Share Market to reopen from today

Kathmandu, June 28

 Share market will reopen from Monday, June 29.

A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) on Sunday decided to direct the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) to open the market from Monday.

The SEBON has asked the stakeholders to resort to electronic channel for share and money transfer. “Investors, brokers, NEPSE, CDS and Clearing and merchant banks should follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines published earlier,” said the capital market regulator.

It said that the companies and offices would be punished in case they did not strictly adhere to the required safety measures.

Stock brokerage firms are not allowed to run their screen room while the investors were urged to conduct the share transactions from their home as far as possible. SEBON said that the arrangements made so far would facilitate the investors to make their share transactions from their own home.

The responsibility to set the market opening time, circuit break and price limit is given to NEPSE which is asked to set provision to create stability in the transactions in the secondary market.

Although the government had loosened the lockdown two weeks ago, the share market is closed even though other businesses, that are riskier than the capital market, are in operation. The SEBON had formed a team to look into the matter and it decided to reopen the market as per the recommendation of the team.

To facilitate the electronic transaction, CDSC has develop a system to transfer the shares electronically after testing it by the brokers. SEBON had directed the NEPSE to develop an online system for the entire share transaction process.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 June 2020. 

Forget about removing me, PM Oil says

Kathmandu, Jun 28

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said on Sunday that internal and external elements had started making movements against the present government after it issued the updated map of the country including Nepal’s territory encroached by India.

However, he challenged such elements maintaining that Nepal’s nationalism was strong. “If anyone has dreamt of removing the prime minister of this country for including the new updated map in the Constitution, this will not be possible. Our nationalism is not that weak,” he said.

He made the statement while addressing a programme organised in Baluwatar on the occasion of the 69^th Memorial Day of late leader Madan Kumar Bhandari.

According to him, the new map with the territory that Nepal used for 146 years after the Sugauli Treaty in 1816 was not printed by mistake. He expressed hope that the encroached land would be returned at any cost.

PM Oli said that the government was protecting the national interest as per the guidance of the People’s Multiparty Democracy. “The sovereignty of a country is not small or big. This is not a time to sit idle considering ourselves a ‘helpless-yam’, we are not yam,” he said.

He also said that the country that had a glorious history, dynamic present and bright future could not remain neighbour-locked for ever.

Stating that he had to leave the post of the country’s chief executive after signing a transit treaty with China, he said, “We did not have majority in the parliament then. But dreaming the same, some elements had started activities against the government. They only had not dared to say it openly.”

Therefore, this is an illusion, let them make their try as the situation is not same now, he said.

 “No one should make a haste and no one should carry any biases,” said Oli who is also the chair of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

Indicating that the internal and external forces had been trying to push the country into the instability, he said, “Just listen to the media from New Delhi, you will know what is happening where. Activities happening in the hotels in Kathmandu and activism of the Indian Embassy further clarifies the matter.”

He clarified that the government did not make any mistake by publishing the updated map, including Limpiyadhura in it. “The land that we used for 146 years was snatched away 58 years ago. We want to get that land back. We have not encroached other’s land nor interfered in other country’s internal matter. Therefore, we have not committed any mistake,” he said.

PM Oli said that he had chosen politics not to be a ruler but to serve the people of the country and expressed his commitment that he would fight for the future of the country as well, and at the backdrop of all these, there are dimensions of the People’s Multiparty Democracy, a philosophy devised by late Bhandari.

“The party guided by the philosophy of late leader Bhandari clearly understands it. I don’t just want to cling to the post but if I am subdued, no one will dare to talk about the nationalism so openly,” he said.

PM Oli maintained that the government was marching ahead instilling confidence in people and inspired by the philosophy of Madan Bhandari.

According to him, Nepali people admired Bhandari as a charismatic leader when he first addressed a mass meeting as the spokesperson of the then Nepal Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) at the Open Theatre in Kathmandu in 1990.

He said that Bhandari was a far-sighted leader and the provisions that he was discontented with in the Constitution of 1991 were included in the interim constitution of 2063.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 June 2020. 

We want cordial and balanced relations with all powers: Pandey

Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey is appointed as the ambassador of Nepal to China and is assuming the post from July this year. As an envoy of the country to the world economic superpower which is also the second largest trading partner, important source of tourists and other various exchanges, Pandey has to prove his mettle to take the bilateral relations between the two countries to newer heights in the wake of the signing of the agreements to use the ports in China and Nepal’s entry to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), taking the progress of the bilateral connectivity infrastructure and trade issues. Gopal Khanal and Modnath Dhakal of The Rising Nepal talked to Pandey about the contemporary as well as past issues and his plans as an envoy to China. Excerpts:

 

 

You have already served as the Foreign Affairs Minister of the country and worked as the policymaker of the foreign relations while you are taking up the responsibility of the country's envoy to the world's largest country and second largest economy. How do you feel about it?

We were writing constitution when I was the minister so we were more focused on social, cultural and other policies for the people of the country. The foreign ministry had to discover some innovative methods to deal with some topics in absence of policies. Foreign policy is largely the same for every country meaning that we work to fulfil and achieve the ‘national interest’. It is also said that foreign policy is the reflection of the domestic policy therefore we must have our house in order to make the external relations better and effective, but regardless of who comes to the power, it remains the same. The constitution has also clearly enshrined that foreign policy would remain the same for all friendly nations whatever political party comes to power while the Charter of the United Nations and other international treaty and conventions will also guide it. We want to befriend all and resolve the issues, if any, in friendly way and diplomatically.

Being an ambassador to China is an immense opportunity. The two countries have millennia-old relationship. Rana Prime Minister Ranodip had brought Chinese language teacher to learn it. Cultural, social and economic relations have been taken to newer height in every regime in both countries. But relations do change with the time and we have to be wise enough to understand the changes and move accordingly. China has about one fifth of the world’s population and is source of a large number of tourists, investment, trade and cultural exchanges. Nepal needs to understand the global status and China's position as well as Nepal's interest with China and international scenario. We have long-lasting cultural and economic relations which need to be developed and upgraded as per the changing time and technology. China is a country which has achieved much progress in a short span of time so Nepal has lot many things to learn from its northern neighbour.

 

Have you made any rough planning or to do list as an ambassador of China?

My job would be strengthening bilateral political, diplomatic, cultural and economic relations between the two countries. Making the relations more trustworthy and reliable and attracting Chinese tourists and investments to Nepal would be my priorities. Likewise, there is a necessity to further develop people-to-people relations, create impactful connections between the think tanks across the border, exchange of professionals, and knowledge transfer in agriculture, communication, business and education.

We must not forget that although countries might be large and small, powerful and less powerful in terms of demographics, size and economy, their sovereignty is equal. Therefore, the United Nations treats all its members equally. I think that we have maintained cordial relations with China as well as any other countries. China aims to completely alleviate the poverty by the end of 2020, by lifting the living standard of about 100 million people. Nepal can learn many things in economic, health, technological, communication, cultural and educational areas from China.

Some of the Chinese ideologies, such as the one by incumbent President Xi Jinping, are opposed by some intellectuals but every country wants to promote its policies while every other country should learn from the good practices of its neighbours and elsewhere. I believe that our cooperation in the areas of science and technology and innovation would be more beneficial for us.

 

Nepal had signed Transport and Transit Treaty with China during the first tenure of PM KP Sharma Oli, when Nepal’s relations with the southern neighbour had touched the lowest ebb, and protocols for the same were signed last year which has opened the way for Nepal to access additional 7 dry and sea ports in China. How would you work to make it practically viable for Nepali entrepreneurs and traders?

The trilateral relations had witnessed its low when Nepal signed the treaty. We must not forget that PM Oli took a stand and helped in easing the blockade imposed by India five years back. He visited India first then China only after his stand of not visiting the former until it lifted the blockade was addressed. The signing of the treaty was not a temporary measure against the blockade but a long-term strategy for the expansion of trade and economic cooperation.

When Xi Jinping visited Nepal about 20 agreements had been signed. China has allowed Nepal to use its 7 ports. But we need to have people and goods to move via those ports. Nepal's participation in BRI has been interpreted from various dimensions, but we have to work to use the initiative in our favour in terms of the creation of infrastructure and promoting international trade. A cross-border railway between Nepal and China has also been received critically by some economists. They say that it should only be developed if China provided grant and Nepal should not seek loan to build it nor invest its own funds in the projects. They have the view that Nepal cannot handle and manage the project of that scale. This is a biased view.

Therefore, we have to be prepared in terms of the goods to send to China and beyond before using the route in China in order to reap the benefits of the new 7 ports that were open to Nepal for the use. We have to increase our agricultural and industrial production and enhance the quality. Nepal can benefit a lot from Chinese tourists. I had proposed the topic to the Chinese government when I was the minister and they have expressed concerns about the availability and quality of infrastructure. Chinese tourists would have been increased following the official visit of President Xi, but COVID-19 pandemic spoilt the opportunity. However, hopes are still alive that Nepal will certainly welcome more tourists from China in future. Nepal is a unique tourist destination in terms of culture, people and ecology - it has new climatic condition in every 10 km, but we have not been very successful in promoting it. Nepal is an example of religious tolerance, attractive cultures, and heritages.

 

Chinese President Xi, who initiated the BRI with the theme of partnership and shared prosperity, visited Nepal after 23 years. Nepal has also become the part of the initiative. Have you talked with the government about the projects under the BRI?

I have met the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister as well as the officials at the ministry and experts regarding the issues and projects with China. The northern neighbour is developing railway up to Keyrung soon. But we are not prepared for the connecting infrastructure in Nepal’s side. Only pre-feasibility study of Tokha-Chhahare tunnel is completed. But as the projects to create tunnels and railways in Nepal are in priority, I am hopeful that things will move in positive direction in the near future. I have also discussed the issues of education, tourism, agriculture, and technology with PM Oli, ministers and experts. China has pledged its support for Madan Bhandari Institute of Science and Technology. It will have affiliated campuses in all states. The government also aims to run schools to create students capable to pursue science and technology in higher level. I would like to take such issues further. I have also discussed with the private sector entrepreneurs and traders to understand the export opportunity in China and things that the government should facilitate.

There is also a need to establish a bank with bilateral investment since its absence has affected the bilateral trade. Chinese banks have already shown interest to open a branch, the matter is under discussion. As we have Indian, Bangladeshi and other banks in Nepal, there should be a Chinese bank as well. We should accord priority to the BRI and projects under it because it will help Nepal to reduce the infrastructure gap and create greater connectivity with other countries. Since we need it, we have to exhibit greater concerns to the initiative. Nepal should soon create policies to get benefits from both the immediate neighbours. Since we want to get benefit from the projects, we have to show greater concerns.

 

President Xi had said that China would help Nepal in becoming a land-linked country from the landlocked one. Many said it heralded an age of strategic partnership between the two neighbours. Do you think it has tried to redefine the bilateral relations?  

When we talk about land-linked status, it should be understood that we need two powers to create a link. China will build a rail line up to Lumbini and India has announced to build one up to Kathmandu. This will be a strong link between the two economic powers. It will facilitate bringing Chinese goods to South Asia or facilitating Indian pilgrims to reach Mansarovar in Tibet. Such projects will benefit immensely. It will not only redefine the relations but also give the much needed impetus to growth and development. The relationship followed by a bond of a new initiative is stronger and more reliable. We will create an environment to win the confidence of both the countries. I would also like to repeat that Himalayas in the north is not a challenge but a symbol of amity between Nepal and China.

 

You are assuming the post of envoy to a neighbour at a time when another neighbour had unilaterally encroached Nepali land and developed infrastructure there. China also comes in the scene so far as the trilateral connection point is concerned. What is your take on the Chinese statement that Kalapani is a bilateral issue between Nepal and India and solution should be sought by the two?

Kalapani area has been pushed into a dispute not because of Nepal but India. Nepal has sufficient and strong historical evidences that it is Nepal’s territory. We have to follow the historic facts; this should be the modus operandi for finding solution. Nepal also believes in the same principle. Nepal has unconditionally supported India for many times including India's election to the UN Security Council, and I don't think India would sit with the problem any further troubling its neighbour which shares unparalleled relations anywhere in the world. The friendship won’t erode due to the current problem and the issue will be resolved as per the evidences available. I believe that India will thankfully return the land to Nepal. But first, it is a bilateral issue so Nepal should resolve it first with India then only talk about the trilateral point should be initiated.

Indian occupation of Nepali territory has halted Nepal-China border demarcation primarily from pillar no. 1 to pillar no. 0. In 2015, when India and China signed an agreement to set the bilateral border point at Lipulek, we sent diplomatic notes – I was the foreign affairs minister then, while China expressed its readiness for further investigation and discussion, but India said that it was its own land. Recently when Indian army chief made comments about the Kalapani region, I said that threatening the neighbour and using the army chief instead of diplomats would not help in finding the solution. But many intellectuals criticised my statements. There were rumours that I said King Mahendra had exchanged Kalapani with gold. Those intellectuals have lost 'intellectual honesty'. I would like to urge the media persons and experts to directly consult me about the issue and not tarnish my loyalty to the nation and nationalism. My perspectives are clear, and no one can force or create deterioration in my belief and orientation.

 

In the recent years, the trade between Nepal and China has grown significantly but Nepal’s exports are minimal while Chinese imports have increased. What would you do to address this issue?

First, we have to produce enough for the domestic consumption. Then effective assessment should be made about the goods and products that are in demand in the foreign markets. Most of the industries developed with cooperation from foreign support are sick. Rubber industry, sugar factory, cotton mill and textile mill are all shut. The country must establish industries to cater to the domestic need as well as foreign markets. Nepal can be a market of ancillary and spare parts industries which can be established in cooperation with the industries in China and India since they are the largest markets.

Herbs and herbals including yarsha gumba are in high demand in China so greater focus should be on such produces. We opened market of citrus fruit from Nepal to China but we import lemon and other citrus fruit from India. Nepal should learn from the experiences of other successful countries. Promotion of technology in agriculture and its commercialisation should be given utmost priority.

 

In the last couple of years, a section of people has been saying that Nepal's ties with China are growing. Do you think it happening while the country, after the current government coming to power, has adopted a balanced foreign policy?

There is no limit to knowledge, science and conscience which means we must take every good thing and idea happening anywhere in the world, not only in China and India. Reading Adam Smith doesn't mean that one is the supporter of capitalism while reading Karl Marx does not mean following the philosophy of communism. For us, Nepal's relation with China is similar with the latter's relation with India. We are not pro to any power be that China, India, the USA, EU or Japan. We are pro-Nepal and want cordial and balanced relations with all.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 June 2020. 

Nepal’s population crosses 30 million mark

Kathmandu, June 26

Nepal’s population has crossed 30 million mark on Friday.

As per the estimates of the Central Bureau of the Statistics (CBS), an agency under the National Planning Commission, Nepal’s population reached 30,000,634.

According to the demographic size, Nepal ranks 49 in the world in terms of population density of 203 people per square km. The size of population is quite high considering the area of the country as it ranks 91 in terms of area.

The CBS said that the estimates were made as per the statistics of vital information like birth, death and migration rate based on the 2011 census.

In 2011, Nepal’s population was 26.49 million. The country is conducting another census next year.

 The CBS is mobilising 50,000 surveyors in the field with digital devices. It said that the upcoming census will create the statistical base of all 753 local units which would be important in terms of development planning there.

The work procedures for the 12^th national census is recently approved by the NPC.

As per the procedures, work to develop questionnaire will be started from coming Monday while recruit of field surveyors will start soon. Likewise, creation of statistics processing centre and training of surveyors, mobilising the materials required for the census and establishment of offices in states and districts will be executed after that.

The CBS has planned to publish the result of the 2021 census before mid-April 2023.

The history of census in Nepal started since 1911. According to the last census, Nepal’s average annual growth rate of population was 1.35 per cent, a sharp decline from the 2.25 per cent in the decade of 1990-2001.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 June 2020. 

Have govt agency to register website domain: House panel

Kathmandu, June 26

Parliament’s Development and Technology Committee has directed the government to make arrangement for registering the names of the government website domain by a government agency.

Citing the weak cyber security, the House panel asked the government and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to do the job, which was so far been performed by the private sector service providers, from the government agency.

After holding discussion with the Minister for Communication and Information Technology and high officials on ‘Cyber-crime and security’ on Friday afternoon, the committee had directed the government and line ministry to conduct the mandatory security audit of the government websites and information technology service provider companies.

Likewise, it directed the government to create legal provision to download all the web-based and social networking apps only after the approval of the respective regulator of the sector.

“Create a provision to allow the download only after the regulator’s assurance that the application is appropriate in terms of security, privacy and utility,” read the decision of the committee.

It directed the government to effectively implement the programme to expand the high-speed broadband internet service to the ward offices, health institutions and secondary schools across the country.

The committee asked for the proper use of government documents and directed the government and the ministry to publish government letters, documents, information and notices only through the official website and emails.

Likewise, it asked to enhance the capacity of the responsible government officials in terms of the information technology and use of electronic devices.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 June 2020. 

House panel tells ministry to listen to transport entrepreneurs’ woes

Kathmandu, Jun 25

The Development and Technology Committee of the Federal Parliament directed the government to provide concession in tax, reschedule the loans and extend refinancing services to the transport entrepreneurs to mitigate the COVID-19 inflicted impacts on the business.

“The COVID-19 has created a risk of losing the investment made in the public transportation sector, therefore, they should be supported with the loan rescheduling and refinancing, tax discount and concessional loan to repair the vehicles at the earliest,” the committee directed the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) and Department of Transport Management (DoTM).

It asked the government and MoPIT to create a concrete plan for the operation of public transportation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and provide the plan to the committee.

After the discussion with the Director General of the DoTM Gogan Bahadur Hamal and officials on Thursday, the House panel directed the ministry and department to establish vehicle washing centres at the entry of the Kathmandu Valley and other major cities in order to save them from dust carried by the vehicles. It also asked them to establish such facilities by the end of the next fiscal year 2020/21.

Likewise, the committee directed the ministry to regulate the unchecked entry and exit of the Indian vehicles. It also asked to create an integrated information system to regulate and manage smart license, embossed number and GPS tracking of the vehicles.

To create policy stability in the transportation sector, the committee directed the ministry and department to create a national policy in cooperation and collaboration among the federal, state and local governments.

It also asked to create separate standards to obtain the license for the private and public vehicles in order to make the present license system more effective and well managed, and not allow the individual holding the license for the private vehicle to drive a public one.

The house panel also directed the MoPIT to conduct the Organisation and Management survey of the DoTM and provide enough human resources as the department and offices under it were facing difficulties in extending its services due to the shortage of staff.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 June 2020. 

Foreign Ministry refutes reports of territory encroachment by China

Kathmandu, Jun 25

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has refuted the media reports regarding the encroachment of Nepali territory by China.

Stating that the ministry’s attention was drawn to the reports in the media regarding Nepal-China boundary and encroachment of Nepali territory, it said the news report was baseless.

“The news is allegedly based on the ‘report’ of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development which it has already refuted and clarified stating that such ‘report’ doesn’t exist and that the subject matter doesn’t fall under its jurisdiction,” said the MoFA in a statement on Thursday.

It stated that the boundary between Nepal and China was delineated and demarcated on the basis of the Boundary Treaty of October 5, 1961 and the subsequent protocols signed between the two countries.

Likewise, Boundary Markers No. 37 and 38 reported as missing in the media reports have never been erected as agreed between the two countries owing to natural conditions.

The ministry also said that the government would solve through mutual consultation between the concerned authorities of the two countries in case any issue arose.

It has requested the media to verify the information from the relevant authorities before commenting on such sensitive matters which might adversely affect the relations between the two friendly neighbours.  

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 June 2020. 

Japan provides grant aid for socio-economic development

Kathmandu, Mun 25

Japan has extended grant assistance of up to Rs. 333 million to Nepal for the Economic and Social Development Programme.

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Saigo Masamichi and Chief of the International Economic Cooperation and Coordination Division of the Ministry of Finance Shreekrishna Nepal signed notes for the grant on Thursday.

As the COVID-19 infection has rapidly increased affecting human lives as well as economic and social activities, furthermore the dignity of people, many countries have been trying to use their resources to take steps based on lessons learned in the past and cases of other countries to tackle the virus.

Unfortunately, many also face difficulties to provide health and medical services, and this has already severely damaged economic and social activities and wellbeing of the people, said the Embassy of Japan in a statement.

It said that Japan had been working to archive the universal health coverage, however, the current crisis particularly affects countries with vulnerable health systems.

“Based on awareness for the problems and in response to a request from the Government of Nepal, the Government of Japan will provide medical equipment to be utilised for taking measures against infectious diseases and the development of healthcare and medical systems,” said the embassy.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 June 2020. 

Melamchi Cites Coronavirus To Push Deadline Until Next Year

Kathmandu, June 24

 The deadline of already sick Melamchi Water Supply Project is pushed to next fiscal due to the coronavirus pandemic and shortage of workers.

The government had announced to complete the construction of the project by the end of this fiscal year (mid-July 2020) and test the tunnel, but the target is likely to push for another year as about 75 per cent workers left the work in the initial days of lockdown, imposed from March 24, to go to their home.

Only 164 workers are working at the site currently while their number was 400 before the advent of coronavirus.

Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation Bina Magar said in a meeting of the Development and Technology Committee of the Parliament on Wednesday that the ministry had planned to complete the construction of physical infrastructure in the current fiscal year and test the tunnel and distribute water in the next year.

Secretary at the Ministry Madhav Belbase said that it would take at least two months to test the tunnel. Since the testing of tunnel is a technically complex task, it would take about a year to complete it.

Lawmakers had inquired about the date for the arrival of water from the Melamchi Water. Chairperson of the committee Kalyani Kumari Khadka said that the deadline of the project was postponed for multiple times therefore the government must clearly announce the completion date.

The committee had directed the ministry to implement effective management system for the distribution of water and address the demands of the local people in Sindhupalchowk where the head works and most of the tunnel are located.

The project has witnessed about 97 per cent progress so far with the completion of alternative water diversion system and water treatment centres while infrastructure connecting the tunnel and treatment centre is about to complete.

Head works construction has witnessed 65 per cent progress. The work to construct the head works had begun after the Italian contractor CMC fled the country leaving the work incomplete.

Of the structures of head works, construction of coffer dam, DI pipeline and 6 hydro mechanical gates is completed while erection of hoists and control panels and construction of stilling basin and intake is under construction, said the Melamchi Water Development Board.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 June 2020. 

KMC brings Rs 16.4 billion budget for FY 2020/21

Five Metropolis announce budget

Kathmandu, June 24

 Kathmandu Metropolitan City has announced the budget of Rs. 16.42 billion for the next fiscal year 2020/21.

Deputy Mayor of the Metropolis Hari Prabha Khadgi announced the budget at the seventh Municipal Council held on Wednesday.

The largest chunk of the budget, Rs. 8.43 billion is allocated for the infrastructure development, followed by Rs. 2.5 billion to social sector development, Rs. 1.78 billion for administration and Rs. 963 million to governance.

The sources of the budget are internal sources Rs. 6.76 billion and external sources Rs. 6.16 billion.

Remaining Rs. 3.5 billion would be supplemented from the bank reserves of the metropolis. Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya said that about 41.19 per cent resources would be managed from the internal sources.

Likewise, Pokhara Metropolis has announced the budget of Rs. 6.19 billion for the next fiscal. Deputy Mayor Manju Devi Gurung presented the budget on Wednesday. The metropolis has reduced the budget by Rs. 810 million compared to the budget of the current fiscal.

The tourist city expects to receive Rs. 2.5 billion from the federal government, Rs. 105 million from the Gandaki State.

Similarly, Deputy Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolis Indira Karki presented the budget of Rs. 3.37 billion. The metropolis has allocated Rs. 1.71 billion for capital expenditure.

The capital of State 1 hopes to receive Rs. 898 million from internal sources, Rs. 768 million from revenue distribution, Rs. 380 million from equilisation grant.

Similarly, Deputy Mayor of Birgunj Metropolis Shanti Karki presented Rs. 3.86 billion budget of the next fiscal at the 7^th Municipal Council.

The budget comes with Rs. 1.63 billion recurrent and Rs. 2.17 billion development expenditure, and Rs. 63 million for financial management. Birgunj hopes to mobilise Rs. 1.3 billion from Municipal Development Fund, Rs. 916 million municipal development loan, Rs. 11.6 million equilisation grant, Rs. 597 million internal income, Rs. 301 million from cash reserves, Rs. 150 million real estate tax and Rs. 30 million from conditional grant.

Likewise, Bharatpur Metropolis’ Deputy Mayor Parbati Shah Thakuri presented a budget of Rs. 4.15 billion for the next fiscal.

It hopes to raise Rs. 600 million from federal and state government, Rs. 900 million from internal income, Rs. 1.69 from intergovernmental fiscal transfer, and Rs. 461 million from state government’s revenue distribution.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 June 2020. 

Remittance, capital spending go down

Kathmandu, Jun 23

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a serious impact on various economic sectors with remittance inflows, private sector credit, capital expenditure and foreign trade going down, and foreign exchange reserves and current account witnessing the surpluses.

The remittance inflows in mid-May to mid-June 2020 was Rs. 62 billion against Rs. 73.7 billion in the same period last year, according to the Nepal Rastra Bank’s report on the country’s macroeconomic status published on Tuesday.

 In April/May this year, the amount was Rs. 53.9 billion while it was Rs. 72.1 billion last year.

The government had imposed nationwide lockdown shutting down the business and movements to check the spread of the COVID-19 and save lives.

“Remittance inflows decreased by 6.1 per cent to Rs.680.84 billion in the 10 months of the current fiscal year against an increase of 19.6 per cent in the same period of the previous year,” said the central bank.

In the US Dollar terms, such inflows decreased by 7.4 per cent in the review period against an increase of 9.3 per cent last year.

Net transfer income decreased by 6.5 per cent to Rs.772.51 billion this year. Such income had increased by 19.4 per cent in the 10 months of the last fiscal.

Capital expenditure has nosedived to just Rs. 9.1 billion in April/May and Rs. 8.7 billion in March/April this year while it was Rs. 19.4 b illion and Rs. 19.2 billion in the respective months last year.

Government revenue slid to Rs. 16.1 billion in the tenth month of the current fiscal against the Rs. 59.1 billion last year.

Likewise, private sector credit mobilisation witnessed a negative growth by Rs. 13.3 billion in the 10^th month while Rs. 15.6 billion was mobilised in the same month last year. It has further gone down to -15.9 billion in May-June this year.

Exports sink

Another downturn has happened in export trade. The country that exported goods worth Rs. 8.7 billion and Rs. 9.3 billion in mid-April to mid-May and mid-May to mid-June respectively last year has exported goods of Rs. 3.9 billion and Rs. 3.3 billion this year.

Most of the industries, except the food, medicines and essential goods producing companies are shut with the advent of coronavirus and imposition of lockdown. Only about a quarter of industries were operating (only about 40-50 per cent of their capacity) in the first two months of the lockdown.

Since the lockdown was also imposed in most of the trading partner countries, the foreign trade witnessed a downward trend.

Likewise, imports were decreased by half in mid-April to mid-May this year compared to the same period last year. The country that imported goods worth Rs. 116.5 billion last year has imported goods of Rs. 58.3 billion in the 10^th month this year.

The year-on-year statistics show that in ten months of 2019/20, merchandise exports increased by 4.5 per cent to Rs.82.06 billion compared to an increase of 18.9 per cent a year ago.

Merchandise imports decreased by 13.0 per cent to Rs.1025.14 billion this year against an increase of 19.6 per cent in the same period of the previous year.

The decreased imports means the decrease in consumption of foods and other goods as well as contraction in capital formation sectors such infrastructure development and business establishments since most of the capital goods come from India and third countries.

 

Positive indicators

The trade deficit narrowed down by 14.2 per cent to Rs.943.07 billion in the ten months of 2019/20. Such deficit had expanded by 19.7 per cent in the same period of the previous year.

The export-import ratio increased to 8.0 per cent in the review period from 6.7 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Likewise, the current account that registered a deficit of Rs.105.74 billion in ten months of the current fiscal was Rs.221.77 billion in the same period of the previous year.

Balance of Payments (BOP) remained at a surplus of Rs.120.90 billion against a deficit of Rs.68.20 billion of the previous year.

Meanwhile, foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased in the 10 months of this fiscal. The total FDI stands at Rs.17.42 billion this year against Rs.9.47 billion of the last year.

Gross foreign exchange reserves increased by 18.9 percent to Rs.1235.25 billion in mid-May 2020 from Rs.1038.92 billion in mid-July 2019.

Similarly, of the total foreign exchange reserves, reserves held by NRB increased to Rs.1075.19 billion in mid-May 2020 from Rs.902.44 billion in mid-July 2019.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 June 2020. 

Nepal gives priority to green finance

Kathmandu, Jun 23

A new report by the IFC-facilitated Sustainable Banking Network (SBN) shows Nepal, Bangladesh and Mongolia have identified green finance as a top priority for sustainably developing their financial sectors.

The report - “Necessary Ambition: How Low-Income Countries Are Adopting Sustainable Finance to Address Poverty, Climate Change, and Other Urgent Challenges”- says these countries face immediate and significant impacts from climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and social inequality that require urgent responses.

In the wake of the challenges, promoting green finance, such as green bonds and green loans, is particularly a focus in Bangladesh and Mongolia, read the report. The two countries, along with Nepal, are also working on developing national sustainable finance roadmaps as part of efforts to reduce market risk and incentivize green finance flows.

“At a time when low-income countries across Asia and the Pacific are being adversely impacted by COVID-19, it’s all the more vital for countries to embrace sustainable financial development to build resilience for the future,” said Nena Stoiljkovic, IFC’s Vice President for Asia and Pacific. “The report highlights these Asian countries are resolute in their commitment to promoting sustainable finance and going green in planning for the future.”

CEO and a Board Member of the Mongolian Sustainable Finance Bankers Association and Co-chair of the SBN IDA Task Force, Naidalaa Badrakh says there is positive evidence of changes in the way banks are managing environmental and social risks, compared to five years ago.

In addition to green finance, the report shows the three Asian countries are also exploring ways to expand sustainable finance to other areas such as financing for small and medium sized enterprises and agriculture. 

Dev Kumar Dhakal, Executive Director of the Nepal Rastra Bank, said "The country should develop and implement sustainable finance related policies for a better and safer financial system. These policies should not be detrimental to development activities, rather should guide the initiatives taken".

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 June 2020. 

NAC for changing provisions of property details

Kathmandu, Jun 21

The National Vigilance Centre (NAC) has recommended reviewing the present legal provision that demands officials and staff holding the public posts to submit the details of their property.

It has included the suggestion in its property detail monitoring report of the fiscal year 2019/20 and said that separate provision should be made for the staff below a certain level and for those working on contract and wage-basis.

There is also a need to transform the hard copy forms to electronic format. “As the number of forms for property details that need to be protected is increasing every year, there is a need to make it electronic,” said the NAC.

According to the report, the NAC has suggested to get the details of property of officials above certain posts and create alternative provision for others, implement the system only in the offices that conduct cash transactions and ask to submit the details only in case of compliant.

Likewise, it has also recommended to get the details of the property while appointing the officials and staff and go for a cash-bases property details.

In the current fiscal year, a large number of federal officials and staff did not submit their property detail.

About 12,133 federal employees did not submit the detail while 4,498 local level staff and 554 state-level staff followed the same suite.

The number of government employee at the three level is 606,710. A staff not submitting the property within a due time is fined Rs. 5,000.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 June 2020. 

Operate construction sector Normally, says Nembang

Kathmandu, Jun 21

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Basanta Kumar Nembang has said that the construction sector would be allowed to function as in the normal period.

“This sector should be in action. Formulate a work plan to conduct the construction work during the pandemic with the application of necessary health measures,” he directed the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction and project chiefs while inspecting the new minister-residence in Bhainsepati of Lalitpur district the other day.

He assured the infrastructure developer and construction sector companies of no problems in the transportation of materials and human resources. The government has already made a decision to this effect, he said.

“If there are any problems, I myself will coordinate with the concerned agencies,” said Minister Nembang.

According to the ministry, the existing ministers’ residence in Pulchowk was not sufficient to accommodate all the ministers and the government is developing new residence in an area of 124.6 ropanis of land in Bhainsepati.

The first sector in Bhainsepati will have 24 blocks for the residence of ministers, chair and vice-chair of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Second sector will have the contact offices of the governors and chief ministers of the states. It will have seven blocks. All buildings will be two and a half storeys.

Estimated cost of the ministers’ residence is Rs. 1.34 billion and contact offices’ Rs. 724.7 million.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 June 2020. 

Dialogue based on trust can resolve border issue with India: Gyawali

India has been occupying about 410 km square km stretch of land in Nepal’s Kalapani region since early Sixties. This territory includes Limpiyadhura and Lipulek, the strategic border points with China. India unilaterally published a map including the region within its territory in November 2019.  Nepal protested the move and sent a diplomatic note to India but it exhibited indifference to the note and inaugurated a road to Lipulek through Nepali land in May this year. Nepal termed the act a serious violation of international law and sent another diplomatic note. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also not accepted the report of the Eminent Persons’ Group – a bilateral mechanism formed to review the relations between the two countries and offer suggestions to redefine it. Nepal has issued its updated map including the Mahakali river originating from Limpiyadhura as her farthest north-western border which has been ratified by the Parliament. In this backdrop, Gopal Khanal, Bhimsen Thapaliya and Modnath Dhakal of The Rising Nepal talked with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali at the Ministry. Excerpts:

 

The updated map of the country is endorsed by the Parliament and authenticated by the President. Nepal has clarified its official stand on Kalapani region. What is the government’s plan to get back the territory?

Nepal-India bilateral relation has multiple dimensions and we should not let any issue jeopardise the age old relationship. India is a good neighbour with whom we have mutual understanding and we are friends in need. Nepal wants to further the relations with the same spirit. Border issue between the two countries is a liability which was left historically unresolved. Therefore, the political leaders of both the countries have the historic responsibility to solve the issues for good.

We always believe the bilateral problems including the current border issue can be resolved through the dialogues based on trust. This is an opportunity to redefine the relations between the two neighbours as per the demands of the 21^st century. I think if the issues were raised concretely, it wouldn’t have come this far. Some modalities and strategies were conceived and talked about in the past but there were no sincere efforts to follow them up.

Nepal has now clarified its position about the border and the whole country is unified in this issue. India must understand this common voice and campaign and open the gates of dialogue which has remained shut for a long time. If we sit for dialogue in good faith, the two countries can resolve the problem amicably since more complex issues were resolved through dialogues in the past. We are awaiting a meaningful response from India.

 

Nepal had urged India for the meeting of the bilateral mechanism since unilaterally published its map including Nepal’s land in its territory. Nepal has continuously urging India to sit for the talks but India is showing indifference. In such a scenario, what would be Nepal’s strategy – wait further, keep pressing India for the meeting of bilateral mechanism or anything else?

Nepal sent formal notes to India in November and December last year and May this year. But there has been no reply, we are still awaiting it. I would like to reiterate that only the way to resolve the issue is through dialogue. Nepal is waiting India’s response to develop further strategy.

 

The government formed a committee to gather evidence on border issues after issuing the new map. There is criticism that the government had published the map without first having enough evidences. There is also a criticism that the committee was not inclusive.

The responsibility of the committee is clear – to collect evidences. It will collect the evidences scattered in various institutions and locations and compile them in organised way. Our treaty documents, maps and written records are deposited in various locations such as Ministry of Law, the National Archives, the Ministry of Land Management, the Department of Survey and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So, there is a need to collect the required documents to be produced for the dialogue. This committee reviews the available documents and literature and submits it to the government.

So far as the matter of some personalities not included in the committee is concerned, I would like to say that the country has come to this historical juncture due to the contribution of the experts, professionals and common people, the government is just their representative. It does not mean that there are no experts other than those in the committee, we will take their inputs when required. The committee cannot be too large.

There is a controversial theory raised occasionally, King Mahendra had signed an agreement with India in 1965 which permitted activities like installing security posts and building road in Nepali territory. Would the committee try to search for such documents?

The whole nation is united on the Kalapani issue and we must not take a way to critise one another. There were shotcomings in the past. The way the cartographic alterations were made and borders were changed and Indian security made presences in the territory which did not belong to it and tried to sever the administrative and political connections of Nepal to people in those areas. It should be seriously assessed. But what we must not forget is that international border is always fixed as per the formal border treaties between the nations. It cannot be changed. The treaties that define Nepal-India border is the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, its supplementary treaty made in December the same year, 1860 Naya Muluk Treaty and 1875 supplementary treaty.

 

Some Indian ex-bureaucrats, political leaders and experts have appealed their government to hold immediate dialogue with Nepal. What do you say about it?

We have taken such views positively. We have people-level relations. There is a quite good and impressive development cooperation between the two countries and we must not let it be hostile due to other challenges. But there should be conscious efforts to not to let irritants prevail over the historical and cultural relations. This should be addressed immediately. While the Eminent Persons Group was formed in 2016, its ToR includes that the group would submit recommendations to develop relations between the two countries as per the need of the 21^st century. And we want precisely the same – redefinition of the relations. Both countries want it.

 

Some Indian experts even went on to say that Nepal’s dissatisfaction was also the result of delay in the projects supported by the southern neighbor.

There has been outstanding achievements in some projects-- the cross-border pipeline was completed in just half of the estimated time which contributed for better environment, less time and money. India has supported in developing two Integrated Check Posts and building some more. Rail link project is underway while Postal Highway and post-quake reconstruction have also witnessed good progress. Pancheshwor and Upper Karnali are in limbo but it’s not good to generalise. We take the economic cooperation and partnership with India very positively.

 

How long does it take to collect the evidences on the border issue? Are we in a position to sit for a dialogue with sufficient evidences if India is ready for talks early?

We have published the map after having enough evidences and it has been institutionalised in the constitution as well. I would like to reiterate that the committee was not formed to collect the evidence. We have the historical documents to sit for a dialogue with India. We are well prepared for it.

 

Along with the diplomatic efforts, it has been heard that the government has tried to hold Prime Minister-level talks with India.

The secretary-level mechanism is a formal bilateral effort formed with the responsibility to address the challenges. But it does not mean that there shouldn’t be any other channel for the talks. We are ready for talks at any level. But there should be mutual understanding for this. The two countries formed the secretary-level mechanism in 2014. Had it been successful to hold meetings immediately after its creation, the 2015 India-China agreement on Lipulek pass and Nepal’s objections wouldn’t have come this far. Therefore, I think that there had been much delay in the meeting of the mechanism. If the talks at a higher level helps to address the problem, Nepal is ready for that as well.

 

While Nepal is capable to handle its internal and external affairs on its own, Indian side stated initially that Nepal raised the border and map issue on the behest of some other power. However, there has been corrections in such statements recently. How should Nepal understand it?

Nepal does not make its decision in the interest of any other power. We are independent and sovereign from time immemorial. Nepal always remained an independent nation throughout the history. It is the only country that was never a colony. Therefore, when anyone raises questions on our capability to make independent decisions, we take it seriously. That is an attack on our very being. If anyone looks Nepal through that perspective, it’s the fault of their lenses.

 

Don’t you think that India is largely indifferent in terms of resolving the border issue with Nepal?

Lingering a problem will create further challenges so we want an early solution to the border issue. The nations that aim to play a greater and effective role in the international arena should try to immediately address the problems in the region so they can focus on other important issues.

 

Nepal’s immediate neighbours India and China are at loggerheads at the border in Laddakh. What is Nepal’s stand on it?

Nepal is a strong advocate of regional peace and stability. We believe that the every problem can be solved peacefully. We are worried to see the events like that of Laddakh. We wish the confrontation to ease and both the countries sit for the talks as the relations between the two large economies affects the entire world. Nepal is hopeful that they will be able to bring down the tensions. We have positively taken the efforts for the talks between them.

 

There are also views that India does not want to talk with the present government. Such rumours might have come from those who want to see Nepal’s instability. What do you say?

 I don’t think that anyone has anything in mind other than talks to resolve the issue. There are may be some elements want to create confusion and instability in the society. They want to reverse the achievement the country made. Instability might satisfy some for a short time but in the long run, it would be painful for one and all. It is not good for the country and society. The unprecedented national unity that the country witnessed recently has given a strong message about Nepal and its society. All should understand it as it is.

 

The Millennium Challenge Corporation’s project in Nepal has become a subject of unwanted criticism and controversy. How can this issues be solved?

The MCC entered into controversy due to two factors: first, such matters should not be the subject of the internal discussion and debate of any political party because in such condition justice cannot be made with such projects. Second, the development project should be analysed through the frame of development, not through politicisation. Both unwanted things happened in terms of MCC, it became the issue of debate of ruling NCP’s internal politics. The discussion might have entered in positive direction if the project was discussed at par with the other large projects with foreign assistance. Some statements regarding the MCC project were hypothetical and exaggerated.

Those who criticised the project, also resorted to such hypothetical statements and believed in exaggerated opinions. A simple online search about the country where MCC is being implemented and country with the presence of US army would have answered most of the concerns. Do the countries that have the presence of US army are receiving the MCC support? Do the countries that obtained the MCC support have allowed the US to bring in its army? You can analyse these facts yourself. See the status of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria that entered into conflict in the last two decades. However, the debate took another course. But I am hopeful that the parliament will make a wise decision regarding the project.

 

What happens if the Parliament does not endorse the project in this session?

The date of commencement of the project was set for last September but we requested the USA to postpone it to June this year. Therefore, we have very less time. The parliament is free to make its decision and the political parties are also free to decide on their own but the project taken by the government must move ahead smoothly. I think that the MCC should not be stopped for long.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 June 2020. 

Nepal hopes India, China to end dispute peacefully

Kathmandu, Jun 20.

Nepal government has expressed confidence that India and China would be able to resolve the dispute through peaceful means.

“Nepal maintains that disputes between the two countries should be resolved through peaceful means,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement on Saturday.

It stated that it always stood firmly for regional and world peace.

The statement has come in the context of recent developments in the Galwan valley area between India and China.

Nepal is confident that both the neighboring countries will resolve, in the spirit of good neighborliness, their mutual differences through peaceful means in favour of bilateral, regional and world peace and stability, read the statement.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 June 2020. 

State budgets short of innovative programmes: experts

Kathmandu, Jun 19

The state governments have failed to be introduce new programmes and strategy for development and resource mobilisation, concluded the experts.

They termed the budget of the seven sub-national bodies for the coming fiscal year 2020/21, announced on 16 June, traditional and unrealistic that would ultimately fail to address the present health crisis as well as address the development and employment gaps in the respective provinces.

Experts also said that the states' exercise to imitate the policy and programmes of the federal government would lead them nowhere since they did not have the mechanism and institutions to execute such programmes while the central government had not been significantly successful in implementing its own development projects.

"The provincial budget has become the victim of the lack of institutional and technical capabilities in the states and poor budgeting process," said economist Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal.

He said that the capital expenditure status of the provinces was very poor as they could spend only about 20 per cent of the development budget in the current fiscal year before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Their budget is not realistic. There are some programmes to address the immediate need such as creating health infrastructure and employment generation through the investment in agriculture but I have a doubt about their impactful execution," said Dr. Khanal who had led the Public Expenditure Review Commission this year.

Former Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Prof. Dr. Govinda Raj Pokharel said that the state budgets should have been focused to containing the infection of coronavirus, its treatment, relief and employment creation but they continued with the popular programmes following the track of the previous years instead.

"Since they failed to spend the budget in the last one and a half years, they should have come up with programmes to address the policy bottlenecks and create institutional structures," he said.

According to Dr. Pokharel, the states are just functioning as subordinate bodies of the federal government expecting the grants from the centre so they need better alternatives of sources.

Economist Keshav Acharya said that provincial governments miserably failed in two fronts: creating innovative programmes as per local needs without following the policy of the centre, and forging cooperation among the local governments in creating better infrastructure.

"The sub-national bodies couldn't focus on revenue mobilisation and failed to use their rights enshrined in the constitution," he said. "Meanwhile, the federal government did not extend its cooperation to the states in enhancing their technical capabilities in terms of formulating the budget and spending it," he said.

Former Member of the NPC Dr. Chandra Mani Adhikari also questioned the structure and capability of the states in terms of mobilising the resources and utilisation of the budget. "Given the past experiences, there is no high hope about the provincial budget. The budget has also failed to connect with the policy and programmes," he said.

However, the experts said that the priority to programmes meant to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture and employment generation were some good components in the provincial budget.

Dr. Adhikari said that the aims of the budgets were good. "Setting priorities in line with the federal government in the time of crisis may help in fighting the pandemic together," he said.

Likewise, Acharya said that promotion of agriculture and programmes to create storage for agricultural goods and grants for the inputs are promising programmes in the budgets.

He especially appreciated State 5 for not allocating budget for the parliamentarians' individual development funds terming it a 'daring step'.

Dr. Khanal said that some large infrastructure projects included in the provincial budgets were good but he suggested creating a streamlining agency to create harmony among the budgets of the federal and state governments.

The combined budget of seven states for the next year amounts to Rs. 264.20 billion, Rs. 5.37 billion less than the current fiscal year. However, the budget of Bagmati and Sudurpaschim has increased significantly. Bagmati has the largest budget size with Rs. 51.42 billion followed by State 1 Rs. 40.89 billion; State 5 Rs. 36.35 billion; and Gandaki Rs. 34.84 billion. Likewise, Karnali announced the budget of Rs. 33.74 billion, State 2 Rs. 33.56 billion and Sudurpaschim Rs. 33.38 billion.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 June 2020. 

Nepal waiting for India’s reply on diplomatic notes: Gyawali

Kathmandu, Jun 19

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday that Nepal was waiting for the response of India on the two diplomatic notes sent by Nepal on border issue.

Nepal had sent a diplomatic note to the Indian government on November last year when the latter published a map including Nepal’s land – Kalapani region, including Limpiyadhura and Lipulek in its territory.

The second note was handed over to Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra in May this year expressing Nepal’s position on boundary issues especially in the Kalapani area when the southern neighbour constructed a road connecting the strategic Lipulek pass at the Nepal-China border through Nepal’s territory.

But India has not responded to these notes while Nepal awaits it desperately.

“Nepal always wants to resolve the problems with India through dialogue. Leaders of both the countries have a historical liability to fulfil,” Gyawali said in an interview with this daily on Friday.

The country has published a fresh updated map, including the Kalapani region in its territory and amended the Constitution to include the new map in the Coat of Arms.

He expressed confidence on the discussion and dialogue based on trust between the two neighbours.

According to him, fruitful discussions could not be held in the past despite the initiation of some processes and mechanisms.

He reiterated that the major references of the basis of Nepal’s territorial claim were the  Sugauli Treaty of 1816, Naya Muluk Treaty of 1860 and  supplementary treaty of 1875.

FM Gyawali also said that Nepal was open to talks of any level.

The two countries had established a bilateral mechanism in 2014 but it has failed to meet for a single time so far.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 June 2020. 

Govt opens licenses of 10 non-petroleum mines

Kathmandu, Jun 17

The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) has opened licenses of 10 mines ranging from coal to gold located in various States across the country.

Of the total non-petroleum mines opened for licensing, three are of copper, two of limestone, and one each of salt, gold, coal, kaoline and granite.

The DMG has published a notice on Wednesday to bid out mining license of four mines and prospecting licenses for the remaining sites.

Mining license will be awarded for limestone deposits at Khamilek in Kapurkot Gaunpalika of Salyan district and Kandrang Gadhi in Benighat-Rorang Gaupalika of Dhading with 5 km and 5.3 km square km area. Kamilek has electricity and road access while Kandrang Gadhi has only road connectivity.

Other projects ready for mining license award are salt deposit at Narsing Khola in Barahagaun Muktikshetra Gaunpalika in Mustang district and granite deposit at Daman in Thaha Municipality in Makwanpur.

Rest of the sites – gold deposit in Rolpa, Coal in Palpa, Kaoline in Makwanpur, and copper in Makwanpur, Udaypur and Dhading - are ready for the prospecting licenses.

“As the quantity and quality of the deposits of those six sites is not studied in detail, the department has opened licenses for exploration as well,” said Dr. Janak Bahadur Chand, Information Officer of the DMG.

According to the notice, gold prospect at Gam in Sunchhahari Gaunpalika of Rolpa, kaoline prospect at Daman in Thaha Municipality, coal prospect at Jhirubas in Nisdi Gaunpalika of Palpa, and copper at Dhusa in Benighat-Rorang Gaunpalika of Dhading, Agrakhola in Thaha Municipality of Makwanpur and Lekhani in Katari Municipality of Udaypur district are open for prospecting license.

Kaoline is clay created by weathering minerals and used in ceramics, said Dr. Chand.

The gold prospect site in Ropla has the largest site including 30 sq. km followed by copper prospect in Udaypur with 24 sq. km, and copper in Dhading and Makwanpur with 12 sq. km each.

The DMG has already carried out exploration works of these minerals and prepared data packages consisting of Terms of Reference (TOR) with general and technical information of these prospects/deposits.

“The bid notice is published in the newspaper and online. But this is not e-bidding,” said Dr. Chand.

He said that since the company needed to be registered in Nepal to be eligible to apply for the mining and prospecting license, the lockdown would not deter the interested ones.

The DMG had prepared the detail of the sites and bid notice much earlier but had waited for the government to ease the lockdown to publish it, said Dr. Chand.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 June 2020.