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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the precious stone quartz crystal had added a new brick in promotion of tourism in Gorkha district.

At a program organized by Gorkha Municipality to place quartz crystal at Gorkha Palace today, PM Dahal reiterated that installation of precious quartz crystal in the district of historical and archeological significance would play an important role in tourism promotion.

Expressing his confidence that the precious stone's placement would widely establish the importance and role of Gorkha, the PM instructed the concerned authorities for security arrangement of the quartz crystal and further manage the historical place.

Prior to placing the quartz crystal in the room where the throne of erstwhile King Prithvi Narayan Shah is housed, it was worshiped in the premises of the palace.

"While the precious stone is being placed in the Gorkha palace of historical and archeological importance, I got an opportunity to visit the palace premises for the first time since the declaration of the Republic of Nepal," said PM Dahal, expressing his happiness for the opportunity.

Pledging to play his part in preservation of the historicity of Gorkha, the Head of the Government shared that he had prioritized development of infrastructures such as road and bridge in the district.

He added, "The citizens of Gorkha district want to witness some historic developmental works. There is a scope to deliver on the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, Gorakhkali rubber industry and construction of industrial park among others."

Stating the uneasiness on the part of the government to include some issues of this area in the policy and programs and budget of the current fiscal year, he assured that the new budget would be development-oriented and it would excite the citizens.

Jokh Bahadur Mahara of the CPN (Maoist Center) has been appointed as the Chief Minister of Lumbini Province.

Province Chief Amik Sherchan appointed Mahara as the Chief Minister in accordance with Article 168 (2) of the Constitution.

The Parliamentary Party leader of the Maoist Center, Mahara had staked the claim for the post of Chief Minister with signatures of 44 lawmakers.

With the change in the power equation in the center, Lumibini Province Chief Minister Dilli Raj Chaudhary resigned from his post on Thursday.

Soon after Chaudhary resigned from the post of Chief Minister, Province Chief appealed to the parties to stake claim for the post with the support of two or more than two parties.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has stressed on the need of developing and implementing a timely curriculum based on innovation.

Addressing the 14th Senate Meeting of the Mid-West University, the PM called on the University to pay attention to restructuring the curriculum and the development of the physical and human resources.

"The guiding principles, policies and programs adopted by the University for attaining educational excellence, economic growth, curriculum restructuring, international relations and exchanges, and infrastructure development are also praiseworthy," he said, adding that adoption of the policy of conducting all the academic activities as per the predetermined calendar is an aspect of reform.

The PM added that the government will extend support to the University in implementing its policy of reforming the existing examination system, and conducting the examinations and publishing the results as per the academic calendar.

On the occasion, he suggested the University accorded additional priority to all the academic programs and curricula as per the changing world scenario, the national, regional and local development policies and approaches, and the demand of the labor market. 

The Head of Government expressed the commitment for cooperation on behalf of the government in formulation of the national policy and laws required for marketing, and sale and distribution of goods, services and information produced by the University's various laboratories.

Stating on the need of formulating socialism-oriented educational policy, strategy and program based on the principles of good governance and social justice as embodied by the republican state system stipulated in the Constitution, Prime Minister Dahal expressed the confidence that the University will play a positive role, encouraging the Nepali students to pursue higher studies within the country and supporting the country in attaining prosperity.

He further stressed on running academic and vocational programs based on land, water, forest, herbs and human resources, taking into consideration the geographical, social and economic condition of the entire Nepal, particularly of Karnali province, in the agriculture and forestry sciences. The PM believed that various programs and projects would be implemented synthesizing the modern and indigenous agricultural system and the knowledge skills.

He said the Mid-West University, which is established in Karnali Province that is rich in terms of cultural diversity and natural resources but lags behind in terms of physical infrastructure development, industrialization and human development index, has made important contribution to the academic progress, physical development and the promotion of work system along with information technology in a short period of its establishment.

The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has approved investment commitments of Rs 99.20 billion for four energy projects.

The 57th meeting of the Board held today under the chair of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal made the decision to this effect.

Those projects getting the investment approvals include the 166-megawatt Super Tamor Project (34.59 billion), the 42-megawatt Upper Modi-A Project (10.08 billion), the 250-megawatt Solar Plant Kohalpur and Banganga (Risen Energy Singapore-21.10 billion) and the 139.2-megawatt Lower Manang Marsyangdi Hydro Electricity Project (33.41 billion).

According to the Board, Solar Plant Project, and the Lower Manang Marsyangdi are foreign investment projects. 

Similarly, the meeting decided to approve an additional investment of Rs 6.63 billion for the HuaXin Cement Narayani Project, Board Spokesperson Pradyumna Prasad Upadhyay.

The meeting constituted a talks team under the chair of Board's Chief Executive Officer to negotiate with proposed investors for signing of the Project Development Agreement (PDA) regarding the Upper Marsyangdi and Solar Plant.

Spokesperson Upadhyay said that the PDAs regarding these projects are likely during the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit scheduled for April 28-29.

Similarly, the deadline for a license for a survey of Solar Plant (Kohalpur and Banganga) is to be extended till the end of the current fiscal year (July 15) as per the meeting decision.

Likewise, the meeting approved the share purchase agreement of the Dang Cement Plant. The Board endorses the reclaim of around Rs 620 million from the sale of the share.

The meeting decided to give permission to a Malaysian company, ReNIKOLA, to submit a bank guarantee for issuing a study permit for the establishment of a chemical fertilizer factory.

It also decided to extend the term of the committee formed to study Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project and the committee formed to prepare a draft of Nijgadh international airport, project development and study regarding investment model till the end of current fiscal year.

Spokesperson Upadhyay said the Board was familiarized with the issue of formation of a study committee under coordination of the Chief of Revenue Management Division of the Finance Ministry to study the matter of price adjustment as per the SJVN Arun-III Power Development Company. 

The Board took the decision that the Investment Board would remain as security trustee of co-financed investment in direct agreement of the project.

Similarly, a report submitted by a committee formed to prepare an amendment draft of Public Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2075 has been presented in the Board.

The meeting also directed to initiate an agreement process with NepWaste Pvt. Ltd to forward Integrated Waste Management Project (Package-1) of Kathmandu Valley.