Subisu’s central office being gutted has been featured in most national dailies along with news of Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai saying the Nijgadh airport will be constructed anyway. The government proposing a bill to set up Kathmandu Valley Public Transport Authority has also made it to the front pages of a few national dailies.
Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Thursday.
Important
Nijgadh airport to go ahead as planned, says Tourism Minister
The Kathmandu Post reports that despite long-running protests by environmental activists, Yogesh Bhattarai, the newly-appointed tourism minister, has said that the construction of the Nijgadh International Airport in Bara will go ahead at any cost. Bhattarai said that the Nijgadh International Airport will be built where it has been proposed to be built.
But environmental activists are unconvinced, as the planned airport will destroy forests, irrigation systems and wildlife habitats. The Nijgadh airport will require 2.4 million trees to be cut down, according to an environmental and social impact assessment carried out by the Tourism Ministry in February 2017. The project will also displace 1,476 people from Tangia Basti. According to Bhattarai, those displaced will either be offered cash compensation or relocation. But residents say that no one has consulted with them yet.
Similarly, Gorkhapatra reports that Minister Bhattarai has said that the foundation stone for the airport will be laid within the next six months.
Arthik Abhiyan reports that Minister Bhattarai has said that information regarding the modality and the investment of the airport will also be released to the public soon.
Over 300,000 Subisu customers hit after fire damaged servers
The Himalayan Times reports that over 300,000 subscribers of Subisu Cablenet (P) Ltd were affected across the country after its data centre located at its Baluwatar head office caught fire on Wednesday. While the internet service in the Baluwatar area remains disrupted, the company claimed that it was able to resume services to other areas of the valley and across the country by around 5:30pm.
Federal government going against provision are changing names of headquarters
The Himalayan Times reports that the federal government has been changing headquarters and names of local governments violating principles of federalism and lawyers are demanding that laws allowing the federal government to exercise this power should be changed. So far it has changed names and headquarters of 102 local governments — headquarters of 62, names of 18 and names and headquarters of 22, most recent being the headquarters of Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality, Gorkha.
Ignored
Education Minister asked to revise bill to amend university acts
The Kathmandu Post reports that the Legislation Management Committee of the federal parliament on Wednesday asked Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel to make revisions to the bill to amend University Acts, saying that some of its provisions undermine the autonomy of the varsities.
The lawmakers said the provisions are regressive and against the established principle that define universities as autonomous entities. The bill has received 63 amendments including from ruling party lawmakers, seeking changes in several clauses of the bill. Former vice-chancellors of different universities have been objecting to the bill, saying that it will further politicise the varsities that have already become the playground of political parties.
Bankers association asks NRB to review irrelevant provisions
Republica reports that Nepal Bankers Association (NBA) has warned that some provisions in the recent circular of Nepal Rastra Bank could have an adverse impact on the banking sector and the overall economy. The NBA has termed the revision of the interest rates spread calculation formula as sudden and irrelevant. It claimed that the tweak on the formula will squeeze nearly 25 per cent, or Rs 30 billion, profit of the banking sector.
Govt proposes bill to set up Kathmandu Valley Public Transport Authority
Republica reports that the Kathmandu Valley Public Transportation Authority Bill, registered by the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahasheth at the House of Representative’s Secretariat has proposed setting up the authority to plan, manage and operate the public transportation inside the Kathmandu Valley. The authority will be responsible for making the public transportation in the valley accessible, easy, reliable and safe. According to the bill, the authority will fix the routes for public transportation and set standards for vehicles. The authority will also end the existing cartel in route permit distribution.
Interesting
70 people affected by dengue in Hetauda
Nagarik reports that nearly 70 people have fallen sick due to dengue fever in Hetauda in the past three weeks. Mayor of Hetauda sub-metropolitan city, Hari Bahadur Mahat, said that the number of patients visiting hospital for dengue treatment has been found to be increasing in the sub-metropolis. He said that activities are underway to find out the possible habitat of mosquitoes and destroy them.
Stone mine set up after community forest is cut down
Kantipur reports that the National Vigilance Centre has asked the CIAA to take actions against those responsible for cutting down a community forest in Lele in Laltipur to set up a stone mine. The centre has also asked the CIAA to take action against Laliput CDO Prem Prasad Joshi, SSP Rabindra Bahadur Dhanuk, Godavari Municipality Mayor Gajendra Maharjan and forest officers. The centre says that the cutting down of the community forest would not have been possible without the help of these government officials.
CTEVT: Rs 5 billion spent in three years
Rajdhani reports that the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) has spent over Rs 5 billion in administrative expenses and program commencement in the past three years. It has spent over Rs 2 billion in hosting various programs, Rs 1.5 billion in handing out salaries and grants and nearly Rs 1.5 billion in various administrative cost. Its income has been reported at Rs 2 billion out of which it has only used Rs 540 million.
