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Two laborers of a hydropower project went missing after being swept away by the flood in Bhojpur district on Tuesday.

According to the Chief of District Police Office Yubaraj Timsina, two workers of the under-construction Ikhuwa Hydropower Project in Salpasilichho Rural Municipality were swept away by the flood last night.

The missing persons have been identified as Timsina said that Shyam Kumar Tharu (26) and Ramesh Tharu (30) of Barabardiya Rural Municipality-3 in Bardiya district.

Ram Kisan Tharu (26) was rescued from the site and is receiving treatment at Kulung Health Post.

Police said that a search for the missing ones is going on.

A landslide occurred this morning at Kharkhare cliff of Besisahar Municipality-6 in Lamjung district has caused vehicular obstruction along the Besisahar-Chame road section, the District Police Office said.

A heavy rain occurring in the district since last night has resulted in the landslide in the area.  

Police Inspector Thaneshwor Chapagain said that the Kharkhare area is a landslide-prone zone.

People traveling to and from Manang and northern belt of Lamjung have been stranded mid-way due to the obstruction.

Some places in Koshi, Lumbini and Karnali Provinces and one or two places Bagmati and Gandaki and some places in Koshi, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces are likely to receive heavy rain with thunder and lightning.

In the next 24 hours, the weather will remain generally cloudy throughout the country and light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur in some places of all provinces, according to today's morning bulletin published by the Department.

According to the Department, several parts of Bagmati and Madhes Provinces and some parts in other provinces are receiving light to moderate rain now.

The Department stated that some parts of Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces received heavy rainfall in the past 12 hours.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the CPN-UML-Nepali Congress coalition government will carry out its duties as per the spirit of the seven-point agreement between the two parties.  

Addressing the government ministers and secretaries at Singha Durbar on Tuesday, he assured that he shall tender his resignation and hand over power to Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba a week before his two-year term ends.

“You don’t need to worry about this coalition collapsing all of a sudden. This government will not collapse, nor will it even wobble. It was formed with a sense of duty. It was created by major parties with wisdom and careful consideration. There will be no instability.”

The prime minister also advised ministers not to criticize others during the first 100 days of the government's term, but instead carry out their duties responsibly. 

“Focus on your work. Every ministry should work toward producing attractive reports within 100 days to show what has been accomplished.” 

Reassuring secretaries to make decisions without fear, Prime Minister Oli noted that the current government does not even have the luxury of a ‘honeymoon period.’ 

Prime Minister Oli also issued a 26-point directive to government ministers and secretaries on fundamental tasks that need to be accomplished.

Box

Prime Minister’s directives

1. Senior citizens unable to stand in line for services like driving license, passport, citizenship, and national ID is a sad state of affairs. This issue was observed in a Lalitpur office. Such incidents frustrate the public and must end. Employees are here to serve, not to govern. We must serve the people with kindness. Services can be made practical and effective through the Citizen App. The relevant ministries and agencies should provide these services easily. 

2. This government has come with the responsibility of stability, so work with confidence.

3. It is not appropriate for employees in state ministries and agencies to receive meeting allowances when over 20 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. We must commit to serving the country and the people. 

4. Instead of starting new projects, we must focus on completing the ones already underway. The main focus should be on completing tasks.

5. We should aim to save billions spent on fuel imports by focusing on the development and use of hydropower.

6. Israel and Malaysia are turning seawater into drinking water. We should also think about branding Sagarmatha’s (Mount Everest’s) water.

7. There should be no delays in anything. Citizens who travel long distances and spend money to come to government offices should have their work done without hassle. 

8. Do not create unnecessary committees and structures. Work in a way that shows results.

9. We must work with dedication for the country and the people, and shake off the habit of shift responsibilities on others.

10. Adopt a system of completing tasks on time through performance and delegation of authority. Work according to the law, taking responsibility instead of relying solely on orders.

11. We are responsible for achieving sustainable development goals. Ending poverty should be our main target.

12. There are complications in proving the legitimacy of one’s own property. Situations like having to show the source even when selling one’s own property need to be addressed. These uncertainties and technical hurdles must be addressed.

13. There have been claims of budget shortages for work. What is the reality? Regular budgets are being spent, but development expenditures are low. Development delivers to the people. Therefore, there must be sufficient capital expenditure. We need to move toward a system where work starts as soon as a request is made and decisions are given quickly. 

14. The situation where insurance payouts, VAT refunds, and payments for farmers' milk and sugarcane are not made is not good. They take loans to invest, and delaying payments puts them in trouble. This hinders agricultural modernization.

15. Contractors not receiving payment for completed work should not happen. Completed work payments should not be stopped due to unresolved accounts or other reasons.

16. We must adhere to financial discipline. Work should be done transparently. Grants should be distributed systematically. Entrepreneurs should be encouraged, but misuse of grants for personal agricultural subsidies should be monitored.

17. Do not be enthusiastic about increasing tax rates. The monetary policy has brought good momentum in the market, which should be maintained. The market should be kept dynamic.

18. Dharahara is built but not operational due to parking issues. It should be operational even if a parking fee is charged. Nepali people contributed millions to the “I will build my Dharahara” campaign. The public has participated in its reconstruction but has not yet been able to visit Dharahara. I instruct that it be made operational as soon as possible.

19. Up to 100 days of the government's term, ministers should not criticize others. Focus on your work. Each ministry should work toward delivering attractive reports within 100 days.

20. Projects prioritized should not take years to complete.

21. We will hold the Sagarmatha Dialogue, so make preparations accordingly.

22. Why wasn’t the National Talent Award, started with the money from an international award I received with additional budget allocations, regularized? It should be regular. We must encourage talent.

23. There have been incidents of air and vehicle accidents. We need to plant deep-rooted trees along highways and design new constructions to be safe. We plan to operate trains and ships as well. There is public demand for trains. This will be our priority.

24. The People’s Housing and Integrated Development Program should be linked to business. Relocating squatters in Kathmandu to isolated areas without market access was not effective. Learning from such projects, we must work practically and appropriately.

25. Decide within three months whether to use pesticides in vegetables or not.

26. We need to collaborate with the private sector. Listen to grievances from the business sector

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has instructed the secretaries of the government to make public service delivery efficient so as to instill a sense of hope in the people.

While giving instructions to the secretaries at Singha Durbar today, he said employees are there to serve not to govern.

Citing a public office in Lalitpur, Prime Minister Oli said that the compulsion of senior citizens having to stand in queue to get services such as passport, citizenship, national identity card etc., is sad.

 "We are committed to serving the country and the people. If there is a tendency to not work all day, and take the allowance for working after five o'clock, this should be stopped now", said Prime Minister Oli.

Prime Minister Oli said that the current government has the task of providing stability, good governance, control of corruption and economic prosperity to the country.

The Prime Minister pointed out the need for the government to pay attention to the development and use of hydroelectric power and to save billions spent on fuel import. He emphasized that the government has the responsibility to fulfill the goals of sustainable development and that the main goal should be to end poverty.

On a different note, Prime Minister Oli said that the situation of non-payment of insurance, VAT refund, payment of farmers' milk and sugarcane farmers is not good. If payment is not made on time, those who have taken loan and invested will be in trouble and thus modernization of agriculture cannot be achieved.

"Those who do business should be encouraged, but the amount of agricultural subsidy given to individuals has been misused," he said.

Stating that the new monetary policy created enthusiasm in the market, he pointed out the need to put into practice and drive the market accordingly.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Oli directed the concerned authorities to bring the Dharahara into operation as soon as possible. "Dharahara has been built but is not operational. The Nepali people also contributed millions of rupees in the campaign 'I will build my Dharahara'. The people have participated in its reconstruction but they are not able climb the tower. I urged the concerned to bring it into operation as soon as possible."

He also instructed every ministry to come with a progress report for the first 100 days of the government.

Prime Minister Oli said that the situation where priority projects are not completed for years should be ended. He said the Sagarmatha dialogue should be started as well as the national talent award, which he said was initiated with the money he got as an award and was handed over to the government.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister also expressed concern over the increasing number of air and road accidents. "We have a plan to operate trains and ships. And since there is public demand for train service, it will be our priority."

He expressed the belief to move forward by addressing the concerns of the businesspersons while taking the private sector on board.

Bagmati Province Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama has secured a vote of confidence from the Provincial Assembly meeting on Tuesday.

In the vote that took place over his proposal seeking a vote of confidence at today's meeting of the Assembly, 64 votes were cast in favor and 35 votes against the proposal while three MPs stayed neutral. Speaker Bhuwan Kumar Pathak announced that the proposal was passed by a majority.

Among the votes, 37 were received from the Nepali Congress and 27 from the CPN-UML.

Members of the Provincial Assembly representing CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist) and RPP voted against the proposal, while three members of Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party remained neutral.

Seven members including two from Hamro Nepali Party and five from RPP were absent during the meeting. The Bagmati Provincial Assembly has a total of 110 members.

The next meeting of the Provincial Assembly will be held at 1 pm tomorrow.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that he would put in his papers a week before completion of his two-year term.

Directing the secretaries at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Tuesday, Prime Minister Oli said that the incumbent government should be made successful at any cost as it was formed at the coalition of two major political parties when the country was going through a grave situation.  

He recalled that he had already clarified in the course of asking a vote of confidence in the Parliament about the formation of a new coalition government of two largest parties after the erstwhile government failed to carry out activities as per people's expectation.

"The CPN-UML and Nepali Congress are the two parties that have been making special contributions in the country's socio-economic transformation. These parties are always in the main role for the country's development and changes. So, responsibility is upon these two parties for the country's development. These two parties are not allowed to be unsuccessful and will not be allowed at any cost", stressed PM Oli.  

He went on to say that, "This government is action-oriented. It has determination to do something for the nation. We should give a signal of success in the current fiscal year and more work has to be done in the coming fiscal year. It does not discriminate against anyone." 

He mentioned, "So, the incumbent government will not collapse. The government employees should carry out work confidently.  The government will take its responsibility."

PM Oli instructed the secretaries to carry out activities in a planned manner to accelerate development activities in order to deliver effective services to people as well as ending starvation and bad governance as per national aspiration, 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the Tribhuvan University should be restructured and its curriculum should be revised in time to provide opportunities for higher education in the country.

In the Senate Meeting of the university held today, PM Oli emphasized that studies and teaching should be made research-oriented and technology-friendly according to the demands of the time.

He said that it is now necessary to publish the results of the examinations conducted by the service commission in the university, to fill the lack of manpower by advertising for new recruitment in the vacant posts of teaching staff, to provide capacity building and research opportunities to the manpower who have entered the university service and retain them in the service.

"It is also important to review how much work has been done on these matters. If the speed of reform is slow, then I request everyone to take initiative from their respective places to speed it up," Prime Minister Oli said, adding, "I am closely monitoring various aspects of the academic and administrative works of the university. I used to get information about the activities of the university through various means. What are the problems in the universities, how did they arise and holding consultation with the officials of the university and interested parties to solve them."

Prime Minister Oli expressed his belief that the necessary homework on long-term importance of the university will be done soon by holding another Senate meeting. The Prime Minister's announcement to hold another meeting soon to discuss policy matters was taken positively by the student representatives of the Assembly.

In response to the question raised by the members in the Senate meeting regarding arrears, Prime Minister Oli expressed his belief that since the arrears could not be reduced since the past, after an audit was conducted, it was found that the arrears amount was Rs 28 billion. He said that there will be a discussion in the Parliament about the laws that should be made regarding the complications seen in it. Prime Minister Oli clarified that the funds received from the government will be distributed to universities by the University Grants Commission, so there will be no reduction in the amount currently set for research.

The Prime Minister instructed that decisions should be made in the university based on inclusiveness and participation. Prime Minister Oli asked to work carefully in determining the dignity of the professors and constructing the campus buildings damaged by the earthquake. He said that the legal system where the chancellor of the university is the prime minister would be appropriate, but if the assembly decides not to keep it, that would be acceptable to him.

 The Senate meeting held in the presence of the Minister for Education, Science and Technology and also the Vice-Chancellor of the University Bidya Bhattarai has given permission for degrees to 73 thousand nine hundred and 95 students included in the 62nd grace list from various faculties presented for the decisions. 

The meeting has also approved the program and the budget of the university for the current fiscal year.