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The necessary steps for the development of the Humla Karnali Second Hydropower Project, which boasts a total capacity of 335 MW, have commenced in the economically lagging Humla district.

Currently, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is in progress. The Ministry of Forests and Environment has initiated the EIA based on recommendations from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation.

The Ruru Hydropower Project will oversee the construction. This project will be situated in the Kharpunath and Sarkegad Rural Municipalities of Humla.

Previously, the Ministry of Forests and Environment sought public input regarding the EIA through a public notice. A total of 47.13 hectares of land will be needed for the project's construction. According to the Environmental Protection Act, 2076 BS, hydropower projects exceeding 50 megawatts must undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Consequently, the EIA work is being conducted, and the Ministry is currently undertaking the required studies. The project is a significant initiative within the Karnali River Basin. As it will be constructed on the Humla Karnali, a perennial glacier-fed river, its importance is underscored. The design discharge for the proposed project is set at 118.70 cubic meters per second. The project will also feature the construction of two diversion tunnels, measuring 545 meters and 542 meters in length, respectively.

The diversion tunnel will have a diameter of 9.5 meters. It is anticipated that the project will produce 609.89 gigawatt-hours of energy during the dry season and 1,184.83 gigawatt-hours during the rainy season. The electricity generated will be transmitted to the Mugu Karnali Hub via a 20-kilometer-long double-circuit 400 kV transmission line.

Foreign tourists received tika on the occasion of Bhai Tika in Pokhara on Thursday.

Hotel Association Pokhara organized the Bhai Tika program at Hotel Pauwa in Lakeside.

Association President Laxman Subedi said that the event was organized with an objective to make the tourism sector more dynamic by promoting tourism through culture.

He said that foreign tourists enthusiastically participated in the Bhai Tika program.

On the occasion, the participants were provided information about the importance of Tihar and tika.

Anjali didi, who has been organizing a group Bhaitika since 1998, has organized a Bhaitika this year as well.

Saying that since Bhai Tika is not only a regular tradition but also a festival celebrated by exchanging love, devotion and feelings, she said she has been organizing a group Bhai Tika every year for the past 27 years to make sure that no one’s forehead is empty.

The Gen-Z United Paribartan Group organized a mass Bhai Tika program at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu to pay tributes to Gen-Z martyrs.

On the occasion, the martyrs were offered tika and garlands. Families of the martyrs, injured, and other youths attended the program.

At least 74 youths died during the protests led by Gen-Z groups against the government's decision to ban social media platforms and corruption on September 8 and 9 which forced KP Sharma Oli to quit as the Prime Minister.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel has said that the political dialogue the government held on Tuesday created an atmosphere for election.

For the first time since the formation of the present government, a dialogue was held with major political leaders and government in a bid to create an atmosphere for election and good governance.

 The five-hour-long meeting witnessed the expectation of political parties and the government's position to hold the March 5 election in a free and fair manner.

The meeting with the representatives of seven major political parties was held at a call of Prime Minister Sushila Karki at her official residence, Baluwatar.

PM Karki reiterated the government's stance on holding the election on the slated date. "It was a very positive discussion with the political parties. Most of them were positive towards elections that encouraged the government to forward activities," Minister Kharel shared before the media after the meeting on Tuesday night.  

"All stakeholders including political parties and Gen-Z have presented themselves with utmost responsibility to help in building the atmosphere for the election," Kharel, also the spokesperson of the government, said, adding that the ministers and security agencies were working untiringly for this.

 It was a serious and thorough discussion about the election, corruption control and security situation. The political parties were informed of the government's preparation for the election.

 The government also sought cooperation from political parties to build a security situation for holding elections in a free and fair way. Although PM Karki had held one-to-one meetings with top political leaders, this collective discussion has further helped in building trust, according to the Spokesperson.

Moreover, the government was recognized by all sides- political parties, Gen-Z and the international community. Even the investigation on loss of lives and property and necessary action featured the meeting.

In view of Minister Kharel, the country was normalized after a month since the Gen-Z protest, thereby building political trust and environment for talk.

He further shared that the Cabinet would be expanded immediately after Tihar festival.

Gagan Kumar Thapa and Prakash Sharan Mahat from the Nepali Congress, Shankar Pokharel and Pradip Gyawali from the CPN-UML, Barsha Man Pun and Pampha Bhusal from the CPN (Maoist Center), Swarnim Wagle and Sobhita Gautam from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rajendra Pandey and Prakash Jwala from the CPN (Unified Socialist), Rajendra Gurung and Mohan Shrestha from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Upendra Yadav and Prakash Adhikari from the Janata Samajbadi Party, and others attended the meeting.

Those from government sides were PM Karki, Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal, Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, Minister for Agriculture Dr Madan Pariyar, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kharel and PM's Chief Advisor, Ajay Bhadra Khanal.

Gai Puja or cow worship is being observed throughout the country today.

The Gai Puja rituals are observed today with the replicas of the Gai.

The cow is revered as mata or mother by Hindus and is sacred for them. Modern science has also proved that indigenous breeds of cows absorb the energy from the sun and the moon in their hump which is transmitted through milk to humans.

The cows are fed with sweets and delicacies as part of the Gai Puja rituals. There is the tradition of tying the sacred thread that is tied around one's wrist on the occasion of the Janai Poornima festival on the tail of the cow while performing Gai Puja. It is believed that doing so the cow would help the person's soul cross the Baitarani River, a mythical river, to heaven, after the person's death.

The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Sri Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan Mountain by his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by Indra, the God of rain.

It is believed that the rain God was angered and thereby caused the heavy downpour.

The Mha Puja (self-worship) is celebrated on the fourth day of Tihar festival by the Newar community today.

It also falls on the Newari New Year which is based on the Newar calendar, Nepal Sambat. Mha Puja literally refers to self-worship, making offerings to one’s body.

Theologian Prof Dr Ram Chandra Gautam said atma (soul) is the powerful aspect of human beings, so it deserves reverence. It is a religious belief that one becomes happy once his/her atma (soul/self) is happy, he added.

New Year 1146 is being observed with fanfare across the country. The Newari calendar is marked in memory of Sankhadhar Sakhwa, who freed the poor and peasants from financial burden- loan.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire extended best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers in the country and abroad on the occasion of Nepal Sambat 1146 today.

He wished Nepal Sambat, a symbol of national identity, would inspire all to be united for building a prosperous and inclusive country with good governance.

In a message of best wishes given on the occasion of Nepal Sambat today, Speaker Ghimire reminded Nepal Sambat is a symbol of tolerance, fraternity, social harmony and national unity.

"Time has come for us to end corruption so that the country would be ensured with good governance," he said in the message, underlining the need for common resolution, transparency and accountability for building a corruption-free and prosperous Nepal.

According to him, collaboration among government, political parties, youths, civil society and entire Nepali citizens is imperative for peace and stability in Nepal in the wake of Gen-Z protest.

Nepal Sambat is observed as a historic event that features the contribution of luminary Sankhadhar Sakhwa in freeing poor Nepalis from financial burden.