Telecom Authority directs Smart Telecom for efficient services

The Nepal Telecom Authority has directed Smart Telecom Pvt Ltd to operate its services in an easy and smooth manner. The Authority issued this directive to the organization regarding the service of the Smart Telecom Pvt Ltd not functioning at some places of the country. The Authority said telecom service should be operated in an efficient manner where the service recipients could use the service without any obstruction until the permission of telecommunication service terminated. It was the responsibility of the telecom service providers to operate the service continuously by following the rules and laws as telecom service has been classified as the most essential service.    

Nepal logs 124 new Covid-19 cases on Monday

Nepal reported 124 new Covid-19 cases on Monday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 903 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 77 returned positive. Likewise, 1, 663 people underwent antigen tests, of which 47 were tested positive. The Ministry said that no one died of the virus in the last 24 hours and 29 infected people recovered from the disease. As of today, there are 444 active cases in the country.

Biska Jatra begins in Bhaktapur

Biska, the cultural and historical festival, which is exclusively observed in Bhaktapur, formally began today. Devotees have flocked to Taumadhi to pay homage to the deity Bhairav since the morning marking the commencement of the festival. After the worship to Bhairav concludes, the chariot procession of the Bhairav will begin, it is said. The Biska festival commenced with the towing of the Chariot of Bhairav after performing all the associated customary rituals. The idols of Bhairav and Betal are installed in the chariot along with the sword and flag brought from Hanumandhoka in Kathmandu. The chariot is pulled in a procession from local Taumadhi to Gahiti. The festival is observed in a grand way for eight nights and nine days with the celebrations of various rituals including the Sindur Jatra and the tongue-piercing ceremony. Chief District Officer Khagendra Prasad Rijal said all necessary preparations are in place to prevent any untoward incidents during the festival and conclude it peacefully. Police Range Bhaktapur's Superintendent of Police Prajit KC said around 700 security personnel have been mobilized for the festival.

Mayor Shah gives 14 reasons why he decided not to collect waste from Singha Durbar

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah on Monday made it clear that he had to decide not to collect waste from Singha Durbar due to non-implementation of the agreements reached with the ministers and lawmakers at different times. Mayor Shah this morning gave 14 reasons through social media that why he instructed the concerned department to stop collecting waste from the premises of Singha Durbar. “A few days ago, I was forced to make a decision to stop collecting waste from Singha Durbar. It was not a random decision. It was the result of negligence, irresponsibility and carelessness of the central government,” he said. He was of the opinion that the Singha Durbar, a complex that houses the country's major administrative offices, was not serious on coordinating with the local governments to resolve the issues of the general public. “Singha Dubar lies in the Kathmandu Metropolis. Singha Durbar is just around 500 meters away from the office of metropolis. In spite of this, the metropolis has to exercise a lot to meet the ministers and lawmakers in Singha Durbar. The government is not serious about coordinating with the local governments on the issues of the general public’s livelihood,” Mayor Shah said. He expressed his expectation that the local problems be solved at the local level. Mayor Shah said that the central government has not accepted the existence of the local government. Earlier on Saturday, Mayor Shah had directed to stop collecting waste from Singha Durbar. He had said that instead the leaders should be dumped in the Bancharedanda landfill site to make the country clean.