Most newspapers published in Kathmandu on Wednesday have highlighted reports related to the traffic police trying to put an end to ride-sharing apps such as Tootle and Pathao. Newspapers have also reported on the health of Dr Govinda KC and the report submitted by the High-Level Education Commision to the Prime Minister. Other political, social and economic issues have also received attention on the front pages. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Wednesday.
Important
High-Level Education Commission recommends turning private schools into non-profits
Republica, Kantipur and Nepal Samacharpatra report that the high-level education commission (HLEC) has recommended that the government turn all private school into not-for-profit organisations in the next 10 years. The commission submitted its report to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday. Currently, there are more than 5,000 private schools across the country with about 1.5 million students. According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the report includes policy guidelines from school to higher education levels.
Traffic police trying to put an end to ride-sharing apps
Kantipur, Republica, Nagarik and The Kathmandu Post report that the Metropolitan Traffic Police is arresting ride-sharing app Tootle and Pathao riders and impounding their motorcycles. Both Tootle and Pathao, reported more incidents of their riders being apprehended by traffic personnel. The assistant manager of Pathao, Shashank Shumsher Thapa says that the police were requesting for rides and then nabbing their riders. He says that the government were using scare tactics to shut down ride-sharing apps.
But officers from Traffic Police Division said that they were simply responding to public complaints against what the government deems as ‘illegal service provider.’ The Department of Transport Management informed the Traffic Police Division that these companies weren’t duly registered and that operation was illegal. Such conflicts between tech start-ups and authorities have taken place around the world whenever a ride-hailing app has been launched in the market. In most cases, these discussions have resulted in the government introducing new policies and regulations that set standards for a new industry.
Ignored
CIAA mum on 600 million tax fraud
Nagarik reports that the CIAA has remained silent on the Rs 600 million tax fraud allegations levelled against Nepal Oil Corporation bosses involved in the infamous land procurement scam. Officials believe that Executive Director Gopal Khadka was involved in the irregularity in the purchase of the land. Officials are questioning the CIAA after it failed to launch a probe into Executive Director Gopal Khadka who has also been booked for having disproportionate assets. Sources believe that Khadka was booked so that the irregularities in the purchase of land for fuel storage could be halted. Former CIAA chief, Suryanath Upadhaya says that the two issues are completely different and both should be looked at differently. He says that the irregularity in the purchase of land should be looked at with seriousness and the culprits should be booked accordingly.
300,000 fine for unused land
Kantipur reports that the government is bringing a law which will ban the use of agricultural land for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. The Land Use Policy Bill states that any land listed under one category cannot be converted into another. In a bid to discourage agricultural land being left fallow, the bill has also proposed a Rs 300,000 fine for landowners leaving two-thirds area of their land barren for three consecutive years. Likewise, any landowner using the land for a different purpose may face the same fine.
Interesting
Government capital expenditure still sluggish
The Himalayan Times reports development projects that are crucial in driving the economy are unlikely to witness desirable progress this year owing to the sluggish capital spending of the government. The current government which is more stable than previous governments has failed to fulfill their promises if the statistics of the Financial Comptroller General Office is anything to go by. FCGO statistics show that the government’s total budget spending including capital expenditure, financial and recurrent during the period stood at 28.57 per cent of the total budget of Rs 1.31 trillion for the ongoing fiscal. The government has spent Rs 296.5 billion as the recurrent expenditure of the total allocated Rs 845.5 billion during the review period. The government has been able to collect revenue worth Rs 520 billion in the first six months of the fiscal 2018-19 which is 55 per cent of the revenue collection target of Rs 945 billion for this fiscal, as per FCGO.
Nepal Army to increase production of explosives by three folds
Rajdhani reports that Nepal Army is planning to increase the production of explosives used for development works by three folds. They are doing so as demand for these products is at an all-time high. The army has been producing these explosives in an emulsion plant in Sunachuri, Makwapur. Nepal Army, which is involved in construction works throughout the country, is increasing the production after orders started to come in from other construction companies as well. Currently, Nepal Army produces 12 tonnes of explosives.
