LOAD-SHEDDING REDUCED TO 80 HOURS A WEEK

LOAD-SHEDDING REDUCED TO 80 HOURS A WEEK
Kathmandu, 12 Feb.: To give some relief, load-shedding has been reduced by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) lead-shedding has been reduced from Monday from 888 to 80 hours a week.
Load-shedding was reduced with rise in water level of snow-fed rivers and completion of repair of one of two turbines of the mid-Marshyangdhi power project.
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FIVE KILLED IN KULEKHANI JEEP ACCIDENT
Kathmandu, 12 Feb.: Five persons, including three Indians, were killed
Sunday in a jeep accident at Kulekhani in Makwanpur.
A child was among the killed.
Seven passengers were injured, some critically.
The Balero jeep heading for the capital veered 15 meters off the road into a
stream
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ARMY CHIEF, TAMRAT MEET
Kathmandu, 12 Feb.: Director of the Asia-Pacific Division of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs (DPA) Samuel Tamrat, who arrived Thursday night held discussions Sunday with Army Chief Gen. Chhatraman Singh Gurung.
Tamrat and the army chief discussed the army integration process, NA
Directorate of Public Relations said.
The former deputy of UNMIN in Nepal which closed down mid-2011 launched
consultations with political leaders Friday by first meeting Prime Minister
Baburam Bhattarai Friday.
The senior UN troubleshooter is n Nepall when the peace process and constitution dafting process have hit hurdles.
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RPP SPOKESMAN KHEM RAJ PT DEAD
Kathmandu, 12 Feb.: Khem Raj Pandit died Sunday of a heart attack.
The RPP Spokesman was 70.
He died in Pyuthan.
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LEGALITY OF GOVT DECISION TO DISTRIBUTE CITIZENSHIP CHALLENGED
Kathmandu, 12 Feb.: A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday, seeking to scrap the government's recent decision of distributing citizenship certificates by descent, RSS reports.

The Home Ministry recently issued a circular to the district administration offices asking them to provide citizenship by descent to the children of those people who acquired the Nepali citizenship certificates on the basis of birth.

The writ lodged by advocates Prabinata Wasti and Balkrishna Neupane has claimed that the government's decision to issue the Nepali citizenship certificates to the children of those citizens who acquired the Nepali citizenship in 2063- 064 BS by descent was against the law.

Arguing that there was no provision of distributing citizenships by descent to the children of those people who have acquired citizenships on the basis of birth, the petition has made the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Home Ministry, the Ministry of Law and Justice, the ruling party UCPN ( Maoist) and the CPN ( UML) Parliamentary Party as the defendants.

Claiming that the circular issued by the Home Ministry was against the Interim Constitution, the Citizenship Act and other existing laws, the Petition has called for cancellation of the circular and thereby annul the citizenship certificates issued in line with the circular.
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FLIGHT LANDS IN TAPLEJNG
Kathmandu, 12 Feb.: Suketar Airport of Taplejung which remained closed for a year has been brought into operation from today. The airport was closed for the maintenance of the runway, RSS reports from Taplujung.

A plane of the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) landed at the airport as a test-flight on Sunday. The maintenance works of the airport was completed some two months ago but the flight schedule was delayed due to some technical hassles and bad weather. Officials said that the flight was delayed as the NAC had some difficulties to make the flight schedule.

The 600 meters long runway has been extended to one kilometer after the maintenance. Captain of NAC, Subash Rijal said take-off and landing have been easier than the past after the expansion of the runway.

Earlier, the planes used to be back for failing to land at the airport due to the one-way runway. The airport was never repaired once it was constructed in 2028 B.S. Some Rs 55 million has been spent for the expansion of the runway and other maintenance works.

Once the airport comes into operation in full swing, the mountaineers for Mt. Kanchanjungha will be highly benefited. The passengers can fly from Taplejung to Biratnagar at Rs 2,789 in a 25 minutes flight.
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