke such controversial decision that is not helpful to promote the energy sector. It has also demanded action against the culprits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13813', 'image' => '20211003114510_20161028044036_ippan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 11:44:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '100 Electric Cars Imported in Last Four Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Rasuwa Customs Office, at least 100 electric cars entered Nepal within the past four days. Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Regmi said that the vehicles imported from Rasuwagadhi are being taken to Kathmandu after customs clearance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">More than Rs 109.8 million has been collected as customs duty from the import of the electric cars. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A customs officer informed that around 800 small and large vehicles have entered Nepal through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint since the last fiscal year. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13812', 'image' => '20211003112315_electric chinese.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 11:20:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' CNI Unveils Report on Industrial Status', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the country.', 'content' => '<p><em>Office bearers of CNI unveiling the first Industrial Status Report on Friday. Photo Courtesy: CNI</em></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">National Planning Commission’s Vice Chairman Dr Bishwa Poudel launched the first edition of the report which will be published on a quarterly basis.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report incorporates all the details and the situation of the productive sector, service sector, agriculture and energy sectors during the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, reads a statement issued by CNI on October 1.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the report, these industries operated at 64.8 per cent of their total capacity during the review period. The industries had recorded 8 per cent rise in their income in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22) compared to the corresponding period the previous fiscal year (FY 2020/21). Prior to that, the income had decreased by 4.7 per cent in the last quarter of FY 2019/20, 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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the COVID-19 had adversely affected the operating capacity of the industries but the situation has been improving. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of the industries surveyed, 83 per cent industrialists said that they were ready for new investments. In the last quarter of FY 2020/21, altogether 69.7 per cent industries were using generators for energy to run their industries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Poudel said that the report had reflect the real situation of the industries in the country and urged for continuity of the report. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“At present, even the government is preparing to work on the basis of data,” said Vice Chairman Poudel, adding, “Rule of law on the basis of data is in fact good governance. We are planning to make policies based on factual data.”</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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, CNI’s President Bishnu Kumar Agrawal said that the report shows how the private sector has been working as a think tank. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The research cell of the CNI prepared the report at a time when the country lacks updated data regarding industries, says the statement. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report is expected not only to help the government make policy-level intervention but also presents factual data that reflects the situation of the industrial sector of the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13811', 'image' => '20211003104427_CNI.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 10:42:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Loss Likely to Go Up ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation.', 'content' => '<p><em>Photo Courtesy: NOC</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation. NOC has estimated a possible loss of over Rs 1.5 billion from the sale of fuel in the next 15 days based on the revised price list received on October 1. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the addition of newly-determined price, domestic tax rates and other different costs, NOC is to invest Rs 139.18 per liter of petrol, Rs 120.01 per liter of diesel, Rs 93.94 per liter of kerosene, Rs 84.07 for air fuel to be used in domestic flights, Rs 76.44 for air fuel used in external flights and Rs 1,961.88 for a single cooking gas cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lately, the NOC had adjusted the price of petroleum products on August 23. According to the adjusted price, one liter of petrol costs Rs 130, diesel and kerosene Rs 113, while Rs 86 has been fixed for fuel used for domestic flights and Rs 1,450 for cooking gas cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Based on the stipulated price, now the NOC is to bear loss of Rs 9.18 for one liter of petrol and Rs 7.01 in diesel, and gain profit of Rs 19.59 in kerosene, Rs 1.93 in domestic air fuel, Rs 15.10 in external air fuel and a loss of Rs 511.88 per cylinder of LPG. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13810', 'image' => '20211003095938_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 09:58:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14064', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Tightens Dollar Exchange Facility', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign countries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government made such provision after amending the immigration procedure. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday took a decision to this effect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> As per the cabinet decision, Nepali citizens going to Gulf countries, SAARC countries, as well as Malaysia and Thailand will now be able to take only 250 US dollars with them instead of US 500.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government took such decision after the Balance of Payments went into deficit and foreign exchange reserves came under pressure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">From now onwards, Nepali citizens going to Europe, USA, Japan and Korea have to show proof of exchange of at least US$ 500 or equivalent in foreign currency along with all the letters of the person or organization that bears the expenses.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Nepali citizens going to Gulf countries, SAARC countries, Malaysia and Thailand must show proof of exchange of at least US$ 250 or equivalent in foreign currency, along with an open letter from the person or organization bearing the cost. Apart from this, Nepalese going to other countries will be able to take 500 US dollars.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It has also been made mandatory to exchange dollars or other foreign currency from ‘A’ class banks approved by the Nepal Rastra Bank. The source of income also has to be disclosed mandatorily.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Chief of Immigration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jagdish Aryal, the revised procedure has been implemented since Thursday, 30<sup>th</sup> of September, 2021. According to him, the Ministry of Home Affairs had written a letter to the Immigration Department asking it to implement the new arrangement. Earlier, NRB had tightened its grip on exchange of foreign currencies except the Indian currency.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On Tuesday, most bank chiefs were summoned and instructed not to exchange more than 200 US dollars in cash.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NRB is also going to tighten the rules on exchange of currencies as the foreign exchange reserves have decreased significantly. Based on the imports of the first month of the Fiscal Year 2078/79, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector will suffice to support the import of goods for 9 months and 10 days and the import of goods and services for 8 months only.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">By June, foreign exchange reserves could support 14 months of goods imports. As of last July, the foreign exchange reserves stood at Rs 1399.3 billion. By August, it had decreased by 3.2 percent to Rs 1,353.82 billion. Out of the total foreign exchange reserves of July, Nepal Rastra Bank has Rs 126.51 billion and other banks and financial institutions have Rs 147.31 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-01', 'modified' => '2021-10-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13809', 'image' => '20211001101757_5e97b66601102_Dollars.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-01 22:17:11', '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:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: The prices of green vegetables have increased by as much as 280 percent in the last two weeks. The daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB) shows the price of vegetables has skyrocketed recently. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there is no problem in the arrival of vegetables in the market, the general consumers have been directly affected by the unnatural price hike. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of tomatoes has increased the most. The average wholesale price of small local tomatoes, which was Rs 12 per kg on September 30, has risen by 280 percent to Rs 45 per kg in the last two weeks. The price of tomatoes grown in tunnels has also increased by 178 percent from Rs 20 to Rs 55 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the price of gourd has increased by 73 percent from Rs 55 per kg to Rs 95 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of local cauliflower has also increased by 50 percent from Rs 60 to Rs 90 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the high-priced vegetables are bitter gourd, beans, okra and gourd. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the board, 800 to 900 tons of vegetables enter Kalimati every day. Although there is no problem in the supply system, the prices of vegetables have been increasing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Binay Shrestha, information officer of the KFVMDB, said that the prices of some vegetables have increased unnaturally due to the unequal supply of vegetables. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The price of vegetables has escalated as the supply of expensive vegetables decreased. The price of vegetables will not decline until new vegetables arrive at the market,” he told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Consumer rights activists say the steady rise in vegetable prices is not a good sign, while there is no problem with the supply system. President of the Consumer Rights Investigation Forum Madhav Timilsina said that the general consumers are being affected due to the layers of middlemen between the farmers and the consumers. He says consumer fraud will not stop until the government sidelines the middlemen. He is of the view that the government should implement the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2075 to protect the consumers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13824', 'image' => '20211004011751_20210701020007_20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:17:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Arrival Picks Up Pace with Implementation of On-arrival Visa', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days. The positive impact in tourist arrival is due to the new visa arrangements that the government has announced for the foreign tourists amidst the risk of COVID-19. <br /> Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said this positive impact is seen in tourist arrival after the government made arrangements for the 'on-arrival visa' especially to the foreign tourists. <br /> The statistics shared by the Board shows that the arrival of foreign tourists has increased nearly by two times in September. Almost 10 thousand tourists have arrived in Nepal in September compared to around 5,000 tourists who had visited the country in August. <br /> A total of 9,974 foreign tourists visited Nepal in September, according to the NTB. Meanwhile, 6,942 foreign tourists left Nepal in the review month. This figure includes only the tourists who entered Nepal via air route. Altogether, 5,919 foreign tourists had arrived in Nepal in August. <br /> The new arrangement made by the government for the foreign tourists has had a positive impact on tourist arrivals, which has slightly improved, NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said. <br /> "The provision of on-arrival visa for foreign tourists has attracted the tourists and their arrival has increased. Based on this, the arrival of foreign tourists will likely increase in the coming season," he added. <br /> Seventy six thousand nine hundred thirteen foreign tourists entered Nepal in the last nine months of 2021. This figure is from January to September. <br /> The tourism sector was hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic with a sharp fall in the number of tourist arrivals. Only 548 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in September 2020 whereas 92,604 foreign tourists had visited Nepal in September of 2019. <br /> A Cabinet meeting on September 21 has approved on-arrival visas for foreign tourists visiting Nepal on condition that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The same meeting also removed the provision for tourists to stay at hotel quarantine. <br /> According to the NTB, the number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal drastically dropped to 230,000 in 2020 from 1,197,191 in 2019. COVID-19 is blamed for the situation. -- RSS </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13823', 'image' => '20211004011638_20211004082006_2021062902022430115831_1601420205.89.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:15:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Internet Service Providers Required to Sign Contract with NEA by Mid-November', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility poles.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility poles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On Sunday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal held a discussion with the Ministry of Information and Communication, NEA and the service providers after the NEA cut the cable wires of the service providers. NEA was instructed to reconnect the wires immediately after the discussion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the service providers have to reach an agreement with NEA on the issue of overdue pole rent within mid-November. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Communications, Information and Technology, Binod Prakash Singh said that such companies have come in contact with the authority and an agreement has been reached. He said that it was agreed to continue the service immediately on the condition of paying the overdue amount.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A task force has also been formed with the objective of resolving the dispute in the short and long term. The task force formed under the coordination of the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Communications includes representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Nepal Electricity Authority, and service providers. Spokesperson Singh said that the task force was given two months to resolve the issue.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The task force will make necessary decisions regarding the details of the overdue amounts and their payments. It will be coordinated by the Ministry of Communications, Telecommunications Authority and the Ministry of Energy. It has been said that the service providers should disclose the details of the structures of the authority they have used.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NEA on Saturday "symbolically" cut off wires after some service providers failed to pay pole rent for years. According to NEA, some companies have used authority’s structures without any agreement and that they had to take such a step after not receiving the rent. According to NEA, the wires have been reconnected considering the impact on the general consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The service provider has to pay the designated fare for using the NEA's pole and other structures. However, NEA has stated that some companies have not paid such rent since 2072 BS (2015 AD). NEA had introduced a new fare from 2075 BS (2018 AD). However, some companies have not paid the new fare, saying it is too expensive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on the recommendation of a committee formed by the government, the fare was implemented from August 17, 2020. The NEA has stated that the companies did not come to negotiate, renew and pay the overdue amounts at all.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13822', 'image' => '20211004010838_20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:07:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Record-High Prices of Petroleum Products in India to Impact NOC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively. In the wake of the price hike in the Indian market, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is concerned that its losses on petroleum products will further go up to Rs 1.5 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increase in price in India, petrol is being sold for IRs 102.39 per litre in Delhi and IRs 108.43 in Mumbai. Likewise, the price of diesel in Delhi has gone up to IRs 90.77 per litre and IRs 98.48 per liter in Mumbai, as per the Times of India. In India, prices vary from one state to another due to the different taxes levied by the state gvernments. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has already received the new price list from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). In a period of fifteen days, NOC estimates that it would incur loss of Rs 1.5 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">When the new price sent by IOC is adjusted along with the tax and other various costs, NOC has to pay Rs 139.18 for a liter of petrol, Rs 120.01 for a litre of diesel, Rs 93.94 for a litre of kerosene, Rs 84.07 for domestic aviation fuel and Rs 76.44 for fuel used for international flights. Likewise, cooking gas costs Rs 1,961.88 per cylinder.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The corporation had last adjusted the price of petroleum products on August 23. With the adjusted prices, petrol costs Rs 130, diesel and kerosene costs Rs 113, domestic aviation fuel costs Rs 86 and cooking gas costs Rs 1450. Considering this price, NOC incurs a loss of Rs 9.18 per liter on petrol, Rs 7.01 on diesel, while it earns a profit of Rs 19.59 on kerosene, Rs 1.93 on domestic aviation fuel and Rs 15.10 on international aviation fuel. NOC says that it is facing a loss of Rs 511.88 per cylinder.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Binit Mani Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the NOC, the demand for kerosene and aviation fuel is relatively low and the demand for petrol, diesel and cooking gas is high. So NOC incurs loss of Rs 1.5 billion in fifteen days by selling the petroleum products at the above mentioned prices. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of crude oil has reached around $80 in the international market. Upadhyaya said that the loss of NOC will increase along with the increase in the prices of crude oil</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13821', 'image' => '20211004120502_20210824101943_202etrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 12:04:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Activities Reopen in Chitwan National Park ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism activities inside the park, which is closed every year during the rainy season, reopens as soon as the rains subside. This year however the activities had remained closed due to COVID-19 and has now reopened. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All kinds of tourism activities inside and outside the park have been opened, Chief Conservation Officer of the park, Ananath Baral said. He added that jeep safari has also begun after the road inside the park was repaired. Elephant safaris along with jeep rides and jungle walks are also available at the community forest adjacent to the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Visitors can also spend nights in the tower-houses built inside the community forest and take boat rides on the Rapti River, which flows through the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Deepak Bhattarai, president of the Regional Hotel Association Sauraha, tourists visiting Sauraha will now be able to participate in all the activities of the national park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of tourists is expected to increase as soon as the park opens. Bhattarai said that the number of domestic tourists has been gradually increasing since the beginning of the festive season. Even foreign tourists have started arriving. Small gatherings, conferences, seminars and other programs are being held in Sauraha, Patihani, Jagatpur and Meghauli. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13819', 'image' => '20211004080906_CNP.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 08:08:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Calls for Making Arrangements for Unobstructed Use of Internet ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet service. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the internet service has become disrupted at many places of the country due to the haphazard cutting off of the optical fibres at various places, the NTA urged for making arrangements for the unhindered use of the internet service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a press release issued on Sunday (October 2), NTA urged the bodies concerned not to cut off the optical fibre at a time when efforts are being made to resolve the dispute over the rate of pole rent between the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal (ISPAN) and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) by holding discussions among the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the NTA, NEA and ISPAN. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"A highly essential service of the State has been disrupted with the cutoff of the optical fibres. There is provision in the Telecommunications Act, 2053 BS that says it would be punishable offence if anyone disrupts this essential service. The Authority expresses its regrets over the act of disruption of telecommunication service like this," NTA stated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NTA has called on all the bodies concerned to take legal action against anyone causing obstruction to the state's very essential service and to safeguard such infrastructures, laying emphasis on seeking solution through talks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"All sides should sit together and sort out the problems through mutual discussions, and we heartily request all sides concerned including NEA and the ISPAN to make arrangements for the unobstructed use of the internet service, as only talks are the solution to every problem," reads the press release. --RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13818', 'image' => '20211004080233_adsfasf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 08:02:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Internet Service Disrupted after NEA Removes Cables from Utility Poles', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers (ISPs).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers (ISPs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepal Electricity Authority and the Internet Service Providers are at loggerheads after the former increased rental charges for utility poles used by ISPs. The authority has blamed that ISPs are yet to clear their longstanding arrears for using utility poles. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA said it has asked ISPs time and again to clear the arrears. It had been warning to remove internet cables from utility poles if they continued to ignore its calls and failed to clear the arrears until October 1, NEA claimed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Federation of Computer Association Nepal has protested against NEA’s move to remove internet cables. Internet service has been affected in areas including Kathmandu, Bharatpur, Butwal, Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Dharan, Taplejung, Khadichaur and Dhangadhi after NEA removed internet cables, according to a statement issued by the CAN Federation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the move, CAN Federation has demanded the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to increase internet charge by Rs 150 to Rs 300 per subscriber. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“But our demand has been ignored so far,” according to the statement issued by CAN Federation General Secretary Narayan Thapa. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13817', 'image' => '20211004075355_internet_image.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 07:53:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism and Hotel Entrepreneurs Rejoice as Government Allows Entry of Private Vehicles from India', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a half.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3:<strong> </strong>Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a half. The traffic movement has become easier for the locals after the government removed the restriction of vehicular movement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Indian border was reopened on Friday, after being closed for more than a year on March 26, 2020, to control the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Even after the daily life returned to normal, the ban on vehicular movement remained in force making the situation uncomfortable for tourism entrepreneurs in border areas. This affected hotels and tourism businesses that were opened targeting Indian customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chairman of the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association Birgunj Hari Pant said that the resumption of vehicular movement has brought relief to the tourism entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Despite the decision of the Council of Ministers to open the border on September 20, the vehicles only started arriving on Friday due to procedural delays. The decision of the Council of Ministers could not be implemented after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance delayed sending the circular to the local bodies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The letter to open the checkpoint had reached the local administration and customs after the businessmen repeatedly raised the issue. Harihar Poudel, Chief Customs Officer of Birgunj Customs, said that the Indian passenger vehicles were allowed to enter the country after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance sent a letter to allow the entry of Indian vehicles following the required criteria.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In Birgunj, hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs had been taking the initiative to open traffic at the checkpoint. The decision was taken after a team of businessmen met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and requested him to open the checkpoint.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chief of the Birgunj Metropolitan City, Vijay Kumar Sarawgi, has claimed that the hotel and tourism business in the border area will revive now as private vehicles have been allowed entry into the country.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13816', 'image' => '20211003025703_20210516024759_20210118020708_1610926784.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 14:56:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Distribute Rs 5 billion to Half a Million Poor Families', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has prepared a work procedure and submitted the proposal to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) with a plan to distribute Rs 10,000 each to around 500,000 impoverished families.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to a source at the MoF, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has already submitted the work procedure to the Cabinet and it will be approve in the next meeting to distribute the cash to the beneficiaries before the Dashain festival. People who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 will also be provided with the relief. In this regard, the cabinet has sought for further clear provisions and sent the work procedure to the law division of the OPMCM. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"The work procedure is being presented in the cabinet with more clarity. Cabinet is likely to approve it in the next meeting," said a source close to the MoF. The government had announced a cash relief package for poor families through the bill brought to replace the ordinance budget. To implement the decision, the officials of the ministry had started working to prepare the work procedure in 20 days. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Identifying a poor family</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Ministry of Finance, the government is relying on the data of the National Planning Commission for the distribution of cash to the families. The study done by (NPC) has found out that five million people are living below the poverty line. Estimating a family of five members, the work procedure has been prepared to benefit 2.5 million people of 500,000 households. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Money distribution process</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As soon as the procedure is passed, the government will send the money to the members of the poor families who have opened bank accounts while the families with no bank accounts will be provided money through the village councils and local bodies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The work procedure has provisioned that at least two neighbours should recommend that the respective family is poor and the ward chairperson should certify the recommendation. Then the poor families will receive the cash grant. The details of the beneficiaries' families should be kept safe by the respective local bodies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Concerns about misuse of funds</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Since the government has not identified any poor families so far, there are concerns that the funds meant for this program will be misused. "This cash grant should have been distributed to the affected families last year. Though late it is being distributed, the process of identifying beneficiaries is not ideal. "The budget should have clearly set the criteria of the beneficiaries which has not happened so there are concerns the real poor families might be left out," said Keshav Acharya, an economist. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to Acharya, it would have been better if the government had collected the details of the poor families from the local level and distributed the money to the poor families. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13815', 'image' => '20211003031124_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 15:10:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'People Entering Kathmandu More Than Those Leaving the Valley', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year. The number of people entering the valley seems to outnumber the people leaving the valley. It has been speculated that due to the prevalent fear of Covid-19 infection, there is absence of excitement for the Dashain festival resulting in decrease in the number of people travelling to their villages.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the data provided by the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, a total of 227,500 passengers left the Kathmandu Valley in 6,500 vehicles on October 1, while 238,000 passengers entered the Kathmandu Valley in 6,800 vehicles on the same day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On that day, the number of passengers entering the valley was 10,500 more than that of people leaving the valley. Spokesperson of the Division, SP Sanjeev Sharma Das said that the number of passengers returning to their respective homes to celebrate Dashain this year is less compared to last year due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, the number of passengers entering the Kathmandu Valley on September 30 was also more than the number of passengers leaving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government has opened advance ticket booking for long-distance passenger vehicles by increasing the fare by 28 percent since September 17. Saroj Sitaula, the general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), said that the number of passengers leaving the Kathmandu Valley from September 17 to 28 was only around 300,000. According to him, the number of passengers leaving the valley compared to those entering is still less.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that the number of passengers leaving the valley has decreased due to poor road conditions caused by rain in some hill districts. He said that vehicles from some hill districts were entering the Kathmandu valley as late as 2 am.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to transport entrepreneurs, passengers are not showing any interest in booking tickets in advance. According to bus operator Narendra Neupane, the number of passengers going home is significantly less compared to previous years even though there are only four days left for Ghatsthapana, the first day of the Dashain festival.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13814', 'image' => '20211003123534_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 12:34:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IPPAN Objects to Directive Issued by Insurance Board ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower projects. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a recent statement, IPPAN has expressed concerns regarding the hike in the amount of insurance policy for the hydropower sector by the Insurance Board under undue influence. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN chair Krishna Prasad Acharya argued that it is not appropriate to issue directives under the influence of some non-life insurance companies. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Instead of the Insurance Board taking the initiative to provide full compensation for the projects that suffered damages due to recent floods, the amount of the insurance policy has been increased,” said IPPAN Chair Acharya, adding that such decision is not acceptable to IPPAN. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN has said that effort are being made to hurt the energy producers with mala fide intention instead of compensating for the damage caused to some river basin corridor projects in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces during the recent floods. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN has demanded that the government and concerned ministry take immediate action to revoke such controversial decision that is not helpful to promote the energy sector. It has also demanded action against the culprits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13813', 'image' => '20211003114510_20161028044036_ippan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 11:44:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '100 Electric Cars Imported in Last Four Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Rasuwa Customs Office, at least 100 electric cars entered Nepal within the past four days. Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Regmi said that the vehicles imported from Rasuwagadhi are being taken to Kathmandu after customs clearance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">More than Rs 109.8 million has been collected as customs duty from the import of the electric cars. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A customs officer informed that around 800 small and large vehicles have entered Nepal through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint since the last fiscal year. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13812', 'image' => '20211003112315_electric chinese.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 11:20:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' CNI Unveils Report on Industrial Status', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the country.', 'content' => '<p><em>Office bearers of CNI unveiling the first Industrial Status Report on Friday. Photo Courtesy: CNI</em></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">National Planning Commission’s Vice Chairman Dr Bishwa Poudel launched the first edition of the report which will be published on a quarterly basis.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report incorporates all the details and the situation of the productive sector, service sector, agriculture and energy sectors during the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, reads a statement issued by CNI on October 1.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the report, these industries operated at 64.8 per cent of their total capacity during the review period. The industries had recorded 8 per cent rise in their income in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22) compared to the corresponding period the previous fiscal year (FY 2020/21). Prior to that, the income had decreased by 4.7 per cent in the last quarter of FY 2019/20, 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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the COVID-19 had adversely affected the operating capacity of the industries but the situation has been improving. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of the industries surveyed, 83 per cent industrialists said that they were ready for new investments. In the last quarter of FY 2020/21, altogether 69.7 per cent industries were using generators for energy to run their industries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Poudel said that the report had reflect the real situation of the industries in the country and urged for continuity of the report. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“At present, even the government is preparing to work on the basis of data,” said Vice Chairman Poudel, adding, “Rule of law on the basis of data is in fact good governance. We are planning to make policies based on factual data.”</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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, CNI’s President Bishnu Kumar Agrawal said that the report shows how the private sector has been working as a think tank. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The research cell of the CNI prepared the report at a time when the country lacks updated data regarding industries, says the statement. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report is expected not only to help the government make policy-level intervention but also presents factual data that reflects the situation of the industrial sector of the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13811', 'image' => '20211003104427_CNI.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 10:42:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Loss Likely to Go Up ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation.', 'content' => '<p><em>Photo Courtesy: NOC</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation. NOC has estimated a possible loss of over Rs 1.5 billion from the sale of fuel in the next 15 days based on the revised price list received on October 1. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the addition of newly-determined price, domestic tax rates and other different costs, NOC is to invest Rs 139.18 per liter of petrol, Rs 120.01 per liter of diesel, Rs 93.94 per liter of kerosene, Rs 84.07 for air fuel to be used in domestic flights, Rs 76.44 for air fuel used in external flights and Rs 1,961.88 for a single cooking gas cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lately, the NOC had adjusted the price of petroleum products on August 23. According to the adjusted price, one liter of petrol costs Rs 130, diesel and kerosene Rs 113, while Rs 86 has been fixed for fuel used for domestic flights and Rs 1,450 for cooking gas cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Based on the stipulated price, now the NOC is to bear loss of Rs 9.18 for one liter of petrol and Rs 7.01 in diesel, and gain profit of Rs 19.59 in kerosene, Rs 1.93 in domestic air fuel, Rs 15.10 in external air fuel and a loss of Rs 511.88 per cylinder of LPG. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13810', 'image' => '20211003095938_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 09:58:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14064', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Tightens Dollar Exchange Facility', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign countries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government made such provision after amending the immigration procedure. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday took a decision to this effect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> As per the cabinet decision, Nepali citizens going to Gulf countries, SAARC countries, as well as Malaysia and Thailand will now be able to take only 250 US dollars with them instead of US 500.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government took such decision after the Balance of Payments went into deficit and foreign exchange reserves came under pressure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">From now onwards, Nepali citizens going to Europe, USA, Japan and Korea have to show proof of exchange of at least US$ 500 or equivalent in foreign currency along with all the letters of the person or organization that bears the expenses.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Nepali citizens going to Gulf countries, SAARC countries, Malaysia and Thailand must show proof of exchange of at least US$ 250 or equivalent in foreign currency, along with an open letter from the person or organization bearing the cost. Apart from this, Nepalese going to other countries will be able to take 500 US dollars.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It has also been made mandatory to exchange dollars or other foreign currency from ‘A’ class banks approved by the Nepal Rastra Bank. The source of income also has to be disclosed mandatorily.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Chief of Immigration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jagdish Aryal, the revised procedure has been implemented since Thursday, 30<sup>th</sup> of September, 2021. According to him, the Ministry of Home Affairs had written a letter to the Immigration Department asking it to implement the new arrangement. Earlier, NRB had tightened its grip on exchange of foreign currencies except the Indian currency.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On Tuesday, most bank chiefs were summoned and instructed not to exchange more than 200 US dollars in cash.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NRB is also going to tighten the rules on exchange of currencies as the foreign exchange reserves have decreased significantly. Based on the imports of the first month of the Fiscal Year 2078/79, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector will suffice to support the import of goods for 9 months and 10 days and the import of goods and services for 8 months only.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">By June, foreign exchange reserves could support 14 months of goods imports. As of last July, the foreign exchange reserves stood at Rs 1399.3 billion. By August, it had decreased by 3.2 percent to Rs 1,353.82 billion. Out of the total foreign exchange reserves of July, Nepal Rastra Bank has Rs 126.51 billion and other banks and financial institutions have Rs 147.31 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-01', 'modified' => '2021-10-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13809', 'image' => '20211001101757_5e97b66601102_Dollars.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-01 22:17:11', '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
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: The prices of green vegetables have increased by as much as 280 percent in the last two weeks. The daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB) shows the price of vegetables has skyrocketed recently. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there is no problem in the arrival of vegetables in the market, the general consumers have been directly affected by the unnatural price hike. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of tomatoes has increased the most. The average wholesale price of small local tomatoes, which was Rs 12 per kg on September 30, has risen by 280 percent to Rs 45 per kg in the last two weeks. The price of tomatoes grown in tunnels has also increased by 178 percent from Rs 20 to Rs 55 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the price of gourd has increased by 73 percent from Rs 55 per kg to Rs 95 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of local cauliflower has also increased by 50 percent from Rs 60 to Rs 90 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the high-priced vegetables are bitter gourd, beans, okra and gourd. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the board, 800 to 900 tons of vegetables enter Kalimati every day. Although there is no problem in the supply system, the prices of vegetables have been increasing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Binay Shrestha, information officer of the KFVMDB, said that the prices of some vegetables have increased unnaturally due to the unequal supply of vegetables. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The price of vegetables has escalated as the supply of expensive vegetables decreased. The price of vegetables will not decline until new vegetables arrive at the market,” he told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Consumer rights activists say the steady rise in vegetable prices is not a good sign, while there is no problem with the supply system. President of the Consumer Rights Investigation Forum Madhav Timilsina said that the general consumers are being affected due to the layers of middlemen between the farmers and the consumers. He says consumer fraud will not stop until the government sidelines the middlemen. He is of the view that the government should implement the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2075 to protect the consumers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13824', 'image' => '20211004011751_20210701020007_20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:17:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Arrival Picks Up Pace with Implementation of On-arrival Visa', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days. The positive impact in tourist arrival is due to the new visa arrangements that the government has announced for the foreign tourists amidst the risk of COVID-19. <br /> Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said this positive impact is seen in tourist arrival after the government made arrangements for the 'on-arrival visa' especially to the foreign tourists. <br /> The statistics shared by the Board shows that the arrival of foreign tourists has increased nearly by two times in September. Almost 10 thousand tourists have arrived in Nepal in September compared to around 5,000 tourists who had visited the country in August. <br /> A total of 9,974 foreign tourists visited Nepal in September, according to the NTB. Meanwhile, 6,942 foreign tourists left Nepal in the review month. This figure includes only the tourists who entered Nepal via air route. Altogether, 5,919 foreign tourists had arrived in Nepal in August. <br /> The new arrangement made by the government for the foreign tourists has had a positive impact on tourist arrivals, which has slightly improved, NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said. <br /> "The provision of on-arrival visa for foreign tourists has attracted the tourists and their arrival has increased. Based on this, the arrival of foreign tourists will likely increase in the coming season," he added. <br /> Seventy six thousand nine hundred thirteen foreign tourists entered Nepal in the last nine months of 2021. This figure is from January to September. <br /> The tourism sector was hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic with a sharp fall in the number of tourist arrivals. Only 548 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in September 2020 whereas 92,604 foreign tourists had visited Nepal in September of 2019. <br /> A Cabinet meeting on September 21 has approved on-arrival visas for foreign tourists visiting Nepal on condition that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The same meeting also removed the provision for tourists to stay at hotel quarantine. <br /> According to the NTB, the number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal drastically dropped to 230,000 in 2020 from 1,197,191 in 2019. COVID-19 is blamed for the situation. -- RSS </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13823', 'image' => '20211004011638_20211004082006_2021062902022430115831_1601420205.89.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:15:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Internet Service Providers Required to Sign Contract with NEA by Mid-November', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility poles.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility poles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On Sunday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal held a discussion with the Ministry of Information and Communication, NEA and the service providers after the NEA cut the cable wires of the service providers. NEA was instructed to reconnect the wires immediately after the discussion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the service providers have to reach an agreement with NEA on the issue of overdue pole rent within mid-November. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Communications, Information and Technology, Binod Prakash Singh said that such companies have come in contact with the authority and an agreement has been reached. He said that it was agreed to continue the service immediately on the condition of paying the overdue amount.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A task force has also been formed with the objective of resolving the dispute in the short and long term. The task force formed under the coordination of the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Communications includes representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Nepal Electricity Authority, and service providers. Spokesperson Singh said that the task force was given two months to resolve the issue.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The task force will make necessary decisions regarding the details of the overdue amounts and their payments. It will be coordinated by the Ministry of Communications, Telecommunications Authority and the Ministry of Energy. It has been said that the service providers should disclose the details of the structures of the authority they have used.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NEA on Saturday "symbolically" cut off wires after some service providers failed to pay pole rent for years. According to NEA, some companies have used authority’s structures without any agreement and that they had to take such a step after not receiving the rent. According to NEA, the wires have been reconnected considering the impact on the general consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The service provider has to pay the designated fare for using the NEA's pole and other structures. However, NEA has stated that some companies have not paid such rent since 2072 BS (2015 AD). NEA had introduced a new fare from 2075 BS (2018 AD). However, some companies have not paid the new fare, saying it is too expensive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on the recommendation of a committee formed by the government, the fare was implemented from August 17, 2020. The NEA has stated that the companies did not come to negotiate, renew and pay the overdue amounts at all.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13822', 'image' => '20211004010838_20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:07:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Record-High Prices of Petroleum Products in India to Impact NOC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively. In the wake of the price hike in the Indian market, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is concerned that its losses on petroleum products will further go up to Rs 1.5 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increase in price in India, petrol is being sold for IRs 102.39 per litre in Delhi and IRs 108.43 in Mumbai. Likewise, the price of diesel in Delhi has gone up to IRs 90.77 per litre and IRs 98.48 per liter in Mumbai, as per the Times of India. In India, prices vary from one state to another due to the different taxes levied by the state gvernments. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has already received the new price list from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). In a period of fifteen days, NOC estimates that it would incur loss of Rs 1.5 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">When the new price sent by IOC is adjusted along with the tax and other various costs, NOC has to pay Rs 139.18 for a liter of petrol, Rs 120.01 for a litre of diesel, Rs 93.94 for a litre of kerosene, Rs 84.07 for domestic aviation fuel and Rs 76.44 for fuel used for international flights. Likewise, cooking gas costs Rs 1,961.88 per cylinder.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The corporation had last adjusted the price of petroleum products on August 23. With the adjusted prices, petrol costs Rs 130, diesel and kerosene costs Rs 113, domestic aviation fuel costs Rs 86 and cooking gas costs Rs 1450. Considering this price, NOC incurs a loss of Rs 9.18 per liter on petrol, Rs 7.01 on diesel, while it earns a profit of Rs 19.59 on kerosene, Rs 1.93 on domestic aviation fuel and Rs 15.10 on international aviation fuel. NOC says that it is facing a loss of Rs 511.88 per cylinder.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Binit Mani Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the NOC, the demand for kerosene and aviation fuel is relatively low and the demand for petrol, diesel and cooking gas is high. So NOC incurs loss of Rs 1.5 billion in fifteen days by selling the petroleum products at the above mentioned prices. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of crude oil has reached around $80 in the international market. Upadhyaya said that the loss of NOC will increase along with the increase in the prices of crude oil</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13821', 'image' => '20211004120502_20210824101943_202etrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 12:04:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Activities Reopen in Chitwan National Park ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism activities inside the park, which is closed every year during the rainy season, reopens as soon as the rains subside. This year however the activities had remained closed due to COVID-19 and has now reopened. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All kinds of tourism activities inside and outside the park have been opened, Chief Conservation Officer of the park, Ananath Baral said. He added that jeep safari has also begun after the road inside the park was repaired. Elephant safaris along with jeep rides and jungle walks are also available at the community forest adjacent to the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Visitors can also spend nights in the tower-houses built inside the community forest and take boat rides on the Rapti River, which flows through the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Deepak Bhattarai, president of the Regional Hotel Association Sauraha, tourists visiting Sauraha will now be able to participate in all the activities of the national park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of tourists is expected to increase as soon as the park opens. Bhattarai said that the number of domestic tourists has been gradually increasing since the beginning of the festive season. Even foreign tourists have started arriving. Small gatherings, conferences, seminars and other programs are being held in Sauraha, Patihani, Jagatpur and Meghauli. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13819', 'image' => '20211004080906_CNP.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 08:08:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Calls for Making Arrangements for Unobstructed Use of Internet ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet service. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the internet service has become disrupted at many places of the country due to the haphazard cutting off of the optical fibres at various places, the NTA urged for making arrangements for the unhindered use of the internet service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a press release issued on Sunday (October 2), NTA urged the bodies concerned not to cut off the optical fibre at a time when efforts are being made to resolve the dispute over the rate of pole rent between the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal (ISPAN) and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) by holding discussions among the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the NTA, NEA and ISPAN. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"A highly essential service of the State has been disrupted with the cutoff of the optical fibres. There is provision in the Telecommunications Act, 2053 BS that says it would be punishable offence if anyone disrupts this essential service. The Authority expresses its regrets over the act of disruption of telecommunication service like this," NTA stated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NTA has called on all the bodies concerned to take legal action against anyone causing obstruction to the state's very essential service and to safeguard such infrastructures, laying emphasis on seeking solution through talks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"All sides should sit together and sort out the problems through mutual discussions, and we heartily request all sides concerned including NEA and the ISPAN to make arrangements for the unobstructed use of the internet service, as only talks are the solution to every problem," reads the press release. --RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13818', 'image' => '20211004080233_adsfasf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 08:02:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Internet Service Disrupted after NEA Removes Cables from Utility Poles', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers (ISPs).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers (ISPs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepal Electricity Authority and the Internet Service Providers are at loggerheads after the former increased rental charges for utility poles used by ISPs. The authority has blamed that ISPs are yet to clear their longstanding arrears for using utility poles. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA said it has asked ISPs time and again to clear the arrears. It had been warning to remove internet cables from utility poles if they continued to ignore its calls and failed to clear the arrears until October 1, NEA claimed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Federation of Computer Association Nepal has protested against NEA’s move to remove internet cables. Internet service has been affected in areas including Kathmandu, Bharatpur, Butwal, Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Dharan, Taplejung, Khadichaur and Dhangadhi after NEA removed internet cables, according to a statement issued by the CAN Federation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the move, CAN Federation has demanded the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to increase internet charge by Rs 150 to Rs 300 per subscriber. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“But our demand has been ignored so far,” according to the statement issued by CAN Federation General Secretary Narayan Thapa. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13817', 'image' => '20211004075355_internet_image.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 07:53:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism and Hotel Entrepreneurs Rejoice as Government Allows Entry of Private Vehicles from India', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a half.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3:<strong> </strong>Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a half. The traffic movement has become easier for the locals after the government removed the restriction of vehicular movement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Indian border was reopened on Friday, after being closed for more than a year on March 26, 2020, to control the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Even after the daily life returned to normal, the ban on vehicular movement remained in force making the situation uncomfortable for tourism entrepreneurs in border areas. This affected hotels and tourism businesses that were opened targeting Indian customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chairman of the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association Birgunj Hari Pant said that the resumption of vehicular movement has brought relief to the tourism entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Despite the decision of the Council of Ministers to open the border on September 20, the vehicles only started arriving on Friday due to procedural delays. The decision of the Council of Ministers could not be implemented after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance delayed sending the circular to the local bodies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The letter to open the checkpoint had reached the local administration and customs after the businessmen repeatedly raised the issue. Harihar Poudel, Chief Customs Officer of Birgunj Customs, said that the Indian passenger vehicles were allowed to enter the country after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance sent a letter to allow the entry of Indian vehicles following the required criteria.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In Birgunj, hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs had been taking the initiative to open traffic at the checkpoint. The decision was taken after a team of businessmen met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and requested him to open the checkpoint.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chief of the Birgunj Metropolitan City, Vijay Kumar Sarawgi, has claimed that the hotel and tourism business in the border area will revive now as private vehicles have been allowed entry into the country.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13816', 'image' => '20211003025703_20210516024759_20210118020708_1610926784.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 14:56:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Distribute Rs 5 billion to Half a Million Poor Families', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has prepared a work procedure and submitted the proposal to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) with a plan to distribute Rs 10,000 each to around 500,000 impoverished families.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to a source at the MoF, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has already submitted the work procedure to the Cabinet and it will be approve in the next meeting to distribute the cash to the beneficiaries before the Dashain festival. People who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 will also be provided with the relief. In this regard, the cabinet has sought for further clear provisions and sent the work procedure to the law division of the OPMCM. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"The work procedure is being presented in the cabinet with more clarity. Cabinet is likely to approve it in the next meeting," said a source close to the MoF. The government had announced a cash relief package for poor families through the bill brought to replace the ordinance budget. To implement the decision, the officials of the ministry had started working to prepare the work procedure in 20 days. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Identifying a poor family</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Ministry of Finance, the government is relying on the data of the National Planning Commission for the distribution of cash to the families. The study done by (NPC) has found out that five million people are living below the poverty line. Estimating a family of five members, the work procedure has been prepared to benefit 2.5 million people of 500,000 households. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Money distribution process</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As soon as the procedure is passed, the government will send the money to the members of the poor families who have opened bank accounts while the families with no bank accounts will be provided money through the village councils and local bodies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The work procedure has provisioned that at least two neighbours should recommend that the respective family is poor and the ward chairperson should certify the recommendation. Then the poor families will receive the cash grant. The details of the beneficiaries' families should be kept safe by the respective local bodies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Concerns about misuse of funds</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Since the government has not identified any poor families so far, there are concerns that the funds meant for this program will be misused. "This cash grant should have been distributed to the affected families last year. Though late it is being distributed, the process of identifying beneficiaries is not ideal. "The budget should have clearly set the criteria of the beneficiaries which has not happened so there are concerns the real poor families might be left out," said Keshav Acharya, an economist. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to Acharya, it would have been better if the government had collected the details of the poor families from the local level and distributed the money to the poor families. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13815', 'image' => '20211003031124_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 15:10:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'People Entering Kathmandu More Than Those Leaving the Valley', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year. The number of people entering the valley seems to outnumber the people leaving the valley. It has been speculated that due to the prevalent fear of Covid-19 infection, there is absence of excitement for the Dashain festival resulting in decrease in the number of people travelling to their villages.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the data provided by the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, a total of 227,500 passengers left the Kathmandu Valley in 6,500 vehicles on October 1, while 238,000 passengers entered the Kathmandu Valley in 6,800 vehicles on the same day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On that day, the number of passengers entering the valley was 10,500 more than that of people leaving the valley. Spokesperson of the Division, SP Sanjeev Sharma Das said that the number of passengers returning to their respective homes to celebrate Dashain this year is less compared to last year due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, the number of passengers entering the Kathmandu Valley on September 30 was also more than the number of passengers leaving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government has opened advance ticket booking for long-distance passenger vehicles by increasing the fare by 28 percent since September 17. Saroj Sitaula, the general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), said that the number of passengers leaving the Kathmandu Valley from September 17 to 28 was only around 300,000. According to him, the number of passengers leaving the valley compared to those entering is still less.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that the number of passengers leaving the valley has decreased due to poor road conditions caused by rain in some hill districts. He said that vehicles from some hill districts were entering the Kathmandu valley as late as 2 am.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to transport entrepreneurs, passengers are not showing any interest in booking tickets in advance. According to bus operator Narendra Neupane, the number of passengers going home is significantly less compared to previous years even though there are only four days left for Ghatsthapana, the first day of the Dashain festival.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13814', 'image' => '20211003123534_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 12:34:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IPPAN Objects to Directive Issued by Insurance Board ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower projects. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a recent statement, IPPAN has expressed concerns regarding the hike in the amount of insurance policy for the hydropower sector by the Insurance Board under undue influence. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN chair Krishna Prasad Acharya argued that it is not appropriate to issue directives under the influence of some non-life insurance companies. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Instead of the Insurance Board taking the initiative to provide full compensation for the projects that suffered damages due to recent floods, the amount of the insurance policy has been increased,” said IPPAN Chair Acharya, adding that such decision is not acceptable to IPPAN. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN has said that effort are being made to hurt the energy producers with mala fide intention instead of compensating for the damage caused to some river basin corridor projects in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces during the recent floods. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN has demanded that the government and concerned ministry take immediate action to revoke such controversial decision that is not helpful to promote the energy sector. It has also demanded action against the culprits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13813', 'image' => '20211003114510_20161028044036_ippan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 11:44:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '100 Electric Cars Imported in Last Four Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Rasuwa Customs Office, at least 100 electric cars entered Nepal within the past four days. Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Regmi said that the vehicles imported from Rasuwagadhi are being taken to Kathmandu after customs clearance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">More than Rs 109.8 million has been collected as customs duty from the import of the electric cars. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A customs officer informed that around 800 small and large vehicles have entered Nepal through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint since the last fiscal year. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13812', 'image' => '20211003112315_electric chinese.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 11:20:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' CNI Unveils Report on Industrial Status', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the country.', 'content' => '<p><em>Office bearers of CNI unveiling the first Industrial Status Report on Friday. Photo Courtesy: CNI</em></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">National Planning Commission’s Vice Chairman Dr Bishwa Poudel launched the first edition of the report which will be published on a quarterly basis.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report incorporates all the details and the situation of the productive sector, service sector, agriculture and energy sectors during the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, reads a statement issued by CNI on October 1.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the report, these industries operated at 64.8 per cent of their total capacity during the review period. The industries had recorded 8 per cent rise in their income in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22) compared to the corresponding period the previous fiscal year (FY 2020/21). Prior to that, the income had decreased by 4.7 per cent in the last quarter of FY 2019/20, 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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the COVID-19 had adversely affected the operating capacity of the industries but the situation has been improving. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of the industries surveyed, 83 per cent industrialists said that they were ready for new investments. In the last quarter of FY 2020/21, altogether 69.7 per cent industries were using generators for energy to run their industries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Poudel said that the report had reflect the real situation of the industries in the country and urged for continuity of the report. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“At present, even the government is preparing to work on the basis of data,” said Vice Chairman Poudel, adding, “Rule of law on the basis of data is in fact good governance. We are planning to make policies based on factual data.”</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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, CNI’s President Bishnu Kumar Agrawal said that the report shows how the private sector has been working as a think tank. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The research cell of the CNI prepared the report at a time when the country lacks updated data regarding industries, says the statement. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report is expected not only to help the government make policy-level intervention but also presents factual data that reflects the situation of the industrial sector of the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13811', 'image' => '20211003104427_CNI.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 10:42:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Loss Likely to Go Up ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation.', 'content' => '<p><em>Photo Courtesy: NOC</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation. NOC has estimated a possible loss of over Rs 1.5 billion from the sale of fuel in the next 15 days based on the revised price list received on October 1. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the addition of newly-determined price, domestic tax rates and other different costs, NOC is to invest Rs 139.18 per liter of petrol, Rs 120.01 per liter of diesel, Rs 93.94 per liter of kerosene, Rs 84.07 for air fuel to be used in domestic flights, Rs 76.44 for air fuel used in external flights and Rs 1,961.88 for a single cooking gas cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lately, the NOC had adjusted the price of petroleum products on August 23. According to the adjusted price, one liter of petrol costs Rs 130, diesel and kerosene Rs 113, while Rs 86 has been fixed for fuel used for domestic flights and Rs 1,450 for cooking gas cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Based on the stipulated price, now the NOC is to bear loss of Rs 9.18 for one liter of petrol and Rs 7.01 in diesel, and gain profit of Rs 19.59 in kerosene, Rs 1.93 in domestic air fuel, Rs 15.10 in external air fuel and a loss of Rs 511.88 per cylinder of LPG. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13810', 'image' => '20211003095938_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 09:58:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14064', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Tightens Dollar Exchange Facility', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign countries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government made such provision after amending the immigration procedure. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday took a decision to this effect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> As per the cabinet decision, Nepali citizens going to Gulf countries, SAARC countries, as well as Malaysia and Thailand will now be able to take only 250 US dollars with them instead of US 500.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government took such decision after the Balance of Payments went into deficit and foreign exchange reserves came under pressure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">From now onwards, Nepali citizens going to Europe, USA, Japan and Korea have to show proof of exchange of at least US$ 500 or equivalent in foreign currency along with all the letters of the person or organization that bears the expenses.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Nepali citizens going to Gulf countries, SAARC countries, Malaysia and Thailand must show proof of exchange of at least US$ 250 or equivalent in foreign currency, along with an open letter from the person or organization bearing the cost. Apart from this, Nepalese going to other countries will be able to take 500 US dollars.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It has also been made mandatory to exchange dollars or other foreign currency from ‘A’ class banks approved by the Nepal Rastra Bank. The source of income also has to be disclosed mandatorily.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Chief of Immigration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jagdish Aryal, the revised procedure has been implemented since Thursday, 30<sup>th</sup> of September, 2021. According to him, the Ministry of Home Affairs had written a letter to the Immigration Department asking it to implement the new arrangement. Earlier, NRB had tightened its grip on exchange of foreign currencies except the Indian currency.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On Tuesday, most bank chiefs were summoned and instructed not to exchange more than 200 US dollars in cash.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NRB is also going to tighten the rules on exchange of currencies as the foreign exchange reserves have decreased significantly. Based on the imports of the first month of the Fiscal Year 2078/79, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector will suffice to support the import of goods for 9 months and 10 days and the import of goods and services for 8 months only.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">By June, foreign exchange reserves could support 14 months of goods imports. As of last July, the foreign exchange reserves stood at Rs 1399.3 billion. By August, it had decreased by 3.2 percent to Rs 1,353.82 billion. Out of the total foreign exchange reserves of July, Nepal Rastra Bank has Rs 126.51 billion and other banks and financial institutions have Rs 147.31 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-01', 'modified' => '2021-10-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13809', 'image' => '20211001101757_5e97b66601102_Dollars.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-01 22:17:11', '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:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: The prices of green vegetables have increased by as much as 280 percent in the last two weeks. The daily price list of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board (KFVMDB) shows the price of vegetables has skyrocketed recently. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although there is no problem in the arrival of vegetables in the market, the general consumers have been directly affected by the unnatural price hike. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of tomatoes has increased the most. The average wholesale price of small local tomatoes, which was Rs 12 per kg on September 30, has risen by 280 percent to Rs 45 per kg in the last two weeks. The price of tomatoes grown in tunnels has also increased by 178 percent from Rs 20 to Rs 55 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the price of gourd has increased by 73 percent from Rs 55 per kg to Rs 95 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of local cauliflower has also increased by 50 percent from Rs 60 to Rs 90 per kg. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Among the high-priced vegetables are bitter gourd, beans, okra and gourd. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the board, 800 to 900 tons of vegetables enter Kalimati every day. Although there is no problem in the supply system, the prices of vegetables have been increasing. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Binay Shrestha, information officer of the KFVMDB, said that the prices of some vegetables have increased unnaturally due to the unequal supply of vegetables. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“The price of vegetables has escalated as the supply of expensive vegetables decreased. The price of vegetables will not decline until new vegetables arrive at the market,” he told New Business Age. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Consumer rights activists say the steady rise in vegetable prices is not a good sign, while there is no problem with the supply system. President of the Consumer Rights Investigation Forum Madhav Timilsina said that the general consumers are being affected due to the layers of middlemen between the farmers and the consumers. He says consumer fraud will not stop until the government sidelines the middlemen. He is of the view that the government should implement the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2075 to protect the consumers. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13824', 'image' => '20211004011751_20210701020007_20200806125217_1595453904.Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:17:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourist Arrival Picks Up Pace with Implementation of On-arrival Visa', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">October 4: A slight improvement has been seen in arrival of tourists in the country in recent days. The positive impact in tourist arrival is due to the new visa arrangements that the government has announced for the foreign tourists amidst the risk of COVID-19. <br /> Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said this positive impact is seen in tourist arrival after the government made arrangements for the 'on-arrival visa' especially to the foreign tourists. <br /> The statistics shared by the Board shows that the arrival of foreign tourists has increased nearly by two times in September. Almost 10 thousand tourists have arrived in Nepal in September compared to around 5,000 tourists who had visited the country in August. <br /> A total of 9,974 foreign tourists visited Nepal in September, according to the NTB. Meanwhile, 6,942 foreign tourists left Nepal in the review month. This figure includes only the tourists who entered Nepal via air route. Altogether, 5,919 foreign tourists had arrived in Nepal in August. <br /> The new arrangement made by the government for the foreign tourists has had a positive impact on tourist arrivals, which has slightly improved, NTB Director Maniraj Lamichhane said. <br /> "The provision of on-arrival visa for foreign tourists has attracted the tourists and their arrival has increased. Based on this, the arrival of foreign tourists will likely increase in the coming season," he added. <br /> Seventy six thousand nine hundred thirteen foreign tourists entered Nepal in the last nine months of 2021. This figure is from January to September. <br /> The tourism sector was hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic with a sharp fall in the number of tourist arrivals. Only 548 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in September 2020 whereas 92,604 foreign tourists had visited Nepal in September of 2019. <br /> A Cabinet meeting on September 21 has approved on-arrival visas for foreign tourists visiting Nepal on condition that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The same meeting also removed the provision for tourists to stay at hotel quarantine. <br /> According to the NTB, the number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal drastically dropped to 230,000 in 2020 from 1,197,191 in 2019. COVID-19 is blamed for the situation. -- RSS </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13823', 'image' => '20211004011638_20211004082006_2021062902022430115831_1601420205.89.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:15:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Internet Service Providers Required to Sign Contract with NEA by Mid-November', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility poles.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has reconnected the wires of the internet and cable television service providers which it had cut on Saturday for not paying their dues for using the utility poles.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On Sunday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal held a discussion with the Ministry of Information and Communication, NEA and the service providers after the NEA cut the cable wires of the service providers. NEA was instructed to reconnect the wires immediately after the discussion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the service providers have to reach an agreement with NEA on the issue of overdue pole rent within mid-November. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Communications, Information and Technology, Binod Prakash Singh said that such companies have come in contact with the authority and an agreement has been reached. He said that it was agreed to continue the service immediately on the condition of paying the overdue amount.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A task force has also been formed with the objective of resolving the dispute in the short and long term. The task force formed under the coordination of the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Communications includes representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Nepal Electricity Authority, and service providers. Spokesperson Singh said that the task force was given two months to resolve the issue.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The task force will make necessary decisions regarding the details of the overdue amounts and their payments. It will be coordinated by the Ministry of Communications, Telecommunications Authority and the Ministry of Energy. It has been said that the service providers should disclose the details of the structures of the authority they have used.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">NEA on Saturday "symbolically" cut off wires after some service providers failed to pay pole rent for years. According to NEA, some companies have used authority’s structures without any agreement and that they had to take such a step after not receiving the rent. According to NEA, the wires have been reconnected considering the impact on the general consumers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The service provider has to pay the designated fare for using the NEA's pole and other structures. However, NEA has stated that some companies have not paid such rent since 2072 BS (2015 AD). NEA had introduced a new fare from 2075 BS (2018 AD). However, some companies have not paid the new fare, saying it is too expensive.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Based on the recommendation of a committee formed by the government, the fare was implemented from August 17, 2020. The NEA has stated that the companies did not come to negotiate, renew and pay the overdue amounts at all.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13822', 'image' => '20211004010838_20210730071331_20210526081934_20190922030926_aaaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 13:07:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Record-High Prices of Petroleum Products in India to Impact NOC', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">October 4: The prices of petroleum products in neighboring India has reached a record high with a price hike of 25 paisa and 30 paisa for a litre of petrol and diesel respectively. In the wake of the price hike in the Indian market, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is concerned that its losses on petroleum products will further go up to Rs 1.5 billion. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the increase in price in India, petrol is being sold for IRs 102.39 per litre in Delhi and IRs 108.43 in Mumbai. Likewise, the price of diesel in Delhi has gone up to IRs 90.77 per litre and IRs 98.48 per liter in Mumbai, as per the Times of India. In India, prices vary from one state to another due to the different taxes levied by the state gvernments. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has already received the new price list from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). In a period of fifteen days, NOC estimates that it would incur loss of Rs 1.5 billion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">When the new price sent by IOC is adjusted along with the tax and other various costs, NOC has to pay Rs 139.18 for a liter of petrol, Rs 120.01 for a litre of diesel, Rs 93.94 for a litre of kerosene, Rs 84.07 for domestic aviation fuel and Rs 76.44 for fuel used for international flights. Likewise, cooking gas costs Rs 1,961.88 per cylinder.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The corporation had last adjusted the price of petroleum products on August 23. With the adjusted prices, petrol costs Rs 130, diesel and kerosene costs Rs 113, domestic aviation fuel costs Rs 86 and cooking gas costs Rs 1450. Considering this price, NOC incurs a loss of Rs 9.18 per liter on petrol, Rs 7.01 on diesel, while it earns a profit of Rs 19.59 on kerosene, Rs 1.93 on domestic aviation fuel and Rs 15.10 on international aviation fuel. NOC says that it is facing a loss of Rs 511.88 per cylinder.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Binit Mani Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the NOC, the demand for kerosene and aviation fuel is relatively low and the demand for petrol, diesel and cooking gas is high. So NOC incurs loss of Rs 1.5 billion in fifteen days by selling the petroleum products at the above mentioned prices. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The price of crude oil has reached around $80 in the international market. Upadhyaya said that the loss of NOC will increase along with the increase in the prices of crude oil</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13821', 'image' => '20211004120502_20210824101943_202etrol-Price-Increase.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 12:04:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Activities Reopen in Chitwan National Park ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Chitwan National Park has resumed tourism activities that remained closed with the onset of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tourism activities inside the park, which is closed every year during the rainy season, reopens as soon as the rains subside. This year however the activities had remained closed due to COVID-19 and has now reopened. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">All kinds of tourism activities inside and outside the park have been opened, Chief Conservation Officer of the park, Ananath Baral said. He added that jeep safari has also begun after the road inside the park was repaired. Elephant safaris along with jeep rides and jungle walks are also available at the community forest adjacent to the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Visitors can also spend nights in the tower-houses built inside the community forest and take boat rides on the Rapti River, which flows through the park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to Deepak Bhattarai, president of the Regional Hotel Association Sauraha, tourists visiting Sauraha will now be able to participate in all the activities of the national park. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The number of tourists is expected to increase as soon as the park opens. Bhattarai said that the number of domestic tourists has been gradually increasing since the beginning of the festive season. Even foreign tourists have started arriving. Small gatherings, conferences, seminars and other programs are being held in Sauraha, Patihani, Jagatpur and Meghauli. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13819', 'image' => '20211004080906_CNP.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 08:08:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14073', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTA Calls for Making Arrangements for Unobstructed Use of Internet ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet service. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has urged all stakeholders to make arrangements for the uninterrupted use of the internet service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Stating that the internet service has become disrupted at many places of the country due to the haphazard cutting off of the optical fibres at various places, the NTA urged for making arrangements for the unhindered use of the internet service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a press release issued on Sunday (October 2), NTA urged the bodies concerned not to cut off the optical fibre at a time when efforts are being made to resolve the dispute over the rate of pole rent between the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal (ISPAN) and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) by holding discussions among the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, the NTA, NEA and ISPAN. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"A highly essential service of the State has been disrupted with the cutoff of the optical fibres. There is provision in the Telecommunications Act, 2053 BS that says it would be punishable offence if anyone disrupts this essential service. The Authority expresses its regrets over the act of disruption of telecommunication service like this," NTA stated. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NTA has called on all the bodies concerned to take legal action against anyone causing obstruction to the state's very essential service and to safeguard such infrastructures, laying emphasis on seeking solution through talks. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"All sides should sit together and sort out the problems through mutual discussions, and we heartily request all sides concerned including NEA and the ISPAN to make arrangements for the unobstructed use of the internet service, as only talks are the solution to every problem," reads the press release. --RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13818', 'image' => '20211004080233_adsfasf.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 08:02:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14072', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Internet Service Disrupted after NEA Removes Cables from Utility Poles', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers (ISPs).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 4: Internet service in most places across the country including the Kathmandu Valley has been affected after the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) launched a drive to remove internet cables from utility poles used by internet service providers (ISPs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Nepal Electricity Authority and the Internet Service Providers are at loggerheads after the former increased rental charges for utility poles used by ISPs. The authority has blamed that ISPs are yet to clear their longstanding arrears for using utility poles. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA said it has asked ISPs time and again to clear the arrears. It had been warning to remove internet cables from utility poles if they continued to ignore its calls and failed to clear the arrears until October 1, NEA claimed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Federation of Computer Association Nepal has protested against NEA’s move to remove internet cables. Internet service has been affected in areas including Kathmandu, Bharatpur, Butwal, Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Dharan, Taplejung, Khadichaur and Dhangadhi after NEA removed internet cables, according to a statement issued by the CAN Federation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the move, CAN Federation has demanded the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to increase internet charge by Rs 150 to Rs 300 per subscriber. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“But our demand has been ignored so far,” according to the statement issued by CAN Federation General Secretary Narayan Thapa. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-04', 'modified' => '2021-10-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13817', 'image' => '20211004075355_internet_image.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-04 07:53:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14070', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism and Hotel Entrepreneurs Rejoice as Government Allows Entry of Private Vehicles from India', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a half.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3:<strong> </strong>Hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs in the border areas are excited following the cross-border movement of private vehicles between Nepal and India almost after a year and a half. The traffic movement has become easier for the locals after the government removed the restriction of vehicular movement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Indian border was reopened on Friday, after being closed for more than a year on March 26, 2020, to control the Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Even after the daily life returned to normal, the ban on vehicular movement remained in force making the situation uncomfortable for tourism entrepreneurs in border areas. This affected hotels and tourism businesses that were opened targeting Indian customers.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chairman of the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association Birgunj Hari Pant said that the resumption of vehicular movement has brought relief to the tourism entrepreneurs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Despite the decision of the Council of Ministers to open the border on September 20, the vehicles only started arriving on Friday due to procedural delays. The decision of the Council of Ministers could not be implemented after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance delayed sending the circular to the local bodies.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The letter to open the checkpoint had reached the local administration and customs after the businessmen repeatedly raised the issue. Harihar Poudel, Chief Customs Officer of Birgunj Customs, said that the Indian passenger vehicles were allowed to enter the country after the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance sent a letter to allow the entry of Indian vehicles following the required criteria.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In Birgunj, hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs had been taking the initiative to open traffic at the checkpoint. The decision was taken after a team of businessmen met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and requested him to open the checkpoint.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Chief of the Birgunj Metropolitan City, Vijay Kumar Sarawgi, has claimed that the hotel and tourism business in the border area will revive now as private vehicles have been allowed entry into the country.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13816', 'image' => '20211003025703_20210516024759_20210118020708_1610926784.Clipboard08.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 14:56:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14071', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Preparing to Distribute Rs 5 billion to Half a Million Poor Families', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3: The government is preparing to distribute Rs five billion to half a million poor families. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has prepared a work procedure and submitted the proposal to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) with a plan to distribute Rs 10,000 each to around 500,000 impoverished families.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to a source at the MoF, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has already submitted the work procedure to the Cabinet and it will be approve in the next meeting to distribute the cash to the beneficiaries before the Dashain festival. People who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 will also be provided with the relief. In this regard, the cabinet has sought for further clear provisions and sent the work procedure to the law division of the OPMCM. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"The work procedure is being presented in the cabinet with more clarity. Cabinet is likely to approve it in the next meeting," said a source close to the MoF. The government had announced a cash relief package for poor families through the bill brought to replace the ordinance budget. To implement the decision, the officials of the ministry had started working to prepare the work procedure in 20 days. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Identifying a poor family</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Ministry of Finance, the government is relying on the data of the National Planning Commission for the distribution of cash to the families. The study done by (NPC) has found out that five million people are living below the poverty line. Estimating a family of five members, the work procedure has been prepared to benefit 2.5 million people of 500,000 households. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Money distribution process</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As soon as the procedure is passed, the government will send the money to the members of the poor families who have opened bank accounts while the families with no bank accounts will be provided money through the village councils and local bodies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The work procedure has provisioned that at least two neighbours should recommend that the respective family is poor and the ward chairperson should certify the recommendation. Then the poor families will receive the cash grant. The details of the beneficiaries' families should be kept safe by the respective local bodies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><strong>Concerns about misuse of funds</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Since the government has not identified any poor families so far, there are concerns that the funds meant for this program will be misused. "This cash grant should have been distributed to the affected families last year. Though late it is being distributed, the process of identifying beneficiaries is not ideal. "The budget should have clearly set the criteria of the beneficiaries which has not happened so there are concerns the real poor families might be left out," said Keshav Acharya, an economist. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to Acharya, it would have been better if the government had collected the details of the poor families from the local level and distributed the money to the poor families. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13815', 'image' => '20211003031124_new_logo.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 15:10:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14069', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'People Entering Kathmandu More Than Those Leaving the Valley', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 3: The number of people leaving the Kathmandu valley for their respective home towns and villages to celebrate the Dashan festival has declined this year. The number of people entering the valley seems to outnumber the people leaving the valley. It has been speculated that due to the prevalent fear of Covid-19 infection, there is absence of excitement for the Dashain festival resulting in decrease in the number of people travelling to their villages.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the data provided by the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, a total of 227,500 passengers left the Kathmandu Valley in 6,500 vehicles on October 1, while 238,000 passengers entered the Kathmandu Valley in 6,800 vehicles on the same day.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On that day, the number of passengers entering the valley was 10,500 more than that of people leaving the valley. Spokesperson of the Division, SP Sanjeev Sharma Das said that the number of passengers returning to their respective homes to celebrate Dashain this year is less compared to last year due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, the number of passengers entering the Kathmandu Valley on September 30 was also more than the number of passengers leaving.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government has opened advance ticket booking for long-distance passenger vehicles by increasing the fare by 28 percent since September 17. Saroj Sitaula, the general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE), said that the number of passengers leaving the Kathmandu Valley from September 17 to 28 was only around 300,000. According to him, the number of passengers leaving the valley compared to those entering is still less.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that the number of passengers leaving the valley has decreased due to poor road conditions caused by rain in some hill districts. He said that vehicles from some hill districts were entering the Kathmandu valley as late as 2 am.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to transport entrepreneurs, passengers are not showing any interest in booking tickets in advance. According to bus operator Narendra Neupane, the number of passengers going home is significantly less compared to previous years even though there are only four days left for Ghatsthapana, the first day of the Dashain festival.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13814', 'image' => '20211003123534_20200903113103_1599056781.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 12:34:52', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14068', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IPPAN Objects to Directive Issued by Insurance Board ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower projects.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN) has objected to the recent arrangements made by the Insurance Board regarding hydropower projects. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In a recent statement, IPPAN has expressed concerns regarding the hike in the amount of insurance policy for the hydropower sector by the Insurance Board under undue influence. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN chair Krishna Prasad Acharya argued that it is not appropriate to issue directives under the influence of some non-life insurance companies. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“Instead of the Insurance Board taking the initiative to provide full compensation for the projects that suffered damages due to recent floods, the amount of the insurance policy has been increased,” said IPPAN Chair Acharya, adding that such decision is not acceptable to IPPAN. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN has said that effort are being made to hurt the energy producers with mala fide intention instead of compensating for the damage caused to some river basin corridor projects in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces during the recent floods. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">IPPAN has demanded that the government and concerned ministry take immediate action to revoke such controversial decision that is not helpful to promote the energy sector. It has also demanded action against the culprits.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13813', 'image' => '20211003114510_20161028044036_ippan.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 11:44:35', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14067', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '100 Electric Cars Imported in Last Four Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: Thanks to the revised customs duty imposed by the government, Nepali traders and businessmen have started importing Chinese electric cars in large numbers from Rasuwagadhi. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the Rasuwa Customs Office, at least 100 electric cars entered Nepal within the past four days. Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Regmi said that the vehicles imported from Rasuwagadhi are being taken to Kathmandu after customs clearance. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">More than Rs 109.8 million has been collected as customs duty from the import of the electric cars. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A customs officer informed that around 800 small and large vehicles have entered Nepal through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint since the last fiscal year. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13812', 'image' => '20211003112315_electric chinese.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 11:20:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14066', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => ' CNI Unveils Report on Industrial Status', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the country.', 'content' => '<p><em>Office bearers of CNI unveiling the first Industrial Status Report on Friday. Photo Courtesy: CNI</em></p> <p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has unveiled the first ‘Industrial Status Report’ (ISR)’ after studying the activities of the major industrial areas of the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">National Planning Commission’s Vice Chairman Dr Bishwa Poudel launched the first edition of the report which will be published on a quarterly basis.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report incorporates all the details and the situation of the productive sector, service sector, agriculture and energy sectors during the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, reads a statement issued by CNI on October 1.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the report, these industries operated at 64.8 per cent of their total capacity during the review period. The industries had recorded 8 per cent rise in their income in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year (FY 2021/22) compared to the corresponding period the previous fiscal year (FY 2020/21). Prior to that, the income had decreased by 4.7 per cent in the last quarter of FY 2019/20, 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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report states that the COVID-19 had adversely affected the operating capacity of the industries but the situation has been improving. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Of the industries surveyed, 83 per cent industrialists said that they were ready for new investments. In the last quarter of FY 2020/21, altogether 69.7 per cent industries were using generators for energy to run their industries. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Poudel said that the report had reflect the real situation of the industries in the country and urged for continuity of the report. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“At present, even the government is preparing to work on the basis of data,” said Vice Chairman Poudel, adding, “Rule of law on the basis of data is in fact good governance. We are planning to make policies based on factual data.”</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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, CNI’s President Bishnu Kumar Agrawal said that the report shows how the private sector has been working as a think tank. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The research cell of the CNI prepared the report at a time when the country lacks updated data regarding industries, says the statement. </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:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The report is expected not only to help the government make policy-level intervention but also presents factual data that reflects the situation of the industrial sector of the country.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13811', 'image' => '20211003104427_CNI.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 10:42:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14065', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NOC Loss Likely to Go Up ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation.', 'content' => '<p><em>Photo Courtesy: NOC</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">October 3: Loss of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is likely to go up with the new price list received from the Indian Oil Corporation. NOC has estimated a possible loss of over Rs 1.5 billion from the sale of fuel in the next 15 days based on the revised price list received on October 1. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the addition of newly-determined price, domestic tax rates and other different costs, NOC is to invest Rs 139.18 per liter of petrol, Rs 120.01 per liter of diesel, Rs 93.94 per liter of kerosene, Rs 84.07 for air fuel to be used in domestic flights, Rs 76.44 for air fuel used in external flights and Rs 1,961.88 for a single cooking gas cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lately, the NOC had adjusted the price of petroleum products on August 23. According to the adjusted price, one liter of petrol costs Rs 130, diesel and kerosene Rs 113, while Rs 86 has been fixed for fuel used for domestic flights and Rs 1,450 for cooking gas cylinder. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Based on the stipulated price, now the NOC is to bear loss of Rs 9.18 for one liter of petrol and Rs 7.01 in diesel, and gain profit of Rs 19.59 in kerosene, Rs 1.93 in domestic air fuel, Rs 15.10 in external air fuel and a loss of Rs 511.88 per cylinder of LPG. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-03', 'modified' => '2021-10-03', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13810', 'image' => '20211003095938_unnamed.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-03 09:58:36', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '14064', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Tightens Dollar Exchange Facility', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign countries.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">October 1: Considering the impact of increasing trade deficit and declining foreign exchange reserve in the country’s economy, the government has lowered the limit of US dollars that a Nepali citizen can carry along while visiting foreign countries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government made such provision after amending the immigration procedure. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday took a decision to this effect.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> As per the cabinet decision, Nepali citizens going to Gulf countries, SAARC countries, as well as Malaysia and Thailand will now be able to take only 250 US dollars with them instead of US 500.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government took such decision after the Balance of Payments went into deficit and foreign exchange reserves came under pressure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">From now onwards, Nepali citizens going to Europe, USA, Japan and Korea have to show proof of exchange of at least US$ 500 or equivalent in foreign currency along with all the letters of the person or organization that bears the expenses.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Nepali citizens going to Gulf countries, SAARC countries, Malaysia and Thailand must show proof of exchange of at least US$ 250 or equivalent in foreign currency, along with an open letter from the person or organization bearing the cost. Apart from this, Nepalese going to other countries will be able to take 500 US dollars.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It has also been made mandatory to exchange dollars or other foreign currency from ‘A’ class banks approved by the Nepal Rastra Bank. The source of income also has to be disclosed mandatorily.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Chief of Immigration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Jagdish Aryal, the revised procedure has been implemented since Thursday, 30<sup>th</sup> of September, 2021. According to him, the Ministry of Home Affairs had written a letter to the Immigration Department asking it to implement the new arrangement. Earlier, NRB had tightened its grip on exchange of foreign currencies except the Indian currency.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On Tuesday, most bank chiefs were summoned and instructed not to exchange more than 200 US dollars in cash.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NRB is also going to tighten the rules on exchange of currencies as the foreign exchange reserves have decreased significantly. Based on the imports of the first month of the Fiscal Year 2078/79, the foreign exchange reserves of the banking sector will suffice to support the import of goods for 9 months and 10 days and the import of goods and services for 8 months only.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">By June, foreign exchange reserves could support 14 months of goods imports. As of last July, the foreign exchange reserves stood at Rs 1399.3 billion. By August, it had decreased by 3.2 percent to Rs 1,353.82 billion. Out of the total foreign exchange reserves of July, Nepal Rastra Bank has Rs 126.51 billion and other banks and financial institutions have Rs 147.31 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-10-01', 'modified' => '2021-10-01', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13809', 'image' => '20211001101757_5e97b66601102_Dollars.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-10-01 22:17:11', '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
