KATHMANDU, APRIL 7
The government has appointed Dr Gunakar Bhatta as the Vice Chair of the National Planning Commission, following a decision made by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.
A Cabinet meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers endorsed the appointment, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Pratibha Rawal informed the media after the meeting.
The meeting also appointed Nepal Rastra Bank Executive Director Kiran Pandit as the Deputy Governor of the central bank.
In a bid to address rising fuel costs, the Cabinet decided to grant a 50 percent concession on customs duties and infrastructure development tax on the import of petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, and kerosene.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Rawal said the government had found it necessary to adjust petroleum prices in line with international market trends. "The government does not conceal this reality," she stated.
She further revealed that the country incurred losses amounting to nearly Rs 11.72 billion in petroleum transactions over the past 15 days. To mitigate the situation, the government has introduced measures such as declaring Sundays as public holidays, encouraging the odd-even vehicle operation system, and promoting the use of electric vehicles and ethanol.
The Cabinet also approved the acceptance of a concessional loan of 85 million US dollars from the World Bank for the implementation of the Greater Lumbini Area Development Project.
Additionally, the government has decided to relocate the Energy and Water Resources Research Centre from Pulchowk to Godavari in Lalitpur, while shifting the office of the Water and Energy Commission to the Centre's existing premises in Pulchowk.
The meeting accepted the resignations of Shreeman Kumar Gautam, Chairperson of the Problematic Cooperatives Management Committee, along with members Lalita Kumari Maharjan and Dhruba Acharya.
Furthermore, the Cabinet granted approval for the acquisition of private land in Dhunibesi along the western section of the Nagdhunga Tunnelway, as well as in Uttargaya Rural Municipality along the Betrawati–Dhunche–Syaphrubesi road section of the Pasang Lhamu Highway, for infrastructure development.
The government has also approved the use of 46.39 hectares of forest land across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Makwanpur districts for the construction of the Kathmandu–Tarai–Madhes Expressway, along with permission to fell 18,898 trees.