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Experts said that it was a mounting challenge to supply adequate pure drinking water, energy and food to the growing population of the country. At a two-day workshop on water, energy and food nexus that kicked off in Kathmandu on Tuesday, speakers and presenters made the proposition. Inaugurating the workshop, Secretary at the Ministry of Drinking Water Maniram Gelal said demand for drinking water, energy and food was increasing across the globe with expansion of urbanization and population. On the occasion, former minister Ganesh Saha suggested that the challenges surfaced in the sector could be averted by protecting sources of water, utilizing rain water and developing technology on water efficiency for higher yields of crops and placing renewable energy measures. Likewise, former secretary Suman Prasad Sharma demanded serious interventions from the concerned side to reach out to the growing population with pure drinking water, adequate clean energy and nutrient-rich food. Chairperson of Smart WASH Solutions Ramdeep Saha shared that the workshop was organized to draw learning of the advanced countries in addressing the issues of drinking water, clean energy and nourishing food in light of rising population. J W Lee of Asian Water Council and K-Water had delivered a presentation on how the Korea Water (K-Water) was working to address challenges emerging in the sector. Expert Dr Unahar Shin shed light on the inter-relationship between water, energy and food, urban water management, water leakage control and management style in congruent with sustainable development. Prof Dr Bim Shrestha of the Kathmandu University presented a paper on nexus between water, energy and food while Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) Dr Madhusudan Adhikari presented a working paper on the contributions to drinking water, energy and food security through renewable energy technology in Nepal.

The Nagarik Unmukti Party has secured its berth in the federal parliament this time by winning three seats in the House of Representatives (HoR) during the recent elections to the member of the House of Representatives and Province Assembly (PA). The party with Resham Chaudhary as its patron emerged victorious in eight Province Assembly electoral constituencies. Despite this achievement, so far the party is unlikely to exceed the threshold towards proportional representation (PR) and find a ground to get the recognition of a national party. According to the Election Commission, the party has received 271,696 votes under the PR category so far. Resham Chaudhary's wife and party chairperson Ranju Shrestha has won the HoR seat from Kailali constituency-1 by receiving 30,404 votes. Similarly, party candidate Arun Chaudhary was elected to the HoR polls from Kailali constituency-2. He received 21,871 votes. Similarly, Krishna Kumar Chaudhary of the party has secured his place in HoR by garnering 23,120. In addition, Resham Chaudhary's father, Lalbir Chaudhary, won the election from Bardiya-2 as an independent candidate. He finished the race with 26,520 votes and had the party’s support in the election. Resham Chaudhary is spending time in jail on the charge of his involvement in the Tikapur incident that took place on August 24, 2015. With the announcements of election results, the party has been the topic of discussion in the context of the formation of a new government. RSS had a tete-a-tete with the Janamat Party chairperson in the context of its possible position in the post-election government. The following are the excerpts of the interview: How do you assess the recent elections to the Member of the House of Representatives and the Province Assembly? Election is the means of testing people’s mandate and the party has taken it accordingly. The results indicate that voters are frustrated with old parties and have some attractions to the new ones.  They aspire to see a change ahead. How does the party, as a first-time contender in the elections, review the poll results? We are now clear that the party’ ideology and agenda have already been endorsed by the people. The party has had the people’s support since the previous election.  There has been a demand for justice to the party since 2074 BS. The court has already freed us from the charges labeled against us by the State, but the State is yet to address the matter. As far as the election results are concerned, we will be getting 12 seats in the federal parliament and the PA in a short time.  The party lost the elections in five constituencies by less than 200 votes and in nine constituencies by less than a thousand. By the May 13 local level elections, around 100 local representatives were elected from the party. Who do you evaluate the ballots given for the party in the elections? The Tikapur incident is of a political nature. But still our friends continue to suffer in confinement. Many face cases. This time we realized that our voters are from three different sections: one who are hurt by the Tikapur incident, second who believe that the party deserves justice and third the community expects a change. How do you perceive post-election public reactions about the party’s presence? I am keeping myself updated about the opinions of old parties and leaders in regard to the party. They keep saying we will not sustain and have no political vision and mission. But we request all to first look through the party’s election manifesto before being judgmental to the party. What's the understanding of Madhesh-centric parties and your former colleagues? -I don’t have much to say about them. I had told them to take to the street as delivering speeches in mike would not help much. They only talked to garner sympathy. It is very saddening to me. People there have already expressed their grievances against them through mandate. Another thing, Chandrakanta Raut (popularly known as CK Raut) joining mainstream politics is a welcome development. His party Janamat Party has emerged as an alternative force in Madhesh. Rest remains to be seen. The final result of the election continues to come. Discussions on forming a government are also underway. Have you had discussion in regard to it with anyone in the meantime? I have been doing time in jail for eight years now. Nepali Congress (NC), CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) have always been in government. The Madhesh-centric parties' leaders are also in the government in one form or another. There's nothing left to see from them. Although there's talk, there's no point until there is a result. What's your role in the formation of the government? We are positive about all. Until our agendas are not addressed, we will not consider any alternative which is crystal clear. We ought to be freed from the way how I and my friends were imprisoned and how we dealt with the case. Then, what's your major demand? Our demands are the same. We have been repeatedly mentioning it. Tikapur is a political incident and it should be dealt with accordingly. But nothing has been done so far accordingly. We consider collaboration with those whoever pledges to address our demand. The demand is setting us free and arrangement of respectable compensation.  

A memorandum has been submitted to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today, seeking a long-term solution to the drinking water problem in the Kathmandu Valley. A delegation led by newly elected member of the House of Representatives and Nepali Congress leader, Prakash Man Singh, on the behalf of the people's representatives of Kathmandu, handed the memo to the Prime Minister. The delegation put forth various demands including the implementation of Melamchi Drinking Water Project on a long- run to resolve the Valley’s drinking water problem. On the occasion, Prime Minister Deuba expressed commitment to provide his full support in regard with the enforcement of the memo and shared that the government would take necessary decisions in this regard immediately. According to leader Singh, there is confusion in the operation of Melamchi Drinking Water Project as the budget of the current fiscal year mentioned about the scrap of the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee, adding the committee should be revived or other necessary decisions should be taken. The other demands incorporated in the memo are construction of drinking water intake at an appropriate location after carrying out a technical study, appropriate arrangement for reconstruction of damaged structures and construction of black-topped road up to source area in order to address concerns of locals.

The Office of the Chief Minister in the Lumbini Province has been shifted to Bhalubang, the permanent capital of the Province. Earlier, the Office was located in Butwal, the temporary capital for Lumbini. With this, the Province government affairs are to be carried out from Bhalubang from next Sunday. The Rapti Technical School infrastructure has been used to set up the Chief Minister’s quarter building, the Office of Province Chief Secretary and a quarter building. Before this, the School was shifted to the Saraswoti Secondary School. According to the Chief Minister’s press coordinator Man Singh BK, the Office is based in Deukhuri and preparations are going on to shift the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Communications, Finance Ministry and  the Province Financial Comptroller Office to the permanent capital soon. It has been planned to administer an oath of office to the newly elected member in the Lumbini Province Assembly from Bhalubang.  The construction of the Province Assembly building nears the final phase. Bhalubang was declared the permanent capital of the Lumbini Province on October 6, 2020.

In the wake of the UN Climate Conference, COP-27, where Nepal government actively participated and put forth mountain issues, and the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-15) beginning in Canada tomorrow, the experts on climate change and biodiversity have suggested the government that it pays heed to conservation of high mountain biodiversity with comprehensive research. In a recent Pani Satsang (water discourse) organized by Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) in Kathmandu, Head of FreshWater Biology Section at Biology Department of University of Copenhagen, Dr Dean Jacobsen, underscored the need of conducting a thorough research on high mountain biodiversity so that it would be easy for adaptation to climate change. "Nepal needs to protect alpine quality water sources. We need to know about the main drivers of change in high altitude biodiversity to develop effective adaptation plans and works," he said, adding that glacier-fed water has high diversity. Unless we understand how change is occurring, it is difficult to make projections and launch proper intervention. Making a presentation on 'Biodiversity in High Mountain Waters: Features, Threats and Needs', Dr Jacobsen suggested the establishment of a monitoring protocol between researchers and government with adequate funds so that research on mountain biodiversity could be sustained. He further said the high mountain diversity is a least studied issue, but it is time to launch massive study on it as Nepal is a mountainous country and rich in diversity but vulnerable to climate change. Dr Jacobsn worried over the savage road construction, gravel mining and hydropower dams which were posing serious threats to mountain springs in Nepal. On the occasion, NWCF Chairperson Dr Ngamindra Dahal said Jacobsen's research on mountain ecology of water is beneficial to Nepali case as well. He informed that it was the 71st episode of Pani Satsang. As Nepal is in the front row of climate change vulnerability, the lecture on alpine water would help build and transfer knowledge on pressing issues surrounding fresh water, he added. The research and study on high mountain biodiversity would also help shape government policy and efforts on climate change adaptation, he believed. Similarly, Professor of Science and Environment at Kathmandu University, Bed Mani Dahal, viewed that Kathmandu University was keen on working together with academic institutions like NWCF and expert Jacobsen to amplify the research on water and mountain biodiversity because these areas bear huge significance. The Himalaya is known as the laboratory of biodiversity. Jacobsen shared at the program that he was interested in research on biodiversity in the Langtang Valley of Nepal and encouraged NWCF to carry out the works on it. A British team had conducted basic research on it three decades back, he reminded.

The entire results of the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and the Province Assembly held under the first-past-the-post system have been announced. A total of 165 members have been elected to the 275-member lower house and remaining 110 posts will be adjusted by the Proportional Representation system.

In the HoR direct elections, the Nepali Congress has emerged the first party by winning 57 seats followed by 44 of the CPN (UML), 18 of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and 10 by the CPN (Unified Socialist). Similarly, the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Swatantra Party have won seven seats each while the Loktantrik Samajbadi secured its victory in four constituencies followed by three of the Nagarik Unmukti Party, and one each by the Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party and Janamat Party. This time, the HoR gets five members who were elected on independent candidacies. According to the Election Commission latest details, 12 political parties have shared the 165 seats in the lower house. The voting for the twin elections were held on November 20 in a single phase, despite a few cases of re-voting and deferral election due to some specific reasons. Bishwa Prakash Sharma, Deepak Khadka, Sita Gurung, Dig Bahadur Limbu, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Dr Shekhar Koirala, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Ram Hari Khatiwada, Dr Narayan Khadka, Dinesh Kumar Yadav, Tejulal Chaudhary, Ram Kishna Yadav, Mahendra Kumar Ray, Dev Prasad Timilsina, Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, Ramesh Rijal, Purna Bahadur Tamang, Shyam Kumar Ghimire, Mohan Acharya, Ram Nath Adhikari, Arjun Narsigh KC, Prakash Man Singh, Santosh Chalise, Gagan Kumar Thapa, Pradeep Poudel, Rajendra Kumar KC, Durlabh Thapa Chhetri, Uday Shamser Rana and Mohan Bahadur Basnet represent the major ruling NC in the HoR. Also elected MPs from the Nepali Congress are Rajendra Bajgain, Tek Bahadur Gurung, Ram Chandra Poudel, Shankar Bhandari, Raju Thapa, Dhanaraj Gurung, Shashanka Koirala, Bishnu Kumar Karki, Yogesh Gauchan Thakali, Kham Bahadur Garbuja, Chandrakanta Bhandari, Surendra Raj Acahrya, Deepak Giri, Kishor Singh Rathour, Sanjaya Kumar Gautam, Binod Kumar Chaudhary, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Dikpal Kumar Shahi, Purna Bahadur Khadka, Hridayaram Thani, Badri Prasad Pandey, Pushpa Bahadur Shah, Bir Bahadur Balayar, Dilliraj Panta, Dilendra Prasad Badu, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Narayan Prakash Saud and Ramesh Lekhak. Those elected MP from the CPN (UML) include Yogesh Bhattarai, Basanta Kumar Nembang, Mahesh Basnet, Subas Chandra Nembang, Devraj Ghimire, Lal Prasad Sanwa Limbu, KP Sharma Oli, Rajendra Kumar Rai, Rishikesh Pokharel, Bhim Prasad Acharya, Bhagawati Chaudhary, Manbir Rai, Ambar Bahadur Rayamajhi, Ram Shankar Yadav, Lilanath Shrestha, Juli Kumari Mahato (Mahaseth), Raghuveer Mahaseth, Laxmi Mahato Koiri, Hari Prasad Uprety, Achyut Prasad Mainali, Jwala Kumari Saha and Raj Kumar Gupta. Others elected MP from UML are Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Prem Bahadur Maharjan, Gokul Prasad Banskota, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, Prithvi Subba Gurung, Man Bahadur Gurung, Bidya Bhattarai, Damodar Poudel Bairagi, Padam Giri, Gokarna Raj Bista, Narayan Prasad Acharya, Thakur Prasad Gaire, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Basudev Ghimire, Balaram Adhikari, Mangal Prasad Gupta, Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, Surya Prasad Dhakal, Damodar Bhandari and Tara Lama Tamang. Those elected MP from the CPN (Maoist Centre) include Sudan Kiranti, Aman Lal Modi, Ram Kumar Rai, Mahindra Raya Yadav, Lekhnath Dahal, Hit Bahadur Tamang, Surya Man Tamang (Dong), Madhav Sapkota, Ganga Karki, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Devendra Poudel, Purna Bahadur Ghartimagar, Barshaman Pun, Rekha Sharma, Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Chhiring Damdul Lama (Bhote), Shakti Bahadur Basnet and Janardan Sharma. Likewise, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Krishna Kumar Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Metmani Chaudhary, Prakash Jwala, Dhana Bahadur Budha, Ammar Bahadur Thapa, Sher Bahadur Kunwar, Bhanubhakta Joshi and Prem Bahadur Ale are elected the MP from the CPN (Unified Socialist). Those elected MP from the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal are Ashok Kumar Rai, Nawal Kishor Saha Sundi, Raj Kishor Yadav, Birendra Prasad Mahato, Deepak Karki, Ramsahay Prasad Yadav and Pradip Yadav. Rajendra Prasad Lingden, Deepak Bahadur Singh, Bikram Pandey, Deepak Bohara, Dhawal Shumsher Rana, Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan and Gyan Bahadur Shahi have been elected the Member of House of Representatives (HoR) from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). Those elected MP from the Rastriya Swatantra Party are Sobita Gautam, Sishir Khanal, Ganesh Parajuli, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Toshima Karki, Hari Dhakal and Rabi Lamichhane. Likewise, Sharat Singh Bhandari, Mahantha Thakur, Ram Prakash Chaudhary and Sarbendra Nath Shukla are elected from the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party. Ranjeeta Shrestha, Arun Kumar Chaudhary and Gangaram Chaudhary have been elected the Member of HoR from the Nagarik Unmukti Party. Also elected MP is Chitra Bahadur KC from the Rastriya Jana Morcha, Prem Suwal from Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party, Chandrakanta Raut from the Janamat Party and Yogendra Mandal, Amaresh Kumar Singh, Kiran Kumar Saha, Prabhu Saha and Lalbir Chaudhary as independents.  

Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has said the government would do its best to assist in increasing the morale of security personnel. He also directed police officers to boost the morale of police personnel. The minister was speaking at an event organized here today after taking lunch with police personnel belonging to a security battalion assigned to look after Singha Durbar. The Home Minister also praised the police for fulfilling its duty to provide security and control crimes including during the recently held elections responsibly. On the occasion, he also inspected the police barracks at Singha Durbar. He directed the entire police to provide security and curb crimes by utilizing technologies at maximum.

The annual production of paddy has increased in the Chitwan district this year. Paddy production has increased by 11,486 metric tons in the district this year, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre Bharatpur. A total of 96,482 metric tons of paddy was produced in an area of 22,972 hectares this year. In the last fiscal year 2078/79, the district had produced 84,996 metric tons of rice in the same area of land, said Information Officer of the center, Min Bahadur Pun. Last year, the production was 3.7 metric tons of paddy per hectare, which increased by 4.2 percent to reach 3.79 per hectare this year. According to the center, production has increased due to reduction in outbreaks of disease and awareness among farmers, paddy promotion program and farmers managing fertilizers through alternative means in the absence of chemical fertilizers. Although paddy is cultivated all across the district, east Chitwan, west Chitwan and Madi are considered as pocket areas for paddy farming. In Chitwan, different varieties of paddy such as Sawa Mansuli, Bar, Sabitri, Moti, Gorakhnath, Jiramsino are cultivated.