Health desk set up

KATHMANDU: Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) on Friday established a health desk at Tatopani custom to screen people crossing the Nepal-China border. Dr Yashovardhan Pradhan, spokesperson at the MoHP, said the government had already established such desks at Birgunj, Kakarvitta, and Bhairahawa. He further added that they had not recorded any new case of A (H1N1) and said that the health desk was established as a precautionary measure and to prevent people from contracting the disease. — HNS

41 new municipalities

KATHMANDU: Minister for Local Development Purna Kumar Sherma Limbu on Friday said that the ministry would form the proposed 41 new municipalities across the country within 100 days of the formation of the new government. Speaking at an interaction in the capital, he said that work was underway to materialise the plan. Minister Limbu also said that a national government would be formed in the country very soon. “It does not matter who becomes the leader of the government,” he added. — HNS

Civic body under fire

Bhaktapur: The Bhaktapur Municipality’s move to keep its office at the historic Pachpanna Jhyale Durbar through direct intervention has drawn criticism from all sides. The Pachpanna Jhyale Durbar in Bhaktapur is included in the list of world heritage sites. The historic palace is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Archaeology. Archaeologists, culture experts, historians, tourism entrepreneurs and political parties have warned of protests against the move. Harilochan Sharma, executive officer at the Municipality, said the civic body was planning to shift its office to the palace only till its new office building was constructed. — RSS