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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the government has prioritized the rebuilding of flood-damaged Kagbeni settlement in Mustang.

During his inspection to the flood-ravaged Kagbeni settlement at Varagung Muktichhetrai Rural Municipality-4 in Mustang today, the Deputy Prime minister pledged to undertake the reconstruction efforts targeting the village with high priority.   The settlement experienced significant damages from the flooded Kaagkhola stream on August 13.

Moreover, according to the Minister, the government will seek ways to minimize risks from the water-induced depositions on the bank of Kaligandaki River.

He said that the matter about operating the Korola checkpoint along the Nepal-China border will be an agenda of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's upcoming visit to the northern neighbor.

In addition to this, the government is working on possibilities to ensure uninterrupted transport service along the Beni-Jomsom-Korola road. He also assured of convening the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure including roads, bridges, and drinking water, electricity and irrigation projects promptly.

On the occasion, the Minister had held discussions with the local government, administration and security bodies about the post-disaster situation at Kagbeni.

The flood damaged roadways, motorable bridges, monasteries, temples, community buildings, police posts, hotels and river embankments.

Properties worth over Rs one billion were destroyed in the flood.

Over 50 houses were significantly damaged by the flood, resulting in property losses exceeding Rs 520 million, according to the local government.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and main opposition CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held a meeting on Tuesday.

Oli had reached Singha Durbar this morning to meet Prime Minister Dahal.

According to a source, Prime Minister Dahal and UML Chair Oli had held a discussion on the bill to be tabled in the federal Parliament.

It has also been said that they also discussed contemporary political issues in the meeting.

A day after the Pushpa Kamal Dahal government blasted the then government under CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli for not duly communicating with the international community about Nepal’s new map comprising the Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas, the main opposition CPN-UML had the government in its crosshairs.

Addressing the Lower House, Raghuji Panta, a UML lawmaker, said, “The Parliament approved the new map of Nepal unanimously. But China’s recently-issued map does not show Nepal’s pointed map (including the territories of Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura) in its neighborhood. It shows the old map.” “The Foreign Minister has flayed the previous government for ‘not communicating with the world’ about the new map,” he said. Panta went on, “With how many countries has this government communicated regarding Nepal’s new map? I demand an answer, pronto.”

Dil Kumari Rawal, another UML lawmaker, joined forces with Panta and accused both China and India of seeking to undermine Nepal’s status as a fully sovereign country.

Speaking at the National Assembly, Rawal blamed the two neighbors for disregarding Nepal’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.    

She was referring to India’s act of including Lipulek, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani in its new political map issued in 2019 and China’s recent act of including the old map of Nepal shorn of the 400-sq km that it has been claiming as her own by presenting historic records like land ownership certificates issued to local people and the receipt of land tax from them.

Rawal expressed doubts that the omission may have occurred due to weak diplomatic steps on the part of governments vis-a-vis the new map. She urged the government to attend to this serious matter. 

It may be noted that India and China signed a 40-point pact in 2015, which, among other things, envisages using Lipulek for bilateral trade, by sidelining Nepal. The then government had objected to the move, to little avail. 

Successive governments have pledged to resolve the dispute with India through diplomatic means, yet they have done precious little toward dispute resolution with the thorny issue not even figuring in bilateral talks. 

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has said that he will take initiative to construct a cricket stadium if the federal government provides land to the metropolis.

Shah, who had reached Sri Lanka to watch a game between Nepal and India, said that the metropolis will take the initiative to build a cricket stadium if the government provides 100 ropani land.

Shah estimates that a stadium where a match between Nepal and India was held can be constructed for Rs 800 million.

He claimed that the Nepali players’ skills will be developed if the big games are held in Nepal and can also earn millions of rupees.

Taking to Facebook, he said, “The stadium of Sri Lanka where the matches are being held was similar to the cricket stadium of the Tribhuvan University. There were a few parapets and more facilities. A similar level of stadium can be built for Rs 800 to 900 million except for the land in Nepal.” “We will take initiative to construct a stadium from the Kathmandu Metropolitan City if the Nepal government provides necessary 100 ropani land around Kathmandu metropolis.

In the match held on Monday, Nepal lost to India by 10 wickets.