Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Thursday have given priority to a host of issues from political, socio-cultural and economic spheres.
Snowfall in different parts of the country affecting lives has received considerable attention along with the NHRC request for more time to finalise its report on the Nirmala Pant case. Some papers have also carried news of doctors threatening to stop attending to OPD patients.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
Need more time to investigate says NHRC
The Himalayan Times reports that after two months of investigation, a high-level probe team formed by the National Human Rights Commission has concluded that additional investigation is required to identify those responsible for the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Pant of Kanchanpur district.
The report has concluded that investigators were not serious and conducted the probe carelessly from the very beginning. NHRC Spokesperson Bed Prasad Bhattarai says that the Police were careless as they arrested people without enough evidence, which is not good from a human rights perspective. A member of the NHRC expressed surprise that the team could not come up with any new finding despite a two-month study. NHRC members feel they do not have the expertise to solve such cases.
Snow affects flights in hilly/mountain regions
Nagarik and The Himalayan Times report that heavy snowfall in hilly and mountainous regions across the country has left inhabitants chilled to the marrow, snowed out flights and blocked roads at several places.
Lhomanthang in Upper Mustang was the worst affected by snowfall, with up to three feet of snow at some places. Pilgrims to Muktinath shrine have also been hit hard due to heavy snowfall as no flights have taken off in the past two days owing to inclement weather.
Areas in Manang and Upper Manang have also been blanketed under snow. Heavy snowfall has also been witnessed in upper parts of Dolakha. Snowfall in Jiri, Cherdung, Mali, Kalinchowk Gaurishankar and Kharidhunga has forced residents to stay indoors. Authorities have shut schools and government offices in districts of Far-west and Karnali Province.
Doctors threaten to stop attending to patients
Kantipur and Naya Patrika report that the National Resident Doctors Association has warned that members will stop attending to patients at Bir Hospital, BP Koirala Institute of Health Science and Tribhuvan Hospital Dr Govinda KC’s demands aren’t met. NRDA has given the government till Friday to address the demands. The doctors on Wednesday didn’t attend to OPD patients and will do the same on Thursday.
Ignored
77 districts reinstate District Education Office
Kantipur reports that the government has started the process to reinstate District Education Offices. Last April, the government decided to convert the DEOs into units under the district administration office, however, the meeting of the cabinet on Tuesday decided to reinstate all the DEOs under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. All 77 districts have been notified via a circular.
India happy with Nepal’s suggestion on sharing energy
Annapurna Post reports that the meeting of the joint committee comprising energy and water resources officials of Nepal and India was successful as the Indian side agreed to most proposals made by the Nepali side. The two sides agreed on the energy banking agreement and are likely to sign a deal on Thursday. India, during the meeting, also agreed to provide an additional 50 to 100 megawatts of electricity to Nepal. The meeting on Thursday is likely to review the construction modality of Butwal – Gorakhpur cross-border transmission like that is being built jointly by the NEA and Central Electricity Authority of India.
Interesting
Insurance worth 100,000 for girls
Annapurna Post reports that the Province 2 government has started an initiative to provide insurance worth Rs 100,000 to girls. The ‘educate daughter; save daughter’ programme will provide every girl child with an insurance cover of Rs 100,000 for up to 20 years of age if her birth is registered with the municipality within 35 days of delivery. The accumulated insured amount will be handed over after her wedding. With this, the trend of birth registration of daughters has increased gradually in all 8 districts of Province 2.
Doctors urge for caution against flu
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that the Ministry of Health has released a statement saying that the number of flu cases has risen significantly in the past two months. All major hospitals in Kathmandu are full of patients suffering from the flu. Some patients are also receiving treatment at ICUs. Doctors are also recommending people to take a vaccination which will save them from the viral flu. The family of NCP leader Prachanda is also suffering from flu.
Tarmac being laid on road without felling trees
Naya Patrika reports a 92-kilometre road being laid in Kailali district has trees in the middle. This problem arose due to a lack of coordination between the Department of Road and the Department of Forest. The locals are afraid that if the road is built with trees on it, it could cause accidents.
