A dispute between Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor over the model of Ranipokhari reconstruction has received attention from all major Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu on Wednesday. Some media reports have also carried stories to explain why the Mayor’s insistence on concrete walls around the historic pond is wrong. Besides that, contemporary political issues including the delay in new government formation, deadlock in the National Assembly election system and failure of left alliance top leaders to hold a meeting have also been prioritised in the front page today.
Important
Kathmandu Mayor accused of mishandling Ranipokhari reconstruction
After members of civil society and locals raised concerns that ongoing construction works at Ranipokhari are likely to destroy the historic pond’s traditional design, Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s Deputy Mayor Hariprabha Khadgi has also accused Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya of carrying out post-earthquake reconstruction works at Ranipokhari without the approval of Department of Archaeology.
Khadgi directed workers to halt the ongoing workers and subsequently padlocked the site yesterday, but Mayor Shakya unlocked it after some minutes. Most newspapers have covered the issue in the front page today.
Gorkhapatra says locals have launched a protest claiming the City is using concretes, rods and cement in the reconstruction, thereby altering the traditional appearance. Annapurna Post says those who are for conserving the archaeological site have backed Khadgi while those who view the site can be used as a means to generate revenues have supported Shakya.
Following the dispute, the reconstruction of the pond which suffered significant damages during the 2015 earthquake has been uncertain, according to The Himalayan Times.
Republica, Kantipur, Nepal Samacharpatra and Nagarik also carry the issue in the front page.
What’s wrong with left alliance?
CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN-Maoist Centre Chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal were scheduled to hold a meeting yesterday to discuss issues including the proposed unification between the parties and new government formation. The meeting, however, could not take place and it has been suspected that there are some misunderstandings between them, reports Annapurna Post. The Himalayan Times also observes lack of trust growing among the leaders.
Annapurna Post report adds that the top leaders are not satisfied with each-other’s role for unification. Meanwhile, second-generation leaders of both the parties have launched a campaign to pile pressure on the leadership for an early unification, according to the report.
The Kathmandu Post says the meeting has been postponed for Wednesday. The report informs that the meeting could not take place yesterday as Dahal wanted to consult some leaders of his party before the meeting with Oli.
Nepal, India officials fail to resolve clinker crisis
Karobar and Abhiyan have reported that officials of Nepal and India have failed to solve the problem regarding the obstruction in supply of clinker, the raw material for Nepal’s cement factories.
For last few days, locals of Raxaul have obstructed the supply and Indian officials had decided that Birgunj dry port can be used as an alternative site to unload clinker. But now, Nepali officials have objected to the Indian officials’ decision claiming it was unilateral and they were not consulted, reports Abhiyan, adding 13 cement plants in Bara and Parsa districts of Nepal have been hit hard due to the crisis.
Karobar says officials of the two countries held a meeting yesterday in a bid to solve the issue, but failed.
Ignored
Govt calls donors to fund federalism implementation
Kantipur lead story for the day says the government is preparing to issue a call to donor agencies for their support in the implementation of new federal structure after concluding that revenues and domestic debts cannot suffice the needed expenses. Quoting a Ministry of Finance official, the report informs that the World Bank is being assigned to make coordination with other donor agencies for the support.
It has been estimated that the government immediately needs Rs 1 trillion to launch services at local and provincial levels whereas Rs 350 billion is needed for their management.
Kathmandu becoming transit hub for wildlife smuggling
Nepal Samacharpatra anchor story for the day claims that Kathmandu city is being developed as a transit hub for international wildlife smuggling racketeers. The report says Nepali youth have also become attracted to this crime as it can fetch them a good sum of money in a comparative short time.
Kathmandu’s District Forest Officer Indra Prasad Sapkota tells the paper that around 50 cases of wildlife smuggling have been reported in the district in past one year.
Interesting
Seven ministries proposed in each province
Republica reports that the government has finalised a draft of directives concerning the roles and responsibilities of provincial governments.
The draft has proposed seven ministries—Office of the Provincial Council of Ministers, Financial Development Ministry, Home Ministry, Agriculture Cooperative and Land Management Ministry, Provincial Infrastructure Development Ministry, Forest Science and Environment Ministry, and Education Health and Social Development Ministry—for each province.
The directives will come into effect after the Cabinet approves it.
