Paudel urges BJP leader Jolly to facilitate smooth supply across Indo-Nepal border
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) Acting President Ram Chandra Paudel and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Jolly held a meeting today. The two leaders discussed the latest contemporary issues of Nepal at the meeting at the NC Parliamentary Party Office at Singha Durbar, according to NC President Paudel. “We also discussed the economic embargo imposed by India on Nepal and the toll it is taking on Nepal and Nepalis,” shared leader Paudel.
It is said that Paudel on the occasion urged the BJP leader to facilitate the smooth entry of supplies from India. “I drew his attention towards the embargo, explaining him that the Madhesh agitation and the economic embargo are totally different affairs,” added Paudel. According to him, Jolly has been assured of earliest resolution of the differences with the agitating parties as the talks with them were ongoing and efforts to seek an outlet to it was underway. The BJP leader expressed his commitment to brief about the hardships caused by the economic embargo in Nepal, according to the NC Acting President.
Cabinet transfers five joint secretaries
KATHMANDU: The government on Thursday transferred five joint secretaries.
A meeting of the Cabinet held this morning took the decision to this effect.
The officials transferred today are as follows:
- Chakra Bahadur Budha: From the President’s Office to the Ministry of Home Affairs
- Ram Krishna Subedi: From the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority to the Ministry of Home Affairs
- Kamal Prasad Bhattarai: From the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to the Ministry of General Administration
- Danduraj Ghimire: From Ministry of General Administration to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
- Rishiraj Sharma: From the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to the Ministry of Home Affairs
Each quake-hit house to get Rs 200,000 soon
The National Planning Commission (NPC) is mulling over commencing long-delayed post-earthquake reconstruction works by extending a grant of up to Rs 200,000 each to owners of private houses destroyed by the earthquakes of April and May.
NPC Vice Chairman Yubaraj Khatiwada made the announcement today as the Planning Commission has now received the government mandate to oversee reconstruction works till the time of the formation of the National Authority for Reconstruction (NAR).
The Cabinet on October 9 approved a guideline for distribution of up to Rs 200,000 to owners of around 490,000 private houses destroyed by the quake.
As per the guideline, works related to reconstruction of private residential houses would be overseen by a seven-member steering committee led by the CEO of the NAR. However, in absence of the NAR CEO, the work would be overseen by the vice chair of the NPC, says the guideline.
Upon receipt of the grant amount, private house owners must build quake-resistant houses based on design approved by division offices or District Project Implementation Units of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction. However, owners, who have acquired concessional loans of up to Rs 2.5 million from banks and financial institutions to build their houses damaged or destroyed by quakes, will not be eligible for the grant amount, says the guideline.
As per the guideline, the grant amount of Rs 200,000 would be extended in four instalments of 25 per cent, 30 per cent, 35 per cent and 10 per cent.
Hada in semis
KATHMANDU: Aarav Samrat Hada of Nepal advanced to the semi-finals of the Selangor International Junior Open Tennis Championship in Malaysia on Tuesday.
In boy’s U-10 category, Hada defeated a Malaysian player 4-2, 4-0, while in doubles Hada and Aki Zuben Rawat advanced to the finals with 4-2, 4-2 win over Malaysian players.