Reports related to the ruling party leaders criticism of the government for being ineffective has been featured in a few newspapers along with the news of PM KP Sharma denying that the government backtracked on its decision to test vegetables and fruits due to pressure from India.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories published on front pages of Kathmandu broadsheet dailies, both Nepali and English, on Sunday
Important
Ruling party lawmakers continue to criticise government
The Himalayan Times reports lawmakers of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on Saturday criticised their own government for bringing controversial bills in the Parliament and allowing ministers to allocate more budget to their constituencies.
They also sought answers from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal on why the party was prolonging the unification process.
A lawmaker, who was present at the meeting, said that most of the lawmakers criticised ministers for allocating more budget to their districts or constituencies and ignoring others’ constituencies.
Responding to lawmakers’ queries, PM Oli said the remaining merger process of the party would be completed as soon as possible. According to NCP Chief Whip Dev Gurung, the PM told lawmakers there was lack of coordination between the party and the government and he would make efforts to intensify consultations between the two to minimise the gap.
Similarly, Nagarik reports that the merger process is likely to go on from long as the leaders of the ruling party are yet to reach an agreement.
Testing put on hold not because of pressure: PM Oli
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that the government has backtracked on its decision to conduct checks on vegetables and fruits coming to Nepal from India.
The government had decided to implement such measures two weeks ago amid complaints that vegetables and fruits from India were laced with pesticides.
However, Annapurna Post reports that PM KP Sharma Oli said that the decision not to test vegetables coming from India for pesticides was not made due to pressure by the Indian side. He said that the decision was made because the government does not have the necessary equipment to test the vegetables and fruits. He said that a system would soon be placed which would monitor the quality of vegetables and fruits coming into Nepal.
Govt officials say labs needed at six different border points
Republica reports that government officials have said the installation of well-equipped labs at six major customs points was necessary to start effective pesticide tests for vegetables and fruits coming into the country. Officials say labs are needed kat Kakarvitta, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj.
Ignored
Cable car in Chapali in Lalitpur
Arthik Abhiyan reports that plans of constructing a cable car from Chapali to Majhkhanda is on its way. The 2.8 km long cable car is due to be completed by 2020. Destination Majhkhanda Pvt Ltd is constricting the cable car which is going to cost around Rs 1.13 billion to complete. The project has 70 per cent foreign investment and 30 per cent local investment. To offer people something new the place will also have a resort and fun park along with restaurants.
Nepali vegetables and fruits rot as India takes time reviewing samples
Naya Patrika reports that Nepali vegetables and fruits being exported to India are rotting in the border as the Indian side is taking a long time to give them quality assurance certificates. The sample of the vegetables is taken to Kolkata, Patna and Lucknow which are more than 300 km away from the nearest border points.
Four NAC plane grounded due to lack of piolets
The Kathmandu Post reports that four Chinese aircrafts owned by Nepal Airlines are languishing at the airport, incurring losses to the corporation in millions. The corporation says it has been scouting for pilots [captains] to fly the planes but to no avail.
In 2014, the first batch of two Chinese-made 17-seater Y12e aircraft arrived in Kathmandu. But they remained grounded for months. Nepal Airlines Corporation did not have pilots to fly them. Five years on, the problem remains the same.
Shortage of pilots, disputes among the pilots and regulatory limit are the key problems that have led to the grounding of the Chinese aircraft, say multiple sources who have closely followed the development.
Interesting
RJPN and SPN merger talks still ongoing
The Himalayan Times reports that Rastriya Janata Patry Nepal and Samajwadi Party Nepal have intensified unity talks in recent weeks and have agreed in principle on unifying. However, analysts say that both the parties may take months to agree on unity of partnership in an alliance.
RJPN leader Rajendra Mahato said his party was preparing for unity with SPN so that the momentum for nationwide movement could be built to pressure the government to address the issues of the Madhesis and other marginalised communities and groups.
Constitutional commission remain ineffective
The Kathmandu Post reports that four years after seven constitutional commissions were formed to ensure the rights of the marginalised and underprivileged communities, many say that it is ineffective.
With no members, no human resources and no necessary infrastructure, these commissions have largely remained non-functional. National Women’s Commission and National Dalit Commission, which were made constitutional bodies through the new constitution, along with the National Adibasi Janajati Commission, are still without office bearers.
The four commissions to which chairpersons were recently appointed–Madhesi; Muslim; Tharu; and Inclusion commissions–are still without members. The government appointed a member for the Inclusion Commission only recently.
Officials from Forest Ministry make unnecessary foreign trips
Kantipur reports that the officials from the Ministry of Forest and Environment have been making foreign trips which aren’t meant for them. Recently joint-secretary at the ministry Maheswar Dhakal went to Germany to attend a three-week-long conference on climate change. Dhakal was the right person to attend the conference. However, Dhakal also took under-secretary Ganesh Bikram Shahi just to please Minister for Forest and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet. Shahi is Basnet’s personal secretary. Sources say that Shahi had threatened Dhakal that if he was not taken to Germany, he would halt Dhakal’s nomination in the future.
