Rai arrested in connection with Tinkune murder released
Police have released Dipendra Rai, who was arrested in connection with murder of four persons at Gairigaun in Tinkune, Kathmandu.
Rai was released after it was revealed in a police investigation that he had no involvement in the killing, said Senior Superintendent of Police Somendra Singh Rathaur of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office.
According to him, Rai was released after his involvement in the murder was not found.
In connection with the murder, police arrested and made public Sanjaya Bhandari (23) of Bahrabise in Sindhupalchok district, currently living in Kandaghari, Kathmandu.
Bhandari has admitted to his involvement in the murder, said the police.
On Friday midnight, Nabin Rai (19) and Kumar Bhujel, his spouse Ambika Bhujel and mother Sumitra Bhujel (70) were found murdered at a sawmill in Gairigaun, Tinkune.
IPPAN demands amendment in the Electricity Bill 2023
As the long-anticipated Electricity Bill 2023 was introduced in the federal parliament by the government, certain aspects of the legislation have raised concerns within the private sector.
The Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN), has strongly objected, asserting that the government's proposed bill appears to diminish the private sector's role in advancing the country's energy sector development.
In a press conference held on Sunday, IPPAN has called for revisions to 12 specific provisions of the Electricity Bill. They are advocating for the private sector's increased involvement in the hydropower sector, akin to the provisions outlined in the Electricity Act of 1992, to be incorporated into the new electricity legislation. IPPAN is proposing that the private sector should be entrusted with the responsibility of identifying and developing hydropower projects. In contrast, the Electricity Bill 2023 currently suggests that the government will handle the survey and detailed design of these projects and subsequently invite private sector participation through competitive licensing. IPPAN argues that this provision would essentially limit the private sector's role in the construction phase of hydropower projects.
IPPAN also has concerns regarding the proposed permit durations for privately developed hydropower projects. According to Section 19, Clause 1(a) of the Electricity Bill-2023, the permit duration has been adjusted to 50 years for reservoir hydropower projects and 45 years for other types of hydropower projects. IPPAN is advocating for the retention of provisions similar to those in the Electricity Act of 1992, where hydropower developers were granted a five-year period for survey licenses and 50-year generation licenses.
One provision within the bill stipulates that hydropower projects initiated and managed by the government of Nepal, provinces, and local authorities, either individually or through joint investments, will receive permits without the need for competitive processes. IPPAN President Ganesh Karki has insisted on the elimination of this provision and has urged for the establishment of equitable conditions that apply to all parties involved. "It appears that the government intends to independently pursue high-quality projects while leaving only the remaining projects for the private sector's involvement," said Karki.
Independent power producers (IPPs) have asserted that the private sector demonstrates greater efficiency in constructing hydropower projects compared to government-led endeavors. They contend that hydropower projects operated by the government can be up to three times more expensive than those overseen by the private sector.
IPPAN President Karki expressed his dissatisfaction with the bill's introduction, highlighting that there was no prior formal dialogue with the private sector. This lack of consultation, in his view, diminishes the private sector's role. He has also called for amendments to the bill to incorporate the private sector's demands.
However, IPPAN has welcomed the provision within the bill that opens the door for the private sector to engage in power trading. IPPAN stated, "This will introduce competition in electricity pricing, ultimately benefiting consumers."
Once the bill receives parliamentary endorsement and presidential authentication, Nepali private sector entities, traditionally involved exclusively in electricity generation, will gain the opportunity to participate in power trading. Currently, the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) holds a monopoly on power trading.
This marks a significant transformation in the power sector, as it permits private enterprises to actively engage in the buying and selling of electricity. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a framework that facilitates private sector participation and fosters competition within the power trading market.
The Nepali private sector, including independent power producers, has long advocated for their inclusion in power trading. This demand arises from the fact that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) currently monopolizes power purchase agreements (PPAs), leaving no other entity in the country authorized to enter into such agreements. The bill suggests that the Energy Ministry should grant licenses to registered entities with the intent of engaging in power trade.
Nepse surges by 4. 26 points on Monday
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 4.26 points to close at 1,969.18 points on Monday.
Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0.04 points to close at 378. 73 points.
A total of 2,874,275-unit shares of 271 companies were traded for Rs 870 billion.
Meanwhile, Emerging Nepal Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 99 percent. Likewise, Shuvam Power Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 9.99 percent.
At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 96 trillion.
Docs withdraw protest programs following 6-pt agreement with govt
The government and the agitating Nepal Medical Association have signed a six-point agreement.
Following the agreement, doctors have withdrawn all the announced protest programs.
The Nepal Medical Association on Sunday had halted all medical services except emergency care in all the health institutions across the country in protest against the attack on two doctors of Sancho Hospital in Hetauda.
In the agreement, the government has committed to take action against those who assaulted two doctors of the Sancho Hospital.
Dr Bikash Thapa and Dr Prashant Bidari of Sancho Hospital were attacked while they were treating patients on September 13.
The kith and kin of a man, who was referred to Chitwan from Sancho Hospital for the treatment of dengue infection, attacked the doctors after he died in the course of treatment on August 10.
The misogyny in every street of Nepal
When you find yourself in a microbus where discriminatory and gender-biased opinions become a source of amusement and laughter and activities to exchange misogynistic thoughts become normal and commonplace, even traveling from Kirtipur to Kathmandu becomes an interminable journey. When I once traveled in a microbus from Kirtipur to Kathmandu, I became a victim of this discussion.
In the microbus, there were two elderly passengers, four to five young people who could have been between 20 and 24 years old, and five to six mid-aged uncles and aunties. The micro was entirely occupied. For the first few minutes after I entered the microbus, the driver and the mid-aged uncle and aunties were engaged in somewhat typical Nepali conversation about life and daily chores in life. However, shortly after those few minutes had passed, when we stopped at a particular bus station and a young girl asked to hold the vehicle for a few more seconds while she collected her bags (she was seen traveling alone and had several heavy bags with her), She didn’t seek assistance from anybody around, but the driver casually and unhesitatingly made a remark about how ‘Lazy’ women are. And he claimed, “Women should constantly be active and should appear smart because they are born as creatures who are destined to move into other people's homes when they reach a certain age”. Additionally, not just for women, Driver had a theory about men as well: “Men can be lazy as long as they live in their own house.”
After a little pause, the driver again presented his version of events by making a sexist remark to a passenger who also happened to be his neighbor. He questioned the passenger aunty saying, “Why are you traveling in a vehicle to merely travel for 2 kilometers? Have you not got legs? Are you not terrified of your husband? It must be so much joy for you to spend every penny your husband works so hard to earn. And in defense, the aunty, who was in her mid-to-late-thirties, said that she was traveling because she lacked helping hands and was carrying a full gas cylinder. Concerningly, she responded as if she had made some sort of mistake. She also noted that she still had to pick up her child from school, but even in that circumstance, she considered explaining it to a patriarchal man who lacked common sense.
After she exits the car, an uncle in the rear speaks out without being asked and offers his viewpoint. He said that, in comparison to the past, when women were extremely engaged in supporting their husbands’ families and committed to their husbands’ lives and jobs, they are now sluggish spenders of their husbands’ hard-earned money. As was to be expected, the driver supported the prospective opinion, and the aunties in attendance likewise applauded it while joking about how funny the uncles were. Despite the fact that I and the other youngsters present tried our hardest to correct them about many aspects throughout the discussion, the people grew increasingly stiff and condescending.
The majority of people in Nepal, including women as well as men, think that giving women shelter and food should be sufficient for them. They believe that women should be subservient to men and that they should fear men. To demonstrate their masculinity to society, men in Nepal always try to show that they are the ones who support women and that women should owe them their lives and freedom. But because women are constantly pressured by society to be inferior to men and because they are raised in such a brainwashing environment, they (women) never have the chance to think and act on their confidence or abilities. Lastly, women also start to develop misogynistic opinions. Do we want this, though? Why can’t we simply support someone, regardless of gender, to accomplish a certain objective that’s consistent with their capacities in life? Why shouldn’t each and every one of us be skilled and competent in what we do and the fields we are in? And in order for this to take place initially, there must be a significant shift in Nepali society’s nurturing system. This culture has to cease pressuring people into having children, getting married, and engaging in many other ancillary activities.
There are many things in life, and now that we are living in the 21st century, the world has advanced significantly. Just a few weeks ago, a rocket from our neighboring nation traveled to the moon for research reasons, and many men and women collaborated to make that mission a success. But when we look at Nepal, we still can’t get over our prejudice and discriminatory thoughts, and the funny part is that we still want to transform Nepal into Switzerland.
Dikshya Adhikari
Ist Year, BALLB
Kathmandu School of Law
Minister Saud urges developed countries to give leading role to developing countries
Foreign Minister NP Saud has appealed to the developed countries to give developing countries a leading role in addressing the effects of climate change.
Addressing a program organized by Parliamentarians Network for a Fossil Fuel Free Future in Washington on Sunday, he called for coordinated efforts in view of the seriousness of the situation and to create an action plan for the future generation.
Speaking at the program as a keynote speaker, in the capacity of the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Minister Saud talked about the procedural strategies for the displacement of fossil fuel.
On the occasion, Minister Saud said that developed countries should provide 100 billion USD to the Green Climate Fund as pledged and double it by 2025.
"We have been continuously urging the developed countries to increase the production of clean energy and reduce the consumption of fossil fuel. We call on our development partners to help increase the use of clean and renewable energy and transfer technology to LDCs."
Parliamentarians Network for a Fossil Fuel Free Future is a network of over 550 legislators from more than 70 countries calling for a fossil fuel free future.
Gold price increases by Rs 200 per tola on Monday
The price of gold has increased by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 112, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 112, 300 per tola on Sunday.
Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 111, 950 per tola. It was traded at Rs 111, 750 per tola.
Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,405 per tola today.
Nepali citizens living abroad will be provided opportunity to vote in general elections: PM
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that Nepali citizens outside the country for various reasons will be provided the opportunity to vote in general elections.
Currently in the United States to participate in the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations, Prime Minister Dahal said that Nepali citizens will not be deprived of the right to vote.
In a meeting with Nepali media persons in New York on Sunday, he said that the Election Commission has been instructed to make voting arrangements for Nepali citizens abroad.
On a different note, Prime Minister Dahal said that the government is ready to take required measures for corruption control and maintaining good governance.
He said that some groups were active to defame the government by overshadowing the good and positive deeds carried out by it so far.
