Good morning!
Here’s a quick summary of important, ignored and interesting reports from Thursday to kick-start your day:
Important
New residence for PMs after me: PM Oli
PM KP Sharma Oli said that the new PM residence being constructed at Baluwatar was not for him. Speaking after laying the foundation stone, PM Oli said that the new residence shall be used by Prime Ministers in the future.
PM not addressing parliament raises questions about his health
As the budget session ended on Thursday, lawmakers were puzzled why they were not addressed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. It is a parliamentary norm for the prime minister to address the House on the last day of a session. However, with PM Oli not addressing parliament, lawmakers have been left with more questions than answers.
NCP Chief Whip Dev Gurung said that the PM was busy which is why he did not come, but some lawmakers have said that the reason for the PM not being there is due to his poor health condition.
NCP leaders have said that doctors have urged PM to rest and avoid attending public events. However, the PM on Wednesday and Thursday attended three programmes. But he did not visit Parliament on either day.
Nepali Congress leaders have said that it would have been better had the addressed the House and thanked the lawmakers for their work this session.
Ignored
Govt planning to operate domestic airports under PPP model
The government is planning to hand-over the management of key domestic airports to the private sector. CAAN is planning to operate only some domestic airports under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
As of now, all domestic airports are operated and managed by CAAN itself. CAAN currently is working on handing-over the management of the Gautam Buddha International Airport to a foreign company.
Govt to import 20,000 tonnes sugar
To make sure that there are no shortages, the government is importing around 20,000 tonnes of sugar ahead of Dashain. The cabinet has given permission to the Food Management and Trade Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation Limited to import 10,000 metric tonnes of sugar each on 50 percent custom discounts.
The government aims to intervene to end artificial scarcity of sugar during festivals, said Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gokul Prasad Baskota.
Interesting
VVIP helicopter arrives in Nepal
The helicopter purchased by the government for VIPs and VVIPs has arrived in Nepal. The helicopter bought for Rs 1.5 billion will be handed over to the Nepali Army who will have to operate and maintain the VVIP chopper. However, as the helicopter will not have an army logo the regulation and the registration will be done by CAAN. Normally, CAAN does not regulate aircraft owned by the army.
NEA says budget to shift electricity poles not enough
Nepal Electricity Authority has said that it needs around Rs 50 billion to move electric poles on the roads which need expansion. Managing Director of NEA Kulman Ghising on Thursday said that NEA wasn’t given enough budget to move the poles. He said that the government had only allotted around Rs 250 million for the project which is why NEA was facing problems in removing the poles.
He said that the poles should be moved by the department of roads and added that NEA would offer technical support to the department.
