Author: space4knews

The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs, and General Administration has intensified its investigation into irregularities observed in the cooperative sector. Based on the report of the Cooperative Investigation Commission, the ministry has requested written explanations within seven days from 14 former officials and employees. A five-member committee, led by the Chief of the Administration Division, has been formed to implement the commission’s report and conduct further study. Minister for Cooperatives, Pratibha Rawal, stated that concrete plans have been initiated for structural reforms in the cooperative sector. (19 Jestha, Kathmandu)

The ministry is prepared to implement the recommendations and suggestions outlined in the report submitted by the Cooperative Irregularities Investigation Commission 2082, established per the decision of the Council of Ministers. According to the report, made public following the Council’s decision on Jestha 11, several actions such as cooperative registration, expansion of operational scope, approval of service centers, branch offices, and mergers violated cooperative principles, values, and existing laws. Officials responsible at the time have been asked to provide clarifications.

The report recommended investigating 14 former officials and employees by name. Those asked for explanations range in rank from branch officers to joint secretaries. The ministry has formally communicated with these individuals, requesting detailed written responses within seven days regarding any improper conduct cited in the commission’s report during their tenure. The ministry has warned that failure to respond within the stipulated time will result in legal actions in accordance with prevailing laws.

For further study, the ministry established a five-member committee under the coordination of the Chief of the Administration Division. The committee includes a director from the Cooperative Regulation Authority, a deputy secretary from the ministry’s Legal Division, a deputy registrar from the Cooperative Department, and a deputy secretary from the Cooperative Promotion Division serving as the member secretary. The committee’s mandate is to thoroughly study the commission’s report, prepare short-term and long-term reform suggestions, analyze the explanations received, assist in drafting a new Cooperative Act, and examine and analyze files related to cooperative institution commentary cited in the report. Minister Pratibha Rawal emphasized that the implementation of the report will be prioritized and stated, “Work on concrete plans for structural reform of the cooperative sector, as recommended by the report, has already begun.”

The government has announced a plan in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget to operate a green urea fertilizer industry through a partnership between Nepal Electricity Authority and the private sector. The Electricity Authority will provide electricity at subsidized rates for green urea production, and the government will purchase the produced fertilizer under a guaranteed policy. However, energy experts argue that the primary responsibility of the Electricity Authority is to supply electricity and that it should not engage directly in fertilizer production. Kathmandu, May 2, 2026. To address the shortage of chemical fertilizers in Nepal, the government has introduced an ambitious initiative in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. The Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Ministry has proposed to run a ‘green urea’ fertilizer industry under a company model operated through collaboration between Nepal Electricity Authority and the private sector.

The government has planned to attract private investment by offering a purchase guarantee for the produced fertilizer and supplying electricity at concessional rates. According to Amtsukiran Shahi, a member of the Authority’s Board of Directors, the process involves extracting hydrogen to manufacture green urea. The global interest in green hydrogen has sparked similar enthusiasm in Nepal, especially after its inclusion in the latest budget. The government has already conducted three studies which concluded that producing green urea fertilizer in Nepal is feasible. Based on these investigations, this process was incorporated into the budget for the first time.

Initially, there were discussions among the secretaries of the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Energy. Following these talks, it was agreed to proceed with a pilot project, focusing on Udayapur Cement Industry. The plan is to fuse gases emitted from the cement factory to produce urea fertilizer. However, the Udayapur Cement Industry is currently non-operational, and the government is preparing to restart it. The project intends to utilize waste gases from this industry to manufacture green urea fertilizer, Shahi explained.

Typically, chemical fertilizer production uses fossil fuels like natural gas or coal, which increase carbon emissions. In contrast, green urea in Nepal will be produced by using abundant hydropower to separate hydrogen from water. This method is both fully environmentally friendly and based on domestic raw materials—electricity and water, Shahi added. The production of green urea requires three primary raw materials: electricity, water, and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Initially, electricity is used to split water (H₂O) to extract hydrogen gas. Then, nitrogen is combined with this hydrogen to produce ammonia, which is subsequently mixed with carbon dioxide to form solid urea fertilizer.

Nepal plans to capture carbon dioxide emissions from industries such as Udayapur Cement for this purpose. “Cement factories emit large amounts of CO₂; using this captured gas reduces pollution and enables low-cost fertilizer production,” Shahi noted. The budget outlines special incentives for attracting private sector investment in this industry. The Electricity Authority will supply power at concessional rates and begin green urea production on a trial basis accordingly. “We have the capacity to produce large quantities of urea domestically by supplying electricity at just five rupees per unit,” Shahi affirmed.

Regarding feasibility in Nepal, Kathmandu University is conducting the technical studies. Preparations are underway to launch a pilot project with a capacity of about 2.5 megawatts. Using surplus electricity during the rainy season for fertilizer production will help optimize resource utilization, Shahi explained. The Water and Energy Commission Secretariat and Alternative Energy Promotion Centre are prioritizing these studies. Neighboring India has also established a green hydrogen department within its electricity authority. Despite the promising prospects, some legal and technical challenges remain. According to Director Shahi, Nepal currently lacks a regulatory body to test hydrogen quality and oversee its regulation. Given hydrogen gas’s high flammability, stringent safety and quality control measures are necessary.

Nepal annually spends a significant amount on importing chemical fertilizers. If the government’s green urea concept succeeds, it could not only transform the fertilizer sector but also introduce new dimensions in hydropower utilization. The Electricity Authority aims to advance this as a pilot project.

Experts Raise Concerns: Should the Electricity Authority Produce Electricity or Fertilizer? Experts have expressed skepticism about the government’s proposal. They argue that the Electricity Authority’s core mandate is electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, and involvement in fertilizer production is inconsistent with this. Former deputy executive director of the Electricity Authority, Prabal Adhikari, questioned whether fertilizer manufacturing falls within its scope. “The Authority has announced collaboration with the private sector to produce green urea fertilizer, but its main responsibility is electricity services and production. Focus should be on maximizing the use of electricity in innovative ways,” he said. Adhikari highlighted that the proposed fertilizer production plan contradicts current restructuring efforts aiming to divide the Authority into three entities. “During restructuring, how can the Authority manage fertilizer production? Why should fertilizer production be the Authority’s responsibility when the private sector can undertake it?” he queried. He also emphasized the gravity of diverting the Electricity Authority—an entity primarily responsible for electricity supply—into fertilizer manufacturing.

19 Jestha, Pokhara – On 4 Chaitra 2080 BS, Pokhara was declared the tourism capital in the presence of leaders from all three levels of government. However, none of these governments have introduced substantial programs to establish this status or attract tourists. Since the declaration, no government level has been able to present clear data on tourist numbers, activities, plans, or details of tourist sites.
The Gandaki Province government has yet to provide clear statistics on tourist arrivals. It has announced promotional initiatives aiming to double the number of tourists from India and China within five years. The current fiscal year’s policy and programs include efforts to establish Pokhara as a tourism capital. Next year’s agenda aims to link Pokhara’s branding with major projects and international promotion, setting a goal to double tourist arrivals from India and China within five years.
The policy and programs proposed by the Gandaki Province government for FY 2083/84 appear more distributional and promotional than outcome-driven. Most programs from previous years have been reintroduced with new names, slogans, and goals, but the number of programs with measurable new achievements is limited. Last year’s tourism promotion campaign has been rebranded as the “Let’s Go to Gandaki: Enjoy Nature and Culture” initiative. The expansion of ICT in schools is now termed “Foundation of Digital Gandaki: ICT Infrastructure in Schools,” while youth-targeted programs are presented under the campaign “Next Exit: Youth Development.” Most of these programs continue previous initiatives.
Province Chief Dilliraj Bhatt highlighted while presenting the policy that it appears more focused on distribution and publicity than tangible results. While program names, slogans, and presentations have changed in many sectors—including agriculture, tourism, youth, education, and social services—the fundamental policies and directions remain the same. There is increased use of promotional and campaign-style language across various programs.
In agriculture, the government’s priorities remain unchanged from traditional crops to the agricultural corridor. Existing programs such as indigenous crop preservation, branding and market promotion, good farming practices, organic agriculture, mechanization, production-based subsidies, agricultural corridor development, land banking, land use planning, and the promotion of high-value crops like citrus, coffee, cardamom, apple, and walnut continue. Agricultural insurance also persists as a priority. Soil testing, historically part of every policy cycle, is now incorporated under a new program named “Soil Health Certificate.” Special initiatives are planned to engage youth returning to villages in agricultural entrepreneurship.
Animal health initiatives including veterinary services, vaccination drives, control of livestock diseases, increased milk and meat production, livestock commercialization, and expansion of animal health services remain ongoing. This year, the province has introduced a new “One Health” approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health.
Roads and infrastructure remain focused on continuity. The province government is prioritizing completion of existing development projects over launching new mega infrastructure projects. The strategy emphasizes completing under-construction roads and bridges, including strategic roadways such as the Shaligram Corridor and Korala–Pokhara–Triveni Road, rural road networks, bus park upgrades, and promotion of electric transport.
Long-term priorities focus on road and bridge completion, blacktopping remaining rural roads connecting local government centers, upgrading the Mustang–Dolpa interprovincial road, constructing suspension bridges, and continuing key corridors. There is no clear strategy yet for mega projects like industrial corridors, tunnel routes, new economic centers, smart cities, or large production-based infrastructure.
The policy prioritizes maintenance, road safety audits, upkeep of all roads, and completion of unfinished bridges rather than opening new roads, confirming a strategy to maintain existing infrastructure.
Programs to improve public transportation, bus park enhancements, promotion of electric vehicles, regulation of ride-sharing, and expansion of digital systems in transport services continue from previous years.
Industrial development programs focusing on establishing industries based on local raw materials, increasing exports, public-private partnerships, investment conferences, the ‘Invest Gandaki’ campaign, and business facilitation are ongoing. Although industrial zones at Lokaha Khola and Punditar have been discussed annually, they remain in initial stages.
Religious tourism development is a new priority in the upcoming year’s policy, including the Damodarkund–Muktinath–Devghat–Trivenidham circuit and the Ligligkot–Gorkha–Manakamana pilgrimage route. The government has prioritized specialized health services, Ayurveda, control of non-communicable diseases, mental health, community health service expansion, health workforce production, and institutional strengthening.
Dialysis services will now be offered without waiting lists, as announced. Community-level disease screening, expansion of digital health systems, and strengthening specialist services continue to be priorities.
The government has emphasized ICT-friendly education, innovation in schools, technical and vocational education, skill development, and upgrading Gandaki University into a specialized technical university as part of policies and educational improvement programs. Mother tongue preservation and promotion have been given increased attention this year.
AI, cybersecurity, and STEAM labs are planned priorities for next year. Continuation of the “Learning by Earning, Earning by Learning” program is included. Programmes aimed at attracting youth to agricultural entrepreneurship are specially highlighted with engaging slogans such as “Youth Development and Development of Youth” and “Next Exit: Youth Development.”
Programs with compelling slogans like “One Household: One Tap,” “Riverside Gems: Always Green,” and “One District, One Reservoir” are promoted. The government has stressed household private water connection, expanding irrigation, and establishing maintenance funds.
Good governance initiatives emphasize result-oriented monitoring, real-time monitoring systems, staff performance evaluation, accountability of project managers, and the expansion of digital governance.