Good morning!
Here’s a quick summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from Monday to kickstart your Tuesday.
Important
Capital expenditure below par: PM Oli asks contract of projects in limbo to be scrapped
PM KP Sharma Oli had said that the capital expenditure of the government has not been up to the expectation even as the second quarter of the fiscal year is nearly ending. He has asked all ministries to prepare a detailed report of the contract of all projects. With this, he has also asked concerned ministries to scrap contracts signed with the contractors who have not done the work as per the requirements.
Speaking at a review meeting on Monday, PM Oli said that the current capital expenditure was only 14 per cent and added that it was much better last year. He further added that there needed to be changes in the Public Procurement Act to make sure that the contracts could be given to contractors on a merit basis.
Govt gives medical 24-hours to refund excess fees
The government has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to medical colleges to return the extra fees taken from the students, or face action. A meeting held at the Home Ministry on Monday decided to take action against the medical colleges taking extra fees from the students.
The government, last year, had fixed a ceiling on the amount the colleges could take from MBBS students. While a medical college can charge Rs 3.85 million in Kathmandu Valley, a college form outside the valley can take up to Rs 4.24 million.
Ignored
Govt should start nationalising medical colleges, says KC
Medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC has urged the government to start the process to nationalise medical colleges. Releasing a statement on Monday, KC also asked the government to take action against medical colleges who have failed to refund the excess to its students. He has warned of another hunger strike if the government doesn’t take action against the colleges and start the process to nationalise medical colleges.
Mediciti doctor arrested on attempt to rape charge
Police have arrested Dr Rohit Prasad Jha of Mediciti Hospital on allegations of an attempt to rape. Dr Jha has been accused of attempting to rape a patient who had visited the hospital for treatment. The woman has lodged a complaint at the Lalitpur Police Range. Dr Jha is currently kept at the Lalitpur Police Office for necessary investigation.
Interesting
Lamichhane to miss SAG due to eye surgery
Nepali leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane will not take part in the South Asian Games starting in Nepal on December 1. Lamichhane’s local representative Raman Siwakoti said that the young legspinner would not take part in the SAG as he is undergoing an eye surgery sometime this week.
Lamichhane, who has recently come back to Kathmandu after taking part in the T10 League in Abu Dhabi, will be out of action for the next few weeks. He will, however, be taking part in the tri-series happening in Nepal from February.
DoI proposes international airlines to play audio about Nepal during flights
In a bid to promote Visit Nepal Year 2020, aeroplanes coming to Nepal will be asked to play audios message during flights. The Department of Immigration has asked the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to ask international airlines to do so in order to boost the VNY 2020.
The department’s Director-General Ishwar Raj Poudel has said that the audio message will be around two-minute-long. He says that the message will be played as the aircraft enters Nepali airspace. Poudel says that this could be a great initiative to help boost the VNY 2020.
