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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to move ahead the process of purchasing aircraft in a transparent manner, leaving no room for any error and dispute.

He gave this directive in the joint briefing and discussions program of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Water Supply held at the Singha Durbar today.

"Questions are always raised in aircraft purchase deals in Nepal. Let there be no such errors this time. The aircraft purchase process should be cent percent correct, error-free and transparent. There should be no mistakes and questions like in the past in the procurement process this time," he reiterated.

The PM also spoke on the need of changing several of our tourism-related policies and regulations as they are not tourist-friendly. "Let us all think about creating a conducive environment for the tourists. You bring the proposals and let us attract tourists by opening up the prohibited areas. Night time services should also be opened in the tourist areas and the government should be flexible in this too," he said.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati said the airports constructed on the basis of 'political pressure' were not operating in an effective way, stressing on the need of constructing airports only on the need-basis in the coming days.

He said that the solution should be sought for the areas prohibited for tourists and suggested making diplomatic initiation for operating the Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports in their full capacity.

On the occasion, PM Dahal instructed the bodies concerned to immediately resolve the problem of the consumers having to pay water tariff even for taps which are dry. He directed for writing off the water tariff of consumers not getting water supply.

He also called for further expediting works on the Melamchi Water Supply Project while expressing happiness over the works currently being carried out in two shifts as per the 28-day integrated action plan for bringing 170 million liters of water daily from Melamchi to Sundarijal of Kathmandu within a month.

The PM also urged the bodies concerned to look for other sources of water to supply water in the Kathmandu Valley which has a daily demand of 250 million liters of water.

Water Supply Minister Mahendra Raya Yadav, Minister Kirati, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sushila Shreepali, Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal, Water Supply Ministry secretary Suresh Acharya, Culture Secretary Deepak Kafle, Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar, among others put their views on topics related to works and responsibilities of their respective ministries.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has held consultations with the top leaders of major parties on finalization of the transitional justice issues.

Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak were present in the discussions held at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar today. 

On the occasion, the leaders talked on various topics including finalizing the remaining tasks of the peace process in relation to transitional justice, said Manohari Timilsina, the media expert to the Prime Minister. The meeting will be held on Monday as well, Timilsina added.

The bill for amending the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) and the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Act, 2071 is still under consideration in the Federal Parliament.

Preparation has been made to pass this bill in the coming session of the Federal Parliament forging consensus at the highest political level.

The government is in preparation to summon the winter session of the Federal Parliament.

The Nepali Congress has expressed its dissatisfaction over the expansion of the Cabinet in Lumbini Province.

Chief Minister Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary on Saturday appointed Krishna KC from CPN (Maoist Center) as the Minister of Water Supply, Rural and Cooperatives Development and Saroj Thapa of Nepali Congress as the Minister of Tourism and Transport.

Province Committee officer bearers expressed their dissatisfaction arguing that Chief Minister Chaudhary appointed a junior person as the minister without holding consultations with the party.

A meeting of the Parliamentary Board has been called at Deukhuri on Monday morning to discuss the issue of ministers’ appointment.

Saying that the Chief Minister appointed the minister without holding consultations with the party, Congress Lumbini Province General Secretary Bikram Khanal said that it will not benefit the party.

“There are people who have been contributing to the party for a long time. The person should be finalized by holding discussions with the leaders in the party,” he said, adding, “It seems like that the Chief Minister ignored the party.”

Lumbini Province Chief Minister Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary expanded his Cabinet on Saturday after seven months.

He inducted two ministers into his Cabinet.

Krishna KC from CPN (Maoist Center) has been appointed as Minister of Water Supply, Rural and Cooperatives Development while Saroj Thapa of Nepali Congress has been appointed as Minister of Tourism and Transport.

Lumbini had a seven-member Cabinet including the Chief Minister. With the addition of two ministers on Saturday, there is now a nine-member Cabinet in Lumbini.