Kathmandu, July 11 : Senior leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party Jhalanath Khanal has urged all three layers of government to expedite the search of those missing in the disasters, rescue on time and provide relief materials to the survivors in the wake of floods and landslides occurred with active monsoon across the country of late.

Issuing a press note, the former Prime Minister appealed to all political parties’ leaders and cadres, social activities, locals, people’s representatives and security persons to be united and devote to searching and rescuing the people affected in the floods and landslides. He added that he was saddened over the loss of lives and property in the disasters caused by the torrential rains in the districts including Sindhupalchowk, Myagdi, Parbat, Gulmi, Bajhang, Lamjung Kaski, Rukum, Jajarkot and Rolpa.RSS

KATHMANDU, June 29 : Participants of a virtual seminar organized here today on the occasion of the National Paddy Day have underscored the use of renewable energy technology for modernization of agriculture sector.

Organized by the Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON), the participants have pressed for attracting youths in agriculture sector and preventing the possibility of food crisis emanating from COVID-19.

Stating that the energy was a must for production, processing, storage and distribution of agro products, they univocally argued that ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ motto would only be realized when agriculture sector was commercialized.

Former Minister for Agriculture Janardan Sharma opined that appropriate technology must be employed to yield desired amount of agro products to prevent food-crisis. He viewed that food production would be doubled by ensuring irrigation facility to the arable land.

Furthermore, he suggested government to consider job creations for those Nepali youths returning from foreign following the COVID-19 pandemic and mobilize them into agriculture sector.
Similarly, former Minister Ganesh Shah argued that the youth would be attracted to agriculture sector if the government acknowledged agriculture occupation as a dignified job. He batted for providing quality seedlings, manure to the farmers and provide them with trainings and exposure visits besides ensuring hassle-free loan for them to convert subsistence-based farming to commercial agriculture.

Likewise, energy expert Prof Dr Jagannath Shrestha shared that altogether one million hectare of land in Terai, Mountain and High Hill areas of the country lacked irrigation facility and suggested to use solar electric pumping system to achieve greater yield.
According to him, renewable energy technologies were the best viable alternative to achieve food security.

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre’s Madhusudan Adhikari spoke of the need to end dependency on fossil source of energy in agriculture and embrace renewable energy technologies. According to him, his Centre was running various programmes related to renewable energy technologies.
RECON President Gunaraj Dhakal pointed out the need to employ renewable energy technologies to increase food production to ensure food for all.

Energy expert Dr Indira Shakya stressed on formulating gender responsive policies. Urging to adopt gender-friendly approaches while employing gender-friendly renewable energy technologies, she said that women, impoverished and marginalized communities must be prioritized to further strengthen agriculture profession.RSS /Photo: azocleantech

KATHMANDU, June 26 : Property worth Rs 1.5 million was lost in fire when the Bhumiraj Secondary School of KI Singh Rural Municipality caught fire on Friday.

According to District Police Office information officer DSP Indra Bahadur Malla, the cause behind the fire was short circuit. The fire was doused after an hour with joint efforts of local people and police persons.

Property including computers, laptops, library books and furniture was destroyed in the fire, said school accountant Ganesh Bhatta. RSS

KATHMANDU, June 23:The Western Regional Hotel Association Nepal has urged the government to exempt demand tariff of the electricity in the wake of the closure of hotels owing to COVID-19 lockdown. The Association reminded the government that the hotel sector received severe dent due to the spread of coronavirus.

The Association Chief Bikal Tulachan led a team to a meeting with Nepal Electricity Authority’s Distribution and Customers Service Directorate on Monday. Directorate Chief Teknath Tiwari was drawn attention to not impose electricity fee at all to them because they were not able to make business in the crisis.

Tulachan further complained that why the Association’s demands were not addressed before the beginning of new fiscal year though the government was reminded of it on time. Although the hotel sector was recognized as an industry, the government facilities and discount were not provided to it, he added.

As the hoteliers were ready to pay the tariff they had incurred so far, the arrangement could be made that they could pay after the restoration of normal situation.

State chief of the Authority said he was aware that the hotel sector faced tremendous difficulty and it was logical for discount on charge.

Bank loan, interest and other installments have emptied hotelier’s accounts, so they needed government help, it was said.(RSS)

KATHMANDU, June 23:The landslide occurred in various parts in Baglung district has damaged the pipe supplying drinking water to Balung bazaar. The drinking water pipe was swept away at origin of Bhudikhola, Dobillo and Resam, which has completely disrupted the drinking water supply.

The Baglung bazaar has been facing acute shortage of drinking water for two days. Manager at Baglung Municipal Water and Sanitation Consumers’ Association, Himal Sharma, said they had no other alternative after the pipe was damaged by the landslides. Although the employees were mobilized for repairing and replacing the water pipe, the incessant rainfall occurred on Sunday badly hampered the work.

“It is taking much time for the technicians to fix problems because it was damaged in various places,” he said, adding that it would take some more days for the bazaar people to have regular supply of drinking water.

In some places like Jireti of Resham area, it is difficult to access. Daily 20 litres water per second is supplied to Baglung bazaar from Bhudi stream.(RSS)

KATHMANDU, June 22:A covira application with method to measure the personal and local risks of COVID-19 was made public amidst a programme on Sunday. The Nepal Engineers’ Association launched the application developed by the Science Hub Nepal with engagement of subject experts.
Users have to browse the website www.covira.info to access the assessment method. Adopting this method, one can make risk assessment of his/her own and their family members in terms of COVID-19. It also allows the users to see the state of COVID-19 risks in any geographical area within the country.
Association’s general secretary Chhabi Pokharel said such research-based method would substantially help Nepal and Nepali to manage risks during the pandemic.
Likewise, Prof Padma Simkhada of UK-based University of Huddersfield said the assessment method would be useful for the government, community and individual.
It is claimed to the first-ever research-based application developed on the joint effort of subject experts and scientists incorporating scientific facts, methods and evidences.
On the occasion, Dr Rishiram Parajuli of the Bristol University, UK delivered a presentation on the preparation of the bases of the application.
The application can be used to assess own risks based on the age, gender and state of chronic disease as well as the risk of transmission of coronavirus based on the routine activities.
Also on the occasion, Dr Bhojraj Ghimire of the Nepal Open University shared about its amendment in terms of the technology, data use, privacy and safety of the application.
It was shared that the Science Hub will gradually amend the application in a way to collect crowd-sourcing data in multiple languages.
Association chair Triratna Bajracharya remotely launched the application through webinar

KATHMANDU, June 20:A number of questions have been raised over the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Health and Population to contain the pandemic coronavirus. Such concerns are common at a time when the powerful nations are also failing behind in their steps to prevent and control the coronavirus.

Interacting with the journalists at the Ministry on Saturday in the presence of secretary and departmental chiefs, Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal shared his plans to expand the coronavirus testing scope in the country.

“We are expanding our capacity to test at least 10,000 individuals every day within June 29. We are also issuing guidelines from the council of ministers for home isolation with the consultation of the experts as the number of coronavirus infected is on the rise,” Dhakal added.He also shared that the government was working in a coordinated fashion to win the battle against the pandemic virus.

Responding to a query, Minister Dhakal said that there was no irregularity in the procurement of health materials as the concerned bodies bought the health supplies with due process.

He reiterated that he was for fair practice in politics and those alleging Minister Dhakal of his involvement in the irregularity would have to remorse in the future.

Additional human resources for contact tracing
Meanwhile, the government is preparing a team of 3,225 individuals for the contact tracing.
Ministry’s Secretary Laxman Aryal said that two thirds of the human resources would be from the health sector and other would be fresh recruitment as per the procedure approved from the Council of Ministers meeting.
Five more labs to be set up

Secretary Aryal shared that PCR machines are being installed and laboratories set up at five additional places for expanding the reach of tests for coronavirus. According to him, the lab would be set up at the Nepal Army Hospital, Nepal Police Hospital, the Armed Police Force Hospital and at Dailekh and Dadeldhura.
“We would be able to conduct tests at the rate of 10 thousand tests daily with the upgrading of the existing laboratories and establishment of five additional ones. It is not necessary to purchase PCR machine for every local level,” he said.
Director of the National Public Health Laboratory, Dr Runa Jha acknowledged that the reports of tests were delayed due to the sheer number of samples submitted for testing at present. She, however, said that all the samples that have been collected would be tested within one week from today.

Director at the Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases Control Division, Dr Basudev Pandey, said the contact tracing of all the infected persons was being carried out. Director General at the Department of Health Services, Dr Dipendra Raman Singh stated that there is adequate stock of required medical supplies for COVID-19. He added that there was enough stock of personal protective equipment (PPE), N95 masks and surgical masks to last for a month.
According to him, the process of procuring the medical goods would be continued considering the number of COVID-19 cases.

Cases estimated to reach 40 thousand till mid-September
The number of people infected by coronavirus till date is 8,605 and this number is expected to reach to maximum 40 thousand till August 18 estimating the number of Nepalis coming home from abroad including India, Ministry’s joint secretary Dr Gunaraj Lohani said.

In the meantime, coronavirus testing laboratories have been set up in 22 places while the number of corona special hospitals has been expanded. At present, the number of ventilators has been expanded to 1,000 and the number of ICU to 1,800.

The Ministry of Health and Population is at work to conduct tests of two percent of the total population of the country (600,000 populations) across the country as stated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in an address to the nation.

Public health emergency announcement under study
The Ministry had decided to recommend the Cabinet meeting held on June 4 to declare a nationwide public health emergency in view of increasing infection cases.

Minister Dhakal however said a decision in this regard would not take place at present. Efforts to prevent and control the infection are taking place in coordination with the Ministry and the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre, he said.
There is a guideline that 25 percent of the total swabs collected by government mechanism on a daily basis is given to private health institutions for a test. Per head cost incurred for the test would be reimbursed from the government to the private health institutions. Each test is charged between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000.

Prakash Silwal and Sharad Sharma/RSS

KATHMANDU, June 20:A border outpost (BOP) of the Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal has been established near the Nepal-India border at Doriya in Ratuwamai Municipality-2, Morang.

Deputy Inspector General of APF Nagendra Bahadur Thapa and Mayor of the municipality Rabin Rai marked the beginning of the BOP.

The BOP will have 35 APF personnel under the commander of APF, Nepal Inspector.
With this, there are seven BOP of APF, Nepal along the 63 kilometers long open border with India in Morang district.

On the occasion, APF DIG Thapa directed the APF personnel to consider the general public’s concerns while offering services to them.

Likewise, mayor Rai hoped that establishment of the BOP will be helpful to curb illegal activities along the border and maintain law and order.

Local Santan Rajbanshi was honored for donating four kattha and four dhur land for free for the establishment of the BOP. RSS

KATHMANDU, June 20:The Central Secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) today decided to forward the citizenship amendment bill having a provision of seven-year waiting period for the naturalized citizenship to the foreign woman marrying a Nepali man.

The ruling NCP made its view clear at a time when the State Affairs Committee (SAC) could not forge consensus on despite discussions for long. The opposition parties have been saying that such long time could not be held by SAC on it.

According to NCP Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the meeting also decided that the respective person willing to take naturalized citizenship must have begun process to give up the citizenship of foreign country. The Secretariat meeting was held at Prime Minister’s residence Baluwatar this morning.(rss)

KATHMANDU, June 20: The Narayangadh-Muglin road has been cleared for traffic since Friday evening. Regular traffic resumed after three days since a landslide blocked the road on Wednesday morning. Two-way traffic has now resumed after the debris of the landslide was cleared, said Shiva Khanal, the information officer of the Narayangadh-Muglin road project.

The debris had covered 45 meters of the road and regular rain made it difficult to clear the road. Traffic was available only for some time, one-way in between the clearing work. Some works on the drainage still remains to be completed. Hundreds of travelers had been stranded since the road was blocked by landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. (RSS)