President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s flight back to Nepal causing problems has been featured in some newspapers along with the news of the merger between FSFN and Naya Shakti being put on hold due to some ‘irrational’ demands by Baburam Bhattarai.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
President arrival affects TIA
The Himalayan Times reports that a number of foreigners who had embarked on mountain flights and were scheduled to leave the country on Wednesday reportedly missed their flights owing to the congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday morning, as their departure clashed with the arrival of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari from her state visit to China.
Though the head of state was scheduled to arrive on Thursday, her visit to the northern neighbour was shortened by a day after she suffered altitude sickness while in Lhasa. However, her arrival on Wednesday proved to be a major headache for those who had their flights scheduled for Wednesday, especially between 10:00 am and 11:00 am.
FSFN-NSP merger deal stalled
Republica reports that a merger deal between the ruling Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) and the Baburam Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Party has stalled, with the former declining to quit the government as demanded by the latter.
According to sources close to both parties, Naya Shakti has demanded that FSFN should be ready to stay in the opposition for the next five years after the unification, among other things. But Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav-led FSFN has not agreed to quit the KP Oli-led government immediately, said sources close to the party.
Ignored
Sugar mills in Sarlahi fail to pay farmers yet again
Kantipur reports that sugarcane farmers in the southern part of Sarlahi district are unhappy once again after sugar mills in the region shut cane crushing operations without paying the farmers. Out of three sugar mills in the region, two have not paid a single penny to cane supplying farmers despite crushing canes while one mill is disbursing payment partially in line with its schedule.
Annapurna Sugar Mill at Dhankaul and Mahalaxmi Sugar Mill at Godaita put down their shutters on April 19 after crushing more than 200,000 tonnes. They have not paid the farmers yet. Indu Shankar Sugar Mill shut operations on Monday after crushing 351,400 tonnes of sugar cane but has only paid Rs420 million out of Rs1.65 billion in dues.
According to sugarcane farmer Mukesh Singh of Bara Udhoran, Annapurna Sugar Mill has defaulted on payments since last year.
NA awards tender for boots to party failing criteria
Republica reports that Nepal Army (NA) tender bids for the supply of boots for 49,000 personnel were awarded to a company which failed to meet specifications.
One of the important conditions for being awarded the tender was meeting various technical specifications. The army top brass was apparently careful to ensure they could put quality boots on the ground.
NA was previously twice forced to cancel the tender as none of the bidders met the specifications. When the army invited tender bids for the third time there were four eligible bidders.
NA’s Military Logistic Procurement Directorate has flouted the very specifications that it made mandatory while inviting the tender bid worth about Rs 90 million. The tender for procuring 49,375 pairs of boots went to Footcare Industries owned by Khila KC.
NA had invited the tender bids for the boots for the third time on January 30. It mentioned clearly that the boots should have full grain upper leather and be made of buff leather. Similarly, the outer soles should pass oil and resistance tests. But the bidder bagging the tender did not meet these specifications.
Two child marriages stopped in Dolakha
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that Dolakha Police have stopped two child marriages on Wednesday. Police after learning that a 17-year-old girl was being married to a 22-year-old boy intervened and stopped the marriage in Malepuma in Kalinchowk Rural Municipality. Police also stopped a marriage of a 16-year-old girl with a 15-year-old boy in Melung. Police were told by parents that the marriage was done in agreement.
Interesting
Janaki Temple land encroached by land mafia
Rajdhani reports that acres of Janaki Temple land in Janakpur is under the name of land mafias. According to sources, the original documents of land are missing. Even though government officials know this, they haven’t been able to return the land to the temple.
Threat to press freedom increased
The Kathmandu Post reports that Nepal has become increasingly intolerant of journalists, with an increased number of attacks against them and growing digital surveillance of reporters, according to a new report by a civil liberty group.
The Freedom Forum report found 104 incidents of press freedom violations in Nepal in the last 12 months, which is nearly double of what was recorded in 2017. Incidents include journalists being subjected to physical attacks, lawsuits, barred from reporting certain events, and even receiving death threats.
FCAN officials getting calls for ransom
Karobar reports that the Federation of Contractors’ Association of Nepal claim that they fear for their lives. Around a dozen members of FCAN have been getting calls to pay an extortion fee. FCAN members claim that the country isn’t as safe and PM KP Sharma Oli claims it to be and add that they will have to leave Nepal is these calls continue. They fear for their lives because former FCAN President Sharad Kumar Gauchan was shot dead in the Capital on October 9, 2017, while he was on his way to office at Anamnagar.
