Kathmandu: The government has decided to return the 3 billion rupees given to Sajha Yatayat Cooperatives to purchase and operate electric passenger buses. The amount will be taken back along with interest after the company failed to buy the buses.
Sharing the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers at the regular press briefing here today, Minister for Information and Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota said the investment was being withdrawn as the company had not even move ahead with the procurement process to procure 300 e-buses.
A similar amount of budget would be instead provided to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to buy them.
Meanwhile, a committee has been formed to determine compensation to be provided to those affected by the Marsyangdi Corridor 220 KV transmission line project.
The Cabinet also approved various work procedure and regulation as criteria on administrative management and financial incentive, 2076; military various service (first amendment) regulation, 2076; direct sales of goods (management and guideline) regulation, 2076.
Joint Secretary at Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply, Shovakant Poudel, has been assigned to look after the Special Economic Zone Authority until the executive director is appointed at the Authority.
The Nepali Ambassador to Germany has been given authority to initiate process to sell the house and land owned by the government in Germany.
Similarly, the government has made it clear that it was aware of the unrest in west of Asia. Concerned division in the Foreign Ministry has been garnering information on the unfolding development and making analyses especially on the situation of Nepali migrant workers there. Even the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security would collect information and make coordination as per the need.
The Government Spokesperson further shared that the government decided to establish bilateral mechanisms between Nepal and Bahrain, and Nepal and Lebanon.
Letter be sent to CIAA
The cabinet also decided to write to Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to probe the irregularities related to the land owned by the Guthi (Trust) in various districts across the country.
Likewise, the government has decided to promote Nepal Army’s technical Lieutenant Colonel Indrabar Gurung to technical Colonel. The meeting approved the resignation tendered by Brigadier General Jit Bahadur Gurung and Colonel Ajay Rai.
Approval
The meeting has given approval to the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CIAA) to sign aviation agreement with the European Aviation Safety Agency.
Moreover, decision was made to approve the resignation tendered by the Chairperson of Nepal Airlines Corporation Madan Kharel to be effective from January 27.
Furthermore, the meeting decided to issue approval for maintaining sister-city relation between Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality and Casares City Council in Spain.
Decision was made to approve Nepal to host the 74th meeting of the World Health Organization’s South Asian region in 2021.
Guragain declared martyr
Similarly, the meeting has decided to declare Netra Prasad Guragain as the martyr who was shot dead by police on Kartik 29, 2018 BS.
Guragain was held by police on the charges of his involvement in conducting communist movements in Terathum district. The declaration has been made in recognition of his contribution for the country, according to Minister Banskota.
Appointment
Minister Banskota shared that officer-bearers were appointed in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and Commission for Investigation on Enforced Disappearance Persons (CIEDP). Ganesh Dutta Bhatta has been appointed as the Chairperson of the TRC while Yuwaraj Subedi as the Chairperson of CIEDP.
Members appointed in the TRC were Prachandaman Pradhan, Dr Govinda Gautam, Man Dahal and Bishnu Pokharel while Bishwa Prakash Bhandari, Gangadhar Adhikari, Sunilranjan Singh and Sarita Thapa were appointed as the members in CIEDP, according to the Minister.
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