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The Hetauda Cement Industry (HCI) has faced a deepening financial crisis, causing adverse impact on production.

HCI management had shut down the factory since October 1, 2024, reasoning the need for repairing machines. Although it was expected to complete maintenance and resume production from mid-November, the administration argued it took more time for repair.

Administration chief and spokesperson, Hareram Aryal, however, said, "Only maintenance is not the reason behind delay in resumption of industry. As the economic crisis is deepening, it is not sure when to resume the industry."

Although the production is nil at present, the spending is regular- salary to employees and fuel costs. It further adds to the financial problems, according to him.

Aryal shared that the industry was in need of raw materials. "If it runs daily, at least 120 trucks of coal are required. It is not available now nor has money to purchase it. The previous payment is pending for a long time."

The employees are also not paid for their extra services.

Established at Lamsure of Hetauda city in 2033 BS, the industry had begun producing cement since 2043BS. The implements are old to use in full capacity for production.

Technical chief Kameshwor Mandal said, "Many equipment are overused and now not functioning well to ensure smooth production." He further said the maintenance was still going on.

When the industry is run in full capacity, it produces as many as 16,000 sacks of cement every day.

The Pathivara area saw snowfall with light rains last night. 

An employee at Pathivara Area Development Committee, Rajendra Mahat, informed that it was the third snowfall this season.

Earlier, the snowfall had occurred in December and January.

With the snowfall, the temperature dropped significantly in the religious site located at a height of 3,794 meters.

Executive Director at the committee, Prajin Hangbang, said the number of tourists increases after the snow every year.

The locals have said the scant rainfall this winter dented the growth of crops. To this, the snowfall was a huge relief, they added.

The District Police Office, Palpa has recorded a total of 53 cyber complaints in 11 months.

The office saw the registration of 53 complaints relating to cyber in the last 11 months from February 19, 2024 to January 13, 2025, according to Superintendent of Police, Narendra Chand. Most of those, 16, are Facebook ID hackings.

Similarly, out of those forwarded as cybercrime cases, 17 were settled so far.

The cybercrimes are perpetrated via social network sites and apps- Facebook, Twitter (X), YouTube, Messenger, Emo, Insta, Viber, and WhatsApp, among others.

SP Chand said the cyber complaints were on rise of late owing to expansion of internet and IT infrastructures, increasing use of digital gadgets and low digital literacy.

I have been married for five years. Lately, our relationship has been strained as my husband works late and I find myself juggling my career and most household responsibilities. We both feel unappreciated and struggle to communicate our frustrations without arguing. How can we maintain a healthy partnership when busy schedules and unequal responsibilities create tension?

Answered by Kapil Sharma, consultant psychiatrist 

Maintaining a healthy partnership while juggling demanding careers and household responsibilities is challenging. Your struggles with communication, unappreciation, and increasing tension are valid and quite common among couples navigating work-life balance. 

Emotional exhaustion can play a significant role in relationship strain, especially when one partner is juggling both career and household responsibilities. The constant pressure can lead to burnout, making people emotionally drained and less able to be present for each other. This exhaustion often manifests in impatience, irritability, and poor communication, which can make it difficult to nurture a healthy connection.

Perceived inequality in responsibilities is another factor that can contribute to conflict. When one partner feels overwhelmed by taking on more tasks, feelings of resentment can arise. This imbalance often leads to a cycle of blame and defensiveness, making it harder to address and resolve underlying issues.

Lack of quality connection is another challenge that can affect relationships. With busy schedules and constant responsibilities, partners may struggle to find time for meaningful interactions. This emotional distance can grow over time, leading to feelings of disconnection and a sense of being unappreciated.

Unmet emotional needs can also strain relationships when one or both partners don’t feel seen, heard, or valued. It can create a sense of isolation. This often results in either withdrawal or unhealthy expressions of frustration, such as arguing instead of having open, constructive conversations. These unmet needs can further deepen the emotional gap between partners.

Instead of addressing issues during moments of high tension, schedule a calm time to talk and express your feelings without placing blame. Use ‘I’ statements, such as “I feel overwhelmed handling household tasks alone,” to encourage understanding and prevent defensiveness. Take the time to list all household tasks and have an open conversation about dividing responsibilities fairly, considering each partner’s strengths and available time. If necessary, explore outsourcing some tasks, like hiring help for cleaning or meal preparation, to lighten the load and foster teamwork.

Even with busy schedules, make an effort to carve out small yet meaningful moments together. Whether it’s sharing a meal without distractions, taking a short walk, or having a weekly check-in about your emotional well-being, these moments help maintain connection. Also regularly express gratitude for each other. Simple gestures like saying, “I appreciate how hard you work for us,” can go a long way in making your partner feel seen and valued. Where possible, establish clear work-life boundaries. Encourage your partner to limit late hours, and be sure to take breaks yourself to avoid burnout. This helps create space for both relaxation and quality time together.

If communication continues to be a struggle, seeking professional guidance can provide valuable tools for navigating conflicts in a constructive way. A strong marriage isn’t about avoiding conflict but learning to face it together. By fostering open communication, redistributing responsibilities, and making time for connection, you can rebuild a sense of partnership. Small, consistent efforts will help both you and your partner feel appreciated and understood, strengthening your bond despite life’s challenges.

The 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, under construction in Rasuwa, has spent approximately Rs 170m in the affected areas through its Community Support Program (CSP).

The project’s developer, Nepal Water and Energy Development Company, has been supporting local communities through initiatives in education, health, drinking water, road infrastructure, cultural preservation, relief distribution, and livelihood development. These efforts fall under the CSP, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and the Indigenous Community Planning Program.

Led by Korean companies, the project is being built with direct foreign investment. The dam and other structures are under construction in Hakuma, Amachodingmo Rural Municipality-1, while the underground power plant is being developed in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-1. Upper Trishuli-1 is the largest hydropower project under construction in Nepal with direct foreign investment, and its electricity will be used for domestic consumption.

In response to the 2015 earthquake, the company provided relief materials, constructed temporary shelters, and built school and health institution buildings. Helicopter rescues and health camps were also conducted in the affected areas.

For the first time in Nepal, the project has implemented a Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process for indigenous communities. A separate Indigenous Community Plan was developed, considering their location, environment, and cultural heritage, with a dedicated budget for community-selected programs. Rs 25 million has been spent under this initiative.

CEO Byeong Su Min emphasized that the community support programs aim to enhance the economic and social well-being of affected residents. He stated that projects are selected based on local priorities and will continue as needed.

The project has spent Rs 78.6m to construct a Bailey bridge over the Trishuli River in Haku Valley, providing vital road access to residents of Amachodingmo Rural Municipality. This bridge also facilitates project-related transportation. Additionally, Rs 18.57m has been spent on road construction in affected areas, with Rs 7m allocated for the Dhunche-Khodol road.

To support education, school buildings have been constructed, and educational materials distributed. The project is also funding monastery construction and cultural preservation programs for indigenous communities.

To restore livelihoods and boost incomes, 121 people from project-affected households have received vocational training in Korean and Japanese language, driving, electrical work, welding, tailoring, motorcycle repair, and beauty services.

Currently, about 1,000 workers are engaged in construction, including 400 local residents from Rasuwa, of whom 154 belong to project-affected households. Over the five-year construction period, the project will provide daily employment to 800–1,000 Nepali workers.

Construction began in January 2022, with significant progress on the underground powerhouse, main tunnel, and dam. Overall physical progress stands at 52 percent. The Korean company Doosan Enerbility is responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction. Equity investors include the Korean government-owned Koen and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) under the World Bank Group.

The project is financed through 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity. Nine international financial institutions have committed $453.2 million to the project, which has a total estimated cost of $647.3m, including interest during construction. The remaining funds are covered through equity investments. Once completed, the project will generate 1.53 billion units of electricity annually.

Of the total annual energy output, 38.75 percent will be generated in winter and 61.25 percent during the rainy season. The electricity will be transmitted to the national grid via the Trishuli-3B Hub Substation, being constructed by the Nepal Electricity Authority, under a power purchase agreement with the authority.

Due to its proximity to Kathmandu, the project is considered vital for Nepal’s electricity system. It will generate 104 MW even during the winter when demand is high. Completion is targeted for Dec 2026.

World's tallest and longest 'megatroll' has come into operation at 'The Cliff' located in Kushma.

The megatroll is 225 meters tall and 1,228 meters long. The Cliff is becoming the major destination for adventure tourism. 

One can enjoy the ride in a megatroll from its tower located at The Cliff premises, Balewa, to the tower located below Kushma bazaar. It can accommodate up to three persons at a time. The riders can also enjoy solo rides or with partners, said Chairperson of The Cliff, Raju Karki.

Normally, the speed of a megatroll is 140 kilometers per hour. However, it could be increased.  It takes seven minutes to 12 minutes to cross the distance.

Karki mentioned that Rs 40 million has been invested for the operation of the megatroll. The construction of the megatroll started a year ago and it has commercially come into operation from Thursday. The test of the megatroll was conducted successfully two weeks ago.

"One can enjoy megatroll ride experiencing the view of Kaligandaki River. We are happy to launch another adventurous sport for tourists. We have expected it would further contribute to socio-economic development along with tourism," he shared. 

The fare for a solo ride of megatroll has been fixed at Rs 4,000 while it is 9,500 for three persons in a group.

Different structures including an adventurous swimming pool are also under construction, added Chair Karki. Number of tourists visiting the area has increased remarkably after blacktopping of the Kaligandaki corridor and Mid-Hill highway.

Institutional income tax collection has declined over the first six months of the current fiscal year 2024/25. The half-yearly review of the budget for the fiscal year 2024/25 released recently by the Ministry of Finance shows income tax collection from institutional taxpayers fell by 11.9 percent to Rs 63.79bn. Such collection was Rs 69.04bn in the review period of the previous fiscal year. This is mainly due to reduced tax contributions from government-owned enterprises and public limited companies.

Institutional income tax refers to the tax paid by companies and institutions to the government. If these entities generate higher profits, their tax contributions typically increase and vice versa.  Total income tax collection over the first six months of  2024/25 increased by 2.47 percent to Rs 139.2bn.  Data shows although private limited companies have shown a significant increase in tax contributions, the decline in payments from government entities and public limited companies has impacted overall institutional tax collection.

According to the mid-term review of the fiscal budget, tax contributions by government companies fell by 18.15 percent to Rs 3.58bn, while those from public limited companies dropped by a whopping 35.29 percent to Rs 26.51. In the review period of the previous fiscal year, government companies and public limited companies had contributed Rs 4.38bn and Rs 40.51bn as income tax to state coffers. 

Income tax contribution by private limited companies, however, grew by 36.67 percent to Rs 26.46bn. Likewise, such contributions by other companies increased by 7.91 percent to Rs 7.53bn. Individual income tax collection increased by 21.18 percent to Rs 50.99bn, while income tax from investment also went up by 10.74 percent to Rs 27.37bn.  Finance ministry officials say the decline in institutional income tax collection is largely due to reduced revenues in the telecommunications sector. Additionally, the decrease in earnings of government institutions and public limited companies has also contributed to this trend. 

Revenue of telecom companies have been consistently on the decline over the past few years due mainly to reduction in revenue from international calling. Similarly, the net profit of banks decreased by 4.62 percent in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. Financial reports for the second quarter of 2024/25 shows that out of 20 commercial banks in the country, only 11 reported growth in profit. 

Despite high liquidity in banks, banks have not been struggling to extend credit. Slow credit growth and rising non-performing loan (NPL) levels have hit both revenue and profitability of banks. Interest income of Class ‘A’ banks, for example, fell by 14.7 percent in the first half of 2024/25.