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The detailed project report (DPR) of the Kathmandu- Tarai/Madhesh Fast Track (Expressway) has been amended.

According to Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, the document has undergone revisions in a way that it would result in the reduction of both cost and length for the road project.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday decided to revise the DPR for the expressway.  With the revision, the project cost is to decrease by Rs 2 billion.

Following the amendment, it is estimated to cost Rs 211 billion.  The integration of a tunnel into the project contributed to a reduction in the project's overall length and subsequently in its cost as well.

The project is being undertaken with the supervision of the Nepali Army.

The project began on April 25, 2017 and it has so far reported the 25.54 percent project. 

The deadline of the project completion is set for mid-April, 2027.

Initially, the project was estimated to cost Rs 213. 09 billion.

Stakeholders are concerned about various factors posing a threat to the Kaligandaki river civilization. The river that originates in Mustang traverses through Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Syangja, and Gulmi and so on.

The river is additionally valued for being the source of Shaligram, a dark or brown dark stone which is believed to have a religious significance.

Speaking at a program at Kushma Bazar of Pabat on Saturday, the participants said the river had its own distinct identity and features, remaining intricately linked with human civilization.

They demanded prompt actions to stop an illegal quarrying based in the river. 

The participants were univocal on making proper utilization of its natural resources, without hampering its environmental and ecological integrity.

Kamal Nayanacharya of Muktinath Temple who is long associated with the conservation and promotion endeavors of the river expressed his concern over an increasing threat to its essence and the Shaligram stone.  

He said a religious event aiming to draw the attention of national and international community for the urgency to conserve the river has been scheduled to take place from February 21 to March 6 next year in Sarbasiddhidham Panchakot of Baglung.

Prof Dr Jagannath Regmi urged the state to be attentive for the protection of river waters which is needed for sustaining all aspects of human life.  "The river holds an additional significance over its religious and touristic aspects and it should be well conserved," he asserted.

Former minister Bikash Lamsal said the state's action was needed to preserve the river's integrity, primarily from Muktinath to Devghat while Gandaki Province Assembly member Bhakta Kunwar pledged to take initiation to conserve the river, underlining the need of also protecting the lives depending on the river.

Illegal extractions taking place along the Parbat and Myagdi sections of the river have threatened the ecological aspect of the river, it is said.

Kushma municipality chief administrative officer Chandika Poudel said the role of the three-tier government was vital to keep the river and other aspects associated with it unharmed.

Karnali River has started eroding the lands near the Tikapur Park at Tikapur-5 of Kailali district. With this, the nearby settlement is at an alarming risk of facing possible consequences from the swollen river.

If the river happens to demolish the river embankment near the park area, ward 5,6, 7,8 and 9 will be submerged under water.

On Sunday, Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Prakash Bahadur Deuba and Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Shiba Raj Bhatta visited the area affected by the erosion.

The Chief Minister promised to do his best from the individual and official-level to mitigate the risk of inundation and flood from the river.

A large number of people are likely to be affected, requiring a prompt rescue and paddy crops covering a significant area are likely to be damaged if the river enters the settlement. 

Bearing in mind the growing risk of flood, the Disaster Management Committee, Tikapur Municipality has agreed to build a bio-embankment with the help of locals and the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project, said project chief Kedar Kumar Shrestha.

It has been reported that lately the river has started changing its regular course. "Haphazard quarrying by the local levels has made the situation worse," Shrestha added. 

The Meteorological Forecasting Division earlier in its bulletin predicted heavy rains in the region starting from Saturday.

Amidst this situation, the local government has implemented a system to alert the locals to possible consequences through a siren and a mobile text. 

People have been urged to keep their documents safe, and ensure a safe stay for expectant mothers, senior citizens and the people with disabilities, Municipality's Disaster Management Section chief Nirmala Chaudhary said.

The incessant rains taking place here since August 7 has already affected 341 households at Tikapur 6 and 7.

Yet another Nepali film is set to have its world premiere at the 48th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year.

'Gaun Aayeko Bato' (A Road to A Village), directed by Nabin Subba, will be screened in the prestigious international film festival to be held from September 7-17 in Canada.

Subba's movie portrays how conflict makes inroads into the relationship between a father and his son after a road track is opened in their village.

Set against the social backdrop of indigenous Rai community, the movie features artists such as Dayahang Rai, Pashupati Rai, Prasana Rai, Keshav Rai, Sumitra Rai, Raj Thapa and Prem Subba among others.

Mahesh Rai and director Subba have jointly written the script of the movie where international cinematographer Josh Heram, editor Kwan Pun Leung and musician Heidi Li have collaborated.

Along with 'Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa', it has become the second Nepali story selected for world premiere in the TIFF this year.

During a press meet organized recently to inform about the selection, director Subba said that this selection had not only increased the visibility of Nepali movies worldwide, it had also further enhanced its authentic international representation.

Subba, credited to direct internationally critically-acclaimed films such as 'Khangri' and 'Numafung' and the like, shared that 'Gaun Aayeko Bato' is a community-funded film with contributions from Nepali individuals at home and abroad, the makers said.

The issues that have emerged in the waste management of Pokhara Metropolitan City for the past two weeks have been resolved from Thursday following an agreement between the metropolitan city and struggle committee.

The locals of Lameahal from Pokhara Metropolitan City-32 had formed a struggle committee protesting the city's move to manage wastes in a temporary landfill site in the Lameahal area.

The garbage from the city was piled up after the locals at Lameahal obstructed the waste disposal stating that the landfill site was stinking, infrastructures were not developed as per the agreement and the roads there were left muddy.

The Metropolitan City said that the agreement between the local residents, struggle committee and metropolitan city has been made to dispose of wastes at the Lameahal landfill site for 18 months.

As agreed, the garbage carrying vehicles should reach the site between 6 am to 4 pm and should immediately cover the waste from the soil. 

Likewise, the metropolitan city would execute some infrastructure development projects.

Likewise, life insurance of citizens affected from the waste would be covered and the insecticides would be sprayed in the waste management site.

Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya said that the locals would be given the first priority based on their skills for employment opportunities and the local schools would be provided with assistance materials as well.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and departmental ministers have signed a performance agreement in regard with the implementation of the policies and programs and the budget meant for the current fiscal year.

The Prime Minister and the departmental ministers of 21 ministries signed the agreement amidst a program at the Singha Durbar-based Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

The agreement aims to achieve the government set targets and to implement the government directives issued at different times by making all the subordinate bodies responsible towards that end.

The program also went through a review about the implementation of the government policies and programs and the budget for the last fiscal year.

The performance agreement has a separate agenda for each ministry. It presents the lists of major works and responsibilities to be carried out by the respective ministers in the current fiscal year and the deadline for completing the responsibilities.

It has the provision about monitoring of the implementation of the agreement, requiring a monthly update about the work's execution progress details to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers through online. The annual report will be prepared on the same basis.

The term of the agreement is one year. If any of the ministerial posts falls vacant before the ending of the agreement, the minister taking charge of the position shall be automatically bound to the agreement.

Number of people going for foreign employment has been increasing in Karnali Province in the recent period.

According to the Labour and Employment Office, Surkhet, a total 3,300 people obtained new work permits in the fiscal year 2079/80 BS.

Information Officer Nirmala Regmi said that 919 men and seven women had their work permit renewed in the fiscal year 2075/76 BS.

Similarly, 1,990 men and 36 women obtained work permits in fiscal year 2076/77 BS, 667 men and eight women in fiscal year 2077/78 BS and 1,005 men and 26 women in fiscal year 2078/79 BS.

Regmi said the number of people going for overseas employment is increasing enticed by high remuneration in other countries as compared to Nepal.

The number of people going to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Croatia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Moldova and Belarus from Nepal for overseas employment is increasing.

The highest number of people of Salyan district of Karnali Province used to go for overseas employment, Regmi said.

The National Soil Conservation Day is being marked by organizing various programs on Wednesday.

The day has been observed since August 1973 to keep the ecosystem balanced, maintain productive potentials of the land by reducing soil erosion and preserve infrastructure.

August 9 (Shrawan 24) has been observed as a 'soil conservation day' as it also marks the establishment of the department of soil conservation and watershed management.

Nepal has been at higher risk in terms of environmental sensitivity, natural hazards and climate change.

The country has lost lives and properties as well as faced environmental degradation due to the effects of human-induced and natural disasters.