Snowfall at Pathivara
The Pathivara area saw snowfall with light rains last night.
An employee at Pathivara Area Development Committee, Rajendra Mahat, informed that it was the third snowfall this season.
Earlier, the snowfall had occurred in December and January.
With the snowfall, the temperature dropped significantly in the religious site located at a height of 3,794 meters.
Executive Director at the committee, Prajin Hangbang, said the number of tourists increases after the snow every year.
The locals have said the scant rainfall this winter dented the growth of crops. To this, the snowfall was a huge relief, they added.
Palpa records 53 cyber complaints in 11 months
The District Police Office, Palpa has recorded a total of 53 cyber complaints in 11 months.
The office saw the registration of 53 complaints relating to cyber in the last 11 months from February 19, 2024 to January 13, 2025, according to Superintendent of Police, Narendra Chand. Most of those, 16, are Facebook ID hackings.
Similarly, out of those forwarded as cybercrime cases, 17 were settled so far.
The cybercrimes are perpetrated via social network sites and apps- Facebook, Twitter (X), YouTube, Messenger, Emo, Insta, Viber, and WhatsApp, among others.
SP Chand said the cyber complaints were on rise of late owing to expansion of internet and IT infrastructures, increasing use of digital gadgets and low digital literacy.
Media autonomy in jeopardy as government pushes controversial Bill
Media Action Nepal has expressed serious concern over the National Assembly (NA)’s unanimous passage of the 'Media Council Bill-2080 BS' on February 10, without addressing broader civil society concerns. The Government of Nepal (GoN) registered the bill on April 18, 2024, aiming to transform Press Council Nepal into the Media Council, a move that poses a grave threat to press freedom and newsroom integrity.
“This bill grants arbitrary powers to the government to suppress independent media and control journalistic activities,” warned Laxman Datt Pant, Executive Director of Media Action Nepal.
The bill places the Media Council under executive control, violating Nepal’s constitutional commitment to press freedom and severely undermining the autonomy of the media regulatory body. “This is a direct attack on journalism, further putting independent reporting at risk,” Pant added.
According to Pant, the bill allows government appointed council members to serve its interests, significantly increasing the risk of politically motivated decisions that could silence independent media.
The vague definition of ‘mass media’ within the bill reflects authorities’ reluctance to uphold Nepal’s democratic values, while provisions enabling the suspension of press accreditation for up to a year pose an imminent danger to journalistic independence. The Media Council must remain an autonomous body, free from government interference, to safeguard press freedom in Nepal, Pant said.
Upper Trishuli-1 spends Rs 170m on community support
The 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, under construction in Rasuwa, has spent approximately Rs 170m in the affected areas through its Community Support Program (CSP).
The project’s developer, Nepal Water and Energy Development Company, has been supporting local communities through initiatives in education, health, drinking water, road infrastructure, cultural preservation, relief distribution, and livelihood development. These efforts fall under the CSP, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and the Indigenous Community Planning Program.
Led by Korean companies, the project is being built with direct foreign investment. The dam and other structures are under construction in Hakuma, Amachodingmo Rural Municipality-1, while the underground power plant is being developed in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-1. Upper Trishuli-1 is the largest hydropower project under construction in Nepal with direct foreign investment, and its electricity will be used for domestic consumption.
In response to the 2015 earthquake, the company provided relief materials, constructed temporary shelters, and built school and health institution buildings. Helicopter rescues and health camps were also conducted in the affected areas.
For the first time in Nepal, the project has implemented a Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process for indigenous communities. A separate Indigenous Community Plan was developed, considering their location, environment, and cultural heritage, with a dedicated budget for community-selected programs. Rs 25 million has been spent under this initiative.
CEO Byeong Su Min emphasized that the community support programs aim to enhance the economic and social well-being of affected residents. He stated that projects are selected based on local priorities and will continue as needed.
The project has spent Rs 78.6m to construct a Bailey bridge over the Trishuli River in Haku Valley, providing vital road access to residents of Amachodingmo Rural Municipality. This bridge also facilitates project-related transportation. Additionally, Rs 18.57m has been spent on road construction in affected areas, with Rs 7m allocated for the Dhunche-Khodol road.
To support education, school buildings have been constructed, and educational materials distributed. The project is also funding monastery construction and cultural preservation programs for indigenous communities.
To restore livelihoods and boost incomes, 121 people from project-affected households have received vocational training in Korean and Japanese language, driving, electrical work, welding, tailoring, motorcycle repair, and beauty services.
Currently, about 1,000 workers are engaged in construction, including 400 local residents from Rasuwa, of whom 154 belong to project-affected households. Over the five-year construction period, the project will provide daily employment to 800–1,000 Nepali workers.
Construction began in January 2022, with significant progress on the underground powerhouse, main tunnel, and dam. Overall physical progress stands at 52 percent. The Korean company Doosan Enerbility is responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction. Equity investors include the Korean government-owned Koen and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) under the World Bank Group.
The project is financed through 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity. Nine international financial institutions have committed $453.2 million to the project, which has a total estimated cost of $647.3m, including interest during construction. The remaining funds are covered through equity investments. Once completed, the project will generate 1.53 billion units of electricity annually.
Of the total annual energy output, 38.75 percent will be generated in winter and 61.25 percent during the rainy season. The electricity will be transmitted to the national grid via the Trishuli-3B Hub Substation, being constructed by the Nepal Electricity Authority, under a power purchase agreement with the authority.
Due to its proximity to Kathmandu, the project is considered vital for Nepal’s electricity system. It will generate 104 MW even during the winter when demand is high. Completion is targeted for Dec 2026.
