Author: space4knews

April 30, Tehrathum – The Laligurans Municipality in Tehrathum has decided to declare a public holiday on May 15 to carry out monkey control efforts. According to the municipality, controlling monkeys requires the involvement of many people, making a public holiday necessary. In a notice issued by Mayor Arjun Mabohang, it was stated, “Due to the need for a large number of personnel to chase away the monkeys, a public holiday has been declared on Friday, May 15, suspending all non-essential services.”

Mayor Mabohang explained that although the monkey problem appears limited on the surface, it has significantly impacted the farming community. Farmers must guard their fields and crops day and night to protect them from monkeys, preventing some children from attending school. In response, Laligurans Municipality has launched a program to reduce damage caused by monkeys in agriculture, funded through the approved budget for the fiscal year 2082/083.

The municipality has deployed monkey watchers with temporary structures in areas including Megha Pucchar of Ward No. 8, Sangamsthal Nageshwari of Wards No. 6 and 8, and Sinthapa Pucchar of Ward No. 5. The monkey problem is especially severe in settlements near the forest. While a long-term national-level solution is required, Mayor Mabohang noted that the local government has started efforts using its own resources to provide relief to farmers immediately. Devendra Khadka, ward chairperson and spokesperson of Laligurans Municipality Ward 7, announced that a special campaign titled “Chasing Monkeys and Marking Municipality Boundaries” will be conducted on May 15 and 16. Farmers, local representatives, employees, and citizens have been called upon to actively participate in the monkey control drive and protect agricultural lands.

The government’s initiative to update land records and remove encroachments on public land across 17 local units in Siraha has compelled squatters and landless communities to launch protests. Currently, 9,852 landless Dalit, squatter, and unorganized settlement families in Siraha live in temporary accommodations. The Land Rights Forum Siraha has condemned the eviction of settlements without securing safe housing as inhumane. April 13, Siraha.

Hari Saday, 56, from Dhangadhimai Municipality Ward No. 6, has earned his livelihood by laboring on others’ farms throughout his life to support his family. He stated, “Our ancestors have been squatters since forever. We worked day and night to raise our children. Now that I’m old, I don’t even have a plot of land registered in my name, even for my hut.” Along with Hari, other squatters have taken to protesting against the government’s decision.

In various squatter settlements in Siraha, one question dominates: “Where do we go now?” Sovereign Devi Saday from Golbazar Municipality Ward No. 3 said, “I live in constant fear of suddenly becoming homeless and cannot sleep.” Bhim Bahadur Damai from Mirchaiya Municipality Ward No. 6 added, “We Dalits have always been treated as vote banks. We had some hope when the leaders in government apologized to our community, but now they are destroying the homes of the poor again.”

Landless residents of Siraha are enraged by the government’s latest decision and the bulldozing of squatter settlements in different parts of the country. During a protest held on Monday in Dhangadhimai, participants openly expressed their pain and dissatisfaction. According to them, this movement is not out of desire but necessity. Ramsougar Devi Saday stated, “We had no desire to come out on the streets. We sustain our families through daily wage labor. We voted hoping for change, but now they threaten to destroy our homes!”

The Siraha District Administration Office’s decision issued on April 7 has heightened concerns among the landless, squatter, and unorganized settlement communities. The directive calls for updating records on public and government land in all 17 local units, preparing a plan to remove encroachments, and identifying genuine squatters for proper management processes. However, local squatters suspect that the ‘management’ plan aims to displace them. According to Samasti Lal Ale, president of the Land Rights Forum Siraha, eviction efforts without providing viable alternatives have made protests inevitable.

Data from the Land Problem Resolution Commission for the fiscal year 2081/82 shows that Siraha alone has 3,815 landless Dalit families, 2,663 landless squatter families, and 3,374 unorganized settlement families. In total, 9,852 families currently live temporarily along rural roadsides, on allotted land, forest areas, and private land owned by landlords. Government warnings to remove settlements on encroached and allotted land have left these communities living in constant fear.

April 13, Saptari – The joint market inspection committee in Rajbiraj, Saptari, has discovered unfit meat in several meat shops. Authorities have sealed the shutters of shops selling such meat. At three unregistered meat shops run by Mohammad Qadir and Mohammad Mastakim, operating in Rajbiraj Municipality Ward No. 3 for over a year, the inspection team confiscated inedible meat and sealed the premises.

According to Sunny Kumar Das, a veterinary expert from the Livestock Development Section of Rajbiraj Municipality, 6 kilograms of spoiled meat were destroyed. Similarly, over 10 kilograms of rotten meat were found and discarded at Savitri Khasi Meat Shop in Hatia, operated by the municipality’s Livestock Development Section. The joint market inspection committee conducted this inspection on Tuesday, targeting meat shops and hotels.

During the inspection, rotten meat was discovered in some shops, while others were found selling products at prices higher than the fixed rates, and these violations were duly noted. Additionally, Vijay Fresh House, a well-known supplier of meat in Rajbiraj, was found operating without a visible price list. At Yummy Sweets, one of the busiest hotels in Rajbiraj, nearly 2 kilograms of flour that had gone stale, used for bread making, was destroyed, as reported by Naresh Kumar Yadav, Assistant Chief District Officer and spokesperson of the District Administration Office. Furthermore, Yummy Sweets’ kitchen and storage areas for prepared sweets and bread were found to have poor sanitation, and food processing was being carried out in open spaces. Consequently, the establishment was completely shut down and instructed to produce food safely in the future.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobita Gautam presented the bilateral mutual legal assistance agreement on criminal matters between Nepal and India to the parliament on Tuesday. Officials stated that this marked a significant step forward in the implementation process of the agreement. During the presentation, Minister Gautam emphasized that the agreement aims primarily to facilitate effective and streamlined legal assistance in the investigation, prosecution, and judicial proceedings of criminal offenses between the two signatory states.

“Prior to this agreement, investigating crimes occurring across the two countries, collecting evidence and documents, retrieving assets hidden abroad through corruption, and prosecuting offenders was a significant challenge. Once the agreement is enacted, it will assist in penalizing criminals and recovering assets illicitly gained,” she remarked. Although officials from both countries signed the agreement last Falgun, its implementation had been delayed as both nations awaited the completion of their internal procedures. According to officials from the Ministry of Law, the domestic process in Nepal has now been finalized following the agreement’s tabling in the parliament.

“Parliamentary approval is not required for this agreement; informing the parliament suffices,” stated Vinod Kumar Bhattarai, head of the International Law and Treaty Agreements Division of the Ministry of Law. “India will either present it to their parliament if necessary or confirm that their internal process is complete. We will promptly notify India once the agreement has been tabled here and then initiate its implementation.” Expressing confidence in the agreement’s potential to aid investigations, former chief of Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Hemant Malla, said, “This agreement will facilitate joint investigations, evidence exchange, and handling cases involving crimes committed in one country and concealment in another.”

April 13, Kathmandu – Prime Minister Balen Shah is responding to questions raised regarding the government’s policy and program today. Following his responses, preparations are underway to pass the policy and program within the day. President Ram Chandra Paudel presented the government’s policy and program for the fiscal year 2079/80 (2022/23) on April 11 during the federal parliament session. The Federal Parliament Secretariat indicated that today’s agenda includes initiating discussion, with Prime Minister Balen Shah addressing the questions raised during the debate. Additionally, amendments proposed by members of parliament will be submitted for decision, and the policy and program is also likely to be put forward for approval. Party leaders addressed the assembly during yesterday’s session.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a charge sheet at the Special Court in Kathmandu against Chandra Bahadur Adhikari and Sumitra Kumari Ghimire Pudasaini in a Rs 5 million bribery case. Further investigation was conducted after discrepancies emerged between the statements given by Sumitra Kumari to the commission and her affidavit submitted to the court. It was confirmed that Pudasaini returned a cheque provided by Chandra Bahadur Adhikari and assisted in the bribery transaction, leading to her being held accountable as well. (April 11, Kathmandu)

On Tuesday, the CIAA filed a charge sheet at the Special Court in Kathmandu regarding the Rs 5 million bribery/extortion case. According to the commission, the prosecution is the Government of Nepal, and the defendants include Chandra Bahadur Adhikari. Sumitra Kumari Ghimire Pudasaini, a resident of Barpak Sulikot Gaunpalika–7 in Gorkha and currently residing in Chandragiri Municipality–5, Kathmandu, had been presented as a government witness. However, discrepancies between her affidavit submitted to the court and her statement to the commission prompted further investigation.

During the investigation, the CIAA confirmed that Pudasaini had submitted an affidavit to the Special Court on Baisakh 9, 2083 BS (April 21, 2026 AD), which contradicted the statement she had given to the commission. The Rs 5 million bribe cheque was issued in the name of ‘Sumitra Cosmetic and Fancy’, an establishment managed by Pudasaini herself, and the cheque was handed to her by Chandra Bahadur Adhikari, the commission stated. After receiving the cheque, Pudasaini attempted to settle the amount at the bank but retrieved the cheque when the settlement failed, the commission disclosed.

According to the CIAA, assisting in the bribery transaction constitutes an offense, and Pudasaini has been charged accordingly. The case against Sumitra Pudasaini has been filed with a Rs 5 million bail amount, demanding imprisonment and fines under Section 3(2) of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Act, 2059 (2002 AD).

US President Donald Trump has departed for Beijing for a visit to China. This is the first visit by a sitting US president to China in nearly a decade. The trip is expected to be a decisive moment in the relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Along with Trump, executives from major American companies are also arriving in Beijing. Representatives from Boeing, Citi Group, and Qualcomm are reportedly there to explore potential agreements with Chinese firms. Coming at a time when the trade war between Washington and Beijing has paused, this visit is also seen as a new test.

In 2018, Trump imposed import tariffs on countries around the world, ranging from allies to adversaries. This policy had the most significant impact on the trade war between the US and China. In response to US tariffs, China imposed its own levies, with some duties increasing by as much as 100%. Following a direct meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping in South Korea in October, these tariffs were temporarily suspended. However, threats from both sides remain in place.

When Trump won the 2016 election, he pledged to make international trade fair and to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US. In 2018, he announced tariffs totaling $250 billion on imports from China, widely regarded as the start of the trade war. According to Ning Leng, a policy researcher at Georgetown University, “This was the first time they seriously challenged Trump.” Due to these tariffs, American buyers sought alternatives, while Chinese workers faced increased risks.

After starting his second term, Trump doubled tariffs in 2025, imposing a 20% duty on imports from China. Later, on what he called ‘Liberation Day,’ he raised tariffs further to 35%, creating the highest import duties globally on Chinese goods. However, these tariffs did not apply to advanced chip-related products. In the current context, China holds a stronger position while its trade with the US has weakened. Thanks to new trade partnerships worldwide, China has achieved record-high export levels.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party had pledged during their election campaign to publicly disclose their asset declarations before assuming public office. However, out of 182 RSP MPs, only 58 have submitted their asset declarations to the Federal Parliament Secretariat so far. The Secretariat has issued a notice requesting MPs to submit their asset details by Jestha 10. Kathmandu, 29 Baisakh.

According to the Corruption Prevention Act and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Act, public office holders are required to submit their asset declarations to the relevant office within 60 days. Nonetheless, the Rastriya Swatantra Party went beyond legal requirements by promising to make their asset details public even before taking public office. In their 100-point manifesto submitted for the election held on 21 Falgun, point number 16 states: ‘‘Before holding public office, we will fully disclose our asset declarations.’’

The manifesto also pledged that prior to the election and after the completion of their term, independent audits of changes in their own and their families’ assets will be conducted and presented publicly. Based on these promises, although the RSP won two fewer seats than expected, they secured two-thirds of the votes and formed the government. The House of Representatives and its thematic committees have been formed. However, despite their commitment to disclose asset declarations prior to assuming office, RSP MPs have yet to make their asset declarations public.

According to the MP Facilities Branch of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, only 58 MPs have submitted their asset details so far. These declarations have been submitted to the MP Facilities Branch of the Secretariat. The House of Representatives consists of 182 RSP MPs, in addition to 38 from the Nepali Congress, 25 from the CPN-UML, 17 from the Nepal Communist Party, 7 from the Labor Culture Party, 5 from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and one independent MP. Among all these members, only 58 have submitted their asset declarations. The deadline for submission is still open, and the MP Facilities Branch has issued a notice extending the deadline to Jestha 10.

April 13, Kathmandu – According to the foreign currency exchange rates set by Nepal Rastra Bank today, the values of the US Dollar, Australian Dollar, and Euro have increased. In contrast, the values of the UK Pound Sterling, Swiss Franc, and Canadian Dollar have declined today. The buying rate of the US Dollar is set at NPR 152.71 and the selling rate at NPR 153.31. Yesterday, the buying rate was NPR 152.20 and the selling rate NPR 152.80.

The European Euro’s buying rate today is NPR 179.31, and the selling rate is NPR 180.02. Yesterday, the buying rate stood at NPR 179.20 and the selling rate at NPR 179.91. The UK Pound Sterling has depreciated; today its buying rate is NPR 206.72 and the selling rate NPR 207.53 compared to yesterday’s buying rate of NPR 207.17 and selling rate of NPR 207.99.

The Swiss Franc has also dropped in value today. Its buying rate is NPR 195.53 and selling rate NPR 196.30, whereas yesterday the buying rate was NPR 195.60 and selling NPR 196.38. The Australian Dollar has risen in value, with a buying rate of NPR 110.35 and selling rate of NPR 110.78 today, up from NPR 110.30 and NPR 110.73 respectively yesterday.

The Canadian Dollar’s value has decreased, with today’s buying rate at NPR 111.39 and selling rate at NPR 111.82, compared to yesterday’s buying rate of NPR 111.40 and selling rate of NPR 111.84. The Singapore Dollar has appreciated, with a buying rate of NPR 120.02 and a selling rate of NPR 120.49 today, up from NPR 119.92 and NPR 120.39 respectively yesterday. These exchange rates remain effective today.

The internal dispute within the CPN-UML Sudurpashchim Province Parliamentary Party has been temporarily resolved following self-criticism by Leader Rajendra Singh Rawal. Party Chair KP Sharma Oli convened all provincial assembly members from Sudurpashchim at his residence in Gundu to discuss the conflict. During talks addressing the allegations against Rawal and demands for leadership change, emphasis was placed on government reshuffling, with Oli instructing all MPs to maintain unity. Dated 30 Baishakh, Dhangadhi.

Tension within the parliamentary party eased after Leader Rajendra Singh Rawal acknowledged concerns about his conduct. Chair Oli had earlier summoned all Sudurpashchim provincial assembly members to his residence in Gundu for discussions regarding the dispute. On 23 Baishakh, he first met with the provincial MPs, followed by separate dialogues with Deputy General Secretary Lekharaj Bhatt, Province Coordinator Ganesh Thagunna, Chair Krishna Prasad Jaishi, and Leader Rawal.

During the discussions, Rawal accepted self-criticism regarding questions raised about his leadership style and behavior, committing to collaborate more effectively moving forward. He apologized if his words or demeanor caused discomfort but maintained that he had not engaged in activities detrimental to the party. The demand for government reshuffling was raised during the talks in Oli’s presence, with Rawal pledging to address his weaknesses, which diminished calls for leadership change within the parliamentary party.

Calls for Rawal’s removal as party leader came from Deputy Leader Santosh Sharma Thapa, Chief Whip Chakra Mall, and MP Daman Bhandari, who had separate consultations with Chair Oli and General Secretary Shankar Pokharel. However, during discussions in Gundu, these leaders focused more on government reshuffling than leadership change. According to one leader involved in the talks, those dissatisfied with Rawal’s style proposed reorganizing the cabinet before the upcoming fiscal year budget to ensure their inclusion in the government. Chair Oli directed Rawal to unify all parliamentary members and lead cohesively.

Regarding the government reshuffle, leaders indicated decisions would be made after further consultation with others. Sources report ongoing high-level discussions on whether to maintain the existing power-sharing arrangement with Nepali Congress or to form a new political alignment as proposed by the CPN-UML. Meanwhile, parliamentary party leader Rajendra Singh Rawal declined to comment publicly on the discussions held in Chair Oli’s presence, requesting instead that inquiries be made directly with the Chair. Some provincial assembly members had long been dissatisfied with Rawal, accusing him of unilateral decisions on budget allocation, political appointments, and government management. As tensions escalated, despite health issues, Chair Oli actively engaged in efforts to resolve the dispute. Groups pressing for Rawal’s removal are currently monitoring his conduct and have indicated they will consider further action if improvements are not observed.

April 13, Damauli (Tanahun) – The construction of the access tunnel for the 126-megawatt Lower Seti Hydropower Project has officially commenced in Devghat Rural Municipality-4, Tanahun. Tanahun Hydropower Limited, a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority, has entered into a contract with R.K. Hydro Engineering and Associates Pvt. Ltd. of Kathmandu to undertake the tunnel construction.

Project Chief Harikumar Shrestha informed that while the contract agreement was finalized on February 19, 2024 (7th Falgun 2080 BS), delays occurred due to the pending approval process for the use of explosives, causing temporary interruption in construction. Once the necessary approvals were secured, tunnel excavation work resumed.

According to Chief Shrestha, the access tunnel is a critical component of the hydropower project’s main infrastructure, serving a vital role in geological studies, exploration, and as a key access route. The Lower Seti Hydropower Project is a run-of-river scheme with a semi-reservoir, projected to generate an annual electricity output of approximately 5.2078 billion units.

The dam will be constructed on the Seti River near Sarangkot within Bandipur Rural Municipality, Tanahun, with a height of 32 meters and an estimated reservoir length of roughly 12.7 kilometers. Stored water will be conveyed through a 6.75-kilometer-long tunnel to the semi-underground powerhouse located at Gai Ghat in Devghat Rural Municipality-4.

The Detailed Project Report was prepared with grant assistance from the Asian Development Bank. The project’s estimated total cost stands at $227 million USD, with funding structured through 30% equity and 70% debt, as per Nepal Electricity Authority’s decisions.

Additionally, land acquisition procedures for approximately 146 ropani (7.46 hectares) of land designated for the powerhouse and employee housing have been initiated following budget allocation by the Nepal Electricity Authority. After becoming operational, the project is expected to produce 126 megawatts of electricity for at least six hours daily during the dry season.

Chief Shrestha emphasized the project’s importance as a cascade facility that will fully utilize the water released from the upstream Tanahun Hydropower Project reservoir. He highlighted the need for government prioritization in securing budget provisions to support this critical linkage.

Utilization of the Tanahun project’s transmission lines will eliminate the necessity for additional transmission infrastructure. Moreover, the project’s strategic location near major load centers such as Kathmandu and Bharatpur enhances cost-effectiveness and commercial viability. Grid connection agreements are already in place, and power purchase agreement negotiations are ongoing.

Shrestha also mentioned the requirement for a concrete bridge over the Trishuli River to ensure reliable access to the powerhouse and employee housing in Devghat Rural Municipality-4. The estimated cost for this bridge is around NPR 37 crore, necessitating multi-year budget arrangements.

The environmental impact assessment has been submitted to the Ministry of Forests for final approval. Financial support efforts are underway with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, while the Asian Development Bank has included the project in its 2027 implementation pipeline, according to the project chief.

The government is preparing to restructure the health insurance program to reduce its financial burden and improve service effectiveness. With more than NPR 1.6 billion in outstanding payments by the Health Insurance Board, an annual expenditure of NPR 2.5 to 2.6 billion has been required. The restructuring plan aims to reduce financial strain, prevent leakages, improve the co-payment system, and revise the service package. April 12, Kathmandu.

The government is undertaking a restructuring of the health insurance program to address financial challenges, leakage, and management problems, ensuring its sustainability and long-term viability. President Ram Chandra Paudel mentioned the health insurance restructuring in his policy and programs speech for the upcoming fiscal year during the joint session of the Federal Parliament. A senior official from the Ministry of Health and Population stated that although restructuring is mentioned in the policy documents, a detailed action plan is currently under development.

The primary objective of the restructuring is to reduce the existing financial burden within the insurance system, enhance service effectiveness, and enable citizens to more easily access services beyond basic health care. The main cause of the high financial burden is the economic imbalance within the system, where the government holds significant fiscal responsibility for program operation. Service provider hospitals have faced difficulties in recovering millions of rupees, leading to diminishing program effectiveness.

Controlling leakage and duplication is another important aspect of the restructuring. Currently, unnecessary tests and duplicated services at various hospitals, combined with weak management, result in significant expenditures. According to the ministry official, strict measures will be implemented to stop such leakages and improve service management. Furthermore, the ministry source indicated potential improvements in the co-payment system to ensure the program’s sustainability.

In Kanchanpur district, out of 111,067 households, 74,848 families do not possess land ownership certificates (Lalpurja). In Kailali, among 195,957 households, 134,233 families lack these certificates. Yagyanarayan Upadhyay, Chairman of the Land Problem Resolution Commission in Kailali, stated that post-census migration and the presence of Mukta Kamaiyas contribute to the high number of families without Lalpurja. April 11, Kathmandu.

In Krishnapur Municipality of Kanchanpur, 15,787 families are without Lalpurja, while the 2021 national census recorded 15,111 households there. In Shuklaphanta Municipality, 199 landless Dalits, 179 landless Sukumbasis, and 12,283 informal settlers—totaling 12,661 families—do not have land ownership certificates. In Beladandi Rural Municipality of Kanchanpur, out of 4,701 households, 4,760 families lack Lalpurja.

In Ghodaghodi Municipality of Kailali, there are 18,383 households, of which 18,260 families do not have Lalpurja. Among these families, 17,691 are informal settlers, 340 are landless Sukumbasis, and 229 are landless Dalits. In Godawari Municipality, with 21,250 households, 19,236 families lack land ownership certificates. According to Yagyanarayan Upadhyay, the number of families without Lalpurja may even exceed the total number of households.

The issues faced by landless Dalits, Sukumbasis, and informal settlers extend beyond housing, encompassing social, judicial, economic opportunities, land rights, and trust in the state. According to Pant, government policies are the primary reason many landowners lack formal certificates. The government has recently amended the law to dissolve the commission and allow for the formation of task forces or committees to address these issues.