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The much-talked-about electricity export from Nepal to Bangladesh could start from the third week of July. With the preparation for signing a tripartite agreement among Nepal, India, and Bangladesh reaching the final stage, government officials are hopeful for a milestone electricity trade deal. The top officials of the Energy Ministry and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said preparations are being made to export Nepali electricity to Bangladesh from the start of the new fiscal year through a tripartite agreement within a week or two. India had finally given its nod for the use of an Indian transmission line for exporting Nepali electricity to Bangladesh during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent India visit. Nepal and Bangladesh had agreed for a tripartite agreement with India for the export of 40 MW of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh during the fifth meeting of the secretary-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on energy cooperation held in Dhaka in the third week of May. As Indian transmission lines had to be used to materialize the power export, both countries had decided to bring the Indian agency on board. As per the understanding, NEA, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) of India will finalize a tripartite deal. Energy Ministry Spokesperson Madhu Bhetuwal said that preparation for the tripartite deal has reached the final stage. “It will be signed soon,” said Bhetwal. Similarly, a senior NEA official said that the final draft of the power purchase agreement (PPA) has been prepared and sent to Bangladesh. “Once Bangladesh gives its nod on the PPA, the tripartite agreement will be signed,” he said. Nepal's quest for finding a market for its electricity beyond India was further emboldened after Bangladesh expressed readiness to import 40-50 MW of power from Nepal during the energy secretary-level JSC meeting of the two countries held in Kathmandu in the last week of August. Nepal and Bangladesh last year agreed to request India for the passage of 40-50 MW of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through the existing transmission infrastructure of India.   Final agreement on long-term power deal in Indian cabinet The draft of the final agreement on long-term electricity trade between Nepal and India has also reached the Indian cabinet. Once the agreement is endorsed by the Indian cabinet, the final agreement on long-term electricity trade between India and Nepal will be signed. Nepal and India had signed an initial agreement between Nepal and India at the energy secretary level on June 2 in New Delhi. During Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's India visit, the southern neighbor agreed to buy 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal in the next 10 years. Nepal has been requesting the southern neighbor for a long-term power trade deal arguing that an inter-government agreement would lock in the market and end the unpredictability of the Indian market’s availability for electricity from Nepal in the long run. As Nepal faces the risk of spillage of electricity in this monsoon season, it is also all set to export 200 MW of electricity to India under a medium-term five-year deal. The 200 MW deal is outside the existing quota of 452.6MW which Nepal is selling in the Indian energy exchange. The NEA has forwarded the list of five projects -Solukhhola (Dudhkoshi), Super Madi, Upper Balephi ‘A’, Dordi Khola, and Upper Chaku ‘A’—under this deal to India. The export of 200 MW will begin once the Indian authorities approve these projects, according to NEA.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 109, 400 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 110, 000 per tola on Wednesday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 108, 900 per tola. It was traded at Rs 109, 500 per tola. Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,370 per tola today.

The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has banned commercial jungle drive (safari) inside the park from July 1 until further notice. The park banned the jungle drive, in view of forest tracks inside the park might be damaged, small streams inside the jungle might be flooded, roads might be obstructed due to fallen trees and there might be human casualty during the monsoon, the rainy season. A notice issued by the CNP Administration mentioned that operation of other tourism activities including boating has also been restricted. Information Officer of CNP, Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, said 65 jeeps have taken permission from CNP to operate jungle drive in the park. A total of 32 jeeps have taken permission to conduct jungle drive in the park from Sauraha, 15 from Kasara, nine from Meghauli, two from Ujauli, five from Amaltari and one from Madi, he said. With the beginning of monsoon, tourism activities conducted inside the park and in the river have been stopped. Tiwari said that the buffer zone management committee would decide about the activities to be carried out towards the buffer zone community forest.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina held a meeting at the former’s official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday. During the meeting, NA Chair Timilsina briefed the Prime Minister about his recent China visit and conversations held over there, NA Chair's secretariat said.  

Rainfall along with wind and storm is likely to take place in some parts of the country due to the influence of monsoon wind. According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, light to medium rainfall is taking place in some areas of Karnali, Gandaki, Bagmati and Koshi provinces with partial to general changes across the country. There will be general changes across the country this afternoon. Light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur in a few places of Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Lumbini, Gandaki and Bagmati provinces. The Division informed that heavy rainfall is predicted in some areas of Karnali, Lumbini and Gandaki provinces. Storm is likely to take place in several areas of Lumbini, Gandaki and Bagmati provinces and in some areas of remaining provinces, stated a bulletin published by the Division. There will be general changes across the country tonight. According to the Division, light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to take place in some areas of Lumbini, Gandaki, Madhes and Koshi province. Noting that surface and air travel, health, agriculture and tourism sectors will possibly be affected due to heavy rainfall with thunderstorms, the Division has urged one and all to adopt necessary safety precautions.

Bakra-Eid, the second biggest festival of the Muslim community, is being observed across the country today. The festival is observed on the 70th day of Eid-ul-fitr or Ramadan. On this day, the Muslims visit the nearest mosque after a morning bath and attend a mass prayer to read the Namaj. After completing the reading of the Namaj, they exchange greetings by hugging one another. On the occasion, there will be a crowd of Islam religious people in mosques across the country, including Nepali Jame Masjid (mosque) in Durbar Marga, Kathmandu and Kashmiri Masjid. The festival will be observed up to coming Saturday. Meanwhile, the government has given a public holiday for Thursday (today) to mark the occasion Eid-al Adha, the Bakra-Eid.  

President Ram Chandra Paudel has been discharged from the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center. He was admitted to the Centre on June 17 and has returned to his official residence this afternoon after being discharged following various tests and treatment. His health condition is reported to be normal, according to the Office of the President. Meanwhile, President Paudel has thanked the doctors and other health workers involved in his treatment as well as all those who expressed concern over his health and wished him good health and speedy recovery.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed the budget presented by the government for the next fiscal year 2023/24 by a majority. Earlier on May 30, Finance Minister Prakash Saran Mahat had unveiled a budget of Rs 1.75 trillion for the next fiscal year 2023/24 beginning mid-July. Minister Mahat this afternoon presented a budget proposal for the endorsement in the Parliament meeting. The proposal was endorsed by a majority in the Parliament today. CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rastriya Swatantra Party and Janamat Party voted against the budget. They did not cast their votes saying that the budget was not balanced. Before presenting the budget, CPN-UML and Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmakers obstructed the Parliament meeting. They obstructed the meeting demanding that the district election offices be included as a part of the Appropriation Bill. Later, Speaker Devraj Ghimire postponed the meeting for 15 minutes to find consensus on the issue. In the meeting held for the second time, Speaker Ghimire announced that the finance minister’s proposal to endorse the budget was passed by a majority. Soon after, UML whip Mahesh Bartaula demanded a division of the budget saying that the proposal to not pass the budget was excessive. Later, the Speaker proceeded ahead with the process. Speaker Ghimire had given three minutes to correct the vote. But none of the lawmakers corrected their vote. Then the Speaker announced that the 147 lawmakers voted in favor of the budget and 108 against it. Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) had issued a whip to endorse the budget. Before the budget was presented in the Parliament, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal answered the questions raised on the various titles of the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the Secretariat of the National Planning Commission, the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President under the Appropriation Bill, 2080 during the discussion. The lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties had been saying that they would not allow the budget to be endorsed without amendment. The CPN (Unified Socialist) and the Janata Samajbadi Party, which had been saying that they would not vote until the budget is endorsed, cast their votes after discussions with the prime minister and finance minister. Now, the National Assembly should endorse the budget passed by the House of Representatives.