Two India-funded school buildings inaugurated

Two school buildings constructed with the help of Indian assistance has been inaugurated today.

First Secretary at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu Karun Bansal inaugurated the two school buildings of Shivbhari Secondary School and Shree Janaki Higher Secondary School at Maharajgunj Municipality-9 in Kapilvastu District, according to a press note issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.

These projects were undertaken with the grant assistance from Government of India at the cost of Rs 59.20 million as a Community Development Project (CDP) under India-Nepal Development Cooperation (INDC) in Education Sector, the press note reads, adding that these projects are being inaugurated as part of ‘India@75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, which commemorate 75 years of India’s independence.

Shivbhari Secondary School and Shree Janaki Higher Secondary School are old established schools in Kapilvastu District imparting education to more than 700 students and 1,300 students, respectively. The new infrastructure built under the project for these schools will created suitable environment, claims the embassy.

Since 2003, India has taken up over 527 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal and has completed 470 projects in the areas of health, education, drinking water, connectivity, sanitation and creation of other public utilities across all seven provinces of Nepal at the grassroots level. “Out of this, 60 HICDPs are in Lumbini Province, including 5 projects in Kapilvastu District,” the note reads.

India and Nepal enjoy multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that is reflective of the closeness of the ties between both countries, according to the embassy. “The implementation of these projects reflects the continued commitment of the Government of India in complementing the efforts of the Government of Nepal to create infrastructure in priority sectors including Education.”

फेरि राजनीतिको चेपुवामा अर्थतन्त्र

२०६७ चैत १५ गते तत्कालीन अर्थ सचिव रामेश्वर खनाल मुख्य सचिव माधव घिमिरेलाई भेटेर आफ्नो राजीनामा बुझाउन गए । खनालको कार्यावधि सकिएको थिएन, न त उनीमाथि कुनै आरोप लागेको थियो । त्यसैले मुख्य सचिवले अचम्म मान्दै राजीनामा फिर्ता लिन आग्रह गरे । खनालले आफूले दर्ता शाखामा राजीनामा दर्ता गराइसकेको अनि मुख्य सचिवलाई बोधार्थमात्र दिन आएको बताए, राजीनामा फिर्ता लिन अस्वीकार गरे । केही नलागेपछि मुख्य सचिवले भने, “तपार्इंलाई राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगमा उपाध्यक्ष बनाउने कुरा थियो तर तपाईं त राजीनामा दिँदै हुनुहुन्छ ।”

तर, खनाल लोभिएनन् । आफ्नो निर्णयमा अडिग नै रहे । “मलाईचाहिँ योजना आयोगमा सदस्य बनाउँला भनिएको थियो,” खनालले त्यो दिनको स्मरण गर्दै कारोबारलाई भने, “मुख्य सचिवकोमा चाहिँ उपाध्यक्ष नै भनिएको रहेछ ।”

खनाल किन लोभिएनन् र राजीनामा दिए ? कारण अघिल्लो साँझ नै उनी अर्थ मन्त्रालयमा आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको बजेटको पाँचांै ड्राफ्ट च्यातेर निस्किएका थिए । किनकी त्यो बजेटको ड्राफ्ट मन्त्रालयभित्र बनेको थिएन । “मैले पाँचांै पटकसम्म सहें । तर पाँचांै ड्राफ्ट च्यातेर घर पुगेपछि छैटौं ड्राफ्ट पनि बनेको थाहा पाएँ । त्यसपछि मैले राजीनामा दिने निर्णय गरें । अर्थ मन्त्रालय बाहिर बन्ने बजेटप्रति मेरो घोर विरोध थियो,” उनले ती दिन सम्झिए, “जब मन्त्रीले मलाई विश्वास नगरेर अर्थ मन्त्रालयबाहिरै बजेटका ड्राफ्ट बनाउँदै देखाउन थाले, मैले विरोध गरें । अति भएपछि राजीनामा गरें ।”

खनालमात्र होइनन्, डा देबेन्द्रराज पाण्डे पनि त्यसअघि उसैगरि राजीनामा गरेर निस्किएका हुन् ।

२०६७ बाट २०७९ सम्म आइपुग्दा एक दशकभन्दा बढी भइसक्यो । यसबीच सिंहदरबार नजिकैको बागमतीमा धेरै पानी बगिसकेको छ । तर, सिंहदरबारमा नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचार भने झन् जब्बर रूपमा जरा गाड्दै छ । मुलुक संघीयतामा गएपछि सिंहदरबारमा नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचारले झन् बढी जरा गाड्नु तथा कर्मचारीतन्त्रले आँखा चिम्लनुले मुलुकको भविष्य फेरि पनि गलत राजनीतिको चेपुवामा परेको छ । नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचारमा किन कर्मचारीतन्त्रले आँखा चिम्लन्छ ? यसको सहज उत्तर दिन्छन् खनाल, “मलाई योजना आयोगको लोभ देखाएझैं राजनीतिक नियुक्ति, राजदूत आदिका लोभ होलान् ।” के कर्मचारीतन्त्रको सानो लोभले मुलुक आर्थिक रूपमा भड्खालोमा जाकिनुपर्ने हो ? उत्तर उनीसँग पनि छैन । किनकि यो व्यक्तिगत सोच हो । “जबसम्म समाजमा ‘मैमात्रै कमाउँ मैमात्रै खाउँ’ भन्ने व्यक्तिवादी चिन्तन हाबी हुन्छ, मुलुक बन्दैन,” अर्थविद् डा. चन्द्रमणि अधिकारी भन्छन् ।

त्यतिमात्रै होइन, हिजो राजनीतिक दलले राजनीतिक क्रान्ति सकिएका कारण अब मुलुकमा आर्थिक क्रान्तिको समय आएको बताउँदा आशावान् बनेका युवापुस्ता तिनै हजुरबुबा उमेरका नेताले आफ्नो भविष्य अनिश्चित बनाइदिएकोमा असन्तुष्ट छन् । त्यसैको उत्तर काठमाडौं महानगरपालिकाको मेयरमा बालेन्द्र शाहको जित हो ।

संघीय गणतन्त्रमा सुशासन नभए पनि हुने, आर्थिक पारदर्शिता नचाहिने तथा जवाफदेही बन्नु नपर्ने होइन, हिजोका केन्द्रिकृत शासन गर्ने वंशवादका प्रणेताभन्दा नागरिकमा बढी अधिकार, सुशासन, आर्थिक पारदर्शिता तथा नेतृत्वको जवाफदेहिता संघीय गणतन्त्रको प्राण हो । प्राण हरण गरेर शासन चलाउन यो २०१७ साल पनि होइन ।

त्यसैले अन्ततः आरोप तथा विवादबीच अर्थमन्त्री जनार्दन शर्माले राजीनामा दिएका छन्, अर्थसचिव मधुकुमार मरासिनी बिदा बसेका छन् । प्रश्न अझै छन्, किन यति धेरै दिन लाग्यो, यी दुईलाई निर्णय गर्न ?

यतिखेर अर्थतन्त्र सहज छैन, श्रीलंका भएको छैन र, हुँदैन पनि । नेपालको अवस्था श्रीलंकाभन्दा झन् खराब हुन्छ, यदि राजनीतिक नेतृत्वले आफ्नो गल्ती स्वीकारेर बाटो परिवर्तन नगरेमा । श्रीलंका दक्षिण एसियमा धेरै सूचकमा अब्बल थियो र अझै छ । दक्षिण एसियामा नेपाल अधिकांश सूचकमा पुछारमा आउँछ । त्यसैले नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र जुन दिशा तथा दशामा छ, श्रीलंकाभन्दा खराब हुने सम्भावना प्रचुर छ । श्रीलंकामा पनि राजनीतिक नेतृत्वको अस्थिर नीतिगत सोच तथा मुलुक कब्जा गर्ने दूराकांक्षाले मुलुक टाट पल्टेको हो । त्यसैले नेपालमा पनि राजनीतिक नेतृत्वले मात्रै मुलुकलाई जोगाउन सक्छ । दक्षिण एसियामा श्रीलंकामात्रै होइन, पाकिस्तान र बंगलादेशको अवस्था पनि नाजुक छ । त्यसैले नेपाल ढुक्क हुने अवस्था छैन ।

अर्थमन्त्री जनार्दन शर्मामाथिको आरोपमा प्रधानमन्त्री तथा उनकै पार्टीका अध्यक्ष यतिका दिनसम्म चुप बस्नु श्रीलंकाको भनक नै हो । राजीनामा समाधान होइन, न त संसदीय छानबिन समिति नै । किनकि माओवादी केन्द्रलाई भित्रैबाट बुझेकाहरुका अनुसार जनार्दन शर्मा माओवादी केन्द्रमा अध्यक्षसँग जति पैसा भए पार्टी कब्जा गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने सोच बोकेका तीन–चार नेतामध्ये एक हुन् । सायद उनी त्यही मार्गमा जाँदै पनि थिए । तर, कमरेड शर्मा पार्टी कब्जा होइन, मुलुक कब्जा गर्ने अवसरबाट चुकेका छन् । जसरी उनीभन्दा अलिक अगाडिका विद्धान् अर्थमन्त्री डा. युवराज खतिवडा चुके । अर्थमन्त्रीका निजी कुण्ठा तथा राजनीतिक अभिष्टको शिकार मुलुकको अर्थतन्त्र हुनु दुर्भाग्य हो ।

अर्थमन्त्री पदबाट राजीनामा दिनुअघि उनले प्रतिनिधिसभाको रोष्ट्रममा उभिएर आफू के कारणले अनैतिक भएको भन्दै प्रश्न उठाउनेहरुप्रति नै प्रतिप्रश्न गरे । तर, प्रश्न उनले अरुलाई होइन आफ्नै अन्तरआत्मालाई गर्नुपर्छ, किन निजी क्षेत्रलाई व्यवसाय गर्ने प्रतिस्पर्धी वातावरण बनाउन सकेनन् ? (कारोबार)

ADB appoints new country director for Nepal

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Arnaud Cauchois as new country director for Nepal.

As country director, Cauchois will lead ADB operations in the country and policy dialogue with the government of Nepal and other development partners, according to a press note issued by the multilateral development partner. “He will oversee the implementation of ADB’s country partnership strategy for Nepal that focuses on the country’s long-term development needs through improved infrastructure for private sector-led growth, improved access to devolved services, and environmental sustainability and resilience, it reads further.

“ADB has been a long-term development partner of Nepal,” Cauchois said, adding, “I look forward to building on the strong partnership and working closely with the government, development partners, and other stakeholders in supporting Nepal’s development agenda and poverty reduction efforts.

“My immediate priority will be to support the Government of Nepal as it addresses both the immediate and longer-term health, economic, and social impacts of the Covid-19 crisis,” he adds.

In the medium term, Cauchois indicated the need to support the government with the development of integrated solutions by combining expertise across sectors and mixing public and private sector financing. Expansion of private sector operations, as well as green resilient and inclusive projects, will be pursued in close collaboration with the government and development partners.

Cauchois with almost three decades of professional experience, including over 15 years with ADB, is a French national, who joined ADB in 2005 as a Rural Development Specialist and has since held numerous leading positions. Prior to this appointment, he served as Principal Water Resources Specialist for India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and was outposted in ADB’s India Resident Mission. He was also assigned in ADB’s Nepal Resident Mission for 6 years and led the improvement of the water management systems in Nepal.

He has extensive experience of leading policy dialogue with governments on various aspects of development and has served the European Commission in Afghanistan as Rural Development Advisor prior to joining ADB.

“He holds a master of science degree in water resource management from the Superior School of Tropical Agronomy in Montpellier, France, the ADB press note adds.

Since its establishment in 1966, ADB has claimed to have provided over $7 billion in financial and technical assistance to Nepal. The assistance was provided in energy, transport, water supply and urban infrastructure services, agriculture and irrigation, and education.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members, 49 from the region.

NOC suggests to implement quota on fuel purchase

The bankrupt state oil monopoly has again recommended the government to implement the already failed two-day weekly off and quota in fuel purchase.

Citing shortage of funds to pay to the Indian oil Corporation (IOC) amid soaring financial loss, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) today wrote a formal letter to the Prime Minister, Industry and Commerce Minister and Home Minister, and suggested to re-implement the two-day weekly holiday, and apply quota on fuel purchase.

Among the 10-point suggestions, the NOC wrote the government to curb the purchase of maximum 5 litre of petrol to the two-wheelers, and 20 litres to the four-wheelers, apart from enforcing an odd-even system on vehicle use. Likewise, it has asked the government to ban the import of the fuel-operated vehicles, restrict the use of vehicles on holidays, and promote the walking culture for short distance, in order to check the rising fuel import. The NOC has also suggested the government to encourage the use of electric vehicles and set up charging stations along the national highways, and various places to make people easy to charge their electric vehicles.

NOC claimed that its outstanding dues to the IOC, it sole petroleum products’ supplier, has reached Rs 22 billion, which could cross Rs 30 billion from July 8. “While the monthly loss of NOC now stands at Rs 10 billion, the cumulative loss will reach Rs 55 billion by the end of this fiscal year,” the NOC letter reads.

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has disturbed the smooth supply of fuel pushing its price to historic high in the international market. According to NOC, its loss amount is increasing as it is unable to adjust the fuel price in the line of the prices in the international market.

Nepal imports more than 200 billion worth petroleum products annually, from India. As the country’s largest import petroleum products’ bill is much larger than the total export earnings of the country, the NOC has long been pushing the government to implement a number of measures to check rising consumption of petroleum products, and also to reduce its losses.

Passenger transport, cargo fare up

With a hike in fuel prices, public transportation and cargo fare have also gone up with immediate effect, according to the auto-fare mechanism.

The state oil-monopoly yesterday night jacked up the price of petrol by Rs 21 to Rs 199 and diesel by Rs 26 to Rs 192 per litre, forcing the air and land transportation fare to go up.

The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) today approved the new transport fare in  passenger carriers’ up by 5.30 per cent, whereas for the cargo carriers playing on Terai and hills routes, the fare has been hiked by 7.7 per cent and 6.94 per cent, respectively.

According to the auto-pricing mechanism, the government allows transport entrepreneurs to adjust fares upward or downward when fuel prices fluctuate by 5 per cent.

Thus, along with the rise in the prices of petroleum products, fares of public transport go up, accordingly, or vice versa.

Airlines jack up airfares due to fuel surcharge hike

Airline companies hiked the airfare by up to Rs 1,020 per travel citing recent increase in prices of petroleum products.

The Airlines Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN), confirming the increase in fuel surcharge, said that the one-way ticket of Biratnagar-Nepalgunj has been expensive by over Rs 1,000. as the airfare has increased from Rs 8,915 to Rs 9,935.

The state oil monopoly has increased the price of aviation fuel (domestic) by Rs 19 per liter and the aviation turbine (ATF) fuel for international by $100 per kiloliter, effective from Sunday midnight. With the revised prices, these aviation fuels now cost Rs 185 per liter for domestic and $1,645 per kl for international, respectively.

According to the rule, Rs 5 increase or decrease in ATF should adjust the fuel surcharge accordingly, which will impact the airfare directly.

So, the rate of mountain flight from Kathmandu now costs Rs 6,350 per flight, up from Rs 5,695, according to the AOAN. “Likewise, the airfare for Pokhara-Bhadrapur route has increased from Rs 6,720 to Rs 7,490 per travel.”

After Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) raised the fuel prices, the land route transporters have also increased the transport fares of inter-provincial passenger and freight transport by up to 7.7 per cent.

Nepse drops to close below 1,900 points at an 18-month low

The share market has come down to 18 months low below 1900 points, due to selling pressure.

Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) today witnessed a fall of 49.31 points to close it below 1,900 points, an 18 months low mark.

In the two days of trading this week, the market has dropped by over 86 points, according to the Nepse.  The market that opened at 1,934.11 points today went to free fall and closed at 1,884.81 points at the closing of the trading. All the sub-indices – the entire 13 groups – witnessed loss in the day’s trading.

The sensitive index that measures the performance of blue chips shares also went down by 7.66 points,  the Nepse said, adding that today witnessed a turnover of Rs Rs 1.75 billion, an increase from Rs 1.13 billion of yesterday. 

Prabhu Bank promoter share bagged the largest transaction of Rs 118.32 million among individual companies, whereas Terhathum Power Company lost the highest per cent in its share value, and Andhikhola Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha become the highest gainer of the day.