Nepal spending Rs 276 billion on post-earthquake reconstruction has been featured in a few newspapers along with news of China being interested to reopen Hilsa and Korala border points. The Department of Immigration installing a state-of-the-art immigration system at Tribhuvan International Airport has also made it to the front page of today’s dailies.
Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Monday.
Important
Over Rs 276 billion spent of post-earthquake reconstruction
Republica reports that a total of Rs 276.3 billion has been spent on post-earthquake reconstruction that includes government buildings, educational institutions, health centres, and archaeological heritage, among others.
Manohar Ghimire, deputy spokesperson at the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) said that Rs 175.52 billion has been sourced from the government whereas Rs 100.78 billion and Rs 40.23 billion have been sourced from bilateral spending as loans and from donor agencies and other different non-governmental organisations, respectively.
TIA to get state of the art immigration system
Nagarik reports that a modern system is being put in place at the immigration office at the airport to curb down issues like fake passports, fake visas, and delay in working. The system is being placed to make sure there are no problems during Visit Nepal year 2020. The Department of Immigration is installing a system which is being used by India, USA, and England.
Shopping complex in Balaju Bus Park illegal
Annapurna Post reports that Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd that was given the responsibility of running the bus park in Balaju has been found to have to built a shopping/business complex in the area without seeking permission from concerned authorities. Sources have said that it was done in cahoots with officials from CIAA. The paper says that when JICA handed over the bus park to Lhotse, it had clearly written that no building could be built in the area.
Ignored
China keen on reopening Korala and Hilsa border points
Kantipur reports that China is showing interest to reopen two border points. Chinese officials have been holding talks with Nepali officials to reopen Korala border in Upper Mustang and Hilsa border in Sudurpachim province. Chinese have been holding talks with officials from both Gandaki and Sudurpachim provinces in the past week. The have been arguing that reopening the borders will bring a lot of financial gain to both provinces. They have also pledged to build roads.
Party structure missing at provincial levels
Kantipur reports that all major parties have failed to create a structure in all three levels of the government. Even though the merger process of ruling party Nepal Communist Party is almost complete it has still failed to create structures in Provincial and Local levels. Same is the case with opposition party Nepali Congress which has also not created a party structure yet.
Non-communicable disease high in Nepal
The Himalayan Times reports that the first nationally representative study on the prevalence of selected chronic diseases in Nepal has revealed that there is a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases across the country. A research conducted by Nepal Health Research Council, with support from the Ministry of Health and Population, has revealed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the most prevalent (11.7 per cent), followed by diabetes mellitus (8.5 per cent), chronic kidney disease (6 per cent) and coronary artery disease (2.9 per cent) among Nepalis.
Interesting
Is India pushing Nepal to become a Hindu state?
Nagarik reports major leaders of India’s ruling party BJP have been pushing Nepal to be reinstated as a Hindu state. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has regularly been pushing for Nepal to be reinstated as a Hindu state mentioning that Nepal would have the support of India if it did so. He has been regularly saying that Nepal had to become a Hindu state as most of the population were Hindu. Foreign experts in Nepal are seeing this has India pushing Nepal to become a Hindu state.
Govt forms committee to discuss handing over operations of Gautam Buddha International Airport to German company
Arthik Abhiyan reports that the government has formed a committee to discuss if the operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport should be handed to Munich International Airport of Germany. The German-based company had shown interest in operating the airport which is currently the under construction in Bhairahawa. It wants to look after the airport for the next 50 years.
Govt checks 40 manpower companies in 90 days
Karobar reports that the government has been keeping tabs on various employment agencies who send Nepali workers to foreign countries. In the past three months, it has raided 40 companies checking if they are operating within the standards set by the government. The government is taking this step to put an end to fraud.
