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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has clarified that the arrears of Nepal Electricity Authority's dedicated feeders and trunk line power supply will be collected without any leftovers.

Responding to questions of MPs in today's meeting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Oli, however, said the arrears will be collected not by closing the industry but by operating it. "The government is clear on this; the arrears will be collected without cutting off the power supply lines.”

He also made it clear that there is no difference between the government and the NEA leadership, and refuted the social media publicity that tries to give a false impression that the NEA is trying to collect the tariff and the government is exempting it.

On a different note, the Prime Minister said that a system will be developed whereby a response would be made within three days on the files that need to be decided in any ministry.

He also said that the process of linking the national identity card and driver's license to the citizen app has been started.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba, who is on an official visit to India beginning August 18, has urged academicians from South Asia to explore collective issues of climate change and suggest ways for addressing them. 

During her meeting with South Asian University (SAU) President Professor KK Aggarwal in New Delhi today, the Minister urged this.

"The South Asia region shares numerous other issues as well. The University researchers and academicians are expected to research and identify them, facilitating to address them," she said.

In the meeting, University President Prof Aggarwal briefed the Minister about University affairs, proposing the Nepal government to establish the University's constituent college in Nepal.

The University established by the eight member nations from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an international university and the foreign ministers from the SAARC countries remain as its ex-officio chancellors.

In New Delhi, the Minister had a courtesy meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.

Foreign Affairs Department Chief of Bharatiya Janata Party, Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale, also called on the Minister.  She will be returning home today itself.  

Minister for Education, Science and Technology Bidya Bhattarai said recently that officials of Tribhuvan University (TU) have been receiving threats from different people. Through a post on her social media page, she even requested the home ministry for necessary security arrangements for the officials and curbs on hooliganism. 

The recent controversy surrounding the appointment of the head of the Central Department of Sociology of TU has exposed a dangerous trend of threats and intimidation that threatens the very foundations of Nepal's oldest and largest institution of higher learning. The outgoing head, Prof Yubaraj Luintel, had submitted a list of nominees to succeed him at the Dean's office. Sources say the Dean, Prof Kusum Shakya, however, altered the order of the nominees, placing Tikaram Gautam, who was second on the list, in the top position and forwarded the names to higher authorities.

This sparked outrage, particularly from the Nepal Progressive Professors’ Association, which is close to the CPN-UML. The professor accused Dean Shakya of political bias, favoring a candidate allegedly close to the Nepali Congress. The ensuing conflict has escalated to the point where university officials, including the Vice-Chancellor, Rector and the Registrar, are reportedly receiving threats. The fact that a cabinet minister has to resort to social media to ensure the safety of academics speaks volumes about the breakdown of institutional norms and the infiltration of political bullying into academic spaces.

This is not an isolated incident, though. TU has a history of politically-motivated disruptions. The same department faced similar issues during the appointment of Prof Luintel as its head. Gautam was at the center of that controversy as well. This shows the culture of political interference in academic appointments in the TU is deeply entrenched, with merit and procedures often overlooked over party affiliations.

The repercussions of such actions are far-reaching as they create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among faculty members and administrators. When university officials cannot perform their duties without fear of reprisal, it undermines the entire academic ecosystem. Academic activities will be affected not only in central colleges on TU premises but also in constituent and affiliated colleges across the country. Instead of witnessing a meritocratic and transparent system, students see power plays and threats determining academic leadership. This not only demoralizes students but also erodes their faith in the institution. Such activities discourage talented individuals from enrolling in TU campuses, which affect student numbers that are already on the decline. The impact on the teaching and learning environment is profound. When political agendas overshadow academic priorities, the quality of education inevitably suffers. Resources and energy that should be directed toward improving curricula, research and facilities are instead wasted on political maneuvering and damage control.

The government must take immediate steps to ensure the safety of university officials and thoroughly investigate the threats. Those responsible must be held accountable to send a clear message that intimidation has no place in academic institutions. There is also an urgent need for a comprehensive review and reform of the appointment processes at TU. Clear, transparent and merit-based procedures must be established and strictly adhered to. There should be room for manipulation or political interference. The ministry also needs to take necessary initiatives to safeguard the autonomy of universities by creating a regulatory framework that shields academic institutions from political pressure.

The current crisis at TU is more than just an administrative dispute. It is a symptom of a deeper malaise affecting Nepal's higher education system. It should serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders—educators, politicians, students, and citizens—to rally for the protection of academic integrity and the safety of those who uphold it.

Out of 753 local levels across Nepal, 539 have been fully electrified, while 196 are partially connected to the national grid. Eighteen local levels remain without access to the grid, but these areas are powered by micro-hydropower projects and solar plants.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) 2023/24 electrification data, 99 percent of the population now has access to electricity. This data, collected through a comprehensive study down to the ward level, shows that there are currently 5.9m electricity customers. Of those with electricity access, 97 percent receive power from the national grid, while the remaining three percent rely on alternative sources.

A total of 590 local levels have been electrified between 95 to 100 percent and 72 local levels have seen 75-95 percent electrification while it is 50-75 percent in 33 local levels, 26-50 percent in 26 local levels and up to 25 percent in 32 levels.  

NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising emphasized the authority’s commitment to implementing the government’s goal of providing reliable and high-quality electricity to all citizens within the current fiscal year. He noted that in the fiscal year 2015/16, the electrification rate was just 58 percent, a figure that has now surged to 99 percent, marking significant progress. Ghising stated that NEA is working to identify and connect households in remote areas that still lack electricity. “We are prioritizing providing quality services to areas with existing electricity access and are dedicated to connecting those without NEA services.”

Efforts are also underway to bring electricity to homes in the geographically challenging mountainous and hilly districts of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces within a year. The NEA has already selected contractors and commenced electrification projects in the hilly regions of Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces, funded by a $220m soft loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Ghising also mentioned that the NEA is extending electricity access in other regions through government investments and allocating a portion of the authority’s earnings for this purpose.

Among the seven provinces, Madhes province has 100 percent electrification while Koshi has 99.3 percent, Bagmati 99.97 percent, Gandaki 99.4 percent and Lumbini 98.49 percent electrification. Karnali province has the least electrification at 74.38 percent. Sudurpaschim province has 86.58 percent electrification.

Out of 77 districts, Humla is the only district not connected to the national grid. The district relies on micro-hydropower and solar energy projects for electricity. 

Fifty-six out of the 77 districts have between 95 to 100 percent electrification while it is 75 to 95 percent in 10 districts, from 50 to 75 percent in five districts and between 25 to 50 percent in six districts. 

In Koshi Province, all 14 districts except Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha have over 95 percent electrification, with Solukhumbu at 89.04 percent and Sankhuwasabha at 93.99 percent. Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, and Dhankuta districts are fully electrified.

In Madhes Province, all eight districts have been fully electrified. In Bagmati Province, 13 districts, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, and Chitwan, have 100 percent electrification. The remaining districts have over 95 percent electrification.

In Gandaki Province, Tanahu, Syangja, Parbat, and Kaski districts are fully electrified, while Manang has 87.81 percent electrification, and the remaining districts exceed 95 percent.

In Lumbini Province, the lowest electrification rate is in Rukum East at 32.24 percent, and in Rolpa at 85 percent. Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, and Bardiya are fully electrified, with other districts above 95 percent.

In Karnali Province, Rukum West has the highest electrification at 95.8 percent, while Mugu has the lowest at 31.8 percent. Other districts include Surkhet (86.48 percent), Dailekh (81.05 percent), Salyan (79.5 percent), Jajarkot (49.8 percent), Kalikot (70.96 percent), Jumla (62.47 percent), Dolpa (42.75 percent), and Humla (32.51 percent).

In Sudurpaschim Province, Kanchanpur and Kailali are fully electrified. However, Bajura has only 33.51 percent electrification, while Dadeldhura has 94.08 percent, Doti 88.04 percent, Achham 65.97 percent, Baitadi 61.73 percent, Bajhang 69.03 percent, and Darchula 84.01 percent.

Most of the areas in Bhajani Municipality have been inundated.

With their residence submerged after incessant rain, the local people have been adversely affected.

Normal life has been affected in the municipality area after the Kandra, Mohana, Kadha and Patharaya rivers entered the settlements due to incessant rain on Wednesday.

Khem Raj Pandey, a local, informed that those who were completely affected due to inundation have been shifted to safer places.

Ward 8 of the municipality has been most affected. Locals of the ward have been kept at nearby high-rise buildings, schools and postal roads.

Kallu Chaudhary, a local, said it was difficult to save the food grains after the house was flooded. He said that some of the neighbors were trying to save their lives by leaving the crops behind, which has caused a lot of damage.

The flood at Kandra in Bhajani Municipality-5 has also damaged the postal highway.

According to Dipesh Budha, hundreds of families have also been displaced by the flood in Lalbhozhi area of ward 5.

Normal life has also been affected in ward 3 of Joshipur.

Mayor Chaudhary said the municipality has pledged to help the affected people to the best of their resources.

A domestic buffalo reared by a farmer in Manahari, Makawanpur has killed a tiger. 

A buffalo owned by Bal Bahadur Rai of Manahari Rural Municipality-6, Pratappur killed the tiger that came out of Chitwan National Park (CNP).

CNP's Information Officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari said that the tiger died in retaliation to the buffalo this morning.

The buffalo was injured in the tiger attack. This is the first such incident in the park and its buffer zone.

"The dead tiger looks old and thin. The jungle cat might have gone out in search of food for not being able to hunt inside the park", he said.

Information Officer Tiwari informed that the body has been brought to the National Park for post-mortem.

Vehicular movement along the Galchhi-Rasuwagadhi road section has been obstructed due to a landslide with boulders.

According to District Traffic Office, Chief Jejung Karki, the dedicated double lane road has been completely obstructed due to a landslide with boulders near Belkotgadhi Municipality-8, Borokhola in Nuwakot.

The road from Devighat to Galchhi via Mahadevphant has been completely blocked.

There is no alternative road around the same route, which has troubled transport vehicles to move.

Police have urged the vehicles heading to Kerung via Trishuli of Nuwakot and Rasuwagadhi from Galchhi, Dhading to reach Kathmandu from Galchi and use the Tokha-Chhahare road.

Chief of Galchhi-Rasuwagadhi Road Project Office, Dhurba Kumar Shrestha said that it would take time to operate the road as a 'breaker' has to be installed to remove the boulders that occurred along with the landslide on Wednesday night.

Human resources with heavy equipment have been mobilized since this morning to clear the landslide debris.

The monsoon winds have widespread effects throughout the country and the monsoon low pressure line is towards the western part of its average location and in some northern direction towards the east of its average location, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.

The weather thus will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country at present. Light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is taking place at a few places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces and at one or two places of rest of the provinces.

According to the Department, it will be generally cloudy throughout the country this afternoon. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at some places of all the provinces.

Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at a few places of Koshi, Madhes and Sudurpaschim Provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the provinces.

Similarly, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy throughout the country tonight with chances of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at some places of all the provinces. 

Heavy rainfall is also likely to occur at one or two places of Koshi and Madhes Provinces. Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur at a few places of the province in the next 24 hours.

In view of possible heavy rainfall at some places of Koshi, Madhes and Lumbini Provinces, the Department has urged the general public of these areas to adopt precautionary safety measures.