Broadsheet dailies (both in Nepali and English) published in Kathmandu on Thursday, April 28, 2016, have chosen issues of their liking to go on the front page. While most papers have given space to political stories, others have focused on social issues.

Important

Deal on Parliamentary regulations still elusive

Gorkhapatra in its second lead story of the day says a meeting of the committee working on a draft of the much-awaited Parliamentary regulations was put off due to lack of quorum. The report says that only 22 of the 61-member committee were present during the meeting. The three-column report says the major political parties remain divided over the number of members in the Parliamentary Hearing Committee. Political parties in Parliament have not been able to reach a consensus on the regulations, which were needed after the promulgation of the constitution. Parliamentary regulations are meant to govern government appointment in constitutional bodies.

The Himalayan Times in its second lead for the day says committee chairman Radheshyam Adhikari wants Parliamentary hearing to be conducted on the newly nominated judges and ambassadors to go on in accordance with the existing regulations. The report quotes Adhikari as saying, “There should be no delay in conducting hearing for the newly nominated SC justices and ambassadors. If we wait for the new parliamentary regulations to be formulated, it could take a month even after we succeed in forging consensus.”

Four people, including three of a family, murdered in Salyan

Rajdhani in its lead-cum-box story with a double-decker screaming headline says four people, including three from a family, were murdered in cold blood in Ranagaun in Salyan on Tuesday night. According to the report, those found dead are: Sita Khan (23), Sita’s daughter Sabita Khan (2), another daughter Pabitra (2) and and Sita’s sister Gita Giri (18). According to preliminary reports, police suspect that Sita was raped, and her rapists killed everyone in the family to evade arrest.

Federal Alliance submits memos to PM

The Himalayan Times in its anchor for the day has a report on the submission of memos by the members of the FA (an alliance of 27 pro-Madhesi and Janjati parties demanding changes to the constitution). The report says, “The Federal Alliance today (Wednesday) submitted a 26-point memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli through chief district officers.

Ignored

Question mark over NGOs’ accountability 

Nagarik and Republica in their lead stories for the day claim that the government oversight over post-quake relief distribution and reconstruction has allowed international NGOs to remain unaccountable. Republica in its lead story says, “Government agencies in the district (Gorkha) have no information on the total number of aid agencies active in the district and the type of rehabilitation works done by them. It further says, “Although the aid agencies and I/NGOs have submitted their reports, their expenditure details are not transparent. The reports do not cover the total number of beneficiaries, investment, or type and quantity of support materials meant for quake victims.” 

Four climbers killed in five days

The Himalayan Times has a brief report on the death of four climbers in the mountains of Nepal in the last five days. The report says while a mountaineer from Switzerland and the other from Austria died after falling into a crevasse on Mt Pangma, two others died of altitude sickness.

Drought affects life in Kathmandu 

Nepal Samacharpatra has a three-column box story that is continued in the inside page. The report says wells in the city were already drying up, and last year’s quake only made the situation worse. It quotes a geologist as saying that there has been no study so far on the effect of the quake on groundwater.

International carriers hike air fares 

Karobar in its second story for the day says international carriers flying to destinations not touched by the national airline have implemented a massive hike in fares. The report says they have hiked the fares by as much as 45 per cent.

Interesting 

Public schools to get internet access

Gorkhapatra has a two-column report on Nepal Telecom Authority’s plans to utlise the rural telecoms fund to provide internet access to public schools in Nepal. Under the plan, schools have been given a deadline of May 6 to apply for a broadband connection.