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Prachanda Cabinet Decisions And Other News
Prachanda Cabinet Decisions And Other News
KTM Metro Reporter
Kathmandu, September 2, 2016
Prachanda Cabinet Decisions
On Thursday, September 1, 2016, the cabinet meeting of the Prachanda government decided to recommend Mr. Dip Kumar Upadhaya as an ambassador to India, and Mr. Lilamani Pokharel to China.
Dip Kumar Upadhaya had been the ambassador to India. The Oli government’s Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa recalled him from India blaming him for engaging in the activities that undermined the Oli government. So, Upadhaya is simply reinstated. Previously, he was the NC sponsored ambassador.
Lilamani Pokharel had retired from the highest Nepalese civil service position called the chief secretary means the secretary to the cabinet of council of ministers. According to the local news, he had served as the consular general in China. He had been the chief campaigner for the cleaning up the Bagmati River in Kathmandu. He spoke fearlessly, and he has been against the Civil Servants’ trade union.
The parliamentary committee holds a hearing on the recommended ambassadors, and then endorses them. Then, the president will appoint them as ambassadors to the respective countries.
The next decision the cabinet made is to appoint Mr. Min Bahadur Shrestha to the Vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. Currently, Mr. Shrestha is serving as the Executive Director of the Loan Management Department at the Nepal Rastra Bank (Central Bank of Nepal). The position is of the special class according to the news posted on setopati.com.
Melamchi Water Reaches Kathmandu In September/October
Melamchi water reaches Kathmandu as scheduled in September/October 2017 as the construction of 27.5 km tunnel has been satisfactory, and 19 km has been already done by August. If the progress of constructing the tunnel is maintained one kilometer per month as done in August, the tunnel construction will be completed within eight and a half months, the news in ‘gorkhapatra’ on September 2, 2016 stated.
The Oli government did nothing to ease the construction of the Melamchi tunnel when the Indian blockade caused shortage of fuel, and stalled the construction of the tunnel for about six months. Oli could have used the armed police force to bring the fuel and provide the Melamchi project; he did not do but he became the strong nationalist for not doing anything to end the blockade.
Currently, the central water supply has been once a week in Kathmandu even during the monsoon period when Nepal gets the maximum rainfalls, and every part of Nepal is wet. Rich people buy water from the private water suppliers; common folks have to meet their water needs with the once-a-weak supply.
Father’s Day In Nepal
On Thursday, September 1, 2016, Nepalese celebrated the Father’s Day. Thousands of sons and daughters whose fathers had already left the mundane world visited Gorkana in Kathmandu where the temple of Lord Gokarnesvor Mahadev is to offer the annul offerings to the departed souls.
Daughters first took the dip in the holy water of the river flowing next to the temple, and then they made offering to the lord Gokarnesvor. Sons shaved their heads clean leaving a bunch of hair at the center of the heads to indicate they are Hindus, and took the dip in the river, and then performed ‘shradha’ to the souls of their respective fathers. They believe that on this new moon day, the souls come to this place anticipating daughters and sons will come over there and make offerings to them.
Lucky ones whose fathers are still alive have gathered together in the morning or evening around their fathers and enjoyed the Father’s Day. Daughters and sons offered the foods their fathers liked the most. They also presented their father with the gifts they usually wanted. Some fathers have different desires such as books, Internet connections, or even iphone for the Father’s Day presents.
Nepalese have been celebrating the Father’s Day for the last millennium. They will continue for many more years to come. The Father’s Day celebration has been evolving as the cultural globalization continues. In the past, Nepalese have the indigenous sweets, and other food items for offering to their father. Currently, they have started off having the Father’s day cake, and cutting cake has been the added culture.
Price of Cooking Gas Less By NPR 50
The Prachanda government has reduced the price of cooking gas called LPG by NPR 50 bringing down the price of 15.5 kg of gas to NPR 1,325 from NPR 1,375 for the relief of the common folks during the greatest Hindu festival called Dashain.
The gas dealers in conjunction of possibly the officials of the Oli government sucked the consumers to the bones charging a cylinder of 15.5 kg of gas from NPR 5,000 to NPR 8,000 when India blocked the supply of fuels to Nepal for more than five months.
Even after the Indian blockade was lifted the gas dealers had charged high prices. Even when gas is available sufficiently, the gas dealers have charged NPR 1,500 for the 15.5 kg of gas when the government price was NPR 1,375.
Currently, the gas dealers have time for sunbath as the consumers have adjusted to different alternative energy. The gas demand has been considerably reduced. Thus, the consumers have taught the gas dealers a lesson.
