Most newspapers published in Kathmandu on Monday have highlighted reports related to the alleged assault on a secretary by a Province 2 minister in Janakpurdham. Other political, social and economic issues have also received attention on the front pages. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Monday.
Important
Secretary: Province 2 minister assaulted me
The Himalayan Times, Kantipur, Nagarik, Naya Patrika and Annapurna Post report that a Province 2 Industry, Tourism and Environment Ministry Secretary Bidhyanath Jha has accused the province’s Minister of Financial Affairs and Planning Bijay Kumar Yadav of thrashing him in his office. The reports say that the Jha has accused Yadav of assaulting him in front of the state assembly Speaker after he refused to include an NGO in a government-run programme. According to Naya Patrika, the minister has denied the accusation and accused him of trying to “assassinate his character.”
US to fund NGOs working for Tibetans
Republica and Nagarik report that the US government has announced plans to fund NGOs working for Tibetan communities through the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act. The report says that the Act, approved by Congress in early December and signed by President Trump on New Year’s eve, recongises India as a major defence partner in the Indo-Pacific region. The paper says that the legislation paves the way for the government to provide funding to NGOs working to preserve Tibetan culture in India, China and Nepal. The report says that as India and China have stringent financial monitoring systems, most of the funds could be channeled through Nepal and this might tick off China.
Ignored
Italian contractor unlikely to return to Melamchi
Republica and Nepal Samacharpatra report that CMC, the Italian contractor working on the main tunnel of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, is unlikely to return to work as it has gone incommunicado since the New Year. Company employees, who were allowed to return home to celebrate the New Year, after they agreed to return to work after the holidays, have not returned, say the reports. Republica says that the company has sent a long list of ‘preconditions’ for it to resume work. The report says that the government hold talks with the contractor outside Nepal, unfreeze both bank and performance guarantee amounts and pay all dues. The report says that officials at the ministry of water supplies expected the contractor to return to work but the list of preconditions clearly indicates that the contractor wants to quit.
Chinese embankment threatens to inundate Nepali land
The Kathmandu Post reports that the Chinese government’s move to build a one-km long embankment on the headwaters of the Arun river is likely to inundate a strategically important piece of land on the Nepal side. According to the report, the 101.748 sq km of land on the Nepal side is the only piece of flat land where Nepal plans to build some important infrastructure to complement the north-south corridor linking Kimathanka with Biratnagar. The paper reports that residents of Kimathanka have not been able to raise the issue with the Chinese strongly because they fear losing access to the markets across the border on which they depend for daily necessities.
Hike in sugar prices proposed
Karobar and Kantipur report that sugar producers in the country have proposed an eight rupee per kilo hike in price of sugar. Karobar says that domestic sugar producers have reported their cost of production to be around Rs 78.10 per kilo. If the government accepts the report, the price of sugar is likely to reach Rs 100/ kilo from Rs 92. The government last year increased customs on imported sugar saying that cheap imported sugar threatened the livelihood of sugarcane farmers in the country.
Interesting
Police to crack down on ride-hailing apps
Karobar reports that traffic police in Kathmandu have started taking action against motorcyclists who work for ride-hailing apps such as Tootle and Pathao. The report says that three motorcyclists faced action on Saturday night in Durbarmarg for ferrying passengers. The report says that existing laws do not allow vehicles with ‘red’ number plates to ferry passengers. The report says that although ride-hailing apps are becoming popular in Kathmandu, the users do so at their own risk as the operation is not insured.
