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Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has collected revenue of Rs 4.34 billion as of December 30 in the current fiscal year. In the same period last year, the KMC had accumulated revenue of Rs 3.69 billion, KMC Revenue Department Chief Dr Shivaraj Adhikari said. With the decreasing trend of coronavirus infection, the metropolis has been able to improve its performance in revenue collection, Adhikari added. At a meeting of the Revenue Advisory Committee held at KMC on Wednesday, Dr Adhikari shared the information about revenue collection. The meeting has decided to present the agenda related to the fine and penalty for not removing unauthorized display boards within KMC to the municipal assembly.  

Nepal will be receiving 1.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines (for booster dose) from the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) next month. According to the government, the GAVI has confirmed dispense of such quantity of vaccine to Nepal on February 2. As the Family Welfare Division, Department of Health Services said, the vaccines will be arriving in the first week of February. Division Chief Sagar Dahal said in response to a letter that Nepal wrote to the GAVI on December 29 asking it for the supplies of vaccines for the administration of booster dose, the second party promises the supplies from the United States of America under the COVAX facility. Nepal decided to request the Gavi for fresh supplies of vaccines bearing in mind increasing risk of COVID-19 infection. It will be getting Pfizer vaccines to administer booster dose following the Department of Drugs Administration (DDA)’s approval for the ‘emergency use’ for booster dose. The Ministry has urged one and all those getting the booster dose earlier to receive it in the aftermath of increasing case of FB.7, the sub-variant of Omicron virus in neighbouring India and China. Similarly, the Ministry has urged one and all to follow the health protocols: use of face mask, observation of physical distancing, hand wash with soap and water and regular use of sanitizer regularly as preventive measures against the virus.

The Office of the Sudurpaschim Province Chief today called on the parties representing in the Province Assembly to stake claim for the post of Chief Minister and the provincial government. The Province Chief's call comes as no single party in the Assembly holds a majority to form the government in accordance with Article 168 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal and the support of two or more parties is required for this purpose. The support of 27 members of the Province Assembly is required to form the government. The Province Chief has given the deadline of 5 pm on January 11 to the parties to stake claim for government formation and to appoint the Chief Minister with the support of two or more parties representing in the Province Assembly. The Nepali Congress has 19 seats, the CPN (Maoist Centre) 11, the CPN-UML 10, the Nagarik Unmukti Party seven, the CPN (Unified Socialist) four, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) one seat and one independent in the 53-member Sudurpaschim Province Assembly.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Narayan Kaji Shrestha has pledged to come up with an effective and result-oriented action plan to address all sorts of issues in the transport sector. He said the government would intervene in the area for the convenience of service seekers. Talking to the media following his inspection to the Transport Management Office in Kathmandu and in Lalitpur today, the Minister pledged to work in collaboration with the province government for the improvement in the transport sector. He said that the federal and province governments were in touch to ensure reforms in the area.  He assured of quality transport services in the days ahead. “Services to people are delayed, now acts will go through a new approach,” he said, promising wider digital services and an increment in transport staff. He insisted that employees should be responsible for the given duties. “Good governance and timely delivery should always be our top priorities.” He also instructed the transport office to publish the results of the driving license exam the following day of the exam.

Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) Project Implementation Directorate has been constructing 796 kilometers distribution network for the supply of Melamchi drinking water in the second phase. Spokesperson of the Directorate, Chandra Kumar Pan Shrestha, told RSS that out of 796 km distribution being constructed at Baluwatar, Swoyambhu, Mandikhatar and Kapan area, construction of 427 km has already been completed. The remaining work would be completed within the end of the current fiscal year, he added. Four construction companies have been constructing distribution network. Second phase of 796 km distribution network is under construction at a cost of Rs 7.36 billion. The Directorate has already constructed 1,110 km distribution network in the first phase.

Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel has said national consensus was the need of the hour. "National consensus is necessary to safeguard the achievements including democracy, system and constitution gained through various movements," he said. At an interaction organized here today, he said that there was no alternative to going together to institutionalize the gained achievements and to protect the constitution. Saying that some groups are being active to bring instability in the country, the NC senior leader expressed the view that it was necessary to fight for system rather than power. He further said that the country should now go for economic revolution as political revolution has already been completed with the promulgation of the constitution.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said the construction of Nijgadh International Airport will be started soon. Inaugurating the Pokhara International Airport here today, he said the air route is the most effective way for connectivity in a land-locked country like Nepal and the construction of Nijgadh International Airport is required for that. "The country's third international airport has come into operation in Pokhara from today, establishing international connectivity to the international sector," PM Dahal said, adding that he had taken initiative for the prompt construction of this airport through the Chinese embassy and in face-to-face meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping. Stating that Shankar Raj Pathak, the man who conceptualized Pokhara International Airport, is his teacher, he praised him. The Executive Chief urged the Chinese government to extend support in the construction of projects including the railway service and in easing the trade by opening the transit points. He viewed that there could not be two opinions that the operation of the international airport in Pokhara will contribute to the economic development of the entire nation along with that of the Gandaki province. "I have become the Prime Minister winning the general election from Gandaki province. The Gandaki people have provided the opportunity to serve the nation as the Prime Minister for the third time and I want to thank them for that," PM Dahal said. Premier Dahal reiterated that the government under his leadership will carry out works, taking social justice, good governance and people's prosperity as the main slogan. "I fulfilled a leading role before this for establishing the democratic republic. Now, I will take the country on the development trajectory through economic development, prosperity and promotion of good governance." he said.  

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has said the government will provide support for the operation of Pokhara International Airport. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Pokhara International Airport here today, he said that the government would provide maximum support for construction of other remaining infrastructures for the airport. DPM and Finance Minister Poudel reiterated that political stability and social justice are the nation's needs at present. "Development, prosperity and good governance are today's needs," he added. Though there was some problem in the economy, it was not beyond control, the Finance Minister expressed the confidence of bringing it back on track. He stressed connecting the Pokhara airport with destinations such as Chitwan and Biratnagar.