Submit your Article

The United States of America (USA) congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah today.

Taking to social media, Facebook today, the US Embassy in Kathmandu, congratulated PM Shah and expressed willingness to work with Nepal to advance mutual prosperity and regional stability. 

Newly appointed Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has stated that no one should be deprived of energy.

Minister Shrestha said this after assuming office at the ministry today. 

"In the 21st century, the demand for clean energy has increased further, and policies will be formulated in a timely manner to focus on the development of clean energy," he said.

Minister Shrestha stated that coordination with the Ministry of Finance would be established to create an investment-friendly environment in the energy sector, adding that inter-ministerial coordination would be undertaken for the development of the energy and irrigation sectors.

He said that the situation of arable land becoming barren due to lack of water for irrigation should be ended.

The newly-appointed minister mentioned that the Alternative Energy Promotion Center needs to be further strengthened for the development of alternative energy. He stated that the 21st century is an era of research, and therefore, further research is necessary in the energy and irrigation sectors.

He stated that a good governance committee would be formed in the ministry based on the Good Governance Act, adding that financial governance would be promoted effectively.

Minister Shrestha was welcomed at the ministry by Energy Secretary Chiranjivi Chataut, Water Resources and Irrigation Secretary Sarita Dawadi, and Secretary of the Water and Energy Commission Dinanath Mishra. 

All three secretaries briefed Minister Shrestha about the work carried out in the ministry under their leadership.

Newly appointed Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam has pledged to focus on reforming laws that require reforms. 

After taking the oath of office and secrecy at a special ceremony held at the Office of the President-Shital Niwas-Minister Gautam reached the Ministry in Singha Durbar and assumed her office today. 

While taking charge of her duties, the Minister signed the documents related to studying necessary reforms in legal codes including the Muluki Criminal Code-2074 BS and asserted that her top priority will be lawmaking that addresses gaps and inefficiencies.

She signed in the decision: "For heinous crimes such as rape, murder after rape, sexual violence and offences against children under the Criminal Code-2074 BS, we will identify obstacles in the Criminal Code and other relevant laws regarding punishment for offenders and swift justice for the victims.

 A study task force will be formed to examine these issues and the Ministry will prepare and submit amendments to reform the laws."

Speaking about her other priorities, the Minister added, “We will review and work on all laws that have been stalled in the past or need to be newly drafted or amended. I have just assumed responsibility and will proceed based on thorough study."

Newly appointed Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Dr Bikram Timilsina, has assumed office at the ministry in Singha Durbar today.

Addressing the employees, and the heads and representatives of line bodies after assuming the office, Minister Timilsina shared that fulfilling the responsibility rather than attaining position is his priority. 

He appealed to all to restore the people's trust towards politics and administration, adding the country is seeking an outlet. 

"We should raise hope by improving the situation where a message is being disseminated that politics is wrong," he stressed. 

Minister Timilsina mentioned that the Ministry would fully support Prime Minister Balendra Shah's 'Mission' and 'Vision'. 

He urged the employees to work with a sense of teamwork using their honesty and capability. 

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry, Laxmi Kumari Basnet, briefed the Minister about the Ministry's major activities, major policy and plan as well as law.