Oil pipeline to be extended to Lothar, Chitwan

 Birgunj, Jan 10 (RSS): After the success of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline project, the government is extending the pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Lothar of Chitwan. A study is now underway to materialize the 69-kilometers pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Chitwan, said Nepal coordinator in the Nepal-India Pipeline Joint Study Group, Birendra Goit.

The study will help to identify the method of extending the pipeline and the estimated cost. A joint task force to be formed following an understanding between the governments of Nepal and India will develop the detail project report. 

Lothar in Chitwan will have a storage capacity of 100,000 kilolitre of petroleum. 

The pipeline from Motihari of India to Amlekhgunj depot of Nepal Oil Corporation is being used to transport diesel and a study is now being carried to start transportation of petrol as well, using the same pipeline, said Chief of NOC Province-2, Bharat Regmi. For this two petrol tanks of 4.2 million litre capacity each are being constructed at the Amlekhgunj depot for storing petrol.

Petrol can be supplied at the rate of 300,000 to 400,000 litres per hour using the pipeline. Transportation of fuel using the pipeline has saved transportation cost, ended technical loss and helps maintain quality and control leakage, Regmi said.

Largest solar power project of Nepal

Jhapa, Jan 10 (RSS): The construction of the largest Solar Power Project of Nepal has been gaining speed in the district. Founded two years ago, the Jhapa Energy Limited is constructing the 10 MW solar power plant in 22 bigaha of land in ward no. 3 and 4 of Shivasatakshi municipality of the district.

The project is estimated to cost Rs. 790 million rupees and Rs. 600 million is being managed through bank loan, said the chairperson of the Company Lal Bahadur Sanwa. Sanwa is the former Constituent Assembly member.

The project is expected to go on a trial production by early January 2022 and start commercial production soon after, according to manager of the company, Subash Bhattarai. The power produced from the plant will be sold to the Nepal Electricity Authority.

The company targets to produce 17.6 million units of power in a year. According it will sign a power purchase agreement by the end of this month, and also award the project contract by March.

The company was established considering the great potential of solar energy in Jhapa district and the successful projects in different countries, said one of the proprietors of the project, Ram Chandra Upreti. The company held its second annual general meeting on Saturday.

Tourist bus service to new destinations soon

Kathmandu, Jan 9 (RSS) : The Tourist Bus Association of Nepal (TBAN) has decided to expand tourist bus service to new tourist destinations across the country. The drive aims to promote domestic tourism, it has been said at an event organised on Saturday here on the occasion of the 10th annual general meeting of the TBAN. 

The service, which has already been in operation to and from Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini, would be expanded to tourist destinations, Kerung, Muktinath, Rara, Bensishahar, Tatopani and Bardiya. 

On the occasion, President of the Nepal Association of Tours and Travels Agents (NATTA) Achyut Guragain urged tourism entrepreneurs to unite for the promotion of domestic tourism. "The government failed to bring reliefs to tourism entrepreneurs marred by Covid-19 crisis. A situation has been created wherein a struggle is needed to save tourism." 

Problems have surfaced without consultations between private sector and the government, he viewed. Likewise, the TBAN President Ishwar Sharma stressed the need for all tourism entrepreneurs to come together to revive affected tourism sector. 

NEA to import 15-MW electricity to meet demand for dry season

Kathmandu, Jan 9 (RSS): Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has said it is to import 15-MW more electricity via Tanakpur point to meet the demand during dry season.

For this, the government has got positive nod from India. The Central Electricity Authority of India agreed to provide Nepal additional electricity, the NEA said, adding that Nepal was earlier importing 70-MW electricity. 

Acting Executive Directive at NEA, Hitendra Dev Shakya, informed that the imported electricity will cost Rs 6.62 per unit. As per the Mahakali Treaty, Nepal has been receiving 70 million units of power from India every year, while the additional electricity is bought on commercial cost. 

"Although there is 100 MVA transformer at Tanakpur, there is not permission from India to import more than 70 MW. The continuous discussion with Indian officials has finally persuaded Indian side for 15 KW more power from January to March and July to December, according to him. 

According to him, capacity of transition line is another factor delaying the power supply to western region. After additional import of electricity, supply improves in the western belt. 

The NEA was facing problem to supply power to the west from Chapur of Rautahat which was brought via Dhalkebar-Mujaffarpur transmission line. It was difficult because of the lack transmission line capacity. 

The additional import would further help supply power supply to the Kathmandu Valley and the east ward.

Poultry products costlier due to dependency on feeds from outside

Chitwan, Jan 9 (RSS): The poultry products are becoming costly due to dependency on feed raw materials from outside the country. 

The country is investing over Rs 32 billion annually in importing the raw materials for poultry feed.  

According to Nepal Poultry Feed Association chair Raveen Puri, such raw materials for poultry feeds are importing from India and third countries.  

He added that the country sent the same amount to import the feeds last year.  Puri further shared that the raw materials for feeds like soybean, corn, wheat are also being imported from outside.  

The poultry feeds are becoming costlier with the latest policy of government adopted in reforms in poultry feeds and sectors.  

Nepal Hatchery Industry Association chair Tikaram Pokharel said that the poultry products and meats are becoming costlier due to continuous price rise of feeds.

The soyabean cake is imported from America, Brazil among other countries while maize is mainly brought from India and other countries as well. 

Besides, maize, soyabean, mustard cake, calcium, are used in manufacturing the poultry feed.

New leadership in Chitwan chapter of Feed Industries' Association

Chitwan, Jan 9 (RSS): The Chitwan chapter of Nepal Feed Industries' Association has got new membership from the 16th annual general meeting. The nine-member new committee has reelected Bal Chandra Khanal as the Chairman.

The chapter got Binod Pokharel as vice-chairman, Om Prakash Tiwari as secretary and Yubaraj Pathak as treasurer. Similarly, the members are Leela Baldav Chapagain, Buddhi Prasad Adhikari, Ramchandra Adhikari, Shiva Poudel and Nirajan Khanal.

In the AGM, central Chairman of the Association Rabin Puri said the foreign dependency on raw materials should be ended. He demanded the government to scrap agriculture reform fee.

Similarly, Vice-Chairman of Nepal Poultry Federation Narayan Hari Khatri and Tikaram Pokhrel among others complained that cost of chicken and eggs was expensive as the investment cost increased much.

There are 25 feed industries in Chitwan alone.

Bhairahawa SEZ not in full operation even in 20 years of launch

Kathmandu, Jan 8 (RSS): The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Bhairahawa is yet to come into full operation even after 20 years of its launch. The SEZ was introduced in a bid to promote trade, create jobs and replace import.

The businesspersons have complained that the SEZ did not come in full operation for lack of infrastructures and hostile provisions in SEZ Act. The SEZ Authority, however, has said it would gradually solve the problems including development of infrastructures.

Initially, the industries denied entering the SEZ due to the condition of exporting 80 percent of products. The SEZ Act was later amended and the export percentage was lowered to 60, which still failed to attract industrialists. They are now saying that the provision of 60 percent export is still much and the land lease was quite expensive.

During a virtual dialogue held by Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON) Thursday, the speakers stressed the need to wipe out the policy faults. Former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr Shankar Sharma expressed worry over the future of SEZ, saying it did not become functional despite passage of two decades of launch. He suggested for easing the restrictive provisions to replace imports. Although the Act came, there was no regulation which too obstructed implementation. 

Similarly, former secretary Bimal Wagle viewed that until the infrastructural development including electricity supply was not ensured, it would not entice businesspersons.

President of industry committee at FNCCI Bharat Raj Acharya argued that the concept of SEZ itself has changed. The debates on SEZ so far were limited to mere development of industry with sheer lack of innovation and trade. Time has come to stress innovation and trade, he stressed.

Moreover, Vice-President of industry committee of Conference of Nepalese Industries Rahul Agrawal said they could not launch their products in the market waiting for such long time of 25 years. The provision of 60 percent export and expensive land lease were other factors repelling them from SEZ.

President of industry committee at Nepal Chamber of Commerce Deepak Shrestha said the industries entering the SEZ would also leave it if the attention was not paid to the integrated customs check pass and facilitation.

Deputy executive director at Nepal Electricity Authority Harhar Raj Neupane however committed that although it would take time to provide 22KV transmission line to the SEZ, NEA would supply some immediately. NEA was effortful to solve the problems of power supply in 1.1-km out of 12-km transmission line that connect Bhairahawa SEZ with Dhakdhai transmission line.

Executive director at SEZ Balaram Rijal also said efforts were underway to ensure infrastructures and other facilities and policy changes for smooth functioning of Bhairahawa and other SEZs. The Finance Ministry was sent a proposal to reconsider export percent and rate of land lease so that it would address industrialists' concern.

The government has planned to set up SEZ in each province. Including these, the places to have SEZ are Simara, Panchkhal Biratnagar, Kapilvastu, Jumla, Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj, Nuwakot, Gorkha, Dhanusha, Siraha, Rautahat and Jhapa.

On 29 January 2004, the government had decided to set up SEZ at different places in the country. The SEZ Act was brought on 4 October 2016.

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Foodmandu launches business in Pokhara

Pokhara, Jan 8 (RSS):  The first online food delivery service, Foodmandu, has expanded its business here as well. It is the first expansion of the service outside the Kathmandu Valley.

Marketing manager Shyamratna Mali shared at a press conference that the online food delivery service was expanded in Pokhara in view of the growing need of customers. "We've come here with quality service. Now, the Pokhara people can order food online and relish it at home," he said.

For the expansion of the business, Foodmandu has established collaboration with more than 30 local restaurants and hotels, which Mali said, would increase gradually. Similarly, company founder Manohar Adhikari said although they had planned to launch business in Pokhara quite earlier, Covid-19 badly delayed it.

"We were for the business expansion in various cities within 2020, but the Covid-19 forced us to deviate from the goal," he recollected.

He further shared that 2021 would be the year of business expansion for Foodmandu.

At the press conference, Chairman of REBAN Pokhara, expressed belief that the online food delivery would not only convenience the customers but also help restaurants expand their service and enhance quality. The Pokhara people are provided 30 percent discount till the end of January.

Locals express doubt over resumption of train service

-Ajaya Kumar Sah 

Dhanusha, Jan 7 (RSS): Doubt has been harboured regarding re-operation of Janakpur-Jayanagar train service within coming mid-February. The new date for resuming the train service has been set for the third time after two previous attempts remained abortive to that end. But it is not likely to take place this time too. 

In the beginning, the rail service was not put in place despite preparation of railway link with broad gaze and construction of railway station and halt in different places . But this time too there was no likelihood to enliven the service even after four months since two trains have been purchased from India. 

The newly-procured trains have been safely parked in Inarwa of Dhanusha district. Locals have expressed doubt over possible resumption of train service within mid-February when two past efforts for the same went in vain. 

"I had set up a repair shop last year thinking that the resumption of train service would augur well my business. But my dream has been badly shattered. Train service resumption has become a far cry", said Umesh Mahato, who has been running a laptop repair shop on railway station road in Janakpur. He said, " I could not trust on the resumption of railway service once it does not come into effect". 

However, general manager of the Nepal Railway Company Guru Prasad Bhatatrai claimed that the train service would sure to resume within mid-February.  

The locals of Janakpur have also not remained confident about the resumption of Janakpur-Jayanagar railway service lately. 

Market capitalization exceeds Rs 2955 billion with NEPSE index rise

Kathmandu, Jan 7 (RSS): Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index – a tool to measure share trading in securities market has gained double digit points today. 

According to the NEPSE sources, the index gained 15.91 and reached 2,194.48 points. Likewise, the sensitive index – a tool to measure the share trading of big companies has increased to 421.22 points with the gain of 3.08 points today. 

The trading of total 208 companies made a total market turnover to over Rs 5.874 billion. Total shares traded today were over 11.76 million. 

With the rise in the NEPSE index, the market capitalization has jumped over to Rs 2955.86 billion. 

The share of 112 companies traded today had marked a rise while 47 companies saw a fall in their share value. Likewise, the share value of different 16 companies remained unchanged. 

No load shedding at all, says Energy Ministry

Kathmandu, Jan 7 (RSS): Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has stated that there was no chance of load shedding in the country.  

The Ministry has clarified that works were underway in line with the National Energy Crisis Reduction and Electricity Development Decade Policy 2072 to end the energy crisis. The problem of load shedding surfaced lately in some parts in the country was due to technical causes, it argued.  

Issuing a press release on Thursday, the Ministry also shared that it was working out to curb power wastage, ensuring sufficient extension lines for supply and energy export.  

Agriculture Ministry urges high caution in view of bird flu detection in neighbouring India

Kathmandu, Jan 7 (RSS): The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has urged a high caution in view of the detection of bird flu in neighbouring India. 

The Ministry has sent circular to seven border animal quarantine offices under it along the Nepal-India border in the Tarai directing a high caution. It has also directed a halt to the import of poultry products from India, said the Ministry's Spokesperson Dr Sriram Ghimire. 

"There are high risks of the virus being imported to Nepal from Himachal Pradesh in India. There has been a halt in the import of poultry products from the Pradesh for the time being," he said urging chief district officer of some Tarai districts to maintain a high alert. 

There are possibilities for the import of poultry products through beyond the borders as Nepal shares open border with India. Chief district officer has been asked to be in contact in this regard by following a right to direct bird flu control. 

"Chief district officer is vested with works like destroying chickens and taking action against those importing poultry products illegally from India," he said. Border animal quarantine offices in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Krishnanagar, Nepalgunj, Kailali and Gaddachauki have been asked to do the needful in this regard. Chief district officer can mobilise technicians, human resources and other resources to stop the import of poultry products from India. 

The Ministry has also asked poultry traders to be on high alert in this view. It has also asked people across the country to report to the Ministry or near concerned offices in case of finding 'suspected' chicken or dead ones in mass quantity. There have been reports of the virus detection in Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh in India. 

COVID-19 marred hotels, lodges re-open in Rasuwa

Rasuwa, Jan 7 (RSS): Hotels and lodges in the district have re-opened following nil cases of Covid-19 in the mountainous district. There is an increasing inflow of domestic tourists to the touristic areas, Dhunche, Langtang, Gosainkunda, Tamang Heritage Path, Rasuwagadhi, Helambu and Dandepati, where approximately 200 hotels and lodges have been re-opened, said Ram Sharan Gajurel, President of the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneur Association, Rasuwa. 

Revival of tourism activities in the areas has encouraged hotel entrepreneurs here as hotel business had incurred over Rs 60 million monthly due to the infection, he said, adding that as a result, over 70 tourist guides and 400 employees associated with tourism have lost their job. 

Small investors have been marred the most by the infection. They have taken out loans from banks and financial institutions to operate hotel business. However, they are now finding it difficult to repay loans and interests with their hotels remaining closed for over nine months due to the virus. Moreover, they complained that they had to pay from Rs 50,000 to Rs 150,000 each in house rent for operating their business. 

They have demanded promotion of domestic tourism so as to cover their house rents. They also demanded that the government uplifts tourism sector affected by the infection crisis by providing reliefs or providing loans free of interest to resolve economic crisis caused by the infection. 

Meanwhile, a luxury hotel has been opened at Palungtar Municipality in Gorkha district. The project with an investment of approximately Rs 70 million targets tourists visiting Ligligkot, the epicenter of the unification drive of modern Nepal launched by former King Prithvi Narayan Shah, said the hotel owner Man Bahadur Poudel. Spanning 10 ropanis of land, the hotel named 'Hotel Liglig Manaslu View' has 20 modern and luxurious rooms, a meeting hall, a party palace and a restaurant. 

Gold price goes down Rs 1,300 per tola

Kathmandu, Jan 7 (RSS): Price of gold has gone down by Rs 1,300 per tola (11.66 grammes) in Nepali market today.

Price of gold increased continuously in recent few days has decreased today. According to Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, hallmark gold is being traded at Rs 95,400 per tola today while it was Rs 96,700 yesterday.

Similarly, price of worked gold has been fixed at Rs 94,900 today against Rs 96,200 yesterday. The price of silver has been fixed at Rs 1,330 per tola today being decreased by Rs 10 per tola. It was Rs 1,330 per tola yesterday. 

Recent political change will not make any effect to business: Minister Gurung

Kathmandu, Jan 6 (RSS): Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Parbat Gurung, has urged the entrepreneurs to be confident and move ahead as the recent political change would not have any impact on trade and business.

At a convention of Nepal Herbs and herbal Producers Association here today, Minister Gurung clarified that the country would now move ahead with a fresh mandate, adding that entrepreneurs should also move ahead with energy. 

Also the former chairperson of the Association, Gurung mentioned that herbal business could attract younger generation back to their villages, stating the sector would help in prosperity by creating employment. 

He pointed out that the entrepreneurs should increase production and promote export. The Communications Minister urged the entrepreneurs to move ahead through e-commerce and e-business as the ministry is going to make digital Nepal. 

Similarly, Chairperson of Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal, Ram Bahadur Gurung, Association Chair Govinda Ghimire also expressed their views.

10th Asian Buffalo congress from June 3

Chitwan, Jan 6 (RSS): The 10th Asian Buffalo Congress is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from June 3 with the participation of buffalo specialists from around the world. 

Asian Buffalo Association, Agriculture and Forestry University, Department of Livestock Service Nepal and Nepal Agricultural Research Council  are organising the three-day  congress. 

Similarly, Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministries of provincial governments, Nepal Livestock Innovation Project, Nepal Veterinary Council and Michigan State University, USA are the co-organiser of the congress. 

This is the first time Nepal is organising the congress that takes place in every three years.   Prof Dr Bhuminand Devkota of Agriculture and Forestry University is the chairperson of Association. 

The Association was established in 1992. International Buffalo Federation is the common organisation of buffalo specialists across the world. The Secretariat of the Federation is in Italy. Asian Buffalo Association is the association of Asian buffalo scientists under the Federation. 

More than 400 scientists of 25 countries of the world are expected to participate in the congress. Devkota said that information would be shared regarding the technologies developed by different countries regarding study, research, production and increase in productivity of buffalo and experience would be shared in the congress. 

Govt's compulsory move to go in election: DPM Pokharel

Lahan, Jan 4 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokharel has said that it was government's compulsion to go for elections by dissolving the House of Representatives. 

Addressing the district-level cadres gathering organised by Nepal Communist Party, Siraha, at Choharwa on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Pokharel opined that the government decided to go among the people by dissolving the House as conspiracy was hatched to push the country towards crisis and the elected prime minister was not allowed to work. 

He further said that no one should escape from the election as election makes the democratic republic stronger. 

The DPM mentioned that there is still possibility of party unity if another Chairperson of NCP, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, is ready to go for election for fresh mandate by taking back the charge sheet filed against the Prime Minister.  

Saying problems surfaced in the party would be resolved soon, he opined that the party would move ahead being stronger as the people with wrong tendencies have exited from the party. 

Similarly, Minister for Urban Development, Prabhu Sah, opined that the upcoming election scheduled on April 30 and May 10 would give an outlet to the country. 

He claimed that the dissolution of the HoR has saved the nation from a big mishap, adding that the decision of going to election by dissolving HoR is the democratic process itself and no one should fear from the election.

  

Likewise, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Leelanath Shrestha, said that the current situation has surfaced as conspiracy was hatched against Prime Minister at the behest of national and foreign forces.  

Man arrested with ammunition

Kathmandu, Jan 4 (RSS): A man was arrested with 50 rounds of live ammunition from Tribhuvan International Airport today. Badri Hang Rai,20, a resident of Mechinagar municipality-2 was arrested from the domestic terminal of the airport, according to Metropolitan Police Range.

Rai was about to board a flight to Bhadrapur of Jhapa district, when an examination of his bag led to the discovery of the bullets hidden in wrapped in newspaper. He has been taken into custody and further investigation is underway, spokesperson of the Range Pramesh Bista said.

NCP to effectively run second phase programmes against HoR dissolution

Kathmandu, Jan 4 (RSS): The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Prachanda-Nepal faction’s standing committee meeting has decided to form a team under the leadership of Party Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal to offer feedback for completion of party unification and organisational issues.   

Party’s Spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha said that the meeting held on Sunday and Monday took the decision assigning Ashta Laxmi Shakya, Girirajmani Pokhrel, Gokarna Bista, Ghanshyam Bhusal, Janardan Sharma, Pampha Bhusal, Barsha Man Pun, Bedu Ram Bhusal, Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Matrika Prasad Yadav, Leelamani Pokhrel, Surendra Prasad Pandey and Shakti Bahadur Basnet as the members of the panel. 

Shrestha shared that the panel will provide suggestions to immediately accomplish the task of party unification and organisation and selection of office-bearers of provinces, district committee and all sister organisations.

The meeting has instructed the panel to get its task done in a week.  

During the meeting, standing committee members, who have led the province-committees and different Fronts of the party, had familiarised the party’s standing committee about the current status in their respective committees.   

The meeting also concluded that the first-phase of protest programmes conducted against the HoR dissolution was successful and decided to mobilise the entire party rank and file to make the second-phase protest programmes.

Party Chairman Nepal presided over the meeting. As decided, the NCP would continue the ongoing protest programmes until HoR was reinstated. 

Furthermore, the NCP would also now hold talks with other political parties to bring them on board in the protest programmes.

Likewise, the NCP decided to form office of the struggle committee from central to ward-levels as well.  

According to Spokesperson Shrestha, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, Pampha Bhusal and Ganesh Shah have been named as the assistant coordinators of the central struggle committee.

Talking to the media persons after the meeting, Shrestha said that efforts are on to forge consensus to bring all the forces that are against the HoR dissolution.

Call to ensure justice to conflict victims

Kathmandu, Jan 4 (RSS): The National Human Rights Commission has drawn the attention of the government towards protecting the life of Ganga Maya Adhikari, and ensuring her right to justice. Issuing a statement, NHRC Joint Secretary Yagya Prasad Adhikari has urged the government to save the life of Adhikari, who is on a fast-unto-death calling for action against those involved in the murder of her son Krishna Prasad Adhikari.

It may be noted that the Bagmati Provincial Office of the Commission has written to the Ministry of Health and Population to make necessary arrangement and coordination in saving the life of Ganga Maya. Lately, Ganga Maya began her fast-unto-death on December 21 at Trauma Centre, Bir Hospital. The Bagmati office of NHRC made an inspection of Ganga Maya, and noted that her health was deteriorating.

The NHRC has also reminded the government of its recommendation on April 2005 to initiate action on criminal charges against those guilty in the incident, and provide compensation to the victim family. Many other incidents of human rights violation related to the armed conflict like that of Krishna Prasad murder incident needs to be resolved as soon as possible, and only then the individual's right to justice can be ensured, adds the statement.