Nepal Oil Corporation’s controversial decision to buy land to build storage facilities has received the attention of most of the broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu. They have also given prominent space to the issue of potholes on Kathmandu’s roads and followed up on the Prime Minister’s directives to fill get rid of them within 15 days.
Important
CIAA begins probe into controversial NOC land deals
Nepal’s anti-corruption watchdog CIAA has begun investigation into allegations that officials of the state oil monopoly embezzled up to Rs 670 million while buying land to build storage facilities across the country. Nagarik quotes a CIAA source as saying that the constitutional body has ordered the NOC to submit papers related to land procurement deals. It says that the CIAA chief Deep Basnyat himself has taken keen interest in the case.
Similarly, Kantipur has given a lot of space to the same issue. It carries a three-column box story and an anchor story on the NOC deal. In its lead story, it asks with a screaming headline ‘Why is everyone quiet?’ In its anchor story, penned by the paper’s correspondents in Bhairahawa, Chitwan, Sarlahi and Damak, the paper reports that most of the land bought by the NOC is located on the banks of rivers and not only were the pieces of land over-priced, they require embankments before anything can be done.
Republica saysthe CIAA will also collect details from two parliamentary committees that have already started investigation into the case.
Agenda for Deuba’s India visit
The Prime Minister is preparing to visit India this month and discussions over the agenda for talks have begun. The day’s edition of Annapurna Post and Rajdhani have given prominent space to news on the issue. Annapurna Post quotes prominent economists as saying that the Prime Minister should focus on implementing past agreements rather than entering into new news. Similarly, it reports that Nepal is preparing to request India to provide unconditional access to its power trading market as per the spirit of the bilateral power trade agreement. The paper terms the fate of Nepali gas bullets stranded in India as the ‘biggest agenda’ during the imminent visit.
Meanwhile, Rajdhani reports that China’s Vice-premier Zhang Gaoli will visit Nepal just a week before Deuba leaves for New Delhi. It says that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to focus on implementation of past bilateral agreements rather than signing new ones.
Ignored
Three of a family died after cliff falls on their house
Annapurna Post’s anchor story says that three members of a family in Kalikot died on Sunday night after a cliff fell on their house while they were fast asleep. According to the report, Bude Sarki’s daughter and two sons died in the incident that took place in Sannitriveni Gaunpalika-6. The dead are learn to be minors. Sarki and his wife were rescued on Monday morning.
Private sector demands new tax settlement mechanism
Nagarik in its lead story says the private sector has demanded that a new tax settlement body be formed to ease the dispute settlement process. FNCCI’s former President Pashupati Murarka has been quoted as saying that an independent and permanent tax settlement mechanism is needed as businesses cannot commit to keeping 50 per cent of the disputed amount as collateral and wait for the court to decide on the case.
Prime Minister’s directives ineffective
Rajdhani and Nagarik have given prominent space to reports on how the condition of roads in Kathmandu has not improved even after a deadline set by the Prime Minister elapsed. Nagarik quotes PMO Secretary Chandra Ghimire as saying that officials have submitted falsified progress reports on the matter. He said that the PMO will take action against those who have submitted misleading reports.
Interesting
Melamchi is on its way
Naya Patrika reports that the much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water project is nearing its completion. According to the report, the project now needs to lay only 60 km of pipes and dig a 2.5 km-long section of the main tunnel for water to start flowing to Kathmandu.
14 people commit suicide a day in Nepal
Naya Patrika reports that in the last fiscal year, 5,124 people committed suicide in Nepal. This means that on average 14 people commit suicide in Nepal every day. Similarly, 617 cases of murder and 1139 cases of rape were reported in the country in the last fiscal.
