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President Ram Chandra Paudel returned home this morning from Baku, Azerbaijan by attending the 29th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker of House of Representatives (HoR) Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak welcomed the President at the VVIP Lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport.

A contingent of the Nepali Army accorded a guard of honor to the President on the occasion.

Ministers, lawmakers, high-level government officials and the chiefs of security bodies had also reached the airport to welcome the President.

President Paudel had left for Baku on November 10 to attend the COP29 at the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Along with the President, First Lady Sabita Paudel, President Paudel's Water and Environment Expert Parameshwor Pokharel, Secretary at the Office of the President Narayan Prasad Sharma, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister Krishna Hari Pushkar, President's Personal Secretary Abagya Paudel, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amrit Bahadur Rai, Executive Chairman of Rastriya Samachar Samiti Dharmendra Jha and President's Communication Expert Kiran Kumar Pokharel also returned home.

Eight persons died and six others were critically injured in a jeep accident in Darchula on Friday.

According to police, the four-wheeler (Ma 1 Ja 338) was heading towards Gokuleshwor from Malikarjun Jatra when the incident occurred in Sirad river of Shailyashikar Municipality-5 at around 4 am today.   

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prakash Dahal said that the deceased have been identified as Birendra Rawal (30) and Shanti Rawal (28) of Shailyashikar Municipality-5, Dilip Bista (45) of Shailyashikar Municipality-9 and Sanjib Bohora (15) and Birandra Bohara (50) of Dilashaini-5 in Baitadi district and Mina Lekhak (40).

Likewise, Mohammad Safir (45) and Mohammad Basim (18) of Uttar Pradesh, India also died in the mishap, DSP Dahal said. Identity of one is not ascertained as yet. 

All the injured have been taken to Gokuleshwor Hospital.

Police said that they are looking into the incident.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

This year’s monsoon proved more fatal than the previous year’s.

Government data don’t lie, do they?

According to the  National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs, this year's monsoon disasters caused the highest human casualties in Nepal since 2009 and five times more than the last year’s.

This year’s monsoon, which entered earlier compared to previous years but stayed 10 days more than usual, wreaked unprecedented havoc between June 10 and October 12 in an ill-prepared and multiple disasters-prone country standing shakily on a seismic fault-zone.  

During the period, 494 people lost their lives (marking an increase of 537 per cent compared to the last year), 66 went missing and 532 suffered injuries in 2,136 monsoon-related incidents that affected 5,937 families.

This monsoon, floods affected 2,227 families in 397 locations, with 90 human casualties, 18 cases of missing and 45 injuries. In 943 reported landslides, 343 people died, 48 went missing and 276 sustained injuries, directly impacting 1,561 families, according to the authority.

Incidents of heavy rainfall recorded in 538 locations killed nine people and caused injuries to 38 others, affecting 1,814 families. 

In 258 incidents of lightning recorded during the period, 52 people died and 164 suffered injuries, affecting 335 families, per the authority’s data.

From June 14 to October 15 last year, the authority recorded 891 monsoon-related incidents that killed 92 people, 30 went missing and 168 suffered injuries.

It’s clear that stepped-up disaster preparedness could have minimized the scale of the monsoon tragedy in a country that is very susceptible to natural disasters worsened by climate change.

After the monsoon havoc, the winter has arrived, exposing a large number of survivors, including children, women and senior citizens, to multiple challenges like food shortages, lack of shelters, health and hygiene issues and disruption of education.

The onus is on government authorities at federal, provincial and local levels to act in tandem and take urgent measures to ensure the survivors’ well-being, and prove the opening line entirely wrong in this context. 

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced to give a prize of Rs 250,000 to each female cricket player who for the first time entered in the U-19 World Cup.

CAN spokesperson Chumbi Lama informed that the officials included in the team will be honored with a prize of Rs 150,000.

Nepal achieved a historic achievement in the U-19 World Cup for the first time by winning by eight wickets against the home team UAE in the match held in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday.

Nepal are placed in the World Cup by adding 10 points from six games.

Similarly, the UAE scored the same 10 points from the same match, Nepal managed to get a place in the World Cup by being ahead in net run rate.

The U-19 Cricket World Cup will be held in Malaysia in 2025.

In addition to the WAC, Nepal have also been selected for the U-19 Asia Cup. Nepal have also been selected for the U-19 Women's Asia Cup organized by ACC in December.

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Malaysia will participate in U-19 Asia Cup cricket along with Nepal.

US Special Envoy for Youth Affairs Abby Finkenauer arrived in Nepal on Thursday.

According to the American Embassy in Kathmandu, Special Envoy Finkenauer is scheduled to meet the Nepali youth leaders during her visit. 

The envoy will participate in a youth-focused program to promote democracy and civic engagement in different sectors.

Her main role is to augment the voice of the youth and establish meaningful relationships with them.

The Embassy further said Finkenauer's visit would help strengthen international relations and help youths in building a democratic future and a prosperous Nepal.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged all the developed countries to fulfill their commitment made to addressing the climate change impact.

President Paudel made this call during the bilateral meeting with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev today.

"Nepal has its full commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Since Nepal has set the target of achieving the 'zero carbon emission' milestone by 2045, five years ahead of the globally-set target, we urge all the developed countries to fulfill their commitments that they have expressed in connection to addressing the climate change consequences," Kiran Pokharel, the President's Press Advisor, quoted President Paudel as saying in the bilateral meeting.

President Paudel said that although Nepal's carbon emission is negligible, it has been bearing a big impact of climate change.

Stating that the snow in the Himalayas is melting rapidly, the water sources for the people living in the downstream region are decreasing and there is big loss of lives and property every year due to the climate change-induced natural disasters every year, he recalled that this year also Nepal had to suffer huge loss of lives and property due to the unseasonal heavy downpour.

"The government is having to divert a large portion of its budget each year for providing relief support to the population affected by the climate change impact," President Paudel said. 

Noting that Nepal and Azerbaijan did not only share geographical similarities due to their mountainous terrain and land-locked condition, but also have similar structural challenges and effects that the mountainous countries are facing, he said, "Climate change is the common challenge of the whole world; our two countries which are mountainous are suffering from the adverse impact of climate change. I urge the Azerbaijani government for solidarity in Nepal's initiatives as it has been raising, in various international forums, including in COP, issues that the mountainous countries face due to climate change." 

President Paudel on the occasion praised Azerbaijan for the extensive development and economic transformation it has achieved since its independence in 1991.

He said that Nepal is at present moving ahead on the path of economic development following the political changes and the government's priority is sustainable economic development. "We cannot institutionalize the political achievements that we have gained without economic transformation and development," he added.

President Paudel congratulated his Azerbaijani counterpart for the full success of the COP-29 that is organized under his able leadership, expressing the belief that the Declaration to be passed by COP-29 will protect the rights and interest of Nepal-like countries that emit negligible carbon into the atmosphere but have to suffer much from the climate change effects.

He drew the attention of Azerbaijan to the good investment opportunity in Nepal in the agriculture, tourism and water resources sectors.

During the meeting, President Aliyev of Azerbaijan stated that he would work closely with Nepal on climate change issues in the context of his presidency of the COP for one year more, according to Pokharel, the President Paudel's press advisor.

President Aliyev said that his country was positive to invest in the sectors to be proposed by Nepal.

During the meeting, the Azerbaijani President said that Azerbaijan would serve as the COP Chair for the next one year, suggesting a closer cooperation with Nepal for climate action, according to the President's advisor.

 The President of Azerbaijan also said that they are positive for an investment in areas to be proposed by Nepal.

Nepal and Azerbaijan had established diplomatic ties in 1995.  Both countries cooperate in the multi-sectoral forum including the UN on sustainable development and climate change, the shared issues of both nations.

President Paudel on Tuesday addressed the "World Leaders Climate Action Summit" a high-level session held under the ongoing COP29.

 During the conference, Nepal on Wednesday hosted a separate high-level special session on "Addressing Loss and Damage in Mountains," drawing global attention to its agenda of concerns. The President hoped that such discussions would help find a better understanding of the issue and explore practical solutions.

He also addressed an event organized by Kyrgyzstan.

He also attended the group meeting held by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres with the Heads of State and Government of underdeveloped countries who gathered in Baku to take part in the COP 29 conference. The President utilized the meeting to urge the UN Secretary-General to make the developed countries serious about the impact of climate change.

The conference that commenced on November 11 will continue until November 22.  President Paudel landed in Baku last Monday, leading the high-level delegation to the conference. He is today scheduled to leave Baku for Doha of Qatar en route to home. He will reach Kathmandu on Friday morning.

With the onset of the winter season, migratory birds from as far as Mongolia, China, Siberia, Russia and other countries have been spotted in three rivers in Chitwan district.

Bagmati Province Coordinator of Nepalese Ornithological Union, Basu Bidari, said that more than 40 species of birds have arrived in Rapti, Narayani and Riyu Rivers in Chitwan.

"Migratory birds have been spotted on the riverbanks. The tourists too have started coming for bird watching," Bidari said.

Duck and other birds of various species such as Maalak duck, duck with a green head, Kalijure duck, Suirepuchhre duck, Kharakhare duck, Kal duck, Thulo Jalewa and Chakhewa among others are seen in the wetlands, he shared.

The birds arrive in Nepal in search of food as the rivers are frozen in the winter season in different countries.

According to Bidari, some 150 to 160 species of birds arrive in Chitwan and those migratory birds don't hatch. "The birds return to their original habitat with the beginning of the summer season," he added.  

The Lumbini Province government has allocated a mere Rs 500,000 for the Pidalne-Samadhisthal road in Pyuthan district in 2024/25. This allocation is so small that even ward offices have the authority to allocate budgets of this size.

Another example is the budget allocated for the road to Gaumukhi in Jhimrukh-4 of Pyuthan. This road project has also been allocated Rs 500,000, which is insufficient to build a foot trail, let alone a motorable road.

The provincial government has allocated just Rs 50,000 for the Magarghatta Water Supply Project in Bijayanagar-2 of Kapilvastu. Likewise, Rs 100,000 has been allocated for the Wadsaduwa Water Supply Project in Bijayanagar-7.

Experts say these meager budget allocations are made to appease relatives and party workers. Since these small projects do not require a formal tendering process, they can be awarded directly to consumer committees, which are often filled with relatives and party supporters. This practice leads to the misuse of state resources. These projects, lacking technical studies, cost estimates, and feasibility assessments, cannot deliver anything substantial.

The province also lacks a road master plan which has affected the implementation of road and bridge projects considered the mainstay of development. By allocating small budgets, the provincial government has failed to advance large strategic projects. Hundreds of road and bridge projects are stalled because they receive only Rs 100,000-200,000 when they require millions.

The province government is implementing 258 multi-year road and bridge projects in 2024/25. Some of these projects have been stalled for as long as eight years. In the absence of clear laws and with insufficient allocations, tens of millions of rupees are going down the drain, locals complain.

These projects are in need of a combined Rs 4.82bn. However, the province government has allocated only Rs 2.73m.

A total of 197 motorable and suspension bridges, and 61 roads are under construction across 12 districts of the province.

The Road Infrastructure Development Office in Pyuthan has been working on the Chereneta-China-Jabune Road since 2016. As per the contract, the project was to be completed by mid-June 2023.

Although the project’s deadline was extended to mid-May 2024, it could not be completed due to a lack of budget.

Nagarjun Construction of Kathmandu is building the project.

“We need Rs 1.69m to complete this project. However, it was allocated a mere Rs 100,000 in the current fiscal year,” said Senior Engineer Chandra Sah. “How can the project make progress with such a meager allocation?”

The office, which suffered from a slow work pace in the initial years, is now facing problems due to low budget allocation. “They should have prioritized multi-year projects instead of allocating funds to petty projects,” Sah added.

The situation in Palpa is no different. According to Senior Engineer Basudev Bhandari, chief of the Road Infrastructure Development Office in Palpa, no budget has been allocated this year for the Chilangdi-Chapapani-Ramdi Road which has achieved 80 percent physical progress. Bhandari also said authorities should focus on completing multi-year projects first.

Projects transferred from the federal government to be implemented through conditional grants have been left in limbo due to resource crunches. In the first year of the province government’s formation seven years ago, the federal government transferred 129 projects to Lumbini Province. Ten of these projects are still incomplete.

According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, Lumbini Province, the provincial government has not received funds from the federal finance ministry to complete these projects. The province government needs Rs 187.99m to complete these projects.

The Belbas-Bethari Road in Rupandehi and the Ratachaur-Taltung-Ujungdhara-Harpukot Nayapokhari Maidan-Kotkoteri-Neta Road in Gulmi each need Rs 50m.

Locals have requested the federal finance minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, who is from the province, to release funds for these pending projects.

Rupandehi district has the highest number of multi-year projects at 38, followed by Kapilvastu (22), Arghakhanchi (11), Dang (20), Bardiya (17), Gulmi (16), Palpa (18), Pyuthan (10), Banke (9), Rolpa (4), and Rukum East (3). Rupandehi, which has been overseeing infrastructure in Nawalparasi district, will now transfer 40 percent of projects and budgets to Nawalparasi.

Bardiya requires the highest budget to complete its pending projects. The district needs Rs 749.47m (including VAT) to complete nine pending projects, according to Senior Division Engineer Binod Kumar Chaudhary, the chief of the Road and Bridge Division under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of Lumbini Province.

Acting Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, Bhumishwar Dhakal, said that there would be changes in budget allocation from the next fiscal year. “The province government will now prioritize multi-year projects. Only then will other projects receive resources,” he added. “The province government is finalizing the Province Transportation Network Master Plan. We will stop allocating funds for petty projects once the masterplan comes into force.”

Secretary Bhimarjun Pandey also said that the ministry was collecting detailed data on ongoing projects. “The future projects of the provincial government will align with the provincial transport master plan,” Pandey added.