KATHMANDU, Oct 26: Minister for Agriculture Development Ram Krishna Yadav has said the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies slated for November 26 and December 7 would not be cancelled at any cost.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Thursday, Yadav said that the date of the elections would not be postponed as the Election Commission, political parties and the people have already engrossed on it.

“Elections would be held in both the announced dates. The government is committed to creating conducive environment for fair polls,” Yadav said.

On the occasion, Yadav, who is also the Nepali Congress leader, said that NC should forward leader Ram Chandra Poudel as the prime ministerial candidate to seek votes for the NC but added that it was his personal opinion.

On the occasion, President of Nepal Bar Association Sher Bahadur KC said that separate ballot papers for the House of Representatives and State Assemblies was a compulsion.

However, advocate Tikaram Bhattarai said that the Supreme Court (SC) has not stated anything for preventing printing of the ballot papers but has just sought progress on the printing of the ballot.

KATHMANDU, Aug 19: Minister for Agriculture Development Ram Krishna Yadav has said that the government will introduce a grand relief package to the victims of floods and landslides in Terai very soon.

The devastating monsoon floods and landslides sparked by the three days of relentless downpour in central and western Terai last week had affected 31 districts while claiming lives of more than 100 people and thousands livestock while 38 reported still missing.

The flood affected some 19, 000 families and caused worth billions of rupees of loss.

“The devastation caused by the floods and landslides in Terai makes me emotional,” said Minster Yadav while speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Saturday.

“There has been a heavy damage in agriculture sector. The flood sub-merged the fertile lands and paddy and other crops were heavily destroyed. Fish farming areas were completely swept away. It is a great loss to the Terai-based farmers and to the country,” he added.

Yadav further assured that the flood affected farmers will soon be provided a relief package to cover for their loss.

“1 billion has already been released as assistance to the victims. Cash grant is being provided. The government has already announced NRS 200,000 to the each family of those killed in floods and landslides. 25,000 will be provided to each family for repairing their homes.”

“A high-level commission under the ministry has already been formed. The commission is working on day-and-night basis and will prepare a report on the damages done to agriculture by next week,” said Yadav.