344 persons living and dead, received various medals and felicitation for their contributions to the country. The names of the award recipients were announced on Nepal Republic Day 2017.

The following awards were received by various persons:

• Nepal’s first elected Prime Minister BP Koirala received the prestigious Nepal Ratna Man Padavi, the country’s highest civilian award, according to Nepal Home Affairs Ministry. Siddhartha Koirala, his grandson received the award on BP’s behalf, at a special function in the President’s Office
• Veteran political leader Mahendra Narayan Nidhi received the prestigious Rastra Gaurav. His son, Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi received the award for him
• Five persons, Sheik Idris , Nona Koirala, Amik Sherchan , Barman Budha and Ram Kumar Yadav received the Mahaujjwal Rastradeep Man Padavi
• Manohar Prasad Bhattarai received the Ujjwal Kirtimaya Rastradeep Man Padavi
• 119 received the Suoprabal Jana Sewa Shree Award, 140 persons received the Prawal Jana Sewa Shree, 21 persons received the Sukritimaya Rastradeep Man Padavi, 45 persons received the Jana Sewa Shree and five persons received the Kirtimaya Rastradeep

Earlier, the government had enlisted 345 persons. However, the Nepal Home Affairs Ministry recently removed Nepal Former Chief Secretary’s name Somlal Subedi from the list. Subedi was among the seven persons who had to receive the Prasiddha Prawal Jana Sewa Shree.

As per an MoHA source, he was removed after he made anti-government remarks recently after the Cabinet recalled his position as Alternative Director at the Manila-based Asian Development Bank.

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepal Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun were present among the other ministers and chiefs of constitutional bodies at the felicitation program.

Conclusion:
Congratulations to all the awardees! We hope that many more people are inspired and motivated to provide their invaluable services to their nation.

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This 26-km tunnel will supply water from the Melamchi river to the residents of the Kathmandu valley, who have been suffering a severe water shortage in the region.

The initiative is coming after a reported loss of about 40% of the 100 million liters of daily water supply, which was going waste due to leakage.

The scope of the USD 335 million project included building of the tunnel and also the construction of a 29-km access.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Nepal worked hand-in-hand to address this long pending issue.

Within a span of 18 years and with the financial aid of USD 145 million from ADB, the government has brought the project to a promising point in its conception and aims at completing it by early July 2018.

In a joyous breakthrough ceremony, the ADB Director General, Hun Kim said, “I think it is a historic day. Nepal can now tell the outside world that ‘Nepal can do it!’ I think with this kind of spirit, we can overcome any challenges.”

“Today is important because this is the proof that we can work together, and we can deliver. ADB will continue to work with the government until the day when the people in Kathmandu valley get water 24/7,” he added further.

The breakthrough ceremony was also attended by other important dignitaries like the Vice President of Nepal Nanda Bahadur Pun and Minister for Drinking Water Bina Magar.

How can the inhabitants benefit?

With the new development, the customers of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited will now avail an additional 170 million liters of water per day, by the end of 2018. Moreover, the new system ensures water supply for at least 2-4 hours.

The Roadmap for the Future

ABD has planned to work with the Government of Nepal to incorporate the objectives of the Country Operations Business Plan (COBP) for the year 2017-2019, which focus on:

• Better road and air transport connectivity, and trade facilitation;
• Sustainable urban development and assessment of economic corridors to improve linkages with large, fast-growing neighboring countries;
• Energy sector reforms and investments in generation, transmission, and distribution systems;
• Upgrading skills and education; and
• Water resources development and management, and transformation from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

 A Recap of Past Objectives:

ADB had earlier decided to assist the Government of Nepal with its development objective of accelerated, sustainable, inclusive economic growth as per the Country Partnership Strategy for 2013-2017.

The framework of the initiative focused on:

• The growth in economic opportunities in infrastructure
• Access to economic opportunities through projects and programs in education which included skills development, water supply and sanitation and rural infrastructure
• Mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion and supporting related reforms which would also improve access to basic services
• Promoting social protection through work on disaster risk management, skills development and knowledge partnerships

On an End Note!

The latest improvement supported by ADB is definitely a solution to one of the long-awaited key infrastructure concerns of the Kathmandu Valley. Hope more such international collaborations will take the country’s infrastructure development to the next level.

 Also read: ADB initiatives for Nepal for 2017-19.

The post ADB Addresses Nepal’s Long-awaited Water Crisis appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba have extended their greetings and best wishes to all the Nepalis across the world on the occasion of the Chhath festival.

President’s Greetings

In her message, President Bhandari conveyed her wishes of peace, happiness and prosperity and hoped for mutual goodwill, national unity, reconciliation and indivisibility among all Nepalis.

VP’s Wishes

Vice President Pun said that the holy Chhath festival would enhance the richness of the multicultural, multilingual and multi-ethnic social fabric of Nepal’s secularism and strengthen the unity, fraternity, tolerance and mutual goodwill among Nepalis.

PM’s Message

Prime Minister Deuba said that Chhath festival would help strengthen prosperity and unity as well as love, compassion and social harmony in the country known for its cultural diversity. He said, “I have taken the Chhath as the festival giving a positive message of emotional unity and cooperation among all Nepalis”.

The main rituals of the Chhath Puja, considered the most glorious form of Sun worship, are being observed today. These include taking a holy bath, fasting, and offering of prayers first to the setting Sun, and then to the rising Sun. Chhath is the only festival where no priest or pandit are involved in the ceremonies.

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