Nepal times

Longest total lunar eclipse of the century tonight Jul 27, 2018-The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century is set to occur on Friday night. The longest "blood moon" eclipse will last for 3 hours a nd 55 minutes from 12:09am. However, the "totality" period, when light from the Moon is totally obscured, will last for one hour, 43 minutes from 1:15am when the colour of the moon will turn light red. Nepal Astronomical Society, Gaushala has planned, for keen skywatchers, to view the blood moon eclipse from its three telescopes. According to NASA, the lunar eclipse will be visible from most of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and South America, with the exception of North America.    Source:ekantipur

Lawmaker Basnet starts monitoring development projects BHAKTAPUR:  Member of the House of Representatives, Mahesh Basnet, has started monitoring development activities in Bhaktapur district. The former Industry Minister said that he had taken this initiative for expediting development works in the district by evaluating effectiveness of works carried out through the budget that was allocated to the district in fiscal 2017/18, for the construction of various physical infrastructures like roads, drinking water, sewerage and schools. According to lawmaker Basnet, monitoring has begun to check the status of works carried out under various projects undertaken with the budget allocated by the Division Roads Office, Bhaktapur, Urban Development Project, Bhaktapur, Water Supply and Sanitation Office, Bhaktapur, and projects undertaken with the budget sanctioned by the central government. The monitoring will be done by a team comprising the Chief District Officer Naraya...

Simrik chopper crash-lands at Grande Hospital’s helipad Jun 30, 2018 -A helicopter belonging to Simrik Air crash-landed while attempting to land at the rooftop helipad of Grande International Hospital in Dhapasi, Kathmandu. No casualties have been reported, informed Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan). Caan Director General Sanjiv Gautam said the helicopter slipped at the final approach to the helipad of the hospital. The chopper with call sign 9N-ALR fell some 10 feet below the helipad. The chopper was planning to fly to Bharatpur in Chitwan with a patient. Source:ekantipur Dr Govinda KC begins hunger strike at police office after arrest Jun 30, 2018-Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has started his fast-unto-death at Jumla Police Office following his arrest on Saturday. KC was arrested from District Administration Office premises. He was stopped while on his way to Jumla Teaching Hospital before he went to DAO where he was arrested...

Five killed, multiple houses swept away in Dhading landslides DHADING:  Five persons of two families have lost their lives while nine houses have been damaged in landslides that occurred in Saiswara and Chiurikharka of Khaniyabas Rural Municipality, in the northern part of Dhading district, on Wednesday night. Due to landslides triggered by incessant rain last night, house of Raju Gole in Saiswara, Khaniyabas Rural Municipality-5 was completely damaged after being buried in the debris. In the incident, Gole’s wife Basodha Gurung (36), daughters Laxmi Gurung (10) and Saraswati Gurung (5) have lost their lives, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police at Dhading District Police Office, Ram Bahadur KC. Gole’s 12-year-old son Bikas has sustained injuries in the incident and has been referred to a health facility in the district headquarters after receiving preliminary treatment at a local health facility. Gole has been reported safe. Likewise, house of Shamsher Gha...

CDOs instructed to arrest entrepreneurs not operating vehicles Kathmandu, May 4 The Home Ministry has instructed Chief District Officers (CDO) in all 77 districts to arrest and take action against the transport entrepreneurs who have called a strike on Friday protesting the government’s decision to end transport cartels. Stating that the general public has been hit by the strike, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa has instructed the 77 CDOs to arrest the transport entrepreneurs who are not operating their vehicles and take action as per the Essential Services Operation Act 1957. Minister Thapa has also instructed all the district coordination committees to initiate investigation of the assets of the transport entrepreneurs and their committees that are on strike, according to a ministry source. “Minister Thapa has clearly instructed all district coordination committees to take action against those opposing the government’s decision by not operating their vehicles and to ...

T ransport entrepreneurs go on strike, thousands of passengers affected Kathmandu, May 4 A strike imposed by transport entrepreneurs supporting the ‘syndicate’ system has affected the daily life of people across the country. While the government has vowed to cancel the registration of transporters who go on strike, the transporters have demanded that the government not force them to operate their business as companies. In Kathmandu, public transport vehicles have been parked in the Bus Park area and ticket counters have been closed. However, private vehicles and few cabs are operating. Similarly, Rupandehi has been equally affected due to protest. All districts of Province 5 including provisional capital Hetaunda, and Province 1 have been affected. People travelling on long routes have been stranded on the highway as Transport committees such as West Nepal Bus Entrepreneurs Association, Siddhartha Yatayat, Butwal Yatayat, Gulmi Yatayat, Supa Deuli Yatayat, Pal...

Cargo train from Kolkata port arrives near Biratnagar Apr 29, 2018-A cargo train that had left Kolkata port in India five days ago arrived Bathana Station at Nepal-India border point near Biratnagar on Sunday. The cargo train had departed with 58 containers carrying goods imported from various third countries on Wednesday. Earlier, the border point near Birgunj was the only destination for the cargo trains transporting goods imported from third countries. The extension of the service to the border point near Biratnagar has made the business with third countries easier as goods can be delivered faster to the industries and businesses of the importers, said industrialists and businesspersons. Currently a pilot project, once the service becomes regular it will bring the imported goods close to Nepal border directly. After the Budhanagar, Morang-based Integrated Customs Post comes online the train will enter Nepal with the imported goods. Federation of Nepalese Chambers ...

Three years on, quake-displaced living on horns of dilemma Selang (Sindhupalchowk), April 24 Even years after the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015, scores of families displaced from villages in Sindhupalchok have not returned, though geologists have said it is safe for them to return to their plots of land and rebuild. Besides, there are some whose land was rendered inhabitable and are eligible to relocate elsewhere, but are undecided where to. Shyam Gole, whose house in Golche village was destroyed by the massive earthquake is eligible to relocate to any safer area to build a new house, but he has not been able to decide where he should relocate. Gole’s was among the 80 families from Golche who had moved to Baskharkha, Selang village, in Sindhupalchok, after the earthquake. Only seven families of Golche are eligible to be relocated to “safe areas”. Most of the families, including Mingmar Dong’s, were declared ineligible to move to other areas because the...

Seven five-star hotels under construction complete EIA ENVIRONMENT CHECK Apr 17, 2018-Seven five-star hotels under construction have completed their environment impact assessment (EIA) while three are in the process of doing so, the Department of Tourism said.   Hotels with more than 100 beds are required to do an EIA while others have to carry out an initial environmental examination (IEE) before beginning construction. This compulsory requirement ensures that environmental performances are carried out in accordance with environmental laws and standards, and that they are generally conducted during the feasibility study for the project. Rajesh Kumar Lamsal, an official at the Tourism Department, said properties with 50 beds have to conduct an IEE while properties with more than 50 beds have to conduct an EIA. The government has allowed hotels and resorts to import furniture, carpet, kitchen equipment and other industry-specific items during the co...

Transport operators to stage protest as last resort to protect syndicate As the government has taken a strong stance against the syndicate system in the public transport sector, transport entrepreneurs are planning to stage a stern protest as their last ditch effort to continue with their illegal syndication. Demanding the removal of the new transport management regulation, introduced recently by the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), the transport entrepreneurs have decided to stage protests, said Saroj Sitaula, general-secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE). He, however, did not disclose the protest programmes to be organised by the public transport operators.  “A meeting of all the public transport operators held on Sunday decided to launch a protest against the government’s move to introduce the new regulation without consulting the transport operators. To inform all about the protest programme, we are organising a pr...

Gate to be constructed on Nepal-India border Published: April 14, 2018 Bhairahawa, April 13 A gate is set to be constructed at Belhiya of Rupandehi on the Nepal-India border. A design of the proposed gate to be built at Belhiya, Rupandehi, unveiled on April 13, 2018. Photo: THT Siddharthanagar Municipality has started a campaign to construct a gate at Belhiya which is the major entry point for tourists     entering the country via land route. It is also the entry point to Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini. The gate will be 50-metre long, 23-metre wide and 29-metre tall. The entry door will be decorated with artistic designs of Ashoka, Buddha with Swoyambhu eyes, stupas, 12 Buddha idols, and national flag to give a glimpse of Nepal’s identity. The entry door construction is expected to cost around Rs 15 million. Siddharthanagar Municipality Engineer Yamlal Pandey said the final design of the Buddha gate was prepared after consultation with stakeholders...

Trolley-pullers coax money out of tourists at TIA   Published: April 09, 2018 6:13 pm On: Kathmandu KATHMANDU:  Four persons have been arrested for tricking tourists and stealing cash from them at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, today. The trolley-pullers, who stay in the premises of TIA, have been tricking tourists while moving their trolleys and stealing huge amount of cash from their wallets. According to Pem Dorjee Sherpa at TIA, the trolley-pullers ask for tips from tourists for moving their trolleys. When the tourists take out their wallets to give them tips, the trolley-pullers themselves pick the highest denomination cash from the tourists’ wallet and leave the scene.” “They are not TIA staff but have been staying in the premises of TIA for long. We came to know about the incident when a minor, who had just landed from Dubai, was crying for his 60 dollars that they stole from him at around 5:15 pm today,” he said. “They hugged the tourist...

Province 3 targets agri self-sufficiency in 3 years Apr 9, 2018-The provincial government of Province 3 has set the target of becoming self-sufficient in production of fruits, vegetables, flowers, honey, mushroom, fish, milk, eggs and meat within three years. It has also set a target for essential food items within five years. Secretary of Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Banshi Sharma presented this goal during an interaction programme organised in Hetauda which was attended by the Chief Minister, provincial ministers, secretaries and experts from related fields.  The province plans to establish a modern powder milk factory within five years to solve problems of milk holiday (when dairies do not purchase milk from farmers) and other issues related to marketing milk. In a bid to promote commercial agriculture, the provincial government plans to enact a policy of 5 percent subsidy on agricultural loan and to put up ongoing projects as c...

UPDATED: Butwal Bhatbhateni fire under control Published: April 08, 2018 8:56 am On:  Nepal BUTWAL:  The fire that broke out in the Bhatbhateni supermarket building in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-8 of Rupandehi district is now under control. The fire that began from the fifth floor of the supermarket building at around 3:00 today was brought under control after around four hours with the help of fire engines from the Sub-metropolis, Siddharthanagar, Ramgram, Kapilvastu and Tansen municipalities, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Keshav Kumar Bhattrai at the Area Police Office, Butwal. Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force persons were also mobilized in bringing the fire under control. Locals after seeing smoke billowing from the supermarket had reported the incident to police. Even though the fire engine from Butwal sub-metropolis had arrived immediately after being reported about the incident, the fire fighters were in confu...

Transportation syndicate starts strike against Mayur Kathmandu, April 4 Sundar Lama of Mangaltar, Kavrepalanchowk reached Koteshwore before six Wednesday morning from Raniban. He had to visit his elder brother hospitalized at Dhulikhel Hospital but had to remain at Koteshwore until eight due to strike by bus entrepreneurs. A crowded bus of Mayur Yatayat arrived a little while later and he left for Dhulikhel hanging at the door. The coordination committee of transport entrepreneurs operating vehicles to the east of Koteshwore has started a strike from Wednesday protesting route permit awarded to Mayur Yatayat. Passengers will have trouble times ahead with the transportation syndicate starting strike against the new buses of Mayur. But Mayur Yatayat operated its buses even amidst the strike called by fellow entrepreneurs. “They may be thinking that we cannot bring about a change with just 24 buses. We can bring another 100 buses if they continue to give problems to the peo...