Government and World Bank launch $128 million project to improve provincial and local road network

The Government of Nepal and the World Bank jointly launched the $128 million (equivalent to Rs 17.15 billion) Provincial and Local Roads Improvement Programme-Phase 1, today. 

The project aims to enhance the connectivity, efficiency, resilience, and safety of Nepal’s provincial and local road network while also strengthening the government's ability to manage the road network, according to a press note issued by the World Bank. "The programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development in coordination with the provincial and local levels." 

The project was launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh in the presence of provincial ministers of physical infrastructure and development from Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and Madhesh provinces.

“This project promotes the spirit of federalism embodied in the constitution bringing together the three tiers of government to work for the benefit of Nepalis," Shrestha said, adding that the focus of the project on environment-friendly and climate-resilient construction techniques and five-year maintenance component is key to supporting sustainable infrastructure development. 

The first phase of the project will upgrade and improve 180km of selected provincial roads and bridges, undertake maintenance of 400km and 700km of existing provincial roads and bridges respectively, and construct 100km of all-weather roads and bridges to provide connectivity to prioritized municipalities and local levels.

"This project will help improve Nepal's road infrastructure with a focus on resilience, and safety," said  World Bank Regional Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka David Sislen. “By working closely with the Government of Nepal, we are committed to ensuring better access to essential services and economic opportunities for millions of Nepalis.”

The first of the three-phase project will be implemented in Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and Madhesh provinces and 13 municipalities which will be scaled up in future phases. About one million people are expected to benefit from improved access to all-weather, resilient, and safe provincial and local roads and bridges.

At the launch event, a tri-partite memorandum of understanding was signed between the federal, provincial, and local governments of Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and Madhesh provinces for the implementation of the project.

The project will incorporate several best practices, such as five-year performance-based maintenance combined with construction contracts, routine maintenance conducted by self-help groups, complementary community-led infrastructure projects, pilot testing alternative connectivity methods and rural transport services, development of approach roads, and implementation of an online programme monitoring and management system.

Cost of non-compliance: Billions worth infrastructure damaged, death toll rises to 169

Lack of serious disaster preparedness, non-compliance, and timely rescue has cost the country billions.  

Flood and landslide caused by incessant rainfall that started on Thursday afternoon has damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hydropower projects, power lines and buildings, worth billions, whereas some 169 people also lost their lives.

The death toll from disaster-related incidents across the country has reached 169, according to the Home Ministry.  In addition to the loss of lives, the infrastructure damage is also extensive due to inaction of the government.

According the World Bank, the government's disaster-related expenditures between 2012 and 2020 amounted to over $3.8 billion (Rs 451.45 billion), or an annual average of about $430 million (Rs 50 billion). However, this year's disaster-related expenditures might be double the annual average to around $800 million. 

According to Armed Police Force (APF) under Home Ministry, some 60 others are injured, while 54 are missing. "Floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain since Thursday afternoon damaged 322 houses and 16 bridges across the country," the APF reported.

The three districts in the Valley — Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur — recorded some 79 deaths, with 52 in Kathmandu alone. The Southern part of Lalitpur district is still cut-off with the rest of the district due to landslide and electricity outage, due to heavy downpour. 

Likewise, Kathmandu Valley is cut-off with the rest of the country due to landslide and flood-caused bridge and road damage. The vehicles are seen on the highways that lead to the Kathmandu Valley.

The eastern entry point to the Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, is obstructed due to road damage on BP Highway, whereas the western entry point to the Kathmandu Valley, Thankot, is obstructed due to landslide and road damage in Naubise. The security forces are, however, working hard to clear the roads following to western entry point, Thankot, for emergency rescue operations also.

Likewise, some 66 deaths were reported in Bagmati Province, excluding the Kathmandu Valley.

Koshi and Madhesh Provinces recorded some 21 and three deaths, respectively, the report stated, adding that no fatalities have been recorded in the other four provinces. But Butwal, in the Lumbini Province, was flooded that halted transportation.

Death toll climbs as torrential rains pound Nepal

Much of Kathmandu stands underwater today and the capital’s main river, the Bagmati, is flowing above danger levels after incessant rain lashed much of eastern and central Nepal on Friday and Saturday (today).

After rainfall exceeding 340mm fell in under three days in many places across the Kathmandu Valley the Bagmati is flowing at 6.16metres at Khokana: 2.16m above danger levels, according to a press note issued by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

Rivers in eastern and central Nepal are also dangerously engorged: at the time of writing the Narayani River at Devghat is running at 11.5 metres: 2.5m above danger levels. Sunkoshi River in Khurkot also recorded 11.5 m, which is almost 3m higher than the danger threshold, it reads, adding that rescue-workers have used boats and helicopters to evacuate affected citizens stranded in their homes as water levels rose.

The government states 66 people have been killed since early on Friday, with 60 injured and 69 missing, with floods and landslides closing major roads and disrupting domestic air travel.

“I’ve never before seen flooding on this scale in Kathmandu,” said  Climate and Environmental Risks Lead at the Hindu Kush Himalayan knowledge centre at ICIMOD Arun Bhakta Shrestha.

Kumaltar, in the Kathmandu Valley, received 381.2 and Godavari received 346.6 mm in rains that set in early on Thursday. Large areas of Nepal were projected to see rainfall in the “extremely heavy rainfall” category (over 200mm) on both Friday and Saturday.  

A low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal and the more northerly than usual position of the monsoon trough is the reason for this weekend’s late, and exceptionally intense rain.

Contrary to earlier forecasts which showed another day of heavy rain, ICIMOD’s High-Impact Weather Assessment Toolkit (HIWAT) now shows rain subsiding tomorrow (Sunday).

Scientists say that while climate change is changing the amount and timing of rainfall across Asia, a key reason for the rise in the impact of floods is the built environment, including unplanned construction, especially on floodplains, which leaves insufficient area for water retention and drainage.

They recommend central governments and city planners urgently increase the investment in and planning of both ‘grey’ (engineered) and ‘green’ (nature-based) infrastructure: such as underground stormwater and sewage systems; and the restoration of wetlands or the introduction of permeable pavements and ‘rain gardens’ to increase cities’ capacity to absorb water and help communities adapt.

This unprecedented rain has fallen on soil already saturated following a more than 25 per cent above normal rainfall this monsoon in Kathmandu, the press note reads, "Its impact is aggravated by poor drainage due to unplanned settlement/haphazard urbanisation, construction on floodplains, and lack of areas for water retention, and encroachment on the Bagmati river."

Extreme floods from two consecutive heavy monsoon years have caused devastation in many parts of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region in 2023 and 2024, and recent analysis by climate scientists shows Asia’s exposure to extreme rain and flood risk growing by 2030.

The research shows the continent will face the greatest rainfall changes in the world by 2100, with ICIMOD regional member countries Bangladesh, China, and India among 10 Asian countries that have the highest risk of extreme rainfall by the end of the century. 

XDI’s 2023 Gross Domestic Climate Risk Dataset, the expert group in physical climate risk, shows that 114 of the top 200 provinces with the highest aggregated damage ratio by 2050 will be in Asia.

XDI Gross Domestic Climate Risk Map. Source: XDI

Landmark research by Chinese researchers and the UK Met Office published in the journal Science this July showed that climate change is not only resulting in more extreme precipitation, but also greater variability in rainfall – with greater swings between intense rain events. The research used observational data since the 1900s to track already detectable changes – with the greater variability in rainfall posing challenges for weather and climate predictions, as well as for resilience and adaptation by societies and ecosystems.

ICIMOD’s 2023 assessment report, Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya suggests similar changes in the Hindu Kush Himalaya.

Alongside many in the region, many ICIMOD employees have found themselves on the frontline of these floods.

We extend our solidarity to all those suffering today, and will continue to work to increase the reliability of forecasts, to roll out early warning systems, and to advocate for planned settlements and nature-based solutions to mitigate flood risks.

The ICIMOD claims that it continue to share our Earth Observation tools with government agencies and first responders, including those in humanitarian agencies, to help them anticipate major events and preposition aid.

Experts to explore social protection's role in reducing poverty, building resilience and investing in human capital

The government is committed to building a more inclusive social protection system that serves the needs of all, especially our children and the future generations.

Inaugurating the conference 'Resilient and Inclusive Social Protection: Investing in Human Capital Development', here today, the deputy prime minister and finance minister Bishnu Paudel reiterated the government's commitment. 

"This conference comes at a crucial time as Nepal is investing in its human capital,” he said at the conference organised jointly by the government, National Planning Commission (NPC), in partnership with UNICEF and the World Bank (WB), 

This is the second international conference on social protection -- organised in Kathmandu today and tomorrow -- that aims to foster critical dialogue on how social protection can be leveraged to reduce poverty, build resilience, and invest in the human capital of future generations.

Nepal is undergoing rapid economic, social, and demographic changes, with approximately 20 per cent of the population still living below the poverty line and significant inequality remaining a concern. Nepal’s Constitution guarantees the right to social security for vulnerable groups, but much of its investment in social protection has focused on the elderly, with limited attention to children and other vulnerable groups.

The vice chair of NPC Prof Dr Shivaraj Adhikari on the occasion, said that the government, through the Sixteenth Periodic Plan, has given high priority to human capital development. "It is necessary to increase investment in children for this purpose," he said, highlighting the fact that human development is both a means and an end in the context of the country's development. He also emphasised that social protection plays a crucial role in building human capital.

Although the government has been increasing investment in social protection, the investment made in social protection has had only a limited impact on reducing poverty, building human capital, and promoting resilience against shocks and risks that may arise at various stages of the human life cycle.

“By investing in the early years, including through universal child grants, we can break intergenerational cycles of poverty that hold back future generations," said Regional Director of UNICEF South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera. 

"Through this conference, we are not only reaffirming our commitment to the children and young people of Nepal, but we are also challenging ourselves to create a world where every child and young person, no matter his or her circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to a brighter, more resilient future," he added.

The conference builds on the momentum of the 2019 International Conference on Social Protection, which promoted policy debate on strengthening social protection for children and the expansion of the child grant, establishment of an integrated registry, increased use of the cash plus approach, investment in productive employment and social security for the formal and informal sectors.

This year’s conference provides a platform to reflect on key progress in Nepal since 2019 and for knowledge exchange, learning from best practices, and collaboration towards achieving SDG Target 1.3, which calls for implementing nationally appropriate social protection systems for all.

“In the face of economic challenges, global conflicts and climate change, adaptive social protection systems are more critical than ever,” said World Bank Operations Manager for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Preeti Arora. 

“Effective social protection can buffer vulnerable populations, including women, youth, and children from crises while enabling them to invest in education, healthcare, and other essential services that enhance human capital and their productivity," she added.

The conference brings together senior representatives from the government, UNICEF, the World Bank, regional and global social protection experts, and key stakeholders from various sectors.

On the occasion, director at the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRC) Dr Michael Samson delivered the keynote address on ‘Investment in social protection for human capital, inclusion and resilience – Global Perspective.”

गरिबी न्यूनीकरण, उत्थानशीलता निर्माण र मानव पुँजी निर्माणमा लगानी गर्न सामाजिक सुरक्षाको भूमिका

काठमाडौं । सामाजिक सुरक्षा र मानव पुँजी विकासमा सरकार प्रतिबद्ध रहेको उपप्रधानमन्त्री तथा अर्थमन्त्री विष्णु पौडेलले बताएका छन् । 

सरकार, राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग, संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघीय बाल कोष  (युनिसेफ) र विश्व बैंकको संयुक्त साझेदारीमा विहीबार तथा शुक्रबार सामाजिक सुरक्षा र मानव पुँजी विकास सम्बन्धी दोस्रो अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्मेलन काठमाडौंमा आयोजना भइरहेको ‘उत्थानशील तथा समावेशी सामाजिक संरक्षणः मानव पुँजी निर्माणमा लगानी’ सम्मेलन उद्घाटन गर्दै उनले मुलुकको आजको आवश्यकता र विशेष गरी हाम्रा बालबालिका र भावी पुस्ताको आवश्यकता पूरा गर्न थप समावेशी सामाजिक संरक्षण प्रणाली निर्माण गर्न प्रतिबद्ध रहेको बताएका हुन् ।। 

‘उत्थानशील तथा समावेशी सामाजिक संरक्षणः मानव पुँजी निर्माणमा लगानी’ दुईदिने सम्मेलनले गरिबी न्यूनीकरण गर्न, उत्थानशीलता निर्माण गर्न र भावी पुस्ताको मानव पुँजीमा लगानी गर्न सामाजिक संरक्षणलाई कसरी सदुपयोग गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने विषयमा समालोचनात्मक संवादलाई प्रोत्साहन गर्ने लक्ष्य राखेको छ । 

नेपालले आफ्नो मानव पुँजी निर्माणमा लगानी बढाउदैँ गरेको महत्वपूर्ण समयमा यो सम्मेलनको आयोजना भएकोमा मन्त्री पौडेलले आयोजकलाई धन्यवाद पनि दिए । 

यतिबेला नेपाल तीव्र आर्थिक, सामाजिक र जनसांख्यिकीय परिवर्तनहरूबाट गुज्रिरहेको छ। लगभग २० प्रतिशत जनसंख्या अझै पनि निरपेक्ष गरिबीको रेखामुनि बाँचिरहेका छन् र उल्लेखनीय रूपमा रहेको आर्थिक-सामाजिक असमानता अझै पनि चिन्ताको विषय रहेको छ।

नेपालको संविधानले जोखिममा रहेका सबै समूहका लागि सामाजिक संरक्षणको हक सुनिश्चित गरेको छ। तर सामाजिक संरक्षण सम्बन्धी अधिकांश लगानी ज्येष्ठ नागरिकहरूमा केन्द्रित रहेको छ।बालबालिका र अन्य जोखिममा परेका समूहहरूलाई सीमित रुपमा मात्र ध्यान दिइएको अवस्था छ। 

उत्त, अवसरमा बोल्दै राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगका उपाध्यक्ष प्रा डा शिवराज अधिकारीले सरकारले सोर्हौं योजनामार्फत मानव पुँजी निर्माणलाई उच्च प्राथमिकता प्रदान गरेको स्मरण गरे । “यसका लागि बालबालिकामा लगानी बढाउनु आवश्यक रहेको छ,” उनले भने, “देश विकासको सन्दर्भमा मानव विकास साधन र साध्य दुबै हुन्छन् ।” 

यस्तै, उनले सामाजिक संरक्षणले मानव पुँजी निर्माणमा महत्वपूर्ण भुमिका निर्वाह गर्ने विषयलाई पनि जोड दिए । 

सरकारले सामाजिक सुरक्षामा लगानी बढाउदैँ गएको भएतापनि सामाजिक सुरक्षा गरिने लगानीले गरिबी घटाउन, मानव पुँजी निर्माण गर्न र मानव जीवन(चक्रका विभिन्न चरणमा आईपर्न सक्ने झट्का तथा जोखिमहरूबाट उत्थानशीलता प्रवर्द्धन गर्न सीमित प्रभाव मात्र पारेको अवस्था छ।

"प्रारम्भिक वर्षहरूमा लगानी गरेर, जस्तै सर्वब्यापी बाल अनुदान कार्यक्रमहरू मार्फत, हामीले गरिबीको अन्तर पुस्ताको चक्रलाई तोड्न सक्छौं, जसले भविष्यका पुस्तालाई पछाडि धकेलिरहेको छ," दक्षिण एशियाका युनिसेफ क्षेत्रीय निर्देशक सञ्जय विजेसेकराले भने ।

"यस सम्मेलन मार्फत, हामीले नेपालका बालबालिका र युवाहरू प्रतिको हाम्रो प्रतिबद्धतालाई मात्र मात्र जोड दिइरहेका छैनौँ, हामी आफैंलाई चुनौती दिइरहेका छौं कि हरेक बालबालिका र युवाले, चाहे उनीहरूको अवस्था जे भए पनि, अघि बढ्ने र उज्यालो र अझ बढी उत्थानशील भविष्यमा योगदान पुर्याउने अवसर पाउने अवस्था सिर्जना गर्न हामी प्रतिबद्ध रहेको संन्देश दिन चाहन्छौं ।"

यस सम्मेलनले सन् २०१९ को सामाजिक संरक्षणसम्बन्धी पहिलो अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्मेलनले उठाएका मुद्दाहरूलाई अझ अगाडि बढाउनेछ । पहिलो सम्मेलनले बालबालिकाको सामाजिक संरक्षणलाई सुदृढ गर्ने र बाल अनुदानको विस्तार, एकीकृत सामाजिक लगत स्थापना, नगद प्लस दृष्टिकोणको बढ्दो प्रयोग, उत्पादनमूलक क्षेत्रमा लगानी, औपचारिक र अनौपचारिक क्षेत्रका लागि रोजगारी र सामाजिक सुरक्षा जस्ता नीतिगत बहसलाई जोड दिएको थियो।

यो सम्मेलनले सन् २०१९ यता सामाजिक संरक्षणको क्षेत्रमा नेपालले हासिल गरेका प्रमुख उपलब्धिहरू प्रस्तुत गर्न र दिगो विकास लक्ष्यहरु मध्येको लक्ष्य १।३ जसले सबैका लागि राष्ट्रिय रूपमा उपयुक्त सामाजिक सुरक्षा प्रणालीहरू लागू गर्न आह्वान गर्दछ । उक्त लक्ष्य हासिल गर्न ज्ञान आदानप्रदान गर्न, उत्कृष्ट अभ्यासहरूबाट सिक्न र सहकार्य गर्ने प्रभावकारी मञ्च प्रदान पनि गर्ने आयोजकले जनाएका छन् । 

"आर्थिक चुनौतिहरू, विश्वव्यापी द्वन्द्व र जलवायु परिवर्तनको सामना गर्न, अनुकूलनशील सामाजिक संरक्षण प्रणालीहरू पहिलेभन्दा धेरै महत्त्वपूर्ण भएका छन्," माल्दिभ्स, नेपाल र श्रीलंकाका लागि विश्व बैंककी सञ्चालन प्रबन्धक प्रीति अरोराले उक्त अवसरमा भनिन् । 

"प्रभावकारी सामाजिक सुरक्षाले जोखिममा रहेका जनसङ्ख्या, जस्तै महिला, युवा र बालबालिकालाई शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य सेवा र मानव पुँजी वृद्धि गर्ने र उत्पादनशीलता बढाउने अन्य आवश्यक सेवाहरूमा लगानी गर्न सक्षम बनाएर संकटबाट जोगाउन सक्छ," उनले भनिन् । 

यसैगरि, आर्थिक नीति अनुसन्धान संस्थानका निर्देशक डा माइकल स्यामसनले ‘मानव पुँजी, समावेशीकरण र उत्थानशीलताका लागि सामाजिक संरक्षणमा लगानी – विश्वव्यापी परिवेश’ विषयक सम्मेलनको मुख्य कार्यपत्र प्रस्तुत गरेका थिए । उनले आफनो कार्यपत्रमा सामाजिक सुरक्षाका पहिलो, दोस्रो तथा तेस्रो लहर र ती लहरमा नेपालको अवस्थाका बारेमा प्रकाश पारेका थिए ।

सम्मेलनमा नेपाल सरकार, युनिसेफ, विश्व बैंक, क्षेत्रीय र विश्वव्यापी सामाजिक संरक्षण क्षेत्रका विज्ञहरू र विभिन्न क्षेत्रका प्रमुख सरोकारवालाहरूका वरिष्ठ प्रतिनिधिहरूको  सहभागिता रहेको छ। 

Disaster experts from Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan convene in Islamabad to increase regional capacity to manage and respond rising risk in mountains

Professionals from key disaster management agencies from Bhutan and Nepal are in Islamabad this week to learn pioneering disaster risk reduction strategies from counterparts in Pakistan.

Senior experts from Nepal and Bhutan visited Pakistan’s state-of-the-art National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), the country's Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the Global Climate Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC).

The visit, jointly organised by Nepal-headquartered International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) aims to provide countries with hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies and approaches used by NDMA Pakistan for proactive disaster risk reduction and management, and to increase the region’s capacities to manage disasters, according to the ICIMOD.

“The 2022 floods were a turning point for Pakistan’s disaster strategy, highlighting the need for a centralized, coordinated response,” said chairman of NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, briefing delegates on the country’s ‘360-degree’ disaster management mechanism which addresses disaster assessments, response, recovery, and rehabilitation.

Malik expressed interest in not just sharing Pakistan’s experiences and resources with neighbouring countries, but also in the potential for Pakistan to learn Nepal and Bhutan, for instance on management of climate-induced tourism risks. 

He outlined several potential areas for ongoing collaboration including:  forming technical working groups to address mountain-specific disasters; building an inventory of critical disaster equipment that might be shared across borders in the events of major events; capacity-building in search and rescue, building on Pakistan’s urban search and rescue teams and leveraging Nepal’s participation in the upcoming International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) Asia Pacific Earthquake Response exercise in Lahore.

“Nepal and Pakistan have experienced large-scale seismic and climate-induced disasters in recent years,” said chief executive of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Anil Pokhrel.

“Exchanges such as this help us learn from NDMA Pakistan’s transformation in disaster response, including in its state-of-the-art national emergency operations," he said, adding, "Jointly we can further simulations for glacial lake outburst floods, a common climate change threat faced by both countries, while charting areas for collaboration on disaster risk reduction management.”

On the occasion, Arun Bahadur Shrestha, who leads ICIMOD’s Climate and Environmental Risks work, said the exchange visit would help participating countries cope with future disasters, and stressed the importance of strengthening regional cooperation on DRR.

“ICIMOD’s goal is to foster knowledge-sharing and create a strong network of disaster management professionals across the region, as the challenges we face are shared, and so must be our solutions,” he said.  

“This initiative exemplifies the importance of regional cooperation, and we look forward to applying knowledge gained here to strengthen disaster management efforts in our respective countries,” said executive engineer, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bhutan, Sonam Tshewang.

The visit comes after another deadly monsoon in South Asia: with the serious disasters hitting Nepal including mudslides, waterlogging, glacial lake outbursts and damaged infrastructure. Nepal’s monsoon preparedness plan estimated close to 400,000 households would be affected. Bhutan’s capital of Thimpu, meanwhile, faced unexpected landslides and floods.

A joint Simulation Exercise (SimEx), led by NDMA, focused on Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) scenarios, including the Badswat GLOF in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, and the Imja Glacier in Khumjung, Nepal.

Delegates from Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan actively participated in interactive discussions, sharing best practices from their respective disaster management strategies in response to the simulated scenarios.

The visit concluded with a policy-action dialogue on future strategies to address climate-induced disasters in Pakistan jointly organised by ICIMOD, the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC&EC) and Environmental Coordination and the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC).

MCA-Nepal signs contract for 18-km cross border transmission line

MCA-Nepal signed a contract for the critical 18-km cross-border electricity transmission line, a critical component of the broader Electricity Transmission Project under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact funded by the Government of Nepal and the US government.

As MCA-Nepal marks the one-year anniversary of the Compact’s Entry-Into-Force, this new milestone reflects the unwavering commitment from all stakeholders to enhancing regional energy trade between Nepal and India, states a press note issued by the MCA-Nepal office.

The contract, valued at $12.36 million, has been awarded to Transrail Lighting Ltd, which will construct the transmission line from the 400 kV New Butwal Substation in Nawalparasi Bardhaghat Susta West to the Nepal-India border within the contract duration of 21 months. 

The contract was signed by executive director of MCA-Nepal Khadga Bahadur Bisht and representative of Transrail Lighting Ltd Amol Wankhede, in the presence of officials from the Finance Ministry, National Electricity Authority (NEA), MCC and MCA-Nepal, 

“Along with the signings of the three substation contracts worth $126 million, this 18-km transmission line project is set to play an important role in helping Nepal make strides in achieving its domestic power goals and reinforcing Nepal's position in the regional energy market," finance secretary and MCA-Nepal Board chair Dr. Ram Prasad Ghimire said after signing the contract.  

"This 18-km segment is not just a construction project; it’s a critical link that will enhance Nepal's energy infrastructure and deepen our cross-border energy cooperation with India," managing director of NEA Kul Man Ghising said, adding that the accomplishment is a testament to the strategic foresight and dedication of all involved.

"The successful contracting of the 18-km cross-border transmission line marks a major milestone in our shared journey to transform Nepal’s energy landscape and economic future," MCC Resident country director Ms Diane L Francisco said addressing the signing ceremony. "This achievement is one of many successes of the MCC Nepal Compact in the past year, but it is particularly significant as it paves the way for the larger 297-km transmission line project." 

“As we celebrate the first anniversary of the MCC-Nepal Compact, this contract signing is a clear indicator of the progress we are making," executive director of MCA-Nepal Khadga Bahadur Bisht said, adding that the 18-km cross-border segment, separated from the larger project to expedite its completion, shows the government of Nepal’s commitment to meeting the project goals of this National Pride Project, and reaffirms that collaborative effort from all stakeholders leads to a successful outcome.

For the remaining 297-km of transmission line, MCA-Nepal’s preparations are on track to launch the bid before the end of this year.

Concerted efforts required to mobilise finance for sustainable development

The government, private sector, and the UN in Nepal jointly emphasised on mobilising sufficient development finance to achieve Nepal’s key development targets including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

During 'The Financing for Development Dialogue: Nepal’s Road to the Summit of the Future' organised by the United Nations Nepal (UN Nepal) in partnership with the Finance Ministry and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), here today the stakeholders in finance and development highlighted the requirement of additional investment to achieve sustainable development and accelerate structural transformation of the economy.

Speaking at the inauguration session, the deputy prime minister and finance minister Bishnu Prashad Poudel pointed out that in developing countries, a significant portion of revenue is spent on debt servicing, leaving little for development investment. He emphasised that Nepal is no exception and called for collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners to mobilise resources. Poudel also stressed the importance of formulating a common position for the upcoming Summit for the Future at the UN and noted that this dialogue would contribute to that effort.

Four years after a series of global shocks – including the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts and economic instability – the SDG financing gap for developing countries like Nepal has ballooned to $4 trillion annually. The financing gap and accompanying debt challenges have worsened poverty and inequality, putting the world off track to meet international targets set in 2015.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, on the occasion, underlined that as Nepal spearheads towards graduation from its Least Developed Country (LDC) status, bold and decisive actions to strengthen economic foundations is needed by focusing on domestic reforms, advancing financial inclusion and gender equality, embracing digital transformation, and advocating for international cooperation.

Like FNCCI president Chandra Prasad Dhakal highlighted the need for efforts at all levels to mobilise investment for development, particularly in the context of declining foreign direct investment, revenue, and foreign aid. He also mentioned that the federation has been organizing special programmes to promote investment in Nepal and abroad and that a facilitation desk has been established to assist with foreign investment.

In the dialogue, participants dived deep into the most pressing issues for accelerating progress towards SDGs — financing or lack of it — at the time of rising geopolitical tension, post-pandemic weaker economic recovery, more frequent and intense climate-related crisis, existing inequalities and disparities including those related to gender and social marginalisation, and a new trade dynamic driven by protectionism and disengaged multilateralism, among others.

India to import additional 251 MW of power from 12 Nepali hydropower projects

India’s designated authority for cross border trade has approved an additional 251 MW of power exports from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal.

"For the first time Nepal would be exporting power to Bihar through a medium term power sales agreement," according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

This takes the total allowed quantum from 690 MW from 16 projects to 941 MW from 28 projects, it reads, adding that even before this 251 MW approval, Nepal had already become a net exporter of electricity and net revenue generator in the last fiscal year selling Rs 16.93 billion worth of electricity. "In October 2021, India had approved 39 MW power exports from Nepal to India for the first time."

In less than 3 years, this figure has grown by more than 24 times.

Nepal first began its power exports by selling in the Day Ahead Market of the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX). Since then, India has also granted access to the Real Time Market (RTM).

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has also entered into medium term power sales agreements with discoms in Haryana and Bihar, the press note adds. 

India has also opened the provision of counting hydropower imports from Nepal as a part of Hydropower Purchase Obligation (HPO) for buyers in India, which further incentivises buyers to purchase power from Nepal.

The Agreement for Long Term Power between India and Nepal envisages the sale of up to 10,000 MW power from Nepal to India in the next 10 years. This is the first year of the agreement and around 1000 MW exports have already been reached.

With the new development, Nepal is on track to become the leading hydropower exporter of the South Asia region. An agreement for sale of 40 MW power to Bangladesh has also been finalised and was planned to be signed on 28 July 2024 but got postponed due to recent political developments in Bangladesh.

FNCCI hails formation of 'Economic Reform Commission'

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has welcomed the Finance Ministry's inclusion of the formation of a high-level economic reform commission in its 100-day programme.

The FNCCI had been demanding a high-level commission to coordinate reforms.

Given the lack of coordination among economic sectors, limited access of the private sector to policy-making levels, and the current need to revitalise the economy in the short- and long-term and achieve sustainable economic development, the FNCCI had proposed the commission to the government.

"I would like to thank the government for prioritising the commission as per the FNCCI's proposal," said president of the FNCCI Chandra Prasad Dhakal.

The FNCCI expresses its gratitude to deputy Prime Minister and finance minister Bishnu Paudel and the Finance Ministry for including this in the 100-day priority. "The FNCCI has also proposed a framework for operating the commission in a cost-effective manner," according to a press note issued by the FNCCI.

GLOF from Thyanbo glacial lake sweeps away Thame Village

The devastating flood which struck Thame, a village in the Khumbu region yesterday was due to an outburst flood from Thyanbo glacial lake.

An initial assessment of damage by the local authorities shows 14 properties have been destroyed, including one school, one health post, five hotels and seven homes, according to 

Thame is a village in Namche region of Solukhumbu, home to renowned Mt Everest mountaineers and current record holder Kami Rita Sherpa.

Several glacial lakes lie upstream of Thame. Satellite images of the area dating back to 2017 from the European Space Agency’s Copernicus earth observation programme show these lakes constantly changing in size. "Researchers at ICIMOD confirm that some of them frequently expand and contract, making them susceptible to breaches," according to a press note issued by the ICIMOD.

Sentinel satellite imagery show the constant change in lake size located in upstream of Thame River. These lakes lie near the popular trekking destination of Tashi Lapcha Pass. The neighbouring valley holds one of the region's most potentially dangerous glacial lakes, Tsho Rolpa.

ICIMOD scientists are further investigating the causes of GLOF and its impact downstream, including seeking pre- and post-satellite images, in order to complement the efforts of national and local agencies, including Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the press note adds.

ICIMOD’s 2023 assessment, Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, stated that the glaciers, snow, and permafrost of the Hindu Kush Himalaya are 'undergoing unprecedented and largely irreversible changes over human timescales, primarily driven by climate change” and “are some of the most vulnerable to these changes in the world.'

Some 260 million people live in the mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), and these mountain communities, the report continues, “are already living with the impacts of the accelerated melting of glaciers, changing snowfall patterns, growing variability in water availability, and increasing incidences of cryosphere-related hazards (posing) a direct impact on their lives and livelihoods.”

It warns floods and landslides are projected to increase, with climate the key driver in many of the water- and cryosphere-related disasters already recorded in recent years, through meltwater, larger and more potentially dangerous lakes, unstable slopes from thawing permafrost, and increasing sediment loads in rivers.

The retreat of mountain glaciers has increased the size and number of glacial lakes, and a three-fold increase in glacial lake outburst flood risk across the HKH is projected by the end of the twenty-first century, and it’s predicted we’ll reach ‘peak GLOF risk’ by 2050.

There are 25,000+ glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, of which 47 potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGLs) lie within the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali river basins of Nepal, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and India. High Mountain Asia is a global hotspot for risk of GLOFs, with approximately one million people living within 10km of a glacial lake according to a new glacial lake inventory report . The growth in the number and size of glacial lakes is set to continue.

The lake’s size was approximately 0.05 km² on August 16, 2024, at 10:46 AM, before it was breached. "We estimate the breach occurred around 1:25 PM on the same day," The press note adds.

“This flood swept away parts of a village I know intimately well, where friends, neighbours and relatives live, with ancestral ties going back generations,” said ICIMOD Cryosphere analyst and founder of the #SaveOurSnow campaign Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa, who is from the Solukhumbu region where the floods hit. 

"It is a painfully personal reminder of the devastating impacts of temperature rise on mountain communities," he said, adding that millions of people in the mountains have contributed literally nothing to greenhouse gas emissions, but face the catastrophic impacts of these emissions with ever-increasing frequency and severity.

“The science is clear: G20 economies must cut their ties with fossil fuels, and accelerate the use of renewables, and to ensure adaptation and loss and damage funds reach those communities impacted. To mountain communities – raise your voice to call for this urgent action. As Thame shows, for many of us, continued inaction from world leaders poses an existential risk.”

“Thame was a beautiful village, home to many generations of Sherpa people and their family," a media and mountaineering outfitter from Khumbu, and supporter of #SaveOurSnow, Dr Nima Sherpa said, adding that these homes now lie buried under debris. "It’s sad to see how the mountain communities are paying the price of the global climate crisis," he said, "Some complain about the recreational or cosmetic impacts of too much or too little snow; but these changes affect the lives of the people who live in the mountains so differently – impacting them directly and often catastrophically as we see in Thame, where almost an entire village has been wiped out in minutes.  

“World leaders need to believe in making the change with collective global effort to control what they can change," he said, adding that mountain communities have not contributed to global temperature rise. "We must do more to help their voices and experiences to be heard.”

“Climate change is a crime scene," Cryosphere lead for ICIMOD Miriam Jackson, said, adding that the glaciers are making it visible. "We cannot look the other way."

Meanwhile, a government team led by defence minister Manbir Rai confirmed that the unusual flooding incident that occurred in the Everest region on Friday was triggered after glacial lake outburst.

The swollen Thame river destroyed 20 houses, Thame elementary school along with a clinic and displaced 135 people in ward 5 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu District on Friday.

The government team led by defence minister Rai today reached the affected area. After observing the condition of the flood-hit areas and the upstream through helicopter inspection, they concluded that the reason behind the flood was glacier outburst.

The officials found that two of the five lakes formed above the Thame village in the Everest region had burst and flooded downstream.

Chief District Officer of Solukhumbu Devi Pandey, who was one of the members in the minister-led inspection team, said that two of the five lakes above the village burst on Friday. "Two other lakes look potentially dangerous and may breach any time while the remaining one looks safe."

Government, World Bank sign $100 million project to improve provincial and local roads

The Government and the World Bank on Monday signed a financing agreement for a $100 million concessional loan from the International Development Association (IDA) to help improve the connectivity, efficiency, resilience, and safety of Nepal’s provincial and local road network and strengthen the government’s capacity to manage the road network.

The Provincial and Local Roads Improvement Programme (PLRIP)-Phase 1 will build and maintain about 3,000 kilometers of all-weather, resilient, and safe provincial and local roads and bridges, benefiting about one million people in Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and Madhesh provinces, according to a press note issued by the World Bank. "It will also strengthen the institutional, management and technical capacity of provincial and local governments to plan, design, construct, and maintain road and bridge infrastructure and improve service delivery."

The financing agreement was signed by the finance secretary Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire on behalf of the Government and the World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, David Sislen, at the Finance Ministry on Monday. A separate project agreement was also signed by the Ministry of Urban Development, the participating provinces, and the World Bank.

“This programme will help enhance rural connectivity, improve access to services and markets, and unlock Nepal’s economic potential in an inclusive manner, while reducing travel time and costs for Nepalis,” said joint secretary at the Finance Ministry Shreekrishna Nepal.

The Government recognises the scale and magnitude of transport connectivity challenges and the need for substantial investment to support provincial and local governments as they adapt to decentralised governance. "To address this, the PLRIP will help strengthen rural development and build the capacity of the provincial and local governments to handle complex sector challenges," the press note reads, adding that the first of the three-phase programme will target three of Nepal’s seven provinces and four local areas which will be scaled up in future phases.

“The programme supports Nepal’s federalism agenda by empowering provincial and local governments and promoting inter-governmental coordination in the transport connectivity sector to help improve the lives of Nepalis through better infrastructure and services,” said World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, David Sislen, after the signing the agreement.

The programme will introduce several best practices including five-year performance-based maintenance along with construction contracts, routine maintenance through self-help groups, community-led complimentary infrastructure, pilots on alternative means of connectivity and rural transport services, approach roads, and an online program monitoring and management system.

Advancing conservation targets in South Asia

Target 3 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, calls to ensure and enable at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected, and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) by 2030.

Central to this commitment is the recognition of indigenous and traditional territories, which involves respecting their rights over their ancestral lands, according to a press note issued by the ICIMOD today.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has 23 action-oriented global targets for urgent action over the decade to 2030. It was adopted by 195 countries in December 2022 at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

Achieving Target 3 – area-based conservation for biodiversity, ecosystem function, and services – is considered by international scientists as the minimum to conserve and protect if we want to succeed in halting and reversing biodiversity decline by 2030. Experts also point to the importance of achieving conservation objectives within those areas, hence the significance of connectivity, effectiveness, and respecting and recognising the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

This week, scientists, conservation managers, youth, women and representatives from Indigenous Peoples and local communities gathered in Kathmandu to explore ways to meet the Target 3.

The four-day capacity building workshop for the South Asia subregion, is organised by ICIMOD with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.

The workshop discussed ways for South Asian countries to achieve their commitments under Target 3 and related targets of the Framework, including developing national priority actions to enhance progress towards achievement of the target and highlighting essential tools to support Target 3 implementation, such as the 30x30 Solutions Toolkit and the HAC 30x30 Matchmaking Platform aiming at identifying countries needs and match them with appropriate technical and financial assistance offers. 

Additionally, the workshop discussed opportunities for transboundary cooperation through 'Other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs). These are areas that are achieving the long term and effective in-situ conservation of biodiversity outside of the protected areas network.

OECMs are an opportunity for inclusive conservation by recognising the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and their traditional knowledge. It is also an opportunity to conserve biodiversity-rich areas beyond boundaries and promote regional cooperation among stakeholders in the region. 

Speaking at the concluding session, Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri highlighted Nepal’s commitment and successful efforts in conservation. He also emphasised the need to focus on innovative approaches, and strong partnerships and cooperation at local, national and regional scales. He underlined the need to implement National Plans to sustainably manage biodiversity and enhance resilience.

He highlighted the efforts made by the country, ICIMOD, other stakeholders and sections of society, including Indigenous peoples and local communities, in achieving its conservation goals for sustainable development.

Target 3 is a qualitative target: Emphasis on effectiveness, inclusion and equitable governance

While Target 3 main indicator is the quantitative measure of the coverage, in order to be successful, Target 3 needs to be a qualitative target. The workshop emphasizes that this global target is met through “…ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories where applicable…and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories.”

OECMs offer a promising approach to reverse biodiversity loss and achieve large-scale conservation targets outside the formal protected areas network. They are defined as “A geographically defined area other than Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values” (CBD, Decision 14/8, 2010). 

Mr Qapaj Conde Choque from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) emphasised on both qualitative and quantitative elements of Target 3. “One key outcome that came out of this workshop is that the successful implementation of Target 3 should be premised on both qualitative measure that truly recognise the contributions of all in addition to the quantitative measure that remains important in assessing the progress in meeting this Target. This dual consideration will ensure that the efforts of all are recognized and accounted for, including equitable governed systems”. 

Transboundary Conservation Cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Transboundary Conservation Cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (TCC-HKH) is a collaborative project between ICIMOD and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The project aims to promote transboundary cooperation through OECMs in a manner that is inclusive of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the region.

The main objective of the TCC-HKH is to strengthen regional cooperation among the countries and stakeholders, including organisations and networks working for conservation in the region, by identifying and promoting transboundary OECMs in the region, advocating for policy uptake, and establishing a regional OECM network.

Biodiversity Lead at ICIMOD Dr Sunita Chaudhary, on the occasion, highlighted the importance of regional cooperation. “Transboundary OECMs present a great way to achieve conservation at scale and bring countries together to contribute to global conservation goals. We have laid a strong foundation for this through our work in the region.”

UN-Dhulikhel Hospital strategic collaboration to transform healthcare delivery

The United Nations in Nepal and Dhulikhel Hospital have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to share expertise to transform healthcare delivery in Nepal and advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Acknowledging the importance of partnership with academia under the UNSDCF and SDG Partnership program, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office and four UN agencies—UNFPA, UNICEF, IOM, and WHO—have signed the Joint Declaration of Intent with Dhulikhel Hospital.

Speaking at the historic signing ceremony, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Madam Hanaa Singer Hamdy said, “Achieving the SDGs in Nepal requires strong partnerships with various sectors. We are hopeful that this collaboration with Dhulikhel Hospital will yield excellent results to improve healthcare, address public health issues, and support vulnerable populations through shared expertise and collaborative efforts ultimately supporting a healthier, more resilient Nepal for all."

Through collaborative programmes, the UN and the Dhulikhel Hospital will enhance post-Covid-19 recovery and resilience and improve primary healthcare delivery by sharing best practices and addressing public health challenges like infectious diseases, maternal and child health, and non-communicable diseases.

The UN will support Dhulikhel Hospital on global health topics; engage in research projects to boost health outcomes; and conduct community outreach focused on health, nutrition, and social behavior change, particularly targeting vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.

The Dhulikhel Hospital will provide technical expertise and share best practices to develop joint research projects.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone in Nepal’s healthcare journey. We are confident that together, we can build a healthier future for all. By combining Dhulikhel Hospital’s expertise in the medical field and research, and with the UN’s global resources and network, we are poised to make a substantial impact on the health and well-being of the Nepalese people.” Said Professor Dr. Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, Executive Director of Dhulikhel Hospital.

This joint UN collaboration as mandated by the UN Reform together with the Dhulikhel Hospital is expected to have a profound impact on the lives of countless Nepalese people and serve as a model for other countries in the region.

MCA-Nepal completes signing of all three 400 kV substations

MCA-Nepal today signed the final substation contract with Techno Electric and Engineering Company Ltd (TEECL), India to construct a  $38.89 million 400 kV substation in Damauli, Tanahun district. "With this, MCA-Nepal has completed the award of contracts for the construction of all three 400 kV substations as part of implementing the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact," according to a press note issued by the MCA-Nepal, today. 

Once completed, the New Damauli Substation will have a capacity of 1000 Mega Volt Ampere, making it one of the largest substations in the country along with the Ratmate Substation for which the MCA-Nepal signed a contract with the same company in June 2024, it reads, adding that the New Damauli Substation will serve as a critical point of connection for power flow with the Ratmate, Lekhnath and New Butwal Substations. 

Executive Director at MCA-Nepal Khadga Bahadur Bisht and Director- Commercial at TEECL, India Rajiv Agarwal signed and exchanged the contract in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka, US ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson, MCA-Nepal Board Members, TEECL Managing Director Padam Prakash Gupta and officials from NEA along with MCC and MCA-Nepal officials.

Addressing the event, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Khadka expressed his belief that the substations would significantly contribute in strengthening the electricity distribution system in Nepal to pave the way for economic prosperity. He also urged all concerned stakeholders to strengthen efforts for the timely completion of the project. 

“The progress is a good indication of MCA-Nepal’s ongoing efforts to implement the MCC Nepal Compact," finance secretary and MCA-Nepal board chair Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire said, adding that the three substations are essential to Nepal’s growing energy sector and will help ensure a reliable power sector to enhance industrial and commercial activities for the economic growth in Nepal.

Speaking on the occasion, US ambassador Thompson thanked everyone involved in the project. "Today, standing together with the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Nepal Electricity Authority, and MCA-Nepal, I’d like to acknowledge the important role each of you has played in the progress of this project and shaping a brighter future for Nepal," he said, and further added, “The MCC Nepal Compact is going to be an important part of our shared success story, working with Nepal to power Nepali homes, power the Nepali economy, create jobs, and reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth." 

"It is indeed a remarkable milestone to sign all three substation contracts while approaching the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Compact," MCA-Nepal executive director Khadga Bahadur Bisht, on the occasion, said acknowledging the support of the government and key stakeholders – Ministry of Finance, the MCA Nepal Board, NEA and MCC. 

Along with the three substations, the MCC Nepal Compact will fund the construction of up to 315 km of transmission line from Lapsiphedi, Kathmandu to the Nepal-India border in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) under the Electricity Transmission Project. The bids for the 18 km cross-border transmission line have been received for evaluation.

MCA-Nepal aims to award the contract in August. Likewise, preparations are on track to ensure the bids for the remaining 297 km of transmission lines are relaunched at the earliest possible this year. And, on the Roads Maintenance Project, MCA-Nepal is preparing to launch the Full Depth Reclamation procurement in August. 

एमसीए–नेपालद्वारा तीनवटै ४०० केभी सबस्टेशनको निर्माण सम्झौता सम्पन्न

एमसिए–नेपालले तनहुँ जिल्लाको दमौलीमा ४०० केभी क्षमताको नयाँ दमौली सबस्टेशन निर्माणका लागि भारतको टेक्नो इलेक्ट्रिक एण्ड इञ्जिनियरिङ लिमिटेडसँग ३.८८ करोड अमेरिकी डलरको ठेक्का सम्झौता गरेको छ । यो सम्झौता सँगै एमसीसी नेपाल कम्प्याक्ट अन्तर्गत निर्माण गर्न लागिएका तीनवटै ४०० केभी सबस्टेशन निर्माणसम्बन्धी सम्झौता सम्पन्न भएको छ ।

निर्माण सम्पन्न भएपछि नयाँ दमौली सबस्टेशन पनि सोही कम्पनीसँग २०८१ साल जेठमा निर्माणसम्बन्धी सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गरिएको रातमाटे सबस्टेशन जस्तै एक हजार मेगा भोल्ट एम्पिएर क्षमताका नेपालकै ठुला सबस्टेशनमध्ये एउटा बन्नेछ । उक्त नयाँ दमौली सबस्टेशनले रातमाटे, लेखनाथ र नयाँ बुटवल सबस्टेशनबीच विद्युत् प्रसारणका लागि महत्वपूर्ण सेतुका रूपमा काम गर्नेछ ।

ऊर्जा, जलस्रोत तथा सिँचाइ मन्त्री दिपक खड्का, नेपालका लागि अमेरिकी राजदूत डिन आर थम्प्सन, एमसीए–नेपालका सञ्चालक समितिका सदस्यहरू, टेक्नो इलेक्ट्रिक एण्ड इञ्जिनियरिङका प्रबन्ध निर्देशक पदम प्रकाश गुप्ता, नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरण, एमसीसी र एमसीए–नेपालका अधिकारीहरूको उपस्थितिमा बुधबार आयोजित एक समारोहमा एमसीए–नेपालका कार्यकारी निर्देशक खड्ग बहादुर विष्ट र टेक्नो इलेक्ट्रिक एण्ड इञ्जिनियरिङ लिमिटेडका व्यापार निर्देशक राजीव अग्रवालले उक्त सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गरेका थिए ।

कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै ऊर्जा, जलस्रोत तथा सिँचाइ मन्त्री दिपक खड्काले तीनवटै सबस्टेशनले नेपालको विद्युत् वितरण प्रणालीको सशक्तीकरणमा महत्वपूर्ण योगदान गर्दै आर्थिक समृद्धिका लागि मार्गप्रशस्त गर्ने विश्वास व्यक्त गरे । साथै उनले आयोजना समयमै सम्पन्न गर्नका लागि सशक्त पहल गर्न पनि सम्बन्धित सम्पूर्ण सरोकारवालाहरूलाई आह्वान गरे ।

“यो प्रगति एमसीसी नेपाल कम्प्याक्ट कार्यान्वयनका लागि एमसीए–नेपालले गरेका निरन्तर प्रयासहरूको राम्रो सङ्केत हो,” समारोहमा अर्थ मन्त्रालयका सचिव एवं एमसिए–नेपाल सञ्चालक समितिका अध्यक्ष डा. रामप्रसाद घिमिरेले भने, “नेपालको फैलँदो ऊर्जा क्षेत्रका लागि यी तीनवटा सबस्टेशन महत्वपूर्ण छन् र यिनीहरूले नेपालको आर्थिक विकासका लागि आवश्यक औद्योगिक र व्यापारिक क्रियाकलाप विस्तार गर्न भरपर्दो विद्युत् आपूर्ति सुनिश्चित गर्नेछ ।” 

कार्यक्रममा आफ्नो मन्तव्य राख्दै अमेरिकी राजदूत थम्प्सनले नेपाल सरकार, अर्थ मन्त्रालय, ऊर्जा, जलस्रोत तथा सिँचाइ मन्त्रालय, नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरण र एमसीए–नेपालसँग काँधमा काँध मिलाउँदै यो आयोजनाको प्रगति र नेपालको सुन्दर भविष्य निर्माणका लागि सबैले निर्वाह गरेको महत्वपूर्ण भूमिकाको प्रशंसा गरे । “समावेशी एवं दीगो आर्थिक विकासमार्फत नेपालको घर घरमा ऊर्जा पु¥याउन, नेपाली अर्थतन्त्रलाई थप ऊर्जा प्रदान गर्न, रोजगारी सिर्जना गर्न र गरिबी न्यूनीकरण गर्न नेपालसँग सहकार्य गर्दै एमसीसी नेपाल कम्प्याक्ट हाम्रो साझा सफलताको कथाको महत्वपूर्ण अङ्ग बन्दैछ,” उनले भने । 

यसैगरि, एमसीए–नेपालका कार्यकारी निर्देशक खड्ग बहादुर विष्टले एमसीसी नेपाल कम्प्याक्ट कार्यान्वयनमा गएको पहिलो वार्षिकोत्सवको पूर्वसन्ध्यामा तीनैवटा सबस्टेशन निर्माणसम्बन्धी सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर हुनु महत्वपूर्ण कोशेढुङ्गा भएको बताए । “यस अवसरमा म नेपाल सरकार, हाम्रा महत्वपूर्ण सरोकारवाला निकायहरू अर्थ मन्त्रालय, एमसिए–नेपाल सञ्चालक समिति, नेपाल विद्युत् प्राधिकरण तथा एमसीसीलाई निरन्तर सहयोगका लागि धन्यवाद ज्ञापन गर्दछु,” उनले भने । 

एमसीसी नेपाल कम्प्याक्टले विद्युत् प्रसारण आयोजना अन्तर्गत तीनवटा सबस्टेसनका अतिरिक्त काठमाडौँको लप्सीफेदीदेखि नवलपरासी (बर्दघाट सुस्ता पश्चिम) स्थित नेपाल–भारत सीमासम्म ३१५ किमि लामो प्रसारण लाइन निर्माण गर्न आर्थिक सहयोग गर्दैछ ।

अहिले १८ किमि लामो सीमापार प्रसारण लाइन निर्माणका लागि प्राप्त बोलपत्रहरूको मूल्याङ्कन कार्य भइरहेको छ । एमसिए–नेपालले यसको निर्माण सम्झौता यही साउनमा गर्ने लक्ष्य लिएको छ । त्यस्तै, बाँकी २९७ किमि प्रसारण लाइन निर्माणका लागि यसै वर्ष यथाशीघ्र पुनः बोलपत्र आह्वान गर्ने तयारी भइरहेको छ । एमसीए–नेपालले सडक मर्मत आयोजनातर्फ फूल डेप्थ रिक्लेमेसनसम्बन्धी खरिदका लागि यही वर्षको भदौभित्र बोलपत्र आह्वान गर्ने तयारी गरेको छ । 

Nepse gains 64.26 points as turnover hits record high of Rs 21.91 billion

Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index gained 64.26 points to close the day's trading at 2,760.91 points on Wednesday, the fourth day of the week.

However, the share market recorded an all-time high turnover of Rs 21.91 billion today.

Earlier, on August 15, 2021, the share market had witnessed the turnover of Rs 21.64 billion. Today. the bullish market hits the yet another high turnover as the investors confidence returned two weeks ago. 

Share prices of some 191 companies advanced during the day's session, while some 44 declined and seven remained unchanged, according to the Nepse. 

Likewise, prices of 10 companies hit the positive circuit of 10 per cent on the day. Himalayan Reinsurance Ltd (HRL) logged the highest turnover with shares worth Rs 844.99 million traded during the day's trading. Mountain Energy Nepal Ltd (MEN) and Shivam Cement (SHIVM), with turnovers of Rs 410.93 million and Rs 402.63 million, respectively followed the HRL.

All the sub-indices posted gains in the day's trading. The biggest gain came from the Finance sub-index which was up by 8.08 per cent, followed by Investment and Others sub-indices with gains of 6.89 per cent and 3.99 per cent, respectively, according to the Nepse.

A total of 50.96 million units of shares were traded during the day's trading today, through 238,272 transactions. The Market capitalisation also reached Rs 4.38 trillion today.

Bilateral trade relations need to be strengthened: FNCCI President

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Chandra Prasad Dhakal has emphasised the need to strengthen bilateral trade relations between Nepal and Thailand, pointing to the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

In a meeting with Minister Counsellor (Commercial) and the director of Thai Trade Centre, New Delhi, Suchira Panchana at the FNCCI Secretariat today, he stated that Nepal and Thailand share a long history of friendship and cooperation, and trade relations have proven this enduring relationship. Dhakal mentioned that the volume of trade between Nepal and Thailand has been steadily increasing over the past years, reaching approximately $15 million in 2023, indicating potential and opportunities for both nations.

In the meeting, he also highlighted various areas for enhanced cooperation between Nepal and Thailand. Dhakal stated that Nepal is rich in high-quality agricultural products like tea, coffee and herbs, and by utilising Thailand's advanced food processing technology, these products can be made more competitive in the global market.

Dhakal also suggested that both Nepal and Thailand can attract more tourists and promote the tourism sector by developing joint marketing campaigns and tourism packages encompassing destinations from both countries, as both nations are renowned for their unique and diverse tourist attractions.

During the meeting, Panchana informed that the Thai Trade Centre plans to organise a trade fair and seminar in Nepal next year. She expressed her expectation of cooperation from FNCCI in organising the trade fair and seminar.

गभर्नर अधिकारीको ‘ब्याक गियर’: सुधारलाई तिलाञ्जली दिए, सस्तो लोकप्रियतामा रमाए

२०७६ साल चैत ११ गते कोरोना महामारीका कारण नेपालमा बन्दाबन्दी सुरु भयो । हुनत विज्ञकाअनुसार चैतमै बन्दाबन्दी गर्नु पर्ने थिएन । बन्दाबन्दी नै गर्नु पर्ने जस्तो कुनै ठूलो कोरोनाको विपद् आइनसकेको उनीहरुको तर्क थियो । २०७६ माघ १० गते पहिलो कोरोना संक्रमित फेला परेका थिए भने चैत ६ गते दोस्रो व्यक्तिमा संक्रमण देखिएपछि सरकारले हठात् चैत ११ गतेदेखि देशभर बन्दाबन्दी गरेको थियो ।

वास्तवमा नेपालमा कोरोना महामारीको विपद् त २०७७ असारपछि मात्र देखिएको थियो । त्यसैले, भारतमा बन्दाबन्दी भएको बहानामा तत्कालीन प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीले नेपालमा बन्दाबन्दी गरेर आफूविरुद्ध सुरु भएको राजनीतिक आन्दोलन मत्थर बनाएका हुन् भन्ने आरोप छ ।

र यो आरोप किन पनि जायज छ भने, तत्कालीन नेकपाका करिब दुई तिहाइको जनमत प्राप्त शक्तिशाली प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओली र उनका को पाइलट पुष्पकमल दाहालको राजनीतिक घर्षण उत्कर्षमा पुग्दै थियो ।

ओलीविरुद्ध उनको दल नेकपा र बिरोधी नेपाली कांग्रेसबीच गठबन्धन बन्दै थियो, सडक तात्दै थियो । ओली सरकारले चैत ११ गते बन्दाबन्दी गरिदियो । सडक त खाली भयो । बिरोध पनि तत्काल केहि मत्थर भयो । दीर्घकालमा नभए पनि राजनीतिकरुपमा ओलीलाई तत्काल लाभ त भयो तर, अर्थतन्त्र भने संकुचनमा गयो ।

हुनत त्यसअघि पनि नेपाली अर्थतन्त्रले उखुमै राम्रो गरिरहेको त थिएन । तै पनि कोरोना महामारीका कारण भएको बन्दाबन्दीले अर्थतन्त्रको चक्र टक्क रोकियो । अर्थतन्त्र आफ्नै गतिमा घुमिरहनु पर्छ, चलायमान भइरहनु पर्छ । तर, बन्दाबन्दीले अर्थतन्त्रको चक्रमा ब्रेक लाग्यो । एकादेशको दन्त्यकथामा झैं सडक बजार सबै सुनासान भए ।

अघिल्ला ८ महिना सामान्य भए पनि आवको अन्तिम चौमास (चैतदेखि असारसम्म) बन्दाबन्दी भएका कारण आर्थिक वृद्धिदर स्वट्टै घटेर २०७६/७७ मा २.३७ प्रतिशतले नकारात्मक रह्यो ।

संविधानले नै किटेका कारण जेठ १५ गते बजेट आयो । तर, २०७७ साल जेठ १५ गते आर्थिक वर्ष २०७७/७८ का लागि तत्कालीन अर्थमन्त्री डा युवराज खतिवडाले बन्दाबन्दी कै बीच ल्याएको बजेटमा कोरोना महामारीलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने विशेष कुनै कार्यक्रम थिएन ।

किनकी प्रधानमन्त्री तथा अर्थमन्त्री दुबैले कोरोना महामारीलाई ज्यादै हल्काफुल्का रुपमा लिएका थिए । दुबैका अभिब्यक्ति पनि प्रष्ट नै थियो, कोरोना केहि होइन । हिमालको चीसो हावा खाएका नेपालीले बेसार पानीले हाछ्युँ गरेर कोरोना ठिक पार्छन्, अर्थतन्त्र त झन् सलल चल्छ ।

तर, इतिहास साक्षी छ, नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र कहिल्यै सलल बगेको थिएन । ब्यक्तिगत तथा दलगत स्वार्थ र नीतिगत अस्थिरताका कारण भविष्यमा पनि सलल बग्ने छाँट कमै देखिन्छ । र, चार महिनाको बन्दाबन्दीले बजार सुनसान थियो, उत्पादन ठप्पै हुन थालेको थियो । बजार बन्द भएका कारण मागमा पनि कमी आएको थियो, अर्थतन्त्रको चालक निजी क्षेत्र पनि आत्तिएको थियो ।

विश्वभरका सरकारले आफ्नो अर्थतन्त्र जोगाउन विभिन्न प्याकेज ल्याइरहेका थिए । तर, नेपाल सरकारले आफ्नो वित्त नीति अर्थात् बजेटमा अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान बनाउने कुनै विशेष कार्यक्रम ल्याएन । २०७७ साल जेठ १५ गते, डा खतिवडाले ५.८४ प्रतिशतको आर्थिक वृद्धि हुने अनुमानसहित आव २०७७/७८ को बजेट प्रस्तुत गर्दा नेपालमा भने कोरोना महामारीले अर्थतन्त्रमा पार्ने नकारात्मक असर न्यूनीकरण गर्न केहि कार्यक्रम आएन ।

त्यसैले आव २०७७/७८ को बजेट कार्यान्वयनमा भरथेग गर्न मौद्रिक नीति आउने प्रतिक्षा भइरहेको थियो । विसं २०५८ सालदेखि नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले मौद्रिक नीति ल्याउन थालेको हो । विसं २०५८ पछि मौद्रिक नीतिको त्यति ब्यग्र प्रतिक्षा कहिले पनि भएको थिएन ।

मौद्रिक नीति आफैंमा केहि पनि होइन, यो वित्त नीति अर्थात् बजेटको सहायक नीति मात्र हो । मौद्रिक नीतिका आफ्नै सीमा तथा उद्देश्य छन् । वित्तीय स्थायित्वमा बढी केन्द्रित हुनुपर्ने केन्द्रीय बैंकलाई अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान बनाउनुपर्ने दबाब पर्‍‍यो।

बन्दाबन्दीले उत्पादन तथा बजार ठप्प भए पनि बजेटले केहि सम्बोधन नगरेका कारण र बजारको घट्दो मनोबलका कारण पनि मौद्रिक नीतिमाथि केहि आशा तर धेरै दबाब थियो ।

कोरोना महामारीको बन्दाबन्दीकै बेला २०७६ चैतमा नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकका गभर्नर नियुक्त भएका थिए, महाप्रसाद अधिकारी । अनि, गभर्नर अधिकारीको पहिलो मौद्रिक नीतिदेखि नै अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान बनाउन मौद्रिक नीति कुर्ने प्रचलन सुरु भयो ।

थाहा छैन, यसबाट गभर्नर अधिकारी आफूलाई भाग्यमानी सम्झन्छन् कि सरकारको विशेषतः अर्थमन्त्रीहरुको अथवा भनौं बजेटको असफलतामा मनमनै हाँस्छन् ।

जे होस्, ओली सरकारको बजेटको असफलतालाई ढाकछोप गर्ने गरि गभर्नर अधिकारीले मौद्रिक नीति ल्याइदिए । आफ्नो पहिलो मौद्रिक नीतिबाटै अधिकारीले वाहवाही पाए । बजार बन्द भएका कारण खुकुलो मौद्रिक नीतिले सेयर बजार र जग्गा कारोबारलाई प्रोत्साहित गर्‍यो ।

हो, त्यहि बेलादेखि हो, अर्थतन्त्रका सबै समस्याको रामवाण मौद्रिक नीति हो भन्ने भाष्य बनेको । समाजको चेतनाको स्तरअनुसार नै होला नेपालमा धेरैजसो गलत भाष्य नै बनाइन्छन् ।

र यस्तै, थप एउटा अर्को गलत भाष्यका कारण अर्थतन्त्र झन् संकटउन्मुख हुँदै गयो ।

किनकि गभर्नर अधिकारीले अर्थतन्त्र पुनरुत्थानका लागि भन्दै ब्याज छुट, पुनर्कर्जाको आकार वृद्धि, ऋणको पुनर्संरचना तथा पुनर्तालिकीकरणलगायत सुविधा ल्याए । स्वाभाविकै हो, माग घटेर बजार ठप्प भएका बेला खुकुलो मौद्रिक नीतिले कर्जा प्रवाहलाई प्रोत्साहन मिल्यो, सस्तोमा लिएका कर्जा जग्गाजस्ता अनुत्पादक क्षेत्रमा धेरै, र सेयर अनि आयातमा बढी लगानी भयो ।

त्यसैले आव २०७७/७८ मा मौद्रिक नीतिले २० प्रतिशतको कर्जा बिस्तारको लक्ष्य राखेकोमा २६.३ प्रतिशत कर्जा विस्तार भयो । यतिसम्म कि कोरोना महामारीको २२ महिनामा १५ खर्ब कर्जा प्रवाह भयो । तर, आर्थिक वृद्धि चाहिँ ४.८४ प्रतिशत मात्र भयो । कर्जा विस्तारले अर्थतन्त्र विस्तार गर्न असफल भयो । जसका कारण गभर्नर अधिकारी आलोचित पनि हुँदै आएका छन् ।

चालु आर्थिक वर्षमा पनि मौद्रिक नीतिले गरेको ब्यवस्थाले बैंकको लगानी क्षमता बढाएर कर्जा विस्तार गर्ने गभर्नर अधिकारीले बताए । तर, कर्जा बढ्दा न बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थालाई फाइदा भएको न अर्थतन्त्रलाई फाइदा भएको केन्द्रीय बैंकको कुनै अध्ययनले देखाएको छ । उल्टो उद्दार गर्नु पर्ने अवस्था आएको यसै मौद्रिक नीतिले पनि स्पष्ट पारेको छ ।

त्यसैले, त्यतिखेर पनि जब अर्थतन्त्रमा समस्या देखिन थाल्यो, केन्द्रीय बैंकले कसिलो मौद्रिक नीति ल्यायो । मौद्रिक नीतिको पनि एउटा चक्र हुन्छ । तर, चक्र तोडेर सरकार वा बजारको लहलहैमा मौद्रिक नीति ल्याउँदा त्यसले अर्थतन्त्रमा अन्य नकारात्मक असर देखायो। बैंकहरु आज पनि त्यसैको असर भोग्दै छन् । समग्र अर्थतन्त्रले भोगिरहेको छ ।

बजेटको पूर्ण असफलतापछि सरकारले मौद्रिक नीतिमार्फत अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान बनाउन लाग्दा नै पछिल्ला वर्षहरुमा नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र संकुचनतर्फ गएको छ । र वित्तीय स्थायित्व जोखिममा परेको छ ।

०००

ओली सरकारको बजेटको असफलतालाई ढाकछोप गर्न २०७७ सालमा दिल खोलेर मौद्रिक नीति ल्याएका गभर्नर अधिकारीले फेरि एकपटक आफ्नो पाँचौ र अन्तिम मौद्रिक नीति दिल खोलेर ल्याएका छन् । अर्थतन्त्रको भाषामा भन्ने हो भने, गभर्नर अधिकारीले लचिलो मौद्रिक नीति ल्याएका छन् । जाँदाजाँदै फेरि एकपटक वाहवाही लुटेका छन् ।

तर, अर्थतन्त्र चुनौतीपूर्ण अवस्थामा रहेको गभर्नर अधिकारीलाई थाहा नभएको होइन । उनले यो कुरा मौद्रिक नीतिमा पनि उल्लेख गरेका छन्, ‘बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थाहरुसँग लगानीयोग्य साधन बढ्दै गए पनि कर्जा विस्तार अपेक्षितरुपमा बढ्न सकेको छैन ।’

उनी अगाडि भन्छन्, ‘कर्जाको ब्याजदर कम भएको अवस्थामा समेत आन्तरिक मागमा उल्लेख्य सुधार हुन नसकेको स्थितिमा मौद्रिक नीतिमार्फत मात्र कर्जाको माग सुधार गर्न कठिन हुने हुन्छ । त्यसैले मौद्रिक सहजीकरणमार्फत अर्थतन्त्रको समष्टिगत माग विस्तारको लागि अधिक प्रयत्न गरिँदा सोहीअनुरुप वास्तविक क्षेत्रमा सुधार नहुने हो भने वित्तीय स्थायित्व जोखिममा पर्न सक्ने हुन्छ । यस्तो अवस्थामा मौद्रिक नीतिमार्फत अल्पकालीन सहजता कायम गर्दै दीर्घकालीन वित्तीय स्थायित्व हासिल गर्ने चुनौती रहेको छ ।’

तर, यति स्पष्ट शब्दमा आफैंले स्वीकार्दा स्वीकार्दै पनि गभर्नर अधिकारीले चालु आर्थिक वर्षको लागि ‘सजगतापूर्वक लचिलो मौद्रिक नीति’ ल्याएका छन् । त्यसैले माौद्रिक नीतिमा सरकार परिवर्तनको छाया देखिएको अर्थविद्हरु बताउँछन् ।

मौद्रिक नीतिले सरकारको वित्त नीतिलाई सहयोग गर्ने हो । तर, सरकारले जे भन्छ, त्यहि नीति ल्याउने होइन । सरकारले आफ्ना नीति केन्द्रीय बैंकमार्फत लाद्ने पनि होइन । सरकारले आफ्ना नीति बजेटमार्फत ल्याउने र लागू गर्ने हो । सरकारले आफ्ना नीतिगत असफलता लुकाउन मौद्रिक नीतिको सहयोग लिँदा वित्तीय स्थायित्वमा मात्र नभएर अर्थतन्त्रमा नै संकट आउँछ। किनकि बजेट राजनीतिक-आर्थिक दस्तावेज हो । तर, मौद्रिक नीति राजनीतिक दस्तावेज होइन ।

त्यसैले केन्द्रीय बैंकको स्वयत्तता कायम राख्दै मौद्रिक नीतिले सरकारसँग नीतिगतरुपमा नजिक तर राजनीतिकरुपमा भने टाढा देखिनु पर्दछ । बेला बेलामा सरकारले ब्याजदर घटाउन दिने दबाब तथा अन्य दबाबलाई मौद्रिक नीतिले प्रोत्साहन गर्नु हुँदैन । यसले तत्काल त वाहवाही होला, अन्ततोगत्व अर्थतन्त्रमा थप विकृती ल्याउँछ ।

हुनत गभर्नर अधिकारीको यो अन्तिम मौद्रिक नीति हो । र संयोग पनि कस्तो पर्‍यो भने गभर्नर अधिकारीले २०७७ साल साउन २ गते आफ्नो कार्यकालको पहिलो मौद्रिक नीति ल्याउँदा ओली प्रधानमन्त्री थिए भने २०८१ साल साउन ११ गते अन्तिम ल्याउँदा पनि ओली नै प्रधानमन्त्री छन् ।

त्यसैले २०८१ साल चैतमा सेवानिवृत्त हुन लागेका गभर्नर अधिकारीको अन्तिम मौद्रिक नीतिमा सरकारको छाया देखिनु उनको लागि शुभ भए पनि अर्थतन्त्रको लागि अशुभ हुन सक्छ ।

सरकारको लाचार छायाको रुपमा मौद्रिक नीति आउँदा वित्तीय स्थायित्वमा समस्या तथा अर्थतन्त्रमा विकृती आउँछन् । यसरी सरकारले पनि संरचनागत सुधारमार्फत अर्थतन्त्रको विस्तार गर्न छोडेर मौद्रिक नीति चलाउँदा अर्थतन्त्रमा विकृती आउनु स्वाभाविक हो ।

सरकारले बजेटमार्फत अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान बनाउने हो । तर, गभर्नरको काँधमा बन्दुक राखेर मौद्रिक नीतिमार्फत अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान बनाउने कोसिस गर्दा अर्थतन्त्रमा झन् विकृती बढ्दै गएको छ । राष्ट्र बैंकले पनि आफ्नै सुधारका कार्यक्रमबाट पछाडि हट्नु सुखद् भविष्यको संकेत होइन ।

कोरोना महामारीका कारण आएका समस्या समाधान गर्न र अर्थतन्त्र पुनरुत्थान गर्न सरकारले पहल नगरेर राष्ट्र बैंकको काँधमा हालेर पन्छिँदा सिर्जना भएको समस्याले भोलि मौद्रिक उपकरणहरुले काम गर्न नसक्ने स्थिति उत्पन्न हुन सक्छ ।

तर, मौद्रिक नीतिका व्यवस्थाहरु कार्यान्वयनमा जाँदा राष्ट्र बैंकले जारी गर्ने निर्देशनहरु कसरी आउँछन् त्यसले पनि मौद्रिक नीतिको समीक्षा हुने भएका कारण केन्द्रीय बैंकले सजगतापूर्वक मौद्रिक नीति सञ्चालन गर्ने अपेक्षा गरौं ।

(Published first time: https://clickmandu.com/2024/07/330870.html)

NEA resumes power supply to six industries for three months, will the dispute between NEA and industries end ?

After four days of the Prime Minister's order, the government power monopoly Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) today late evening connected the power supply to six industries.

Earlier in the afternoon, the NEA board has decided to resume power supplies to them with condition. According to the condition, the industries must pay their dues within 3 months, otherwise, the supply will again be disrupted, a board member informed. "The NEA has resumed power supply to the six industries on the condition that they will clear their pending dues within three months."

A meeting of the board of directors of the power utility held today afternoon has decided to resume the power supply also as according to the direction of the Prime Minister and energy minister.

The board meeting was, however, not cordial as two of the board members, Bhakta Bahadur Pun and Kapil Acharya, wrote note of decent. Pun, near to the dethroned Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Maoist Centre, and Acharya near to NCP-S claimed that there is no guarantee of dues collection within 3 months also, even after resumption of power.

The NEA board has energy minister Dipak Khadka as the chair, and energy secretary Sarita Dawadi, revenue secretary Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire, NEA managing director (MD) Kulman Ghising, representative from Consumer Group Bhakta Bahadur Pun, power sector representatives Kapil Acharya, and Ratan Bahadur Ayre, and prominent member from private sector Bharat Raj Acharya.

"Of them, two board members wrote note of decent, but the majority of the members endorsed the decision facilitating the NEA to resume power," another member of the NEA board said.

NEA had cut power supplies to six industries – Reliance Spinning Mills (753.68 million), Ghorahi Cement, Arghakhanchi Cement (448.60 million), Jagadamba Synthetic (205 million), Hulas Steel (141.20 million), and Jagadamba Steel (1.60 billion) dues including 25 per cent delay fine – between July 9 and 11 for not clearing their dues of dedicated and trunk lines.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday directed NEA managing director Kul Man Ghising to resume power supply to all industries at the earliest as the private sector has been suffering due to slow-down in economy.

However, Ghising told the Prime Minister Oli that he would take the proposal to the board of directors.

Oli also objected to NEA’s decision -- addressing the meeting of the House of Representatives on Sunday -- of not supplying the power to the industries and discouraging the private sector during the time of economic slow down.

“As of now surplus energy is going to be wasted in the rainy season, and NEA has cut power supply to big consumers for not clearing electricity dues,” Oli said in parliament. 

According to the NEA, a total of 61 industries have to pay cumulative dues of Rs 6.60 billion. 

The debate started a decade ago, when the NEA proposed the industries to supply uninterrupted power for extra charge. Those days, the industries were suffering due to irregular power supply. THus they accepted the NEA proposal to pay premium charge for using dedicated feeder and trunk line, during the load-shedding period.

Thus, the state power monopoly, citing power outage issues in 2015, enforced the rule to charge premium on industries that consume 24 hour uninterrupted energy through the dedicated feeder and 20 hour of uninterrupted power supply through the trunk lines, during the period of load shedding.

The NEA had charged 65 per cent as premium charge for the users of dedicated feeders and trunk lines on top of the normal tariff. The industries have been regularly paying their normal tariff. But the dispute started after the NEA sent the bills to the industries with premium charges, that also four years later.

Under the dedicated feeder service, a factory that needed high voltage lines was permitted to receive direct electricity from a nearby substation, while those using trunk lines were provided with regular electricity directly through two substations. 

There has been dispute about the period, and 24-hour and 20-hour uninterrupted power usage, according to the agreement between the NEA and industries. The buyer, industries, and seller, NEA, both must follow the agreement, as it is legal binding to follow contract.

But the NEA has charged the industries with premium without providing the Time of the Day (ToD) Meter, which the industries have been asking for, if the NEA charges premium.

They have been blaming the NEA for slapping the premium charge of period even after the load shedding was declared officially over, and before the premium charge approved the Electricity Regulatory Commission, which has the only authority of fixing the power charges, not NEA.

Former FNCCI president Pashupati Muraraka, who is also one of the industries that has been asking the NEA to show ToD meter, said that they are ready to pay the premium charge, if the NEA produces ToD.

"During the load-shedding period, a decade ago, NEA supplied power to some industries through dedicated feeder and trunk line, but with condition fixed by the NEA itself, not the industries," he said, adding that the industries have been asking the NEA to follow the condition, fixed by itself.

"There are two dispute; first time period and second condition fixed by the NEA itself, not the industries," he added. "The dispute of the time period has been, more or less, solved by Lal commission formed by the erstwhile government led by Puspa Kamal Dahal, and now the remaining dispute about the condition will also be solved once the NEA produces the ToD Meter, and the industries will pay accordingly."

After a long dispute, the Dahal-led government had on January 9 formed a committee under the former Supreme Court Justice Girish Chandra Lal, with joint secretaries of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) as members.

However, after a while, the members were replaced by the water and irrigation secretary and commerce secretary.

The committee, after three months of long investigation, has suggested the power monopoly to take premium charges of electricity used during the period of February 2016 to April 2018, only, not before and after the date. Before February 2016, the tariff was not approved by the Electricity Regulation Commission, the power sector regulator, and after April 2018, the government and NEA declared no-load-shedding in the industries.

The Lal Commission has also recommended charging premium based on the consumption amount recorded by the Time of the Day (ToD) Meter.

But NEA managing director Ghising is adamant to collect the premium charges for the period not mention by the Lal Commission also. The Dahal-led cabinet has also directed the NEA to follow the Lal Commission report. But, Ghising and NEA are not ready to follow the Lal Commission report, as they fear of corruption charges.

The NEA has booked the dues and showed that as profit in the balance and distributed bonus as well, despite the acute shortage of cash flow. Now, if they collect less charge, following the Lal Commission report, they are in the soup.

Thus, the adamant NEA on June 23 issued a notice to the industries giving them a deadline of 15 days to clear their dues. However, the industrialists did not turn up to pay the dues within the stipulated timeline that ended last Monday. They instead asked for proof.

The NEA, refusing to implement the recommendation of Lal Commission, sent the excel sheet record of the electricity use to the industries. But the industries, again, asked for ToD Meter to pay premium dues.

In the meantime, the government has changed.

The NCP-Maoist Centre supremo Dahal-led NCP-Maoist Centre and CPN-UML coalition government has been replaced by CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli-led CPN-UML and Nepali Congress coalition government a week ago.

The incumbent Prime Minister Oli has been vocal on the NEA's treatment to the industries, which has put pressure on NEA, especially Ghising, who is near to CPN-Maoist Centre supremo Dahal.

After the pressure from the premier, energy minister, who is the NEA board chair, the NEA’s board meeting held yesterday has also decided to facilitate the industrialists to clear their dues on dedicated feeders in 28-month installments. But the industries did not give any ear to the NEA proposal.

According to the NEA, the flexibility it has adopted will relieve the industries to settle the dues at a time of business slowdown due to low demand in the market. But the industries claim that they want the proof, not the time period, to pay premium charge claimed by the NEA.

ओलीको चौथो सत्तारोहण र बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट

काठमाडौं । यतिखेर २१औं शताब्दीको एक चौथाई बितिसकेको छ । तर, नेपाल अझै १९औं शताब्दीमा नै बाँचिरहेको छ ।

१९औं शताब्दीमा वैज्ञानिकहरुले भ्यागुतोमाथि एउटा अनुसन्धान गरे । धेरैले यसलाई अनुसन्धान नै मान्दछन् तर केहिले मिथक पनि भन्दछन् ।

खैर, अनुसन्धान वा मिथक जे माने पनि यसको सार यस्तो छ ।

१९औं शताब्दीमा केही अनुसन्धानकर्मीले उमालेको पानीको भाँडामा एउटा भ्यागुता हाले । भ्यागुतोले पानीको तातो सहन सकेन, तुरुन्तै बाहिर हामफाल्यो ।

तर, यसको विपरित जब अन्वेषकहरूले चिसो पानीको भाँडोमा भ्यागुता राखे । र भाँडोलाई विस्तारै तताउँदै गए । पानीको तापक्रम अचानक नबढेका कारण भ्यागुतो पनि बसिरह्यो ।

पानी तात्दै गयो, भ्यागुतोको शरीरले स्वतः पानीको तापक्रमअनुसार आफनो तापक्रम मिलाउँदै गयो । भ्यागुताले पानीको बढेको तापक्रम महसुस गरेन । किनकि, मानिन्छ, भ्यागुताको शरीरले तापक्रमअनुसार आफूलाई समायोजन गर्न सक्छ ।

तर, एउटा यस्तो समय आयो । जब भ्यागुतोको शरीरले पानीको बढेको तापक्रम समायोजन गर्न नसक्ने गरि पानी उम्लिन थाल्यो । यसबेला यति ढिलो भैसकेको थियो कि भ्यागुतो बाहिर हामफाल्नै सकेन र अन्ततः भ्यागुतोको तातो पानीमा मृत्यु भयो । यसलाई बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट अर्थात् भ्यागुतो उमाल्ने प्रयोग भन्ने गरिन्छ ।

धेरैले यसलाई अनुसन्धान नै मानेका छन् भने केहीले यसलाई मिथक पनि भन्छन् । तर, भ्यागुतो उमाल्ने अनुसन्धान मिथक नै भए पनि यसमा मानवीय मनोविज्ञान जोडिन्छ ।

जसरी, भ्यागुताले धेरै ढिलो नभएसम्म तापमानमा क्रमिक वृद्धि भएको र आफू मृत्युको मुखमा पुगेको पत्ता लगाउन सक्दैन, त्यसैगरि, सर्वसाधारण मानिसहरू पनि राजनीतिक दल तथा तिनका नेताको वरिपरि प्रायः अन्धविश्वासका साथ यसरी लाग्छन् कि उनीहरूलाई आफुमाथि आउँदै गरेको संकटको महसुस नै गर्न सक्दैनन् ।

त्यसैले बोइलिंग फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्टलाई राजनीति अनि अर्थशास्त्रमा पनि एउटा उदाहरण मानिन्छ । विस्तारै भएका परिवर्तन राम्रो वा नराम्रो के का लागि भएको हो भन्ने बारे अधिकांश सर्वसाधारणले बुझ्न समय लाग्छ, र धेरै ढिलामात्र बुझ्न सक्छन् ।

तर, ढिला भएपछि त्यो बुझाईको कुनै अर्थ रहन्न ।

यसले सामान्य मानव मनोविज्ञानलाई पनि चित्रण गर्दछ । हामी ती चीजहरू स्वीकार गर्छौं जुन हामीमा विस्तारै तर स्थिर रूपमा आइपुग्छन् । तिनीहरूले हाम्रो जीवनलाई नियन्त्रणमा राखिसक्दा पनि हामीलाई त्यसले हाम्रो जीवनमा पार्ने नकारात्मक असरका बारेमा अनभिज्ञ नै रहन्छौं ।

तर हामी जब बुझ्छौं, आफूलाई उमालेको पानीमा भेट्टाउँछौं, र केहि गर्न सक्ने अवस्थामा रहन्नौं ।

नेपालका राजनीतिक दलहरुले पनि नेपालीमाथि बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट (भ्यागुतो उमाल्ने प्रयोग) गरिरहेका छन् । पुराना राजनीतिक दलमात्र होइन, नयाँ भनिने राजनीतिक दल त झन् सुरुवातदेखि नै नेपाली समाजमाथि खतरनाक प्रयोग गरिरहेछन् ।

भोलि कुनै पनि बेला एउटा स्वच्छ छविको नेता देश परिवर्तन गर्ने आँट बोकेर आएछ भने पुराना राजनीतिक दल त सबैलाई तह लगाउन सक्छ । तर, नेपालीको भविष्यको लागि नयाँ भनिने राजनीतिक दल र तिनको नेपाली समाजमाथिको प्रयोग बढी खतरनाक छ ।

चर्को स्वरले घोक्रो फुटाएर पटक पटक झुट बोलेपछि झुट पनि सत्य हुन्छ भन्ने गोयबल्स सिद्धान्त तथा आफू र आफ्ना वरिपरिका कानुनभन्दा माथि रहेको हिटलरी दम्भ र लोकप्रियतावादले नयाँ राजनीतिक दल नेपाली समाजमाथि जुन खतरनाक प्रयोग गर्दैछ, आइतबार संसद्मा प्रधानमन्त्री ओली सायद त्यसैमा बढी केन्द्रित भए ।

हुनत ओली कमी कमजोरी नभएका नेता होइनन् । उनले अघिल्लो पटक आफू सत्ताच्युत हुन परेपछि संसद् विघटन गर्नेसम्मको दुस्साहास गरेका हुन् । इतिहासकै सबैभन्दा शक्तिशाली करिब दुई तिहाइको सरकारको नेतृत्व गरेका ओलीले अर्थतन्त्रमा पनि कुनै चमत्कार गरेका होइनन् । अझ साँच्चै भन्ने हो भने सार्वजनिक वित्तमा विकृतीको सुरुवात गरेको दोष उनीमाथि छ ।

ओलीकै प्रधानमन्त्रीत्वकालमा २०७४ सालदेखि सरकारले अन्धाधुन्धा ऋण लिने र अनुत्पादक क्षेत्रमा खर्च गर्ने कुप्रथा सुरु भएको थियो । ओलीको ४३ महिने कार्यकालमा नेपालीको सार्वजनिक ऋण २५० प्रतिशत (अढाइ गुणा)ले बढेको थियो ।

सार्वजनिक ऋण व्यवस्थापन कार्यालयको तथ्यांकअनुसार आर्थिक वर्ष २०७३/७४ मा ६ खर्ब ९७ अर्ब ६९ करोड रुपैयाँ बराबर रहेको राष्ट्रिय ऋण ओली कार्यकालको अन्तिमतिर १६ खर्ब पुगेको थियो । अहिले सार्वजनिक ऋण २४ खर्ब रुपैयाँ नाघिसकेको छ ।

आज नेपाललाई ऋण तिर्न ऋणै लिनु पर्ने अवस्था हिजो ओलीको प्रधानमन्त्रीत्व कालकै नतिजा हो ।

त्यसैले प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीले आइतबार (साउन ६) गते आफनै पूर्व कमरेडहरु नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्र र नेकपा एस तथा राष्ट्रिय प्रजातन्त्र पार्टी र राष्ट्रिय स्वतन्त्र पार्टीलगायतकाको विश्वासको मत पाएनन् ।

जम्मा २६३ सांसद उपस्थित सभामा उनको पक्षमा १८८ मत थियो भने विपक्षमा ७४ मत मात्र परेको थियो । असार ३० गते प्रधानमन्त्री नियुक्त भएका ओलीलाई एकजनाले दिन्न भन्ने पक्षमा पनि मत हाले ।

तर, चौथो पटक प्रधानमन्त्री बनेका ओलीले विश्वासको मत माग्ने क्रममा आफ्नो शैली नछोडेपनि धेरै संयमितरुपमा प्रस्तुत भएका थिए ।

नयाँ राजनीतिक दललाई लक्षित गर्दै उनले आफनो शैलीअनुरुप कहिले नेल्सन मण्डेलको त कहिले ‘बाजे र नाती’को प्रसंग सुनाए । तर आक्रामक भएनन् ।

नयाँ दाबी गर्दै आएका राजनीतिक दलले पुराना राजनीतिक दललाई भ्रष्टाचारी तथा देश विगारेको आरोप लगाउँदै नेपालीमाथि अर्को बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट गरिरहेको पुराना राजनीतिका घाग ओलीले नबुझ्ने कुरै भएन ।

त्यसैले ओलीले यसपटक आफ्ना चिर परिचित प्रतिद्वन्द्वि नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्र तथा यसका सुप्रिमो प्रचण्डमाथि भन्दा पनि नयाँ दललाई बढी शब्द खर्च गरे ।

असार १७ गते सोमबार मध्यराती नेपाली काँग्रेसका सभापति शेरबहादुर देउवा र आफूबीच संविधान संशोधनसहितका विषयमा भएको सम्झौता वाचन गर्दै ओलीले नेपाल राजनीतिको नयाँ चरणमा प्रवेश गरेको दावी गरे । उनले भने, ‘यो नेपालको राजनीतिमा नयाँ चरण हो ।

‘अ न्यू च्याप्टर इन नेपाली पोलिटिक्स ।’

तर, उनले आफ्ना भनाइ सिद्ध गर्न बाँकी छ । धेरैलाई अझै पनि लागेको छ, मध्यरातमै वृद्ध नेताहरुले हतार हतार नयाँ गठबन्धनको सहमति किन गर्नु पर्यो ? एक रात रोक्नै नसक्ने के त्यस्तो बाध्यता थियो नेताहरुलाई ?

दुई ठूला दलबीच केहि महिनाअघि देखि नै छलफल चलिरहेको भएपनि दुई दलका शीर्षस्थ नेता केपी शर्मा ओली र शेरबहादुर देउवाले सोमबार मध्यराति सवा १२ बजे सहमतिपत्रमा हस्ताक्षर गर्नु पर्ने बाध्यताको बारेमा राजनीतिक वृत्तमा धेरै चर्चा परिचर्चाले अझै केहि समय बजारमा तरंगित हुन्छ नै ।

घटनाक्रम अनुसार, एमालेवृत्तमा यस्तो पनि चर्चा छ ।

असार ११ गते राती उपमहासचिव विष्णु रिमालको नेतृत्वमा नेकपा एमालेका २९ नेताहरू १० दिनको चीन भ्रमणमा गए ।

चिनियाँ कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी (सीपीसी) विदेश विभागको निमन्त्रणमा एमाले नेताहरू चीन गएका हुन् । भ्रमणको क्रममा चिनियाँ कम्युनिस्ट पार्टीको उच्च तहसँग भेटवार्ता भयो ।

त्यसअघि नेकपा माओवादीका नेताहरू पनि चीन भ्रमणमा गएका थिए । चीन गएको टोली त्यहाँको विकासमा चिनियाँ सरकारले गरेको प्रगतिको अध्ययन गरेर फर्केको जनाएको थियो ।

अझ त्यसअघि पनि चिनियाँ कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीको निमन्त्रणमा महासचिव शंकर पोखरेलको नेतृत्वमा एमालेका नेताहरु चीन गएका थिए ।

यो तारान्तरको भ्रमणमा चीन नेपालमा फेरि एकीकृत नेकपा बनाउने मिसनमा थियो । नेकपा एमालेका उपमहासचिव विष्णु रिमालको नेतृत्वमा गएको नेकपा एमालेको टालीलाई चीनले एकीकृत नेकपाको एउटा रोडम्याप नै प्रस्तुत गर्यो ।

पूर्व राष्ट्रपति विद्या देवी भण्डारीको नेतृत्व ओली, माधव नेपाल तथा प्रचण्ड सबैलाई स्वीकार्य हुने हुनाले भण्डारीको अध्यक्षतामा एकीकृत नेकपा बनाउने ।

जब त्यो खबर ओलीलाई चीनबाट सुनाइयो । ओलीले चीन गएको टोली नफर्किँदै असार १७ गते मध्यराती नेपाली काँग्रेसका सभापति शेरबहादुर देउवासँग नयाँ गठबन्धन बनाउन सम्झौता गरे ।

तत्कालीन प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहालको कन्फिडेन्सको कारण पनि चीनको एकीकृत नेकपा ब्युँताउने योजना थियो । यता दक्षिण आफूसँग कम्फर्टेबल नै थियो भने उता उत्तरले एकीकृत नेकपा ब्युउँताउन मद्दत गर्दै थियो । त्यसैले दाहाल ढुक्क थिए । तर, ओलीलाई विद्या भण्डारीको नेतृत्वको एकीकृत नेकपामात्र होइन प्रचण्ड र माधव नेपाल पनि स्विकार्य थिएन ।

यसले पूर्व राष्ट्रपति विद्या देवी भण्डारीको र ओलीको सम्बन्ध बिग्रेन त ? नेकपा एमालेका एक नेता पूर्व राष्ट्रपति विद्या देवी भण्डारीको र ओलीको सम्बन्ध नबिग्रेको दाबी गर्छन् ।

तर राजनीतिमा सम्बन्धभन्दा सत्ता ठूलो हुन्छ । जे होस् चौथो पटक ओली संसदमा फेरि करिब दुई तिहाइको बहुमतसहित प्रधानमन्त्री बन्दै गर्दा नेपाली नागरिकमाथि एकपटक फेरि बोइलिङ फ्रग एक्सपेरिमेन्ट नै भएको हो वा ओली सुध्रिएका हुन् । 

थाहा पाउन धेरै कुर्न पर्दैन !

(published first time: https://clickmandu.com/2024/07/328942.html)

Will 'Bishnu Bull' sustain?

The 'Bishnu Bull' is in rage as the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index posted gains of 59.68 points on the last trading day of the week

Not only the index, but the transaction amount has also seen surge to Rs 15.54 billion in a day's trading, today.

The share market has been looking upwards, since the appointment of new finance minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, on Monday.

As in the past, Bishnu Prasad Poudel has been a lucky finance minister for the share market this time too. The traders have, thus, named the surge in the market as the 'Bishnu Bull'.

However, the question is, 'will this Bishnu Bull sustain?'

May be, may not be.

But today the Nepse gained, as banking stocks surged significantly, closing trading at 2,424,32 points today.

The market has gained on Sunday, the first day of the trading in a week, but dipped on Monday, the second day.

But from Tuesday, the remaining three days, the market witnessed a surge of a total of 183.90 points, and closed at 2424.32 points, some 2.52 per cent higher from the opening.

Share prices of 143 companies advanced on the day, while 95 declined and five remained unchanged, according to the Nepse data. 

Share prices of five companies hit the positive circuit of 10 per cent whereas share prices of all 19 commercial banks increased on the day, with Nepal Investment Mega Bank (NIMB) hitting the positive circuit of 10 per cent.

Likewise, Nepal Finance logged the highest turnover of the session with Rs 424.68 million worth of shares traded. 

Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower and Ngadi Group Power followed Nepal Finance with turnovers of Rs 389.10 million and Rs 303.26 million, respectively.

The Finance and Hydropower sub-indices posted losses, while remaining 11 sub-indices closed the day in the green.

The biggest gain came from the Banking sub-index, which was up by a massive 6.28 per cent, though the balance sheets of the banks are not expected to show any significant gain.

Microfinance and Others sub-indices, with gains of 2.77 per cent and 203 per cent, respectively, followed the Banking sub-index. 

"Today, shares worth Rs 15.54 billion were traded on the bourse through 184,712 transactions," according to the Nepse.

KOICA Nepal Office holds pre-departure orientation for health ministry officials

KOICA Nepal Office conducted a pre-departure orientation programme for 15 government officials from the ministry of Health and Population today, at KOICA Nepal Office.

The orientation programme was organised under KOICA Capacity Improvement and Advancement for tomorrow (CIAT, a Fellowship Programme), which supports ministry of Health and Population on 'Capacity Building on Strengthening Health Emergency Coordination and Operation System in Nepal'.

This new CIAT multiyear programme, starting from 2024 and continue till 2026, aims at training 45 government officials by 2026 from the ministry of Health and Population in Health Emergency Coordination and Operations System of Nepal, according to a press note issued by the KOICA Office.

"The capacity building training programme is designed to enhance Nepal's health policy and system based on Korea's experiences," it claims, adding that the programme will take place in Korea from July 21 to August 3 and the officials will be departing to South Korea on July 20 (Saturday).

The orientation programme aimed to ensure that the government officials are well-prepared for the cultural and societal differences they may encounter in South Korea. It equipped them with knowledge about Korean culture, intercultural communication skills, and academic expectations. 

Country Director of KOICA Nepal Office Mooheon Kong, on the occasion, emphasised the importance of implementing and disseminating the knowledge gained in Korea to improve and strengthen the health services in Nepal.

Simultaneously in June 2024, 15 government officials from the ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, including CTEVT, participated in a similar training programme titled 'Capacity Building of TVET Instructors on E-learning in Nepal'. Health, Education, Agriculture, Governance, Environment are few important sectors that KOICA focuses on implementing this CIAT programme.

Since 1991, the KOICA fellowship programme has supported over 2600 Nepali government officers through various programmes, including Country Specific Programmes, Multi Country Programmes, and Scholarship programmes.

KOICA remains committed to supporting human resource development in Nepal via these kinds of programms, the press note adds.

अर्थमन्त्रालयमा विष्णु पौडेलको पाँचौ इनिङ : अर्थतन्त्रको ‘स्लो पिच’मा हान्लान् त छक्का ?

सुन्दा अचम्म लाग्न सक्छ । तर, नेपालमा यो सामान्य हो । नेपाली काँग्रेसका सभापति शेरबहादुर देउवा पाँच पटक प्रधानमन्त्री भईसकेका छन् भने सोमबार केपी शर्मा ओलीले चौथो पटक प्रधानमन्त्रीको सपथ ग्रहण गरे ।

ओलीले चौथो पटक प्रधानमन्त्रीको सपथ ग्रहण गर्दा उनका सारथी विष्णु पौडेलले पाँचौ पटक अर्थमन्त्रीको सपथ ग्रहण गरेका छन् ।

ओली मन्त्रीपरिषदमा उपप्रधानमन्त्रीसहितको कार्यभार सम्हालेका पौडेलको सिंहदरबार यात्रा २०५३ सालमै सुरु भएको हो । २०५३ सालमा प्रधानमन्त्री लोकेन्द्रबहादुर चन्दको मन्त्रीपरिषदमा युवा, खेलकुद तथा संस्कृति मन्त्री बनेर मैदानमा उत्रिँदा पौडेल युवा नै थिए ।

त्यसैले २०८१ साल असार ३१ गते करिब तीन दशकपछि आठौं पटकको सिंहदरबार यात्रालाई अविस्मरणीय बनाउन उनी कति प्रतिबद्ध छन्, त्यो त आगामी दिनले देखाउला नै ।

किनकि यसअघि २०७९ पुसमा चौथो पटक अर्थमन्त्री बनेका पौडेलेको कार्यकाल छोटो रह्यो । तर, यसपटक उनी उपप्रधान तथा अर्थमन्त्री बन्दा पनि अनौठो संयोग बनेको छ ।

अघिल्लो दिन आइतबारसम्म पनि अध्यक्षले चाहे सघाउन सरकारमा जान तयार रहेको तर आफ्नो मन्त्री बन्ने धेरै इच्छा नभएको बताएका पौडेलले यसपटक अर्थमन्त्री पाउने/नपाउनेमा ढुक्क थिएनन् ।

यसपटक नेकपा एमालेले मन्त्री छान्ने सबै जिम्मा अध्यक्ष केपी शर्मा ओलीलाई दिएको थियो । अध्यक्ष ओलीले आफ्नो सरकार सफल बनाउन अर्थमन्त्रीमा कस्ता सारथी छान्लान् भन्ने धेरैको आ-आफ्नै अनुमान थिए । किनकि, पछिल्ला वर्षहरुमा अर्थमन्त्रीका धेरैजसो निर्णय नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचारमा लिप्त हुन थालेपछि अर्थ मन्त्रालय विवादमा आउने गरेको छ । र समग्र सरकार नै परिवर्तन भएको चर्चा राजनीतिक वृत्तमा व्यापक छ ।

त्यसमाथि अर्थतन्त्रको सुधारमा दह्रो मुटु राखेर अगाडि बढ्नु पर्ने अप्ठयारो परिस्थितीमा अर्थमन्त्री विभिन्न ब्यापारिक घराना तथा स्वार्थ समूहको खेलौना भएका कारण पनि पछिल्ला वर्षहरुमा अर्थमन्त्री बदनाम भएका छन् भने अर्थ मन्त्रालय आफ्नो निर्दिष्ट तथा लक्षित कार्यक्रम एवं बजेट कार्यान्वयनमा असफल हुँदै गएको छ । जसकारण समग्र निजी क्षेत्रको मनोबल घट्दै गएको छ, नेपालमा ब्यावसायिक वातावरण बिग्रँदै गएको छ ।

स्वाभाविक हो, अर्थतन्त्रमा ८१.५५ प्रतिशत योगदान दिने निजी क्षेत्रको मनोबल घटेपछि अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान हुन सकेको छैन । मनोबल बढ्न नसकेपछि निजी क्षेत्र लगानी गर्न हच्किएको छ । त्यसैले मुलुकमा नयाँ रोजगारी सिर्जना हुन सकेको छैन भने सरकारको आम्दानी राजश्व पनि बढ्न सकेको छैन ।

चालु अर्थिक वर्षका लागि सरकारले १४ खर्ब २२ अर्ब रुपैयाँ राजश्व उठाउने लक्ष्य राखेकोमा आर्थिक वर्षको अन्तिम दिन असार ३१ गते सोमबार (आजसम्म) १० खर्ब ३० अर्ब रुपैयाँमात्र उठाउन सफल भएको छ ।

चालु आर्थिक वर्षको राजश्व उठ्तीको प्रवृत्ती हेर्दा राती १२ बजेसम्ममा लक्ष्यको ७५ प्रतिशत राजश्व उठ्ने देखिन्छ । एकातिर विकास निर्माणका लागि सरकारलाई स्रोतको अभाव बढ्दै गएको छ भने अर्कोतिर राजश्व परिचालनमा अर्थ मन्त्रालय आसफल बन्दै गइरहेको परिप्रेक्ष्यमा अर्थमन्त्रीका रुपमा पौडेलको पाँचौ कार्यकाल चुनौतीले भरिपूर्ण रहेको छ ।

सरकारले राजश्व आम्दानी गर्न नसकेको मात्र होइन बजेट खर्च गर्न पनि सकेको छैन । खर्च भएका बजेट उत्पादक तथा अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान बनाउनेभन्दा पनि अनुत्पादक तथा अनौपचारिक अर्थतन्त्रलाई बढावा दिने प्रकृतीका छन् ।

त्यसैले अर्थमन्त्री पौडेलले निश्चित ब्यापारिक घराना हेरेर होइन, समग्र निजी क्षेत्रलाई नै प्रतिस्पर्धी बनाउने नीति ल्याउन सके मात्र मुलुकमा आर्थिक गतिविधि चलायमान हुन्छ ।

चालु आर्थिक वर्षमा बाह्य क्षेत्रमा सुधार भएको भए पनि अर्थतन्त्रको आन्तरिक क्षेत्र सुस्त नै छ । हुन त बाह्य क्षेत्र सुधारमा पनि सरकारको कुनै पनि प्रत्यक्ष्य योगदान छैन ।

किनकि, मुलुकमा रोजगारी नभएर विदेशीएका युवाले पठाएको रेमिट्यान्सको भरमा बाह्य क्षेत्रमा सुधार भएको हो । हालको रेमिट्यान्स आयको प्रवृत्ति हेर्दा विदेशिएका युवाले चालु आर्थिक वर्षमा १५ खर्ब रुपैयाँ रेमिट्यान्स पठाउने देखिन्छ ।

त्यसैले सरकारको ब्यवसायमैत्री नीतिले उत्पादन बढेर निर्यात प्रबर्धन भएर वा पर्यटन पूर्वाधारको विकासले पर्यटकको आगमन उल्लेख्यरुपमा बढेर बाह्य क्षेत्रमा सुधार भएको भए यसको दीगोपनाको वा सरकारको योगदानको चर्चा गर्न सकिन्थ्यो । तर, स्थिति त्यस्तो छैन ।

जनसंख्याको ठूलो हिस्सा विदेशिएका कारण पनि बजारमा माग सिर्जना हुन सकेको छैन । माग सिर्जना नहुँदा उत्पादनमा पनि संकुचन आएको छ । उद्योगहरु पूर्णक्षमतामा संचालन हुन सकेका छैनन् । जसको कारण अर्थतन्त्र एउटा गोलचक्करमा फसेको छ ।

तसर्थ पनि अर्थमन्त्रीमा पाँचौ इनिङ पौडेलको लागि फलामको च्यूरा सावित हुने अनुमान गर्न सकिन्छ ।

बाह्य क्षेत्रको सुधारको दीगोपनामा शंका भए पनि बाह्य क्षेत्र सुधारीएको फाइदा लिएर आन्तरिक क्षेत्र सुधारमा प्रयत्न गर्न सकिन्थ्यो । तर, नेपालको दुर्भाग्य, अर्थतन्त्र सुधार गर्ने दह्रो मुटु भएको अर्थमन्त्री पाउनै सकेन देशले ।

अर्थमन्त्रीहरु ब्यापारिक घरानाका मुन्शी वा स्वार्थ समूहको नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचारका साक्षीमात्र भएका कारण सिंहदरबारमा फोटो झुण्ड्याउने बाहेक खासै केहि उल्लेखनीय काम गर्न सकेनन् । कसै कसैले केहि गर्न खोजे पनि प्रधानमन्त्री हावी भए ।

त्यसैले, २०६४ सालदेखि पछिका सबैजसो सरकारको नीति अर्थतन्त्र सुधार गर्नेभन्दा पनि राज्यका स्रोत साधन दोहन गर्नमा केन्द्रीकृत भएका कारण अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान हुन सकेन । अझ २०७४ साल पछि त खुलेआम नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचार संस्थागत हुन थाल्यो ।

उदाहरणको लागि हेरौं न, एउटा नियामक निकाय धितोपत्र बोर्डको अध्यक्ष चयनमा वर्तमान तथा पूर्वप्रधानमन्त्री र अर्थमन्त्रीको अनावश्यक र रहस्यमय रुची, राजनीतिक खेलकुद तथा हस्तक्षेप ।

त्यसैले, अर्थमन्त्रीका रुपमा पौडेलले मुलुकमा उद्यम गरेर खाने वातावरण बनाउँदा कुनै पनि ब्यावसायिक घरानाको स्वार्थमा धक्का पुग्दैन । बरु झन् ब्यवासायिक घरानाको पनि बजार बढ्छ भनेर बुझाउन सके भने उनको कार्यकाल आधा सफल हुन्छ ।

त्यसपछि, बढ्दो चालु खर्च र चालु खर्चको प्रोडक्टिभिटी र इफिसियन्सीमाथि निर्मम समीक्षा जरुरी छ ।

आर्थिक वर्ष २०८१/८२ देखि सरकारले विगतमा लिएको आन्तरिक तथा बाह्य ऋणको साँवाब्याज तिर्नमात्रै ५ खर्ब रुपैयाँभन्दा बढी खर्च हुने देखिन्छ । २०७४ मा ओली प्रधानमन्त्री भएपछि अन्धाधुन्धा ऋण लिने र अनुत्पादक क्षेत्रमा खर्च गर्ने कुप्रथा सुरु भएको थियो ।

ओलीको ४३ महिने कार्यकालमा पाैडेल पनि छोटो समय अर्थमन्त्री बनेका थिए । र, त्यो ४३ महिनामा २५० प्रतिशतले ऋण बढेको थियो । सार्वजनिक ऋण व्यवस्थापन कार्यालयको तथ्यांकअनुसार आर्थिक वर्ष २०७३/७४ मा ६ खर्ब ९७ अर्ब ६९ करोड रुपैयाँ बराबर रहेको राष्ट्रिय ऋण १६ खर्ब पुगेको थियो । अहिले राष्ट्रिय ऋण २४ खर्ब रुपैयाँ नाघिसकेको छ ।

विगतमा पार्टी महासचिव र अर्थमन्त्रीकारुपमा अन्धाधुन्ध राष्ट्रिय ऋण लिनका लागि रोक्न पाैडेलले खासै भूमिका खेलेको देखिँदैन ।

अर्कोतिर २०५१ सालमा तत्कालीन मनमोहन अधिकारीको सरकारले वृद्धभत्ता बाँडेर वाहवाही कमाएको थियो । नेकपा एमालेले यसैलाई बेचेर अहिलेसम्म पनि राजनीतिक लाभ लिइरहेको छ । त्यसपछिका अन्य सरकारले पनि वृद्ध तथा सामाजिक सुरक्षा भत्ता बढाउन प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्दा अहिले राष्ट्रको ढुकुटीबाट वार्षिक ३ खर्ब रुपैयाभन्दा बढी खर्च हुँदै आएको छ ।

राष्ट्रिय आम्दानी बढाउन ध्यान नदिने र आफ्नै खल्तीको जसरी राष्ट्रको ढुकुटीको पैसा बाँड्ने विकृति अब देशले धान्नसक्ने अवस्था छैन । आफ्नै पार्टी एमालेले ल्याएको सामाजिक सुरक्षा भत्ताकाे दायित्व प्रधानमन्त्री ओली र अर्थमन्त्री पौडेललाई फलामको च्यूरा बन्ने खतरा छ ।

के विष्णु पौडेलले चलायमान बनाउलान् त अर्थतन्त्र ?

त्यसैले, नेपालमा यतिखेर प्रधानमन्त्रीको हस्तक्षेपबिना काम गर्न सक्ने, निजी क्षेत्रमैत्री तथा जोखिम लिन सक्ने अर्थमन्त्री चाहिएको छ । पौडेलले आफ्नो पाँचौ कार्यकाल सुरु गर्दै गर्दा यी चुनौती कसरी सामना गर्दछन्, त्यसैबाट उनको यो कार्यकालको समीक्षा हुनेछ ।

किनकि, पौडेललाई सुस्ताएको अर्थतन्त्रलाई चलायमान बनाउने चुनौती एकातिर छ भने नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचारसँग लड्दै जोखिम लिएरै भएपनि अर्थतन्त्रका संरचनागत सुधार गर्ने अर्को चुनौती छ ।

निर्माण व्यवसायीका भुक्तानीका समस्या, लघुवित्त र सहकारीका समस्याजस्ता अर्थतन्त्र र बजारलाई सिधै तल्लो तहमा समेत संकट पारेका क्षेत्रको उद्दार गर्न उनी कति केन्द्रित हुन सक्छन् र प्रधानमन्त्रीको कत्तिको साथ पाउँछन्, त्यसले उनलाई सफल वा असफल बनाउने स्पष्ट छ ।

सपथग्रहण गरेर पौडेल अर्थमन्त्रालय पस्दा चालु आर्थिक वर्षको अन्तिम दिन परेको छ । नयाँ आर्थिक वर्षसँगै बजेट कार्यान्वयन गर्ने अर्को चुनौती पौडेलमा छ । अघिल्ला अर्थमन्त्री वर्षमान पुनले केहि स्वार्थी समूहको लागि परिवर्तन गरेका आर्थिक ऐनलाई पौडेलले कसरी समायोजन गर्दछन्, त्यसले पनि उनको कार्यकालको समीक्षा हुनेछ ।

बजेट आइसेकेको भए पनि आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको मौद्रिक नीति ल्याउने तयारीमा नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक छ । मौद्रिक नीतिले वित्त नीतिलाई सघाउने हो । किनकि, मौद्रिक नीतिका निश्चित सीमा हुन्छन् । बाह्य क्षेत्र बलियो भयो भनेर माैद्रिक नीतिमार्फत सस्तो ब्याजमा बजारमा वालछ्याल पैसा पठाउँदा देशको अर्थतन्त्रमा कस्तो संकट आउँछ भनेर हेर्न अन्त कतै जानु पर्दैन ओली प्रधानमन्त्री भएको बेला गभर्नर महाप्रसाद अधिकारीले ल्याएको पहिलो मौद्रिक नीति हेरे पुग्छ ।

अहिले विगतमा जस्तो मौद्रिक नीति चलाउन सक्ने अवस्थामा अर्थमन्त्री छैनन् । किनभने, अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मुद्रा कोषसँग ५० करोड अमेरिकी डलर सहायता लिन अर्थमन्त्री र गभर्नरले कडा शर्तमा सहमति जनाएका छन् । यतिसम्म कि कुनै पनि नयाँ नीति, नियम बनाउँदा आइएमएफसँग सल्लाह गर्ने शर्तमा हस्ताक्षर गरेका छन् ।

आइएमएफले नेपालको वित्तीय क्षेत्रको सुधारमा दबाब बढाउँदै लगेको छ । र, वित्तीय क्षेत्रको सुधारले मात्रै नपुगेको भन्दै वित्त क्षेत्रको सुधार गर्नुपर्ने पनि आइएमएफले सुझाव दिँदै आएको छ ।

पछिल्ला केहि वर्षदेखि बजेटभन्दा पनि मौद्रिक नीतिमा निजी क्षेत्रको चासो बढेको छ । वास्तवमा बजेट अर्थात् अर्थ मन्त्रालयको असफलताले निजी क्षेत्रको चासो मौद्रिक नीति अर्थात् राष्ट्र बैंकतर्फ बढेको हो । अर्थमन्त्रालयप्रति विश्वास जगाउन पौडेलसँग के योजना छ, यसले पनि उनको कार्यकालको समीक्षा हुनेछ ।

नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र आर्थिक कृयाकलापमा नभइकन जग्गा कारोबारी र बिचाैलियाको जालोमा फसेका कारण पनि अर्थमन्त्रीलाई अर्थविदभन्दा बिचौलियाले चलाएको धेरै अर्थविद्हरुको धारणा छ । त्यसैले संरचनागत परिवर्तन नभएसम्म अर्थतन्त्रले गति लिने विश्वास गर्न सकिन्न । यसका लागि आर्थिक सुधारको खाँचो छ । तर, राजनीतिक दलका कार्यकर्ता र बिचौलियाले घेरिएको अर्थमन्त्रालयले आर्थिक सुधार गर्न सक्दैन भन्ने आम सर्वसाधारणको बुझाइ छ ।

त्यसैले पनि पौडेललाई काम गर्न सहज छैन ।

र, यसकारण पनि पौडेलले अर्थतन्त्रको ‘स्लो पिच’मा खेल्न गाह्रो छ कि यो गठबन्धन सरकार हो । हुनत आर्थिक सुधारमा सत्ता सहयात्री नेपाली काँग्रेसको कुनै रोकावट नहुनु पर्ने हो । किनभने आर्थिक सुधार नेपाली काँग्रेसको पनि एजेन्डा हो । तर, नेपाली काँग्रेसभित्र पनि बिचाैलियाको ठूलै समूह छ जो अर्थतन्त्रको बारेमा पटक्कै चिन्तित छैन ।

तत्कालका लागि सुस्त भएको अर्थतन्त्रलाई चलायमान बनाउन सेयर बजार, जग्गा कारोबार र हायर पर्चेजले काम गर्ला । तर, दीर्घकालमा उत्पादन र उत्पादकत्व नबढाए सेयर बजार, जग्गा कारोबार र हायर पर्चेजले मात्र अर्थतन्त्रलाई धानेर राख्न सक्दैन । त्यसैले पनि सत्ता सहयात्री नेपाली काँग्रेसको पूर्णसहयोगमा आर्थिक सुधारका योजना बनाउनु पौडेलको पहिलो प्राथमिकता हुनुपर्छ ।

नेकपा एमालेका उपाध्यक्ष तथा एमाले र माओवादी केन्द्रबीच एकता भई नेकपा गठन हुँदा महासचिव भइसकेका पौडेलले ३० को दशकमा तत्कालीन मालेबाट राजनीतिक यात्रा सुरु गरेका थिए । उनी २०४७ मा एमालेको केन्द्रीय सदस्य बनेका थिए ।

त्यसैले राजनीतिमा पौडेल पुराना र अनुभवी खेलाडी हुन् । तर, निरन्तर बदलिँदो आर्थिक संरचना र सुस्त अर्थतन्त्रलाई चलायमान बनाउन यसपटक पौडेलले धेरै मिहेनत गर्नु पर्ने देखिन्छ ।

प्रतिनिधि सभा निर्वाचनमा रुपन्देही- २ बाट निर्वाचित पौडेलले अर्थतन्त्र सुस्त भएको बेलामा अर्थमन्त्रीको रुपमा आफ्नो करियरको पाँचौ इनिङ सुरु गर्दा राजनीतिक सुझबुझका साथै निर्मम भएर अर्थतन्त्र सुधारका काम गर्दा मात्र केपी ओलीको सरकारमात्र नभएर देश नै सफल हुन्छ ।

अन्यथा, नेपालको बजेटरी इतिहासमा पहिलो अर्थमन्त्री सुवर्ण शमशेरदेखि आजसम्म भएका अर्थमन्त्रीहरु कतिजनाको नाम नेपालीलाई याद छ र ?

अर्थनीतिको बेमेल

नेपाली काँग्रेस तथा नेकपा एमाले सम्मिलित सरकार बनेसँगै अब बजारमात्र होइन आर्थिक नीतिमा पनि समन्वयन गर्नु पर्ने हुन्छ। हुनत संविधानमा समाजवादउन्मूख अर्थतन्त्र लेखिएको छ । तर, राष्ट्रियता, प्रजातन्त्र र समाजवादको सैद्दान्तिक जगमा उभिएको नेपाली काँग्रेसको आर्थिक नीति २०४६ सालको परिवर्तनपछि उदार अर्थतन्त्रमा रुपान्तरित भएको छ । २०४८ सालदेखि नै नेपाली काँग्रेसमा समाजवादी धारका नेताहरुको पकड कम हुँदै गएको हो ।

२०४८ सालको नेपाली काँग्रेसका सभापति गिरिजा प्रसाद कोइरालको सरकारका पालमा लिइएको उदार अर्थनीतिका कारण नेपालको अर्थतन्त्रमा सकारात्मक परिवर्तनहरु धेरै भएको भए तापनि सामयानुकुल सुधार हुन नसक्दा तथा उदार अर्थनीति लागू गर्ने क्रममा भएका केही त्रुटीहरु समयमै नसच्याइएका कारण उदार अर्थनीति माथि पार्टीभित्रै बुझाइमा एकरुपता छैन ।

एउटै पाटीभित्रै त एकरुपता छैन भने नेकपा एमाले अर्थात् कम्युनिष्ट स्कुलिङबाट आएको पार्टीले नेपाली काँग्रेसको आर्थिक नीतिमा सहमति जनाउने सैद्दान्तिक आधार पनि छैन । तर, नेकपा एमाले सैद्दान्तिकरुपमा कम्युनिष्ट भए पनि उसका ब्यवहार तथा आर्थिक नीतिमा पनि एकरुपता छैन । र, काँग्रेसले गरेको निजीकरणलाई उद्योगधन्धा बेचेको आरोप लगाउँदै आएको छ । यस्तो अवस्थामा गठबन्धन सरकारले निजीकरणलाई कसरी एउटै दृष्टिले हेर्न सक्छ ?

यसैबिच, विपक्षी र आलोचकहरुले यो गठबन्धन काम गर्न नभइ भ्रष्टाचारका ठूला फाइल रोक्न र मिलिभगत राज्यकोषको दोहन गर्न बनेको आरोप लगाइसकेका छन् ।

प्रधानमन्त्री प्रचण्डले विश्वासको मत माग्दै यही असार २८ गते संसदमा भनेका छन्- ‘दुई पार्टी डरले जोडिनुभयो, त्यो सुशासनको डर हो । जुन परिस्थितिमा, जे कारणले कांग्रेस र एमाले मिल्न खोज्नुभएको छ, तपाईहरूको सहकार्यको सहमतिलाई जनताले अनुमोदन गरेको छ कि छैन, आफै मूल्याङ्कन गरिरहनुभएको होला । सामान्यतः लोकतन्त्रमा मुख्य प्रतिस्पर्धी दलहरू मिलेर सरकार बनाउँदैनन् । संसारभरिका इतिहासका अनुभवहरूले देखाएका छन्, त्यस किसिमका गठबन्धनले निरंकुशता र स्वेच्छाचारिता बढाएका छन्, लोकतन्त्रलाई कमजोर बनाएका छन् । त्यसैले सामान्यतः यस्तो अभ्यास हुँदै हुँदैन ।’

नेकपा एमालेको सैद्दान्तिक रुझान कम्युनिष्ट भए पनि पछिल्लो समय केपी ओली प्रधानमन्त्री भएपछिका दिनमा निजी क्षेत्रसँगको बढ्दो हिमचिमले निजी क्षेत्रमैत्री बन्ने प्रयास गरेको देखिन्छ । त्यसैले आजको दिनमा सरकारले चुरोट, जुत्ता बनाउने होइन, नीति बनाउने हो र निजी क्षेत्रलाई काम गर्न दिने हो भन्ने मान्यता नेकपा एमालेमा पनि विकसित भएको देखिन्छ ।

तर, सैद्दान्तिक आधार नभएका कारण नेकपा एमालेले निजी क्षेत्रमैत्री बन्दै गर्दा केहि त्रुटिहरु गरेको छ । २०७४ सालपछि केपी ओली प्रधानमन्त्री हुँदा निजी क्षेत्रको नाममा केहि ब्यापारिक घरानाको लागि फाइदा हुने नीति ल्याएका उदाहरणहरु प्रसस्त छन्। त्यसैमध्ये गिरीबन्धु टी स्टेटकाे विवाद भर्खरैमात्र छताछुल्ल भएकाे छ ।

त्यसैले पौडेललाई पाँचौ पटक अर्थमन्त्री बन्दा प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीको कत्तिको साथ रहन्छ भन्ने प्रश्न पनि महत्वपूर्ण छ । वा, अर्थमन्त्रीका रुपमा अहिलेको अर्थतन्त्रको समस्यालाई निकै गहिरोसँग बुझ्नेगरी अध्ययन गरेर जिम्मेवारी सम्हालेका छन् कि पहिलेको जस्तै ‘चलि त हाल्छ नि’ भन्ने सोचले आएका छन्, त्यो हेर्न कम्तिमा हनिमुन अवधि कुर्नैपर्ने हाेला ।

एकातिर गठबन्धन सरकारका सैद्दान्तिक, ब्यवस्थापकीय तथा ब्यावहारिक बाध्यता अर्कोतिर आफ्नै प्रधानमन्त्रीको हठीपनाका कारण अर्थमन्त्री पौडेलले अर्थतन्त्रको स्लो पिचमा कति रन बनाउलान् त ?

जबसम्म पिचमा दुबै खेलाडी एउटै गतिमा दौडेर रन लिने अनि एउटै लयमा ब्याटिंग गर्ने तादात्म्यता कायम गर्न सक्दैनन्, एउटै खेलाडीले मात्रै खेल जिताएको कमै रेकर्ड छ ।

तर, काँग्रेस-एमालेको गठबन्धनलाई विगतमाजस्तो अहिले गल्ती गर्ने छुट त छैन नै, त्यो भन्दा पनि ठूलो चुनाैति राम्रो काम गरेर युवाहरुको मन जित्नु र अर्थतन्त्रलाई ट्र्याकमा ल्याउनुपर्ने छ ।

होइन भने २०८४ को चुनाव सुखद् नहुने निश्चित छ !

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(Published: https://clickmandu.com/2024/07/327198.html)