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The departure point of the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhes Expressway may change due to a dispute over land and cultural heritage in Khokana. Due to the dispute, construction work has not yet begun at the departure point in Khokana.

The government has directed the Nepal Army, which has been entrusted with the construction of the expressway, to revise the Detailed Project Report (DPR). According to the revised DPR, preparations are being made to build a toll plaza (toll collection house) in the Farsidol area, about 3.3 kilometers downstream of Khokana. If an agreement cannot be reached with the locals, the departure point itself is likely to be shifted to Farsidol.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has instructed them to move forward with an alternative plan if the dispute in Khokana cannot be resolved. The Prime Minister has expressed concern from the community that it will affect the religious and cultural heritage and local beliefs in Khokana, but the project should be moved forward even if the dispute is pending.

In a discussion held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Tuesday, Prime Minister Karki had directed to immediately move forward with an alternative plan related to the expressway project.

Earlier, on Jan 27, Prime Minister Karki had also inspected the under-construction expressway. During the inspection, she stressed that local concerns should be taken seriously while developing and constructing the project, and stressed that the national pride project should be completed quickly, even if the starting point is changed.

Although the Khokana dispute appears to be related to land, the Nepali Army has stated that a political and policy decision is necessary, and has not started construction work in the area. According to Nepali Army Spokesperson Rajaram Basnet, since the army is the implementing agency in the field, the government should make policy decisions.

During the discussion, the Nepali Army had briefed on the progress of the project so far, the problems seen and the expectations from the government. Prime Minister Karki had given clear instructions not to delay development work unnecessarily and not to stop the project due to disputes. As per the same directive, the DPR amendment process has been taken forward to construct a toll plaza at Farsidol, 3.3 kilometers below Khokana.

After three months of spending the night in darkness, the residents of Samagaun and Samdo in northern Gorkha have finally been able to turn on the electricity. The lights started to turn on a few days ago after the equipment of the damaged Samagaun micro-hydropower project was repaired, informed Bir Bahadur Lama, chairperson of the project.

There is no motorable road to Samagaun and Samdo located in Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1 in the Manaslu region. Lama said “It could not be repaired in Nepal. It took a long time to bring the equipment from India for repair.” He said that the repaired equipment in the village, which does not have a motorable road, was transported to the village by helicopter. “The cost of transporting it by helicopter was also very high. Though we were able to turn on the lights in Lhosar.”

An organization called Kaduri generated 100 kW of electricity from the Samagaun Hydropower Project for about 300 households in Chumanubri-1 Samagaun and Samdo five years ago.

Tension ran high in Banepa, Kavrepalanchowk after a scooter rider died after being hit by a tipper, on Wednesday.

Police said that the tipper hit the scooter this morning. 

The identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained.

Following the incident, the angry mob set the tipper on fire. 

As a result, vehicular movement along the Araniko Highway has been disrupted. 

The Gyalpo Lhosar, the cultural festival of the Sherpa community, that falls on the Shukla Pratipada in the Nepali month of Falgun is being marked today by organizing different programs.

The festival is observed as the New Year by the Sherpa community who primarily reside in the mountainous region of Nepal. But the festival is marked in 22 districts in the country.

Gyalpo Lhosar is celebrated with gaiety and much fun from the Shukla Pratipada to Purnima. This festival is also celebrated by Mahayan Buddhists as their New Year.

This festival has been observed since the time of the ninth king of Bhot Uday Gungyal. 

On this occasion, people of the Sherpa community clean up their houses and villages, sources of water and flutter new prayer flags on the roof of their houses.

They cook delicacies such as Guthuk and Khapse and exchange best wishes with each other to welcome the New Year.

The Gurung community marks its New Year on Paush 15 as the Tamu Lhosar while the Tamang community observes it as Sonam Lhosar on the day of Magh Shukla Pratipada.