A storm in Kailali killing one person and injuring over a 100 has been featured on most national dailies along with news of the Supreme Court threatening to book CIAA officials for hiding documents related to Govindra Raj Joshi graft case. Reports related to the dengue emergency declared in two wards in Dharan has also been featured in a few national dailies.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
One dead, many injured in Sudurpaschim storm
Kantipur and The Himalayan Times report that at least one person was killed while 99 others injured as a windstorm hit Kailali and Kanchanpur districts in the Sudurpaschim province on Thursday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Bir Bahadur Chaudhari, 26, of Godavari Municipality in Kanchanpur, SP Sudip Giri said.
The storm hit several places in the two adjoining districts at 7:30 pm, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre. Roads have been blocked as trees and utility poles were uprooted, while there’s a power outage flowing the strong winds.
According to SP Giri, the windstorm caused major damage at Dhunge Bazaar area bordering the two districts. The storm which started at around 7:50 pm lasted for nearly 40 minutes. Over 150 houses were damaged in Kailali district and dozens in Kanchanpur.
SC asks CIAA to stop obstructing justice in Govinda Raj Joshi case
Republica reports that the Supreme Court on Thursday issued a warning to some officials of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) over allegations of obstruction of justice regarding the corruption case against Nepali Congress (NC) leader Govinda Raj Joshi.
A division bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Sapana Pradhan Malla issued the warning to CIAA officials to face the consequences as they had been dillydallying over an apex court order to submit the original files and various other documents concerning the Joshi case.
Kantipur, on the other hand, reports that the original documents are missing. The division bench also ordered the CIAA officials to submit an explanation within 15 days why the anti-graft body had failed to submit the original documents. The apex court issued the warning to CIAA Secretary Maheshwor Neupane and other staff. The order to submit the documents was issued some five years ago. Joshi, a former home minister, has been facing the graft case since the last 16 years.
Ignored
Inflation likely with new taxes
The Himalayan Times reports that the imposition of value-added tax on imported products and transport services and introduction of policies to expand the government’s tax net in the new budget is set to lead to a spike in inflation.
Prices of a few consumer items may rise in the coming days following upward revision in taxes on a host of goods and services ranging from food items to daily essentials.
Rising prices, caused by a change in tax rates or withdrawal of tax rebates, are likely to make it difficult for the government to contain inflation at six per cent in the next fiscal as proposed by the budget for fiscal 2019-20.
Dengue emergency declared in two wards in Dharan
Republica reports that Dharan Sub-metropolitan City has declared Wards 8 and 15 as crisis-hit zones after the Health Directorate of Province 1 announced a dengue emergency in the city.
As many as 188 people have been diagnosed with dengue in the two wards so far this year. Most of the patients are from Ward 15. The dengue patients are receiving treatment at tropical ward and emergency unit of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS).
Twenty-six people were admitted to the hospital on Thursday alone. The hospital is waiting for their test reports to confirm dengue in them. A health team led by Dr Bhogendra Dotel, chief at the health directorate, inspected the dengue-affected areas on Thursday before declaring the dengue emergency.
SC postpones hearing on TJ again
The Kathmandu Post reports that a hearing on a review petition filed by the government against the 2015 Supreme Court ruling on transitional justice was postponed on Thursday, again, making it the 22nd postponement since it was registered the same year. It was the sixth postponement this year alone.
Thursday’s hearing was deferred after one of the judges included in the bench couldn’t look into the case because he had, as an advocate, argued on behalf of the victims. A full bench comprising five judges led by Ananda Mohan Bhattarai was to decide whether to proceed with the hearing.
It was the first case to be dealt with by a five-member bench on Thursday. However, it decided not to proceed with the case after Judge Hari Prasad Phuyal, who had defended the case on behalf of the victims as an advocate four years ago, couldn’t hear it.
Interesting
How will China’s railway grant be used?
The Kathmandu Post reports that a fourth meeting of the Nepal-China railway talks, to be held in China within this month, will ascertain where exactly the money will go. China is willing to offer Nepal Rs 2 billion for the project.
Balaram Mishra, director-general of the Department of Railways, said that it was uncertain whether the money will be spent towards preparing a detailed project report for the cross-border Kerung-Kathmandu railway or towards conducting two feasibility studies for the Kathmandu-Pokhara and Pokhara-Lumbini railways.
Whose responsibility is Ghantaghar?
Kantipur reports that no party has stepped up to take responsibility to preserve Ghantaghar. Kathmandu Metropolitan City says Tri-Chandra Campus should take the responsibility as the watch-tower is on its premises. Even the Department of Archaeology is shying away from taking responsibility. Currently, a staff of Tri-Chandra campus is looking after the watch-tower, he is due to retire in five years.
More companies involved in tax evasion
Nagarik reports that the Department of Revenue Investigation has found more companies which have evaded tax. Previously the department had filed cases against 134 companies for evading tax. The department believes that Rs 3 billion was evaded by nearly 80 more companies.
