Major Nepali and English daily newspapers published from Kathmandu on Tuesday have given the priority to successful voting during the third phase of local level elections held in eight districts of Province 2 on Monday. Besides, the Cabinet decisions to sack Nepal Oil Corporation’s Executive Director Gopal Bahadur Khadka and formulate a law requiring doctors to compensate victims for any damage they cause due to negligence during medical treatment have also received prime attention.
The nation is marking the second Constitution Day today and newspapers have published reports about constitution implementation process in the front page.
Important
Voting in Province 2 ‘enthusiastic’; results within five days
As primary estimates of the Election Commission have put the voter turnout in the Province 2 local level elections yesterday at around 73 per cent, major newspapers have said the voting was ‘enthusiastic’.
At a press conference organised after the conclusion of voting last evening, Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said the results from all 136 local units would be announced within next five days, according to the lead story in Annapurna Post.
Newspapers, however, have carried out different figures of district-wise turnout. According to the government-owned Gorkhapatra, the least turnout has been recorded in Saptari, Dhanusha and Mahottari districts at 70 per cent whereas the most was in Rautahat and Bara districts at 75 per cent.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has thanked all for the successful completion of the voting, reports Gorkhapatra.
Constitution Day: Slow implementation is the concern of all
Nepal is celebrating the second Constitution Day today commemorating the promulgation of constitution by the Constituent Assembly two years ago today. On the occasion, stakeholders and political party leaders have wished for successful implementation of the charter. Meanwhile, major newspapers have shown concerns over slow implementation of the constitution.
Naya Patrika lead story says the constitution is being implemented slowly amid various dissatisfaction, obstructions and confusions. Parliament so far has endorsed around a dozen bills formulated to implement the constitution and the nation just completed the local level elections, a major step to the full implementation of charter just yesterday, it comments.
Meanwhile, India for the first time in past two years has expressed supportive remarks on the constitution, on the eve of Constitution Day yesterday, according to the report. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to their counterparts Bidya Devi Bhandari and Sher Bahadur Deuba respectively to express wished on the occasion.
Kantipur anchor story says formulation of laws necessary for the implementation of vital constitutional provisions has delayed owing to the compulsion to hold three levels of elections by coming January and parties’ focus on power games. It informs that at least 25 fundamental rights as provisioned in the constitution will not be implemented till the formulation of other supporting laws.
Ignored
Lawmakers say sack not enough for Khadka as CIAA begins probe
Owing to the pressure from media and various groups, the government finally sacked controversial Executive Director of Nepal Oil Corporation, Gopal Bahadur Khadka. But, lawmakers who investigated his involvement in the accused embezzlement while purchasing land for constructing petroleum storage facilities say the removal is not enough, reports Republica.
“Khadka should not be spared and all those involved in the scam should be subjected to legal action,” Chairman of the Good Governance and Monitoring Committee in Parliament Mohan Singh Rathaur says. Likewise, another lawmaker Rambir Manandhar says, “Further investigation into his wrongdoings is needed.”
On the other hand, the constitutional anti-corruption watchdog, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, says it has also launched a detailed investigation into the charges, according to a story in Karobar. The Commission has assigned Commissioner Ganesh Raj Joshi to lead the probe, the report informs, quoting the Commission’s spokesperson Jeev Raj Koirala, “We will make public the investigation report and our charges very soon.”
Court orders government to compensate landowners before road expansion
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the government to expand roads by demolishing buildings built after acquiring necessary approval from government authorities only after providing their owners with appropriate compensation, according to the lead story in Abhiyan daily.
A full bench comprising justices Kedar Prasad Chalise, Hari Krishna Karki and Purushottam Adhikari handed down the verdict in response to seven writ petitions filed by locals of Kathmandu Valley. Around 200 locals of Tripureshwor, Nagdhunga, Chabahil, Dillibazaar and Koteshwor areas had moved the court claiming the government was acquiring their property without paying compensation.
The report comments that the government now needs to allocate billions of rupees in advance before launching any expansion project.
Interesting
Seven provinces to be connected with China border
The government wants to open more crossings on Nepal-China border so that all seven provinces specified in the new federal setup have an easy access to the northern neighbour, reports Nepal Samacharpatra.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Bir Bahadur Balayar says the government will propose China to open nine crossings from Olangchungola of Taplejung in east to Taklakot of Bajhang to west as officials of two countries are holding a meeting in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Chinese officials have already reached Kathmandu for the meeting on Monday evening, according to the report.
Because the customs points may get frequently blocked due to snowfalls and blizzards, discussions will also be held about constructing tunnel highways and flyovers, according to the Minister.
