Broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Tuesday have priorities a variety of issues on their front pages. While reports on the environmental aspects of building Far-west Province’s new capital has received considerable attention, the government decision to award an EPCF contract to a Chinese firm to build the outer ring road in Kathmandu has also been highlighted.
Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Tuesday.
Important
20,000 trees felled of Fast Track rots
Republica and Nagarik report that around 20,000 trees felled for the construction of the Kathmandu-Nijgadh Fast Track is rotting as agencies responsible for the sale and supply of timber play the blame game. The report says that although the Nepali Army handed over 20,000 logs to the division forest offices and community forest user groups, the division offices and the groups say they can’t auction the logs until they receive ‘detailed information’ about the logs from the army. The report also says that dispute between the provincial government and the Centre has also hampered the process.
Chinese company set to get Outer Ring Road contract
The Himalayan Times reports that the government is planning to award the contract to prepare the detailed project report and eventually carry out the construction of the 71.92-km Outer Ring Road in Kathmandu Valley. The agreement violates the provisions of the Public Procurement Act as the contract is being awarded without competition. The Ministry of Urban Development and China Energy Engineering Corporation are to soon sign an agreement which will see CEEC prepare the DPR in three months and finish construction in five years. The report says that the Chinese firm has agreed to provide a 30-year payback period for the cost incurred during the development of the project, which is estimated to cost around Rs 125 billion.
Ignored
Kantipur reports that the decision by Far-western Province (Province 7) to build its capital in Godavri is not sound if environmental factors are to be weighed in. The paper reports that more than 196 landslide-prone points have been identified near the area. Nagarik reports that the proposed capital sits on a reservoir of groundwater. The report says that the proposed capital lies in the Bhawar area of the Chure Hills and felling trees there could undermine the hydrological cycle in the area.
45 per cent bank accounts inactive
Arthik Abhiyan reports that more than 45 per cent of bank accounts in Nepal are inactive. The paper says that of the 191 million bank accounts in the country, only 104 million are in operation. The paper quotes experts as saying that people have multiple accounts in different banks, but only use one or two for regular transactions.
Interesting
Water transport authority in the making
