The 100-day countdown for the Constituent Assembly to finish writing the constitution begins today. To mark this milestone, and to let people know how their time is being used up, the Public Opinion and Coordination Committee of the CA is going on a tour of the country. The Kathmandu Post writes:
The committee has decided to mobilise 20 teams comprising lawmakers and CA secretariat officials and it has asked CA Chairman Subhas Nembang to make arrangements for the tour. Each team will visit three to five districts and make people aware of the CA’s achievements and the tasks ahead.
President Ram Baran Yadav is also touring today. On Wednesday he visited the holy city of Haridwar in India to seek blessings from Pilot Baba and Dudhadari Baba for lasting peace and prosperity in Nepal, but only after witnessing the agreement on an air service pact with India. The Himalayan Times writes about the achievements of his visit:
New air service agreement that aims to increase air seats from 6,000 per week to 30,000 was signed by Tourism Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari on behalf of Nepal and Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna on behalf of India. The MoUs signed between the two countries include memorandum on development of railway infrastructure at five border points along Nepal-India border, MoU on Development of Nepal Bharat Maitri Polytechnic at Hetauda and an MoU on the Establishment of Nepal Bharat Maitri Sabha Griha, Birgunj.
At home, the Maoists have obstructed the work of Upper Marsyangdi-II Hydropower Project because it hasn’t protected the rights of locals. The Himalayan Times writes about the project:
The project funded by an Indian company that aims to produce 600 MW of electricity was licensed by Nepal government to Himtal Hydropower Company Private Ltd for carrying out the Detailed Project Report one-and-a-half years ago. Later, Indian company GMR had acquired 80 per cent stake in the project from Himtal.
A group of the Maoist cadres led by lawmakers Amar Tamu of Gorkha and Buddhiram Tamu of Lamjung, hoisting a flag on the construction site in Tagring, Syange, declared that the project would be closed from Monday. Tamu, who is also the chairman of Tamuwan Freedom Forum, said the project was stalled as per the party’s central policy
Nearby in Tanahun,15 students had to be rushed to the hospital after police fired tear gas shells near their school in order to stop two youth groups from fighting each other. Kantipur writes:
Police fired tear gas shells after two youth groups created a uproar in front of the Western Irrigation Development’s subdivision office over a bidding contract. More than hundred students from Saraswati High School were affected by the tear gas shells fired near their school.