Author: space4knews

The government has instructed all ministries, departments, commissions, secretariats, and other bodies to immediately close all trade union offices. Through a circular, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has requested trade union employees to return to their designated posts as per the authorized staffing structures. The circular further mandates the recovery of office buildings, vehicles, and other government properties used by the trade unions, and directs authorities to ensure that the employees are assigned their official duties accordingly.

Kathmandu, 22 Baisakh — The government has issued a directive to shut down all offices of trade unions. On Tuesday evening, a circular distributed to ministries, departments, commissions, secretariats, and agencies ordered the closure of all trade union offices. According to the circular released by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration on Tuesday evening, employees associated with various trade union committees are instructed to return to their designated responsibilities as per their authorized posts.

“All departmental and other committee offices related to trade unions affiliated with the civil service are to be closed. If these committees have polluted or misused office buildings, workspaces, vehicles, and other government assets for trade union purposes, the concerned office must reclaim these properties. Furthermore, arrangements must be made to assign the employees affiliated with the trade union committees to their duties as per their authorized staffing structure, as per the secretary-level decision dated 2083/01/22,” the ministry’s circular states.

The task force established for constitutional amendment held discussions with former heads of constitutional bodies, former chief secretaries, foreign affairs experts, and former administrators. The task force emphasized advancing the constitutional amendment through national consensus and proceeding carefully with sensitive issues that will have long-term impacts. Suggestions discussed included governmental structure, federalism, electoral system, reforms of constitutional bodies, and empowering local levels. April 5, Kathmandu.

The task force, formed to prepare a discussion paper on constitutional amendment, consulted with former heads of constitutional bodies, former chief secretaries, foreign affairs experts, and former administrators. The consultation, which lasted around three hours at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, involved in-depth discussions on topics ranging from governmental structure to federalism, the electoral system, and constitutional bodies. The task force, chaired by the Prime Minister’s political advisor Asim Shah, clarified its commitment to advancing the constitutional amendment through national consensus.

Chairman Shah noted that the constitutional amendment meets both public expectations and current necessities, emphasizing the need for sensitive handling of issues with long-term consequences. Experts participating in the discussion offered various suggestions for improvements concerning governmental form, electoral system, federalism, the rights of provinces and local levels, independent judiciary, and the structure of constitutional bodies. Former administrators and experts such as Bimal Koirala, Umesh Mainali, Tankmani Sharma Dangal, Madhuraman Acharya, Manbahadur Bik, Yamakumari Khatiwada, Bhanu Acharya, Somlal Subedi, Jayaraj Acharya, Krishnahari Baskota, and Ganesh Josheel presented their respective views and recommendations.

Former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala suggested implementing a mixed electoral system combining direct election and proportional representation, reducing the number of members in the National Assembly, and appointing the Vice President as the chairperson of the National Assembly. He emphasized clarifying the distribution of powers among federal, provincial, and local levels while empowering local governments further. Former civil servant Umesh Mainali highlighted that lawmakers’ desire to become ministers has negatively influenced policy-making and proposed restricting lawmakers solely to lawmaking roles while introducing directly elected executive heads.

Additionally, the task force stated that the suggestions received will be incorporated into the discussion paper, and further consultations will be conducted in the coming phases.

The Investment Board has approved a total investment of Rs 1.673 trillion across 53 projects since its establishment. Currently, 28 hydropower projects under development involve investments totaling Rs 598 billion. Two projects are in the financial management stage, while 11 are at the development agreement phase. Kathmandu, 22 Baisakh. The total approved investment by the Investment Board has nearly reached Rs 1.7 trillion. According to the Board, investments worth Rs 1.673 trillion have been approved for 53 projects since its inception. Former CEO of the Board, Sushil Gyawali, stated that the Board has focused on channeling investments into long-term, significant projects. He mentioned that while projects worth Rs 1.7 trillion have been approved, investment proposals for approximately Rs 2 trillion more projects have also been received.

Recently, the Investment Board announced, in collaboration with the Nepal Chamber of Industry, plans to develop a pipeline of public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth US$1 billion. These projects are targeted for implementation over the next 10 years and will be presented to investors. The Board highlighted that this initiative will help increase Nepal’s economic size to US$100 billion within five to seven years, aligning with the current government’s economic goals. The Investment Board was established in 2011 (2068 BS). Two projects with a combined cost of Rs 5.881 billion have been fully completed and are currently operational. The Hongshi Cement investment was approved in 2015 (2072 BS) and is now producing, as is the Huaxin Cement project approved in the same year, currently in production.

The 28 hydropower projects under construction have a combined investment of Rs 598 billion. These include the 900 MW Arun Third, 216 MW Upper Trishuli–1, 50 MW Marsyangdi Bessi Hydropower, 60 MW Upper Trishuli–3B, and 42.9 MW Ankhu Khola Hydropower projects. Additionally, projects under construction include the 57.3 MW Myagdi Khola Hydropower, 164 MW Kali Gandaki Gorge, 97.2 MW Isuwa Khola, 77.5 MW Ghunsa Khola Hydropower, and 57 MW Himchuli Dordi Hydropower.

Two projects are at the financial management stage, with a total estimated cost of Rs 255 billion. These are the 669 MW Lower Arun Hydropower Project and the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project. Eleven projects are currently at the development agreement stage, with a total cost of Rs 555 billion. These projects include the China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park in Damak, 327 MW Upper Marsyangdi-2, Dabur Nepal capacity enhancement and production diversification, Kathmandu Valley waste management project (first package), Nayapul-Muktinath cable car, 210 MW Chainpur Seti Hydropower, and 341 MW Budhigandaki Hydropower Project.

Five projects are in the detailed study phase, with an estimated investment value of Rs 8.4 billion. These include a 245 MW grid-connected solar PV and battery storage project, Dang Cement, Samrat Cement, Suryatara Cement, and the Kathmandu Valley waste management project’s second and third packages.

During this period, five projects were unable to proceed to the implementation phase. The Board’s Monitoring and Facilitation Committee, at its 13th meeting last week, identified the issues and challenges faced by these stalled projects. It decided that policy decisions are necessary and will coordinate with relevant developers and agencies to prepare proposals for presentation at the upcoming meeting. The projects yet to progress include Dangote Cement, Reliance Cement, the vehicle manufacturing and assembly plant project, Venture Waste to Energy in Dharan, and hotel projects in Dahachowk, Bhaktapur, and Pokhara.

The Nepal Landless Squatters and Informal Settlers Struggle Committee is preparing to hold a protest in Butwal against the eviction of settlements in Rupandehi. Committee Coordinator Khagendra Paudel stated that eviction attempts directed by the central government have created widespread fear throughout the district. The committee has warned of a major protest on 24 Baishakh, during which they will submit a memorandum to the local government and mount a strong resistance if forced evictions proceed.

At a press conference held in Butwal on Tuesday, the Struggle Committee announced that eviction processes are being carried out without any alternatives, prompting them to organize protests to demand a halt. Paudel said, “Following direct orders from the central government, many local municipalities in Rupandehi have begun clearing squatter and informal settlements, causing panic across the district.” They have warned of firm opposition in the event of evictions without suitable alternatives.

Paudel emphasized that the government must first identify genuine landless and informal settlers and manage the issue according to the frameworks established by the Land Commission under previous administrations. He also stressed that the current government, as the successor of former administrations, must assume responsibility for decisions and actions taken by those governments and the Land Commission.

Advisor to the Struggle Committee, Birendra Bik, pointed out that due to past government shortcomings, those who have cultivated and inhabited land for years have not received land ownership certificates. Instead of displacing these residents now, the government should provide them with official land ownership documents. Following the large-scale protest planned on 24 Baishakh, a memorandum will be submitted to the local government and District Administration Office, and any further forced evictions will be met with strong resistance, Bik warned. According to the recently dissolved Land Problem Resolution Commission, approximately 80,000 families of landless Dalits, landless squatters, and informal settlers currently reside in Rupandehi.

Approximately a year and a half ago, continuous rainfall in the month of Ashoj severely affected the BP Highway, especially in areas surrounding the Roshi River. The government has now prepared arrangements to allow vehicle movement during the monsoon season in this region. The Director General of the Department of Roads has provided information regarding this plan. On Sunday, flooding at Roshi River trapped 89 passengers inside a microbus, compelling various security agencies to conduct a joint rescue operation that successfully evacuated all individuals by midnight. This incident underscored the necessity for the government to advance such a plan.

“For the past month, we have been operating vehicles via a river diversion route,” said Director General Vijay Jaisi. “Currently, work is underway to allow vehicles to run on the original alignment. Our efforts focus on ensuring uninterrupted travel during the peak rainy season by making the main road passable for vehicles. Hence, vehicles have been running through the diversion for now.”

According to Director General Jaisi, although full repairs to the road have not been completed, arrangements will be made to permit vehicle movement. “During the river diversion, we coordinated with the Meteorological Department to regulate vehicle stoppages as necessary. However, the situation that occurred on Sunday was sudden and unexpected.”

On Tuesday, the Kavrepalanchok District Administration Office issued a notification stating that vehicle movement on the Khurkot-Bhukundebesi section will be completely suspended from 5 PM to 5 AM. “This notification is intended to ensure public safety while reconstruction work is being carried out between Kavre Katunjebesi and Sindhuli Nepalthok,” explained Chief District Officer Gopal Kumar Adhikari.

“The approximately 28-kilometer stretch is occasionally flooded by river waters or may become a riverbed itself. This condition, when vehicles break down, can lead to heightened risks from flooding,” Director General Jaisi added. He expressed confidence that an additional month will be granted to complete repairs on the half-damaged section alongside the river. In Nepal, the monsoon season generally begins in mid-June and lasts until mid-October.

Fifteen-year-old Kalu Patik from Ethiopia has won the hearts of millions on social media by creating fashionable clothes from plastic and discarded materials. Without expensive equipment or branded designs, he focuses entirely on creativity and has amassed millions of followers. At just 15 years old, he has already become a successful social media influencer. Primarily, he designs fashion pieces using plastic and discarded materials. When asked what his garments look like, he creates videos showcasing them in unique and attractive styles. His work has captivated many users on social platforms worldwide.

His specialty lies in presenting discarded or overlooked materials in fun and appealing ways. Filming without costly studios, large productions, or lavish sets, he balances himself on an old piece of wood while striking unusual poses. He often utilizes old shoes, plastic, wire, foil paper, and fabric in his creations. Although he does not speak in his videos, the well-executed transitions and audio effects keep viewers engaged for long periods.

Kalu Patik is entirely self-taught, having no formal education from any fashion school. His achievements have reached a level where the fashion industry can no longer ignore him. After his videos garnered millions of views, some have started to compare him to ‘Khaby Lame,’ a similar TikTok star who rose to fame without words. Major brands are now attempting to reach out to him. Recently, Instagram commented that they would feature Kalu’s account the following week; however, Kalu has not responded publicly, which has further fueled conversations about him. That comment alone has received over two million likes.

Instagram regularly features creative individuals on its platform and had contacted Kalu in this context. Due to such developments, Kalu, a DIY (do-it-yourself) fashion maker, has successfully attracted global attention.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) attempted to reassure government employees via social media on Tuesday morning; however, his message failed to satisfy them. Uttam Kumar Kutuwal, president of the Nepal Civil Service Union, responded, “Though assurances were given on Facebook, an ordinance has been introduced that curtails our rights. It’s like allowing someone to eat first but then shooting them—if you want us dead, then let us starve.”
Following the government’s ordinance that dissolved the employees’ official trade unions, six employee organizations announced on Monday their intention to approach the courts. Kutuwal affirmed their resolve, saying, “We must be allowed to speak out and demand our rights. No country has ever forcibly taken away such rights; it is tragic that Nepal is doing so. We will pursue legal remedies for this.”
Bhagwati Nyaupane Dahal, president of the Nepal Civil Service Organization, also stated that legal consultations and preparations are underway, and they are ready to take the matter to court soon. She remarked, “We expected the Prime Minister, who said ‘let the government talk,’ not to suppress our right to speak as he has.” The employee organizations allege that their rights are being stripped in violation of the constitution, regulations, laws, international norms, practices, treaties, and agreements.
However, Prime Minister Balen has stated that the ordinance does not deprive employees of their rights. The amendments made through the ordinance include provisions for the civil service to address grievances. According to these, any employee facing issues can submit complaints orally or in writing to their office head. If the decision is unsatisfactory, they may request a review; if unresolved, they may pursue legal action. The Prime Minister commented, “This does not take away rights but strengthens professional independence. From now on, appointments, transfers, and promotions will be based on law, capability, and efficiency—not party affiliation.”

In Sundarharaicha Municipality-7, Salkapur of Morang district, a collision between a truck and a motorcycle resulted in the death of 20-year-old Anish Budhathoki. Two others injured in the accident have been sent to Nobel Hospital in Biratnagar for treatment. The police have taken the truck driver into custody and are conducting the necessary investigation.

On 22 Baisakh in Kathmandu, a fatal accident occurred in Morang when a truck and a motorcycle collided. The vehicles involved were a truck with registration number Pr.1-01-001 Kh 4303 and a motorcycle registered as Ko.10 Pa 8128, which collided on the road in Sundarharaicha Municipality-7, Salkapur, causing the accident on Tuesday afternoon.

The motorcycle rider, 20-year-old Anish Budhathoki from Chatharjorpati Rural Municipality-1, Dhankuta, was seriously injured and initially taken to Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar. However, according to police sources, he died during treatment. Two other individuals riding the motorcycle were injured and have been transferred to Nobel Hospital in Biratnagar for medical care. The police have detained the truck driver and are carrying out the necessary investigations.