Submit your Article

Much-awaited Melamchi water distribution is starting in Kathmandu Valley from today.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to inaugurate the Melamchi drinking water diversion and redistribution from the premises of the Prime Minister's Office at Singha Durbar.

Secretary at the Ministry of Drinking Water, Suresh Acharya, said that water would be gradually distributed in Anamnagar, Minbhawan, Mahankalchaur, Rigni, Bhaktapur, Khumaltar, Balaju and Bansbari areas.

He said the water released into the tunnel from Ambathan of Sindhupalchowk reached Sundarijal last Wednesday and the quantity of drinking water will be measured and distributed to all areas of Kathmandu gradually.

PM Dahal had directed Minister for Drinking Water Mahendra Ray Yadav to make arrangements to bring Melamchi water to the capital.

Following the directives of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Drinking Water has taken initiative to bring water by repairing the Melamchi Drinking Water Project. Melamchi water, which was disrupted due to floods and landslides, has been brought back to Kathmandu.

On December 19, the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee and construction company, Sino Hydro, had reached an agreement to bring Melamchi water to Kathmandu within 28 days.

Around 170 million liters of water are being brought to Kathmandu daily from Melamchi. The source area of the project was damaged after a flood and landslide occurred in Melamchi rivulet on June 15, 2021.

Since then, Melamchi water has not been distributed regularly in Kathmandu.

The government has continued its efforts to bring Melamchi water to Kathmandu on a regular basis.

Maghe or Makar Sankranti is being observed throughout the country today.

On the day, people of Hindu communities take holy dips into rivers and ponds, worship at various temples and relish delicacies like ghee, yam, Khichadi and sweets like Chaku and sweets made of sesame and molasses.

As per the astrological chart, this day is called Makar Sankranti since the sun moves towards the northern hemisphere from this day onwards. On this day, the sun moves from the tropic of Capricorn to the tropic of Cancer. Likewise, the days get longer from today onwards.

A large number of devotees throng Devghat, Trishuli, Kaligandaki, Bagmati, Indrawati, Ridi, and other places on the river banks to take a holy bath and perform Shraddha.

The Tharu Community observes this festival as the Maghi with much fanfare and gaiety for five consecutive days.

Likewise, the people in the Tarai belt mark this day as the festival of bath known as Nahan. It is also celebrated by the Tharus as Maghi or the New Year with much fun fare.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed Nepal Drugs Limited (NDL) to immediately start producing 20 generic medicines. He lauded the initiatives undertaken by NDL to produce medicines. 

The PM called a team of NDL, including its Chairperson Yagya Neupane, to his office and instructed the government pharmaceutical company to forthwith start production.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister directed the NDL to go ahead with its works in a new way, saying although it had carried out good job in medicine production in the past, obstructions were seen in this of late.

"The Nepal Drugs Limited had done a good job in production of medicines in the past. I understand that there were some obstructions in the meantime. I called this meeting with the thinking that the task of drug manufacturing should be expedited in a new manner. You start the work, I am ready to provide whatever support that is required of the government for the same," he added.

PM Dahal stressed on initiating works by producing 20 generic medicines for now and enhancing both its quality and volume in the future. He further added, "This is also one of the potential sectors for making the country prosperous. All things cannot be done at once. You, please, start work. I too will hold more discussions with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry. Let us carry out works in this sector in a way the people will get a feel of this."

NDL Chairman Neupane said that 10 generic medicines were being produced at present and homework is on for manufacturing 20 medicines immediately, the PM's Private Secretariat said.

He said the NDL could not carry out its works in an effective manner due to the outstanding liabilities that remained to be paid from the past.

He also expressed his commitment that the production would be made systematic and regular by managing some technical workforce, improving the quality of machines and purchasing some new machines.

The government is to take ahead the process to make the overdue payments of the contractors.

Holding a discussion with the contractors on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal directed the concerned authority to proceed with the payment process.

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the process to make the payment will start from today itself.

The contractors have been hitting the streets for a long time demanding payments for their completed works.

Prime Minister Dahal directed the Finance Ministry to speed up the development works by disbursing Rs 6.3 billion immediately.

Following the directive of the Prime Minister, the Finance Ministry has decided to proceed with the payment process from today itself.

Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala, Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal and Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar among others were present in the meeting.

Traffic is to be allowed on the Narayangadh-Muglin road section during the day today and tomorrow also.

A decision has been made to allow regular traffic on this road section during the day time today and tomorrow in view of the Maghe Sankranti religious fair that takes place at Devghatdham on the occasion of the Maghe Sankranti festival, said Er Krishna Acharya, the Information Officer of Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project West Sector (Narayangadh-Muglin).

Construction works were being carried out on this road section since December 23, stopping traffic for four hours during the day. A hillock is being removed for constructing a bridge over the Tuinkhola river on this road section.

Before this, a meeting of the security committee of the district had given permission to carry out the construction works by stopping traffic on this road section for an additional three weeks.

Former judge Bhuwan Giri’s wife attempted self-immolation on the premises of the Supreme Court on Sunday.

Giri’s wife Arati Giri, who had reached the apex court this afternoon, tried to set herself on fire by pouring petrol over her body.

Soon after the incident, police rescued her and took her to the Bir Hospital.

District Police Range, Kathmandu spokesperson Kumod Dhungel said her health condition is normal.

She has filed a marital rape case against her husband.

Earlier, the Kapilvastu District Court had issued an arrest warrant against Giri.

Later, the District Police Range, Kathmandu apprehended Giri and sent him to Kapilvastu.

After his arrest, the Kapilvastu District Court and the Kathmandu District Court released him on bail.

The parties in the ruling coalition have called for making the coalition candidates victorious in the upcoming National Assembly election.

Issuing an appeal on behalf of the ruling coalition partners, the parties stated that the candidates fielded for the upper house election are the common candidates.

"We have formed this political alliance for protection of the Constitution of Nepal and strengthening of the democratic republican system. Attainment of sustainable peace, good governance, development, prosperity and social justice is our common goal," reads the joint appeal.

It further reads: "Political stability is the precondition for the country's progress. The coalition is committed to the consolidation of the democratic, republican system, political stability, durable peace, good governance and prosperity, and will remain sincerely active for the same."

Cautioning against the possibility of various activities toward weakening the coalition in course of the election, the joint appeal states, "This election is also an opportunity to further ensure political stability in the country by making the alliance more organized and stronger. Therefore, it is necessary to firmly stand in support of the coalition. We appeal to all the voters to vote for the coalition candidates and make them victorious with overwhelming votes in the election."

The ruling coalition has fielded Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Champa Devi Karki, Ananda Prasad Dhungana, Puja Chaudhary, Bishnu Devi Pudasaini, Jit Jung Basnet, Shree Krishna Prasad Adhikari and Ghanshyam Rijal for the NA election.

Similarly, Manarupa Sharma, Kiran Babu Shrestha, Padam Bahadur Pariyar, Bishnu Kumari Sapkota, Jhakku Prasad Subedi, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, Sabitri Malla, Bishnu Bahadur Bishwokarma, Renu Chand, Baldev Bohara and Narayan Datta Bhatt are the candidates on behalf the coalition.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal, the Janata Samajwadi Party Chair Upendra Yadav, Nagarik Unmukti Party Chairperson Ranjita Shrestha, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Chair Mahantha Thakur and Rastriya Janamorcha Chair Chitra Bahadur KC have signed on the joint appeal.

A meeting of the Nepal-India Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorized Trade concluded in Kathmandu.

The two-day meeting that ran on January 12 and 13 aimed to promote bilateral cooperation and trade relations and transit by preventing unauthorized trade. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ram Chandra Tiwari headed the Nepali delegation to the meeting that was attended by representatives from various ministries and departments.

Joint Secretary Vipul Bansal of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India led the Indian delegation to the meeting which witnessed the participation of representatives of Embassy of India in Kathmandu and senior government officials from India.

The meeting discussed various agendas while also exploring ways for finding a mutual market access for medicinal and ayurvedic goods.

The Indian side highlighted the significance of the Paris Convention to promote foreign direct investment. The meeting stressed on the need of strengthening unobstructed trans-national connectivity between Nepal and India including the establishment of an integrated customs point and the construction of a railway service between the two countries.

India remains a major trading partner of Nepal. The meeting is expected to contribute to further enhancing the economic and business relations between the two countries.