Almost all broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Sunday have given priority to reports on Province 6’s lawmakers’ decision to name the province ‘Karnali Province’. Similarly, reports on the India-Nepal EPG meeting in Kathmandu and its preparations to make public the details of its work so far has also received attention. Here’s a summary of important. ignored and interesting stories that made it to the press today:
Important
India-Nepal EPG members inch closer to a draft report
The Kathmandu Post reports that the Eminent Persons Group on Nepal-India Relations has exchanged the first drafts of a new bilateral agreement during the seventh meeting of the group in Kathmandu, on Saturday. The paper says that both the Indian and Nepali members have agreed to go through their counterparts’ reports and come up with a final conclusion on Sunday. It says that both the sides are expected to produce one joint report which will be submitted to the governments of Nepal and India before July this year. Republica, which runs a report by the state-run wire service RSS, says that an agreement was reached between the members of the group and a press conference will be organised on Sunday afternoon to share the details of the agreement with the public.
Province 6 is now ‘Karnali Province’
Republica says that Province 6 has become the first federal state in Nepal to get a formal name and a permanent capital. The paper says that a meeting of the provincial assembly on Saturday unanimously endorsed a proposal to name the province ‘Karnali’. The new constitution gives the provincial assemblies the right to choose a formal name and capital of their respective provinces. Some lawmakers had been demanding that Jumla e made the capital of the province while others had been demanding that Humla be designated the new capital. The matter was put to vote, and the decision was made unanimously.
MoFa to regulate provinces’ dealings with ambassadors
Kantipur reports that political leaders and bureaucrats based in the provinces will have to take permission for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being involved in any form of diplomatic activity. The ministry is preparing a new directive to regulate the relationship between the provinces and the diplomats based in Nepal. The news comes just a few days after reports said that ambassadors of various countries had started meeting Chief Ministers and Ministers of the provinces. According to the new directive, members of the diplomatic corps in Kathmandu will also have to seek permission from the ministry before approaching leaders and bureaucrats in the provinces.
Ignored
Doctors ‘mistakenly’ conduct surgery on wrong leg
Republica says doctors at the Norvic International Hospital have conducted surgery on the right leg of a patient admitted there for a torn ligament on the left leg. According to the report, Bindu Poudel of Chitwan was admitted to the hospital on Friday. The 38-year-old patient repeatedly told the doctors that the problem was in her left knee, but the doctors proceeded with surgery on her right leg.
Interesting
NEA to end industrial loadshedding by mid-May
The Himalayan Times says that Nepal Electricity Authority is planning to end industrial load-shedding from mid-May as the utility will be able to supply power as per demand from the wet season onwards.
The report says that the NEA can sustain demand from the industrial sector during winter as well even before the 456-megawatt Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project starts generating power by the end of this year. Currently, the power utility has been cutting power to industries for three hours a day during peak time to meet the domestic demand.
