Parliament launches website, mobile app

Kathmandu, July 27

Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar today said the Parliament should have its own building, residence facilities, television channel and radio station to make the House business more effective.

She said this after launching the Parliament’s website and mobile application designed to help users access information relating to the House’s businesses.

International Convention Centre at Baneswhor is being used as the Parliament building after the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections. Before that, Gallery Baithak in Singha Durbar built during the Rana regime was used as Parliament building since 1958.

The speaker also said that the Parliament Secretariat was planning to convert Gallery Baithak into a museum. The government withdrew its proposal to build a new Parliament building at Putali Bagincha inside Singha Durbar after the Nepali Army opposed it.

Currently, the Parliament is paying more than Rs 90 million for using the ICC building. As the Parliament Secretariat has not been able to provide residence to lawmakers, it is providing Rs 240,000 annually to lawmakers who don’t own a house in the Valley. Lawmakers who own a house in the Valley also get additional Rs 120,000 annually.

Explaining the importance of mobile apps and website, the speaker said people would easily get information relating to Parliamentary activities using the new tools. “The tools will help people remain informed about the condition of bills registered in the Parliament,” she added.