Australian DAP grants

KATHMANDU: The Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Susan Grace, on Thursday handed over cheques totalling AUD 170,000 to seventeen projects under the Australian Embassy Direct Aid Program (DAP). The small grants scheme assistance program under the DAP would cover health, education, income generation, sanitation and support to physically challenged people. Australia has pledged to provide AUD 15.8 million as development assistance to Nepal in 2009 - 2010.

CIAA holds back land

Kathmandu: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) directed the District Administration Office and Land Revenue Office (both Jhapa) to return the public land transferred illegally to Nakalbanda Tea Estate owned by Dinesh Prasad Kanu. The public land was transferred in the name of the tea estate some 19 years back. Deciding that the public land was transferred illegally, the constitutional anti-graft body directed to correct the decision of registration of ownership 19 years ago. The land was registered through the nexus between the tea estate and staffers at the revenue office. However the anti-graft body decided that action against the duo was unnecessary.

NC taskforce set up

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) on Friday formed a seven-member taskforce under the coordination of the parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel to hold talks with other political parties. The taskforce aims at narrowing the rift that had been wideningamong the politicalparties and also resolving the political impasse.