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Most farmers in Nawalparasi have already sown rice seeds, and many more are preparing to plant in the coming weeks. However, a persistent shortage of fertilizer has added stress—especially for those relying on pump sets for irrigation due to the lack of proper irrigation infrastructure.

This problem recurs annually. Subsidized fertilizers sent by the government are distributed through cooperatives, based on data provided by local authorities. In the district’s seven local units, fertilizers are distributed through 80 cooperatives.

Rabindranath Chaubey, head of the Agricultural Knowledge Center, said the supply of chemical fertilizers in the district covers less than two-thirds of the total cultivable land. Out of 41,000 hectares of arable land, rice is cultivated on about 21,000 hectares. To meet full demand, the district requires 18,398 tons of urea, 10,657 tons of DAP, and 8,145 tons of potash annually. However, since August, only 3,890.4 tons of urea and 1,684 tons of DAP have been received from the Agriculture Inputs Company and Salt Trading Corporation. That leaves a shortfall of around 15,000 tons of urea and 9,000 tons of DAP.

Tara Prasad Khanal, head of the Agriculture Inputs Company’s Parasi branch, said subsidized fertilizers are sold through cooperatives at Rs 794 per 50kg bag of urea, Rs 2,244 for DAP, and Rs 1,644 for potash. Cooperatives add transport costs to these prices. Although some additional supplies are expected from the company’s provincial office, they have yet to arrive, even as the rice planting season nears peak.

Ramgram Municipality needs 4,256 tons of urea and 1,652 tons of DAP annually. So far, it has received 760.355 tons of urea and 329.13 tons of DAP. Bardaghat Municipality requires 3,462 tons of urea and 1,860 tons of DAP. It has received 493.979 tons of urea and 213.82 tons of DAP.

While Sunwal Municipality needs 1,885 tons of urea and 943 tons of DAP, it has only received 535.773 tons of urea and 231.92 tons of DAP. Palhinandan Rural Municipality requires 1,762 tons of urea and 789 tons of DAP. It has received 418.243 tons of urea and 181.13 tons of DAP.

Similarly, Pratappur Rural Municipality needs 3,340 tons of urea and 2,141 tons of DAP. So far, it has received 631.243 tons of urea and 273.33 tons of DAP. Sarawal Rural Municipality requires 2,733 tons of urea and 1,932 tons of DAP. It has received 549.369 tons of urea and 237.80 tons of DAP. Susta Rural Municipality needs 1,620 tons of urea and 1,340 tons of DAP. It has received 501 tons of urea and 216.88 tons of DAP.

According to the Agricultural Knowledge Center, the significant gap between demand and supply is threatening to affect rice production across the district.

A new non-fiction title chronicling Nepal’s contemporary political history has hit the stands, drawing attention from readers and analysts alike. Contours of Change in Nepal: Politics, Power and Paradox, authored by Tika P. Dhakal and published by Alchemy Publications, was officially released on May 23 and is reportedly performing well in bookstores.

The book looks into a range of critical themes that have shaped the Nepali polity in recent years, including the constitution-drafting process, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact, evolving Nepal-India relations, regional diplomacy, and the country’s transitional justice mechanisms. It offers a broad yet incisive account of how these issues intersect to influence Nepal’s political and geopolitical trajectory.

Structured into eighteen sections, the volume combines previously published articles—many of which are re-edited and accompanied by new postscripts—with entirely new and unpublished chapters. Several entries are bolstered by the inclusion of original and unreleased documents, enhancing the book’s utility for researchers and students of Nepal’s recent history.

As a semi-academic non-fiction work, the book appears to resonate well with English-language readers seeking a deeper understanding of Nepal’s shifting political contours.

Author Tika P. Dhakal is no stranger to Nepal’s political discourse. He served as an advisor to former President Bidya Devi Bhandari for nearly three years and has been recently appointed as a Commissioner to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the high-level body tasked with investigating conflict-era human rights violations.

By knitting analysis with documentary evidence, Dhakal’s Contours of Change in Nepal positions itself as a timely and substantive contribution to the study of Nepal’s contemporary socio-political landscape.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against 18 individuals, including Nepal Telecom’s Managing Director Sangita Pahadi. The case has been forwarded to the Special Court. The CIAA alleges irregularities involving Nepal Telecom’s billing system, maintenance fees, and other financial discrepancies that have caused a loss of Rs 330m to the state.

The other defendants in the case include Sunil Paudel, Pratibha Shrestha, Hemprabha Rampratap Karn, Nawal Chaudhary, Rajendra Shrestha, Jhabindra Lal Upadhyay, Devendra Khatiwada, Binita Shrestha, Amul Pradhan, Rajiv Kumar KC, Muktiprasad Aryal, Santosh Kumar Shrestha, Parmatma Bhattarai, and Shailesh Shrestha. Additionally, foreign nationals Long Yang and Hong Wei, along with the Chinese company AsiaInfo Inc, have also been named as defendants.

During the investigation, statements were recorded from former Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, government employees including two joint secretaries, and members of the Nepal Telecom Board of Directors. However CIAA has decided not to file charges against 24 individuals who were under investigation in this case. No case has been filed against former Chief Secretary Aryal, former Secretary of Communications and then Chairperson of the Board, Hari Prasad Basyal, Bhupal Baral and Uttarkumar Khatri, both then Joint Secretaries and board members of Nepal Telecom, as well as board member Shankar Lamichhane.

Also exempt from prosecution are Company Secretary Rajendra Aryal, then Managing Director Dilliram Adhikari, then Technical Officer Bhanuraj Shrestha, former Director Radhakrishna Dhungel, and then Deputy Managing Director Minu Pradhan. Other individuals not charged include former Directors Sabina Maskey, former Managers Hari Dhakal, Gangasagar Matanche, Kumar Prasad Khatriwada, Prakash Manandhar, Subodh Rimal, Shobhan Adhikari, and Anup Regmi. Similarly, no case will be filed against former Deputy Managers Maniraj Poudel, Sudipraj Ghimire, Saroj Pradhan, Santosh Bhandari, and then Senior Engineer Prayag Khadka.

In Dec 2022, Nepal Telecom signed a contract with the company AsiaInfo, under which the company was to receive over Rs 3bn over five years—approximately Rs 650m annually. On 8 Jan 2023, the board of Nepal Telecom decided to sign a four-year Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) with AsiaInfo, the company that had been providing billing system services. The board also approved a proposal to extend the contract for an additional year if necessary. Although the board had also decided to initiate a new tender process at that time, no such process has begun to date.

A billing system is essential for operating telephone and internet services. When one user calls another, the billing system processes the connection. Without sufficient balance, the billing system restricts the service.

Nepal Telecom has been using the current billing system since 2012. Although the system is supposed to be upgraded every eight–nine years, it has been in use for over a decade. This has led to several problems such as calls not connecting, service interruptions, and calls getting dropped mid-conversation. Service disruptions have been frequent in Nepal Telecom.

Over the past few years, various studies and investigations have highlighted significant flaws in Nepal Telecom’s billing system and recommended switching to a new one.

When the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government was formed, Baikuntha Aryal became the Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in July 2021 and also assumed the role of chairperson of Nepal Telecom’s board. To appoint Sunil Paudel as MD of Nepal Telecom, the company’s “Managing Director Appointment and Service Directive, 2075” was amended and the former was appointed MD on 7 April 2022. After that, the process to call for a new billing system tender stalled further. The maintenance contract for AsiaInfo’s old billing system was also set to expire on 18 Sept 2022.

A government-formed committee under the Ministry of Communications raised questions about AsiaInfo’s performance and pointed out that service disruptions occurred due to the irresponsibility of the company’s technicians. A major issue started on 13 Jan 2023, but because the following two days were public holidays, maintenance work was delayed. The issue was identified and services resumed only after offices reopened on Jan 17. Despite recurring problems, Nepal Telecom kept awarding additional maintenance contracts to the same controversial company.

At that time, the board of Nepal Telecom approved the proposal to extend the maintenance contract with AsiaInfo for four more years—and an additional year if needed. Since purchases exceeding Rs 600m required approval from higher authorities, the board had to endorse the contract extension file accordingly.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) today filed corruption cases  at the Special Court against 18 individuals, including Nepal Telecom's then Managing Director Sunil Poudel and then Chief Business Officer (incumbent Managing Director) Sangeeta Pahadi. 

CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Poudel said that a case has been filed against them alleging irregularities in the billing of services including Nepal Telecom's GSM mobile, fiber internet, leased line, wire line, and wireless due to the illegal purchase and sales. The CIAA has argued that there was bad faith in the purchase of related equipment and also the misappropriation of public assets.

The CIAA filed a case against the then Managing Director of Telecom Sunil Poudel, Managing Director Pahadi, then Chief Technical Officer Pratibha Shrestha, and Financial Officer Rajendra Shrestha, claiming recouping Rs 334. 81 million from them all.

Similarly, a case has been filed against the then Chief Operating Officer Jhabindra Lal Upadhyay, then Director Binita Shrestha, Acting Director Amul Pradhan, Manager Devendra Khatiwada, Deputy Manager Rajiv Kumar KC, Santosh Kumar Shrestha, Nawal Chaudhary, Mukti Prasad Aryal, Hemprabha Rampratap Karna, and Paramatma Bhattarai, claiming recouping Rs 334. 81 million from them all. 

The Commission has stated that a claim for compensation amounting to Rs 334. 81 million has been made against three Chinese companies supplying goods and their representatives based in Nepal.

The CIAA claimed that a five-year agreement had been reached for an integrated billing system with the aim of causing losses to public corporations through mutual collusion. The Commission's spokesperson Poudel informed that a lawsuit has been filed today demanding action according to the loss and damages caused to Nepal Telecom.