The government decision against making public decisions of the Cabinet meeting immediately after the meeting has been one of the most discussed issues on the front pages of major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Tuesday. Likewise, most of the newspapers have also given significant space to a lunch meeting of seven Nepali Congress leaders who are apparently dissatisfied with their party chief Sher Bahadur Deuba. On the other hand, key meetings of ruling Nepal Communist Party have become uncertain. Therefore, Naya Patrika and Annapurna Post covered the issue on the front pages.
Some other sociocultural, political and economic issues have been featured on the front pages of broadsheets published from the capital today.
Important
Stakeholders criticise govt for hiding info
After the government spokesperson and Communications and Information Technology Minister Gokul Prasad Banskota denied making the Cabinet decisions public on Sunday night, it has drawn criticisms from stakeholders, according to reports in Naya Patrika, The Kathmandu Post, Republica and The Himalayan Times.
The Kathmandu Post comments that the government move echoed “the harrowing days of the authoritarian Panchayat era.”
Meanwhile, Kantipur says the Cabinet made 16 significant decisions over various issues that day.
Case against Pappu stalled halfway
Gorkhapatra reports in its lead story that a case filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority at the Special Court against lawmaker Hari Narayan Rauniyar, the owner of controversial Pappu Construction, has been stalled halfway as the court has not sent the summons to the defendants yet.
Meanwhile, Nagarik and Republica report that the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation has scrapped the contract with Pappu Construction for the Sikta Irrigation Project after the contractor failed to expedite the national pride project as per the agreement.
Ignored
NPC says local units failed to serve people effectively
Though the 2015 constitution has empowered local governments significantly, they have apparently failed to meet people’s expectation, the National Planning Commission under the federal government concluded.
Karobar reports in a two column story that the Commission’s midterm expense report has identified insufficient institutional structures and human resources for the ineffective performance.
Gachhadar to assume new role after mahasamiti meeting
Newly appointed vice-president of Nepali Congress, Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, will assume his role only after the party’s mahasamiti meeting scheduled for December third week in Kathmandu, reports Naya Patrika.
The current statute of Nepali Congress has the provision for only one vice-president and Bimalendra Nidhi is working in that capacity. Therefore, Gachhadar will take over after the mahasamiti meeting amends the statute, the report quotes spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma to say.
NCP spends four times the cost of Nepali Congress tea party for similar function
Two biggest parties of the country—ruling Nepal Communist Party and main opposition Nepali Congress—recently hosted tea receptions on the occasion of Dashain and Tihar among other festivals. Citing party sources, a four column story in Nepal Samacharpatra informs that the NCP spent Rs 4 million for the event, whereas the expense of Nepali Congress was just one fourth of it.
Govt adds 6,000 vehicles in one year
Apparently due to the officials’ lust for new vehicles, the government purchased around 6,000 vehicles for their use in past one year, reports Annapurna Post in a two column story.
The report comments that the officials demand new vehicles while their existing ones are still working, and it has increased the unproductive spending of the state.
Four dozen local govts yet to announce annual budget
Though the Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangement Act requires all local governments in the country to table the budget for the next fiscal year by June 24 every year, total four dozen local units have failed to abide by the provision, according to a report in The Kathmandu Post.
Teachers, health workers and employees of these local governments have not been paid since the beginning of this fiscal year in mid-July, the report adds.
Interesting
10 Nepal-India bus routes identified
The Department of Transport Management has identified 10 routes to operate crossborder bus services between various places of Nepal and India, Abhiyan reports in its anchor story.
The Department also issued permits to 22 transport companies to provide services along the routes.
The service will begin once officials of the two countries sign an agreement in this regard.
