September 20: With the availability of high speed internet, folks of Upper Mustang have overcome the hassles in communications.…
September 20: With the availability of high speed internet, folks of Upper Mustang have overcome the hassles in communications.…
September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission…
September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year.…
September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September…
September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries…
September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this…
September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one…
September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year.…
September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five…
September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower…
September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past…
September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original…
September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive…
September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup…
September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism…
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', 'content' => '<p><em>Upper Mustang. Photo Courtesy: Wilderness Excursion</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 20: With the availability of high speed internet, folks of Upper Mustang have overcome the hassles in communications. It has ended their compulsion to reach to the district headquarters, Jomsom, for internet connectivity or to seek areas covered by telecommunication towers for conversation using mobile phones. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Locals of Baglung, Muktinath, Loghekar-Damodarkunda and Lo-Manthang are now enjoying smooth communications owing to the improved bandwidth of internet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ghamjughuti Gurung, a local of Charang, says that high speed internet has made communications easier within and outside the country and moreover it has eased the students to pursue their online education in the difficult times of coronavirus. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“With the expansion of communications facilities, the lives and lifestyles of geographically remote and distant areas have witnessed a sea change,” said Gurung. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“The internet access has made us able to exchange ideas and make communications far and wide from a closet. It was very difficult when there was poor connectivity,” Gurung added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tasi Gurung, a local of Lo-Manthang, shared that the improved internet connectivity has amply helped in facilitating development works, delivering public services and marketing of local products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> “In addition, it has also contributed to the promotion of tourism in the area,” he added. The mobile service has brought unprecedented changes in the lifestyle of the local people, he further informed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned Nepal Telecom has expanded its internet service in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Baragung Muktichhetra rural municipality through wire and fiber connectivity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Senior Engineer of Nepal Telecom’s Baglung section, Keshab Sharma shared that the state-owned telecom company has operated 3G service from Muktinath, Damodarkunda to Korala border checkpoint. --RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13732', 'image' => '20210920013819_20210920114232_upper-mustang-trek.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 11:41:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13987', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity going Wastage in Lack of Transmission Lines: Kulman Ghising', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Ghising during his on-site inspection of the Hetauda-Bharatpur-Bardaghat 220 Kv transmission line project informed that the country has not been able to increase electricity consumption due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Industrialists are complaining about the shortage of electricity, while the electricity on the other hand is being wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">“We are working to resolve the problem and would request all for their support,” Ghising said. </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, Ghising informed that the project has been delayed due to various obstacles. </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"">Stating that the NEA is only able to deliver 90 megawatts of electricity through a single circuit transmission line to the west of Bharatpur, Ghising said that the NEA would be able to deliver 500 megawatts of electricity to Butwal after a 220 Kv line comes into operation. </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"">He also added that the industrialists from Nawalpur, Parasi, and Butwal region are demanding electricity but NEA has not been able to deliver electricity as per the demand due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Ghising said that the NEA is dedicated to increasing the electricity to Butwal, Bhairahwa, and Nepalgunj, and added that the operation of a 220 Kv is crucial for achieving the target. </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, he said that the Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project is producing 2000 megawatts of electricity. However, NEA cannot supply the power to the west of Bharatpur due to the lack of a transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13731', 'image' => '20210920013519_20190915092327_20190517010911_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 13:34:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13986', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '230 Mountaineers get Permits for Climbing Mountains during this Autumn', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year. According to the Department of Tourism, the climbers have been granted permits to climb six mountain peaks during the autumn window.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Department of Tourism, this is the highest number of climbers since 2020. Last year, only 69 climbers from a total of 11 expedition teams were given permission for climbing mountains. Despite the spring season being popular for mountaineering, tourists are drawn towards climbing even during the autumn season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In 2019, a total of 1,210 climbers from 165 different teams had scaled various mountains.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During this autumn, the Department of Tourism has issued permits for climbing six mountains including Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Manaslu, Mt Himchuli, Mt Kumbhakarna, Mt Mariyang and Mt Kanchenjunga. Out of these, the highest numbers of climbers have taken permission to climb the mighty 8,586 meters Mt Manaslu, which is the fifth highest mountain in the world. According to the department, 133 people from 17 teams have got permission to climb Mt Manaslu. Likewise, 28 people from four teams have got permission to climb the 8,167-meter tall Mt Dhaulagiri.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As informed by the department, there are 52 women mountaineers in total during this climbing season. While issuing permits for those climbers, the department has collected revenue of Rs 23 million. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The tourism sector of Nepal has been relieved due to the arrival of mountaineers which was almost zero during last year due to the impact of Covid-19. In the first eight months of this year, only 69,000 tourists have visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the spring of this year, 635 climbers climbed various mountains, including Mount Everest. Data from the Department of Tourism revealed that the majority of climbers (459 people) climbed Mt Everest. In the spring of 2020, the number of climbers was zero as the government had banned climbing due to the risk of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13730', 'image' => '20210920121028_20201227011907_1608890066.Mountain-Climbing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 12:09:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13984', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Dose of Vero Cell to be Administered from September 20 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September 20. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September 20. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">District Health Office, Kathmandu, is going to administer the second dose of vaccine from 145 vaccination centres in the district. The office has urged all the beneficiaries to get vaccinated by reaching the designated centres. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Public Health Administrator of the office, Badri Bahadur Khadka, said that 32 vaccination centres have been designated in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, 10 in Kirtipur, 15 in Chandragiri, 10 in Nagarjun, 11 in Tarkeshwor, nine in Dakschinkali, 13 in Budhanilkantha, 11 in Tokha and nine each in Gokarneshwor, Shankarapur and Bageshwori Manohara. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, vaccination centres have also been set up at Nepal Police Hospital, Maharajgunj, Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Civil Service Hospital, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital and Birendra Army Hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had brought 4.4 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China on Friday. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13729', 'image' => '20210919033528_dddd.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:34:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13983', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Calls for Increase in Foreign Assistance in UNGA', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the UNGA that kicked off in New York from September 14, Nepal pointed out the need to increase foreign aid in order to uplift the standard of the Least Developed Countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Other agendas raised by Nepal include trade facilitation, removal of hassles experienced by LDCs while taking loan, increment in support on transfer of finance and technology and climate change.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Foreign Secretary Bharatraj Poudyal had addressed the 76th session of the United Nations on behalf of the Government of Nepal on Saturday (September 18). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Speaking at a virtual meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA, he discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy. He stressed on <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">equitable, affordable and universal access to vaccines for all</span>. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Foreign Secretary Poudyal said that LDCs must build resilient economies with adequate physical infrastructure, advanced industrial and technological capacity, and expanded social safety-nets to win the war against the virus, eradicate poverty and ensure the well-being of their people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He also said that the government is working relentlessly to graduate to a developed nation at the expense of the foreign aid it has bee receiving. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Graduation from LDCs will be a significant achievement to the country and Nepal is committed to making it sustainable and irreversible," he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudyal stressed the need to complete the unfinished work on the Istanbul Action Plan and formulate future plans for sustainable development while preparing for the 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries happening in Doha next year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A high-level discussion will be held in the UN General Assembly with the participation of 193 countries from September 21.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The UN General Assembly will run till September 22, with the slogan 'The Future We Want, We Need the United Nations: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism'.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13728', 'image' => '20210919032831_0_dNX0ywJjZi6iIRfQ.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:27:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Citizens to get Vaccine against Covid-19 by Year End: Prime Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this year.', 'content' => '<p><em>Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba along with President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Tundikhel on the occassion of the 7th Constitution Day on Sunday. Photo: RSS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Speaking on the occasion of the 7<sup>th</sup> Constitution Day at the Army Pavillion in Tundikhel on Sunday, Prime Minister Deuba said that all eligible citizens would be vaccinated. He also stated that the government led by him has prioritized the vaccination drive against Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Stating that the government is committed to prevent the risk of Covid-19 infection, Prime Minister Deuba said that the constitution has united the aspirations and future of the people.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Citizens' desire for political change has been institutionalized by the constitution. We need to move forward on the path of prosperity through economic and social transformation through its successful implementation,” said Deuba.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13727', 'image' => '20210919030919_1632033353.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:07:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Potatoes Fall up to 54 Percent in a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A comparison between the price list of this year mentioned by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board with the price of corresponding period of last year has revealed that the price of potatos has gone down considerably this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The main reason for the lower price of potato is that potatoes are being supplied abundantly this year not only from the internal market, but from the external market as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The price of Indian red potato was Rs 59 per kg last year, according to the data provided by the development board. This year, the price has declined by 54 percent and is just Rs 27 per kg. The price of Nepali red potato last year was Rs 94 per kg, which has gone down by 39.36 percent this year. In similar manner, the potatoes from Mude was pirced at Rs 81 per kg last year. This year, the price of those potatos has gone down by 39.50 percent and now costs Rs 49 per kg.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Binay Shrestha, information officer of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, said that the supply of potatoes has eased this year. In addition, the prices in the Indian market have also come down. Prices had skyrocketed during this time last year due to the major impact of lockdown imposed in Nepal. According to Shrestha, 75 percent of the total potatoes entering the Kalimati market are Indian and 25 percent are produced within the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development, potato is cultivated in about 200,000 hectares of land in Jhapa, Ilam, Kavre, Solukhumbu, Morang, Saptari, Makwanpur, Bara, Rupandehi and Kailali districts. Potatoes were cultivated in 195,173 hectares of land in the Fiscal Year 2074/75, while in the Fiscal Year 2075/76, it was cultivated in about 194,000 hectares of land. However, in the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the area of potato cultivation has decreased. The data of the center shows that potatoes were cultivated in only 188,098 hectares in the FY 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to Sandeep Subedi, Information Officer at the Horticulture Development Section of the Center, the total demand for potatoes in Nepal is 3.5 million metric tons annually. Out of which, 2.8 million metric tons is produced domestically and 4.5 million metric tons is imported from different countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Apart from domestic production, imported potatoes worth Rs 6 billion are consumed annually in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13726', 'image' => '20210919022548_potatoes-411975_1280-1024x682.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 14:25:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trains Purchased for Rs 1 Billion Gathering Dust Since One Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year. It has been one year since the train was purchased from Konkan Railway Corporation, an Indian railway manufacturer on September 18, 2020. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although the government has said it will operate the trains, they are still unused as the operation date has been pushed back time and again. In 2010, the Government of India had announced plans to build railways at five different checkpoints on the Nepal-India border. Accordingly, the trains were bought to operate along the 34 km Janakpur-Jayanagar section in the first phase. The two sides had also successfully concluded the test operation of the trains.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government is planning to operate railway in a total of 69 kilometer-route including the 34 kilometers from Jayanagar in India to Dhanusha's Kurtha in the first phase. In the second phase, the trains will be operated along 18 kilometers from Kurtha to Bhangha in Mahottari and in the third phase another 17 kilometers will be added in the route from Bhangha to Bardibas for a total of 69 kilometers. However, due to poor preparation of Nepal, the trains have been kept in a useless condition in the parking lot although they have already been purchased. Although the government has bought the trains, their operation is still uncertain.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Spokesperson for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Keshav Kumar Sharma said that even though the trains were brought to Nepal, it was not possible to operate them due to lack of manpower and problems in recruitment. He said that some human resource has already been trained and other preparations have been made so that the basis for running the trains has been laid now.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Preparations are almost complete but it will be finalized by the political leadership,” he said. The ministry has been without a minister since July 13. The ministry is preparing to speed up railway operations after the appointment of a minister.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">General Manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited Niranjan Jha said that it is not possible to pinpoint the date for operating the trains. “It is not yet possible to set a date,” Jha said, “It is not possible because there is no law to operate the trains at the moment and there are technical problems.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that the decision to run the trains should be taken by the Prime Minister. Moreover, he said that the handover of the physical infrastructure of the railway section between the two countries is yet to be done. It is necessary to resolve these issues first including the formulation of laws for the railway fares.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13725', 'image' => '20210919124652_20201120034235_6..jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 12:46:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Explosion at Sarbottam Steel Industry: Inevitable or Security Lapses? ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five workers.', 'content' => '<p><em>A furnace of Sarvottam Steel Industry. Photo Courtesy: Saurabh Group.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><strong>Om Prakash Khanal</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five workers. The incident left 15 workers injured. Five of them died while undergoing treatment. Preliminary investigation of the police has ruled out foul play.</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 police did not proceed with further investigation stating that all the victims were Indian nationals and the contractor supplying the workers had initiated the process to compensate the victim’s families. </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"">Police had prepared a report immediately after the incident. In the preliminary investigation, the police had found the industry to be negligent about occupational safety and health of the workers.</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"">However, the police have not started further investigation stating that no complaint has been filed after the incident. </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"">Superintendent of Police (SP) Bel Bahadur Pandey of the District Police Office, Parsa, informed that the on-site inspection of the police found that the steel factory had not maintained adequate safety protocol.</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 police, the blast took place during a furnace test in the industry.</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""> "It seems that the blast occurred during a test. According to safety standards, workers cannot not be kept in the furnace area. The industry is to blame for the incident,” Pandey informed 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"">According to SP Pandey, the industry has submitted the details of workers supplied by the contractor and the contractor bearing all the responsibilities of the workers.</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"">However, Article 68 of the Labor Act 2074 clearly states that the responsibility related to occupational safety and health rests with the employer.</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"">Article 164 (2) provides for imprisonment of up to two years and appropriate compensation if any person is killed or mutilated intentionally or due to negligence.</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 police team that reached the incident site immediately after the blast found a gas cylinder placed in the furnace due to which the explosion occured. A police official said that old gas cylinders were found scattered on the premises of the industry and such cylinders were put directly in the furnace. The official also revealed that there was political pressure to settle the incident.</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"">It has been found that the industry has been negligent in informing the Labor and Employment Office about the incident immediately.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of the Labor and Employment Office Jitendra Sharma said that the industry should have informed them immediately about the incident but they have not received any official statement from the industry yet. </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"">"Even though we have to be provided the information immediately after the accident, the industry has not provided official information about the incident," Sharma said.</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"">He said that the implementation of occupational safety in the industrial establishments of Bara-Parsa is weak. "Most of the industries do not have safety measures in place. Its implementation in the steel industry is even more pathetic,” said Sharma.</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"">Rajesh Agrawal, manager of the industry, did not want to talk about the incident with our correspondent. "I am out now. We will talk about this later,” said Agrawal.</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"">Though no further action has been taken against the industry, action will be taken if any new facts are found within two years, said SP Pandey.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief District Officer of Parsa, Pitamber Ghimire, considers the incident a wake-up call for the future. Ghimire said that no further action was taken as the deceased were all Indians, and their deaths and burials had already taken place in India.</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"">Of the 15 people injured in the blast, 14 were Indians. Five people died during the treatment, while six others were rushed to Patna, India, for treatment. The industry informed the police about the deaths only a week after the workers succumbed to their injuries.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13724', 'image' => '20210919121020_s2-5b5c8a57.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 12:08:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13978', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Arrive in Doti to Study West Seti Hydel Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project.', 'content' => '<p><em>A graphic imaged of the proposed West Seti Hydropwoer Project. Photo Courtesy: SCMP</em></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","sans-serif"">September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project to be built at Dhungad and Talara areas of Doti and Baitadi districts, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> Mayor of Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality Manju Malasi told RSS that the government team monitored the Talkot area of Shikhar Municipality where the powerhouse of the project is supposed to be developed. She said that the three-member team is now scheduled to visit the dam site. <br /> The government team arrived at the proposed site of the project for a fresh study to advance the project development works. The team includes Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Bishwo Poudel, CEO of Investment Board of Nepal Shushil Bhatta and Energy Secretary Devendra Karki. </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","sans-serif"">Coordinator of the District Coordination Committee Ram Bahadur Air reportedly said that a new ray of hope has emerged on the project development after the visit of the high-level team. </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","sans-serif"">The issue of West Seti Hydropower Project has been talked about in the country since 1981. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the 750-megawatt (MW) West Seti Hydroelectric Project in Nepal’s Far-Western Province, proposed by West Seti Hydro Limited, is a storage scheme designed to generate and export large quantities of electrical energy to India. </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","sans-serif"">According to the ADB, the Project is expected to generate electrical energy throughout the year, storing excess wet season river flows in the reservoir, and using this water to generate energy during peak demand periods in the dry season.</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","sans-serif"">The report further says that the proposed 750 MW Project will generate and export large quantities of electrical energy to India under a power purchase agreement with PTC (India) Limited, which will in turn sell the power within the northern region of India. </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","sans-serif"">Under the terms of the 1997 project agreement between West Seti Hydroelectric Project and the Government of Nepal (GoN), the government will receive revenue from the sale of power through energy and capacity royalties. </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","sans-serif"">In addition, the project agreement incorporates an agreement whereby the Government could receive 10 percent of the output of the power station as free power or 10 percent of the revenue received under the terms of the power purchase agreement in lieu of free power. The GoN chose the latter option, states 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","sans-serif"">The project is a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) scheme, through which WSH has a 30-year generating license that will provide about 24.5 years of generation before full ownership of the project is handed over to the Government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Untitled%282%29.jpg" style="height:456px; width:719px" /></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13723', 'image' => '20210919112606_e590fc34-ac12-11e8-8796-d12ba807e6e9_1320x770_163654.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 11:23:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13977', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Group to Discontinue Doing Business Report ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past reports.', 'content' => '<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"">September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past reports.</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"">The World Bank issued a statement on Thursday (September 16) informing about the decision taken by the Board of Executive Directors of the bank to discontinue the Doing Business 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"">According to the World Bank, data irregularities on Doing Business 2018 and 2020 were reported internally in June 2020. Following the reports of irregularities, the World Bank management paused the next Doing Business report and initiated a series of reviews and audits of the report and its methodology.</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"">“Because the internal reports raised ethical matters, including the conduct of former Board officials as well as current and/or former Bank staff, management reported the allegations to the Bank’s appropriate internal accountability mechanisms,” the statement said, adding, “After reviewing all the information available to date on Doing Business, including the findings of past reviews, audits, and the report the Bank released today (September 16) on behalf of the Board of Executive Directors, World Bank Group management has taken the decision to discontinue the Doing Business 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"">The statement further said that the World Bank Group remains firmly committed to advancing the role of the private sector in development and providing support to governments to design the regulatory environment that supports this.</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"">“Going forward, we will be working on a new approach to assessing the business and investment climate. We are deeply grateful to the efforts of the many staff members who have worked diligently to advance the business climate agenda, and we look forward to harnessing their energies and abilities in new ways.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13722', 'image' => '20210917031339_world_660_092118064226.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 15:12:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Guna Airlines Back to its Old Brand after 8 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original brand.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original brand. The private airline company has added five new aircraft to its fleet with an investment of over Rs 1 billion. It has officially started regular flights from September 17.</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"">Gun Airlines was established in 2009 and was acquired by Simrik Airlines in 2013 due to financial problems. This caused the removal of the brand ‘Guna’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company BK Shrestha said that only the brand of ‘Guna’ was not 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"">"Now, the company is going to continue air service by re-using the old brand," said Shrestha, adding, “Flights are starting from today for two routes - Kathmandu-Bharatpur and Kathmandu-Pokhara.”</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"">Guna Airlines has acquired two out of four aircraft operated by Simrik Airlines.</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"">Shrestha informed that the two remaining aircraft were provided to another company. </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"">Shrestha further said that the company will be providing services with seven aircraft, including five purchased from Yeti Airlines.</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 company currently owns five Jet Stream and two Beechcraft.</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"">Beechcraft has a seating capacity of 18 and Jet Stream has a seating capacity of 29. </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"">Returning to the old brand after purchasing five aircraft, Guna Airlines is planning to gradually expand its service on trunk route by making Kathmandu its base before the Dashain festival. Guna Airlines will operate under the Guna Group led by businessman Rajendra Shakya.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13721', 'image' => '20210917023632_1625905050248.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 14:35:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Employees Provident Fund should Focus on Investing in Productive Sector: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The finance minister made such remarks while inaugurating the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary celebration programme of the fund on Thursday, September 17.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“The provident fund should be used to invest in the productive sectors, which will help in building national capital,” he said, adding, “Investment in the manufacturing sector creates jobs and helps reduce trade deficit.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He stressed on the need to expand the range of profits by making arrangements to invest the bonus in the productive sector. Minister Sharma said that the fund should focus on good corporate governance and make the working system more technology friendly and create a conducive environment for employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the programme, the EPF informed that the total investment of the provident fund has reached Rs 436 billion as of Fiscal Year 2077/78. At present, the fund has a balance of Rs 398 billion. The pension fund has Rs 1.58 billion and the liability of the fund is Rs 4.67 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Under the social security scheme, the fund provides maternity expenses for employees at the rate of Rs 7,500. Similarly, it provides Rs 200,000 in case of accidental death or complete mutilation during the service period of the employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In case of death during the service period of the employees, a total sum of Rs 40,000 is provided to the heir. Similarly, the fund has been reimbursing Rs 100,000 for general medical treatment and up to Rs 1 million for fatal diseases.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Prior to the establishment of the fund on September 4, 2019, it was operated in the name of Army Provident Fund in 1991, Civil Provident Fund in 2001 and Employees Provident Fund Department in 2017. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13720', 'image' => '20210917025236_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 14:51:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chamber of Industries Morang Holds Meeting with Startup and Innovation Consultants ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup companies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup companies. The chamber has selected experts of various fields, successful entrepreneurs, senior financial analysts, chartered accountants and legal experts as mentors to provide consultancy services to startup companies. The experts will provide mentorship on business plan, business registration as well as legal, administrative and technical advice, maintaining standard, marketing, financial management, human resource management among other issues.</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"">Suyash Pyakure, president of the Chamber of Industries Morang, has selected consultants to provide consultancy services to startups based on their expertise. He said that it was the responsibility of all to help in the transformation.</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"">Citing the example of startups that have expanded their business around the world with small investments, he said that the consultancy service helps in the advancement of startups in the business development and promotion.</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"">Coordinator of the Startup Committee Surendra Golchha expressed confidence that the Startup and Innovation Programme launched by the chamber would develop a successful ecosystem of business services.</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 joint coordinator of the committee Biju Thapaliya said that the Mentors Meet will assist the mentors and startup entrepreneurs by expanding their relationship and using it for business development.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13719', 'image' => '20210917015520_Chamber of industries morang.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 13:54:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stakeholders Demand Removal of Quarantine for Tourists', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism industry. They have demanded to provide on-arrival visas for tourists instead of putting them in quarantine.</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 entrepreneurs put forward these demands in a programme organized by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) on September 16. Stating that the tourism sector has been adversely affected by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the government's indifference, NATTA held a meeting with the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAN), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) and other stakeholders.</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"">Participants of the meeting demanded the government to make necessary arrangements to provide on-arrival visa by removing the quarantine provision, open the border with India and implement a one-month free visa for tourists announced by the government immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The meeting has also decided to resort to protest programs from next week if the government does not address their demands immediately. Likewise, the tourism entrepreneurs have decided to move ahead in collaboration with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries to draw the government’s attention to address their demands.</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 has been placed in the red zone in the international travel advisory. Entrepreneurs have pointed out that the government should facilitate hassle-free arrival of vaccinated tourists and tourism entrepreneurs. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13718', 'image' => '20210917013358_Tourists.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 13:33:05', '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><em>Upper Mustang. Photo Courtesy: Wilderness Excursion</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 20: With the availability of high speed internet, folks of Upper Mustang have overcome the hassles in communications. It has ended their compulsion to reach to the district headquarters, Jomsom, for internet connectivity or to seek areas covered by telecommunication towers for conversation using mobile phones. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Locals of Baglung, Muktinath, Loghekar-Damodarkunda and Lo-Manthang are now enjoying smooth communications owing to the improved bandwidth of internet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ghamjughuti Gurung, a local of Charang, says that high speed internet has made communications easier within and outside the country and moreover it has eased the students to pursue their online education in the difficult times of coronavirus. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“With the expansion of communications facilities, the lives and lifestyles of geographically remote and distant areas have witnessed a sea change,” said Gurung. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“The internet access has made us able to exchange ideas and make communications far and wide from a closet. It was very difficult when there was poor connectivity,” Gurung added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tasi Gurung, a local of Lo-Manthang, shared that the improved internet connectivity has amply helped in facilitating development works, delivering public services and marketing of local products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> “In addition, it has also contributed to the promotion of tourism in the area,” he added. The mobile service has brought unprecedented changes in the lifestyle of the local people, he further informed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned Nepal Telecom has expanded its internet service in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Baragung Muktichhetra rural municipality through wire and fiber connectivity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Senior Engineer of Nepal Telecom’s Baglung section, Keshab Sharma shared that the state-owned telecom company has operated 3G service from Muktinath, Damodarkunda to Korala border checkpoint. --RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13732', 'image' => '20210920013819_20210920114232_upper-mustang-trek.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 11:41:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13987', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity going Wastage in Lack of Transmission Lines: Kulman Ghising', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Ghising during his on-site inspection of the Hetauda-Bharatpur-Bardaghat 220 Kv transmission line project informed that the country has not been able to increase electricity consumption due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Industrialists are complaining about the shortage of electricity, while the electricity on the other hand is being wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">“We are working to resolve the problem and would request all for their support,” Ghising said. </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, Ghising informed that the project has been delayed due to various obstacles. </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"">Stating that the NEA is only able to deliver 90 megawatts of electricity through a single circuit transmission line to the west of Bharatpur, Ghising said that the NEA would be able to deliver 500 megawatts of electricity to Butwal after a 220 Kv line comes into operation. </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"">He also added that the industrialists from Nawalpur, Parasi, and Butwal region are demanding electricity but NEA has not been able to deliver electricity as per the demand due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Ghising said that the NEA is dedicated to increasing the electricity to Butwal, Bhairahwa, and Nepalgunj, and added that the operation of a 220 Kv is crucial for achieving the target. </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, he said that the Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project is producing 2000 megawatts of electricity. However, NEA cannot supply the power to the west of Bharatpur due to the lack of a transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13731', 'image' => '20210920013519_20190915092327_20190517010911_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 13:34:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13986', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '230 Mountaineers get Permits for Climbing Mountains during this Autumn', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year. According to the Department of Tourism, the climbers have been granted permits to climb six mountain peaks during the autumn window.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Department of Tourism, this is the highest number of climbers since 2020. Last year, only 69 climbers from a total of 11 expedition teams were given permission for climbing mountains. Despite the spring season being popular for mountaineering, tourists are drawn towards climbing even during the autumn season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In 2019, a total of 1,210 climbers from 165 different teams had scaled various mountains.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During this autumn, the Department of Tourism has issued permits for climbing six mountains including Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Manaslu, Mt Himchuli, Mt Kumbhakarna, Mt Mariyang and Mt Kanchenjunga. Out of these, the highest numbers of climbers have taken permission to climb the mighty 8,586 meters Mt Manaslu, which is the fifth highest mountain in the world. According to the department, 133 people from 17 teams have got permission to climb Mt Manaslu. Likewise, 28 people from four teams have got permission to climb the 8,167-meter tall Mt Dhaulagiri.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As informed by the department, there are 52 women mountaineers in total during this climbing season. While issuing permits for those climbers, the department has collected revenue of Rs 23 million. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The tourism sector of Nepal has been relieved due to the arrival of mountaineers which was almost zero during last year due to the impact of Covid-19. In the first eight months of this year, only 69,000 tourists have visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the spring of this year, 635 climbers climbed various mountains, including Mount Everest. Data from the Department of Tourism revealed that the majority of climbers (459 people) climbed Mt Everest. In the spring of 2020, the number of climbers was zero as the government had banned climbing due to the risk of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13730', 'image' => '20210920121028_20201227011907_1608890066.Mountain-Climbing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 12:09:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13984', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Dose of Vero Cell to be Administered from September 20 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September 20. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September 20. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">District Health Office, Kathmandu, is going to administer the second dose of vaccine from 145 vaccination centres in the district. The office has urged all the beneficiaries to get vaccinated by reaching the designated centres. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Public Health Administrator of the office, Badri Bahadur Khadka, said that 32 vaccination centres have been designated in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, 10 in Kirtipur, 15 in Chandragiri, 10 in Nagarjun, 11 in Tarkeshwor, nine in Dakschinkali, 13 in Budhanilkantha, 11 in Tokha and nine each in Gokarneshwor, Shankarapur and Bageshwori Manohara. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, vaccination centres have also been set up at Nepal Police Hospital, Maharajgunj, Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Civil Service Hospital, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital and Birendra Army Hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had brought 4.4 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China on Friday. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13729', 'image' => '20210919033528_dddd.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:34:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13983', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Calls for Increase in Foreign Assistance in UNGA', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the UNGA that kicked off in New York from September 14, Nepal pointed out the need to increase foreign aid in order to uplift the standard of the Least Developed Countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Other agendas raised by Nepal include trade facilitation, removal of hassles experienced by LDCs while taking loan, increment in support on transfer of finance and technology and climate change.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Foreign Secretary Bharatraj Poudyal had addressed the 76th session of the United Nations on behalf of the Government of Nepal on Saturday (September 18). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Speaking at a virtual meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA, he discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy. He stressed on <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">equitable, affordable and universal access to vaccines for all</span>. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Foreign Secretary Poudyal said that LDCs must build resilient economies with adequate physical infrastructure, advanced industrial and technological capacity, and expanded social safety-nets to win the war against the virus, eradicate poverty and ensure the well-being of their people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He also said that the government is working relentlessly to graduate to a developed nation at the expense of the foreign aid it has bee receiving. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Graduation from LDCs will be a significant achievement to the country and Nepal is committed to making it sustainable and irreversible," he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudyal stressed the need to complete the unfinished work on the Istanbul Action Plan and formulate future plans for sustainable development while preparing for the 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries happening in Doha next year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A high-level discussion will be held in the UN General Assembly with the participation of 193 countries from September 21.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The UN General Assembly will run till September 22, with the slogan 'The Future We Want, We Need the United Nations: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism'.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13728', 'image' => '20210919032831_0_dNX0ywJjZi6iIRfQ.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:27:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Citizens to get Vaccine against Covid-19 by Year End: Prime Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this year.', 'content' => '<p><em>Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba along with President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Tundikhel on the occassion of the 7th Constitution Day on Sunday. Photo: RSS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Speaking on the occasion of the 7<sup>th</sup> Constitution Day at the Army Pavillion in Tundikhel on Sunday, Prime Minister Deuba said that all eligible citizens would be vaccinated. He also stated that the government led by him has prioritized the vaccination drive against Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Stating that the government is committed to prevent the risk of Covid-19 infection, Prime Minister Deuba said that the constitution has united the aspirations and future of the people.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Citizens' desire for political change has been institutionalized by the constitution. We need to move forward on the path of prosperity through economic and social transformation through its successful implementation,” said Deuba.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13727', 'image' => '20210919030919_1632033353.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:07:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Potatoes Fall up to 54 Percent in a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A comparison between the price list of this year mentioned by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board with the price of corresponding period of last year has revealed that the price of potatos has gone down considerably this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The main reason for the lower price of potato is that potatoes are being supplied abundantly this year not only from the internal market, but from the external market as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The price of Indian red potato was Rs 59 per kg last year, according to the data provided by the development board. This year, the price has declined by 54 percent and is just Rs 27 per kg. The price of Nepali red potato last year was Rs 94 per kg, which has gone down by 39.36 percent this year. In similar manner, the potatoes from Mude was pirced at Rs 81 per kg last year. This year, the price of those potatos has gone down by 39.50 percent and now costs Rs 49 per kg.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Binay Shrestha, information officer of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, said that the supply of potatoes has eased this year. In addition, the prices in the Indian market have also come down. Prices had skyrocketed during this time last year due to the major impact of lockdown imposed in Nepal. According to Shrestha, 75 percent of the total potatoes entering the Kalimati market are Indian and 25 percent are produced within the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development, potato is cultivated in about 200,000 hectares of land in Jhapa, Ilam, Kavre, Solukhumbu, Morang, Saptari, Makwanpur, Bara, Rupandehi and Kailali districts. Potatoes were cultivated in 195,173 hectares of land in the Fiscal Year 2074/75, while in the Fiscal Year 2075/76, it was cultivated in about 194,000 hectares of land. However, in the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the area of potato cultivation has decreased. The data of the center shows that potatoes were cultivated in only 188,098 hectares in the FY 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to Sandeep Subedi, Information Officer at the Horticulture Development Section of the Center, the total demand for potatoes in Nepal is 3.5 million metric tons annually. Out of which, 2.8 million metric tons is produced domestically and 4.5 million metric tons is imported from different countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Apart from domestic production, imported potatoes worth Rs 6 billion are consumed annually in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13726', 'image' => '20210919022548_potatoes-411975_1280-1024x682.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 14:25:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trains Purchased for Rs 1 Billion Gathering Dust Since One Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year. It has been one year since the train was purchased from Konkan Railway Corporation, an Indian railway manufacturer on September 18, 2020. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although the government has said it will operate the trains, they are still unused as the operation date has been pushed back time and again. In 2010, the Government of India had announced plans to build railways at five different checkpoints on the Nepal-India border. Accordingly, the trains were bought to operate along the 34 km Janakpur-Jayanagar section in the first phase. The two sides had also successfully concluded the test operation of the trains.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government is planning to operate railway in a total of 69 kilometer-route including the 34 kilometers from Jayanagar in India to Dhanusha's Kurtha in the first phase. In the second phase, the trains will be operated along 18 kilometers from Kurtha to Bhangha in Mahottari and in the third phase another 17 kilometers will be added in the route from Bhangha to Bardibas for a total of 69 kilometers. However, due to poor preparation of Nepal, the trains have been kept in a useless condition in the parking lot although they have already been purchased. Although the government has bought the trains, their operation is still uncertain.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Spokesperson for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Keshav Kumar Sharma said that even though the trains were brought to Nepal, it was not possible to operate them due to lack of manpower and problems in recruitment. He said that some human resource has already been trained and other preparations have been made so that the basis for running the trains has been laid now.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Preparations are almost complete but it will be finalized by the political leadership,” he said. The ministry has been without a minister since July 13. The ministry is preparing to speed up railway operations after the appointment of a minister.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">General Manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited Niranjan Jha said that it is not possible to pinpoint the date for operating the trains. “It is not yet possible to set a date,” Jha said, “It is not possible because there is no law to operate the trains at the moment and there are technical problems.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that the decision to run the trains should be taken by the Prime Minister. Moreover, he said that the handover of the physical infrastructure of the railway section between the two countries is yet to be done. It is necessary to resolve these issues first including the formulation of laws for the railway fares.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13725', 'image' => '20210919124652_20201120034235_6..jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 12:46:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Explosion at Sarbottam Steel Industry: Inevitable or Security Lapses? ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five workers.', 'content' => '<p><em>A furnace of Sarvottam Steel Industry. Photo Courtesy: Saurabh Group.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><strong>Om Prakash Khanal</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five workers. The incident left 15 workers injured. Five of them died while undergoing treatment. Preliminary investigation of the police has ruled out foul play.</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 police did not proceed with further investigation stating that all the victims were Indian nationals and the contractor supplying the workers had initiated the process to compensate the victim’s families. </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"">Police had prepared a report immediately after the incident. In the preliminary investigation, the police had found the industry to be negligent about occupational safety and health of the workers.</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"">However, the police have not started further investigation stating that no complaint has been filed after the incident. </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"">Superintendent of Police (SP) Bel Bahadur Pandey of the District Police Office, Parsa, informed that the on-site inspection of the police found that the steel factory had not maintained adequate safety protocol.</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 police, the blast took place during a furnace test in the industry.</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""> "It seems that the blast occurred during a test. According to safety standards, workers cannot not be kept in the furnace area. The industry is to blame for the incident,” Pandey informed 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"">According to SP Pandey, the industry has submitted the details of workers supplied by the contractor and the contractor bearing all the responsibilities of the workers.</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"">However, Article 68 of the Labor Act 2074 clearly states that the responsibility related to occupational safety and health rests with the employer.</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"">Article 164 (2) provides for imprisonment of up to two years and appropriate compensation if any person is killed or mutilated intentionally or due to negligence.</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 police team that reached the incident site immediately after the blast found a gas cylinder placed in the furnace due to which the explosion occured. A police official said that old gas cylinders were found scattered on the premises of the industry and such cylinders were put directly in the furnace. The official also revealed that there was political pressure to settle the incident.</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"">It has been found that the industry has been negligent in informing the Labor and Employment Office about the incident immediately.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of the Labor and Employment Office Jitendra Sharma said that the industry should have informed them immediately about the incident but they have not received any official statement from the industry yet. </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"">"Even though we have to be provided the information immediately after the accident, the industry has not provided official information about the incident," Sharma said.</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"">He said that the implementation of occupational safety in the industrial establishments of Bara-Parsa is weak. "Most of the industries do not have safety measures in place. Its implementation in the steel industry is even more pathetic,” said Sharma.</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"">Rajesh Agrawal, manager of the industry, did not want to talk about the incident with our correspondent. "I am out now. We will talk about this later,” said Agrawal.</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"">Though no further action has been taken against the industry, action will be taken if any new facts are found within two years, said SP Pandey.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief District Officer of Parsa, Pitamber Ghimire, considers the incident a wake-up call for the future. Ghimire said that no further action was taken as the deceased were all Indians, and their deaths and burials had already taken place in India.</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"">Of the 15 people injured in the blast, 14 were Indians. Five people died during the treatment, while six others were rushed to Patna, India, for treatment. The industry informed the police about the deaths only a week after the workers succumbed to their injuries.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13724', 'image' => '20210919121020_s2-5b5c8a57.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 12:08:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13978', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Arrive in Doti to Study West Seti Hydel Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project.', 'content' => '<p><em>A graphic imaged of the proposed West Seti Hydropwoer Project. Photo Courtesy: SCMP</em></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","sans-serif"">September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project to be built at Dhungad and Talara areas of Doti and Baitadi districts, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> Mayor of Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality Manju Malasi told RSS that the government team monitored the Talkot area of Shikhar Municipality where the powerhouse of the project is supposed to be developed. She said that the three-member team is now scheduled to visit the dam site. <br /> The government team arrived at the proposed site of the project for a fresh study to advance the project development works. The team includes Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Bishwo Poudel, CEO of Investment Board of Nepal Shushil Bhatta and Energy Secretary Devendra Karki. </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","sans-serif"">Coordinator of the District Coordination Committee Ram Bahadur Air reportedly said that a new ray of hope has emerged on the project development after the visit of the high-level team. </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","sans-serif"">The issue of West Seti Hydropower Project has been talked about in the country since 1981. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the 750-megawatt (MW) West Seti Hydroelectric Project in Nepal’s Far-Western Province, proposed by West Seti Hydro Limited, is a storage scheme designed to generate and export large quantities of electrical energy to India. </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","sans-serif"">According to the ADB, the Project is expected to generate electrical energy throughout the year, storing excess wet season river flows in the reservoir, and using this water to generate energy during peak demand periods in the dry season.</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","sans-serif"">The report further says that the proposed 750 MW Project will generate and export large quantities of electrical energy to India under a power purchase agreement with PTC (India) Limited, which will in turn sell the power within the northern region of India. </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","sans-serif"">Under the terms of the 1997 project agreement between West Seti Hydroelectric Project and the Government of Nepal (GoN), the government will receive revenue from the sale of power through energy and capacity royalties. </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","sans-serif"">In addition, the project agreement incorporates an agreement whereby the Government could receive 10 percent of the output of the power station as free power or 10 percent of the revenue received under the terms of the power purchase agreement in lieu of free power. The GoN chose the latter option, states 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","sans-serif"">The project is a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) scheme, through which WSH has a 30-year generating license that will provide about 24.5 years of generation before full ownership of the project is handed over to the Government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Untitled%282%29.jpg" style="height:456px; width:719px" /></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13723', 'image' => '20210919112606_e590fc34-ac12-11e8-8796-d12ba807e6e9_1320x770_163654.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 11:23:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13977', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Group to Discontinue Doing Business Report ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past reports.', 'content' => '<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"">September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past reports.</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"">The World Bank issued a statement on Thursday (September 16) informing about the decision taken by the Board of Executive Directors of the bank to discontinue the Doing Business 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"">According to the World Bank, data irregularities on Doing Business 2018 and 2020 were reported internally in June 2020. Following the reports of irregularities, the World Bank management paused the next Doing Business report and initiated a series of reviews and audits of the report and its methodology.</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"">“Because the internal reports raised ethical matters, including the conduct of former Board officials as well as current and/or former Bank staff, management reported the allegations to the Bank’s appropriate internal accountability mechanisms,” the statement said, adding, “After reviewing all the information available to date on Doing Business, including the findings of past reviews, audits, and the report the Bank released today (September 16) on behalf of the Board of Executive Directors, World Bank Group management has taken the decision to discontinue the Doing Business 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"">The statement further said that the World Bank Group remains firmly committed to advancing the role of the private sector in development and providing support to governments to design the regulatory environment that supports this.</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"">“Going forward, we will be working on a new approach to assessing the business and investment climate. We are deeply grateful to the efforts of the many staff members who have worked diligently to advance the business climate agenda, and we look forward to harnessing their energies and abilities in new ways.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13722', 'image' => '20210917031339_world_660_092118064226.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 15:12:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Guna Airlines Back to its Old Brand after 8 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original brand.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original brand. The private airline company has added five new aircraft to its fleet with an investment of over Rs 1 billion. It has officially started regular flights from September 17.</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"">Gun Airlines was established in 2009 and was acquired by Simrik Airlines in 2013 due to financial problems. This caused the removal of the brand ‘Guna’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company BK Shrestha said that only the brand of ‘Guna’ was not 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"">"Now, the company is going to continue air service by re-using the old brand," said Shrestha, adding, “Flights are starting from today for two routes - Kathmandu-Bharatpur and Kathmandu-Pokhara.”</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"">Guna Airlines has acquired two out of four aircraft operated by Simrik Airlines.</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"">Shrestha informed that the two remaining aircraft were provided to another company. </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"">Shrestha further said that the company will be providing services with seven aircraft, including five purchased from Yeti Airlines.</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 company currently owns five Jet Stream and two Beechcraft.</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"">Beechcraft has a seating capacity of 18 and Jet Stream has a seating capacity of 29. </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"">Returning to the old brand after purchasing five aircraft, Guna Airlines is planning to gradually expand its service on trunk route by making Kathmandu its base before the Dashain festival. Guna Airlines will operate under the Guna Group led by businessman Rajendra Shakya.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13721', 'image' => '20210917023632_1625905050248.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 14:35:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Employees Provident Fund should Focus on Investing in Productive Sector: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The finance minister made such remarks while inaugurating the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary celebration programme of the fund on Thursday, September 17.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“The provident fund should be used to invest in the productive sectors, which will help in building national capital,” he said, adding, “Investment in the manufacturing sector creates jobs and helps reduce trade deficit.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He stressed on the need to expand the range of profits by making arrangements to invest the bonus in the productive sector. Minister Sharma said that the fund should focus on good corporate governance and make the working system more technology friendly and create a conducive environment for employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the programme, the EPF informed that the total investment of the provident fund has reached Rs 436 billion as of Fiscal Year 2077/78. At present, the fund has a balance of Rs 398 billion. The pension fund has Rs 1.58 billion and the liability of the fund is Rs 4.67 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Under the social security scheme, the fund provides maternity expenses for employees at the rate of Rs 7,500. Similarly, it provides Rs 200,000 in case of accidental death or complete mutilation during the service period of the employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In case of death during the service period of the employees, a total sum of Rs 40,000 is provided to the heir. Similarly, the fund has been reimbursing Rs 100,000 for general medical treatment and up to Rs 1 million for fatal diseases.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Prior to the establishment of the fund on September 4, 2019, it was operated in the name of Army Provident Fund in 1991, Civil Provident Fund in 2001 and Employees Provident Fund Department in 2017. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13720', 'image' => '20210917025236_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 14:51:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chamber of Industries Morang Holds Meeting with Startup and Innovation Consultants ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup companies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup companies. The chamber has selected experts of various fields, successful entrepreneurs, senior financial analysts, chartered accountants and legal experts as mentors to provide consultancy services to startup companies. The experts will provide mentorship on business plan, business registration as well as legal, administrative and technical advice, maintaining standard, marketing, financial management, human resource management among other issues.</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"">Suyash Pyakure, president of the Chamber of Industries Morang, has selected consultants to provide consultancy services to startups based on their expertise. He said that it was the responsibility of all to help in the transformation.</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"">Citing the example of startups that have expanded their business around the world with small investments, he said that the consultancy service helps in the advancement of startups in the business development and promotion.</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"">Coordinator of the Startup Committee Surendra Golchha expressed confidence that the Startup and Innovation Programme launched by the chamber would develop a successful ecosystem of business services.</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 joint coordinator of the committee Biju Thapaliya said that the Mentors Meet will assist the mentors and startup entrepreneurs by expanding their relationship and using it for business development.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13719', 'image' => '20210917015520_Chamber of industries morang.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 13:54:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stakeholders Demand Removal of Quarantine for Tourists', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism industry. They have demanded to provide on-arrival visas for tourists instead of putting them in quarantine.</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 entrepreneurs put forward these demands in a programme organized by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) on September 16. Stating that the tourism sector has been adversely affected by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the government's indifference, NATTA held a meeting with the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAN), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) and other stakeholders.</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"">Participants of the meeting demanded the government to make necessary arrangements to provide on-arrival visa by removing the quarantine provision, open the border with India and implement a one-month free visa for tourists announced by the government immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The meeting has also decided to resort to protest programs from next week if the government does not address their demands immediately. Likewise, the tourism entrepreneurs have decided to move ahead in collaboration with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries to draw the government’s attention to address their demands.</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 has been placed in the red zone in the international travel advisory. Entrepreneurs have pointed out that the government should facilitate hassle-free arrival of vaccinated tourists and tourism entrepreneurs. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13718', 'image' => '20210917013358_Tourists.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 13:33:05', '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><em>Upper Mustang. Photo Courtesy: Wilderness Excursion</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 20: With the availability of high speed internet, folks of Upper Mustang have overcome the hassles in communications. It has ended their compulsion to reach to the district headquarters, Jomsom, for internet connectivity or to seek areas covered by telecommunication towers for conversation using mobile phones. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Locals of Baglung, Muktinath, Loghekar-Damodarkunda and Lo-Manthang are now enjoying smooth communications owing to the improved bandwidth of internet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ghamjughuti Gurung, a local of Charang, says that high speed internet has made communications easier within and outside the country and moreover it has eased the students to pursue their online education in the difficult times of coronavirus. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“With the expansion of communications facilities, the lives and lifestyles of geographically remote and distant areas have witnessed a sea change,” said Gurung. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“The internet access has made us able to exchange ideas and make communications far and wide from a closet. It was very difficult when there was poor connectivity,” Gurung added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tasi Gurung, a local of Lo-Manthang, shared that the improved internet connectivity has amply helped in facilitating development works, delivering public services and marketing of local products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> “In addition, it has also contributed to the promotion of tourism in the area,” he added. The mobile service has brought unprecedented changes in the lifestyle of the local people, he further informed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned Nepal Telecom has expanded its internet service in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Baragung Muktichhetra rural municipality through wire and fiber connectivity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Senior Engineer of Nepal Telecom’s Baglung section, Keshab Sharma shared that the state-owned telecom company has operated 3G service from Muktinath, Damodarkunda to Korala border checkpoint. --RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13732', 'image' => '20210920013819_20210920114232_upper-mustang-trek.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 11:41:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13987', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity going Wastage in Lack of Transmission Lines: Kulman Ghising', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Ghising during his on-site inspection of the Hetauda-Bharatpur-Bardaghat 220 Kv transmission line project informed that the country has not been able to increase electricity consumption due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Industrialists are complaining about the shortage of electricity, while the electricity on the other hand is being wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">“We are working to resolve the problem and would request all for their support,” Ghising said. </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, Ghising informed that the project has been delayed due to various obstacles. </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"">Stating that the NEA is only able to deliver 90 megawatts of electricity through a single circuit transmission line to the west of Bharatpur, Ghising said that the NEA would be able to deliver 500 megawatts of electricity to Butwal after a 220 Kv line comes into operation. </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"">He also added that the industrialists from Nawalpur, Parasi, and Butwal region are demanding electricity but NEA has not been able to deliver electricity as per the demand due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Ghising said that the NEA is dedicated to increasing the electricity to Butwal, Bhairahwa, and Nepalgunj, and added that the operation of a 220 Kv is crucial for achieving the target. </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, he said that the Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project is producing 2000 megawatts of electricity. However, NEA cannot supply the power to the west of Bharatpur due to the lack of a transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13731', 'image' => '20210920013519_20190915092327_20190517010911_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 13:34:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13986', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '230 Mountaineers get Permits for Climbing Mountains during this Autumn', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year. According to the Department of Tourism, the climbers have been granted permits to climb six mountain peaks during the autumn window.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Department of Tourism, this is the highest number of climbers since 2020. Last year, only 69 climbers from a total of 11 expedition teams were given permission for climbing mountains. Despite the spring season being popular for mountaineering, tourists are drawn towards climbing even during the autumn season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In 2019, a total of 1,210 climbers from 165 different teams had scaled various mountains.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During this autumn, the Department of Tourism has issued permits for climbing six mountains including Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Manaslu, Mt Himchuli, Mt Kumbhakarna, Mt Mariyang and Mt Kanchenjunga. Out of these, the highest numbers of climbers have taken permission to climb the mighty 8,586 meters Mt Manaslu, which is the fifth highest mountain in the world. According to the department, 133 people from 17 teams have got permission to climb Mt Manaslu. Likewise, 28 people from four teams have got permission to climb the 8,167-meter tall Mt Dhaulagiri.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As informed by the department, there are 52 women mountaineers in total during this climbing season. While issuing permits for those climbers, the department has collected revenue of Rs 23 million. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The tourism sector of Nepal has been relieved due to the arrival of mountaineers which was almost zero during last year due to the impact of Covid-19. In the first eight months of this year, only 69,000 tourists have visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the spring of this year, 635 climbers climbed various mountains, including Mount Everest. Data from the Department of Tourism revealed that the majority of climbers (459 people) climbed Mt Everest. In the spring of 2020, the number of climbers was zero as the government had banned climbing due to the risk of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13730', 'image' => '20210920121028_20201227011907_1608890066.Mountain-Climbing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 12:09:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13984', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Dose of Vero Cell to be Administered from September 20 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September 20. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September 20. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">District Health Office, Kathmandu, is going to administer the second dose of vaccine from 145 vaccination centres in the district. The office has urged all the beneficiaries to get vaccinated by reaching the designated centres. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Public Health Administrator of the office, Badri Bahadur Khadka, said that 32 vaccination centres have been designated in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, 10 in Kirtipur, 15 in Chandragiri, 10 in Nagarjun, 11 in Tarkeshwor, nine in Dakschinkali, 13 in Budhanilkantha, 11 in Tokha and nine each in Gokarneshwor, Shankarapur and Bageshwori Manohara. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, vaccination centres have also been set up at Nepal Police Hospital, Maharajgunj, Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Civil Service Hospital, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital and Birendra Army Hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had brought 4.4 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China on Friday. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13729', 'image' => '20210919033528_dddd.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:34:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13983', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Calls for Increase in Foreign Assistance in UNGA', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the UNGA that kicked off in New York from September 14, Nepal pointed out the need to increase foreign aid in order to uplift the standard of the Least Developed Countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Other agendas raised by Nepal include trade facilitation, removal of hassles experienced by LDCs while taking loan, increment in support on transfer of finance and technology and climate change.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Foreign Secretary Bharatraj Poudyal had addressed the 76th session of the United Nations on behalf of the Government of Nepal on Saturday (September 18). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Speaking at a virtual meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA, he discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy. He stressed on <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">equitable, affordable and universal access to vaccines for all</span>. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Foreign Secretary Poudyal said that LDCs must build resilient economies with adequate physical infrastructure, advanced industrial and technological capacity, and expanded social safety-nets to win the war against the virus, eradicate poverty and ensure the well-being of their people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He also said that the government is working relentlessly to graduate to a developed nation at the expense of the foreign aid it has bee receiving. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Graduation from LDCs will be a significant achievement to the country and Nepal is committed to making it sustainable and irreversible," he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudyal stressed the need to complete the unfinished work on the Istanbul Action Plan and formulate future plans for sustainable development while preparing for the 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries happening in Doha next year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A high-level discussion will be held in the UN General Assembly with the participation of 193 countries from September 21.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The UN General Assembly will run till September 22, with the slogan 'The Future We Want, We Need the United Nations: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism'.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13728', 'image' => '20210919032831_0_dNX0ywJjZi6iIRfQ.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:27:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Citizens to get Vaccine against Covid-19 by Year End: Prime Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this year.', 'content' => '<p><em>Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba along with President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Tundikhel on the occassion of the 7th Constitution Day on Sunday. Photo: RSS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Speaking on the occasion of the 7<sup>th</sup> Constitution Day at the Army Pavillion in Tundikhel on Sunday, Prime Minister Deuba said that all eligible citizens would be vaccinated. He also stated that the government led by him has prioritized the vaccination drive against Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Stating that the government is committed to prevent the risk of Covid-19 infection, Prime Minister Deuba said that the constitution has united the aspirations and future of the people.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Citizens' desire for political change has been institutionalized by the constitution. We need to move forward on the path of prosperity through economic and social transformation through its successful implementation,” said Deuba.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13727', 'image' => '20210919030919_1632033353.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:07:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Potatoes Fall up to 54 Percent in a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A comparison between the price list of this year mentioned by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board with the price of corresponding period of last year has revealed that the price of potatos has gone down considerably this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The main reason for the lower price of potato is that potatoes are being supplied abundantly this year not only from the internal market, but from the external market as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The price of Indian red potato was Rs 59 per kg last year, according to the data provided by the development board. This year, the price has declined by 54 percent and is just Rs 27 per kg. The price of Nepali red potato last year was Rs 94 per kg, which has gone down by 39.36 percent this year. In similar manner, the potatoes from Mude was pirced at Rs 81 per kg last year. This year, the price of those potatos has gone down by 39.50 percent and now costs Rs 49 per kg.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Binay Shrestha, information officer of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, said that the supply of potatoes has eased this year. In addition, the prices in the Indian market have also come down. Prices had skyrocketed during this time last year due to the major impact of lockdown imposed in Nepal. According to Shrestha, 75 percent of the total potatoes entering the Kalimati market are Indian and 25 percent are produced within the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development, potato is cultivated in about 200,000 hectares of land in Jhapa, Ilam, Kavre, Solukhumbu, Morang, Saptari, Makwanpur, Bara, Rupandehi and Kailali districts. Potatoes were cultivated in 195,173 hectares of land in the Fiscal Year 2074/75, while in the Fiscal Year 2075/76, it was cultivated in about 194,000 hectares of land. However, in the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the area of potato cultivation has decreased. The data of the center shows that potatoes were cultivated in only 188,098 hectares in the FY 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to Sandeep Subedi, Information Officer at the Horticulture Development Section of the Center, the total demand for potatoes in Nepal is 3.5 million metric tons annually. Out of which, 2.8 million metric tons is produced domestically and 4.5 million metric tons is imported from different countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Apart from domestic production, imported potatoes worth Rs 6 billion are consumed annually in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13726', 'image' => '20210919022548_potatoes-411975_1280-1024x682.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 14:25:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trains Purchased for Rs 1 Billion Gathering Dust Since One Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year. It has been one year since the train was purchased from Konkan Railway Corporation, an Indian railway manufacturer on September 18, 2020. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although the government has said it will operate the trains, they are still unused as the operation date has been pushed back time and again. In 2010, the Government of India had announced plans to build railways at five different checkpoints on the Nepal-India border. Accordingly, the trains were bought to operate along the 34 km Janakpur-Jayanagar section in the first phase. The two sides had also successfully concluded the test operation of the trains.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government is planning to operate railway in a total of 69 kilometer-route including the 34 kilometers from Jayanagar in India to Dhanusha's Kurtha in the first phase. In the second phase, the trains will be operated along 18 kilometers from Kurtha to Bhangha in Mahottari and in the third phase another 17 kilometers will be added in the route from Bhangha to Bardibas for a total of 69 kilometers. However, due to poor preparation of Nepal, the trains have been kept in a useless condition in the parking lot although they have already been purchased. Although the government has bought the trains, their operation is still uncertain.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Spokesperson for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Keshav Kumar Sharma said that even though the trains were brought to Nepal, it was not possible to operate them due to lack of manpower and problems in recruitment. He said that some human resource has already been trained and other preparations have been made so that the basis for running the trains has been laid now.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Preparations are almost complete but it will be finalized by the political leadership,” he said. The ministry has been without a minister since July 13. The ministry is preparing to speed up railway operations after the appointment of a minister.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">General Manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited Niranjan Jha said that it is not possible to pinpoint the date for operating the trains. “It is not yet possible to set a date,” Jha said, “It is not possible because there is no law to operate the trains at the moment and there are technical problems.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that the decision to run the trains should be taken by the Prime Minister. Moreover, he said that the handover of the physical infrastructure of the railway section between the two countries is yet to be done. It is necessary to resolve these issues first including the formulation of laws for the railway fares.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13725', 'image' => '20210919124652_20201120034235_6..jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 12:46:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Explosion at Sarbottam Steel Industry: Inevitable or Security Lapses? ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five workers.', 'content' => '<p><em>A furnace of Sarvottam Steel Industry. Photo Courtesy: Saurabh Group.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><strong>Om Prakash Khanal</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five workers. The incident left 15 workers injured. Five of them died while undergoing treatment. Preliminary investigation of the police has ruled out foul play.</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 police did not proceed with further investigation stating that all the victims were Indian nationals and the contractor supplying the workers had initiated the process to compensate the victim’s families. </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"">Police had prepared a report immediately after the incident. In the preliminary investigation, the police had found the industry to be negligent about occupational safety and health of the workers.</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"">However, the police have not started further investigation stating that no complaint has been filed after the incident. </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"">Superintendent of Police (SP) Bel Bahadur Pandey of the District Police Office, Parsa, informed that the on-site inspection of the police found that the steel factory had not maintained adequate safety protocol.</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 police, the blast took place during a furnace test in the industry.</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""> "It seems that the blast occurred during a test. According to safety standards, workers cannot not be kept in the furnace area. The industry is to blame for the incident,” Pandey informed 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"">According to SP Pandey, the industry has submitted the details of workers supplied by the contractor and the contractor bearing all the responsibilities of the workers.</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"">However, Article 68 of the Labor Act 2074 clearly states that the responsibility related to occupational safety and health rests with the employer.</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"">Article 164 (2) provides for imprisonment of up to two years and appropriate compensation if any person is killed or mutilated intentionally or due to negligence.</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 police team that reached the incident site immediately after the blast found a gas cylinder placed in the furnace due to which the explosion occured. A police official said that old gas cylinders were found scattered on the premises of the industry and such cylinders were put directly in the furnace. The official also revealed that there was political pressure to settle the incident.</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"">It has been found that the industry has been negligent in informing the Labor and Employment Office about the incident immediately.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of the Labor and Employment Office Jitendra Sharma said that the industry should have informed them immediately about the incident but they have not received any official statement from the industry yet. </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"">"Even though we have to be provided the information immediately after the accident, the industry has not provided official information about the incident," Sharma said.</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"">He said that the implementation of occupational safety in the industrial establishments of Bara-Parsa is weak. "Most of the industries do not have safety measures in place. Its implementation in the steel industry is even more pathetic,” said Sharma.</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"">Rajesh Agrawal, manager of the industry, did not want to talk about the incident with our correspondent. "I am out now. We will talk about this later,” said Agrawal.</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"">Though no further action has been taken against the industry, action will be taken if any new facts are found within two years, said SP Pandey.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief District Officer of Parsa, Pitamber Ghimire, considers the incident a wake-up call for the future. Ghimire said that no further action was taken as the deceased were all Indians, and their deaths and burials had already taken place in India.</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"">Of the 15 people injured in the blast, 14 were Indians. Five people died during the treatment, while six others were rushed to Patna, India, for treatment. The industry informed the police about the deaths only a week after the workers succumbed to their injuries.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13724', 'image' => '20210919121020_s2-5b5c8a57.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 12:08:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13978', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Arrive in Doti to Study West Seti Hydel Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project.', 'content' => '<p><em>A graphic imaged of the proposed West Seti Hydropwoer Project. Photo Courtesy: SCMP</em></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","sans-serif"">September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project to be built at Dhungad and Talara areas of Doti and Baitadi districts, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> Mayor of Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality Manju Malasi told RSS that the government team monitored the Talkot area of Shikhar Municipality where the powerhouse of the project is supposed to be developed. She said that the three-member team is now scheduled to visit the dam site. <br /> The government team arrived at the proposed site of the project for a fresh study to advance the project development works. The team includes Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Bishwo Poudel, CEO of Investment Board of Nepal Shushil Bhatta and Energy Secretary Devendra Karki. </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","sans-serif"">Coordinator of the District Coordination Committee Ram Bahadur Air reportedly said that a new ray of hope has emerged on the project development after the visit of the high-level team. </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","sans-serif"">The issue of West Seti Hydropower Project has been talked about in the country since 1981. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the 750-megawatt (MW) West Seti Hydroelectric Project in Nepal’s Far-Western Province, proposed by West Seti Hydro Limited, is a storage scheme designed to generate and export large quantities of electrical energy to India. </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","sans-serif"">According to the ADB, the Project is expected to generate electrical energy throughout the year, storing excess wet season river flows in the reservoir, and using this water to generate energy during peak demand periods in the dry season.</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","sans-serif"">The report further says that the proposed 750 MW Project will generate and export large quantities of electrical energy to India under a power purchase agreement with PTC (India) Limited, which will in turn sell the power within the northern region of India. </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","sans-serif"">Under the terms of the 1997 project agreement between West Seti Hydroelectric Project and the Government of Nepal (GoN), the government will receive revenue from the sale of power through energy and capacity royalties. </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","sans-serif"">In addition, the project agreement incorporates an agreement whereby the Government could receive 10 percent of the output of the power station as free power or 10 percent of the revenue received under the terms of the power purchase agreement in lieu of free power. The GoN chose the latter option, states 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","sans-serif"">The project is a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) scheme, through which WSH has a 30-year generating license that will provide about 24.5 years of generation before full ownership of the project is handed over to the Government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Untitled%282%29.jpg" style="height:456px; width:719px" /></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13723', 'image' => '20210919112606_e590fc34-ac12-11e8-8796-d12ba807e6e9_1320x770_163654.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 11:23:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13977', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Group to Discontinue Doing Business Report ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past reports.', 'content' => '<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"">September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past reports.</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"">The World Bank issued a statement on Thursday (September 16) informing about the decision taken by the Board of Executive Directors of the bank to discontinue the Doing Business 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"">According to the World Bank, data irregularities on Doing Business 2018 and 2020 were reported internally in June 2020. Following the reports of irregularities, the World Bank management paused the next Doing Business report and initiated a series of reviews and audits of the report and its methodology.</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"">“Because the internal reports raised ethical matters, including the conduct of former Board officials as well as current and/or former Bank staff, management reported the allegations to the Bank’s appropriate internal accountability mechanisms,” the statement said, adding, “After reviewing all the information available to date on Doing Business, including the findings of past reviews, audits, and the report the Bank released today (September 16) on behalf of the Board of Executive Directors, World Bank Group management has taken the decision to discontinue the Doing Business 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"">The statement further said that the World Bank Group remains firmly committed to advancing the role of the private sector in development and providing support to governments to design the regulatory environment that supports this.</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"">“Going forward, we will be working on a new approach to assessing the business and investment climate. We are deeply grateful to the efforts of the many staff members who have worked diligently to advance the business climate agenda, and we look forward to harnessing their energies and abilities in new ways.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13722', 'image' => '20210917031339_world_660_092118064226.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 15:12:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Guna Airlines Back to its Old Brand after 8 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original brand.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original brand. The private airline company has added five new aircraft to its fleet with an investment of over Rs 1 billion. It has officially started regular flights from September 17.</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"">Gun Airlines was established in 2009 and was acquired by Simrik Airlines in 2013 due to financial problems. This caused the removal of the brand ‘Guna’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company BK Shrestha said that only the brand of ‘Guna’ was not 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"">"Now, the company is going to continue air service by re-using the old brand," said Shrestha, adding, “Flights are starting from today for two routes - Kathmandu-Bharatpur and Kathmandu-Pokhara.”</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"">Guna Airlines has acquired two out of four aircraft operated by Simrik Airlines.</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"">Shrestha informed that the two remaining aircraft were provided to another company. </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"">Shrestha further said that the company will be providing services with seven aircraft, including five purchased from Yeti Airlines.</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 company currently owns five Jet Stream and two Beechcraft.</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"">Beechcraft has a seating capacity of 18 and Jet Stream has a seating capacity of 29. </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"">Returning to the old brand after purchasing five aircraft, Guna Airlines is planning to gradually expand its service on trunk route by making Kathmandu its base before the Dashain festival. Guna Airlines will operate under the Guna Group led by businessman Rajendra Shakya.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13721', 'image' => '20210917023632_1625905050248.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 14:35:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Employees Provident Fund should Focus on Investing in Productive Sector: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The finance minister made such remarks while inaugurating the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary celebration programme of the fund on Thursday, September 17.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“The provident fund should be used to invest in the productive sectors, which will help in building national capital,” he said, adding, “Investment in the manufacturing sector creates jobs and helps reduce trade deficit.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He stressed on the need to expand the range of profits by making arrangements to invest the bonus in the productive sector. Minister Sharma said that the fund should focus on good corporate governance and make the working system more technology friendly and create a conducive environment for employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the programme, the EPF informed that the total investment of the provident fund has reached Rs 436 billion as of Fiscal Year 2077/78. At present, the fund has a balance of Rs 398 billion. The pension fund has Rs 1.58 billion and the liability of the fund is Rs 4.67 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Under the social security scheme, the fund provides maternity expenses for employees at the rate of Rs 7,500. Similarly, it provides Rs 200,000 in case of accidental death or complete mutilation during the service period of the employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In case of death during the service period of the employees, a total sum of Rs 40,000 is provided to the heir. Similarly, the fund has been reimbursing Rs 100,000 for general medical treatment and up to Rs 1 million for fatal diseases.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Prior to the establishment of the fund on September 4, 2019, it was operated in the name of Army Provident Fund in 1991, Civil Provident Fund in 2001 and Employees Provident Fund Department in 2017. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13720', 'image' => '20210917025236_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 14:51:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chamber of Industries Morang Holds Meeting with Startup and Innovation Consultants ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup companies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup companies. The chamber has selected experts of various fields, successful entrepreneurs, senior financial analysts, chartered accountants and legal experts as mentors to provide consultancy services to startup companies. The experts will provide mentorship on business plan, business registration as well as legal, administrative and technical advice, maintaining standard, marketing, financial management, human resource management among other issues.</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"">Suyash Pyakure, president of the Chamber of Industries Morang, has selected consultants to provide consultancy services to startups based on their expertise. He said that it was the responsibility of all to help in the transformation.</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"">Citing the example of startups that have expanded their business around the world with small investments, he said that the consultancy service helps in the advancement of startups in the business development and promotion.</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"">Coordinator of the Startup Committee Surendra Golchha expressed confidence that the Startup and Innovation Programme launched by the chamber would develop a successful ecosystem of business services.</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 joint coordinator of the committee Biju Thapaliya said that the Mentors Meet will assist the mentors and startup entrepreneurs by expanding their relationship and using it for business development.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13719', 'image' => '20210917015520_Chamber of industries morang.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 13:54:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stakeholders Demand Removal of Quarantine for Tourists', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism industry. They have demanded to provide on-arrival visas for tourists instead of putting them in quarantine.</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 entrepreneurs put forward these demands in a programme organized by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) on September 16. Stating that the tourism sector has been adversely affected by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the government's indifference, NATTA held a meeting with the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAN), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) and other stakeholders.</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"">Participants of the meeting demanded the government to make necessary arrangements to provide on-arrival visa by removing the quarantine provision, open the border with India and implement a one-month free visa for tourists announced by the government immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The meeting has also decided to resort to protest programs from next week if the government does not address their demands immediately. Likewise, the tourism entrepreneurs have decided to move ahead in collaboration with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries to draw the government’s attention to address their demands.</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 has been placed in the red zone in the international travel advisory. Entrepreneurs have pointed out that the government should facilitate hassle-free arrival of vaccinated tourists and tourism entrepreneurs. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13718', 'image' => '20210917013358_Tourists.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 13:33:05', '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><em>Upper Mustang. Photo Courtesy: Wilderness Excursion</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 20: With the availability of high speed internet, folks of Upper Mustang have overcome the hassles in communications. It has ended their compulsion to reach to the district headquarters, Jomsom, for internet connectivity or to seek areas covered by telecommunication towers for conversation using mobile phones. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Locals of Baglung, Muktinath, Loghekar-Damodarkunda and Lo-Manthang are now enjoying smooth communications owing to the improved bandwidth of internet. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ghamjughuti Gurung, a local of Charang, says that high speed internet has made communications easier within and outside the country and moreover it has eased the students to pursue their online education in the difficult times of coronavirus. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“With the expansion of communications facilities, the lives and lifestyles of geographically remote and distant areas have witnessed a sea change,” said Gurung. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“The internet access has made us able to exchange ideas and make communications far and wide from a closet. It was very difficult when there was poor connectivity,” Gurung added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Tasi Gurung, a local of Lo-Manthang, shared that the improved internet connectivity has amply helped in facilitating development works, delivering public services and marketing of local products.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif""> “In addition, it has also contributed to the promotion of tourism in the area,” he added. The mobile service has brought unprecedented changes in the lifestyle of the local people, he further informed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The state-owned Nepal Telecom has expanded its internet service in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Baragung Muktichhetra rural municipality through wire and fiber connectivity. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Senior Engineer of Nepal Telecom’s Baglung section, Keshab Sharma shared that the state-owned telecom company has operated 3G service from Muktinath, Damodarkunda to Korala border checkpoint. --RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13732', 'image' => '20210920013819_20210920114232_upper-mustang-trek.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 11:41:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13987', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Electricity going Wastage in Lack of Transmission Lines: Kulman Ghising', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 20: Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kulman Ghising, has said that electricity is going wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Ghising during his on-site inspection of the Hetauda-Bharatpur-Bardaghat 220 Kv transmission line project informed that the country has not been able to increase electricity consumption due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Industrialists are complaining about the shortage of electricity, while the electricity on the other hand is being wasted due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">“We are working to resolve the problem and would request all for their support,” Ghising said. </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, Ghising informed that the project has been delayed due to various obstacles. </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"">Stating that the NEA is only able to deliver 90 megawatts of electricity through a single circuit transmission line to the west of Bharatpur, Ghising said that the NEA would be able to deliver 500 megawatts of electricity to Butwal after a 220 Kv line comes into operation. </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"">He also added that the industrialists from Nawalpur, Parasi, and Butwal region are demanding electricity but NEA has not been able to deliver electricity as per the demand due to the lack of transmission lines. </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"">Ghising said that the NEA is dedicated to increasing the electricity to Butwal, Bhairahwa, and Nepalgunj, and added that the operation of a 220 Kv is crucial for achieving the target. </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, he said that the Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project is producing 2000 megawatts of electricity. However, NEA cannot supply the power to the west of Bharatpur due to the lack of a transmission line. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13731', 'image' => '20210920013519_20190915092327_20190517010911_aaa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 13:34:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13986', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '230 Mountaineers get Permits for Climbing Mountains during this Autumn', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 20: So far, 230 people have received permission for climbing mountains in the autumn season this year. According to the Department of Tourism, the climbers have been granted permits to climb six mountain peaks during the autumn window.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the Department of Tourism, this is the highest number of climbers since 2020. Last year, only 69 climbers from a total of 11 expedition teams were given permission for climbing mountains. Despite the spring season being popular for mountaineering, tourists are drawn towards climbing even during the autumn season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In 2019, a total of 1,210 climbers from 165 different teams had scaled various mountains.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During this autumn, the Department of Tourism has issued permits for climbing six mountains including Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Manaslu, Mt Himchuli, Mt Kumbhakarna, Mt Mariyang and Mt Kanchenjunga. Out of these, the highest numbers of climbers have taken permission to climb the mighty 8,586 meters Mt Manaslu, which is the fifth highest mountain in the world. According to the department, 133 people from 17 teams have got permission to climb Mt Manaslu. Likewise, 28 people from four teams have got permission to climb the 8,167-meter tall Mt Dhaulagiri.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As informed by the department, there are 52 women mountaineers in total during this climbing season. While issuing permits for those climbers, the department has collected revenue of Rs 23 million. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The tourism sector of Nepal has been relieved due to the arrival of mountaineers which was almost zero during last year due to the impact of Covid-19. In the first eight months of this year, only 69,000 tourists have visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the spring of this year, 635 climbers climbed various mountains, including Mount Everest. Data from the Department of Tourism revealed that the majority of climbers (459 people) climbed Mt Everest. In the spring of 2020, the number of climbers was zero as the government had banned climbing due to the risk of Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-20', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13730', 'image' => '20210920121028_20201227011907_1608890066.Mountain-Climbing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-20 12:09:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13984', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Second Dose of Vero Cell to be Administered from September 20 ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September 20. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 19: The second shot of Vero Cell vaccine against COVID-19 is to be administered from September 20. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">District Health Office, Kathmandu, is going to administer the second dose of vaccine from 145 vaccination centres in the district. The office has urged all the beneficiaries to get vaccinated by reaching the designated centres. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief Public Health Administrator of the office, Badri Bahadur Khadka, said that 32 vaccination centres have been designated in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, 10 in Kirtipur, 15 in Chandragiri, 10 in Nagarjun, 11 in Tarkeshwor, nine in Dakschinkali, 13 in Budhanilkantha, 11 in Tokha and nine each in Gokarneshwor, Shankarapur and Bageshwori Manohara. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, vaccination centres have also been set up at Nepal Police Hospital, Maharajgunj, Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Civil Service Hospital, Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital and Birendra Army Hospital. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The government had brought 4.4 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China on Friday. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-20', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13729', 'image' => '20210919033528_dddd.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:34:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13983', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Calls for Increase in Foreign Assistance in UNGA', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the UNGA that kicked off in New York from September 14, Nepal pointed out the need to increase foreign aid in order to uplift the standard of the Least Developed Countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Other agendas raised by Nepal include trade facilitation, removal of hassles experienced by LDCs while taking loan, increment in support on transfer of finance and technology and climate change.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Foreign Secretary Bharatraj Poudyal had addressed the 76th session of the United Nations on behalf of the Government of Nepal on Saturday (September 18). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Speaking at a virtual meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA, he discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy. He stressed on <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">equitable, affordable and universal access to vaccines for all</span>. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Foreign Secretary Poudyal said that LDCs must build resilient economies with adequate physical infrastructure, advanced industrial and technological capacity, and expanded social safety-nets to win the war against the virus, eradicate poverty and ensure the well-being of their people.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He also said that the government is working relentlessly to graduate to a developed nation at the expense of the foreign aid it has bee receiving. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Graduation from LDCs will be a significant achievement to the country and Nepal is committed to making it sustainable and irreversible," he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Poudyal stressed the need to complete the unfinished work on the Istanbul Action Plan and formulate future plans for sustainable development while preparing for the 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries happening in Doha next year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A high-level discussion will be held in the UN General Assembly with the participation of 193 countries from September 21.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The UN General Assembly will run till September 22, with the slogan 'The Future We Want, We Need the United Nations: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism'.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13728', 'image' => '20210919032831_0_dNX0ywJjZi6iIRfQ.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:27:45', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13982', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'All Citizens to get Vaccine against Covid-19 by Year End: Prime Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this year.', 'content' => '<p><em>Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba along with President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Tundikhel on the occassion of the 7th Constitution Day on Sunday. Photo: RSS</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that every citizen would be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Speaking on the occasion of the 7<sup>th</sup> Constitution Day at the Army Pavillion in Tundikhel on Sunday, Prime Minister Deuba said that all eligible citizens would be vaccinated. He also stated that the government led by him has prioritized the vaccination drive against Covid-19.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Stating that the government is committed to prevent the risk of Covid-19 infection, Prime Minister Deuba said that the constitution has united the aspirations and future of the people.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Citizens' desire for political change has been institutionalized by the constitution. We need to move forward on the path of prosperity through economic and social transformation through its successful implementation,” said Deuba.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13727', 'image' => '20210919030919_1632033353.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 15:07:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13981', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Price of Potatoes Fall up to 54 Percent in a Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: The price of potatoes has declined by as much as 54 percent within a period of one year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A comparison between the price list of this year mentioned by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board with the price of corresponding period of last year has revealed that the price of potatos has gone down considerably this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The main reason for the lower price of potato is that potatoes are being supplied abundantly this year not only from the internal market, but from the external market as well.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The price of Indian red potato was Rs 59 per kg last year, according to the data provided by the development board. This year, the price has declined by 54 percent and is just Rs 27 per kg. The price of Nepali red potato last year was Rs 94 per kg, which has gone down by 39.36 percent this year. In similar manner, the potatoes from Mude was pirced at Rs 81 per kg last year. This year, the price of those potatos has gone down by 39.50 percent and now costs Rs 49 per kg.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Binay Shrestha, information officer of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, said that the supply of potatoes has eased this year. In addition, the prices in the Indian market have also come down. Prices had skyrocketed during this time last year due to the major impact of lockdown imposed in Nepal. According to Shrestha, 75 percent of the total potatoes entering the Kalimati market are Indian and 25 percent are produced within the country.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to the National Center for Potato, Vegetable and Spice Crops Development, potato is cultivated in about 200,000 hectares of land in Jhapa, Ilam, Kavre, Solukhumbu, Morang, Saptari, Makwanpur, Bara, Rupandehi and Kailali districts. Potatoes were cultivated in 195,173 hectares of land in the Fiscal Year 2074/75, while in the Fiscal Year 2075/76, it was cultivated in about 194,000 hectares of land. However, in the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the area of potato cultivation has decreased. The data of the center shows that potatoes were cultivated in only 188,098 hectares in the FY 2076/77.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">According to Sandeep Subedi, Information Officer at the Horticulture Development Section of the Center, the total demand for potatoes in Nepal is 3.5 million metric tons annually. Out of which, 2.8 million metric tons is produced domestically and 4.5 million metric tons is imported from different countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Apart from domestic production, imported potatoes worth Rs 6 billion are consumed annually in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13726', 'image' => '20210919022548_potatoes-411975_1280-1024x682.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 14:25:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13980', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trains Purchased for Rs 1 Billion Gathering Dust Since One Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 19: The two sets of train purchased by the government with an investment of Rs 1 billion has remained unused for a year. It has been one year since the train was purchased from Konkan Railway Corporation, an Indian railway manufacturer on September 18, 2020. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although the government has said it will operate the trains, they are still unused as the operation date has been pushed back time and again. In 2010, the Government of India had announced plans to build railways at five different checkpoints on the Nepal-India border. Accordingly, the trains were bought to operate along the 34 km Janakpur-Jayanagar section in the first phase. The two sides had also successfully concluded the test operation of the trains.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The government is planning to operate railway in a total of 69 kilometer-route including the 34 kilometers from Jayanagar in India to Dhanusha's Kurtha in the first phase. In the second phase, the trains will be operated along 18 kilometers from Kurtha to Bhangha in Mahottari and in the third phase another 17 kilometers will be added in the route from Bhangha to Bardibas for a total of 69 kilometers. However, due to poor preparation of Nepal, the trains have been kept in a useless condition in the parking lot although they have already been purchased. Although the government has bought the trains, their operation is still uncertain.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Spokesperson for the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Keshav Kumar Sharma said that even though the trains were brought to Nepal, it was not possible to operate them due to lack of manpower and problems in recruitment. He said that some human resource has already been trained and other preparations have been made so that the basis for running the trains has been laid now.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Preparations are almost complete but it will be finalized by the political leadership,” he said. The ministry has been without a minister since July 13. The ministry is preparing to speed up railway operations after the appointment of a minister.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">General Manager of Nepal Railway Company Limited Niranjan Jha said that it is not possible to pinpoint the date for operating the trains. “It is not yet possible to set a date,” Jha said, “It is not possible because there is no law to operate the trains at the moment and there are technical problems.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He said that the decision to run the trains should be taken by the Prime Minister. Moreover, he said that the handover of the physical infrastructure of the railway section between the two countries is yet to be done. It is necessary to resolve these issues first including the formulation of laws for the railway fares.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13725', 'image' => '20210919124652_20201120034235_6..jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 12:46:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13979', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Explosion at Sarbottam Steel Industry: Inevitable or Security Lapses? ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five workers.', 'content' => '<p><em>A furnace of Sarvottam Steel Industry. Photo Courtesy: Saurabh Group.</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><strong>Om Prakash Khanal</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 19: Police have not shown any interest to launch further investigation into the blast of a furnace of Sarbottam Steel in Birguj on August 26 that killed five workers. The incident left 15 workers injured. Five of them died while undergoing treatment. Preliminary investigation of the police has ruled out foul play.</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 police did not proceed with further investigation stating that all the victims were Indian nationals and the contractor supplying the workers had initiated the process to compensate the victim’s families. </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"">Police had prepared a report immediately after the incident. In the preliminary investigation, the police had found the industry to be negligent about occupational safety and health of the workers.</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"">However, the police have not started further investigation stating that no complaint has been filed after the incident. </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"">Superintendent of Police (SP) Bel Bahadur Pandey of the District Police Office, Parsa, informed that the on-site inspection of the police found that the steel factory had not maintained adequate safety protocol.</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 police, the blast took place during a furnace test in the industry.</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""> "It seems that the blast occurred during a test. According to safety standards, workers cannot not be kept in the furnace area. The industry is to blame for the incident,” Pandey informed 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"">According to SP Pandey, the industry has submitted the details of workers supplied by the contractor and the contractor bearing all the responsibilities of the workers.</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"">However, Article 68 of the Labor Act 2074 clearly states that the responsibility related to occupational safety and health rests with the employer.</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"">Article 164 (2) provides for imprisonment of up to two years and appropriate compensation if any person is killed or mutilated intentionally or due to negligence.</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 police team that reached the incident site immediately after the blast found a gas cylinder placed in the furnace due to which the explosion occured. A police official said that old gas cylinders were found scattered on the premises of the industry and such cylinders were put directly in the furnace. The official also revealed that there was political pressure to settle the incident.</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"">It has been found that the industry has been negligent in informing the Labor and Employment Office about the incident immediately.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief of the Labor and Employment Office Jitendra Sharma said that the industry should have informed them immediately about the incident but they have not received any official statement from the industry yet. </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"">"Even though we have to be provided the information immediately after the accident, the industry has not provided official information about the incident," Sharma said.</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"">He said that the implementation of occupational safety in the industrial establishments of Bara-Parsa is weak. "Most of the industries do not have safety measures in place. Its implementation in the steel industry is even more pathetic,” said Sharma.</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"">Rajesh Agrawal, manager of the industry, did not want to talk about the incident with our correspondent. "I am out now. We will talk about this later,” said Agrawal.</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"">Though no further action has been taken against the industry, action will be taken if any new facts are found within two years, said SP Pandey.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief District Officer of Parsa, Pitamber Ghimire, considers the incident a wake-up call for the future. Ghimire said that no further action was taken as the deceased were all Indians, and their deaths and burials had already taken place in India.</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"">Of the 15 people injured in the blast, 14 were Indians. Five people died during the treatment, while six others were rushed to Patna, India, for treatment. The industry informed the police about the deaths only a week after the workers succumbed to their injuries.</span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13724', 'image' => '20210919121020_s2-5b5c8a57.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 12:08:15', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13978', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Experts Arrive in Doti to Study West Seti Hydel Project ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project.', 'content' => '<p><em>A graphic imaged of the proposed West Seti Hydropwoer Project. Photo Courtesy: SCMP</em></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","sans-serif"">September 19: A team of government officials and experts has arrived in Doti district to study the 750-megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project to be built at Dhungad and Talara areas of Doti and Baitadi districts, according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. <br /> Mayor of Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality Manju Malasi told RSS that the government team monitored the Talkot area of Shikhar Municipality where the powerhouse of the project is supposed to be developed. She said that the three-member team is now scheduled to visit the dam site. <br /> The government team arrived at the proposed site of the project for a fresh study to advance the project development works. The team includes Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Bishwo Poudel, CEO of Investment Board of Nepal Shushil Bhatta and Energy Secretary Devendra Karki. </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","sans-serif"">Coordinator of the District Coordination Committee Ram Bahadur Air reportedly said that a new ray of hope has emerged on the project development after the visit of the high-level team. </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","sans-serif"">The issue of West Seti Hydropower Project has been talked about in the country since 1981. </span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the 750-megawatt (MW) West Seti Hydroelectric Project in Nepal’s Far-Western Province, proposed by West Seti Hydro Limited, is a storage scheme designed to generate and export large quantities of electrical energy to India. </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","sans-serif"">According to the ADB, the Project is expected to generate electrical energy throughout the year, storing excess wet season river flows in the reservoir, and using this water to generate energy during peak demand periods in the dry season.</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","sans-serif"">The report further says that the proposed 750 MW Project will generate and export large quantities of electrical energy to India under a power purchase agreement with PTC (India) Limited, which will in turn sell the power within the northern region of India. </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","sans-serif"">Under the terms of the 1997 project agreement between West Seti Hydroelectric Project and the Government of Nepal (GoN), the government will receive revenue from the sale of power through energy and capacity royalties. </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","sans-serif"">In addition, the project agreement incorporates an agreement whereby the Government could receive 10 percent of the output of the power station as free power or 10 percent of the revenue received under the terms of the power purchase agreement in lieu of free power. The GoN chose the latter option, states 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","sans-serif"">The project is a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) scheme, through which WSH has a 30-year generating license that will provide about 24.5 years of generation before full ownership of the project is handed over to the Government of Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/Untitled%282%29.jpg" style="height:456px; width:719px" /></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-19', 'modified' => '2021-09-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13723', 'image' => '20210919112606_e590fc34-ac12-11e8-8796-d12ba807e6e9_1320x770_163654.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-19 11:23:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13977', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'World Bank Group to Discontinue Doing Business Report ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past reports.', 'content' => '<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"">September 17: The World Bank Group had decided to discontinue its Doing Business Report after a series of reviews regarding irregularities in data of the past reports.</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"">The World Bank issued a statement on Thursday (September 16) informing about the decision taken by the Board of Executive Directors of the bank to discontinue the Doing Business 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"">According to the World Bank, data irregularities on Doing Business 2018 and 2020 were reported internally in June 2020. Following the reports of irregularities, the World Bank management paused the next Doing Business report and initiated a series of reviews and audits of the report and its methodology.</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"">“Because the internal reports raised ethical matters, including the conduct of former Board officials as well as current and/or former Bank staff, management reported the allegations to the Bank’s appropriate internal accountability mechanisms,” the statement said, adding, “After reviewing all the information available to date on Doing Business, including the findings of past reviews, audits, and the report the Bank released today (September 16) on behalf of the Board of Executive Directors, World Bank Group management has taken the decision to discontinue the Doing Business 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"">The statement further said that the World Bank Group remains firmly committed to advancing the role of the private sector in development and providing support to governments to design the regulatory environment that supports this.</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"">“Going forward, we will be working on a new approach to assessing the business and investment climate. We are deeply grateful to the efforts of the many staff members who have worked diligently to advance the business climate agenda, and we look forward to harnessing their energies and abilities in new ways.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13722', 'image' => '20210917031339_world_660_092118064226.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 15:12:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13975', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Guna Airlines Back to its Old Brand after 8 Years', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original brand.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Guna Airlines has resumed operation using its original brand. The private airline company has added five new aircraft to its fleet with an investment of over Rs 1 billion. It has officially started regular flights from September 17.</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"">Gun Airlines was established in 2009 and was acquired by Simrik Airlines in 2013 due to financial problems. This caused the removal of the brand ‘Guna’. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company BK Shrestha said that only the brand of ‘Guna’ was not 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"">"Now, the company is going to continue air service by re-using the old brand," said Shrestha, adding, “Flights are starting from today for two routes - Kathmandu-Bharatpur and Kathmandu-Pokhara.”</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"">Guna Airlines has acquired two out of four aircraft operated by Simrik Airlines.</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"">Shrestha informed that the two remaining aircraft were provided to another company. </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"">Shrestha further said that the company will be providing services with seven aircraft, including five purchased from Yeti Airlines.</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 company currently owns five Jet Stream and two Beechcraft.</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"">Beechcraft has a seating capacity of 18 and Jet Stream has a seating capacity of 29. </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"">Returning to the old brand after purchasing five aircraft, Guna Airlines is planning to gradually expand its service on trunk route by making Kathmandu its base before the Dashain festival. Guna Airlines will operate under the Guna Group led by businessman Rajendra Shakya.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13721', 'image' => '20210917023632_1625905050248.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 14:35:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13976', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Employees Provident Fund should Focus on Investing in Productive Sector: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">September 17: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has advised the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to focus on investment-oriented projects in the productive sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The finance minister made such remarks while inaugurating the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary celebration programme of the fund on Thursday, September 17.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“The provident fund should be used to invest in the productive sectors, which will help in building national capital,” he said, adding, “Investment in the manufacturing sector creates jobs and helps reduce trade deficit.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He stressed on the need to expand the range of profits by making arrangements to invest the bonus in the productive sector. Minister Sharma said that the fund should focus on good corporate governance and make the working system more technology friendly and create a conducive environment for employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">During the programme, the EPF informed that the total investment of the provident fund has reached Rs 436 billion as of Fiscal Year 2077/78. At present, the fund has a balance of Rs 398 billion. The pension fund has Rs 1.58 billion and the liability of the fund is Rs 4.67 billion.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Under the social security scheme, the fund provides maternity expenses for employees at the rate of Rs 7,500. Similarly, it provides Rs 200,000 in case of accidental death or complete mutilation during the service period of the employees.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In case of death during the service period of the employees, a total sum of Rs 40,000 is provided to the heir. Similarly, the fund has been reimbursing Rs 100,000 for general medical treatment and up to Rs 1 million for fatal diseases.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Prior to the establishment of the fund on September 4, 2019, it was operated in the name of Army Provident Fund in 1991, Civil Provident Fund in 2001 and Employees Provident Fund Department in 2017. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13720', 'image' => '20210917025236_Untitled.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 14:51:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13974', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Chamber of Industries Morang Holds Meeting with Startup and Innovation Consultants ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup companies. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Chamber of Industries Morang, under their Startup and Innovation Programme, has held a meeting with business consultants to assist startup companies. The chamber has selected experts of various fields, successful entrepreneurs, senior financial analysts, chartered accountants and legal experts as mentors to provide consultancy services to startup companies. The experts will provide mentorship on business plan, business registration as well as legal, administrative and technical advice, maintaining standard, marketing, financial management, human resource management among other issues.</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"">Suyash Pyakure, president of the Chamber of Industries Morang, has selected consultants to provide consultancy services to startups based on their expertise. He said that it was the responsibility of all to help in the transformation.</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"">Citing the example of startups that have expanded their business around the world with small investments, he said that the consultancy service helps in the advancement of startups in the business development and promotion.</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"">Coordinator of the Startup Committee Surendra Golchha expressed confidence that the Startup and Innovation Programme launched by the chamber would develop a successful ecosystem of business services.</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 joint coordinator of the committee Biju Thapaliya said that the Mentors Meet will assist the mentors and startup entrepreneurs by expanding their relationship and using it for business development.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong> </strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13719', 'image' => '20210917015520_Chamber of industries morang.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 13:54:33', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13973', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Stakeholders Demand Removal of Quarantine for Tourists', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism industry.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 17: Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded removal of quarantine provision for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the tourism industry. They have demanded to provide on-arrival visas for tourists instead of putting them in quarantine.</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 entrepreneurs put forward these demands in a programme organized by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) on September 16. Stating that the tourism sector has been adversely affected by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the government's indifference, NATTA held a meeting with the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAN), Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA) and other stakeholders.</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"">Participants of the meeting demanded the government to make necessary arrangements to provide on-arrival visa by removing the quarantine provision, open the border with India and implement a one-month free visa for tourists announced by the government immediately. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The meeting has also decided to resort to protest programs from next week if the government does not address their demands immediately. Likewise, the tourism entrepreneurs have decided to move ahead in collaboration with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries to draw the government’s attention to address their demands.</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 has been placed in the red zone in the international travel advisory. Entrepreneurs have pointed out that the government should facilitate hassle-free arrival of vaccinated tourists and tourism entrepreneurs. </span></span></span></p> <p><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-09-17', 'modified' => '2021-09-17', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '13718', 'image' => '20210917013358_Tourists.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-09-17 13:33:05', '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
