KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 20

The government has formed a study committee, with Shankar Prasad Adhikari, a former secretary, as coordinator, to provide suggestions on the construction and operation of international airports under a public-private partnership model.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, shared this information following a Cabinet decision during a press conference on Tuesday.

Another study committee, led by former Vice Chairman of NPC, Deependra Bahadur Chhetri, has been formed to oversee the structural and managerial reform of Nepal Airlines Corporation.

In addition, the Cabinet approved annexes pertaining to basics and financial issues for royalty sharing among three tiers of government, as recommended by the National Natural Resources and Financial Commission. The sub-national governments will also receive budgets.

The government is set to accept a proposal eliminating the visa requirement for holders of official passports traveling between Nepal and Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry will be authorized to sign a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh to maintain institutional relations on foreign affairs.

President Ram Chandra Paudel will be asked to write to the Sri Lankan President urging general amnesty based on humanitarian grounds for Nepali citizens Chet Bahadur Thapa, Suk Bahadur Tamang, and Tek Bahadur Tamang, who are detained in Sri Lankan jails.

Approval was granted for the acquisition of land for a 220-KV transmission line tower under the Tamakoshi-V hydro power project in Bigu rural municipality-4, Dolakha.

Moreover, the government spokesperson, Sharma, announced the approval for land acquisition and forest area utilization for various hydro power projects including Upper Arun (Sankhuwasabha), Upper Rahughat (Myagdi), Super Kabeli Khola-A, Super Kabeli Kholi 'cascade', and Kabeli-III (Taplejung), Super Ambukhola (Dhading), and Sona Khola (Taplejung).

Executive Director at Security Printing Centre, Bikal Paudel, will be dismissed from his position due to holding a permanent residence card (PR) of the US. Bhupendra Bhandari has been appointed Chairman of Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).

Approval was given for 23 temporary quotas for officer appointments at National Information Technology Centres in Kathmandu, Makwanpur, Kohalpur, and Lalitpur, effective from Poush 2080 to Asar 2081.

The Cabinet agreed to accept grants totaling Rs 11.70 billion from the UK government for Green Growth Nepal and Nepal in Business (NIB) programs.

A draft agreement on bilateral cooperation on intellectual property between the US Trademark Office and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supply was approved. Furthermore, approval will be granted for petroleum exploration contractors at 10 designated spots across the country, from east to west in the Tarai/Madhes region.

Approval was also given for the draft trade and investment agreement between Nepal and Australia, and a high-level committee has been formed to oversee the enforcement of Supreme Court orders regarding compensation for land owned by the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.

A bill on immigration will be withdrawn from the federal parliament, and the term of the probe committee on auditing the Non-Resident Nepali Association has been extended by a month. The directive on poor household identification and identity card distribution for 2080 has been approved.

Additionally, the scope of the central project enforcement unit (education) will be expanded for the reconstruction of schools damaged by earthquakes in Bajhang and Jajarkot districts.

The operation directive for the electronic purchase system (first amendment) for 2080 will be approved, and a bill to amend the Secured Transaction Act, 2063, will be tabled in parliament, as per Cabinet decision.