Submit your Article

So you swapped your plastic water bottle for a steel one and you use your own bamboo straw when you order a drink at a restaurant. These are perhaps two of the most common sustainable swaps that everyone has heard of or adopted. But there are so many other ways in which you can live sustainably. Here are some simple ways through which you can drastically reduce your trash volume and live a greener life. 

Reusable makeup removers instead of cotton balls

Most of us use cotton pads or balls to remove our makeup. We usually have a box full of these on our dresser and they’re used and tossed without a thought. On average,  we use at least two to three cotton pads per day. They are useful to remove eye makeup and foundation but that doesn’t mean their use is unavoidable. You get reusable cotton pads that are light and soft at various stores that sell makeup products these days. These can be hand washed or thrown in a washing machine (after placing them in a mesh bag). You can easily use these reusable options for over a year or even two without having to change them. Alternatively, you can even buy some cotton hankies and use these instead of disposable cotton pads.  

Cloth napkins in place of regular paper ones

Paper napkins are found in every household. We use them almost every day during meal times and even more so when we have family and friends over for lunch or dinner. They are used thoughtlessly and frivolously. We often reach for a second when the first one is barely dirty, choosing instead to wipe our fingers or dab on the stain with a  new one each time. Opting for cloth napkins can drastically bring down your use of paper napkins. They also look more classy on the dinner table. The reason most people hesitate to use them is because they don’t want to go through the trouble of washing them and some fear food stains are hard to remove. But all it takes is a bucket of water. You can simply soak them in detergent for 20 minutes and give them a good scrub and wash and hang them to dry. Most store bought napkins are polyester or some other fabric that can’t be easily stained anyway. 

Carry your own cutlery to avoid plastic spoons and forks

Most people carry their own water bottles and straws but cutlery is often forgotten or not considered as important as a steel water bottle or glass straw. But you would be surprised at how often you use disposable spoons and forks if you just started keeping track of it. And you don’t just use them for takeaways. Many restaurants, especially fast food joints, give disposable cutlery when you are dining in as well. Carrying your own spoon, fork, and knife in a little pouch in your bag can help you cut down on plastic cutlery, reducing your carbon footprint. Eco-saathi Nepal has a nifty little set of bamboo spoon, fork, knife and straw that comes in a nice wrap around bag that you can easily tuck into your purse. It doesn’t take much space at all. Alternatively, you can also carry the regular ones you have at home. Simply pop them in a ziplock bag or a pouch you might have lying around. 

The bidet instead of toilet paper

The bidet spray or the bider shower as it is called in many places is such a handy tool once you get the hang of using it. It delivers a steady stream of water to wash up after you use the restroom. If you are used to toilet paper, then this might feel a little strange at first but it’s a lot more hygienic than using just the toilet paper to clean yourself. It will help prevent UTIs and other infections. Every washroom is equipped with a bidet so it’s quite accessible as well. It’s also a gentler way of cleaning as toilet paper use can be abrasive in the long run. Once you start using it, you will not want to go back to just using the toilet paper. And trust us, you will be saving a lot of money as well. 

A small chalkboard can replace post-its

Are you one of those people who easily forgets things and needs to write them down? Or do you regularly leave notes for your family members in little colorful post-its around the house? If yes, then you might want to consider buying a small chalkboard or even a digital notepad from your local stationery shop. Set it up where you and your family members can see it easily, like the kitchen counter or a shelf in the living room and you don’t have to use little scraps of paper anymore. This will reduce place clutter as well. While you are at it, buy colorful chalks to make your notes aesthetically pleasing. It’s a small but great way to reduce your daily consumption. 

Make your own cleaning products instead of buying them

You don’t have to buy cleaning products from the store as most can be made at home. You just need simple ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda. Not only are home cleaning products gentler, and chemical free, they are also more effective and safer than all the packaged chemical-laced ones that you might be buying regularly. Replace your usual glass or kitchen cleaner with a simple solution made with one cup vinegar, a tablespoon of baking soda, and three cups of water. Keep this solution in a spray container and you can use this for all purposes, from cleaning window panes to getting stains and smells off from the couch. 

The final stage of relocating the Sinamangal Air Fuel Depot has begun, with the Pulchowk-based Institute of Engineering Studies preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) received the draft report in mid-June. An agreement, signed on 20 Nov 2024, stipulated that the DPR be prepared and submitted within six months, with the final report set for submission by July 11.

According to Pradeep Kumar Yadav, depot chief engineer, all processes are progressing as planned, and the new depot will employ cutting-edge technology. The DPR preparation contract was awarded for Rs 1m. The relocation was approved by the Council of Ministers on 12 Aug 2024, due to the depot’s proximity to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and nearby residential areas. Yadav stated that the relocation is being coordinated with the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

The 50-year-old Sinamangal depot, operated by NOC, has a storage capacity of 7,660 kiloliters, distributing 400 kiloliters of aviation fuel daily. It consists of three 1,600-kiloliter tanks, three 760-kiloliter tanks, and eight 70-kiloliter tanks, holding roughly a month’s supply. The new site, located in Guhyeshwari near the Nepal Army Golf Course, has been allocated 60 ropanis of land. However, about 15 ropanis remain occupied by army structures and trees. Yadav noted that while CAAN has designated the land, no formal acquisition agreement has been finalized.

The NOC has repeatedly requested CAAN to formalize the land agreement, but site clearance remains incomplete. This delay has hindered preparations to invite construction bids at the start of the next fiscal year. Additional challenges include incomplete allocation of the designated land, pending removal of Nepal Army structures, and unfinalized land ownership and transfer modalities between the Corporation and CAAN. Despite these issues, a four-room site office has been constructed, and road access to the relocation site has been completed.

The government has prioritized relocating the depot due to safety risks posed to residents, highways, and aviation operations. 

Meanwhile, CAAN’s Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), includes airport upgrades and a parallel taxiway construction. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards require a 172.5-meter distance between the runway center and taxiway, meaning nearly half of the current depot must be removed. Regulations prohibit hazardous depots within 75 meters (sensitive area) or flammable depots within 150 meters (safety area) of runways. CAAN has pushed for relocation for five years, but the NOC previously cited budget and land shortages as obstacles. The July 21 Saurya Airlines crash accelerated compliance with the government’s decision.

The project’s estimated cost is Rs 6bn, as per the preliminary DPR. The new depot in Guhyeshwari will feature five 3,000-kiloliter storage tanks. CAAN plans to lease 60 ropanis from the Pashupati Area Development Fund for 80 years. Government rules require the NOC to pay rent from the agreement signing date, but it has requested a waiver during construction. A five-year rent exemption is provisioned under regulations. CAAN’s board agreed to waive construction-period rent, pending approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation The ministry’s delay has stalled the agreement. The NOC estimates the depot’s construction will take three years.

Local governments that failed to present their respective budgets for the fiscal year 2024/25 by June 24, as required by law, will face cuts in the fiscal equalization grants provided by the federal government.

According to the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, 39 local governments that did not present their budgets to their respective municipal or village assemblies within the stipulated time frame will see a five-point deduction in the evaluation criteria used to allocate the next fiscal year’s equalization grants.

As per the Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangement Act, all local governments are required to present their revenue and expenditure estimates for the upcoming fiscal year to their respective municipal or village assemblies by June 24 and have them approved by mid-July. However, 39 out of the 753 local units failed to present their fiscal budgets this year.

The National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission evaluates the performance of local governments on a 100-point scale based on 17 indicators. Federal grants distributed among local governments are based on these indicators.

So far, 714 local units have submitted their budgets to their respective assemblies by the stipulated time frame of June 24. However, many of them have not submitted their budget details to the portal maintained on the official website of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development.

As of Sunday, only 454 local units have submitted their budget details to the portal. According to the ministry, 48 local units in Koshi and 76 in Madhesh have not uploaded their budget details to the portal. Similarly, 43 local units in Bagmati, 27 in Gandaki, 47 in Lumbini, 25 in Karnali, and 33 in Sudurpaschim provinces have yet to upload their budget details to the portal.

There are six metropolitan cities, 11 sub-metropolitan cities, 276 municipalities, and 460 rural municipalities in the country. Of these, one metropolitan city, one sub-metropolitan city, and 22 municipalities have failed to present their budget for 2025/26. Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Dharan Sub-metropolitan City failed to present their budgets within the stipulated timeframe due to disputes among elected representatives.

Most of the non-compliant municipalities are in Madhesh Province. Sixteen out of 77 municipalities in the province failed to present their budgets by the stipulated deadline of June 24. Similarly, four municipalities in Bagmati, two in Lumbini, and one each in Koshi and Karnali also failed to present their budgets. All municipalities in Gandaki and Sudurpaschim have presented their fiscal budgets.

Likewise, all rural municipalities in Koshi and Sudurpaschim provinces have presented their budgets. However, nine rural municipalities in Madhesh, two each in Lumbini and Gandaki, and one each in Bagmati and Karnali failed to present their fiscal budgets.

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Shekhar Koirala has expressed serious concern over changes in  the Civil Service Bill in an unauthorised way, calling it an insult to the dignity of Parliament when the Bill had already been unanimously endorsed by the House of Representatives.

Taking to social media, Koirala stated, "This is not a normal incident; it is disrespect for the sovereign Parliament." He demanded immediate action against those responsible for the alteration and urged that such change be reverted. 

The leader further stressed that the Bill should not proceed without the inclusion of a mandatory cooling-off period, underscoring the need to respect parliamentary procedures.

At least 14 people, most of them workers, died and 35 others were injured in a blast that occurred at a chemical factory in Sangareddy district of Telangana on Monday, The Indian Express reported.

It was duty hours at Sigachi Chemicals in Pashamylaram industrial estate when the blast took place, trapping dozens of workers inside, Sangareddy police said.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddyappointed a high-level committee to review and probe the mishap, and reveal its underlying causes. The five-member committee comprises Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary – Disaster Management, Principal Secretary (Labour), Principal Secretary (Health) and Additional DGP (Fire Services).

“In addition to probing this mishap, the panel would also submit a report on ways to prevent such accidents from reoccurring,” Reddy said in a statement, according to The Indian Express.

Nepal imported goods worth Rs 434. 43 billion from India via Birgunj in the last 11 months of the current fiscal year 2024/25.

According to Deepak Lamichhane, the Chief Customs Administrator of the Birgunj Customs Office, the majority of import and export through this border is with the neighbouring country, India.

Argentina comes in second place after India in terms of imports through this check point. 

Many goods and commodities are imported from Argentina. 

In the current fiscal year, goods and commodities worth Rs 46.74 billion have been imported from Argentina. The share of goods imported from that country is 8.27 percent.

Similarly, goods worth Rs 28.86 billion have been imported from the northern neighbour China during the same period. The share of imports from China is 1.22 percent.

In the 11 months of the current fiscal year, goods and products worth Rs 565. 42 billion  have been imported from 50 countries at the Birgunj border.

Similarly, goods and items worth Rs 91. 51 billion have been exported to foreign countries through the Birgunj border in the last 11 months of the current fiscal year. During this period, goods and items worth Rs. 86. 97 billion  have been exported to India through this border. This volume of export to India comprises 95.05 percent of total export trade volume through Birgunj customs. 

America comes in second place in terms of volume of exports through Birgunj during the same period. 

Goods and products worth Rs 2.18 billion have been exported to America, which is 2.38 percent of total exports.

Similarly, goods worth Rs 680 million have also been exported to Afghanistan through this border customs checkpoint during the same period.

The former vice president of Ecuador who was detained last year during a highly criticized police raid on Mexico’s embassy in the South American country was sentenced Monday to 13 years in prison, Associated Press reported.

Jorge Glas had been accused of misusing public funds intended for the reconstruction of two provinces affected by an earthquake in 2016. The quake devastated communities and killed hundreds of people.

Glas became vice president in 2013, during the presidency of Rafael Correa, and was removed from that position in January 2018, when he was charged in a corruption case tied to the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, according to Associated Press.

Judge Mercedes Caicedo said the funds for reconstruction efforts following the earthquake were allocated to “useless, unusable and unnecessary buildings” disregarding the law, and above all, “with complete disrespect for the victims.”

A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region said Monday that Moscow’s forces have overrun all of it — one of four regions Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in September 2022 despite not fully controlling a single one, Associated Press reported.

If confirmed, that would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war and as recent U.S.-led international peace efforts have failed to make progress on halting the fighting. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn’t budged from hisdemands, which include Moscow’s control over the four illegally annexed regions. 

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv on the claim made by the Moscow-installed leader of the occupied region, Leonid Pasechnik. In remarks to Russia’s state TV Channel One that aired Monday evening, Pasechnik said he received a report “literally two days ago” saying that “100%” of the region was now under the control of Russian forces, according to Associated Press.