KATHMANDU: The government has announced the civic poll for coming May 13.

A cabinet meeting on Monday decided to conduct local elections on coming May 13 in a single phase.

Disclosing the decisions of the Council of Minsters held on Monday, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki shared that the government announced the date for the elections to all rural municipalities and municipalities in consultation with the Election Commission.

The cabinet meeting decided to promote and place the gazetted second class officers of different services and groups to the gazetted first-class officer (joint-secretary) in the concerned service and group in accordance with the recommendation of the Public Service Commission and promotion committee.

Likewise, the meeting also decided to endorse the Securities Registration and Release (Fifth Amendment) Regulation, 2022. The cabinet has endorsed the national Identity Card and Registration (First Amendment) Regulation, 2022 and digital land survey and map and survey and land administration service delivery directive, 2022.

Bird-flu affected zone declared

The government has declared Biratnagar metropolis-18 of Morang as a bird-flu affected zone. Minster Karki shared that the bird-flu affected zone was declared considering Himalayan Agro Farm at Biratnagar metropolis-18 as the center point.

The cabinet also extended the tenure of honorary consulate generals for Singapore, Rome (Italy) and Bucharest of Romania. Likewise, the government has decided to provide compensation to the owners of three houses and sheds along the roadside in Nuwakot district which remains in the scope of Mid-Hill Highway Site Office, Gorkha.

Minster Karki further informed that the cabinet endorsed the sixth periodic report of Child Rights Convention, 1998 to be submitted to the United Nations.

Likewise, the cabinet has allowed Minster for Women, Children and Senior Citizen Uma Regmi-led delegation to participate in the Second Global Disability Summit to be held virtually in Norway on February 16 and 17. Similarly, the government has declared Pokhara-based Fewa Lake as a conserved watershed zone, the communication minister shared.

The cabinet has also decided to endorse the National Broadcast (11th Amendment) Regulation, 2022 and also the multi-sector action plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

Border issues to be dissolved through diplomatic channel

On a journalist’s query regarding a report on border encroachment by Chinese side, Spokesperson Karki expressed his confidence that the border issues would be resolved through diplomatic efforts.

“The border issues should be settled only on the basis of field study not only relying on reports. We would resolve the border dispute, whether that be with India or China, through diplomatic channels. Such problems should not occur and the government is effortful to prevent them,” he added.