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CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has advised Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to step down given his ‘poor showing’. 

Organizing a press conference on Sunday, Oli and other leaders criticized the government over ‘ineffective handling’ of important matters such as the Lalita Niwas land-grab, the 100-kg gold smuggling case and obstructions in the Parliament.

Chair Oli expressed surprise that the Home Minister and the Finance Minister had not quit thus far despite their incompetencies. The party leading the government has prevented the (main) opposition from airing their views during parliamentary sessions, he said, “Whenever the opposition attempts to address the assembly, members of the ruling party promptly rise and vociferously intervene, causing disruptions. They thus thwart our efforts to facilitate a smooth functioning of the Parliament, leaving us with no option but to obstruct the House.”

The government’s shortcomings extend beyond the legislative arena, Oli maintained, “Even in terms of public service delivery, the government has faltered in producing tangible outcomes.”

“Shouldn’t we be attentive to people’s problems? Amid floods and landslides, the government’s response seems lackluster. Farmers are standing in queues to acquire a mere five kilograms of fertilizer, burdened by exorbitant costs,” he said.

Chair Oli also accused the government of being afraid to form a high-level committee for investigating the 100-kg gold case, insisting that the probe committee will be instrumental in finding whether the government is complicit in the case. 

Rajendra Gautam, head of the UML’s Publicity Department, sought the arrest of former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai in connection with the Lalita Niwas land-grab, citing the recent Supreme Court order directing top decision-makers to bring them under investigation. “Despite the court’s directive, police have not even questioned them (the two ex-PMs) regarding their involvement in the Lalita Niwas scandal, where they are alleged to have played a significant role through multiple cabinet decisions.”

Gautam expressed doubts about the Home Ministry’s departments conducting impartial investigations, reiterating that the UML believes an independent high-level investigation committee should be established to examine the gold case. “During investigations, the government has treated the ruling parties and the opposition differently,” he said, noting that individuals close to the ruling parties have not been thoroughly investigated.

At the program, the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government came under the main opposition’s fire for displaying arrogance through ‘vengeful moves against the opposition, dissemination of false information and attempts to conceal wrongdoings’.

The party contended that the present government is manipulating tax rates to favor specific business interests, allowing certain entrepreneurs to exploit state resources through extensive contracts.

But political analyst Krishna Pokharel says that the press briefing appeared to predominantly reflect UML Chair Oli’s sense of frustration. “It appears that this frustration stems from his party’s extended period of being out of power,” he says the conference mainly consisted of negative remarks rather than substantive discussions.

Remember the South Side Wine Bar we reviewed in May? François Driard, the owner of the wine bar, extended an invitation to us to experience his culinary venture, Emilio’s Pizza in Bansbari, Kathmandu. On a rainy day, we ventured there, discovering the unique delight of savoring piping-hot food in the rain.

At Emilio’s Pizza, you can choose between indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. The indoor area exudes a cozy living room atmosphere, with comfortable couches that you can plonk into and chill. Alternatively, the outdoor space boasts a green haven with pebble flooring. Opting for the outdoor setup, we found ourselves shielded from the rain by a recently installed translucent roof.

Amid a diverse selection of pizzas, including Napolitana, Margherita, Melanzana, Pepperoni, Chorizo, and Calzone, we set our sights on their distinctive Signature Pizzas. This particular assortment featured options like Smoky Chicken, Burrata, and Shiitake among others. We decided to sample the Smoky Chicken and Burrata offerings as they recommended.

Our initial serving was the Smoky Chicken pizza. Its ultra-thin and tender crust, with a crispy edge, was complemented by the luscious cheese on top, enhancing its overall flavor.

The next delight to grace our table was the Burrata pizza, an artful assembly featuring tomato sauce, Burrata (an Italian cheese crafted from mozzarella and cream), and arugula (known as rocket leaves). There was a mild tanginess to it due to the Burrata, along with a touch of bitterness from the arugula. The crust mirrored the Smoky Chicken variant, maintaining its consistent texture.

In addition to pizza, we were introduced to an array of Ravioli pastas, boasting fillings of buffalo, mushroom, and crab. Our preference led us to the crab-filled option. Its unique seafood essence offered a distinct flavor experience, slightly unfamiliar to Nepali palates.

We also recommend Flammekueche, a delicacy composed of thinly rolled bread dough fashioned into a rectangular shape, brimming with finely diced onion fillings that contributed to its delectable crispiness.

Apparently, the bread, dough, and cheese are made from scratch.

We suggest planning a visit during the afternoon hours to relish the fare in a tranquil setting and steer clear of bustling crowds. For an elevated culinary experience, consider pairing your meal with their fine selection of wines, as the place’s roots trace back to a wine bar that subsequently evolved into a remarkable pizza haven.

Their Specials

Signature Pizza

Ravioli Pasta

Flammekueche

Location: Bansbari

Meal for two: Rs 2,500 

Opening hours: 12:00 pm–9:00 pm

Contact: 9823711002

Online payment: Accepted

Parking: Available

The Asian markets remain key players in the upward-trending US student visa totals. Seven of the top eight countries that saw the largest increase in student visas issued between 2021 and 2022 were Asian, according to ApplyBoard data, a Canada-based international recruitment platform.

Uzbekistan is at the top of this list for the first time, while Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam show continued growth in visa issuance, according to the report. The US Department of State issued over 411,000 F-1 student visas in 2022, up 15 percent from 2021. US student visa approval rates fell to 65 percent likely due to the application volume from several emerging markets in the period. South Asian countries continued to drive growth in the US, led by India with over 115,000 student visas issued.

The tally of visas issued so far this year has passed 392,000. 

Prior to 2020, the only large destination market that had Nepal on its radar was Australia, where it ranked a top-three source market for Australian institutions. The US was the most popular northern hemisphere destination of Nepali students in 2022, beating the likes of Canada, which experienced a spike in Nepali students in 2022, even after Australia’s border reopened, according to the report.

Heavy rainfall since Monday has triggered a series of floods and landslides in different parts of the country. 

Many streams and rivers surpassed their critical thresholds, breaching their banks and submerging nearby settlements, while there were also reports of highway landslides disrupting the vehicular movement. 

The Weather Forecasting Division attributed the heavy rainfall to the monsoon wind patterns and a low-pressure system near Bihar, India. Authorities have issued alert warnings for those settlements situated close to streams and rivers.  

Several riverside settlements in Kathmandu Valley were submerged as a result of overnight downpour. People were seen salvaging their goods and draining out flood waters from their homes on Tuesday morning.  

A landslide on the Kali river obstructed the crucial Narayangadh-Muglin highway in Ichhakamana Rural Municipality-6, Chitwan. The two-way traffic movement along the highway was halted due to the landslide, stranding hundreds of vehicles and passengers. However, traffic in both directions resumed later.

A section of Prithvi Highway, between Damauli and Dumre in Tanahun, also collapsed as a result of incessant rainfall. Floods and landslides have also significantly impacted other major highways, including the Banepa-Sindhuli-Bardibas section of BP Highway, the Hetauda-Sindhuli-Gaighat-Chatara segment of Madan Bhandari Highway, and the Khurkot-Ghurmi stretch of Pushpa Lal Highway.

In another incident, a landslide struck a house at Sigre of Bagmati Rural Municipality-5 in Makwanpur, in which one person was killed and six others, including three children, were unaccounted for.The deceased was identified as 55-year-old Shanta Maya Syangtan. At the time of writing, a team deployed by the District Police Office, Makwanpur, was still searching for the missing people.

Also, a person from Dhanusha and another individual from Rautahat lost their lives due to drowning in the swollen river.

In Shuklaphanta Municipality-7, Kanchanpur, security personnel rescued two women who were stranded in the floodwaters of the Kalapani stream. The two women were tending to their cattle when they were caught in a flash flood caused by the torrential rainfall upstream.  

The rainfall overnight has also caused significant damage to crops in different parts of the country. 

The flooded Doda stream wreaked havoc on paddy and sugarcane fields in Tilaki of Kanchanpur district. As many as 24 farmers lost their valuable crops.

In Kailali, the rain-swollen Godawari stream damaged temples and shrines in the Godawaridham area. A quick response from security personnel and local youths prevented potential casualties by rescuing those who were trapped in the flood waters. As the flood receded, there was debris scattered everywhere.

Around 40 people have died and nearly as many are missing in monsoon-related disasters this year, according to officials at the Home Ministry. According to the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal of Nepal government, over 4,000 families have been affected by floods and landslides in the past one year, killing 101 people. Sixty-four people are still missing.

Monsoon in Nepal typically starts in mid-June and ends in September. Casualties, highway obstructions and property damage are common occurrences during this period. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the security agencies  to remain on high alert to respond to potential monsoon-related disasters.

Sunday’s Supreme Court order in response to a habeas corpus writ has given rise to hopes that high-profile politicians, allegedly involved in the process of transferring government land at Lalita Niwas in the name of private individuals, will be brought under investigation. 

The SC has directed the government to expand the investigation to include the top decision-makers, making way for bringing former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai under the ambit of the probe. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued arrest warrants against those charged with involvement in the scam as part of an ongoing probe that has already netted about two dozen people. Thus far, high-level politicians have been able to avoid the investigation using political clout. 

Two years ago, the SC had completed its final hearing on a writ petition seeking its order to also probe former prime ministers Nepal and Bhattarai in the Lalita Niwas scam. A division bench of the then Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana and Justice Nahakul Subedi was to issue its verdict on 1 Nov 2021. But that was not to be as legal professionals started their protest against the then Chief Justice Rana.

As the judges’ and lawyers’ protest intensified, 98 lawmakers from the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), and CPN (Unified Socialist), among others, filed an impeachment motion in the Parliament against then CJ Rana on 13 Feb 2022, leading to his suspension. Rana completed his term in suspension even as the motion itself suffered an uncertain fate. 

“This case will be forever alive if the ex-PMs are not subjected to a probe. The court order should make way for investigations into other scams”  -Former DIG Hemanta Malla Thakuri

Senior Advocate Bal Krishna Neupane had filed a writ petition after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) refused to press charges against the two former prime ministers, arguing that cabinet decisions were beyond its jurisdiction. Neupane contended that it was unjust to give reprieve to the former prime ministers, while ministers from the same cabinet could be charged.

Former chief of CIAA Surya Nath Upadhaya says the former prime ministers will definitely be brought under probe as the court has already ordered it. “But it’s difficult to prove them guilty,” he adds. “It’s not the task of a prime minister to get involved in the land allocation process. Prime ministers don’t have time for these tasks.” I don’t think the former prime ministers are directly involved in the case, he says.

Former DIG of Nepal Police Hemanta Malla Thakuri says that as the court has already issued its verdict, it will be a bit easier for the police or the CIAA to investigate the case anew. “The investigating agency has back-up support now,” he says. “Without this kind of support, cases involving high-profile figures like former prime ministers are always an uphill battle.” 

Notably, Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar and Chandra Dev Joshi, ministers in the cabinets of Nepal and Bhattarai respectively, were brought under the scope of the probe, even as Prime Ministers Nepal and Bhattarai, as well as the Chief Secretary authenticating cabinet decisions, remained exempt.

Justices Sinha and Chudal on Sunday ordered that the investigation should encompass all individuals engaged in the decision-making process starting from the top of the pyramid. The order has cleared the way for investigating agencies to include the two former prime ministers in their probe.

The cabinet meeting held on 11 April 2010 under then PM Nepal had decided to hand over government land in the names of private individuals. When the Land Revenue Office, Dillibazar, refused to execute the decision, stating that the task fell under the jurisdiction of the Land Reforms Office (LRO, the same cabinet decided that land revenue offices could handle the responsibilities of the LRO. On 13 Aug 2010, the cabinet decided to add names of some landowners and tenants “that were missing from the previous list”.

“It’s not the task of a PM to get involved in the land allocation process, so it will be difficult to prove the two former PMs guilty in this case” -Former CIAA chief Surya Nath Upadhyaya

The cabinet meeting held on 4 Oct 2012 under Bhattarai not only agreed, in principle, to hand over the Lalita Niwas land, which was under the Samarjung Company—an entity under the Ministry of Home Affairs—to Pashupati Tikinya Guthi, but also created fake tenants.

“This case will be forever alive if the probing bodies don’t subject Nepal and Bhattarai to investigation. Remember, the court has already ordered that they be brought under probe,” says Thakuri. “This landmark verdict will also help the police and the CIAA to probe other cases involving high-profile figures,” he adds.

Residents of Balkot area in Suryabinayak Municipality-3, Bhaktapur, were hit by a power outage that lasted for several hours on Tuesday morning. The morning routine of office workers and students were affected as a result. Many families did not have access to water because they could not use the water pump. 

When the residents tried to call ‘No Light’ service of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the line, as always, was unresponsive.  

“We could have prepared accordingly, had we been notified about the power outage,” said Roshan Dahal, a local resident. “We tried calling the ‘No Light’ number, but no one answered.” 

But NEA Spokesperson Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai claimed that the ‘No Light’ was a 24/7 service. 

“We have a human resource crunch which might have led to unresponsiveness,” he claimed.

Abrupt and frequent power cuts have become common across the country in the recent months. The NEA officials say this is primarily due to maintenance works that are currently underway in different parts of the country. 

While the power utility has issued a ‘Maintenance Shutdown Schedule’ on its website, it does not match the time of electricity outage. Moreover, the schedule only concerns Kathmandu Valley; it does not tell when the maintenance works are being carried out in other parts of the country. 

It took five hours or so for the power to restore in Balkot. The local residents did not find out why there was an outage in the first place.    

Earlier, load shedding was primarily limited to industrial areas, but from the past few months, even households are facing frequent power cuts.

According to a research report published in May 2022 by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), 64 percent of Nepal’s industries are forced to install diesel generators due to frequent power outages. The use of generators, as per the paper, results in an average increase of 5.3 percent in the industries’ monthly operation costs.

Between 2008 and 2016, the whole country suffered from unreliable power supply, sometimes up to 16 hours a day. According to the study entitled ‘Economic costs of electricity load shedding in Nepal,’ the country lost an estimated $11bn value of its GDP in that period. 

During the load shedding period in Nepal, the NEA used to publish weekly power outage schedules and update it regularly. 

Load shedding or not?

The recent power cuts have led many people to suspect that the NEA has imposed ‘undeclared load shedding.’ 

“When there was officially announced load shedding in Nepal, the NEA used to provide the weekly schedule of power outages,” a netizen posted on Facebook. “But now, the NEA neither admits to load shedding, nor provides regular electricity, compelling people to think if the days of load shedding are back.”

The NEA officials claimed that there is no load shedding, since the country has been generating surplus electricity during the rainy season. 

As of now, the total installed capacity of hydropower plants operational in the country is 2,759 MW. However, the national peak demand is only 1,806 MW. Yet, there are regular power outages.

Delay in the construction of transmission line

The NEA officials attribute the intermittent power cuts to the delay in constructing transmission lines. The construction of Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400 kV and Hetauda-Bharatpur-Bardaghat 220 kV transmission lines has been ongoing for more than a decade, significantly surpassing the initially planned completion time of three years.

The delay in the construction of these transmission lines has also hit the country’s hydropower sector.  

Representatives of Madhya Bhotekosi Jalavidyut Company Ltd have said that the project would miss the generation deadline by at least one month. 

“We have already encountered several delays owing to local obstructions and natural disasters,” said Ram Gopal Shiwakoti, the company’s CEO. 

Initially, the project had planned to complete the project by the end of 2022, which was pushed to mid-June. 

“Our revised electricity generation schedule is September. Due to the delays, the project cost has escalated by Rs 2.75bn,” added Shiwakoti.

While the project’s work is almost complete, the actual generation cannot commence until the transmission lines are completed. 

Due to the delay in constructing high-capacity transmission lines, the NEA official said, the authority is currently transmitting only around 80 MW of electricity using its old transmission system. The new lines would have supported the transmission of up to 300 MW. 

The construction of a 400 kV transmission line is essential for transmitting electricity to western Nepal from the Dhalkebar substation. The existing 132 kV transmission line in Hetauda is unable to carry sufficient electricity to supply the western region. As a result, the NEA is unable to meet the demand and purchase electricity from independent power producers.

Poor infrastructure

Mukesh Kafle, former Managing Director of the NEA, said that the delay in the construction of new transmission and distribution lines is not the only reason behind power outages. 

“The Nepal Electricity Authority needs to replace its overall system. The time has come to invest in replacing all the channels including substations and feeders,” he said.

Without the system overhaul, Kafle warned, their situation will get worse in the future.

Meanwhile, the NEA has instructed the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to reduce their energy generation, claiming that around 170 MW of electricity from 20 hydroelectricity projects is going to waste. 

Ganesh Karki, president of Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal (IPPAN), said that the only solution for regular electricity flow is installation of modern distribution and transmission lines. 

“The government should not leave all the work of infrastructure development to the electricity authority. It should also intervene when necessary to control the problem of power spillage,” he said.

Karki added Nepal has finally become power surplus at least in the wet months, so the time has come for the government and investors to focus on infrastructure development.

“Earlier, everyone was focused on power generation because we were way behind our producing capacity. And since infrastructure development was never our priority, we do not have a reliable distribution channel to supply electricity.”

Out of 753 local governments, 33, comprising 11 municipalities and 22 rural municipalities, have failed to submit their budget for the fiscal year 2023/24 on time, as mandated by the Local Government Operation Act, 2017. On a positive note, Sudurpaschim province achieved a 100 percent record this year, with all 88 local units passing their budgets on time. However, Madhes province continues to struggle, with 24 out of 136 governments failing to meet the deadline.

The primary reason for the budget delays is disagreement between municipal heads and their deputies. This has been a recurring issue, with mayors and chairpersons blaming their deputies and vice-versa. Additionally, political pressure and lack of a majority in some executive committees and councils also contributed to the delays.

To address this problem, experts and officials suggest penalties such as redirecting reduced subsidies to neighboring municipalities or introducing alternative forms of punishment. However, some economists oppose this approach, arguing that the public should not suffer the consequences of corrupt actions by representatives.

Currently, the only repercussion for delayed budget submissions is receiving reduced subsidies from the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission. The allocation of subsidies is based on performance, with timely budget presentation and approval carrying significant weightage.

It is crucial to find effective solutions to this issue, as untimely budget allocation negatively impacts local employment, income, and overall economic growth of the country. Efforts are underway to guide and train local representatives in adhering to a fixed set of protocols, with a ‘learning by doing’ approach showing some improvement in timely budget submissions over the years.

Full story here.

Among the 753 local governments, 33—11 municipalities and 22 rural municipalities—have failed to bring their budget for the fiscal year 2023/24 on time. According to Section 71 of the Local Government Operation Act, 2017, local governments are required to present their budget by Asar 10 (June 24/25) and have them passed by the end of Asar (July 15/16). 

On a positive note, Sudurpaschim province, which has 88 local units, has achieved a 100 percent record this year as all units passed their budget on time. In the fiscal years 2022/23 and 2020/21, Gandaki province had also set a perfect record. 

Meanwhile, Madhes province continues to have a poor track record. As the second largest province in terms of local units, Madhes has 136 governments, and 24 of them failed to pass their budgets on time this year. The number of local units missing the budget deadline in Madhes was 34 in 2020/21, 32 in 2021/22, and 28 in 2022/23.

Geeta Devi Mahato, the Vice-chairperson of Chandranagar Rural Municipality in Sarlahi district, Madhes, has accused Chairperson Raj Kumar Mahato of taking unilateral decisions without consulting others, resulting in the budget presentation delay. 

Raj Kumar, on the other hand, points finger at Geeta Devi and her team for the delay, claiming they refused to attend numerous meetings convened to address the issue concerning budget allocation. “They have been boycotting the executive committee and village council meetings without providing any valid reasons,” he says.

Disagreement between municipal heads and their deputies is the main reason behind the delay in budget presentation.  

ApEx reached out to many representatives from the local units that had failed to bring their budget on time, and they all had the same excuse, where mayors or chairpersons blamed their deputies and vice versa.

Four local units in Gandaki province, two in Lumbini and one each in Koshi, Bagmati and Karnali provinces also failed to meet the budget presentation deadline.

Ram Chandra Joshi, mayor of Kushma Municipality, Parbat district of Gandaki province, says that the budget process was obstructed because several ward chairpersons wanted more budget allocations for their areas. “There is no other reason to obstruct the budget presentation process other than to exert political pressure on me.”

Joshi says he lacks a majority in the executive committee and council, but the Local Government Operation Act, 2017 has not imagined a majority or minority provisions for local executives and councils. “Despite being aware of the law, the obstruction from executive committee members prevented us from presenting the budget on time,” adds Joshi.

The Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) says that the general public should not suffer due to the power struggles among local representatives. “A law should be passed so that those local units that fail to bring the budget on time are prohibited from spending even a single rupee from the state coffers,” suggests an official from the association.

Currently, the only repercussion faced by municipalities for delayed budget submissions is receiving reduced subsidies from the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission. 

“The commission allocates subsidies to local units based on their performance, with timely budget presentation and approval carrying weightage of five points each in the total score of 100 points,” says Gyanendra Paudel, the spokesperson for the commission. “In other words, higher scores lead to increased subsidies.”

Federalism expert and lawmaker Khim Lal Devkota, suggests redirecting the reduced subsidy of local units that fail to meet the budget deadline to neighboring municipalities.

“This measure could foster healthy competition among local representatives and encourage better performance,” he says. “Locals will also pressurize their representatives to perform their responsibilities if they see their neighboring areas doing well.”

Devkota highlights that this approach has been successfully implemented before Nepal adopted federalism, when District Development Committees (DDC) was in charge of budget allocation. Under the system, the government would reduce the subsidy of poorly performing DDCs and allocate it to more efficient and hardworking ones. The strategy significantly enhanced the work of most of the development committees.

“It is the only way I see to hold the elected local representatives accountable,” says Devkota.

Approximately 33 percent or one-thirds of the total federal budget, equivalent to around Rs 600bn, is allocated to the local level for this fiscal year. Untimely budget allocation negatively impacts local employment, income, and ultimately hampers the overall economic growth of the country.

Economist Chandra Mani Adhikari is opposed to the idea of reducing subsidies for non-performing local units, and suggests introducing other forms of punishment. “Why should the public bear the brunt of the representatives’ corrupt actions?” he says. “People should file a petition at the Supreme Court, as these actions are an assault on our system and a violation of the Local Government Operation Act, 2017.” 

Adhikari also warns that consistent failure of the local government to do their job well could fuel people’s resentment toward federalism.

Officials at the federal affairs department of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration say local governments are not under the ministry’s jurisdiction, that they are an elected entity chosen by the people. They say the ministry just facilitates the local units, and it is the job of the people to hold their municipal governments accountable.

Laxmi Devi Pandey, chairperson of the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal (NARMIN) and the chair of Hupsekot Rural Municipality, claims that the association has repeatedly reminded local units and their representatives to do the job for which they have been sent by the people. “There is no need to obstruct the executive committee and council meetings because the failure to present the budget will harm the local economy and community.” 

Kamal Prasad Bhattarai, joint secretary and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, is hopeful that the local governments will get their act together in the coming years.

“The number of local units failing to submit their budget on time has decreased over the years, and this improvement is a result of adopting a ‘learning by doing’ approach,” he says. 

Between 2020/21 and 2023/24, there has been a decreasing trend in the number of local units failing to submit their budget on time. The figures for non-compliance were 46, 53, 42, and 33, respectively.

Bhattarai says the ministry has been guiding and training local representatives to execute their roles effectively by adhering to a fixed set of protocol.