Submit your Article

Several projects under the Lumbini Province government, costing millions, remain incomplete due to insufficient budget allocation.

Twenty lift drinking water supply projects, initiated in the fiscal year 2018/19, have stalled. These projects, requiring significant funding, have struggled to progress due to minimal budget allocation, according to Raj Kishor Mandal, Chief of the Water Supply and Sanitation Division in Pyuthan. While some work was completed in the initial years, the lack of consistent funding has left the projects classified as complex and unfinished.

“The work was completed as per the budget received in the first year,” Mandal said. “Due to irregular and insufficient funding, we have categorized 20 projects as complex drinking water projects.” He added that a request has been made to the ministry for additional funding to complete the projects and operationalize the water supply.

The Luplung Lift Drinking Water Project, with an estimated cost of Rs 54.515m, has so far spent only Rs 833,000 in Naubahini Rural Municipality-8. “Not a single penny has been allocated in the last two years,” said Hemanta Raj Bhandari, Chairperson of the project construction consumer committee. “One government allocated funds, and the next reduced them.” Despite budget constraints, the construction of three tanks and a pump house for the three-stage lift project, which began in 2019/20, has been completed.

Bhandari mentioned that the project’s bank account has been updated following reports that Rs 2m worth of pipes will be purchased from this year’s Rs 6.4m budget allocation, with the remaining funds used to continue construction. “We plan to sign an agreement by depositing one percent of the total amount on behalf of consumers. If funds are consistently provided and work progresses as scheduled, 380 households in Luplung will benefit.”

Efforts are underway to provide drinking water facilities through lift systems in water-scarce areas with no nearby water sources. Water shortages persist not only in rural regions but also in the district headquarters. The Jhimruk Large Lift Drinking Water Project, designed to serve Khalanga and surrounding areas, faces similar challenges. Estimated to cost Rs 98.269m, the project has already incurred Rs 18.3m in expenses. However, the five-stage lift project, initiated in 2019/20, has yet to become operational. If completed, it would benefit 557 households.

Lumbini Province’s Urban Development and Drinking Water Minister, Saroj Thapa, assured that funding will be secured for projects nearing completion. “Many projects have stalled due to budget shortages in previous years,” he said. “We will allocate funds based on project status—either by transferring funds within this fiscal year or incorporating them into next year’s budget.”

So far, Rs 224.73m has been spent on 20 drinking water projects, which have an estimated total cost of Rs 842m. However, none of these projects have been operationalized.

Additionally, under the Climate Adaptation Comprehensive Drinking Water Project, several projects have been classified as complex, including the Pangraghat, Pyuthan, Satmule Barjivang, Bangesal, and Hanspur Drinking Water Projects. These initiatives, launched in 2014/15, remain unfinished. To date, Rs 122.8m has been spent on these projects, which have a combined estimated cost of Rs 269m.

How many cooking gas cylinders does an average Nepali household have? How many of them are empty, how many are in use and how many are full? How many of them are safe for use and how many are unsafe—and need scrapping?

What percentage of cooking gas consumers have some knowledge about safety precautions they should take while handling the flammable material? Do they have fire extinguishers in their houses? Do they know how to use the extinguisher?

Thursday’s gas cylinder explosion at a momo shop in Kamalpokhari has once again given rise to a slew of difficult questions regarding the safe handling of cooking gas cylinders at the household level. 

These questions make sense because cooking gas cylinders and gas stoves have become a part and parcel of an average Nepali household. Leave the cities, it is not uncommon to find gas cylinders and stoves in far-flung areas of the country.

It is quite possible that an average Nepali household has more than one gas cylinder (filled) because supply-related obstructions of the past have taught us to have a cylinder or two for rainy days. 

Imagine more than one cylinder at almost every house in a city with high population density. Add to it a general lack of awareness on safety measures that one should take while handling gas cylinders and stoves. 

The scenario sends a chill down the spine, doesn’t it? It should. 

Of course, the consumer should know about safe handling of gas cylinders and stoves. But the buck does not stop there, and it should not. The onus is on the Nepal Oil Corporation, the sole importer and supplier of petroleum products throughout Nepal, as well as other relevant government authorities to inculcate in the consumer a safety culture pertaining to the use of gas cylinders and stoves. 

The momo shop gas cylinder blast, in which around 12 people sustained injuries, also harks back to a promise our political leadership made some years ago, to supply cooking gas in the consumers’ kitchens through a pipeline. The big talk at that time was that all you have to do is turn on the pipe and the gas will flow (provided you have paid the bill, of course). 

While much water has flown down our rivers since then, the gas is yet to come through the gullible Nepali people’s pipelines. 

In summary, both the government and the consumer should learn lessons from the Kamalpokhari blast and do their bit to lessen the risks of such blasts. 

In the long run, the political and bureaucratic leadership of a country with considerable hydropower potential should switch from dirty and costly fuels to clean and green energy if it is indeed serious about achieving national progress and prosperity, and bringing happiness to the masses. 

Nepal’s first-ever young women-led Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Shadow Report was unveiled at an event in Kathmandu. Organized by Yuwalaya, a youth-led organization advocating for gender equality, in collaboration with Plan International Nepal, the initiative highlights the challenges young women face across the country.

Young women aged 18-25 from all seven provinces played a key role in leading the report, which was developed through provincial discussions. The findings expose gaps in Nepal’s gender policies, particularly affecting marginalized communities, and call on the government and global stakeholders to take action.  

Key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Women Commission, the National Youth Council, and the National Human Rights Commission, attended the event alongside national and international civil society organizations and embassies.  

Speaking at the event, Yuwalaya President Dharma Raj Rimal emphasized the need for immediate action. “We don’t need to wait for ministers to start the equality movement. Change can begin in our workplaces, homes, and classrooms,” he said. 

The Chitwan District Court has ordered the release of Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane on bail of Rs 5.4 million in connection with the Sahara Cooperative fraud case.

A single bench of Judge Dayaram Dhakal issued an order to release former Home Minister Lamichhane on bail of Rs 5.4 million.

Senior advocates Sushil Kumar Panta, Jagannath Paudel, Dharmaraj Acharya and Surendra Bahadur Thapa and advocates Ram Chanra Devkota and Dr Narayan Dutta Kandel argued on behalf of Lamichhane.

Similarly, District advocates Rabi Neupane, Sambhu Kumar Basnet, Dashrath Pangeni, Bholanath Niraula and assistant advocates Buddha Bahadur Thapa and Amrit Subedi argued on behalf of Nepal Government.

Likewise, senior advocates Dr Surendra Bhandari, Dinesh Tripathi and Raj Kumar Shrestha and advocates Gopi Lal Devkota, Ramesh Kafle, Ram Chandra Arasi Gautam and Sunita Adhikari argued on behalf of the complainant.

On Tuesday, a case was registered against Lamichhane accusing him of embezzling the funds of Sahara Cooperative.

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has accused the government of issuing ordinances that serve the interests of specific groups rather than the public.

In his address to the House of Representatives (HoR) today, he criticized the proposed amendments to the Land and National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act. He argued that these amendments would make it more difficult for landless people and Dalits to obtain land registration certificates.

The main opposition party leader stated that the amendments would curtail the rights of landless individuals and those residing unsystematically on land.

He proposed revising the "illogical" systems of land classification and evaluation when providing land to the unsystematic dwellers. He suggested lowering charges for land used by impoverished, rural citizens or for agricultural purposes, while increasing fees for land owned by wealthier people in urban areas and those used for residential purposes.

Dahal expressed concern that the government, through these ordinances, could promote big real estate businesses and land mafias, thus curtailing farmers' rights to sell their land by dividing into plots. He also claimed that the ordinance failed to address the land issues related to the Swargadwari Guthi.

Furthermore, he voiced dissatisfaction with the government's decision to amend the Black-marketing and Some Other Social Offences and Punishment Act, 2032 BS (1975), removing the provision that prevents traders from earning more than a 20 percent profit on goods. He called this move unjust.

He also criticized the proposed amendment to the Health Insurance Act, 2074 BS, claiming it undermines the independence of the Insurance Act. Additionally, he objected to the proposed revision of the Yogmaya Ayurvedic University Act, 2079 BS, which he believed contradicted the university's historic legacy.

The former Prime Minister also questioned why the government had not introduced these ordinances in parliamentary committees for open dialogue when they were under consideration in the Parliament. He expressed concern over the 'suspension' of the previous government's 'campaign' for economic prosperity, good governance, and social justice.

The opposition leader also voiced concern about the treatment of Rabi Lamichhane as the "biggest cooperative fraud," despite the fact that his direct involvement in withdrawing cooperative funds has not been proven. He questioned the constitutional grounds and the justice behind Lamichhane's suspension as a lawmaker, when the court had granted him bail.

He urged the government not to amend the Constitution in ways that violate historic and significant agreements among political parties. "If we need to revise the Constitution, let's switch to a fully proportional electoral system, ensuring 50 percent women's participation and representation of Dalits based on population and preferential rights. Let's move toward a directly elected executive system," he said.

He also called for a fair investigation into the Shera Durbar (Palace) land grab case in Nuwakot, which has been connected to his name. "From this rostrum, I urge the government to begin an investigation, and if my name is involved, let the investigation start with me," he said.

The Health Ministry of Bagmati Province has officially set the new fare for ambulance services in accordance with the National Ambulance Guidelines, 2078 BS.

The decision was made following a ministerial-level meeting held on January 21.

Ambulance management committees in all 13 districts of the province have been informed about the revised fare structure.

The new fare for distances within five kilometers has been set between Rs 300 and Rs 500 considering this as geographic flag distance, as stated by Dr Khageshwor Gelal, Chief of the Ministry’s Medical Services Division.

The public continues to suffer due to the prolonged delay in the construction of the Gwarko Flyover in Lalitpur, attributed to the negligence of officials from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Road Department. The Quality Research and Development Center of the Road Department issued a tender under the EPC model in 2021, aiming to complete the project within two years.

A contract was awarded to Ashish-Samanantar-Religare JV in 2021. At the time, Prabhat Kumar Jha was the project head. However, he later stepped down, and a series of officials, including Kailash Kumar Shrestha, Navinman Shrestha, Ajay Mul, and Nareshman Shakya, took over the role. Surprisingly, Jha has now returned as project head, raising concerns among ministry employees.

“There were vested interests behind Jha’s reinstatement as project chief,” a ministry official told Annapurna. Frequent changes in project leadership and the personal agendas of officials have significantly delayed construction. Road Department spokesperson Arjun Prasad Aryal confirmed that work has been stalled for several days but claimed ignorance about the reason. “I have summoned the project chief for discussions. I can provide details only after speaking with him,” Aryal said.

The construction team has accused Jha of disregarding progress made by previous project chiefs, delaying work by failing to implement pre-approved designs, lab tests, and quality assurance plans. His refusal to follow existing technical plans has escalated costs and further pushed back the completion timeline.

Jha has also ordered a re-testing of the previously approved quality assurance plan without justification, forcing the creation of a new plan. This, according to the construction company, will further delay completion and inflate costs. The project, originally tendered by the Road Department’s Quality Research and Development Center based on Geocom Company’s design and cost estimates, was initially projected to cost Rs 230m to Rs 250m. However, it was contracted for Rs 176m. So far, Rs 440m has been spent, with an additional Rs 150m needed for completion.

A senior Road Department official alleged that Jha’s reinstatement was influenced by personal ties, stating, “The company that prepared the project’s design and cost estimate is linked to Jha’s son-in-law. He leveraged this connection to regain his position as project chief.”

Adding to concerns, Jha reportedly ordered the use of substandard materials, against geotechnical engineers' advice, jeopardizing the flyover’s structural integrity. For instance, temporary casing—normally unnecessary in areas with soil—was installed, requiring an imported machine that cost Rs 3m and took three months to arrive, further inflating expenses. Road Department employees have remained silent about the rationale behind this decision.

Officials claim Jha deliberately set unnecessary standards to obstruct approvals and harbored a personal grudge against the construction company. Even the minister is aware of Jha’s mismanagement, and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority is monitoring the situation.

Terre Armée, a company involved in major infrastructure projects, has been providing design, supervision, and construction materials for the Gwarko Flyover. However, Jha has reportedly threatened the company, warning of consequences if it does not comply with his directives.

While the Road Department has also held the contractor accountable for flaws in the project, officials accuse Jha of using excuses—such as rejecting a two-year-old quality assurance plan and demanding repeated design reviews and lab tests—to stall progress. These tactics, they claim, have demoralized the construction team and served his personal interests.

A ministry official further alleged that Jha is spreading misinformation about the construction company to justify further delays. “He is briefing the ministry with false claims, blaming the company to cover his own failures,” the official said.

With delays mounting and costs skyrocketing, the Gwarko Flyover remains unfinished, leaving the public to bear the consequences of bureaucratic inefficiency and vested interests.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 600 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 168, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 166, 900 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1, 980 per tola today.