State’s 44 Crore Investment Goes to Waste on Daroudi Water Project in Prachanda’s Constituency

Summary:

• The Daroudi Lifting Drinking Water Project in Gorkha Municipality, which cost around NPR 44 crore, was designed to provide clean and sufficient drinking water to thousands of residents across more than six wards (3,4,5,6,7,8). The project aimed to pump water from the Daroudi River to elevated tanks and distribute it 24/7.

• Despite being completed in Chaitra 2078 (March-April 2022), the project has been non-functional for over three years and has failed to deliver even a drop of water. Structures and equipment have become dilapidated, with tanks covered in debris and mud, motors rusting or broken, and electrical panels damaged.

• Initial operation lasted only about three months before stopping due to unpaid electricity bills. Political disputes, mismanagement, and lack of accountability have contributed to the project's failure.

• The project lies within Gorkha-2, the electoral area of Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, a former prime minister and current opposition leader. Locals express frustration over leadership’s neglect despite his high political stature.

• The water management committee formed after construction faced allegations of fund misappropriation and lack of transparency. Conflicts between local consumer groups and municipal authorities further stalled operations.

• In Magh 2081 (January-February 2025), responsibility was transferred to the Gorkha Municipality Water Supply and Sanitation Management Board, chaired by the municipal mayor Krishna Bahadur Rana Magar. The board plans to restart operations, with some budget allocated for electricity payments and maintenance.

• Local consumer groups have expressed willingness to buy water at scientific prices if the system operates properly.

• Despite renewed efforts by the municipality, locals remain skeptical due to past disappointments. Without coordinated action free from political interests, the huge investment risks remaining unused, leaving residents thirsty for years to come.

Archive: https://archive.md/sFm7a

The factor behind Bhotekoshi flood: Glacier lake outburst

Summarry:
On July 8, 2025, a flood occurred in the Bhotekoshi River flowing through Rasuwa Gadhi, Nepal, caused by the bursting of a supraglacial lake (a lake formed on the surface of a glacier) on the Purepu glacier approximately 36 km north of the Nepal-China border near Rasuwa Gadhi.

Preliminary reports from Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, based on Sentinel-2 satellite images from the Copernicus data ecosystem, along with studies by international scientists including Nepali experts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Chinese Academy of Sciences, confirmed the lake's expansion and sudden outburst.

Key findings:

• The supraglacial lake expanded rapidly from March 25 to early July 2025, merging into a large lake on July 7.
• On July 8, the day of the outburst, the lake’s area suddenly decreased as water was released, triggering the flood downstream.
• Climate change and rising temperatures over recent decades have contributed to the formation and expansion of such glacier lakes.
• The affected area has experienced similar glacier lake outbursts before, and there is a risk of recurrence within this year due to remaining water in the lake basin.
• Currently, no early warning system is established for this area.

The flood damaged more than 10 hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.

Further ground-based reports from China and additional satellite data will help confirm and update findings. Continuous monitoring and timely information dissemination are planned by Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

Archive: https://archive.md/b5QOs

Summary:
The government of Nepal withdrew a controversial land bill titled “Bill amend Nepal acts related land, 2025” from the House of Representatives agenda on July 9, 2025, after strong opposition from major political parties, including the ruling Nepali Congress. The bill faced criticism for potential misuse and lack of adequate consultation.

Key points:

• The bill was initially set for clause-wise discussion in the House but was removed due to objections from senior Congress leaders who demanded amendments and consensus-building before presentation.
• Congress General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma opposed the bill being tabled directly in the House plenary without proper groundwork.
• Congress leaders had already submitted amendment proposals, but the government proceeded to include the bill in the tentative agenda based on assurances that further consultations would happen.
• After realizing broader discussions were still necessary, the government withdrew the bill.
• Congress lawmakers pointed out ambiguities and potential loopholes in the bill that could be exploited by land mafias and misused for real estate development.
• The bill aimed to simplify land ownership transfers, especially for landless groups, squatters, and unmanaged settlers, but lacked clear legal provisions to prevent abuse.
• Other parties like Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal and Rastriya Swatantra Party also submitted amendments.
• Around 55 members of Parliament from both ruling and opposition parties have proposed amendments concerning the bill.
• The government had introduced similar provisions earlier via ordinances that failed to gain support in the National Assembly.

In summary, due to widespread concerns and the need for more consensus and clarity, the government pulled back the controversial land bill from the parliamentary agenda.

Archive: https://archive.md/3B4Vh

Summary:
India’s growing influence in South Asia is marked by a troubling trend of coercive diplomacy rather than cooperative regionalism. New Delhi is manipulating historical treaties, reviving dormant disputes, and politicizing border and water conflicts to assert dominance in the region.

• Katchatheevu Dispute: India has revived the settled dispute over Katchatheevu Island with Sri Lanka, driven largely by domestic electoral politics, especially from Tamil Nadu's political parties. The 1974 maritime agreement that settled the issue is being challenged, fueled by nationalist rhetoric. Indian fishermen frequently violate maritime boundaries, escalating tensions.

• Nepal: India unilaterally constructed a road in the disputed Lipulekh region, sparking a diplomatic crisis as Nepal claimed sovereignty and released a new political map. India refused bilateral talks and instead used military and cartographic means to assert its claim.

• Bangladesh: The long-pending Teesta River water-sharing agreement remains stalled by India, despite Bangladesh’s repeated calls for fair distribution. Border tensions continue with accusations against India’s Border Security Force for using lethal force on Bangladeshi civilians. India uses water as a geopolitical weapon by delaying treaties and violating agreements.

• China Border (LAC): India’s militarization and aggressive posturing along the Line of Actual Control with China contributed to clashes like the deadly Galwan Valley incident in 2020. India’s opacity about dam projects on the Brahmaputra River adds to regional mistrust.

• Pakistan: India’s hydropower projects on rivers governed by the Indus Waters Treaty violate the treaty. India blocks neutral arbitration mechanisms, undermining legally binding agreements and turning water into a geopolitical tool.

• Bhutan and Maldives: India’s influence takes different forms—massive hydropower investments in Bhutan create dependency concerns, while in Maldives, Indian military presence is seen by locals as an occupation rather than cooperation.

Overall, India’s actions suggest a desire to lead and dominate South Asia through coercion—reviving disputes, militarizing borders, delaying water agreements, and entrenching military presence in smaller states. This approach undermines regional peace, violates neighbors' sovereignty, stokes nationalism, and erodes prospects for collective development. The article argues that if India truly seeks regional stability and leadership, it must abandon provocations and engage neighbors in good faith.

Archive: https://archive.md/vYivG

Summary:

• Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi, held talks with Nepal’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Purna Bahadur.
• The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
• Discussions covered current political, economic, and social developments in both Sri Lanka and Nepal.
• Ambassador Bahadur emphasized the importance of establishing a Sri Lanka–Nepal Business Council to boost and expand bilateral trade relations.
• Minister Handunneththi briefed the ambassador on Sri Lanka’s trade engagements both regionally and beyond, including with China.
• They discussed the potential for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Nepal, focusing on goods such as gems and jewellery, mineral sands, phosphate, rice, sugar, and garments.
• An invitation was extended to Nepalese buyers to participate in the upcoming “Ratnapura International Gem Exhibition” scheduled for August.

The article highlights ongoing efforts to deepen economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Nepal through trade agreements and business collaboration.

Archive: https://archive.md/p2OYY

Summary:
The US Embassy in Kathmandu has introduced a new requirement for applicants of F, M, and J category non-immigrant visas (which cover international students, vocational trainees, and exchange program participants). Effective immediately, applicants must disclose their social media usernames and handles used over the past five years when filling out the DS-160 visa application form.

Previously, on June 26, the embassy asked these applicants to make their personal social media accounts public to assist the vetting process. Now, providing accurate and truthful social media information is mandatory. Failure to include this information may lead to visa denial or affect eligibility for future visas.

The embassy emphasized that every visa decision is tied to national security, highlighting the importance of this new step in the vetting process.

Archive: https://archive.md/WZfEj

Patients with 8 Types of Health Problems to Receive NPR 200,000 from Shrawan 1

Summary:
Starting from Shrawan 1 (mid-July), patients suffering from eight specific severe health conditions in Nepal will be eligible to receive financial support of up to NPR 200,000 for medical treatment. This decision was announced by the Health and Population Minister Pradeep Paudel. The eight health problems covered under this program include:

1. Cancer
2. Heart disease
3. Kidney disease
4. Head injury
5. Spinal injury
6. Sickle cell anemia
7. Parkinson’s disease
8. Alzheimer’s disease

This initiative aims to help those who face difficulties covering treatment costs due to severe illnesses. The support is provided through the government’s health insurance program, which is being further improved to increase accessibility for the general public.

The program is set to start from Shrawan 1, 2082 (around mid-July 2025).

Archive: https://archive.md/DtkX0

Asare Bikas: Haphazard Development Work During Rainy Season (Photos)

Summary:
As the fiscal year is about to end and the monsoon has started, various road excavation and drainage construction works are progressing rapidly in different areas of Kathmandu. The Urban Development and Building Office is currently carrying out drainage construction work in Gaurighat, closing the road completely. This work is expected to take more than 15 days. Additionally, the replacement of footpath tiles is underway, which is creating difficulties for pedestrians due to the onset of rains.

Meanwhile, Nepal Electricity Authority has started underground cable work in various locations with the start of the rainy season. On Jamal's main road, this underground cable work is causing traffic disruptions. Since the excavated trenches are only partially refilled with soil, potholes remain, making it difficult for vehicles to pass. When it rains, the roads become slippery due to soil erosion.

Many roads being build or repaired are already falling apart. There is a systematic problem with the bureaucracy using the monsoon season of the year to accelerate development work. But for the public, It rather seems they're pouring money without proper longevity planning to rack up their own pockets every year, where rain ruins everything they've built in weeks or months. The same cycle happen the following year.

In summary, ongoing infrastructure works in Kathmandu during the early monsoon are causing traffic and pedestrian inconveniences due to excavation, incomplete road restoration, and underground cable installation.

Archive: https://archive.md/RZPnc

Summary:
The Bheri River, vital for thousands of people living along its banks in Karnali Province, Nepal, is facing severe environmental degradation that threatens local livelihoods. The Badi community, a marginalized group that has depended on the river for generations through fishing, sand collection, and timber, is particularly affected. Traditional fish stocks have drastically declined due to illegal electric fishing and intensive sand mining with bulldozers, which also disrupts the river’s flow and ecology.

The river's health is further stressed by infrastructure projects like the Mid-Hill Highway and Dolpa road, accelerating economic development but also environmental damage. Local markets around Rimna rely heavily on fish from the Bheri, but with fish populations dwindling, prices have soared, and many fishermen struggle to sustain their families.

Floods in 2014 displaced hundreds of families along the river, with many still living in temporary shelters due to inadequate government support. Environmentalists warn that unregulated development and neglect of river conservation have led to ecological imbalance and increased disaster risks downstream.

The crisis highlights the urgent need for better environmental management to protect the river system that supports both the economy and culture of communities living along the Bheri River.

Archive: https://archive.md/Z6tJb

Summary:

• A massive flood on the Lende River on the morning of July 8, 2025, washed away the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge at the Rasuwagadhi border point in Rasuwa district.
• Several newly imported electric vehicles (EVs) parked at the dry port were also swept away by the flood.
• The flood caused heavy damage, and some individuals, including security personnel, were trapped but have been rescued.
• Authorities warned residents downstream to move to safer areas due to the risk of further flooding and possible people trapped inside vehicles.
• Rasuwagadhi is a key trade gateway between Nepal and China, and the damage has severely affected this route.
• The Nepal Army has been mobilized for rescue operations, and a helicopter was called in, but adverse weather delayed its arrival.
• Rescue efforts are ongoing amid bad weather conditions.

This incident has disrupted trade and caused significant damage at a crucial border crossing.

Archive: https://archive.md/PxnOC

New Nepali Curriculum of Tribhuvan University Distracts Students and Disturbs Professors

Summary:
The new Nepali curriculum for the Master's program at Tribhuvan University (TU) has caused confusion among students and frustration among professors. Students are struggling to complete the extensive syllabus within a semester, leading to incomplete lessons and last-minute exam preparations. Professors highlight that the curriculum is overloaded and unscientific, with too many topics crammed into a limited time, making it difficult to cover all material effectively.

In one semester, out of a total of 180 days, only about 60 days are available for study after subtracting holidays. However, there are 101 topics in the linguistics subject alone. This means it’s not even possible to dedicate a full period to each topic.

Key issues include:

• The first semester syllabus is particularly dense, with subjects like linguistics containing over 100 topics.
• Overlapping and repetitive content due to merging of previous separate courses.
• Important literary movements, especially the progressive movement and several key poets, have been excluded.
• Female and marginalized voices are underrepresented; only two female writers are included out of 57 authors.
• Practical exercises have been reduced or eliminated, limiting hands-on learning.
• The curriculum lacks inclusivity in terms of gender, ideology, and regional representation.
• Professors criticize the curriculum for being imposed without broad consultation and accuse the department head Khagendra Luintel of unilaterally pushing his own works into the syllabus excessively.
• There is a conflict of interest as Luintel allegedly included many of his own publications as reference materials.
• The process was not transparent, with many committee members sidelined or not properly involved.

Overall, the curriculum is viewed as poorly designed and politically influenced, failing to meet academic standards and the diverse needs of students and faculty. This has sparked demands for revision and more inclusive, balanced content that aligns with democratic and academic principles.

Archive: https://archive.md/AVe4q

Tribhuvan University (TU) starting 10 types of services online and the effectiveness of these services:

Summary:

• Tribhuvan University (TU), Nepal’s largest university with nearly 496,000 students nationwide, has started offering 10 types of essential services online.
• The move aims to reduce the physical crowd at the exam controller's office, historically receiving up to 2,000 visitors daily.
• Since June 30, 2025, about 500-600 users daily use the online platform, significantly cutting down physical visits.

Online Services Offered:

1. Registration application form
2. Exam application form
3. Transcript application form
4. Provisional certificate
5. Original certificate
6. Application for re-issuance
7. Forms for correction of name, surname, registration number, etc.
8. Various recommendation letters
9. Certification of certificates
10. Copies of transcripts and mark sheets

Platform and Process:

• Services are accessed via student.tuexam.edu.np.
• New users register, confirm via email, select service, provide details, make payment, and receive confirmation by email.
• Data is securely stored in two locations: a government data center in Hetauda and TU’s own center.

Challenges and Criticism:

• Despite launching online services, there is no dedicated technical staff assigned to sustain these services.
• Limited resources and shortage of skilled staff (only 118 employees out of 256 sanctioned posts in the exam controller office).
• Past attempts at digital services failed due to rushed implementation and budget issues.
• Officials acknowledge the need for consistent technical support and propose hiring experts if necessary.

Tracking and Delivery Improvements:

• From July 17, 2025, a tracking system will allow applicants to see the progress of their applications.
• Transcripts will be sent directly to regional campuses from December 2025, eliminating the need for students to visit central offices.

Effectiveness on Exam Results Publication:

• TU has had longstanding criticism over delayed exam results; some results previously took between 204 to 400 days.
• After reforms, delays have reduced; currently, the longest recent delay was 102 days for a B.Ed second-year exam result.
• TU plans to publish results within 100 days moving forward and adhere strictly to the academic calendar.

Expert Opinions:

• Former exam controller emphasizes the need for dedicated technical personnel for sustainability.
• Registrar believes current staff can handle online services but acknowledges ongoing training and recruitment efforts.

Overall Impact:

• The online services have reduced physical crowds at TU’s offices.
• Payment processes have become smoother with less queue at bank counters.
• However, concerns remain about sustainability without proper technical infrastructure and manpower.

Archive: https://archive.md/nMm0E