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Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire and Chair of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina have again requested President Ram Chandra Paudel to appoint general secretary of the Federal Parliament, stating that the absence of the office-holder for more than a month has been affecting the functioning of the parliament. 

The constitutional position has been lying vacant since Bharatraj Gautam tendered his resignation on Nov 10 last year.

Speaker Ghimire and NA Chair have tried to draw the president’s attention toward the matter through discussions with the latter’s legal advisor Baburam Kunwar.

Ghimire and Timilsina have recommended the appointment of Padma Prasad Pandey, secretary at the parliament, as the new general secretary.

Speaker Ghimire, after consultations with thematic committee chairs of the Parliament, told mediapersons: “I have already recommended the appointment of the general secretary and hope it will happen soon.” 

However, the Office of the President has not started the appointment process. The office has been arguing that it cannot initiate the appointment process as it is yet to accept Gautam’s resignation as HoR general secretary. 

President Paudel has also been facing charges of showing undue interest in the appointment.

Paudel, after consultations with Ghimire and NA chair Timilsina, had appointed Pandey as acting general secretary of the parliament on Nov 13 pending further arrangements.

But this appointment has not been without its share of controversies as Pandey faces charges of obtaining multiple citizenships. After receiving a complaint regarding the same, the parliamentary Public Affairs and Good Governance Committee has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the matter and get it the facts. 

The minimum temperature in the Kathmandu Valley has dropped to 3.2 degree Celsius today, making it the lowest recorded temperature till date this year.

Meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, Saroj Pudasaini, said the temperature of Kathmandu valley has been recorded at 3.2 degree Celsius today.  The visibility in Kathmandu Valley has also decreased and it was 3,000 meters. 

With the decline in minimum temperature, Kathmandu folks have experienced a chilling cold today.

Similarly, Tarai area of the country is witnessing thick fog, affecting normal life there.

As per the weather data recorded on Sunday, Jumla recorded minus 5.6 degree Celsius, Jomsom minus five degree Celsius, and Jiri of Dolakha 1.0 degree Celsius.

There is a possibility of light snowfall at one or two places of high-hilly areas and mountainous areas of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces in the next 24 hours, according to the Division.

Anyone visiting Pokhara cannot remain unaffected by the bewitching mountains surrounding the valley. The Machhapuchhre peak casting its shadow in the Phewa Lake adds an extra layer of magic to this enchanting destination.

In Oct 2023, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres became a privileged guest of the city. He was greeted with snow-clad mountains and clear sky as he climbed up the Pumdikot hill from the Pokhara valley. 

​​Visiting Pumdikot wasn't originally on Guterres' schedule. However, compelled by curiosity, he ascended from the valley to explore the colossus of Lord Shiva, overlooking Phewa Lake and the majestic mountains. The joy on Guterres' face spoke volumes, radiating elation in response to the natural beauty that surrounded him. He found himself immersed in the beauty of nature. His gaze lingered on the mountains. 

Now the Pumdikot Development Committee has decided to dedicate the southwest part of the Shiva statue to the UN secretary general by naming it ‘Guterres Point’. From this vantage point, visitors can behold ridges of snow-clad mountains, including Annapurna I, II, III and IV, Khangsarkang, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Ghandruk Himchuli, and Mardi.

Chandra Kant Baral, chairman of the committee, said Guterres' visit has ignited local enthusiasm to transform Pumdikot into a modern tourist destination. 

Despite spending only 45 minutes at Pumdikot, Guterres' impact is evident. The 51-feet tall statue of Lord Shiva, a community-driven project, stands as a compelling tourist attraction. 

The committee envisions Pumdikot as the second most important pilgrimage site after the Pashupatinath Temple. Fundraising events, such as Maha Shiva Purana in 2017 and a mahayagya in 2022, have supported tourism promotion. Infrastructure development is accelerating, including administrative buildings, a monorail, a Shivalinga, a replica of Sumeru mountain, and an entrance. Future plans involve an electric chair car, a well-organized parking place, a Shanti Ashram, a senior citizens meeting center, and a garden.

Matrika Baral, a committee member, claimed that Pumdikot had become a must-visit destination for tourists visiting Pokhara. The arrival of VIPs and distinguished visitors, including Secretary-General Guterres has excited the local tourism industry. 

The government has collected Rs 3.15bn plus in royalty from different hydropower projects that are in operation.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been collecting the royalty amount on a regular basis as it keeps the royalty amount while paying the power developers for using their power. 

Likewise, the Electricity Development Department has asked some power developers to deposit the royalty amount as they were yet to clear their dues till the fiscal year 2022/23, Department’s Director General Chiranjivi Chataut said.

The projects failing to clear their dues would be charged by writing to the NEA. As per the provision, the royalty amount would be provided to the affected communities at the local level. 

The Department has collected Rs 1.15bn from license fees, Rs 8.7m from penalty and confiscation and Rs 4.2m from arrear. The Department collected Rs 4.31bn plus in revenue in the fiscal year 2022/23. 

Likewise, the Department has collected Rs 595.5m in royalty till the first six months of the current fiscal year while the amount from licensing is Rs 162.4m.

Two persons died and two others were injured when a commuter bus met with an accident in Dang on Sunday.

The ill-fated bus (Pradesh 3-01005 Kha 1791) was heading towards Kathmandu from Bardiya when the tragedy occurred near Rihar, Lamahi Municipality-9 along the East-West Highway at around 11 pm yesterday.

Inspector Lal Bahadur Shrestha of the Area Police Office, Amiliya said that Bhimnath Yogi (36) and Yuvaraj Chaudhary of Geruwa Rural Municipality-1 died in the incident.

He said that 47 persons were traveling in the bus. Among them, two were injured and other passengers were safe, police said.

Bus driver sustained minor injuries and he is undergoing treatment in Kohalpur.

The bodies have been kept at the Lamahi Hospital.

A few days ago, 12 persons had lost their lives when a bus fell off the Rapti Bridge at Bhaluwang of Dang.

In the mid winter,

Just like the flickers of light in darkness,

Just like the icy serenade of coolness in dawn,

A part of me was forlorn.

After some years,

In the mid spring,

Just like the gentle breeze of wind in May,

Just like the first drizzle of rain,

One fine afternoon,

A part of me was melancholic.

But,

Some parts of me were under Phoenix’s spell.

Amidst nowhere,

There existed be-all and end-all,

In your presence,

I could be more human.

More courageous.

More myself.

What a time!

Animon Rapacha

BBM VI Semester, United College

The number of taxpayers has increased in recent times in the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).

The number of taxpayers was 324, 120 last financial year and it has reached 343, 340 in the current financial year, said Dhruba Kafle, the Chief of KMC's Revenue Department.

According to Kafle, 35, 057 taxpayers have increased under the heading - 'rental taxpayers', 31, 916 have been added under the heading of business taxpayers and 52, 486 have added under the heading of property taxpayers.

The number of taxpayers has gone up in other tax headings as well. The metropolis' revenue collection has also significantly increased with the increase in the taxpayers.

Kafle said that KMC has collected approximately Rs 5 billion in revenue until the half of the current financial year.

KMC has been collecting revenue under 36 various headings, including property, house rent, business, advertisement, entertainment, land and VAT.

Normal life in Madhes Province has been affected from the biting cold in the past three weeks. The cold has badly affected life in the districts of Eastern Terai including Mahottari.

Locals said that livestock were also affected due to freezing cold and harsh winds coupled with thick fog.

People's mobility has reduced in both city and rural areas in the district. The business people said that the sale of thick woolen clothes has increased with the dip in weather.

Likewise, medical practitioners have shared that there has been a surge in the number of patients suffering from colds, coughs, asthma and others in the district hospitals and health facilities. Children, elderly people and pregnant women are at the receiving end due to the severe cold.

The people in different places in the district are seen keeping themselves warm by burning fire in the open space while some local levels are providing firewood for free and are distributing blankets and other warm clothes.