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From the Kathmandu Press: Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Major English and Nepali newspapers published from Kathmandu on Wednesday have prioritised political issues over others. Parties’ preparations for the third phase of local level elections in Province 2 scheduled for September 18 have received significant attention by almost all papers. Likewise, the Election Commission’s preparations for September 18 elections as well as elections to the Provincial Assembly and the federal House of Representatives have also been covered.

 Important

EC wants to hold polls in two phases

File image: Election Commission of Nepal

Though the government has already decided to hold both elections—to the Provincial Assembly and the federal House of Representatives—across the country in one phase on November 26, the Election Commission is still in favour to do the polls in two phases—first in mountainous region and then in hilly and Terai districts, according to reports published in The Himalayan Times and The Kathmandu Post.

Earlier, the constitutional body had suggested two dates to the government for the polls, but the government had made the decision for one date claiming major political parties suggested so. The Kathmandu Post says the Commission is not convinced with the idea as it might be difficult to manage the polls in one go logistically. Likewise, it has cited adverse weather conditions as another reason for the postponement, the report adds.

On logistics, Commissioner Ishwari Paudel says, “We will have a good window for printing and delivering ballot papers to the destinations if elections are held in two phases.”

Likewise, The Himalayan Times quotes another Commissioner Ila Sharma as saying that the Commission in fact is preparing for two phases of polls as it is confident that the government will heed their suggestion.

Lawmakers find Deepak Bohora involved in NOC land scam

File image: Leader Deepak Bohora

Lawmakers who were involved in an investigation into alleged embezzlement in the purchase of land in various parts of the country to build petroleum storage facilities has found that former Supplies Minister Deepak Bohora was also involved in the embezzlement along with Nepal Oil Corporation General Manager Gopal Bahadur Khadka.

Various parliamentary committees including Public Accounts Committee, Finance Committee and Industry, Commerce and Consumer Welfare Committee are investigating into the alleged involvement and their members have told Republica that former Minister and Vice-President of newly formed Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Democratic, Bohara, is also involved in the corruption, its lead story for the day reports.

“We have received information that the then supplies minister had visited the land purchased by the NOC by wearing a face mask,” lawmaker Rambir Manandhar tells the paper. He has also claimed that the then PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s son Prakash could also have been involved in the scam, according to Nagarik.

Ignored

Social Welfare Council shows bias for Manmohan Memorial Health Foundation

It has been found that Social Welfare Council, the government body to regulate activities of NGOs and INGOs, across the country, has also favoured the Manmohan Memorial Health Foundation, which has been dragged into controversy recently, reports The Himalayan Times lead story.

The Council has recently approved a health project of the Foundation which will spend Rs 4.7 billion of foreign funding at the time many NGOs and INGOs have been awaiting similar approvals for the projects, the report says, adding SWC Member Secretary Dilli Prasad Bhatta, however, did not take much time to approve the project of controversial institution.

Interestingly, the MMHF’s project proposal comes at a time when the government has already formed a five-member committee to recommend the possibility of purchasing hospitals and medical colleges, including MMIHS, which has already built infrastructure in the Valley, the report informs.

Lack of laws affects work of local level representatives

Newly elected people’s representatives of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City at their oath ceremony on Wednesday, May 31, 2017.

Lack of necessary laws has affected newly established local bodies to perform their duties as determined by the constitution, Gorkhapatra and Karobar have reported.

Gorkhapatra says newly elected people’s representatives at the local level are waiting for laws related to roles and responsibilities of the judicial committee, benefits and facilities of elected representatives among others. The constitution has said such issues will be determined by provincial laws, which are yet to be formulated.

On the other hand, a bill related to functioning of local levels is under discussion in Parliament.

Karobar reports that two bills related to the Finance Commission have got stuck in a parliamentary committee. The two bills pave the way for formation of the Finance Commission which will determine roles and responsibilities of local, provincial and central governments regarding public finance management.

But, thanks to the lack of laws, revenue collection has been seriously affected, the report informs.

Interesting

20 pharmacies sealed in past 10 days in Kathmandu

 

File image

As many as 20 pharmacies of Kathmandu Valley have been sealed in past 10 days for haphazardly selling medicines, according to the anchor story published in Nepal Samacharpatra.

The Department of Drug Administration in coordination had monitored 80 pharmacies recently, during which 10 were found involved in illegal activities including the sale of banned medicines, operation without registration and producing fake reports for foreign employment aspirants, according to the report.

The Department has found that the illegal activities, however, are on the decline.

The news report has also informed that the government is preparing to amend the Drugs Act, 1978, so as to let the Department take actions against illegally operation pharmacies.

The newspaper has blamed weak monitoring on the part of government regulatory bodies.

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