PM Dahal briefs House about his India visit
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has briefed today's meeting of the House of Representatives about his India visit.
PM Dahal informed the HoR about his India visit while responding to queries raised by lawmakers.
Prime Minister Dahal had embarked on an India visit on June 9 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He reminded that the two-day visit was not based on any predetermined agenda, but a different one.
The Prime Minister responded to queries raised by lawmakers during emergency, zero and special hours of the HoR meeting.
Today's HoR meeting has an agenda where eight different ministers would respond to the queries raised during the discussion on Appropriation Bill, 2081.
PM Dahal calls for coordination to address problems in medical education sector
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal emphasized on coordination and cooperation between sides concerned to solve the problems and challenges in the field of medical education.
Addressing a meeting of the Medical Education Commission today, Prime Minister Dahal said cooperation between the three levels of government, educational institutions providing medical education and all stakeholders in the health sector is necessary to improve the quality of health services and medical education.
"The Commission needs to play an effective role in the quality improvement, development, expansion and regulation of the health sector. All other stakeholders should cooperate and collaborate for it ", he said.
He also lauded the works done by the commission, describing it as a positive and integral part of improving medical education and service delivery in the country.
Help countries that missed industrial revolutions: PM Dahal
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged the developed countries to help address challenges faced by the countries which missed industrial revolutions.
PM Dahal made such an urge while inaugurating the 21st replenishment meeting of IDA (IDA21) that kicked off in the federal capital, Kathmandu this morning.
The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) has been a committed partner in South Asia for over six decades.
PM Dahal argued that assistance to the countries lagging behind industrial development was essential for achieving the global goal of peace and prosperity. The development pace could be intensified through the concessional financial aid, according to him.
"The aid can be mobilized for just access to resources, technology and investment. Inclusive economy can be promoted by ending existing financial gaps," he reminded, adding that initiatives of sustainable development warrants support.
The Head of the Government informed Nepal was in a short supply of financial resources to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and sustainable infrastructures despite its efforts for inclusive economic development. The revenue constraint and trade loss are nagging problems, he reminded. Therefore, financial assistance in grants is required for Nepal to create jobs, spur economic activities and upgrade country status from LDC.
"Human capital, health, and quality education need financial resources. Quality enhancement of infrastructure and people's lifestyle are our priorities," PM Dahal said, "Digitalization, investment in productive sectors, promotion of entrepreneurship, skill development is also in focus."
The issue of food security triggered by climate change is equally worth mentioning. The achievements made so far must not be reversed. "Nepal has been advocating for climate justice along with compensation for loss and damages, for it is bearing the disproportionate effect of climate change," PM Dahal mentioned, making the participants aware of Nepal's efforts on hardships like earthquake, COVID-19 and global recession.
Moreover, Dahal believed that the IDA-21 meeting would be successful to forge a consensus among the donors and recipients on the documents of policy priorities and results for the coming three years, and make a high level resolution to address unprecedented challenges.
Nepal and other receiving countries want to see larger impacts of IDA, he reiterated.
PM's address features Nepal's potentials along with political stability like hydropower, tourism, agriculture and diligent youths. IDA is a significant development partner to Nepal. It had provided huge financial resources for the reconstruction after the 2015 Earthquake, he shared.
Senior Managing Director at World Bank, Axel van Trotsenburg, viewed the meeting will provide a guideline for mobilization of IDA resources in addition to making plans for the coming decade.
On the occasion, Managing Director at Dwarika Hotel, Sangita Shrestha, urged the development partners and policy makers to work actively for effective mobilization of financial resources that cater to sustainable development efforts.
The event attended by over 200 representatives from 61 countries including high level officials of the World Bank runs through June 21.
Budget, policies and programs address public sentiments: PM Dahal
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the government's policies and programs for the new fiscal year are in the interests of the citizens and Nepal.
Talking to the media at Bharatpur Airport today, the Prime Minister said that overall, the budget is satisfactory. "I hope it will be endorsed by the House of Representatives smoothly."
The Prime Minister claimed that the budget highlighted several government initiatives for good governance, social justice and prosperity. "I feel that more initiatives are needed to meet the people's aspirations."
Responding to a query about the possibility of the change of Inspector General of Police, he said no such thing would happen. "This is just a rumor," he said, adding that he recently summoned chiefs of security bodies and urged them to work confidently.
CPPCC Vice Chairman Bater calls on PM Dahal
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Vice Chairman Bater met with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter's office in Singhadurbar on Sunday.
During the meeting, issues of bilateral relations, mutual cooperation and implementation of the bilateral agreements and consensus were discussed.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal expressed pleasure at the gradual implementation of different agreements signed between Nepal and China during his latest China visit, the PM's Foreign Advisor Dr Rupak Sapkota said.
The PM also thanked the Chinese government for its decision to resume 14 traditional points along the Nepal-China border.
The PM also expressed confidence for the gradual implementation of other agreements signed between the two countries.
Likewise, discussions were held to further expand the exchanges of parliamentary exercises between Nepal and China.
On the occasion, the CPPCC Vice Chairman Bater said China attaches top priority to its relations with Nepal and the areas of cooperation would be further deepened in the coming days.
Three-tier collaboration vital for Chure conservation: PM Dahal
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal advocated for collaboration and cooperation among the three-tier government, local communities, and authorities in conserving the Chure region.
Speaking at a tree plantation program commemorating the 10th Chure Conservation Day, the Prime Minister said that the conservation of the Chure is a multifaceted issue connecting to the livelihoods of Tarai-Madhesh people. He stressed the necessity of combined efforts for its preservation.
Highlighting the need to implement the 20-year Chure Tarai-Madhesh Conservation and Management Master Plan endorsed in 2074 BS, with subsequent amendments, the Prime Minister said the need for a dedicated act on the Chure conservation has been realized and the government is coordinating towards that end.
He praised the successful afforestation program, speaking of its positive impact on raising awareness about forest and wildlife conservation.
Around 10,000 hectares of open and abandoned land have been afforested with various plant species under the Rastrapati Chure Tarai-Madhes Conservation Development Committee, he added.
PM Dahal on the occasion applauded the Committee's role in promoting greenery and maintaining ecosystem balance.
He urged all stakeholders, including local governments, to prioritize the conservation of newly planted trees, wishing that the Green Campaign would contribute to enhancing people's livelihood in the Chure Tarai-Madhes region.
Prime Minister Dahal further shared that the Chure hill range that spreads over 37 districts from Ilam in the east to Kanchanpur district in the west of the country is very sensitive from a geo-biological and geological point of view. It is rich in biological diversity and is the habitat of and biological route for rare wild animals.
"The Chure hills system is the water source for the Tarai-Madhesh, the natural resources in the Chure area are the lifeline for the people living in the lowland region, i.e. Madhesh," said the Prime Minister.
"Today, the natural resources in the Chure conservation area knowingly and unknowingly are under the vicious cycle of human encroachment. Physical infrastructure development without preparing the detailed project report, engineering design and environmental impact study has weakened the Chure mountain range,” he said.
Stating that the exploitation of Chure area has increased due to the collection and excavation of stones, gravel, and sand, Prime Minister Dahal mentioned that it has created a serious crisis in the environmental integrity of the river system.
He said that the protection of the Chure region is becoming a challenge day by day due to increasing population in Chure area, unorganized settlement, human encroachment upon forests, forest fires, uncontrolled cattle grazing and exploitation of river materials, unorganized physical infrastructure construction, soil erosion.
"Only if nature is clean, our lives will be safe and only if we protect nature, nature will protect us," the PM reiterated.
He called for saving the people of Tarai-Madhesh from disasters and protecting and preserving the forests, flora, fauna and ecological system in the Chure area.
The Prime Minister urged the three levels of government and all the state agencies to collect and excavate stones, gravel and sand only by conducting environmental studies in accordance with the concept of systematic physical development, taking care of the right of the future generations to live in harmony with nature there.
PM Dahal asked to brief House about his India visit
Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak has demanded Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to brief the House about his recent India visit.
Speaking in an emergency hour of today's meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR), Chief Whip Lekhak shared that the Prime Minister should inform the House while embarking to any friendly nation in the parliamentary practice
"The Prime Minister embarked on a two-day India visit on June 9. He has not yet briefed the House about his visit even though five days passed. As the leader of the opposition, I had to remind the Prime Minister that he is the leader of the House," he said.
Prime Minister Dahal had embarked on a two-day India visit on June 9 to attend the swearing -in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for third tenure.
Stating that President Ram Chandra Paudel had left for Switzerland on June 11 to participate in the 112th session of the International Labor Conference, NC leader Lekhak explained that it is not good for the House to get information about the visit of the President and Prime Minister by reading the newspaper.
He underlined that not only the Head of the State and Prime Minister, but there is a practice in some of the countries that ministers also go in foreign visits informing the House when the House is in session.
PM Dahal inaugurates 400-KV Hetauda sub-station
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the 400-KV Hetauda sub-station amidst a program organized by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in Hetauda today.
The sub-station is located at Thana Bharyang of Hetuda Sub-Metropolitan City- 11 in Makawanpur district. It is the third largest automatic sub-station in the country based on Gas Insulated System (GIS) and was brought into operation (charge) last Friday.
Along with this, two other sub-stations of 220 KV capacity and 132/11 KV capacity have been constructed at Thana Bharyang itself by Nepal-India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project and they have been charged also since last Friday.
The GIS technology based automatic Dhalkebar sub-station is the first largest such sub-station of the country while the Inaruwa sub-station is the second largest and the Hetauda sub-station the third largest ones. These structures have been constructed to make the east-west power supply reliable and of quality within the country and to facilitate power trade with India.
With the construction of the sub-station at Hetauda, infrastructures capable of transmitting around 4,000 megawatts of electricity have been readied. It is expected that domestic electricity supply would be further strengthened and the electricity trade with India would be expanded, as 4,000 megawatts power can be transmitted east-west from Dhalkebar with the completion of the construction of the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400-KV transmission line.
A double-circuit transmission line of 400-KV capacity that would be constructed from Ratmate of Nuwakot through the US assistance Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) would be connected to Hetauda substation. The required infrastructures have been built at Hetauda substation for this purpose.
The Hetauda, Dhalkebar and Inaruwa 400-kV substation expansion project had been started through the joint investment of the Government of Nepal and NEA under the National Electricity Development Decade program. All the three substations under the Project have been constructed.
The contract agreement for the construction of the 220/132/11- KV Hetauda substation was signed in December 2018. It is constructed by Nepal-India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project with government and NEA investment and soft loan from the World Bank. The estimated cost of the 400, 200 and 132 kV Hetauda substation is Rs 3 billion.
PM Dahal to inaugurate Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400 KV transmission line
The construction of the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400 KV transmission line has been completed.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to inaugurate the Hetauda sub-station of the transmission line project at Thanabharyang in Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-11, Makawanpur, this afternoon, Substation Project Chief Shukraraj Devkota said.
The transmission line is expected to strengthen and ensure a reliable power transmission system in the country and facilitate the undisrupted energy trade between Nepal and India.
With the completion of 154 kilometers long double circuit power grid of 400 kilovolts, as high as 4000 megawatts of power could be supplied through this line, officials said.
Prime Minister Dahal returns home
Wrapping up his official visit to India, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has returned home this evening.
Upon arrival at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport, the Prime Minister was welcomed by Speaker Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chair Narayan Dahal, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, MPs, Heads of Security Agencies and high-ranking officials of the Government of Nepal.
A contingent of the Nepal Army also offered a guard of honor to Prime Minister Dahal.
The Prime Minister had left for New Delhi on Sunday afternoon leading the Nepali delegation to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Dahal also held a brief meeting with his counterpart Modi and paid a courtesy call on the President of India Droupadi Murmu today.
During the meetings, various aspects of Nepal-India relations were discussed, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.
Prime Minister Dahal was accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and other high-ranking government officials.
India’s Federal Minister Jaishankar calls on PM Dahal
India's newly appointed Federal Minister S Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday.
The Prime Minister, who is presently on an official visit to India, attended the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi who was elected the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
During the delegation-level meeting with the Indian minister that took place at the Taj Hotel where the Prime Minister is residing, the two discussed the matters relating to Nepal-India relations, bilateral interests, and the implementation of understandings and agreements reached between the two neighbors.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal congratulated Jaishankar on his appointment to the post of federal minister and wished a successful term. He expressed his hope that the relations between the two countries would further strengthen in the days to come.
Minister Jaishankar thanked the Prime Minister and the Government of Nepal for the Prime Minister's presence in the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Modi. He said the Indian government is serious about the implementation of understandings and agreements between the two countries and the progress towards that end is satisfactory.
Prime Minister Dahal's daughter and private secretary Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, and senior officials from the Embassy and the Indian government were present during the meeting.
The Prime Minister left Kathmandu for New Delhi on Sunday to witness the oath-taking ceremony of Modi.
Following the oath-taking ceremony, the two held a bilateral meeting.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal congratulated his Indian counterpart on assuming office for the third term.
On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Dahal attended a dinner hosted by the President of India.
He is scheduled to return home today.
PM Dahal pays courtesy call on Indian President
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is on an official visit to India, paid a courtesy call on the President of India Droupadi Murmu on Monday.
During the meeting held at the New Delhi-based Rastrapati Bhawan, matters relating to centuries-old relations existing between Nepal and India and mutual interests were discussed.
Similarly, the two exchanged views on strengthening the people-to-people relations between the two neighbors, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.
The Prime Minister attended the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi, who elected the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term. Following the oath-taking ceremony, the two held a bilateral meeting.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal congratulated his Indian counterpart on assuming office for the third term.
On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Dahal attended a dinner hosted by the President of India.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by his daughter and private secretary Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, and other senior government officials during the visit. He is scheduled to return home today.
PM Dahal meets his Indian counterpart Modi
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is on an official visit to India, held a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Sunday evening.
In the meeting held at New Delhi, Prime Minister Dahal congratulated Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, for taking charge of the country's executive head for the third consecutive time and expressed confidence that the relations between Nepal and India would reach a new height during his tenure.
On the occasion, they discussed various issues of bilateral interest and mutual relations between Nepal and India. Matters related to the implementation of agreements and understandings signed between the two countries in the past were also discussed.
PM Dahal attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi on Sunday evening.
The Prime Minister had left Kathmandu for New Delhi on Sunday.
He is accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and other high-ranking government officials.
Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to return home this evening.
PM Dahal reaches New Delhi, received by special government representatives (With video)
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reached New Delhi, India to take part in the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi.
Upon reaching New Delhi-based Indira Gandhi International Airport today, Prime Minister Dahal was received by special representatives of the Government of India, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, India.
Modi, who has been appointed the Prime Minister of India for the third term on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, is scheduled to take the oath of office and secrecy this evening.
Following the swearing-in ceremony of Modi, Prime Minister Dahal will meet his Indian counterpart, according to the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by his daughter and private secretary Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, and other senior government officials during the visit. He is scheduled to return home on Monday.
PM Dahal off to India to take part in Modi’s swearing-in ceremony
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has left for New Delhi, India on Sunday to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
He left for Delhi at 1 pm today.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure Raghubir Mahaseth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and high-ranking officials had reached the Tribhuvan International Airport to bid farewell to Prime Minister Dahal.
He was accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and other high-ranking government employees.
Indian Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to take oath for the third term this evening.
During the visit, Prime Minister Dahal is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Modi, according to the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to return home tomorrow.
Prime Minister Dahal leaving for Delhi today
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is leaving for New Delhi, India this afternoon to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister Dahal will be accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and other high-ranking government employees.
Indian Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to take oath for the third term this evening.
During the visit, Prime Minister Dahal is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Modi, according to the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to return home tomorrow.
