Rs 285.9b budget presented

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 13 July: Finance Minister Surendra Pandey presented a deficit budget of 285.9 billion in parliament Monday.
Pandey said he budget aims to complete peace process and draft a constitution to replace an interim basic law
No salary increase for civil servants was announced but 10 to 12 percent allowances were increased.
Four flyovers to be constructed in the capital.
Nepal Army will get contract for the construction of a Kathmandu-Hetauda highway.
Priority given to implementing agreement with various groups Madeshis and janajatis, Pandey said.
Local development tax exemption was announced for license for power construction projects up to 3 MW.
Compulsory third party insurance to pay victims of accidents Rs 500,000 was announced for registering vehicles in an attempt to curb increasing violence after accidents.
Rs 223 million has been set aside for National Sports Council and a sugar board will be formed to encourage cane farming.
Ban was announced on using agriculture land for other purposes.
Government announced land will be given to companies for processing the capital’s into fertilizers.
Rs 200,000 loan through banks was announced for unemployed without security.
As in the past, excise duty increase on cigarettes and liquor was announced.
“Overall, the budget is comprehensive but question can be raised on implementation,” former Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said.
Maoists and Yadav faction of MJF were critical of the budget.
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Maoists complete three-day discussion of Prachanda report

Kathmandu, 13 July: Fourteen groups at a Maoist central committee Monday completed three-day discussion of Chairman Prachanda’s political report demanding a national government led by Maoists.
Advisors have started putting their views.
Prachanda will reply to comments then.
The central committee is expected to last for another three days.
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Premier Nepal leaves for Egypt Tuesday

Kathmandu, 13 July: In his first foreign outing, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal files for Egypt Tuesday to attend the 15th summit of non-aligned countries as leader of the Nepali delegation.
Nepal is one of 25 founding members of which there are 118 now.
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137 killed in Jajarkot, Rukum

Kathmandu, 13 July: Diarrhea has claimed at least 137 lives in Jajarkot and Rutkum in nearly two months.
The epidemic has spread to neighbouring districts including Dailekh.
Nearly 28,000 sick have been treated by health teams in the mid-West, including army health teams.
Additional 14 persons died Tuesday.
The epidemic has spread to Dolpa as well.
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