February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties.…
February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties.…
February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led…
February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective.…
February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the…
February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country.…
February 22: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in…
February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province.…
February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts.…
February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase.…
February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station…
February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS.…
February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway.…
February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial…
February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock.…
February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press release on Tuesday (February 23), Chairperson of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Western Region, Sushil Raj Poudel, mentioned that the entire tourism sector including mountaineering has been badly affected by COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The statement says the entrepreneurs have been requesting the government time and again, in writing and verbally, regarding the problems faced by the tourism entrepreneurs due to COVID-19. “Let's bring the programmes in order to revive the trekking industry." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, the TAAN also drew the government's attention towards the problems faced by tourists in lack of timely revision of visa and health criteria. The entrepreneurs and organisations associated with trekking and tourism sector presented suggestion for revival of the entire tourism industry. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The TAAN has asked the government to remove the provision of forcing foreign tourists arriving with PCR negative report of 72 hours of compulsory stay at quarantine for five days among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, the Association has advised for ensuring coronavirus test facility and providing the test report on the spot at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) or the provision of collecting the sample from the assigned health facility and making efforts to operate international flights in a full-fledge capacity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It has sought the provision that requires the mandatory hiring of guides for those arriving in Nepal for adventurous tourism for security reasons. Those tourists vaccinated against the coronavirus should be allowed to visit freely and the mandatory provision of at least 5000 US dollar insurance for a tourist should be withdrawn, adds the statement. </span>-- RSS </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-24', 'modified' => '2021-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12834', 'image' => '20210224112539_20200506031951_120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-24 11:24:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Reinstates House of Representatives', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led government.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The apex court on Tuesday (February 23) revoked the decision of the government to dissolve the lower house more than two months ago due to internal dispute within the ruling party. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">“The recommendation for the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the notice dissolving Parliament have been rejected by the honourable justices,” Reuters quoted Supreme Court Registrar Bhadrakali Pokharel as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">The court verdict states that House of Representatives has been reinstated as it is able and competent to perform its work.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court also ordered to convene the lower house within 13 days.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">President Bidya Devi Bhandari had dissolved the parliament on December 20 upon the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s cabinet and announced mid-term election for April 30 and May 10.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">The court ruling means PM Oli faces a no-confidence vote once parliament resumes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The constitutional bench was presided over by chief justice Cholendra SJB Rana, Justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Anil Kumar Sinha, Sapana Pradhan Malla and Tej Bahadur KC.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-24', 'modified' => '2021-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12833', 'image' => '20210224103248_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-24 10:31:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Lags Behind in Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective. Although the Prime Minister's Office directly handles the Action Room, the National Vigilance Center and the National Planning Commission to monitor and evaluate the projects, nothing tangible has happened.<br /> While the monitoring and evaluation aspects of the projects has remained weak, even the big projects that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has given special attention to have not been able to pick up pace. The projects have not been able to spend the allocated budget.<br /> Prime Minister Oli had committed to end the weak implementation of the projects. His attempts last year to formulate a separate law for proper monitoring and evaluation of the projects have not yet been successful.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had registered a bill in the parliament last year for proper evaluation and monitoring of projects upon the recommendation of the National Planning Commission.<br /> However, Rojnath Pandey, spokesperson of the Federal Parliament, informed that the dissolution of the House of Representatives made a direct impact on drafting laws. According to him, the bill registered in the National Assembly has been put on hold. He said that even if it was passed by the National Assembly, it could not have been implemented without the House of Representatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">"If the House of Representatives is re-instated, it will be decided by the parliament. Otherwise, it will have to be passed by the new parliament," Pandey informed.<br /> If the bill was passed, Prime Minister would have the right to monitor and evaluate the project directly. The proposed bill also has a provision to allow state and local level governments to monitor and evaluate the project.<br /> Pandey informed that even though the projects are being monitored and evaluated now, the bill attempts have effective laws with a separate monitoring mechanism.<br /> According to government data, Rs 92.06 billion has been allocated for national pride projects in the current fiscal year, out of which only 15.19 percent or a total of Rs 13.98 billion was spent in the first six months.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12832', 'image' => '20210223033359_20190122030412_national-pride-projects.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 15:32:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13085', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Expansion of Industrial Areas Gains Momentum', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country. The development of industrial area was halted after the establishment of Gajendra Narayan Singh Industrial Area in 2011. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Five years after identifying new industrial areas within the country, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the laid foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in Kanchanpur, Sudurpaschim province on Monday, February 22. Prime Minister Oli will also be laying the foundation stone of Damak Clean Industrial Park, in his home district, Jhapa on 28<sup>th</sup> February. Similarly, Lekharj Bhatta, Minister for industry, Commerce and Supplies is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Naubasta Industrial Areas in Banke of Lumbini province on February 23.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhatta will also be laying the foundation stone of Mayurdhap Industrial Area in Makwanpur of Bagmati province on 26 Feb. Likewise, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Finance, will be lay the foundation stone of Motipur Industrial Area in Rupandehi district. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The estimated cost of these five industrial areas is said to be Rs 179 billion, according to Nandakishwar Basnet, chairman of the Industrial District Management Limited. A cabinet meeting in 2072 had decided to build industrial areas in these districts. Menwhile Damak Clean Industrial Park was announced in April, 2072. To construct infrastructure in those industrial areas, The government has initiated the task of laying foundation stone to expedite the construction of these industrial areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">These five industrial areas will be providing direct and indirect employments to 182,000 individuals. The Daiji Chela Industrial Area, which has gone into construction phase on Monday has provided 100 plots to small, middle and large industries. IDML has planned to construct necessary infrastructure within five years and seek for proposals from interested industrialists within one month. The government is prioritizing industries running on locally made raw materials in these industrial areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Likewise, Naubasta Industrial Area will also be completed in five years. Mayurdhap and Motipur industrial areas and Damak Clean Industrial Park to be constructed with investment from Nepal and China, will also have their infrastructure prepared in five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">To promote industrial activities in these areas, IDML is providing full rent waiver for five years. Similarly, IDML is also seeking subsidy with the government on water, energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines. IDML also plans to facilitate in providing loan to the industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12831', 'image' => '20210223021312_20200828122411_20200810025618_20200415125719_1586906108.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 14:12:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13084', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Food Bank Established in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The food bank has been established with the objective of industrializing the agriculture sector in the near future by properly managing the necessary knowledge, skills, seeds and fertilisers required for this sector. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank has been established by skilled manpower, experts and agricultural scientists working in the field of agriculture. The main objective of the organization is marketing of agriculture sector by making its presence in all 77 districts of the seven provinces. The bank is carrying out its plan to increase employment, increase production and to move the country towards self-reliance through big investments in agriculture. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu on Monday, chairman of the food bank Shankar Nath Upreti claimed that the bank would play an important role in supporting the government’s campaign of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'. According to him, the bank will itself produce food grains, nuts, green vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt, fish, meat, tea, herbs and other food items. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Moreover, the bank aims to cooperate with farmers across the country as well as with agricultural companies, cooperatives, groups and all organizations related to the agricultural sector. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank plans to produce agricultural products by renting unused land including private, government institutions and ‘guthi’ land. So far, the work of leasing the land and producing has started in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhanusha, Chitwan, Rupandehi and other districts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The food bank, which is working with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives, has given priority to the production of paddy, wheat, maize, millet, potato, mustard and nuts in the first phase. In the second phase, production of fish, meat, fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. will be emphasized and in the third phase, these products will be exported to different countries by storing, processing, grading and packaging. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to government data, Nepal has imported rice worth Rs 56 billion, lemon worth Rs 7 billion and onion worth Rs 7 billion in the last two years. Referring to this data, Chairman Upreti said that the food bank would play an important role in increasing exports by reducing imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12830', 'image' => '20210223010224_feature1609836774.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 13:01:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13083', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Youth Getting Attracted to Commercial Farming ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in agriculture.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 23: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in agriculture. While commercial lemon farming was initiated for the first time in the state some time ago, youths have now started farming of strawberry and dragon fruit. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Far West Hi-Tech and Biotech Agro Farm in Shuklaphanta Municipality-10 of Kanchanpur has started commercial strawberry farming for the first time in the region. Nandalal Bhatta, the manager of the farm, said that strawberries were cultivated in plastic tunnels using mulching technology with an investment of Rs 500,000.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Strawberries cultivated with a drip irrigation have started bearing fruit. He said that strawberries are easily sold in the local market at the rate of Rs 700 per kilogram.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bhatta had brought 1,600 strawberry seedlings from Kathmandu and started farming. He said that preparations are being made to increase the production by expanding the area as the production of strawberries planted in 2 kattha land is relatively good. A nursery has been set up for the production of new strawberry seedlings as well.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, for the first time in the region, dragon fruit has been cultivated in Godawari Municipality-2 of Kailali. Entrepreneur Gokarna Oli of Bhimdatta Municipality-1 Mahendranagar planted dragon fruit near the province capital. He has planted 3,500 dragon fruits with the help of Directorate of Agriculture Development. Farm manager Oli said that more than Rs 2.8 million has been invested so far.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He said that he took one and a half bigha of land in lease for 10 years and planted dragon fruit in July 2019. "Now the plant is 5/6 feet tall," he said, "It bears fruit in 18 months to 2 years after planting."</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He says that it can produce fruit for 20 years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Oli bought dragon fruit plants from Rautahat, Sindhuli and Dang. He said that 2,400 red dragon fruit plants were bought for Rs 300 per plant and 1,100 white plants were brought for Rs 200 per plant. He said that a group of youths is preparing to plant 17,000 dragon fruits in Jhilmila of Kanchanpur.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Commercial lemon farming is already done in the province. Two youths of Attaria in Godavari Municipality-4 Kailali have been involved in commercial lemon farming. Locals Pushkar Panta and Khemraj Bhattarai have set up a company called Bhumiraj Agro Service with an investment of Rs 13.2 million in an area of 8 bigha to cultivate lemon.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Realising that the demand for lemons in the local market was very high but they had to depend on India for lemons, they started lemon farming by bringing plants from Gujrat. Operator Panta said that he has been producing seedlings himself now.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that more than 70 percent of the lemons consumed in the far west are imported from different cities of India, Pant said that he started commercial farming of lemon seeing the good potential in the market.</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have now planted 7,000 lemon saplings," he said, </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Due to the large size of the lemons we planted, there was a problem in getting the market at the beginning, but now it has become the first choice among hotels." Pant said that the products of his farm has reached the market as far as Butwal. Further, he said that they have sold 150 tons of lemons this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12829', 'image' => '20210223103844_lemon-farm-md.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 10:37:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13082', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Build Industrial Area in Sudurpaschim', 'sub_title' => 'PM OIi lays foundation for the new industrial zone in Kanchanpur; Industrial Zone to have 100 plots for industries, expected to create 22,000 direct and indirect jobs', 'summary' => 'February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province. Daiji Chela Industrial Area, being established in Daiji, Kanachanpur of Sudurpaschim Province, will occupy 240.34 hectares of land. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Detailed Project Report completed in 2018, out of 100 industrial plots, 23 plots will be allocated for small industries, 44 for middle-scale industries and 33 plots for large-scale industries. Daiji Industrial Area is expected to generate 22,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The project with an estimated cost of Rs 9 billion will be funded by the government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Sanjay Lal Shrestha, director of Industrial District Management Limited (IDML), said the government plans to bring the Daiji Chela Industrial Area into operation as soon as possible after the completion of its construction. It has proposed the government for the funding but the latter is yet to ascertain about this matter. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> The state-owned IDML that carried out the feasibility study of the Industrial Area said that Daili Chela Industrial Area could be completed in five years starting from 2020/21. After one month of laying the foundation stone, IDML plans to seek proposals to establish industries in the industrial area and construct infrastructure based on their proposals. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">To attract industrialists, IDML is providing full waiver on rent for five years and subsidy on water to be consumed by industries. IDML is also asking subsidy with the government on energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Private sector leaders are upbeat with the government plan to set up the industrial zone. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We are very positive about the establishment of industrial area. As soon as the construction of infrastructure required for industries will be completed, industries from private sector will participate in the Industrial Area,” said Vice President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government is also constructing five other industrial areas in Motipur of Makwanpur, Shaktikhor of Chitwan, Damak of Jhapa, Motipur of Rupandehi and Naybasti of Banke.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12828', 'image' => '20210222042719_20200819013035_1597786507.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 16:26:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government ‘Fails’ to Properly Utilized 65 Billion Collected from Workers', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts. ', 'content' => '<p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts. The government collects funds from workers under the heading of social security tax, social welfare fund, and social security plan.</span></span></p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government has been deducting once percent tax from workers since 2009/2010. So far, the government has collected Rs 35 billion tax from the workers. Social Security Fund (SSF) has been trying to bring the collected tax under its jurisdiction but has not succeeded in doing so. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Bibek Panthi, spokesperson of SSF, said, “We have been requesting the Ministry of Finance to transfer the collected tax to SSF but the MoF has not paid any attention to our calls.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> MoF officials say that collected social security tax has been spent for allocating social security allowance to the elderly people, widows and people with disabilities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, the government has collected Rs 24.50 billion in Workers’ Welfare Fund and Rs 4.26 in Social Security Fund. Employers contribute 20 percent of the basic salary and workers contribute 11 percent to this fund but it has not been utilized effectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to SSF, the collected fund has not been invested effectively due to lack of work procedure. Till now, 2000 workers have applied for financial support from this fund under various headings – medical treatment, maternity treatment, accident and disability treatment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Binod Shrestha, president of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), says that the government should invest the collected funds from workers for the welfare of the workers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He argues that social security tax collected from workers should be transferred to Social Security Fund instead of spending it. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12827', 'image' => '20210222024606_20190106090244_Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 14:45:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gautam Buddha Airport Likely to be Ready in 3 Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the project officials, the physical infrastructure of the airport has been almost completed and the airport is likely to come into operation within the next three months. The project so far has reported around 95 percent progress. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Fixing of technical equipment has been delayed as technicians need to arrive from abroad. According to Project Chief Prabesh Adhikari, import of equipment has been almost completed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It will not take more than three months to fix equipment as two tech experts from the South Korea have been already here and two more from the US will be here within a couple of days,” said Adhikari, adding, ''Similarly, a tech team of around 15 people is to arrive from India and six will be coming from China to handle the fixing which are expected to take place in one to one and half months.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Covid-19 crisis hampered the project. According to Adhikari, the airport would have come into operation by now if the project had not been affected by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project has been listed by the government as a national pride project. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had earlier planned to bring it into operation by the beginning of 2021 AD. – RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12826', 'image' => '20210222013005_20201011031237_1602374658.1594332606.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 13:29:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Proposes Developing 39 Districts into Hill Stations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station zones.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station zones.<br /> NTB is preparing to send a proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for developing 39 districts into hill stations. The board plans to promote the hill stations as a new tourism product.<br /> The concept of hill station has been conceived especially for accommodation of tourists for the summer season and NTB wants to issue summer season tourism package for the hill station. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The board has proposed to develop the hill stations targeting Indian tourists as well as tourists from European countries. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTB Dr Dhananjay Regmi informed that NTB will soon submit a proposal to the Ministry of Tourism for developing the proposed states and districts into hill station zones.<br /> "Currently, the development of hill stations has been taken forward in six states," said Regmi. The government needs to help with land pooling and develop basic infrastructure such as drinking water, roads and electricity for the development of the hill station zones, added Regmi.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“The government has to spend Rs 100 million, which is enough to invest in the initial phase and for land pooling. After that, the private sector will make the remaining investment," Regmi added.<br /> Stating that he expects the government to approve the proposal, he stressed that collaboration between the central, provincial and local governments is crucial for the project. If the government cooperates in these matters, the private sector will invest at least Rs 10 billion to Rs 15 billion for establishing quality hill stations. If there is no land pooling in the proposed hill station, there may be a problem later. Therefore, the government should take steps to consolidate the land as soon as possible, Regmi stressed.<br /> The Tourism Board has proposed to develop Panchthar, Ilam, Terhathum, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Khotang, Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchok, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Makwanpur, Nuwakot and Dhading of Bagmati as hill station zones.<br /> Similarly, the board has proposed to develop Gorkha, Tanahu, Syangja, Kaski, Parbat, Baglung, Myagdi and Lamjung of Gandaki, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum of Lumbini, Salyan, Jajarkot, Surkhet and Dailekh of Karnali, and Dandeldhura of Far Western Province into hill stations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20180416121324_aaa_n.jpg" style="height:478px; width:850px" /></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12825', 'image' => '20210222121719_20190506035539_tea farm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 12:16:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Melamchi Project to Conduct Tunnel Test from Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project officials informed that all technical and other necessary preparations have been completed for the tunnel test. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Spokesperson of Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee Rajendra Panta said that tunnel test will be conducted in the presence of Minister for Drinking Water Mani Thapa, RSS further reported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A project engineer and a driver had reportedly died due to a flood resulting from the breakage of the sluice gate (No 17) at Ambathan in Helambu while conducting a test run of water flow in the tunnel on July 14 last year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">After the incident, a team of experts conducted a re-examination of the construction works of tunnel, water source, sluice gate and others. According to media reports, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">four specialists arrived for inspection with the assistance of Asian Development Bank, which has bankrolled the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The new tests will be conducted by incorporating the suggestions given by the experts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Experts inspected the construction works. It is ready now for the re-test after incorporating their crucial feedback,” RSS quoted Executive Director of the Project Tiresh Khatri as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to RSS, Khatri shared that special attention has been given this time to avert the incident like that of the past. Rescue plan is setup and a helicopter is kept in ready position. Khatri added that it will take some 16 days to fill the water in the tunnel from Melamchi river to Sundarijal of Kathmandu. <br /> </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12824', 'image' => '20210222115707_20200317114243_Melamchi 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 11:56:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NT’s Optical Fiber Projects in Dismal State', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) and (NT) had signed agreement in September 2016 to build fiber network in provinces 1, 2 and 3. Four years on, the progress of this project is very dismal. As per the agreement, NT should have completed the fiber project within two years, by 2018. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal Telecom’s Spokesperson Rajesh Joshi informed that the project was delayed due to the lengthy legal process of Public Procurement Act. When the project was about to take pace, lockdown affected delivery of equipment, and we couldn’t mobilize human resources and equipment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Dilliram Adhikari, managing director of NT, expressed commitment to complete this project within this fiscal year. But the progress report speaks otherwise. As per the data given by Nepal Telecommunication Authority, NT has completed laying fiber in 678 km out of 2179 km in the districts covering provinces 1, 2 and 3. NT should install high capacity dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system in 26 areas and 48 core routers. As of now, 25 DWDM systems and 46 routershave been installed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">NT has also been assigned the task of laying fiber in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. “The process of laying fiber in province 6 and 7 is still in process of bidding tender. We have finalized bidding of DWDM system and core router while tender process for underground optical fiber and microwave transmission is still in the process,” said Joshi</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Initially, Smart Telecom was awarded with the contract to lay fiber in province 6 and 7. Since it couldn’t make any headway in the project, NTA later handed the project over to NT. For province 4 and 5, United Telecom Limited (UTL) had received the contract in April 2017. It also couldn’t make any progress and NTA refused to extend the deadline. The case is now pending at the Supreme Court. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The funds of Rural Telecommunication Development Fund is being utilized to develop these projects. These projects form backbone of Information Superhighway along the mid hill highway. This fiber project infrastructure will help boost broadband connectivity all across the country. To bring every local government offices, ward offices, community schools, health centres under broadband network, other 18 broadband projects are also underway. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12823', 'image' => '20210221040652_20191021115126_adsfjjj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 16:06:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CBS to Complete National Industrial Survey in 6 Weeks', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">Officials of CBS assured that they will complete the field visits for the 'National Industrial Survey' within the stipulated time. According to Rajesh Dhital, head of the industrial census and survey branch of the bureau, the survey, which started in February last year, was halted from March 2020 due to Covid-19.<br /> He informed that the surveyors are visiting the industrial areas in Kathmandu, Bara, Parsa, Kapilvastu and other districts to study the details.<br /> The enumerators who have gone for on-site data collection are also taking help from the local levels for data collection. However, the survey is not yet complete. CBS plans to complete 90 percent of the work in March and 10 percent in the second week of April.<br /> "The data entry is likely to be delayed as we have to leave all work and go for the national census. It will delay the survey," Dhital informed. The national census which is conducted every decade will be done next year. The government has already started preparations for the census this year.<br /> However, the industrial survey conducted by the CBS is also crucial as it will have a detailed assessment of the impact of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The government first conducted an industrial survey in 2029 BS. Since then, such surveys are being conducted every five to 10 years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to Dhital, the survey will also help in reviewing industrial policies.</span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12822', 'image' => '20210221032034_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 15:19:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Salt Trading Corporation Running Low on Stock of Sugar ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock. The state-owned corporation has been doing so to prevent shortage of sugar in the market while it seeks government’s approval for additional purchase. It has been learnt that the government has been denying permission to the corporation to buy additional sugar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation has only about 500 metric tons of sugar in its stock. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“There wouldn’t be any sugar left if we had sold all of them,” Kumar Raj Bhandari, general manager of the corporation, told New Business Age. He said if they had sold the sugar as per the demand of the dealers, the stock would not even last for a day. He further said that such problem is prevalent since years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation has been facing shortage of sugar during the time of harvesting sugarcane as big traders and private companies do not want to supply sugar produced within the country to the corporation. Stakeholders say that the state-owned company is not supplied enough sugar during the harvesting season which makes it easier for traders to hike prices and manipulate the market. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation had sent a letter to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) seeking permission to buy 30,000 metric tons of sugar before Dashain. However, the company has not been granted permission for the purchase yet. The corporation says this has directly benefitted the local traders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The traders have been charging customers between Rs 85 to Rs 90 per kg of sugar. “The retail price of sugar is Rs 85, but some of small traders are selling a kilogram of sugar for as high as Rs 90,” said Rajkumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers Association. According to him, the price should have been less now as it is the harvesting season. He further added that the price has not gone down because the state-owned company does not have enough stock of sugar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The MoICS, which has not given permission to the company to purchase sugar since a long time, has been delaying the purchase stating that as it is the sugarcane harvesting season and the permission will be given only after analyzing the output of domestic production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> Stakeholders say that normally around 30,000 metric tons of sugar is consumed every month in Nepal. Only during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, it is estimated that around 70,000 metric tons of sugar is consumed. According to the government data, 180,000 metric tons of sugar is produced by Nepali sugar industries in a year, while sugar is imported from India and other countries if the locally produced sugar is not sufficient to meet the demand. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12821', 'image' => '20210221020107_20201220120511_Sweet2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 14:00:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Domestic Airfare Increases due to Rise in ATF Price', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February 20.', 'content' => '<p><em>This picture taken from Summit Air's website shows a plane landing at Phaplu Airport. Photo Courtesy: Summit Air</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Tamish Giri </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February 20.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Manoj Karki, general secretary of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) and managing director of Summit Air, confirmed Age that the domestic airline operators have decided to increase the airfare in all the domestic routes from February 20.<br /> "AAON, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), has decided to increase the airfare following the decision of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on February 16 to increase the price of ATF," added Karki. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Airfare is determined by three major factors- airfare fixed by the government, fuel surcharge, and airport taxes.<br /> According to a statement issued by AAON, the association and its member airlines have decided to increase the airfare following the rise in fuel price on February 16 and the government's decision on May 10, 2018, that allows AAON and airline operators to adjust the fuel surcharge in accordance to the fuel price.<br /> "AAON along with CAAN and the Ministry of Tourism has set a pricing formula comprising of all three components of airfare pricing. Based on the formula, the airfare had been determined and submitted to CAAN. CAAN has approved it, and decided to implement the new airfare from February 20," Karki informed new Business Age.<br /> After the rise, the airfare of mountain flights from Kathamndu will increase by Rs 70. Previously, the fuel surcharge for mountain flights from Kathmandu used to be Rs 2230 per person. It has increased by Rs 70 to Rs 2300 and individuals willing to enjoy the mountain flight will need to pay Rs 70 extra.<br /> Likewise, the airfare of Kathmandu-Bhadrapur route has been increased by Rs 60 per person.<br /> Fuel airfare of Kathmandu-Dhangadhi route has witnessed the maximum increase of Rs 90 per person while the airfare of Doti-Safebagar route has been increased the least by Rs 10 per ticket.<br /> Kathamndu-Simara airfare has also increased by Rs 15 with the rise in fuel surcharge of Rs 15.<br /> Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), on February 16, has increased the price of ATF by Rs 2 per liter.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12820', 'image' => '20210221121806_Summit Air Landing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 12:16:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Sector Stakeholders Urge Government to Address their Problems ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press release on Tuesday (February 23), Chairperson of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Western Region, Sushil Raj Poudel, mentioned that the entire tourism sector including mountaineering has been badly affected by COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The statement says the entrepreneurs have been requesting the government time and again, in writing and verbally, regarding the problems faced by the tourism entrepreneurs due to COVID-19. “Let's bring the programmes in order to revive the trekking industry." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, the TAAN also drew the government's attention towards the problems faced by tourists in lack of timely revision of visa and health criteria. The entrepreneurs and organisations associated with trekking and tourism sector presented suggestion for revival of the entire tourism industry. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The TAAN has asked the government to remove the provision of forcing foreign tourists arriving with PCR negative report of 72 hours of compulsory stay at quarantine for five days among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, the Association has advised for ensuring coronavirus test facility and providing the test report on the spot at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) or the provision of collecting the sample from the assigned health facility and making efforts to operate international flights in a full-fledge capacity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It has sought the provision that requires the mandatory hiring of guides for those arriving in Nepal for adventurous tourism for security reasons. Those tourists vaccinated against the coronavirus should be allowed to visit freely and the mandatory provision of at least 5000 US dollar insurance for a tourist should be withdrawn, adds the statement. </span>-- RSS </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-24', 'modified' => '2021-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12834', 'image' => '20210224112539_20200506031951_120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-24 11:24:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Reinstates House of Representatives', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led government.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The apex court on Tuesday (February 23) revoked the decision of the government to dissolve the lower house more than two months ago due to internal dispute within the ruling party. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">“The recommendation for the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the notice dissolving Parliament have been rejected by the honourable justices,” Reuters quoted Supreme Court Registrar Bhadrakali Pokharel as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">The court verdict states that House of Representatives has been reinstated as it is able and competent to perform its work.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court also ordered to convene the lower house within 13 days.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">President Bidya Devi Bhandari had dissolved the parliament on December 20 upon the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s cabinet and announced mid-term election for April 30 and May 10.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">The court ruling means PM Oli faces a no-confidence vote once parliament resumes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The constitutional bench was presided over by chief justice Cholendra SJB Rana, Justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Anil Kumar Sinha, Sapana Pradhan Malla and Tej Bahadur KC.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-24', 'modified' => '2021-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12833', 'image' => '20210224103248_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-24 10:31:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Lags Behind in Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective. Although the Prime Minister's Office directly handles the Action Room, the National Vigilance Center and the National Planning Commission to monitor and evaluate the projects, nothing tangible has happened.<br /> While the monitoring and evaluation aspects of the projects has remained weak, even the big projects that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has given special attention to have not been able to pick up pace. The projects have not been able to spend the allocated budget.<br /> Prime Minister Oli had committed to end the weak implementation of the projects. His attempts last year to formulate a separate law for proper monitoring and evaluation of the projects have not yet been successful.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had registered a bill in the parliament last year for proper evaluation and monitoring of projects upon the recommendation of the National Planning Commission.<br /> However, Rojnath Pandey, spokesperson of the Federal Parliament, informed that the dissolution of the House of Representatives made a direct impact on drafting laws. According to him, the bill registered in the National Assembly has been put on hold. He said that even if it was passed by the National Assembly, it could not have been implemented without the House of Representatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">"If the House of Representatives is re-instated, it will be decided by the parliament. Otherwise, it will have to be passed by the new parliament," Pandey informed.<br /> If the bill was passed, Prime Minister would have the right to monitor and evaluate the project directly. The proposed bill also has a provision to allow state and local level governments to monitor and evaluate the project.<br /> Pandey informed that even though the projects are being monitored and evaluated now, the bill attempts have effective laws with a separate monitoring mechanism.<br /> According to government data, Rs 92.06 billion has been allocated for national pride projects in the current fiscal year, out of which only 15.19 percent or a total of Rs 13.98 billion was spent in the first six months.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12832', 'image' => '20210223033359_20190122030412_national-pride-projects.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 15:32:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13085', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Expansion of Industrial Areas Gains Momentum', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country. The development of industrial area was halted after the establishment of Gajendra Narayan Singh Industrial Area in 2011. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Five years after identifying new industrial areas within the country, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the laid foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in Kanchanpur, Sudurpaschim province on Monday, February 22. Prime Minister Oli will also be laying the foundation stone of Damak Clean Industrial Park, in his home district, Jhapa on 28<sup>th</sup> February. Similarly, Lekharj Bhatta, Minister for industry, Commerce and Supplies is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Naubasta Industrial Areas in Banke of Lumbini province on February 23.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhatta will also be laying the foundation stone of Mayurdhap Industrial Area in Makwanpur of Bagmati province on 26 Feb. Likewise, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Finance, will be lay the foundation stone of Motipur Industrial Area in Rupandehi district. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The estimated cost of these five industrial areas is said to be Rs 179 billion, according to Nandakishwar Basnet, chairman of the Industrial District Management Limited. A cabinet meeting in 2072 had decided to build industrial areas in these districts. Menwhile Damak Clean Industrial Park was announced in April, 2072. To construct infrastructure in those industrial areas, The government has initiated the task of laying foundation stone to expedite the construction of these industrial areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">These five industrial areas will be providing direct and indirect employments to 182,000 individuals. The Daiji Chela Industrial Area, which has gone into construction phase on Monday has provided 100 plots to small, middle and large industries. IDML has planned to construct necessary infrastructure within five years and seek for proposals from interested industrialists within one month. The government is prioritizing industries running on locally made raw materials in these industrial areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Likewise, Naubasta Industrial Area will also be completed in five years. Mayurdhap and Motipur industrial areas and Damak Clean Industrial Park to be constructed with investment from Nepal and China, will also have their infrastructure prepared in five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">To promote industrial activities in these areas, IDML is providing full rent waiver for five years. Similarly, IDML is also seeking subsidy with the government on water, energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines. IDML also plans to facilitate in providing loan to the industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12831', 'image' => '20210223021312_20200828122411_20200810025618_20200415125719_1586906108.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 14:12:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13084', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Food Bank Established in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The food bank has been established with the objective of industrializing the agriculture sector in the near future by properly managing the necessary knowledge, skills, seeds and fertilisers required for this sector. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank has been established by skilled manpower, experts and agricultural scientists working in the field of agriculture. The main objective of the organization is marketing of agriculture sector by making its presence in all 77 districts of the seven provinces. The bank is carrying out its plan to increase employment, increase production and to move the country towards self-reliance through big investments in agriculture. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu on Monday, chairman of the food bank Shankar Nath Upreti claimed that the bank would play an important role in supporting the government’s campaign of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'. According to him, the bank will itself produce food grains, nuts, green vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt, fish, meat, tea, herbs and other food items. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Moreover, the bank aims to cooperate with farmers across the country as well as with agricultural companies, cooperatives, groups and all organizations related to the agricultural sector. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank plans to produce agricultural products by renting unused land including private, government institutions and ‘guthi’ land. So far, the work of leasing the land and producing has started in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhanusha, Chitwan, Rupandehi and other districts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The food bank, which is working with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives, has given priority to the production of paddy, wheat, maize, millet, potato, mustard and nuts in the first phase. In the second phase, production of fish, meat, fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. will be emphasized and in the third phase, these products will be exported to different countries by storing, processing, grading and packaging. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to government data, Nepal has imported rice worth Rs 56 billion, lemon worth Rs 7 billion and onion worth Rs 7 billion in the last two years. Referring to this data, Chairman Upreti said that the food bank would play an important role in increasing exports by reducing imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12830', 'image' => '20210223010224_feature1609836774.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 13:01:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13083', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Youth Getting Attracted to Commercial Farming ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in agriculture.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 23: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in agriculture. While commercial lemon farming was initiated for the first time in the state some time ago, youths have now started farming of strawberry and dragon fruit. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Far West Hi-Tech and Biotech Agro Farm in Shuklaphanta Municipality-10 of Kanchanpur has started commercial strawberry farming for the first time in the region. Nandalal Bhatta, the manager of the farm, said that strawberries were cultivated in plastic tunnels using mulching technology with an investment of Rs 500,000.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Strawberries cultivated with a drip irrigation have started bearing fruit. He said that strawberries are easily sold in the local market at the rate of Rs 700 per kilogram.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bhatta had brought 1,600 strawberry seedlings from Kathmandu and started farming. He said that preparations are being made to increase the production by expanding the area as the production of strawberries planted in 2 kattha land is relatively good. A nursery has been set up for the production of new strawberry seedlings as well.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, for the first time in the region, dragon fruit has been cultivated in Godawari Municipality-2 of Kailali. Entrepreneur Gokarna Oli of Bhimdatta Municipality-1 Mahendranagar planted dragon fruit near the province capital. He has planted 3,500 dragon fruits with the help of Directorate of Agriculture Development. Farm manager Oli said that more than Rs 2.8 million has been invested so far.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He said that he took one and a half bigha of land in lease for 10 years and planted dragon fruit in July 2019. "Now the plant is 5/6 feet tall," he said, "It bears fruit in 18 months to 2 years after planting."</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He says that it can produce fruit for 20 years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Oli bought dragon fruit plants from Rautahat, Sindhuli and Dang. He said that 2,400 red dragon fruit plants were bought for Rs 300 per plant and 1,100 white plants were brought for Rs 200 per plant. He said that a group of youths is preparing to plant 17,000 dragon fruits in Jhilmila of Kanchanpur.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Commercial lemon farming is already done in the province. Two youths of Attaria in Godavari Municipality-4 Kailali have been involved in commercial lemon farming. Locals Pushkar Panta and Khemraj Bhattarai have set up a company called Bhumiraj Agro Service with an investment of Rs 13.2 million in an area of 8 bigha to cultivate lemon.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Realising that the demand for lemons in the local market was very high but they had to depend on India for lemons, they started lemon farming by bringing plants from Gujrat. Operator Panta said that he has been producing seedlings himself now.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that more than 70 percent of the lemons consumed in the far west are imported from different cities of India, Pant said that he started commercial farming of lemon seeing the good potential in the market.</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have now planted 7,000 lemon saplings," he said, </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Due to the large size of the lemons we planted, there was a problem in getting the market at the beginning, but now it has become the first choice among hotels." Pant said that the products of his farm has reached the market as far as Butwal. Further, he said that they have sold 150 tons of lemons this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12829', 'image' => '20210223103844_lemon-farm-md.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 10:37:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13082', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Build Industrial Area in Sudurpaschim', 'sub_title' => 'PM OIi lays foundation for the new industrial zone in Kanchanpur; Industrial Zone to have 100 plots for industries, expected to create 22,000 direct and indirect jobs', 'summary' => 'February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province. Daiji Chela Industrial Area, being established in Daiji, Kanachanpur of Sudurpaschim Province, will occupy 240.34 hectares of land. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Detailed Project Report completed in 2018, out of 100 industrial plots, 23 plots will be allocated for small industries, 44 for middle-scale industries and 33 plots for large-scale industries. Daiji Industrial Area is expected to generate 22,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The project with an estimated cost of Rs 9 billion will be funded by the government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Sanjay Lal Shrestha, director of Industrial District Management Limited (IDML), said the government plans to bring the Daiji Chela Industrial Area into operation as soon as possible after the completion of its construction. It has proposed the government for the funding but the latter is yet to ascertain about this matter. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> The state-owned IDML that carried out the feasibility study of the Industrial Area said that Daili Chela Industrial Area could be completed in five years starting from 2020/21. After one month of laying the foundation stone, IDML plans to seek proposals to establish industries in the industrial area and construct infrastructure based on their proposals. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">To attract industrialists, IDML is providing full waiver on rent for five years and subsidy on water to be consumed by industries. IDML is also asking subsidy with the government on energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Private sector leaders are upbeat with the government plan to set up the industrial zone. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We are very positive about the establishment of industrial area. As soon as the construction of infrastructure required for industries will be completed, industries from private sector will participate in the Industrial Area,” said Vice President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government is also constructing five other industrial areas in Motipur of Makwanpur, Shaktikhor of Chitwan, Damak of Jhapa, Motipur of Rupandehi and Naybasti of Banke.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12828', 'image' => '20210222042719_20200819013035_1597786507.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 16:26:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government ‘Fails’ to Properly Utilized 65 Billion Collected from Workers', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts. ', 'content' => '<p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts. The government collects funds from workers under the heading of social security tax, social welfare fund, and social security plan.</span></span></p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government has been deducting once percent tax from workers since 2009/2010. So far, the government has collected Rs 35 billion tax from the workers. Social Security Fund (SSF) has been trying to bring the collected tax under its jurisdiction but has not succeeded in doing so. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Bibek Panthi, spokesperson of SSF, said, “We have been requesting the Ministry of Finance to transfer the collected tax to SSF but the MoF has not paid any attention to our calls.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> MoF officials say that collected social security tax has been spent for allocating social security allowance to the elderly people, widows and people with disabilities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, the government has collected Rs 24.50 billion in Workers’ Welfare Fund and Rs 4.26 in Social Security Fund. Employers contribute 20 percent of the basic salary and workers contribute 11 percent to this fund but it has not been utilized effectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to SSF, the collected fund has not been invested effectively due to lack of work procedure. Till now, 2000 workers have applied for financial support from this fund under various headings – medical treatment, maternity treatment, accident and disability treatment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Binod Shrestha, president of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), says that the government should invest the collected funds from workers for the welfare of the workers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He argues that social security tax collected from workers should be transferred to Social Security Fund instead of spending it. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12827', 'image' => '20210222024606_20190106090244_Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 14:45:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gautam Buddha Airport Likely to be Ready in 3 Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the project officials, the physical infrastructure of the airport has been almost completed and the airport is likely to come into operation within the next three months. The project so far has reported around 95 percent progress. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Fixing of technical equipment has been delayed as technicians need to arrive from abroad. According to Project Chief Prabesh Adhikari, import of equipment has been almost completed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It will not take more than three months to fix equipment as two tech experts from the South Korea have been already here and two more from the US will be here within a couple of days,” said Adhikari, adding, ''Similarly, a tech team of around 15 people is to arrive from India and six will be coming from China to handle the fixing which are expected to take place in one to one and half months.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Covid-19 crisis hampered the project. According to Adhikari, the airport would have come into operation by now if the project had not been affected by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project has been listed by the government as a national pride project. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had earlier planned to bring it into operation by the beginning of 2021 AD. – RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12826', 'image' => '20210222013005_20201011031237_1602374658.1594332606.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 13:29:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Proposes Developing 39 Districts into Hill Stations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station zones.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station zones.<br /> NTB is preparing to send a proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for developing 39 districts into hill stations. The board plans to promote the hill stations as a new tourism product.<br /> The concept of hill station has been conceived especially for accommodation of tourists for the summer season and NTB wants to issue summer season tourism package for the hill station. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The board has proposed to develop the hill stations targeting Indian tourists as well as tourists from European countries. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTB Dr Dhananjay Regmi informed that NTB will soon submit a proposal to the Ministry of Tourism for developing the proposed states and districts into hill station zones.<br /> "Currently, the development of hill stations has been taken forward in six states," said Regmi. The government needs to help with land pooling and develop basic infrastructure such as drinking water, roads and electricity for the development of the hill station zones, added Regmi.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“The government has to spend Rs 100 million, which is enough to invest in the initial phase and for land pooling. After that, the private sector will make the remaining investment," Regmi added.<br /> Stating that he expects the government to approve the proposal, he stressed that collaboration between the central, provincial and local governments is crucial for the project. If the government cooperates in these matters, the private sector will invest at least Rs 10 billion to Rs 15 billion for establishing quality hill stations. If there is no land pooling in the proposed hill station, there may be a problem later. Therefore, the government should take steps to consolidate the land as soon as possible, Regmi stressed.<br /> The Tourism Board has proposed to develop Panchthar, Ilam, Terhathum, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Khotang, Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchok, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Makwanpur, Nuwakot and Dhading of Bagmati as hill station zones.<br /> Similarly, the board has proposed to develop Gorkha, Tanahu, Syangja, Kaski, Parbat, Baglung, Myagdi and Lamjung of Gandaki, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum of Lumbini, Salyan, Jajarkot, Surkhet and Dailekh of Karnali, and Dandeldhura of Far Western Province into hill stations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20180416121324_aaa_n.jpg" style="height:478px; width:850px" /></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12825', 'image' => '20210222121719_20190506035539_tea farm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 12:16:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Melamchi Project to Conduct Tunnel Test from Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project officials informed that all technical and other necessary preparations have been completed for the tunnel test. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Spokesperson of Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee Rajendra Panta said that tunnel test will be conducted in the presence of Minister for Drinking Water Mani Thapa, RSS further reported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A project engineer and a driver had reportedly died due to a flood resulting from the breakage of the sluice gate (No 17) at Ambathan in Helambu while conducting a test run of water flow in the tunnel on July 14 last year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">After the incident, a team of experts conducted a re-examination of the construction works of tunnel, water source, sluice gate and others. According to media reports, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">four specialists arrived for inspection with the assistance of Asian Development Bank, which has bankrolled the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The new tests will be conducted by incorporating the suggestions given by the experts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Experts inspected the construction works. It is ready now for the re-test after incorporating their crucial feedback,” RSS quoted Executive Director of the Project Tiresh Khatri as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to RSS, Khatri shared that special attention has been given this time to avert the incident like that of the past. Rescue plan is setup and a helicopter is kept in ready position. Khatri added that it will take some 16 days to fill the water in the tunnel from Melamchi river to Sundarijal of Kathmandu. <br /> </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12824', 'image' => '20210222115707_20200317114243_Melamchi 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 11:56:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NT’s Optical Fiber Projects in Dismal State', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) and (NT) had signed agreement in September 2016 to build fiber network in provinces 1, 2 and 3. Four years on, the progress of this project is very dismal. As per the agreement, NT should have completed the fiber project within two years, by 2018. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal Telecom’s Spokesperson Rajesh Joshi informed that the project was delayed due to the lengthy legal process of Public Procurement Act. When the project was about to take pace, lockdown affected delivery of equipment, and we couldn’t mobilize human resources and equipment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Dilliram Adhikari, managing director of NT, expressed commitment to complete this project within this fiscal year. But the progress report speaks otherwise. As per the data given by Nepal Telecommunication Authority, NT has completed laying fiber in 678 km out of 2179 km in the districts covering provinces 1, 2 and 3. NT should install high capacity dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system in 26 areas and 48 core routers. As of now, 25 DWDM systems and 46 routershave been installed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">NT has also been assigned the task of laying fiber in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. “The process of laying fiber in province 6 and 7 is still in process of bidding tender. We have finalized bidding of DWDM system and core router while tender process for underground optical fiber and microwave transmission is still in the process,” said Joshi</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Initially, Smart Telecom was awarded with the contract to lay fiber in province 6 and 7. Since it couldn’t make any headway in the project, NTA later handed the project over to NT. For province 4 and 5, United Telecom Limited (UTL) had received the contract in April 2017. It also couldn’t make any progress and NTA refused to extend the deadline. The case is now pending at the Supreme Court. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The funds of Rural Telecommunication Development Fund is being utilized to develop these projects. These projects form backbone of Information Superhighway along the mid hill highway. This fiber project infrastructure will help boost broadband connectivity all across the country. To bring every local government offices, ward offices, community schools, health centres under broadband network, other 18 broadband projects are also underway. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12823', 'image' => '20210221040652_20191021115126_adsfjjj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 16:06:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CBS to Complete National Industrial Survey in 6 Weeks', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">Officials of CBS assured that they will complete the field visits for the 'National Industrial Survey' within the stipulated time. According to Rajesh Dhital, head of the industrial census and survey branch of the bureau, the survey, which started in February last year, was halted from March 2020 due to Covid-19.<br /> He informed that the surveyors are visiting the industrial areas in Kathmandu, Bara, Parsa, Kapilvastu and other districts to study the details.<br /> The enumerators who have gone for on-site data collection are also taking help from the local levels for data collection. However, the survey is not yet complete. CBS plans to complete 90 percent of the work in March and 10 percent in the second week of April.<br /> "The data entry is likely to be delayed as we have to leave all work and go for the national census. It will delay the survey," Dhital informed. The national census which is conducted every decade will be done next year. The government has already started preparations for the census this year.<br /> However, the industrial survey conducted by the CBS is also crucial as it will have a detailed assessment of the impact of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The government first conducted an industrial survey in 2029 BS. Since then, such surveys are being conducted every five to 10 years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to Dhital, the survey will also help in reviewing industrial policies.</span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12822', 'image' => '20210221032034_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 15:19:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Salt Trading Corporation Running Low on Stock of Sugar ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock. The state-owned corporation has been doing so to prevent shortage of sugar in the market while it seeks government’s approval for additional purchase. It has been learnt that the government has been denying permission to the corporation to buy additional sugar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation has only about 500 metric tons of sugar in its stock. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“There wouldn’t be any sugar left if we had sold all of them,” Kumar Raj Bhandari, general manager of the corporation, told New Business Age. He said if they had sold the sugar as per the demand of the dealers, the stock would not even last for a day. He further said that such problem is prevalent since years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation has been facing shortage of sugar during the time of harvesting sugarcane as big traders and private companies do not want to supply sugar produced within the country to the corporation. Stakeholders say that the state-owned company is not supplied enough sugar during the harvesting season which makes it easier for traders to hike prices and manipulate the market. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation had sent a letter to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) seeking permission to buy 30,000 metric tons of sugar before Dashain. However, the company has not been granted permission for the purchase yet. The corporation says this has directly benefitted the local traders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The traders have been charging customers between Rs 85 to Rs 90 per kg of sugar. “The retail price of sugar is Rs 85, but some of small traders are selling a kilogram of sugar for as high as Rs 90,” said Rajkumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers Association. According to him, the price should have been less now as it is the harvesting season. He further added that the price has not gone down because the state-owned company does not have enough stock of sugar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The MoICS, which has not given permission to the company to purchase sugar since a long time, has been delaying the purchase stating that as it is the sugarcane harvesting season and the permission will be given only after analyzing the output of domestic production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> Stakeholders say that normally around 30,000 metric tons of sugar is consumed every month in Nepal. Only during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, it is estimated that around 70,000 metric tons of sugar is consumed. According to the government data, 180,000 metric tons of sugar is produced by Nepali sugar industries in a year, while sugar is imported from India and other countries if the locally produced sugar is not sufficient to meet the demand. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12821', 'image' => '20210221020107_20201220120511_Sweet2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 14:00:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Domestic Airfare Increases due to Rise in ATF Price', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February 20.', 'content' => '<p><em>This picture taken from Summit Air's website shows a plane landing at Phaplu Airport. Photo Courtesy: Summit Air</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Tamish Giri </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February 20.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Manoj Karki, general secretary of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) and managing director of Summit Air, confirmed Age that the domestic airline operators have decided to increase the airfare in all the domestic routes from February 20.<br /> "AAON, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), has decided to increase the airfare following the decision of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on February 16 to increase the price of ATF," added Karki. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Airfare is determined by three major factors- airfare fixed by the government, fuel surcharge, and airport taxes.<br /> According to a statement issued by AAON, the association and its member airlines have decided to increase the airfare following the rise in fuel price on February 16 and the government's decision on May 10, 2018, that allows AAON and airline operators to adjust the fuel surcharge in accordance to the fuel price.<br /> "AAON along with CAAN and the Ministry of Tourism has set a pricing formula comprising of all three components of airfare pricing. Based on the formula, the airfare had been determined and submitted to CAAN. CAAN has approved it, and decided to implement the new airfare from February 20," Karki informed new Business Age.<br /> After the rise, the airfare of mountain flights from Kathamndu will increase by Rs 70. Previously, the fuel surcharge for mountain flights from Kathmandu used to be Rs 2230 per person. It has increased by Rs 70 to Rs 2300 and individuals willing to enjoy the mountain flight will need to pay Rs 70 extra.<br /> Likewise, the airfare of Kathmandu-Bhadrapur route has been increased by Rs 60 per person.<br /> Fuel airfare of Kathmandu-Dhangadhi route has witnessed the maximum increase of Rs 90 per person while the airfare of Doti-Safebagar route has been increased the least by Rs 10 per ticket.<br /> Kathamndu-Simara airfare has also increased by Rs 15 with the rise in fuel surcharge of Rs 15.<br /> Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), on February 16, has increased the price of ATF by Rs 2 per liter.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12820', 'image' => '20210221121806_Summit Air Landing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 12:16:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Tourism Sector Stakeholders Urge Government to Address their Problems ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press release on Tuesday (February 23), Chairperson of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Western Region, Sushil Raj Poudel, mentioned that the entire tourism sector including mountaineering has been badly affected by COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The statement says the entrepreneurs have been requesting the government time and again, in writing and verbally, regarding the problems faced by the tourism entrepreneurs due to COVID-19. “Let's bring the programmes in order to revive the trekking industry." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, the TAAN also drew the government's attention towards the problems faced by tourists in lack of timely revision of visa and health criteria. The entrepreneurs and organisations associated with trekking and tourism sector presented suggestion for revival of the entire tourism industry. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The TAAN has asked the government to remove the provision of forcing foreign tourists arriving with PCR negative report of 72 hours of compulsory stay at quarantine for five days among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, the Association has advised for ensuring coronavirus test facility and providing the test report on the spot at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) or the provision of collecting the sample from the assigned health facility and making efforts to operate international flights in a full-fledge capacity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It has sought the provision that requires the mandatory hiring of guides for those arriving in Nepal for adventurous tourism for security reasons. Those tourists vaccinated against the coronavirus should be allowed to visit freely and the mandatory provision of at least 5000 US dollar insurance for a tourist should be withdrawn, adds the statement. </span>-- RSS </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-24', 'modified' => '2021-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12834', 'image' => '20210224112539_20200506031951_120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-24 11:24:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Reinstates House of Representatives', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led government.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The apex court on Tuesday (February 23) revoked the decision of the government to dissolve the lower house more than two months ago due to internal dispute within the ruling party. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">“The recommendation for the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the notice dissolving Parliament have been rejected by the honourable justices,” Reuters quoted Supreme Court Registrar Bhadrakali Pokharel as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">The court verdict states that House of Representatives has been reinstated as it is able and competent to perform its work.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court also ordered to convene the lower house within 13 days.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">President Bidya Devi Bhandari had dissolved the parliament on December 20 upon the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s cabinet and announced mid-term election for April 30 and May 10.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">The court ruling means PM Oli faces a no-confidence vote once parliament resumes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The constitutional bench was presided over by chief justice Cholendra SJB Rana, Justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Anil Kumar Sinha, Sapana Pradhan Malla and Tej Bahadur KC.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-24', 'modified' => '2021-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12833', 'image' => '20210224103248_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-24 10:31:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Lags Behind in Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective. Although the Prime Minister's Office directly handles the Action Room, the National Vigilance Center and the National Planning Commission to monitor and evaluate the projects, nothing tangible has happened.<br /> While the monitoring and evaluation aspects of the projects has remained weak, even the big projects that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has given special attention to have not been able to pick up pace. The projects have not been able to spend the allocated budget.<br /> Prime Minister Oli had committed to end the weak implementation of the projects. His attempts last year to formulate a separate law for proper monitoring and evaluation of the projects have not yet been successful.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had registered a bill in the parliament last year for proper evaluation and monitoring of projects upon the recommendation of the National Planning Commission.<br /> However, Rojnath Pandey, spokesperson of the Federal Parliament, informed that the dissolution of the House of Representatives made a direct impact on drafting laws. According to him, the bill registered in the National Assembly has been put on hold. He said that even if it was passed by the National Assembly, it could not have been implemented without the House of Representatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">"If the House of Representatives is re-instated, it will be decided by the parliament. Otherwise, it will have to be passed by the new parliament," Pandey informed.<br /> If the bill was passed, Prime Minister would have the right to monitor and evaluate the project directly. The proposed bill also has a provision to allow state and local level governments to monitor and evaluate the project.<br /> Pandey informed that even though the projects are being monitored and evaluated now, the bill attempts have effective laws with a separate monitoring mechanism.<br /> According to government data, Rs 92.06 billion has been allocated for national pride projects in the current fiscal year, out of which only 15.19 percent or a total of Rs 13.98 billion was spent in the first six months.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12832', 'image' => '20210223033359_20190122030412_national-pride-projects.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 15:32:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13085', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Expansion of Industrial Areas Gains Momentum', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country. The development of industrial area was halted after the establishment of Gajendra Narayan Singh Industrial Area in 2011. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Five years after identifying new industrial areas within the country, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the laid foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in Kanchanpur, Sudurpaschim province on Monday, February 22. Prime Minister Oli will also be laying the foundation stone of Damak Clean Industrial Park, in his home district, Jhapa on 28<sup>th</sup> February. Similarly, Lekharj Bhatta, Minister for industry, Commerce and Supplies is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Naubasta Industrial Areas in Banke of Lumbini province on February 23.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhatta will also be laying the foundation stone of Mayurdhap Industrial Area in Makwanpur of Bagmati province on 26 Feb. Likewise, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Finance, will be lay the foundation stone of Motipur Industrial Area in Rupandehi district. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The estimated cost of these five industrial areas is said to be Rs 179 billion, according to Nandakishwar Basnet, chairman of the Industrial District Management Limited. A cabinet meeting in 2072 had decided to build industrial areas in these districts. Menwhile Damak Clean Industrial Park was announced in April, 2072. To construct infrastructure in those industrial areas, The government has initiated the task of laying foundation stone to expedite the construction of these industrial areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">These five industrial areas will be providing direct and indirect employments to 182,000 individuals. The Daiji Chela Industrial Area, which has gone into construction phase on Monday has provided 100 plots to small, middle and large industries. IDML has planned to construct necessary infrastructure within five years and seek for proposals from interested industrialists within one month. The government is prioritizing industries running on locally made raw materials in these industrial areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Likewise, Naubasta Industrial Area will also be completed in five years. Mayurdhap and Motipur industrial areas and Damak Clean Industrial Park to be constructed with investment from Nepal and China, will also have their infrastructure prepared in five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">To promote industrial activities in these areas, IDML is providing full rent waiver for five years. Similarly, IDML is also seeking subsidy with the government on water, energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines. IDML also plans to facilitate in providing loan to the industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12831', 'image' => '20210223021312_20200828122411_20200810025618_20200415125719_1586906108.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 14:12:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13084', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Food Bank Established in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The food bank has been established with the objective of industrializing the agriculture sector in the near future by properly managing the necessary knowledge, skills, seeds and fertilisers required for this sector. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank has been established by skilled manpower, experts and agricultural scientists working in the field of agriculture. The main objective of the organization is marketing of agriculture sector by making its presence in all 77 districts of the seven provinces. The bank is carrying out its plan to increase employment, increase production and to move the country towards self-reliance through big investments in agriculture. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu on Monday, chairman of the food bank Shankar Nath Upreti claimed that the bank would play an important role in supporting the government’s campaign of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'. According to him, the bank will itself produce food grains, nuts, green vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt, fish, meat, tea, herbs and other food items. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Moreover, the bank aims to cooperate with farmers across the country as well as with agricultural companies, cooperatives, groups and all organizations related to the agricultural sector. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank plans to produce agricultural products by renting unused land including private, government institutions and ‘guthi’ land. So far, the work of leasing the land and producing has started in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhanusha, Chitwan, Rupandehi and other districts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The food bank, which is working with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives, has given priority to the production of paddy, wheat, maize, millet, potato, mustard and nuts in the first phase. In the second phase, production of fish, meat, fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. will be emphasized and in the third phase, these products will be exported to different countries by storing, processing, grading and packaging. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to government data, Nepal has imported rice worth Rs 56 billion, lemon worth Rs 7 billion and onion worth Rs 7 billion in the last two years. Referring to this data, Chairman Upreti said that the food bank would play an important role in increasing exports by reducing imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12830', 'image' => '20210223010224_feature1609836774.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 13:01:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13083', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Youth Getting Attracted to Commercial Farming ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in agriculture.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 23: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in agriculture. While commercial lemon farming was initiated for the first time in the state some time ago, youths have now started farming of strawberry and dragon fruit. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Far West Hi-Tech and Biotech Agro Farm in Shuklaphanta Municipality-10 of Kanchanpur has started commercial strawberry farming for the first time in the region. Nandalal Bhatta, the manager of the farm, said that strawberries were cultivated in plastic tunnels using mulching technology with an investment of Rs 500,000.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Strawberries cultivated with a drip irrigation have started bearing fruit. He said that strawberries are easily sold in the local market at the rate of Rs 700 per kilogram.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bhatta had brought 1,600 strawberry seedlings from Kathmandu and started farming. He said that preparations are being made to increase the production by expanding the area as the production of strawberries planted in 2 kattha land is relatively good. A nursery has been set up for the production of new strawberry seedlings as well.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, for the first time in the region, dragon fruit has been cultivated in Godawari Municipality-2 of Kailali. Entrepreneur Gokarna Oli of Bhimdatta Municipality-1 Mahendranagar planted dragon fruit near the province capital. He has planted 3,500 dragon fruits with the help of Directorate of Agriculture Development. Farm manager Oli said that more than Rs 2.8 million has been invested so far.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He said that he took one and a half bigha of land in lease for 10 years and planted dragon fruit in July 2019. "Now the plant is 5/6 feet tall," he said, "It bears fruit in 18 months to 2 years after planting."</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He says that it can produce fruit for 20 years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Oli bought dragon fruit plants from Rautahat, Sindhuli and Dang. He said that 2,400 red dragon fruit plants were bought for Rs 300 per plant and 1,100 white plants were brought for Rs 200 per plant. He said that a group of youths is preparing to plant 17,000 dragon fruits in Jhilmila of Kanchanpur.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Commercial lemon farming is already done in the province. Two youths of Attaria in Godavari Municipality-4 Kailali have been involved in commercial lemon farming. Locals Pushkar Panta and Khemraj Bhattarai have set up a company called Bhumiraj Agro Service with an investment of Rs 13.2 million in an area of 8 bigha to cultivate lemon.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Realising that the demand for lemons in the local market was very high but they had to depend on India for lemons, they started lemon farming by bringing plants from Gujrat. Operator Panta said that he has been producing seedlings himself now.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that more than 70 percent of the lemons consumed in the far west are imported from different cities of India, Pant said that he started commercial farming of lemon seeing the good potential in the market.</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have now planted 7,000 lemon saplings," he said, </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Due to the large size of the lemons we planted, there was a problem in getting the market at the beginning, but now it has become the first choice among hotels." Pant said that the products of his farm has reached the market as far as Butwal. Further, he said that they have sold 150 tons of lemons this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12829', 'image' => '20210223103844_lemon-farm-md.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 10:37:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13082', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Build Industrial Area in Sudurpaschim', 'sub_title' => 'PM OIi lays foundation for the new industrial zone in Kanchanpur; Industrial Zone to have 100 plots for industries, expected to create 22,000 direct and indirect jobs', 'summary' => 'February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province. Daiji Chela Industrial Area, being established in Daiji, Kanachanpur of Sudurpaschim Province, will occupy 240.34 hectares of land. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Detailed Project Report completed in 2018, out of 100 industrial plots, 23 plots will be allocated for small industries, 44 for middle-scale industries and 33 plots for large-scale industries. Daiji Industrial Area is expected to generate 22,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The project with an estimated cost of Rs 9 billion will be funded by the government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Sanjay Lal Shrestha, director of Industrial District Management Limited (IDML), said the government plans to bring the Daiji Chela Industrial Area into operation as soon as possible after the completion of its construction. It has proposed the government for the funding but the latter is yet to ascertain about this matter. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> The state-owned IDML that carried out the feasibility study of the Industrial Area said that Daili Chela Industrial Area could be completed in five years starting from 2020/21. After one month of laying the foundation stone, IDML plans to seek proposals to establish industries in the industrial area and construct infrastructure based on their proposals. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">To attract industrialists, IDML is providing full waiver on rent for five years and subsidy on water to be consumed by industries. IDML is also asking subsidy with the government on energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Private sector leaders are upbeat with the government plan to set up the industrial zone. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We are very positive about the establishment of industrial area. As soon as the construction of infrastructure required for industries will be completed, industries from private sector will participate in the Industrial Area,” said Vice President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government is also constructing five other industrial areas in Motipur of Makwanpur, Shaktikhor of Chitwan, Damak of Jhapa, Motipur of Rupandehi and Naybasti of Banke.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12828', 'image' => '20210222042719_20200819013035_1597786507.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 16:26:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government ‘Fails’ to Properly Utilized 65 Billion Collected from Workers', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts. ', 'content' => '<p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts. The government collects funds from workers under the heading of social security tax, social welfare fund, and social security plan.</span></span></p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government has been deducting once percent tax from workers since 2009/2010. So far, the government has collected Rs 35 billion tax from the workers. Social Security Fund (SSF) has been trying to bring the collected tax under its jurisdiction but has not succeeded in doing so. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Bibek Panthi, spokesperson of SSF, said, “We have been requesting the Ministry of Finance to transfer the collected tax to SSF but the MoF has not paid any attention to our calls.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> MoF officials say that collected social security tax has been spent for allocating social security allowance to the elderly people, widows and people with disabilities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, the government has collected Rs 24.50 billion in Workers’ Welfare Fund and Rs 4.26 in Social Security Fund. Employers contribute 20 percent of the basic salary and workers contribute 11 percent to this fund but it has not been utilized effectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to SSF, the collected fund has not been invested effectively due to lack of work procedure. Till now, 2000 workers have applied for financial support from this fund under various headings – medical treatment, maternity treatment, accident and disability treatment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Binod Shrestha, president of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), says that the government should invest the collected funds from workers for the welfare of the workers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He argues that social security tax collected from workers should be transferred to Social Security Fund instead of spending it. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12827', 'image' => '20210222024606_20190106090244_Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 14:45:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gautam Buddha Airport Likely to be Ready in 3 Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the project officials, the physical infrastructure of the airport has been almost completed and the airport is likely to come into operation within the next three months. The project so far has reported around 95 percent progress. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Fixing of technical equipment has been delayed as technicians need to arrive from abroad. According to Project Chief Prabesh Adhikari, import of equipment has been almost completed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It will not take more than three months to fix equipment as two tech experts from the South Korea have been already here and two more from the US will be here within a couple of days,” said Adhikari, adding, ''Similarly, a tech team of around 15 people is to arrive from India and six will be coming from China to handle the fixing which are expected to take place in one to one and half months.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Covid-19 crisis hampered the project. According to Adhikari, the airport would have come into operation by now if the project had not been affected by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project has been listed by the government as a national pride project. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had earlier planned to bring it into operation by the beginning of 2021 AD. – RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12826', 'image' => '20210222013005_20201011031237_1602374658.1594332606.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 13:29:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Proposes Developing 39 Districts into Hill Stations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station zones.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station zones.<br /> NTB is preparing to send a proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for developing 39 districts into hill stations. The board plans to promote the hill stations as a new tourism product.<br /> The concept of hill station has been conceived especially for accommodation of tourists for the summer season and NTB wants to issue summer season tourism package for the hill station. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The board has proposed to develop the hill stations targeting Indian tourists as well as tourists from European countries. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTB Dr Dhananjay Regmi informed that NTB will soon submit a proposal to the Ministry of Tourism for developing the proposed states and districts into hill station zones.<br /> "Currently, the development of hill stations has been taken forward in six states," said Regmi. The government needs to help with land pooling and develop basic infrastructure such as drinking water, roads and electricity for the development of the hill station zones, added Regmi.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“The government has to spend Rs 100 million, which is enough to invest in the initial phase and for land pooling. After that, the private sector will make the remaining investment," Regmi added.<br /> Stating that he expects the government to approve the proposal, he stressed that collaboration between the central, provincial and local governments is crucial for the project. If the government cooperates in these matters, the private sector will invest at least Rs 10 billion to Rs 15 billion for establishing quality hill stations. If there is no land pooling in the proposed hill station, there may be a problem later. Therefore, the government should take steps to consolidate the land as soon as possible, Regmi stressed.<br /> The Tourism Board has proposed to develop Panchthar, Ilam, Terhathum, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Khotang, Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchok, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Makwanpur, Nuwakot and Dhading of Bagmati as hill station zones.<br /> Similarly, the board has proposed to develop Gorkha, Tanahu, Syangja, Kaski, Parbat, Baglung, Myagdi and Lamjung of Gandaki, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum of Lumbini, Salyan, Jajarkot, Surkhet and Dailekh of Karnali, and Dandeldhura of Far Western Province into hill stations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20180416121324_aaa_n.jpg" style="height:478px; width:850px" /></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12825', 'image' => '20210222121719_20190506035539_tea farm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 12:16:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Melamchi Project to Conduct Tunnel Test from Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project officials informed that all technical and other necessary preparations have been completed for the tunnel test. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Spokesperson of Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee Rajendra Panta said that tunnel test will be conducted in the presence of Minister for Drinking Water Mani Thapa, RSS further reported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A project engineer and a driver had reportedly died due to a flood resulting from the breakage of the sluice gate (No 17) at Ambathan in Helambu while conducting a test run of water flow in the tunnel on July 14 last year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">After the incident, a team of experts conducted a re-examination of the construction works of tunnel, water source, sluice gate and others. According to media reports, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">four specialists arrived for inspection with the assistance of Asian Development Bank, which has bankrolled the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The new tests will be conducted by incorporating the suggestions given by the experts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Experts inspected the construction works. It is ready now for the re-test after incorporating their crucial feedback,” RSS quoted Executive Director of the Project Tiresh Khatri as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to RSS, Khatri shared that special attention has been given this time to avert the incident like that of the past. Rescue plan is setup and a helicopter is kept in ready position. Khatri added that it will take some 16 days to fill the water in the tunnel from Melamchi river to Sundarijal of Kathmandu. <br /> </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12824', 'image' => '20210222115707_20200317114243_Melamchi 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 11:56:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NT’s Optical Fiber Projects in Dismal State', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) and (NT) had signed agreement in September 2016 to build fiber network in provinces 1, 2 and 3. Four years on, the progress of this project is very dismal. As per the agreement, NT should have completed the fiber project within two years, by 2018. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal Telecom’s Spokesperson Rajesh Joshi informed that the project was delayed due to the lengthy legal process of Public Procurement Act. When the project was about to take pace, lockdown affected delivery of equipment, and we couldn’t mobilize human resources and equipment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Dilliram Adhikari, managing director of NT, expressed commitment to complete this project within this fiscal year. But the progress report speaks otherwise. As per the data given by Nepal Telecommunication Authority, NT has completed laying fiber in 678 km out of 2179 km in the districts covering provinces 1, 2 and 3. NT should install high capacity dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system in 26 areas and 48 core routers. As of now, 25 DWDM systems and 46 routershave been installed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">NT has also been assigned the task of laying fiber in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. “The process of laying fiber in province 6 and 7 is still in process of bidding tender. We have finalized bidding of DWDM system and core router while tender process for underground optical fiber and microwave transmission is still in the process,” said Joshi</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Initially, Smart Telecom was awarded with the contract to lay fiber in province 6 and 7. Since it couldn’t make any headway in the project, NTA later handed the project over to NT. For province 4 and 5, United Telecom Limited (UTL) had received the contract in April 2017. It also couldn’t make any progress and NTA refused to extend the deadline. The case is now pending at the Supreme Court. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The funds of Rural Telecommunication Development Fund is being utilized to develop these projects. These projects form backbone of Information Superhighway along the mid hill highway. This fiber project infrastructure will help boost broadband connectivity all across the country. To bring every local government offices, ward offices, community schools, health centres under broadband network, other 18 broadband projects are also underway. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12823', 'image' => '20210221040652_20191021115126_adsfjjj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 16:06:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CBS to Complete National Industrial Survey in 6 Weeks', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">Officials of CBS assured that they will complete the field visits for the 'National Industrial Survey' within the stipulated time. According to Rajesh Dhital, head of the industrial census and survey branch of the bureau, the survey, which started in February last year, was halted from March 2020 due to Covid-19.<br /> He informed that the surveyors are visiting the industrial areas in Kathmandu, Bara, Parsa, Kapilvastu and other districts to study the details.<br /> The enumerators who have gone for on-site data collection are also taking help from the local levels for data collection. However, the survey is not yet complete. CBS plans to complete 90 percent of the work in March and 10 percent in the second week of April.<br /> "The data entry is likely to be delayed as we have to leave all work and go for the national census. It will delay the survey," Dhital informed. The national census which is conducted every decade will be done next year. The government has already started preparations for the census this year.<br /> However, the industrial survey conducted by the CBS is also crucial as it will have a detailed assessment of the impact of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The government first conducted an industrial survey in 2029 BS. Since then, such surveys are being conducted every five to 10 years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to Dhital, the survey will also help in reviewing industrial policies.</span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12822', 'image' => '20210221032034_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 15:19:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Salt Trading Corporation Running Low on Stock of Sugar ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock. The state-owned corporation has been doing so to prevent shortage of sugar in the market while it seeks government’s approval for additional purchase. It has been learnt that the government has been denying permission to the corporation to buy additional sugar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation has only about 500 metric tons of sugar in its stock. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“There wouldn’t be any sugar left if we had sold all of them,” Kumar Raj Bhandari, general manager of the corporation, told New Business Age. He said if they had sold the sugar as per the demand of the dealers, the stock would not even last for a day. He further said that such problem is prevalent since years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation has been facing shortage of sugar during the time of harvesting sugarcane as big traders and private companies do not want to supply sugar produced within the country to the corporation. Stakeholders say that the state-owned company is not supplied enough sugar during the harvesting season which makes it easier for traders to hike prices and manipulate the market. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation had sent a letter to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) seeking permission to buy 30,000 metric tons of sugar before Dashain. However, the company has not been granted permission for the purchase yet. The corporation says this has directly benefitted the local traders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The traders have been charging customers between Rs 85 to Rs 90 per kg of sugar. “The retail price of sugar is Rs 85, but some of small traders are selling a kilogram of sugar for as high as Rs 90,” said Rajkumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers Association. According to him, the price should have been less now as it is the harvesting season. He further added that the price has not gone down because the state-owned company does not have enough stock of sugar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The MoICS, which has not given permission to the company to purchase sugar since a long time, has been delaying the purchase stating that as it is the sugarcane harvesting season and the permission will be given only after analyzing the output of domestic production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> Stakeholders say that normally around 30,000 metric tons of sugar is consumed every month in Nepal. Only during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, it is estimated that around 70,000 metric tons of sugar is consumed. According to the government data, 180,000 metric tons of sugar is produced by Nepali sugar industries in a year, while sugar is imported from India and other countries if the locally produced sugar is not sufficient to meet the demand. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12821', 'image' => '20210221020107_20201220120511_Sweet2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 14:00:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Domestic Airfare Increases due to Rise in ATF Price', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February 20.', 'content' => '<p><em>This picture taken from Summit Air's website shows a plane landing at Phaplu Airport. Photo Courtesy: Summit Air</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Tamish Giri </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February 20.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Manoj Karki, general secretary of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) and managing director of Summit Air, confirmed Age that the domestic airline operators have decided to increase the airfare in all the domestic routes from February 20.<br /> "AAON, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), has decided to increase the airfare following the decision of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on February 16 to increase the price of ATF," added Karki. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Airfare is determined by three major factors- airfare fixed by the government, fuel surcharge, and airport taxes.<br /> According to a statement issued by AAON, the association and its member airlines have decided to increase the airfare following the rise in fuel price on February 16 and the government's decision on May 10, 2018, that allows AAON and airline operators to adjust the fuel surcharge in accordance to the fuel price.<br /> "AAON along with CAAN and the Ministry of Tourism has set a pricing formula comprising of all three components of airfare pricing. Based on the formula, the airfare had been determined and submitted to CAAN. CAAN has approved it, and decided to implement the new airfare from February 20," Karki informed new Business Age.<br /> After the rise, the airfare of mountain flights from Kathamndu will increase by Rs 70. Previously, the fuel surcharge for mountain flights from Kathmandu used to be Rs 2230 per person. It has increased by Rs 70 to Rs 2300 and individuals willing to enjoy the mountain flight will need to pay Rs 70 extra.<br /> Likewise, the airfare of Kathmandu-Bhadrapur route has been increased by Rs 60 per person.<br /> Fuel airfare of Kathmandu-Dhangadhi route has witnessed the maximum increase of Rs 90 per person while the airfare of Doti-Safebagar route has been increased the least by Rs 10 per ticket.<br /> Kathamndu-Simara airfare has also increased by Rs 15 with the rise in fuel surcharge of Rs 15.<br /> Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), on February 16, has increased the price of ATF by Rs 2 per liter.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12820', 'image' => '20210221121806_Summit Air Landing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 12:16:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">February 24: Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to address the problems faced by the adventure trekking and tourism sector and give an outlet from the difficulties. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Issuing a press release on Tuesday (February 23), Chairperson of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Western Region, Sushil Raj Poudel, mentioned that the entire tourism sector including mountaineering has been badly affected by COVID-19. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The statement says the entrepreneurs have been requesting the government time and again, in writing and verbally, regarding the problems faced by the tourism entrepreneurs due to COVID-19. “Let's bring the programmes in order to revive the trekking industry." </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, the TAAN also drew the government's attention towards the problems faced by tourists in lack of timely revision of visa and health criteria. The entrepreneurs and organisations associated with trekking and tourism sector presented suggestion for revival of the entire tourism industry. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The TAAN has asked the government to remove the provision of forcing foreign tourists arriving with PCR negative report of 72 hours of compulsory stay at quarantine for five days among others. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Similarly, the Association has advised for ensuring coronavirus test facility and providing the test report on the spot at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) or the provision of collecting the sample from the assigned health facility and making efforts to operate international flights in a full-fledge capacity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">It has sought the provision that requires the mandatory hiring of guides for those arriving in Nepal for adventurous tourism for security reasons. Those tourists vaccinated against the coronavirus should be allowed to visit freely and the mandatory provision of at least 5000 US dollar insurance for a tourist should be withdrawn, adds the statement. </span>-- RSS </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-24', 'modified' => '2021-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12834', 'image' => '20210224112539_20200506031951_120_1571271950.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-24 11:24:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Supreme Court Reinstates House of Representatives', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led government.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 24: The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dealing a severe blow to the KP Oli-led government.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The apex court on Tuesday (February 23) revoked the decision of the government to dissolve the lower house more than two months ago due to internal dispute within the ruling party. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">“The recommendation for the dissolution of the House of Representatives and the notice dissolving Parliament have been rejected by the honourable justices,” Reuters quoted Supreme Court Registrar Bhadrakali Pokharel as saying.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">The court verdict states that House of Representatives has been reinstated as it is able and competent to perform its work.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court also ordered to convene the lower house within 13 days.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">President Bidya Devi Bhandari had dissolved the parliament on December 20 upon the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s cabinet and announced mid-term election for April 30 and May 10.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times">The court ruling means PM Oli faces a no-confidence vote once parliament resumes.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The constitutional bench was presided over by chief justice Cholendra SJB Rana, Justices Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Anil Kumar Sinha, Sapana Pradhan Malla and Tej Bahadur KC.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-24', 'modified' => '2021-02-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12833', 'image' => '20210224103248_20201127115547_20200417094838_CKC_ktm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-24 10:31:46', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Lags Behind in Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 23: Monitoring and evaluation of large projects have not been effective. Although the Prime Minister's Office directly handles the Action Room, the National Vigilance Center and the National Planning Commission to monitor and evaluate the projects, nothing tangible has happened.<br /> While the monitoring and evaluation aspects of the projects has remained weak, even the big projects that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has given special attention to have not been able to pick up pace. The projects have not been able to spend the allocated budget.<br /> Prime Minister Oli had committed to end the weak implementation of the projects. His attempts last year to formulate a separate law for proper monitoring and evaluation of the projects have not yet been successful.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had registered a bill in the parliament last year for proper evaluation and monitoring of projects upon the recommendation of the National Planning Commission.<br /> However, Rojnath Pandey, spokesperson of the Federal Parliament, informed that the dissolution of the House of Representatives made a direct impact on drafting laws. According to him, the bill registered in the National Assembly has been put on hold. He said that even if it was passed by the National Assembly, it could not have been implemented without the House of Representatives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria">"If the House of Representatives is re-instated, it will be decided by the parliament. Otherwise, it will have to be passed by the new parliament," Pandey informed.<br /> If the bill was passed, Prime Minister would have the right to monitor and evaluate the project directly. The proposed bill also has a provision to allow state and local level governments to monitor and evaluate the project.<br /> Pandey informed that even though the projects are being monitored and evaluated now, the bill attempts have effective laws with a separate monitoring mechanism.<br /> According to government data, Rs 92.06 billion has been allocated for national pride projects in the current fiscal year, out of which only 15.19 percent or a total of Rs 13.98 billion was spent in the first six months.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12832', 'image' => '20210223033359_20190122030412_national-pride-projects.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 15:32:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13085', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Expansion of Industrial Areas Gains Momentum', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February 23: The government is preparing to expand industrial sector by developing five large industrial areas in different parts of the country. The development of industrial area was halted after the establishment of Gajendra Narayan Singh Industrial Area in 2011. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Five years after identifying new industrial areas within the country, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli the laid foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in Kanchanpur, Sudurpaschim province on Monday, February 22. Prime Minister Oli will also be laying the foundation stone of Damak Clean Industrial Park, in his home district, Jhapa on 28<sup>th</sup> February. Similarly, Lekharj Bhatta, Minister for industry, Commerce and Supplies is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Naubasta Industrial Areas in Banke of Lumbini province on February 23.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minister Bhatta will also be laying the foundation stone of Mayurdhap Industrial Area in Makwanpur of Bagmati province on 26 Feb. Likewise, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Finance, will be lay the foundation stone of Motipur Industrial Area in Rupandehi district. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The estimated cost of these five industrial areas is said to be Rs 179 billion, according to Nandakishwar Basnet, chairman of the Industrial District Management Limited. A cabinet meeting in 2072 had decided to build industrial areas in these districts. Menwhile Damak Clean Industrial Park was announced in April, 2072. To construct infrastructure in those industrial areas, The government has initiated the task of laying foundation stone to expedite the construction of these industrial areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">These five industrial areas will be providing direct and indirect employments to 182,000 individuals. The Daiji Chela Industrial Area, which has gone into construction phase on Monday has provided 100 plots to small, middle and large industries. IDML has planned to construct necessary infrastructure within five years and seek for proposals from interested industrialists within one month. The government is prioritizing industries running on locally made raw materials in these industrial areas. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Likewise, Naubasta Industrial Area will also be completed in five years. Mayurdhap and Motipur industrial areas and Damak Clean Industrial Park to be constructed with investment from Nepal and China, will also have their infrastructure prepared in five years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">To promote industrial activities in these areas, IDML is providing full rent waiver for five years. Similarly, IDML is also seeking subsidy with the government on water, energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines. IDML also plans to facilitate in providing loan to the industries. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12831', 'image' => '20210223021312_20200828122411_20200810025618_20200415125719_1586906108.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 14:12:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13084', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Food Bank Established in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 23: Agriculture experts and scientists of Nepal have established the National Food Bank Limited with an investment of Rs 2 billion to industrialize the agricultural sector of the country. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The food bank has been established with the objective of industrializing the agriculture sector in the near future by properly managing the necessary knowledge, skills, seeds and fertilisers required for this sector. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank has been established by skilled manpower, experts and agricultural scientists working in the field of agriculture. The main objective of the organization is marketing of agriculture sector by making its presence in all 77 districts of the seven provinces. The bank is carrying out its plan to increase employment, increase production and to move the country towards self-reliance through big investments in agriculture. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu on Monday, chairman of the food bank Shankar Nath Upreti claimed that the bank would play an important role in supporting the government’s campaign of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'. According to him, the bank will itself produce food grains, nuts, green vegetables, fruits, milk, yogurt, fish, meat, tea, herbs and other food items. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Moreover, the bank aims to cooperate with farmers across the country as well as with agricultural companies, cooperatives, groups and all organizations related to the agricultural sector. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The bank plans to produce agricultural products by renting unused land including private, government institutions and ‘guthi’ land. So far, the work of leasing the land and producing has started in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhanusha, Chitwan, Rupandehi and other districts. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The food bank, which is working with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives, has given priority to the production of paddy, wheat, maize, millet, potato, mustard and nuts in the first phase. In the second phase, production of fish, meat, fruits, milk, vegetables, etc. will be emphasized and in the third phase, these products will be exported to different countries by storing, processing, grading and packaging. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">According to government data, Nepal has imported rice worth Rs 56 billion, lemon worth Rs 7 billion and onion worth Rs 7 billion in the last two years. Referring to this data, Chairman Upreti said that the food bank would play an important role in increasing exports by reducing imports. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12830', 'image' => '20210223010224_feature1609836774.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 13:01:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13083', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Youth Getting Attracted to Commercial Farming ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in agriculture.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 23: Lately, youths of the far-western region have been attracted to new ventures in agriculture. While commercial lemon farming was initiated for the first time in the state some time ago, youths have now started farming of strawberry and dragon fruit. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Far West Hi-Tech and Biotech Agro Farm in Shuklaphanta Municipality-10 of Kanchanpur has started commercial strawberry farming for the first time in the region. Nandalal Bhatta, the manager of the farm, said that strawberries were cultivated in plastic tunnels using mulching technology with an investment of Rs 500,000.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Strawberries cultivated with a drip irrigation have started bearing fruit. He said that strawberries are easily sold in the local market at the rate of Rs 700 per kilogram.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Bhatta had brought 1,600 strawberry seedlings from Kathmandu and started farming. He said that preparations are being made to increase the production by expanding the area as the production of strawberries planted in 2 kattha land is relatively good. A nursery has been set up for the production of new strawberry seedlings as well.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Similarly, for the first time in the region, dragon fruit has been cultivated in Godawari Municipality-2 of Kailali. Entrepreneur Gokarna Oli of Bhimdatta Municipality-1 Mahendranagar planted dragon fruit near the province capital. He has planted 3,500 dragon fruits with the help of Directorate of Agriculture Development. Farm manager Oli said that more than Rs 2.8 million has been invested so far.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He said that he took one and a half bigha of land in lease for 10 years and planted dragon fruit in July 2019. "Now the plant is 5/6 feet tall," he said, "It bears fruit in 18 months to 2 years after planting."</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">He says that it can produce fruit for 20 years. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Oli bought dragon fruit plants from Rautahat, Sindhuli and Dang. He said that 2,400 red dragon fruit plants were bought for Rs 300 per plant and 1,100 white plants were brought for Rs 200 per plant. He said that a group of youths is preparing to plant 17,000 dragon fruits in Jhilmila of Kanchanpur.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Commercial lemon farming is already done in the province. Two youths of Attaria in Godavari Municipality-4 Kailali have been involved in commercial lemon farming. Locals Pushkar Panta and Khemraj Bhattarai have set up a company called Bhumiraj Agro Service with an investment of Rs 13.2 million in an area of 8 bigha to cultivate lemon.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Realising that the demand for lemons in the local market was very high but they had to depend on India for lemons, they started lemon farming by bringing plants from Gujrat. Operator Panta said that he has been producing seedlings himself now.</span></span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Stating that more than 70 percent of the lemons consumed in the far west are imported from different cities of India, Pant said that he started commercial farming of lemon seeing the good potential in the market.</span></span> <span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">"We have now planted 7,000 lemon saplings," he said, </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">Due to the large size of the lemons we planted, there was a problem in getting the market at the beginning, but now it has become the first choice among hotels." Pant said that the products of his farm has reached the market as far as Butwal. Further, he said that they have sold 150 tons of lemons this year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-23', 'modified' => '2021-02-23', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12829', 'image' => '20210223103844_lemon-farm-md.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-23 10:37:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13082', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Build Industrial Area in Sudurpaschim', 'sub_title' => 'PM OIi lays foundation for the new industrial zone in Kanchanpur; Industrial Zone to have 100 plots for industries, expected to create 22,000 direct and indirect jobs', 'summary' => 'February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oil has laid the foundation stone of Daiji Chela Industrial Area in line with the government's policy to establish one industrial zone in each province. Daiji Chela Industrial Area, being established in Daiji, Kanachanpur of Sudurpaschim Province, will occupy 240.34 hectares of land. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to the Detailed Project Report completed in 2018, out of 100 industrial plots, 23 plots will be allocated for small industries, 44 for middle-scale industries and 33 plots for large-scale industries. Daiji Industrial Area is expected to generate 22,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The project with an estimated cost of Rs 9 billion will be funded by the government. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Sanjay Lal Shrestha, director of Industrial District Management Limited (IDML), said the government plans to bring the Daiji Chela Industrial Area into operation as soon as possible after the completion of its construction. It has proposed the government for the funding but the latter is yet to ascertain about this matter. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> The state-owned IDML that carried out the feasibility study of the Industrial Area said that Daili Chela Industrial Area could be completed in five years starting from 2020/21. After one month of laying the foundation stone, IDML plans to seek proposals to establish industries in the industrial area and construct infrastructure based on their proposals. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">To attract industrialists, IDML is providing full waiver on rent for five years and subsidy on water to be consumed by industries. IDML is also asking subsidy with the government on energy consumption and waiver on demurrage charge for importing raw material and machines.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Private sector leaders are upbeat with the government plan to set up the industrial zone. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">“We are very positive about the establishment of industrial area. As soon as the construction of infrastructure required for industries will be completed, industries from private sector will participate in the Industrial Area,” said Vice President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government is also constructing five other industrial areas in Motipur of Makwanpur, Shaktikhor of Chitwan, Damak of Jhapa, Motipur of Rupandehi and Naybasti of Banke.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12828', 'image' => '20210222042719_20200819013035_1597786507.Clipboard12.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 16:26:32', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government ‘Fails’ to Properly Utilized 65 Billion Collected from Workers', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts. ', 'content' => '<p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: The government has not been able to utilize Rs 65 billion collected from workers on various pretexts. The government collects funds from workers under the heading of social security tax, social welfare fund, and social security plan.</span></span></p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The government has been deducting once percent tax from workers since 2009/2010. So far, the government has collected Rs 35 billion tax from the workers. Social Security Fund (SSF) has been trying to bring the collected tax under its jurisdiction but has not succeeded in doing so. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Bibek Panthi, spokesperson of SSF, said, “We have been requesting the Ministry of Finance to transfer the collected tax to SSF but the MoF has not paid any attention to our calls.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"> MoF officials say that collected social security tax has been spent for allocating social security allowance to the elderly people, widows and people with disabilities.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Likewise, the government has collected Rs 24.50 billion in Workers’ Welfare Fund and Rs 4.26 in Social Security Fund. Employers contribute 20 percent of the basic salary and workers contribute 11 percent to this fund but it has not been utilized effectively. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">According to SSF, the collected fund has not been invested effectively due to lack of work procedure. Till now, 2000 workers have applied for financial support from this fund under various headings – medical treatment, maternity treatment, accident and disability treatment. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Binod Shrestha, president of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), says that the government should invest the collected funds from workers for the welfare of the workers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">He argues that social security tax collected from workers should be transferred to Social Security Fund instead of spending it. </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12827', 'image' => '20210222024606_20190106090244_Clipboard03.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 14:45:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Gautam Buddha Airport Likely to be Ready in 3 Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">February 23: The construction of Bhairahawa-based Gautam Budhha International Airport has reached the final phase. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">According to the project officials, the physical infrastructure of the airport has been almost completed and the airport is likely to come into operation within the next three months. The project so far has reported around 95 percent progress. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">Fixing of technical equipment has been delayed as technicians need to arrive from abroad. According to Project Chief Prabesh Adhikari, import of equipment has been almost completed. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">''It will not take more than three months to fix equipment as two tech experts from the South Korea have been already here and two more from the US will be here within a couple of days,” said Adhikari, adding, ''Similarly, a tech team of around 15 people is to arrive from India and six will be coming from China to handle the fixing which are expected to take place in one to one and half months.” </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The Covid-19 crisis hampered the project. According to Adhikari, the airport would have come into operation by now if the project had not been affected by the pandemic.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">The project has been listed by the government as a national pride project. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had earlier planned to bring it into operation by the beginning of 2021 AD. – RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12826', 'image' => '20210222013005_20201011031237_1602374658.1594332606.Clipboard04.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 13:29:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NTB Proposes Developing 39 Districts into Hill Stations', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station zones.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 22: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has decided to recommend the government to develop 39 districts of six provinces of the country as hill station zones.<br /> NTB is preparing to send a proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for developing 39 districts into hill stations. The board plans to promote the hill stations as a new tourism product.<br /> The concept of hill station has been conceived especially for accommodation of tourists for the summer season and NTB wants to issue summer season tourism package for the hill station. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The board has proposed to develop the hill stations targeting Indian tourists as well as tourists from European countries. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTB Dr Dhananjay Regmi informed that NTB will soon submit a proposal to the Ministry of Tourism for developing the proposed states and districts into hill station zones.<br /> "Currently, the development of hill stations has been taken forward in six states," said Regmi. The government needs to help with land pooling and develop basic infrastructure such as drinking water, roads and electricity for the development of the hill station zones, added Regmi.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">“The government has to spend Rs 100 million, which is enough to invest in the initial phase and for land pooling. After that, the private sector will make the remaining investment," Regmi added.<br /> Stating that he expects the government to approve the proposal, he stressed that collaboration between the central, provincial and local governments is crucial for the project. If the government cooperates in these matters, the private sector will invest at least Rs 10 billion to Rs 15 billion for establishing quality hill stations. If there is no land pooling in the proposed hill station, there may be a problem later. Therefore, the government should take steps to consolidate the land as soon as possible, Regmi stressed.<br /> The Tourism Board has proposed to develop Panchthar, Ilam, Terhathum, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Khotang, Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchok, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Makwanpur, Nuwakot and Dhading of Bagmati as hill station zones.<br /> Similarly, the board has proposed to develop Gorkha, Tanahu, Syangja, Kaski, Parbat, Baglung, Myagdi and Lamjung of Gandaki, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum of Lumbini, Salyan, Jajarkot, Surkhet and Dailekh of Karnali, and Dandeldhura of Far Western Province into hill stations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><img alt="" src="/app/webroot/userfiles/images/20180416121324_aaa_n.jpg" style="height:478px; width:850px" /></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12825', 'image' => '20210222121719_20190506035539_tea farm.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 12:16:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Melamchi Project to Conduct Tunnel Test from Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">February 22: The Melamchi Water Supply Project will start testing water in its 26.5 kilometer tunnel from today (February 22), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The project officials informed that all technical and other necessary preparations have been completed for the tunnel test. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">Spokesperson of Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee Rajendra Panta said that tunnel test will be conducted in the presence of Minister for Drinking Water Mani Thapa, RSS further reported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">A project engineer and a driver had reportedly died due to a flood resulting from the breakage of the sluice gate (No 17) at Ambathan in Helambu while conducting a test run of water flow in the tunnel on July 14 last year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">After the incident, a team of experts conducted a re-examination of the construction works of tunnel, water source, sluice gate and others. According to media reports, </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">four specialists arrived for inspection with the assistance of Asian Development Bank, which has bankrolled the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">The new tests will be conducted by incorporating the suggestions given by the experts.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">“Experts inspected the construction works. It is ready now for the re-test after incorporating their crucial feedback,” RSS quoted Executive Director of the Project Tiresh Khatri as saying.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial">According to RSS, Khatri shared that special attention has been given this time to avert the incident like that of the past. Rescue plan is setup and a helicopter is kept in ready position. Khatri added that it will take some 16 days to fill the water in the tunnel from Melamchi river to Sundarijal of Kathmandu. <br /> </span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-22', 'modified' => '2021-02-22', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12824', 'image' => '20210222115707_20200317114243_Melamchi 1.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-22 11:56:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NT’s Optical Fiber Projects in Dismal State', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">February 22: In the last four years, Nepal Telecom (NT) has completed only 30 percent task of laying optical fiber in provinces 1, 2 and 3 along the Mid-Hill higway. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) and (NT) had signed agreement in September 2016 to build fiber network in provinces 1, 2 and 3. Four years on, the progress of this project is very dismal. As per the agreement, NT should have completed the fiber project within two years, by 2018. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Nepal Telecom’s Spokesperson Rajesh Joshi informed that the project was delayed due to the lengthy legal process of Public Procurement Act. When the project was about to take pace, lockdown affected delivery of equipment, and we couldn’t mobilize human resources and equipment.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Dilliram Adhikari, managing director of NT, expressed commitment to complete this project within this fiscal year. But the progress report speaks otherwise. As per the data given by Nepal Telecommunication Authority, NT has completed laying fiber in 678 km out of 2179 km in the districts covering provinces 1, 2 and 3. NT should install high capacity dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system in 26 areas and 48 core routers. As of now, 25 DWDM systems and 46 routershave been installed. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">NT has also been assigned the task of laying fiber in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. “The process of laying fiber in province 6 and 7 is still in process of bidding tender. We have finalized bidding of DWDM system and core router while tender process for underground optical fiber and microwave transmission is still in the process,” said Joshi</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Initially, Smart Telecom was awarded with the contract to lay fiber in province 6 and 7. Since it couldn’t make any headway in the project, NTA later handed the project over to NT. For province 4 and 5, United Telecom Limited (UTL) had received the contract in April 2017. It also couldn’t make any progress and NTA refused to extend the deadline. The case is now pending at the Supreme Court. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri">The funds of Rural Telecommunication Development Fund is being utilized to develop these projects. These projects form backbone of Information Superhighway along the mid hill highway. This fiber project infrastructure will help boost broadband connectivity all across the country. To bring every local government offices, ward offices, community schools, health centres under broadband network, other 18 broadband projects are also underway. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12823', 'image' => '20210221040652_20191021115126_adsfjjj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 16:06:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CBS to Complete National Industrial Survey in 6 Weeks', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">February 22: The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) will complete field visits for the National Industrial Survey within six weeks in order to find out the extent of damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria"><span style="font-family:Times">Officials of CBS assured that they will complete the field visits for the 'National Industrial Survey' within the stipulated time. According to Rajesh Dhital, head of the industrial census and survey branch of the bureau, the survey, which started in February last year, was halted from March 2020 due to Covid-19.<br /> He informed that the surveyors are visiting the industrial areas in Kathmandu, Bara, Parsa, Kapilvastu and other districts to study the details.<br /> The enumerators who have gone for on-site data collection are also taking help from the local levels for data collection. However, the survey is not yet complete. CBS plans to complete 90 percent of the work in March and 10 percent in the second week of April.<br /> "The data entry is likely to be delayed as we have to leave all work and go for the national census. It will delay the survey," Dhital informed. The national census which is conducted every decade will be done next year. The government has already started preparations for the census this year.<br /> However, the industrial survey conducted by the CBS is also crucial as it will have a detailed assessment of the impact of Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">The government first conducted an industrial survey in 2029 BS. Since then, such surveys are being conducted every five to 10 years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">According to Dhital, the survey will also help in reviewing industrial policies.</span></span><br /> <br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12822', 'image' => '20210221032034_My Effect.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 15:19:27', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Salt Trading Corporation Running Low on Stock of Sugar ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">February 21: The Salt Trading Corporation has been selling sugar only in retail quantity due to the fear of running out of stock. The state-owned corporation has been doing so to prevent shortage of sugar in the market while it seeks government’s approval for additional purchase. It has been learnt that the government has been denying permission to the corporation to buy additional sugar.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation has only about 500 metric tons of sugar in its stock. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">“There wouldn’t be any sugar left if we had sold all of them,” Kumar Raj Bhandari, general manager of the corporation, told New Business Age. He said if they had sold the sugar as per the demand of the dealers, the stock would not even last for a day. He further said that such problem is prevalent since years. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation has been facing shortage of sugar during the time of harvesting sugarcane as big traders and private companies do not want to supply sugar produced within the country to the corporation. Stakeholders say that the state-owned company is not supplied enough sugar during the harvesting season which makes it easier for traders to hike prices and manipulate the market. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The corporation had sent a letter to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) seeking permission to buy 30,000 metric tons of sugar before Dashain. However, the company has not been granted permission for the purchase yet. The corporation says this has directly benefitted the local traders.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The traders have been charging customers between Rs 85 to Rs 90 per kg of sugar. “The retail price of sugar is Rs 85, but some of small traders are selling a kilogram of sugar for as high as Rs 90,” said Rajkumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers Association. According to him, the price should have been less now as it is the harvesting season. He further added that the price has not gone down because the state-owned company does not have enough stock of sugar. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">The MoICS, which has not given permission to the company to purchase sugar since a long time, has been delaying the purchase stating that as it is the sugarcane harvesting season and the permission will be given only after analyzing the output of domestic production.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman""> Stakeholders say that normally around 30,000 metric tons of sugar is consumed every month in Nepal. Only during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, it is estimated that around 70,000 metric tons of sugar is consumed. According to the government data, 180,000 metric tons of sugar is produced by Nepali sugar industries in a year, while sugar is imported from India and other countries if the locally produced sugar is not sufficient to meet the demand. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12821', 'image' => '20210221020107_20201220120511_Sweet2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 14:00:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '13074', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Domestic Airfare Increases due to Rise in ATF Price', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February 20.', 'content' => '<p><em>This picture taken from Summit Air's website shows a plane landing at Phaplu Airport. Photo Courtesy: Summit Air</em></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Tamish Giri </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">February 21: Airline operators have decided to increase the fare of domestic flights due to an increase in price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) effective from February 20.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Manoj Karki, general secretary of the Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN) and managing director of Summit Air, confirmed Age that the domestic airline operators have decided to increase the airfare in all the domestic routes from February 20.<br /> "AAON, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), has decided to increase the airfare following the decision of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on February 16 to increase the price of ATF," added Karki. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Cambria">Airfare is determined by three major factors- airfare fixed by the government, fuel surcharge, and airport taxes.<br /> According to a statement issued by AAON, the association and its member airlines have decided to increase the airfare following the rise in fuel price on February 16 and the government's decision on May 10, 2018, that allows AAON and airline operators to adjust the fuel surcharge in accordance to the fuel price.<br /> "AAON along with CAAN and the Ministry of Tourism has set a pricing formula comprising of all three components of airfare pricing. Based on the formula, the airfare had been determined and submitted to CAAN. CAAN has approved it, and decided to implement the new airfare from February 20," Karki informed new Business Age.<br /> After the rise, the airfare of mountain flights from Kathamndu will increase by Rs 70. Previously, the fuel surcharge for mountain flights from Kathmandu used to be Rs 2230 per person. It has increased by Rs 70 to Rs 2300 and individuals willing to enjoy the mountain flight will need to pay Rs 70 extra.<br /> Likewise, the airfare of Kathmandu-Bhadrapur route has been increased by Rs 60 per person.<br /> Fuel airfare of Kathmandu-Dhangadhi route has witnessed the maximum increase of Rs 90 per person while the airfare of Doti-Safebagar route has been increased the least by Rs 10 per ticket.<br /> Kathamndu-Simara airfare has also increased by Rs 15 with the rise in fuel surcharge of Rs 15.<br /> Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), on February 16, has increased the price of ATF by Rs 2 per liter.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2021-02-21', 'modified' => '2021-02-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '12820', 'image' => '20210221121806_Summit Air Landing.jpg', 'article_date' => '2021-02-21 12:16:41', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
