Almost all newspapers published in Kathmandu on Monday have given priority to reports related to the government’s policy and programmes and the economic survey unveiled on Sunday. Morang District Court’s decision to remand Chudamani Upreti ‘Gore’ in the gold smuggling case has also received considerable attention. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting news reports that made it to the front pages on Monday.
Important
Different newspapers published in Kathmandu on Monday have looked at different facets of the government’s economic survey. While The Himalayan Times looks at the gross national saving, Nagarik and Republica look at investment in infrastructure, Karobar looks at the contribution of industry to GDP, Rajdhani looks at the latest growth outlook, The Kathmandu Post looks at the overall macroeconomic situation of the country. Naya Patrika focuses on the size of the new budget.
The Himalayan Times says Nepal’s gross national saving is expected to decline by 1.5 per cent to reach around 43.9 per cent of the GDP this fiscal. The paper, quoting the economic survey, says that the availability of national saving that can be invested in the economy. Nagarik and Republica say that the government built fewer public infrastructure this year compared to the last year. Republica says that only 22 motorable bridges were built this fiscal compared to 72 last year. No new hospital has been constructed this fiscal. The Kathmandu Post says the economic survey paints a gloomy picture of the country’s economy. It says that the budget deficit is growing and foreign reserves are depleting at a rapid rate. Naya Patrika says the government is preparing a budget with a size of Rs 1.6 trillion.
Ignored
Salt price hike likely for rural areas
Annapurna Post says that the government is preparing to convert subsidies it granted to various public corporations to transport essential supplies to rural areas into shares. With the move, people in rural areas, who are getting salt at a cheaper rate than those in the cities, will now have to pay more for the same salt, the paper reports.
NHRC to blacklist conflict era rights violators
Naya Patrika reports that the National Human Rights Commission is a preparing a ‘blacklist’ of right offenders during the conflict era. The paper says that although the commission has recommended action against various officials since the days of the conflict, the government has been reluctant to take action against them. The commission plans to make the list public, says the paper.
Interesting
Economic map of the provinces now available
The Kathmandu Post says that for the first time, the government has prepared an economic map of the provinces in the country. The paper says that Provinces 2,5,6 and 7 lag the national average in multi-dimensional poverty. Karnali has the highest multi-dimensional poverty. Province 3 is the leader of the country in terms of literacy, life expectancy, number of schools. road network, industry and access to financial services.
Surge in consumption of electricity
Republica reports that with the end of load-shedding in the country, the per capita electricity consumption has jumped to 177 KWh from 129 KWh in the first three quarters of the current fiscal. The paper reports that of the total electricity produced or sold in the country, the industrial sector consumes 37.2 per cent. Household consumption, which stood at 43 per cent last year has increased by one percentage point.
