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Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said that the TRC bill will be endorsed in the Parliament.

Home Minister Lekhak expressed his belief that the TRC bill will now be endorsed by the Parliament after a meeting of the taskforce formed to resolve the transitional issues held at the Home Ministry in Singha Durbar forged consensus on the disputed issues.

He said that an agreement was reached on the four disputed issues of the TRC bill after a long discussion.

Minister Lekhak informed that the report will be submitted to the senior leaders within a few days.

He said that there is no doubt that the bill will be passed from the Parliament as an agreement has already been reached on the disagreements.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Minister Lekhak said, “The taskforce was formed by the senior leaders of the three major political parties. At the same time, a discussion was also held to rope in other parties in the taskforce. As this is the common and country’s issue, this will be endorsed by the Parliament.”

CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula has said that the current session will end only after the endorsement of the TRC bill.

A meeting of the taskforce formed to iron out differences on the TRC bill forged consensus on four dispute issues on Thursday, Bartaula informed.

He said that all the victims of transitional justice cases will get justice and the culprits will be brought to book.

The UML leader said that the murder committed intentionally or arbitrarily will be described as murder.

He claimed that the taskforce forged consensus on the disagreed issues and there has been 100 percent agreement from the meeting.

Bartaula said that report will be submitted to Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal tomorrow or the day after.

He said that the bill will be endorsed by the current session of the Parliament.

MCA-Nepal has signed the final substation contract with Techno Electric and Engineering Company Ltd (TEECL), India to construct a $38.89m 400 kV substation in Damauli, Tanahun district. With this, MCA-Nepal has completed the award of contracts for the construction of all three 400 kV substations as part of implementing the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact. 

Once completed, the New Damauli Substation will have a capacity of 1,000 Mega Volt Ampere, making it one of the largest substations in the country along with the Ratmate Substation for which the MCA-Nepal signed a contract with the same company in June 2024. The New Damauli Substation will serve as a critical point of connection for power flow with the Ratmate, Lekhnath and New Butwal Substations, says a press statement issued by MCA- Nepal.

Khadga Bahadur Bisht, Executive Director at MCA-Nepal, and Rajiv Agarwal, Director- Commercial at TEECL, India signed and exchanged the contract in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka, US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson, MCA-Nepal Board Members, TEECL Managing Director Padam Prakash Gupta and officials from NEA along with MCC and MCA-Nepal officials. 

Addressing the event, Minister Khadka expressed his belief that the substations would significantly contribute in strengthening the electricity distribution system in Nepal to pave the way for economic prosperity. He also urged all concerned stakeholders to strengthen efforts for the timely completion of the project. 

Ram Prasad Ghimire, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and MCA-Nepal Board Chair said, “The progress is a good indication of MCA-Nepal’s ongoing efforts to implement the MCC Nepal Compact. The three substations are essential to Nepal’s growing energy sector and will help ensure a reliable power sector to enhance industrial and commercial activities for the economic growth in Nepal.” 

Speaking at the event Ambassador Thompson said, “Today, standing together with the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Nepal Electricity Authority, and MCA-Nepal, I’d like to acknowledge the important role each of you has played in the progress of this project and shaping a brighter future for Nepal.” He further added, “The MCC Nepal Compact is going to be an important part of our shared success story, working with Nepal to power Nepali homes, power the Nepali economy, create jobs, and reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”

Bisht said, “It is indeed a remarkable milestone to sign all three substation contracts while approaching the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Compact. I would like to acknowledge the support of the Government of Nepal and our key stakeholders—Ministry of Finance, the MCA Nepal Board, NEA and MCC for their continued support.”

Along with the three substations, the MCC Nepal Compact will fund the construction of up to 315 km of transmission line from Lapsiphedi, Kathmandu to the Nepal-India border in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) under the Electricity Transmission Project. The bids for the 18 km cross-border transmission line have been received for evaluation. MCA-Nepal aims to award the contract in August. Likewise, preparations are on track to ensure the bids for the remaining 297 km of transmission lines are relaunched at the earliest possible this year. And, on the Roads Maintenance Project, MCA-Nepal is preparing to launch the Full Depth Reclamation procurement in August. 

Three major political parties have reached an agreement on concluding the transitional justice process.

A meeting of the taskforce held in Singha Durbar on Thursday forged an agreement on four disputed points, Deputy General Secretary of the CPN (Maoist Center) Janardan Sharma informed.

He said that the agreement reached in the taskforce of three parties so far and the draft prepared by the taskforce till Monday will be handed over to the senior leaders.

Similarly, CPN-UML Chie Whip Mahesh Bartaula said that an agreement has been reached on complex issues such as human rights violations.

He said that the agreement reached in the taskforce will be handed over to the senior leaders and will be submitted to the parliamentary committee. Later, the bill will be tabled in the Parliament.

Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak, UML Chief Whip Bartaula and Maoist Center Deputy General Secretary Sharma were in the taskforce.

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has collected Rs 4 million in revenue in the fiscal year 2023/24.

Assistant Conservation Officer of the Wildlife, Binaya Kumar Mishra, said that the revenue was collected from the royalty of jungle safari, eco-tourism, penalty, elephant riding and other titles.

The highest amount of revenue was collected from the tickets sold for the visitors there.

The eastern belt of the Wildlife Reserve has become a key destination for academic excursions.

The Wildlife Reserve charges Rs 750 in fees to the tourists visiting from SAARC member states while visitors from other countries should pay Rs 1,500 to visit the site for 12 hours.

Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has announced not to organize the party meetings at the prime minister's official residence.

Taking to Facebook, PM Oli said the party meetings will not be conducted at his official residence until his health permits. The PM stated that the decision was in line with the suggestions given by the general public through their social networking sites. The PM has also expected such suggestions in the future as well.

"Our party's secretariat meeting is taking place today. The meeting is being convened in another place as the meeting could not be held at the party office due to inundation following the flood in the Manohara river. Continue offering me feedback like this. Thank You!" he said. 

Meanwhile, the UML's secretariat meeting is starting at 11 am today. Party's Publicity Department Chief Rajendra Gautam said central leaders' responsibility will be discussed along with the contemporary political issues.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged the Swiss government to help bring in more foreign direct investment for Nepal's economic development and prosperity.

During a meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Nepal Daniel Meuli at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar today, Prime Minister Oli stressed that foreign aid would be a catalyst for the country's development.

He mentioned that the government of Nepal has been making efforts to make the state structures accountable to the people by strengthening democracy, sharing that the practice of Switzerland for the development of inclusive democratic structure has been established here.

Expressing commitment that the government would carry out necessary reforms to increase foreign direct investment, the Prime Minister explained that there was enthusiastic participation of 50 countries in the recently held Nepal Investment Summit. 

Prime Minister Oli expected an increment of support from development partners as the country has set a goal of graduating to the developing country from least developed country by 2026 and to become middle-income country by 2030.

He thanked the Swiss government for its continued support to Nepal's development endeavors, preventing COVID-19 and to the peace process.

On the occasion, the Swiss Ambassador congratulated and extended best wishes to Prime Minister Oli for his successful tenure and assured of continuing collaboration and cooperation between the two countries.

President Ram Chandra Poudel has appointed Lieutenant General Ashok Raj Sigdel as the acting chief of the Nepal Army.

Sigdel has been appointed as the acting chief as the Incumbent Chief of Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma will retire after his three-year term comes to an end on September 9. There is a provision that the Chief of Army Staff goes on leave for one month before retirement.

Lieutenant General Sigdel has been designated as the acting chief, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers on the basis of seniority, with effect from August 9, according to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Office of the President, Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai.