KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Upendra Yadav-led JSP withdraws support, declares Oli government a total failure
The Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal has withdrawn its support for the KP Sharma Oli-led coalition government, citing the administration’s complete failure on multiple fronts.
A parliamentary party meeting held Wednesday concluded that continuing to back the government was no longer justifiable. This meeting has also made the decision to withdraw support from the seven-party coalition government and move to the opposition.
The party’s assessment followed a one-year review of the government’s performance and included an 11-point charge sheet, accusing the administration of falling short on its promises, including constitutional amendments, good governance, and delivery of public services.
Government spending surges by 15% in last month of fiscal year, reaching Rs 240 billion in 31 days
In line with previous years, the Government of Nepal significantly ramped up its spending in the final month of the fiscal year. According to the Office of the Comptroller General, the government spent over Rs 240.68 billion in Asar (mid-June to mid-July) alone, nearly 15% jump in monthly expenditure.
By the end of Jestha (mid-June), total government expenditure for FY 2081/82 had reached Rs 1.28 trillion. But within just 31 days of Asar, the spending rose to Rs 1.52 trillion, marking a Rs 240 billion increase.
Over the first 11 months of the fiscal year, the government’s average daily expenditure stood at approximately Rs 3.88 billion. In Asar, however, this figure doubled to over Rs 7.76 billion per day, highlighting the year-end spending spree.
Ramhari Khatiwada tells parliamentary committee: I was misled during cooling-off period clause alteration
In his statement before the parliamentary special committee investigating alleged manipulation of the ‘cooling-off period’ clause in the Federal Civil Service Bill, State Affairs and Good Governance Committee chair Ramhari Khatiwada said he was misled by civil servants and did not anticipate the changes that were later made to the bill.
Appearing before the committee led by Nepali Congress leader Jeevan Pariyar, Khatiwada said the decision to include a two-year cooling-off period, restricting retired or resigned civil servants from taking new government appointments, was made unanimously in his committee. However, he admitted that trusting the bureaucrats resulted in the provision being altered after the bill passed the lower house.
“We had agreed unanimously to include the cooling-off provision,” he said. “But I didn’t expect it would be undermined through an additional sub-clause. I made the mistake of trusting the bureaucrats.”
KMC member confronts Mayor Balen: Will you only talk or actually deliver?
During the 17th Municipal Assembly of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) on Wednesday, assembly member Santosh Dhungel voiced strong criticism of Mayor Balen Shah’s leadership, raising serious concerns about project delays and inconsistencies in city policies.
Dhungel questioned why the mayor’s previous commitment to construct a statue of Kathmandu’s first mayor, P.L. Singh, near the Rashtriya Sabha Griha building has yet to be fulfilled. “Are you just going to keep talking or will you actually get to work?” he asked.
He also opposed the city’s restrictions on building mud and stone houses, calling it a double standard. “The KMC’s Maitri Bhawan itself is built from mud and stone, as are many of our cultural monuments. Why, then, are poor residents banned from using the same materials for their homes?” he said.
Ward member questions Mayor Balen at municipal assembly: Do we only speak, or is there implementation too?
The second meeting of the 17th Municipal Assembly of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is currently underway, with members raising concerns about persistent local issues.
During Wednesday’s session, Harka Khati, the ward member from Ward 16, highlighted ongoing problems in areas such as Machhapokhari and the Balaju Industrial Area.
Khati expressed frustration over the lack of action regarding street vendors blocking roads in Machhapokhari. “Vendors from outside the area have occupied the road to sell vegetables, making it difficult for essential services to operate. There was even a case where an ambulance got stuck, and the patient died en route,” he said.
Gupta resigns, but real scandal is how routine this has become
On the day Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli marked the first anniversary of taking the oath of office for the fourth time, Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Rajkumar Gupta resigned from his position following a serious bribery scandal.
Gupta, a CPN-UML lawmaker elected from Parsa constituency-3, submitted his resignation on Tuesday after an audio recording surfaced, revealing his alleged involvement in a bribe deal worth Rs 7.8 million related to the transfer of land revenue officers.
The leaked audio suggests that Gupta played a role in halting the transfer of the then chief of the Land Revenue Office in Kaski for Rs 5.3 million and sought Rs 2.5 million to appoint UML Gandaki Province member Khem Bahadur Pun as chair of the Kaski Land Commission.
‘Raavan Park’ nearing completion atop Beni’s Pachai Hill
Construction of the much-anticipated Raavan Park at Pachai, located in Beni Municipality–5 of Myagdi, has reached its final stage.
Situated atop a hill northwest of the district headquarters, Beni Bazaar, the site known as ‘Pachai’ is steeped in mythology. It is believed that ancient sages once practiced penance and sought enlightenment here.
Now, it is being transformed into a religious and cultural park centered around a towering statue of Raavan.
‘Bukipatan’ emerging as a popular trekking destination
Lush green hills, expansive alpine meadows, and pristine natural beauty—these are now drawing increasing numbers of trekkers to the scenic highlands of Bukipatan in Baglung.
Located at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 meters, Bukipatan is fast becoming a sought-after trekking destination in Nepal.
Once used only by shepherds and cattle herders, Bukipatan has witnessed a noticeable rise in both domestic and international tourist footfall over the past five years.
Farmers refuse to sell wheat over low govt price
Farmers in Dhanusha and Mahottari districts have refused to sell their wheat to the Food Management and Trading Company Limited’s provincial office in Janakpurdham after the government fixed a procurement price lower than the prevailing market rate.
The federal government had set the minimum support price for wheat at Rs 3,867.38 per quintal, based on which the wheat procurement process was launched. However, local markets including those in Janakpur are offering up to Rs 4,400 per quintal, prompting farmers to sell their produce to private traders instead.
Nirmal Thapa, head of the provincial food office in Janakpur, said farmers visited the office to inquire about the price but opted not to sell due to the lower government rate. “They are selling directly to private buyers who are offering better prices,” he said.
Kathmandu metropolis begins reconstruction of Ga: Hiti
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started the reconstruction of Ga: Hiti, a historic stone water spout located in Ward 26, under the supervision of its Heritage and Tourism Department.
The water spout, which holds deep historical and cultural significance, had fallen into severe disrepair. Reconstruction work is now being carried out to restore it in its original form, led by a local consumer committee.
The Thamel Ga: Hiti Family Consumers’ Committee is overseeing the restoration, which involves the use of traditional terracotta bricks for flooring and detailed woodwork and painting to maintain its authentic architectural style.
Madhes Province Chief authenticates two financial bills
Sumitra Subedi Bhandari, the Chief of Madhes Province, has officially authenticated two key financial bills recently passed by the Madhes Province Assembly.
The certified bills include the Bill to Implement the Proposal Related to Finance of the Madhes Province Government, and the Bill to Allocate and Spend Funds from the Madhes Province Reserve Fund for Fiscal Year 2025/26.
The authentication was made in accordance with Article 201(2) of the Constitution of Nepal, which empowers provincial chiefs to endorse bills passed by the assembly.
Transport federation chief says ride-sharing with private vehicles is illegal
Chair of the Public Transport Central Federation, Dr. Dolnath Khanal, has said that operating ride-sharing services using private vehicles without black number plates is illegal under current Nepali law.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the electric bus service launched by Mahanagar Yatayat Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Khanal stated that the federation continues its agitation against ride-sharing platforms that operate outside the formal public transport system.
“Running ride-sharing services using privately registered vehicles is a violation of the law,” he said, emphasizing that such practices pose a threat to the regulated public transport industry.
Landslide blocks Kagbeni–Korala road in Mustang
A landslide triggered by heavy overnight rainfall has blocked the Kagbeni–Korala section of the Jomsom–Korala Road.
The District Police Office, Mustang, reported that a large rockslide occurred early Wednesday morning at Manebhir, approximately 200 meters north of the Kag Khola near Kagbeni. The slide brought down rocks and debris, completely obstructing the road.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Tsering Lama, excavation equipment and personnel have been deployed to the site to clear the debris. While clearing is underway, Lama warned that it may take time due to the size of the falling boulders.
Nepal-India border in Baitadi and Darchula to close due to Uttarakhand elections
Nepal-India border points in Baitadi and Darchula districts will be temporarily closed due to the election in Uttarakhand.
According to Chief District Officer Punya Bikram Paudel, the border closures are being enforced as a security measure ahead of the elections scheduled for July 24 and 28.
In Darchula, the Pulghat border point will be closed from the evening of July 21until the morning of July 24.
Damage to irrigation system leaves fields barren in Panchthar
The Tari Kulo irrigation system in Shivadovan, Kummayak Rural Municipality-4 in Panchthar, has remained damaged for over a decade, leaving once-fertile farmland barren and disrupting the livelihoods of local farmers.
The system was first affected during the opening of the Tamor Corridor road track nearly ten years ago, and the damage has never been fully repaired.
While blacktopping is progressing in other sections of the Tamor Corridor, the road track in Shivadovan is opened and left incomplete year after year.
Interest rates on fixed deposits drop for most commercial banks
A majority of Nepal’s commercial banks have lowered interest rates on personal fixed deposits for the month of Shrawan, reflecting a broader trend of easing deposit rates in the banking sector.
Out of 20 operational commercial banks in the country, 14 have reduced their personal fixed deposit (FD) interest rates compared to Ashar. Two banks have increased their rates, while four have kept them unchanged.
In the case of institutional fixed deposits, 11 banks lowered rates, eight maintained previous levels, and only one bank increased its rate from last month.
Gold price drops by Rs 1,300
The price of gold saw a sharp decline of Rs 1,300 per tola on Wednesday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association.
The new price of fine gold has been set at Rs 192,000 per tola, down from Rs 193,300 the previous day. Gold had previously reached its all-time high of Rs 197,900 per tola on April 21.
Meanwhile, silver prices also dropped by Rs 15 per tola, falling to Rs 2,260 from Rs 2,275 the day before. Silver had recorded its all-time high of Rs 2,315 per tola just this past Monday.
UML’s Surya Thapa calls for thorough probe into Rajkumar Gupta bribery scandal
CPN-UML leader Surya Thapa has said that the truth behind the bribery scandal involving Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Rajkumar Gupta must be fully revealed and justice must be delivered without bias.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Thapa stressed that the resignation of Minister Gupta should not be seen as the end of the matter, but rather as a signal that a serious investigation is necessary in response to growing public pressure.
Referring to the audio recording that allegedly exposes a Rs 7.8 million bribe deal related to the transfer of land revenue officers, Thapa questioned who the voices in the recording belong to and demanded that state investigative bodies begin work immediately.
Accused absconding for six years in murder case arrested
Lalitpur police have arrested Dorje Tamang, also known as Mein Dorje, of Shanishchare Municipality–10, who had been absconding for six years in connection with the murder of Deepak Limbu of Pathari, Morang.
Tamang, who had been on the run since April 2020, was apprehended on Tuesday from Bungamati, Ward 22 of Lalitpur Metropolitan City. He was transferred to Morang the following day, according to Superintendent of Police Chakraraj Joshi, spokesperson for the Lalitpur District Police Office.
A team led by Police Inspector Shashidhar Sharma, in-charge of the Bhainsepati Police Division, arrested Tamang based on a tip-off. He had reportedly changed his permanent address and had been living in hiding.
Interest rates on fixed deposits drop for most commercial banks
A majority of Nepal’s commercial banks have lowered interest rates on personal fixed deposits for the month of Shrawan, reflecting a broader trend of easing deposit rates in the banking sector.
Out of 20 operational commercial banks in the country, 14 have reduced their personal fixed deposit (FD) interest rates compared to Ashar. Two banks have increased their rates, while four have kept them unchanged.
In the case of institutional fixed deposits, 11 banks lowered rates, eight maintained previous levels, and only one bank increased its rate from last month.
BP Highway to be closed for 12 hours at night starting July 17
The Kavrepalanchok section of the BP Highway will be closed to vehicular traffic for 12 hours each night beginning July 17, as a precautionary measure during the monsoon season.
A safety committee meeting held at the District Administration Office in Dhulikhel decided to restrict nighttime travel along the stretch from Kavrebhanjyang to Nepalthok on the Sindhuli border. The ban will be in effect daily from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for one month.
The restriction aims to minimize the risk of accidents and disasters caused by monsoon-induced floods and landslides.
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