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Tokha Municipality has started removing structures illegally constructed along the Bishnumati river banks.

Temporary structures built illegally along the Bishnumati corridor and its adjoining areas were evicted this morning to make the corridor beautiful and well-managed.

Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality, Sher Bahadur BC, shared that the illegal structures constructed at Bishnumati river banks encroaching upon public land were removed using dozers.

Tokha Municipality took out illegally constructed structures by forming a 'Public Land Preservation Committee' under the coordination of chairperson of Tokha municipality-4, Dharmendra Shrestha.

The Committee on Tuesday dismantled the structures constructed in front of Fluorescent School located at Tokha Municipality-8, said Deputy Mayor Murari Tamang. Structures unlawfully constructed along the Bishnumati corridor from Manorath Tirtha to Tokha police post would be cleared in the first phase, according to the municipality.

Saying that over 1,000 ropanis of land in Tokha has been encroached, Mayor Prakash Adhikari mentioned that the municipality has a plan to preserve the public land.

Locals residing along the banks of Bishnumati river around Fluorescent School had obstructed the municipality's bid to clear the illegal structures and also pelted stones at the police.

Issuing a notice a few days ago, the municipality had urged the locals to remove illegal structures constructed on public land.

Kitchens need to be clean. But it can also be beautiful. The right décor can elevate a basic, functional space into one that’s so stunning that you will want to live there. Most often, people tend to neglect the kitchen area, thinking there’s not much you can do with it. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. You don’t have to redo your entire space to change its look and feel. There are simple ways in which you can add some much-needed oomph into your kitchen which, until now, has just been a space to cook meals.

Add cute trays on the counter

Don’t clutter your kitchen countertops with salt and pepper shakers, cups, oil canisters, spoon holders, etc. Use metal or wooden trays to clump items together and decorate them artfully. You can use a small wooden tray next to the cooking range to hold all the oil bottles. Use another to hold salt and pepper shakers, tea bags, and teapot. The idea is to group things together and artfully decorate your kitchen with daily-use items.

Designate a bar area

Do you stow away liquor in cabinets in the kitchen? Why not create a cute little bar area instead? You can remove the cabinets and install glass panels or leave them open, depending on your choice and mood. You can display all your glass wares and other bar items here as well. A bar area in the kitchen can immediately take the space from drab to dashing. If you aren’t much of a drinker, a tea or coffee bar can work equally well.

Squeeze in a seating area

Add a round table and a couple of chairs and create a breakfast nook in the kitchen if you have the space for it. Place a vase with a single rose bud in it. This space can also double as a kitchen island where you can chop your veggies and meal prep if you are low on counter space. Having a seating area in the kitchen will give it a very café-ish vibe. If you have a window space in the kitchen, you can put a bench beneath it and place a table in front of it too. This will free up space at the center.

Put a mirror over the sink

If your sink isn’t in front of the window, try placing a mirror on the wall in front of it. This will give your kitchen an illusion of space, amplify the lighting, and give it some character. Go for a round one as everything in kitchens tends to be square and rectangular. Find a gilded mirror in black, white, or gold to go with the gloss of the tiles in the kitchen. You can also place mirrors as the backdrop on open shelves or in the bar area.

Think kitchen decorations

You might think we are nuts but put decorative items in the kitchen and see for yourself. It’s a simple trick to make your kitchen beautiful. Lean small pieces of artwork on easels if there is no space to hang them up. If you have open shelves, add decorative pieces like vases, bowls, sculptures, etc. that you have collected over the years or those that are meaningful to you. Kitchen accessories like the coffee maker, teapots, and caddies can be functional and decorative at the same time. Consider this while deciding to display or stow them away. Ever thought about adding a table lamp on the kitchen counter?

Get in some minor alterations

While it’s also tempting to redo your kitchen, especially after it’s been in use for a few years, there are little things you can do to freshen it up. Change the backsplash on the kitchen counter. Don’t opt for plain tiles this time. Go for patterned ones instead. Color your kitchen cabinets. Opt for royal blue or dark forest green to make a stunning style statement. But if you prefer a neutral tone, go for peach, brown, or beige. Change the light fixture. Get a brass faucet. Change the knobs on your cabinets. Little things like these can give your kitchen the makeover it needs.

Bookworm Foundation organized its 11th edition of Nepal Literature Festival at Barahighat, on the banks of Phewa Lake, in Pokhara on Feb 15 to 19. 

The festival kicked off following the inauguration ceremony by Chief Minister of Gandaki Surendra Raj Pandey. On the first day, Kalyan Shrestha, former chief justice, gave an address on constitution and good governance. There day also opened the exhibitions by noted cartoonist Batsyayana titled ‘Batsyayana and His Barbs Volume 2’, and artist Suzana Shrish titled ‘Gorkha Women: An Echo in the Story’. 

The five-day festival featured sessions with various national and international writers, artists, politicians and experts.  

Kai Bird, Janice Pariat, Chandrahas Choudhury, and George Van Driem were among the international authors who were part of this year’s festival. Each interaction session opened up avenues for fresh discussions on themes like arts, culture, literature, society, governance, music, films, university, Nepali tradition, economy, tourism, federalism, and the craft of writing and editing.

Journalist Kunda Dixit’s interaction with American author and columnist Bird was a major highlight of the festival. Bird discussed his book ‘American Prometheus’ which inspired the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Oppenheimer’. He also discussed how nuclear warfare is a continual threat to the entire humanity.

Journalist and author Basanta Basnet interacted with comedian duo Madankrishna Shrestha and Haribansha Acharya on the themes of friendship. Economist turned politician Swarnim Wagle and former Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada interacted with Sonia Awale on the topic of brain drain. They discussed the possibilities in Nepal and how the non-resident Nepalis, as well as the Nepali students and workers abroad can start entrepreneurship in their home country. 

Likewise, Kamal Dev Bhattarai, the editor of The Annapurna Express, interacted with politicians Min Bahadur Bishwakarma, Padam Giri and Madhav Sapkota, and Sucheta Pyakurel, director of IIDS Center for Governance on the topic of internal democracy in Nepal’s political parties.

Ajit Baral, founder and director of the festival, said the literature festival has grown over the years and has continued to receive a considerable footfall of visitors every year. 

Writer Nagarkoti credited the Nepal Literature Festival for the popularity of other literature festivals that are taking place at the provincial and local levels these days. He also noted that the Nepal Literature festival was the only international standard festival in Nepal. 

An Indian national has been arrested with 855 grams of gold from the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Airport Security Police Office apprehended Sharif Ahmed Abdul Gafur (35), who arrived in Kathmandu on a Fly Dubai flight, with the precious yellow metal during a regular security check.

He has been handed over to the airport customs office for further investigation.