echarge card crisis

LALITPUR: Black marketing of recharge cards is rampant as Nepal Telecom has failed to supply enough cards to meet the demand. Local customers have to purchase Rs 100 recharge cards for Rs 110 though these were available till for Rs 105. The shortage of Rs 100 recharge cards in the NT office caused the problem and it will be solved soon as the office has placed orders for recharge cards, said NTC Mobile Service director Jeevan Shakya. He said the office has not receive any complaint about the black marketing.

Brick price hike

BIRATNAGAR: The brick entrepreneurs’ association has decided to increase the price of brick citing price hike in coal — one of the basic elements for brick production. Koshi Zone Brick Kiln Owners’ Association announced a 10 per cent price hike in their products effective from mid-January. Brick buyers will have to pay Rs 10,500 per thousand bricks.

Paddy yield drop

BARA: Production of Aghani variety of paddy decreased by 71 per cent, causing farmers a loss worth Rs 1.26 billion in Bara district this year. According to Bara District Agricultural Development Office, paddy plantation decreased by 11.1 per cent due to late rainfall during the cultivation period. Only 109,000 metric tonnes of Aghanai variety were produced in 34,965 hectares of land this year.

Club helps teacher

DAMAULI: Dhrubatara Youth Club, Gansikuwa-1, of Tanahun district, has collected donation and paid a year’s salary to a teacher in local Vishnu Secondary School. Sharad Adhikari, a secondary level teacher, was paid after the club provided the money to pay his salary, said principal Babu Ram Pokhrel. The club provided Rs 103,000 to Adhikari from the fund collected in deusi-bhailo and other activities, said club president Krishna Sharma. It has also been providing scholarships to 10 poor and talented students annually.