Contractors declare ‘construction holiday’ until govt guarantees necessary funds (rep 11/08/2024)

Smoothening the transition : Nepal is accomplishing the goal of graduating from the LDC status, but its readiness will be tested, by Hanaa Singer-Hamdy (kp 09/08/2024)

The answer to Nepal’s brain drain, by Robert Vanwey (ae 08/08/2024)

Nepal’s LDC graduation full of challenges, opportunities : A study highlights need to reform regulatory frameworks, enhance institutional procedures, improve human resource capabilities, diversify export markets (kp 08/08/2024)

Metal tradition is associated with sustainability, by Surendra Pradhan (rep 04/08/2024)

Govt to terminate contracts with 52 builders who failed to complete work on time (With list) (rep 29/07/2024)

Capital expenditure growth enters slow lane after Covid : In the past four years, the average capital spending has remained at 60 percent, demonstrating the slow pace of economic and development activities, by Krishana Prasain (kp 20/07/2024)

Academia-industry collaboration vital for Nepal, by Ram Lama and Lakshman Lama (ae 16/07/2024)

FDI pledges go up, but not as high as desired : Nepal spent millions of rupees to organise the much-hyped investment summit in April but failed to lure enough foreign investors (kp 05/07/2024)

Implement Development Projects In Time, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 11/06/2024), Delays plague projects entrusted to foreign companies in Nepal (kh 12/06/2024)

Only 65 percent completed after five years on a four-year contract worth Rs six billion : Auditor General raises concerns (kh 08/06/2024)

Deadline approaching, progress on government plan to develop Burtibang as model city dismal : It is part of a 2011 plan to develop 10 ‘model cities’ along the Mid-Hill Highway within 15 years to mitigate growing outmigration from the hills, by Prakash Baral (kp 31/05/2024) [So much for development plans and statements by Nepalese politicians!]

16th Plan: Govt aims for 7.3% economic growth and $2,351 PCI (kh 15/05/2024) [And what is the reason for these utopian targets?], What does the 16th Five-year plan look like? (ae 16/05/2024)

Keep your word : The collective pledge of Nepali parties to attract investment needs to be translated into action (kp 14/05/2024) [What does the word of Nepal's politicians count for?]

Putting People And Planet Before Profit, by Namrata Sharma (rn 01/05/2024)

Nepal Investment Summit 2024: Investments worth Rs 9.13 billion approved (rep 30/04/2024), Why did the investment summit fail to produce the desired result? (ae 01/05/2024), NIS 2024: Few Deals, Many Rhetoric (sp 10/05/2024)

Nepal Investment Summit 2024 begins in Kathmandu (kh 28/04/2024), Govt to solicit letters of intent for 20 projects, primarily hydropower, at 3rd Investment Summit (kh 28/04/2024), Nepal investment summit begins today : More than 1,700 investors from 55 countries will take part in the two-day event. The last summit was held in 2019 (kp 28/04/2024)

One Nepali, One Investment, One Employment: A Framework for Foreign Direct Investment, by Dila Khareland and Raj Maharjan (nlt 27/04/2024)

Investment Summit approaches, but key ordinance pending : Ordinance to amend laws to remove hurdles yet to reach President. Officials say Sheetal Niwas will get it today, by Binod Ghimire (kp 27/04/2024)) [An ordinance is only temporarily binding and requires confirmation by the parliament elected by the people at its next session (Article 114 of the Constitution). This is not a trustworthy investment guarantee! It is a serious omission on the part of the government not to have passed the necessary legislative amendments through parliament in good time!]

1,600 participants confirmed for Nepal Investment Summit (rep 27/04/2024)

Why invest in Nepal? Nepal's investment climate is worsened by political instability, too few laws, and too much red tape, by Shristi Karki (nt 26/04/2024), Nepal looks at alternative investments : Ahead of the Nepal Investment Summit, some new ideas to attract FDI, by Siddhant Raj Pandey (nt 26/04/2024)

Nepal should have same yardstick for development and economic cooperation with all nations, says Mahat : The ex-finance minister also questions the rationale behind a railway line between China and Nepal that would take billions of dollars to build (kp 26/04/2024)

151 projects to be showcased for FDI in Third Investment Summit (rep 26/04/2024)

Nepal’s investment climate myths (ae 26/04/2024)

Creating a space for investment : We must devise suitable policies, remove bureaucratic hurdles, and guarantee returns to attract foreign investors, by Kalyan Raj Sharma (kp 26/04/2024)

Draft of 16th plan unveiled (with full Nepali text) (kh 25/04/2024), 16th Plan: Government unveils 40 goals for prosperity (with full list in Nepali) (kh 25/04/2024)

What to expect from the investment summit : Despite policy reforms, bureaucratic red-taping and lack of implementation play the spoilsport in foreign investments, by Bibhuti Kharel (kp 21/04/2024), Investment from DFIs crucial for Nepal’s graduation
Structural issues, regulatory ambiguities and political uncertainty have prevented big foreign investment in Nepal, says British envoy, by Krishana Prasain (kp 24/04/2024), Third Investment Summit: Government to showcase 150 lucrative projects (ae 24/04/2024)

Roadblocks ahead : The Nagdhunga tunnel breakthrough is a milestone. We must now change our development culture (kp 17/04/2024)

Investment Summit: How to attract FDI in Nepal?, by Jeetendra Dev (ae 15/04/2024)

Nepal received FDI commitment worth Rs 30.09 billion in Q3 : The FDI commitment increased by a nominal Rs 1.98 billion in review period (rep 14/04/2024)

National pride projects’ costs skyrocket by Rs 1,050 billion, putting strain on state economy, by Dilip Paudel (rep 06/04/2024)

Addressing youth aspirations : Harnessing the energy and hopes of the youth is integral to sustainably realising Nepal’s development aspirations, by Divya Rana (kp 02/04/2024)

Tapping into foreign debt markets : Nepal is unlikely to domestically secure huge investments to fulfil its ambitions, by Shabda Gyawali and Pragres Acharya (kp 29/03/2024)

Nepal ranks 146th on Human Development Index: UNDP report (kh15/03/2024) [see complete report by UNDP, Snapshots and Specific Country Data Nepal]

Nepal Investment Summit 2024: Navigating Nepal’s FDI Journey : Prospects and Predicaments, by Bindeswar Prasad Lekhak (kh 10/03/2024)

Govt almost finalizes signing agreements for four projects worth Rs 301.18 billion during Nepal Investment Summit 2024 : Preparations for the investment summit are likely to face slackness with the change in government (rep 07/03/2024)

Reconciling environment and development : Environment and development are taken as something, which cannot go together. This is contrary to global understanding, by Chandramani Aryal (ae 06/03/2024)

LDCs to get interim duty-free and quota-free market access after graduation : Nepal, Bangladesh and Laos will formally come out of the UN-defined least-developed countries category by the end of 2026 (kp 05/03/2024)

Avoiding over-development : Nepal must be warned about the dangers of excessively focusing on economic growth, by Hridesh Gajurel (kp 29/02/2024)

LDC graduation a key agenda at 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae 27/02/2024), LDC graduation: Nepal seeks extension of facilities, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae 28/02/2024), Should Nepal extend its LDC graduation deadline?, by Kamal Dev Bhattarai (ae 29/02/2024)

World Social Forum: Rethinking and Redefining Development Itself, by Dipak Gyawali (sp 23/02/2024)

Data for effective development : Despite some positive trends, persistent disparities continue to mar the landscape of progress in Nepal, by Ximena Del Carpio, Pippa Bird and Faris Hadad-Zervos (kp 20/02/2024)

Experts call for harnessing remittances for development : Say the growth in remittances has fueled imports, but the money is hardly being used in employment-generating activities (kp 09/02/2024)

NPC elicits recommendations from development partners for 16th plan (kh 31/01/2024)

Enhancing Development Planning in Nepal, by Suraj Ghimire (rep 25/01/2024)

We will prioritize completing old projects: PM Prachanda (rn 22/01/2024)

‘National Pride’ projects lag behind, progress at a snail’s pace, by Laxman Sharma (kh 22/01/2024)

16th Periodic Plan: Lawmakers suggest NPC plan only feasible projects (rep 08/01/2024)

Impacting all SDGs in Nepal with Vetiver (ae 08/01/2024)

Will declaring an emergency help accelerate infrastructure projects? Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal floated the idea of declaring a state of emergency to speed up infrastructure development in his address to the nation last week, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 06/01/2024)

How development projects can go wrong when they disregard the rights of the indigenous people : Hydropower is the cleanest form of energy. But should it come at the cost of indigenous people being abused and oppressed simply because they want to have a say on how such development projects will impact their lives?, by RK Tamang and Simone Galimberti (nlt 02/01/2024)

Issues and prospects in developing resilient infrastructure in Nepal : Nepal has the potential to generate a significant amount of clean energy by mobilizing investments and developing access roads, transmission lines, and hydromechanical infrastructure, by Govinda Raj Pokharel (nlt 28/12/2023)

Government seeks to curb multi-year contracts for small projects : Awarding multi-year contracts to implement low-priority projects under political pressure has strained the state coffers, officials say (26/12/2023)

Seven major lessons learned in the development sector in 2023, by Sudarshan Neupane (rep 25/12/2023)

MCA-Nepal makes public expenditure and work progress as of November 2023 : Amid concerns about ‘slow’ progress on the project implementation since the MCC’s Nepal Compact was ratified by Nepal’s legislature in February, 2021, the MCA-Nepal has said it has made sufficient progress (nlt 23/12/2023)

Why the ‘US-funded’ MCC projects in Nepal must break away from the cycles of delays and cost overruns, by Mahabir Paudyal (nlt 20/12/2023)

Unveiling Game Theory Behind Nepal’s Foreign Aid Strategy, by Nisha Jha (kh 20/12/2023)

16th Periodic Plan draft aims for GDP target exceeding Rs 8 trillion (rep 16/12/2023)

Strategic Vision Must For Growth, by Umesh Puri (rn 15/12/2023)

Govt cannot provide money to pay contractors through non-budgetary measures: MoF. Pay our Rs 40 billion dues or we will launch nationwide protests: Contractors (rep 10/12/2023)

Time To Rethink National Pride Projects, by Pankaj Kafle (rn 09/12/2023)

Streamline Infrastructure Development Projects, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 5/12/2023)

Pursuing People-centric Development Model, by Jhabindra Bhandari (rn 29/11/2023)

Contractors to discuss green development as builders from countries gather in Kathmandu : Nepal ranks 10th among nations most affected by climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021 (kp 22/11/2023)

Reasons Behind Low Capital Spending, by Chandra Mani Adhikari (rn 10/11/2023)

Nepal among the lowest in South Asia in HDI : With the HDI value of 0.602, the republic stands second lowest in per capita income in the region, with only Afghanistan ranking lower, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 07/11/2023)

NPC starts holding provincial level discussion for 16th Plan (kh 06/11/2023)

Govt prepares work procedure to assess progress of projects worth over Rs 1 billion (rep 30/09/2023)

Poor development spending means low foreign loan uptake : Nepal met 50 percent of its foreign loan target in the fiscal year 2022-23, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 30/09/2023)

Int'l conference on 'Indigenous-led Research and Development' held (ht 28/09/2023)

16th five-year plan being prepared to bring back migrant workers (rn 16/09/2023)

Nepal's Development Aspirations and the Road to Net-Zero Emissions by 2045, by Subash Pandey (rep 10/09/2023)

Why Big Projects Fail In Nepal, by Shristi Kuikel (rn 01/09/2023)

Melamchi Project: A Spectacle of Nepal's Flawed Development Model (rep 27/08/2023)

A way out for landlocked developing countries : The review meeting in Bangkok this week presents a chance for Euro-Asia’s LLDCs to rally global support, by Rabab Fatima (kp 23/08/2023)

Nepal's Journey To LDC Graduation, by Aarati Neupane (rn 05/08/2023), Cost of LDC graduation : Nepal may face economic consequences, including loss of international support provided to the LDCs, by Gokarna Awasthi (kp 10/08/2023)

78 projects submit self-monitoring report (rep 04/08/2023)

16th periodic plan: Good governance, social justice and prosperity in focus (kh 01/08/2023), Approach Paper of 16th Periodic Plan approved (rep 02/08/2023)

My trip to New Zealand: Lessons for Nepal’s agri-business and agri-tourism : Like in New Zealand, Nepal can showcase its farming practices rooted in traditional culture by adopting a storytelling approach. This would not only enhance the overall tourist experience but also extend the positive image and reputation of Nepali farms and farming, by Manoj Sharma (nlt 24/07/2023)

Misguided modernity in Madhesh : Change in consumption patterns is partly attributable to higher income due to remittance, by CK Lal (kp 05/07/2023)

Planned development of Nepal: In search of transformation, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht 27/06/2023)

NPC gears up for 16th five-year plan (ae 26/06/2023), NPC initiates preparation for 16th five-year plan (ht 28/06/2023)

Foreign direct investment pledges down 25 percent : Experts have attributed the steep drop to policy instability and bureaucratic hassles, by Krishana Prasain (kp 22/06/2023)

Delay in construction projects prompts cancellation of contracts (rep 11/06/2023)

Why development projects in Nepal are seldom completed on time : Poor budget implementation raises questions over the projects announced for the upcoming fiscal year as well, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 04/06/2023)

National Planning Commission gets full shape (rep 04/06/2023)

Data speaks for itself: Nepal is progressing a lot more now than in the past : Several development indicators show Nepal is doing much better in education, GDP, infrastructure, tourism, life expectancy and many more. Here is a case-by-case description, by Nirmal Kandel (nlt 29/05/2023)

Nepal asks US for continued privileges after graduation : Nepal will lose the trade preferences it has been receiving after it graduates to developing country in 2026, by Krishana Prasain (kp 20/05/2023)

Green bonds for greening Nepal : They finance climate and environmental projects and support sustainable development, by Hari Gopal Risal (kp 19/05/2023)

Project developers can now lend and borrow explosives : Projects that have involved Chinese companies are particularly facing the shortage of explosives due to India’s reluctance to supply them, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 18/05/2023)

State-owned construction company may be hired to complete unfinished projects : Formation of a new company after the demise of a similar one due to political intervention raises questions, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 13/05/2023)

Development Needs Pragmatic Approach, by Lokdeep Thapa (rn 28/04/2023)

Govt to revoke projects worth over Rs 20 billion that have not started work as of Q3, citing the shortfall in revenue collection (rep 23/04/2023)

IBN approves investment of Rs 167.59 billion for big hydropower projects (rep 14/04/2023)

Provincial pride projects in Gandaki in limbo : Political instability, lack of coordination between federal and provincial governments, budget crunch, and the pandemic are cited as the reasons, by Pratiksha Kafle (kp 10/04/2023)

Development partners urge Finance Minister for effective implementation of projects (rn 05/04/2023)

Low revenue collection takes huge toll on mega development projects : Govt heavily slashes budget allocated for development projects, makes fund transfer to meet recurrent liabilities (rep 28/03/2023)

Nepal’s Low-Prioritized Development Pillars, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (rep 17/03/2023)

Prospects and pitfalls of end of Nepal’s LDC status : There is uncertainty around Nepal’s graduation into the ranks of ‘developing countries’ on November 24, 2026, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 12/03/2023), Don’t delay graduation : The year 2026 can be a turning point in Nepal’s journey to becoming a self-sustaining economy (kp 13/03/2023)

Nepal fails to achieve growth target set by 15th Plan : The country could not achieve the higher economic growth target set by the 15th Plan due to political instability and the Covid-19 pandemic (ae 08/03/2023)

LDC graduation in challenging times (ae 07/03/2023)

How scientific knowledge can contribute to Nepal’s socio-economic development : Socio-economic problems prevalent in Nepali society cannot be solved effectively and efficiently in the absence of scientific innovation, by Gaurav Ojha (nlt 04/03/2023)

Graduate from LDCs (04/03/2023)

MCC project cost may go up (ae 03/03/2023), MCC-funded power lines could hit land hurdle : Around 45 percent of the 315-km transmission line will use private land, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 04/03/2023)

National Pride Projects In Sorry State, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 21/02/2023)

Banking on project bank : Around 2,000 development projects in the country have ended in failure. It is not clear who is responsible for this situation, by Gopikrishna Dhungana (ae 07/02/2023)

Utilising Remittances For Development, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn 04/02/2023)

Nepal progresses in hunger reduction, climbs 81st rank on 2022 hunger index (kh 28/01/2023), State of hunger in Nepal, in the world : Though Nepal stands at a moderate level of hunger, countries in South Asia in general face the highest level of hunger and the global hunger situation remains grim, says the 2022 Global Hunger Index (nlt 29/01/2023)

Work halted due to lack of construction materials, increasing Nepal’s financial liability by Rs 15 million a day, by Himal Lamsal (rep 27/01/2023)

Five Major Lessons for Development Sector in 2022, by Sudarshan Neupane (rep 23/01/2023)

Shortage of construction materials hits development projects hard (ae 17/01/2023)

Development projects suffer from funds crunch as government revenue takes hit : Prime minister questions poor revenue collection, dismal development spending in 30-point directive to secretaries, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 05/01/2023),
Fixing Nepal’s low and slow development spending (rep 05/01/2023)

Seven decades of development: Political, socio-economic reality, by Saroj Bhattarai (ht 04/01/2023)

NPC sets new standard on determining national priority projects (ae 29/12/2022)

A comprehensive overview on prospects of growth and development in Nepal : How can Nepal formulate a realistic yet inspirational economic plan for the next five years to grow Nepal’s economy and create job opportunities for Nepali youths?, by Sameer Khatiwada (nlt 05/12/2022)

Brain Gain For Development, by Bhupa P Dhamala (rn 30/11/2022)

Construction of new dry ports slows down : The Rasuwa dry port being constructed near the Nepal-China border is only 35 percent complete in three and a half years, by Krishana Prasain (kp 23/11/2022)

Festivals and elections cause labour shortage at construction projects : Among the affected is Tamor Corridor Road Project in east Nepal, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 21/11/2022)

Focus On Infrastructure Development, by Pankaj Thapa (rn 19/11/2022)

Development Takes A Backseat, by Modnath Dhakal (rn 18/11/2022)

Nepal’s graduation from LDC : Difficulties lie ahead as Nepal braces for transition to a developing country, by Bhoj Raj Poudel (kp 09/11/2022)

'Make development environment-friendly' (rn 27/09/2022)

Human Development Report Calls For Green, Inclusive Growth, by Lok Nath Bhusal (rn 16/09/2022)

There is a plan to upgrade Nepal to a developing nation by 2026: PM (rep 14/09/2022)

Nepal slightly improves in HDI ranking: UNDP report (kh 13/09/2022), Nepal moves one spot up in Human Development Index, ranks 143rd (kp 13/09/2022)

Leveraging Nepal’s untapped potential, making the world a better place : First day of Kantipur Conclave was jam-packed with insights on nation’s pressing issues (kp 11/09/2022)

Diaspora Engagement Vital For Development, by Arati Neupane (rn 03/09/2022)

Beyond graduation : People want the country to 'actually' graduate from LDC status, not just on paper, by Bhoj Raj Poudel (kp 18/08/2022)

National pride projects get dear as deadline extends (kh 14/07/2022), Both cost and time of national pride projects increase (rep 14/07/2022), National pride projects' cost goes up (ht 15/07/2022)

Government sets record in rush spending at end of fiscal year : On Saturday, despite being the weekend, it paid out a whopping Rs14.72 billion, setting a record for the highest one-day capital expenditure, by Pawan Pandey (kp 12/07/2022) [This testifies to a lack of interest on the part of the responsible politicians and administrators in a structured and rational development policy!]

Govt repeats late spending trend as fiscal year comes to a close : Rs 52 billion spent as development expenditure in past 25 days; Rs 15 billion spent on Saturday alone (kh 10/07/2022) [Nepal politicians will never change unless they are replaced in their entirety by a responsible, younger and socially inclusive generation! Otherwise, the personal power struggles of failed top politicians who are not really interested in the development of the country will continue endlessly!]

Complexities and challenges of Nepal’s development : The government needs to engage every key development stakeholder in the process of planning development projects. Close coordination amongst the key stakeholders is essential, by Sabeena Sharma (nlt 04/07/2022)

Capital expenditure at less than 40 per cent (ht 01/07/2022), Only 41.62 percent of capital budget spent as 12 days remain in this fiscal (kh 05/07/2022)

“Projects such as BRI should be executed striking strategic diplomatic balance and national interest” (kh 11/06/2022),Experts for weighing viability, transparency and national interests while selecting foreign funded projects (nlt 12/06/2022)

Scope of private blended finance : The strategy is to attract commercial capital to projects that contribute to sustainable development, by Achyut Wagle (kp 24/05/2022)

Contractors stop work complaining about high prices of materials : The work stoppage may impact the country’s economy at a time when all economic indicators are not performing well, industry insiders say, by Pawan Pandey (kp 11/05/2022)

Significance Of Timely Capital Spending, by Shyam Prasad Mainali (rn 07/05/2022)

Over 3,500 projects affected as construction entrepreneurs mark 10th day of strike (rep 04/05/2022)

Contractors launch ‘construction holiday’ starting from today (rep 24/04/2022), Construction entrepreneurs put off protests as govt calls them for talks (kp 29/04/2022)

Debunking the Low Capital Expenditure Practice : What Engineers Say!, by Pradip Kumar Kafle (rep 15/04/2022)

Nepal’s Mal-Development: Where And How Did We Go Wrong?, by Dipak Gyawali (sp 08/04/2022)

Deputies drive development in rural Nepal : Nepal’s female deputy mayors and chiefs vie for top local government positions in May's local election, by Laxmi Basnet (nt 01/04/2022)

Set dev priorities : Nepal has failed to reap benefits from China because of its inability to select development priorities (ht 25/03/2022)

How Nepal’s public procurement process is hindering quality outcomes : It is immensely important for Nepal to do away with the anti-competitive practice that has afflicted infrastructure development in the country, by Ayushma Maharjan (nlt 14/03/2022)

MCC story has been the best ‘lesson learning’ for all, by Yogendra Prasad Lamichhane (kh 10/03/2022)

Meeting our commitments : New view towers, built to encourage tourism, don’t fit into the economic worries of the hills, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp 03/03/2022)

Amid concerns about delays, ADB’s Nepal chief visits road project sites : Says further delays are unacceptable, and everyone involved must work together (kp 17/02/2022)

Finance Ministry records problems facing national pride projects (kh 12/02/2022), NPPs Share Only 24% Of Capex As Execution Challenges Remain The Same : NPPs share only 24% of Capex as execution challenges remain the same, by Ajay Chhetri (rn 15/02/2022)

National pride projects made little to no progress in first half of current FY, by Himal Lamsal (rep 11/02/2022), Construction of airports listed as national pride projects slow in first half of 2021/22 (rep 11/02/2022)

FDI in first five months of current FY increases by 49.6 percent; Govt’s capital expenditure stands at 13.44 percent (kh 16/01/2022), Govt’s capital expenditure stood only 13.44 percent in the first half of current FY, less than last year’s 14.4 percent (rep 16/01/2022)

Nepal’s Graduation From LDC, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 11/01/2022)

Nepal's graduation from LDC: Its impact on textile exports, by Prakash Jha (ht 05/01/2022)

Taking Nepal forward with MCC, by Deepak Rauniyar (rep 30/12/2021), MCC project choices: To be or not to be, by Gaurav Shamsher JB Rana (ht 30/12/2021)

Shifting Development Culture, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn 25/12/2021)

Financial education for a prosperous Nepal : Nepal needs a national plan and a consensus to achieve the steps necessary to build a financially literate society, by Gaurav Thapa (kp 20/12/2021)

Partial human development : For a number of reasons, certain groups do better than others but we are not being told by how much, by Deepak Thapa (kp 16/12/2021)

Social Innovation for Nepal, by Rajesh Poudel (rep 13/12/2021)

World Bank report underlines reforms to support fiscal federalism, green growth in Nepal : The report also stresses the importance of strengthening investment processes and fiscal policies for green growth (kp 07/12/2021), WB's Public Expenditure Review report launched (ht 07/12/2021), World Bank’s report underlines reforms to support fiscal federalism, green growth in Nepal : While federalism is helping bring policymaking closer to the people, it has also increased fiscal spending and exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic led to a sharp rise in fiscal deficits and public debt, report finds (nlt 07/12/2021) [see WB report]

Graduation From LDC Status, by Hira Bahadur Thapa (rn 03/12/2021)

The Triangle Conference: Righting the government-academia-business mismatch, by Pratik Ghimire (ae 25/11/2021)

UNGA endorses Nepal’s graduation from Least Developed Country category : The five-year transition period is provided on an exceptional basis mainly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which would normally be for three years (nlt 25/11/2021), Nepal to be upgraded from LDC category : With the preparatory period of five years, Nepal will graduate to a middle-income developing country by December 2026 (kp 26/11/2021), Making Nepal a middle-income developing nation: Opportunities and challenges (ht 28/11/2021), Nepal’s graduation to developing country hinges on political stability : Experts stress taking measures at reducing the cost of doing business by improving the country’s infrastructure connectivity and human resources, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 29/11/2021), LDC graduation : Parties must have a common vision of development so that policies remain the same regardless of change of government (ht 29/11/2021), Development paradox : Can we rise up to the challenge of being classed as a developing country? (kp 30/11/2021)

Finance Minister sees need of simplifying development laws (kh 18/11/2021)

Inconsistent policy : The decision to halt the projects shows policy inconsistency and sends a wrong message to would-be investors in Nepal's infrastructure (ht 15/11/2021)

Positive Narratives On MCC, by Narayan Upadhyay (rn 26/10/2021)

Participatory Approach To Development, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 26/10/2021)

Development paradox : Nepal reduced poverty with open economy and trade but lagged in maintaining growth, by Bijendra Man Shakya (kp 25/10/2021)

Human resources, budget crunch in technical evaluation of development projects (kh 22/10/2021)

Pursue Sustainable Development, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 12/10/2021)

Resilient Development : Nepal Government and Development Partners Join Forces on Nepal’s Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development (sp 08/10/2021)

Developing country, here we come : Nepal’s graduation from LDC status is imminent, and the private sector seems to have stage fright, by Bijendra Man Shakya (kp 06/10/2021)

Why Planning Fails in Nepal?, by Sambisha Godi (kh 28/09/2021)

Bheri Babai project delayed due to damage : Hit by flood, the multi-basin irrigation-cum-hydropower project located in Surkhet is slated to be ready only in 2024, by Krishna Prasad Gautam and Harihar Singh Rathore (kp 22/09/2021)

Selection of undeserving projects is one of the main causes of slow capital expenditure: Finmin Sharma (rep 19/09/2021)

Building back stronger with nature ; Investments in forestry, ecotourism and organic agriculture could help in resilient recovery from the pandemic, by Lily Shrestha and Nabin Bhattarai (rep 14/09/2021)

Nepal as a self-confident, educated, skilled and prosperous democracy, by Bipin Adhikari (ae 26/08/2021)

After the Melamchi disaster : Planners need to realise and accept that the era of megaprojects in Nepal is over, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp 12/08/2021)

Central planning versus federalism : The National Planning Commission is a relic of the centralised planning era of Panchayat, by Achyut Wagle (kp 03/08/2021)

Public Procurement Monitoring Office to monitor procurement process online : Office will be able to see whether the officials involved in public procurement are qualified enough to assess bids, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 30/07/2021)

Bishwo Nath Poudel sworn in as NPC Vice Chairman (kh 29/07/2021)

Only 60 Per Cent Of Development Budget Spent In This FY (rn 15/07/2021)

FCAN concerned over halt of their payment (kh 14/07/2021)

Anomaly in development: Big projects missing deadline (kh 05/07/2021)

Economic growth target unchanged for the next three years despite the pandemic : Target of 6.5 percent for 2021-22 may be met if situation normalises given the negative growth last fiscal year, but double digit growth after that is impossible, experts say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 23/06/2021) [A political way to raise unrealistic hopes!]

‘Proposal to graduate Nepal from LDC status to be presented for endorsement’ (kh 14/06/2021)

Making The Net 2030 Truly Real, by Simone Galimberti (rep 04/06/2021)

Concise development encyclopedia of Nepal : Concise development encyclopedia of Nepal, by Prabhu Budhathoki (kp 29/05/2021) [a book review]

Over 6,000 infrastructure projects affected by COVID-19 pandemic, by Himal Lamsal (rep 23/05/2021)

Social Dimensions Of Development Projects, by Udbodh Bhandari (rn 12/05/2021)

Nepal likely to lose another year of development work : Construction projects held up as pandemic disrupts labour supply and delivery of equipment, contractors say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 02/05/2021)

Nepal receives 182 billion FDI from 53 countries (kh 22/04/2021) [Some of the countries are considered leading money laundering states!]

Needed: Practical Dialogue On Development Practices, by Namrata Sharma (rn 07/04/2021)

Highly-proclaimed People’s Housing Program goes sluggish : 31 percent budget and 30 percent construction in 11 years, by Sabina Karki (kh 31/03/2021)

Only 20 percent budget spent in eight months, by Shivaraj Bhatta (ae 26/03/2021)

Rite of passage : Nepal is excited by the prospect of moving up from the LDC status, but dreads losing the benefits, by Bijendra Man Shakya (kp 21/03/2021)

Nepal’s debt nearly triples in the last five and half years : Experts, however, say the country still has room for borrowing needed for development but insist that there should be productive use of the borrowed funds, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 02/03/2021

UN recommends for Nepal’s graduation from LDC category (rep 27/02/202), Nepal needs strategy, robust trade deals to graduate from poor club, experts say : As the United Nations recommends Nepal’s graduation from least developed country after 2026, challenges are of sustained growth since nation will lose existing support, by Anil Giri (kp 28/02/2021), Graduating wisely : We need a solid post-graduation plan to enjoy the perks of becoming a developing country (kp 01/03/2021), Nepal's Graduation From LDC, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 02/03/2021)

Sustainable community development: People's participation is a must, by Pushpanjali Malla (ht 24/02/2021)

Initiating development projects after poll notice is abuse of resources, analysts say : Week-long plan of laying foundations of five industrial estates begins even as progress of ongoing projects is poor; Oli has warned of  agitation if  the court decides against dissolution of  Parliament, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 23/02/2021)

National pride projects spend less than 10 percent of allocated budget, by Himal Lamsal (rep 15/02/2021)

Adopt Common Approach To Development, by Kushal Pokharel (rn 13/02/2021)

Nepal’s roadmap for green recovery from Covid-19, by Prakash Paudel (rep 10/01/2021)

Human Development In Post-COVID Era, by Kushal Pokharel(rn 26/12/2020)

LDC graduation requires transition strategy, report says : While graduation will hurt exports to markets like EU, it will send a positive message to the world about Nepal’s development prospects, experts argue, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 17/12/2020)

Investment Board Nepal expedites final approval process of four mega projects worth Rs 150 billion (rep 17/12/2020)

Pandemic could hit goal of graduating to developing country status, report says : Human development report stresses enhanced roles of provincial, local governments to minimise development gaps; The report also casts doubt on Nepal achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 14/12/2020) [see Nepal Human Development Report 2020]

Construction work gains pace on stalled development projects : Construction companies claim project works were delayed due to prolonged lockdown, by Ghanshyam Khadka (kp 09/12/2020)

Nepal’s infrastructure development aspirations build pressure on its existing green cover : Legal provisions that trees felled must be replenished by planting more trees may not be implemented, experts say, as big projects will be undertaken in the coming years, by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp 04/12/2020)

Financing sustainable development : The discourse has moved beyond growth rates to social and economic satisfaction, which remain dismal, by Madhukar Upadhya (kp 04/12/2020)

Government considers extending deadlines for all construction contracts, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 03/12/2020)

Development projects may not pick up pace this fiscal year, contractors fear : The construction sector was already in the pandemic doldrums, and now contractors worry about resource shortages., by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 23/11/2020)

Rani Jamara project warns contractor of legal action : The contractor completed over 95 percent of works but hasn’t shown up at site for a year, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 11/11/2020)

Solution for sustainability: Youth entrepreneurship, by Shradha Pal (ht 11/11/2020)

हाम्रो नेपाल किन बनेन ? [Why didn't our Nepal come into being?], by Peshal Acharya (ns 11/11/2020)

Correcting the course : We must build our opportunities but not at the cost of the environment and people (kp 30/10/2020)

Harvesting our souls in a reset world : Nepal needs to set a new developmental narrative  by giving weightage to  continuity and change, by Atul K Thakur (kp 08/10/2020)

Contract extensions  of construction works fail to yield results : Contractors want their deadlines to be extended by  another year after the winter season begins., by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 08/10/2020)

Covid-19 pandemic delays dozens of projects that were on their final lap : Apart from time and cost overruns for the private and  state projects, the impact will also be on the country’s economy which could incur losses worth billions of rupees., by Sangam Prasain and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 01/09/2020), Work must go on : The government must allow infrastructure projects to resume construction work (kp 02/09/2020)

Implementation of projects under Investment Board is drawn-out process : The new Act will further inhibit the board’s functioning that is already throttled by rigmarole of bureaucracy, officials say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 25/08/2020)

Plan to call bids for all projects by mid-August fails: Officials cite incomplete preparatory works, uncleared past liabilities, and restrictions on movement due to Covid-19 as reasons for delay, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 15/08/2020)

The IFC is looking to scale up investment in Nepal, interview with Wendy Werner, country manager of International Finance Corporation (kp 31/07/2020)

Nepal among countries to significantly reduce their multidimensional poverty level: Oxford study (rep 21/07/2020) [see UNDP report]

Construction deadline of all projects extended by six months (ht 17/07/2020)

Development In Turbulent Time, by Dev Raj Dahal (rn 11/07/2020)

Rethinking Needed In Development Priority, by Rahul Karki (rn 02/07/2020)

Nepal Investment Board approves seven projects worth Rs 185.43 billion: The 44th meeting of the board chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday also decided to grant a survey licence to Risen Energy Singapore for the development and operation of two separate, and Nepal’s largest, 125MW solar power projects (kp 21/06/2020)

Capital spending dismal at fag end of fiscal:  Only 31 per cent development budget spent; Average expenditure in previous years 60pc (ht 17/06/2020)

Lockdown is relaxed but construction projects unlikely to resume due to rainy season: The lockdown period coincided with the time when construction projects usually gather momentum, contractors say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp ¹4/06/2020)

The Covid-19 pandemic will lead to fall of HDI across the globe, says UN: An assessment by UNDP shows Nepal will have challenge in attaining SDGs (kp 22/05/2020)

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on development goals (ht 17/05/2020)

Workers return to construction projects as virus restrictions are relaxed: The government has announced that development projects can recommence by following safety standards, by Agandhar Tiwari (kp 14/05/2020)

Understanding poverty: It is not only bad governance but a failure to attract foreign capital and to stop cartels from forming that has hampered development, by Niraj KC (kp 11/05/2020)

How the pandemic will disrupt project lifecycle: Nepal can lose investments from FDI source countries for they are highly likely to hold back their overseas investment decisions. Investment proposals and negotiations with investors are going to drop, by Prabhakar Ghimire (rep 05/05/2020)

Government extended deadline of sick projects by a year, but contractors say Covid-19 has stalled all works: Public contractors say they need yet another deadline extension of at least six months to complete the projects, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 26/04/2020)

Govt should only focus on priority projects: WB (ht 23/04/2020)

Construction works at Bheri-Babai continues despite lockdown, by Nagendra Upadhyaya (rep 12/04/2020)

Spending on low priority projects halted: Finance minister under pressure to manage resources to combat novel coronavirus (ht 04/04/2020)

National Planning Commission endorses 15th periodic plan (ht 03/03/2020)

Sick projects will not get budget from next fiscal (ht 02/03/2010)

Despite completion of one third of sick projects, progress in troubled government contracts remains dismal: As many as 1,202 projects with a combined contract value of Rs86.44 billion continue to be sick, corruption watchdog’s latest report shows, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 16/02/2020)

Cost overrun of NPPs surges by Rs 283 billion: NPC report (ht 13/02/2020)

Ministries asked to submit details of projects (ht 04/02/2020)

In development and poverty alleviation, every dollar counts: Nepal needs to invest more in data-oriented policy prescription and project evaluation, by Astha Wagle (kp 27/01/2020)

Sunkoshi-Marin project gets national pride status (rep 24/01/2020)

Counting what counts in Nepal: The state of the toilet at Kathmandu airport is a better indicator of progress than the Human Development Index, by Anil Chitrakar (nt 24/01/2020)

Downsides of development: Nepal has no excuse but to deliver on development. What we need to care about, however, is the quality and sustainability of development, by Dwaipayan Regmi (rep 21/01/2020)

Big projects required to get water conservation compliance (rep 07/01/2020)

Province 5 pride projects left in limbo: The capital expenditure is just seven percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, by Ghanashyam Gautam (kp 05/01/2020)

Challenges Of Inclusive Development, by Kopila Rijal (rn 03/01/2020)

PM’s 10-yr Rs 131-billion agri projectspent just over 5% in three years, by Shree Ram Subedi (rep 30/12/2019)

NPC finalises 654 projects to receive special grants (ht 29/12/2019)

Creating possibilities for Nepal: Building Inter-country Water Supply Management System connecting Mechi and Mahakali rivers will help harness Nepal’s precious river resources, by Sukhdev Shah (rep 24/12/2019)

How will Nepal develop in the next decade? Can we achieve double-digit growth and middle-income status, attain the Sustainable Development Goals and have universal health coverage by 2030?, by Sonia Awale (nt 20/12/2019)

EU, IOM Nepal to launch project on mainstreaming migration into development (rep 11/12/2019)

Nepal moves up in Human Development Index but still lags behind in South Asia. Nepal’s human development index of 0.579 indicates that people are living longer, are more educated and have greater incomes, according to the Human Development Report, by Sangam Prasain (kp 11/12/2019) [see UNDP report on Nepal], Gender inequality continues to plague Nepal: The country has made progress in areas such as life expectancy but there is still a long way to go before it attains gender equality (kp 12/12/2019), Ending inequalities: Most of the countries in South Asia are way ahead of Nepal, making it more and more difficult to catch up with them (ht 12/12/2019)

Marching towards ‘Asare Bikash’ again: Developmental works snail paced as four months of the fiscal year pass, by Dinesh Subedi (rep 24/11/2019)

Nepal does need to focus on economic growth, but not at the cost of a better quality of life for all: It is better to have an evenly distributed low per capita income without people living in the slums, by Jagadish Prasad Bist (kp 20/11/2019)

Capital expenditure only 6% in first four months (rep 20/11/2019), Poor capital spending: The government’s inability to spend the money allocated for public capital expenditure means it is snatching away people’s jobs instead of creating them (ht 21/11/2019)

Nepal hasn’t been able to adapt to a changing world: Think tanks can play a significant role in helping countries like Nepal deal with the changes, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 19/11/2019)

10 national pride projects in pipeline: They are in addition to the 22 that are yet to be completed, by Umesh Poudel (ht 19/11/2019)

Project implementation getting tougher due to high compensation cost for land acquisition: Prime Minister Oli expresses concern over growing demand for compensation, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 19/11/2019)

Protests against project delays (rep 17/11/2019)

Nepal govt to invest in young people, by Rajan Pokhrel (ht 14/11/2019)

Technical faults in projects: Unskilled manpower to blame, by Govind Prasad Lamichhane and Uttam Neupane (ht 04/11/2019)

MoF seeks details of stalled, incomplete, defunct projects (ht 19/10/2019)

Structural reforms in Nepal’s neighbouring countries have brought immense changes: The Himalayan nation can learn a few lessons and develop its own narrative of development, by Bishal K. Chalise (kp 16/10/2019)

Development expenditure 4.3pc in Q1: Till mid-Oct govt spent just Rs 17.7bn of allocated Rs 408bn (ht 15/10/2019) [The incompetent and corrupt politicians and administrators will never change!], Dismal spending: Failure to spend capital expenditure will mean no economic growth and no new job creation in the country (ht 16/10/2019) [This is a special form of crime and corruption by the highest circles of politics and administration!], Only 4.41% capital spent in Q1 of FY2019/20 (rep 20/10/2019), Government records poor capital expenditure in the first quarter: Spending totalled Rs18.37 billion out of the Rs408 billion budget as of mid-October, by Rajesh Khanal (kp 22/10/2019)

Research and development: Time to have a robust plan, by Bishwo Bandhu Pokharel (ht 04/10/2019)

Nepal to host Sagarmatha Sambaad in April: The theme for the first-ever multi-stakeholder dialogue is ‘Climate Change, Mountains and Future of Humanity, by Anil Giri (kp 19/09/2019)

Ambiguous regulation puts nearly 1,500 contracts at termination risk: The Public Procurement Regulation has a provision of extending deadlines of expired contracts, but it does not specify which project gets extension, officials say, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 18/09/2019)

Why plans fail in Nepal: Misplaced orientation at fault, by Mukti Rijal (ht 13/09/2019)

Construction delay: Poor planning to blame, by Uttam Neupane (ht 11/09/2019)

Implementation of APMD on Population & Development: Govt report stresses building data collection, analysis capacity, by Rajan Pokhrel (ht 03/09/2019)

Government plans to create a bank of ‘game-changer’ projects: The Social Welfare Council aims to attract funds from national and international organisations, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 01/09/2019)

What ails development in Nepal?: Absence of vision and core competence, by Jiba Raj Pokharel (ht 14/08/2019)

No more cash on the nail: The government’s decision to grant mobilisation advance to contractors only after they commence work is much-needed (kp 12/08/2019)

Hiepe stresses social protection for economic development (ht 23/07/2019)

Follow lagal provisions: While Nepal welcomes foreign investment, it must be borne in mind that there are rules and regulations to follow here just as in the land of the investors (ht 23/07/2019)

Only dismal progress is seen in KP Oli’s dream projects (rep 21/07/2019)

Expediting development: Removing foreign investment related barriers in small and medium enterprises should be immediate priority. This will attract private investors and open new avenues of investment, by Kedar Neupane (rep 21/07/2019)

Capital spending at 73 pc in 2018-19: Experts urge enhancing capacity  of bureaucrats, contractors (ht 17/07/2019)

Nepal’s development  model has increased  our dependency, interview with Dinesh Paudel (rep 16/07/2019)

Population and development Ensuring rights and choices, by Jhabindra Bhandari (ht 11/07/2019)

Govt yet to spend almost 50pc of development budget for 2018-19 (ht 10/07/2019)

Govt to establish construction firm within next week (ht 05/07/2019), Govt opens own construction company (ht 15/07/2019), A futile move: The govt move to form the NICC is another futile exercise at turning the clock back as it will give birth to institutional corruption (ht 16/07/2019)

The last-minute rush: Development or deception?, by Devendra Basnet (rep 01/07/2019)

Around 2,500 contractors to get last deadline extension: As per the regulation, those failing to complete the work within a year will have their contracts terminated, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 26/06/2019)

Lack of integrated approach mars development works: There has been no coordination among various government agencies  when it comes to development works being carried out in the Valley, by Arjun Poudel (kp 17/06/2019) [The most non-integrated development projects are those run by the FPTP MPs under the so-called pork barrel fund that has the only meaning the safeguard the future re-election of these non-inclusively nominated MPs!]

Government amends procurement regulation allowing contractors to bid in projects beyond their scope  Latest amendment removes the provision introduced barely a month earlier to discourage  contractors from occupying multiple projects at a single time, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 13/06/2019)

Officials say tough public procurement regulation should not affect projects nearing completion: Contractors organise a rally in Kathmandu demanding changes in the regulation, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 06/06/2019)

Project management How it can eradicate poverty, by Simón Dhungana (kp 06/06/2019)

Genetic analysis can guide Nepal’s development, by Brook Milligan (kp 02/06/2019)

Contractors in firing line as parliamentary committee hints at enforcing new procurement regulations: The new regulations state that no contract may be extended beyond half of the original period, preventing norm of indefinite deadline extensions, by Prahlad Rijal (kp 01/06/2019)

Nepal’s primitiveness is starker in its villages, where public amenities such as drinking water supply, public sanitation, paved streets and improved housing are largely absent, by Sukhdev Shah (rep 29/05/2019)

Standards for transfer of development projects finalized: Standards define the basis for jurisdiction of projects for three layers of government (rep 26/05/2019)

Project selection  process hindered  in provinces with Centre tight-lipped on its schemes, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 18/05/2019)

Poised to scale new peaks: The country may be land-locked, but its location is an asset that can be leveraged to attract more investments, by Hans Peter Lankes (kp 17/05/2019)

Dozers and Nepal’s development, by Anil Chitrakar (nt 17/05/2019)

Violation of EIA report may cost up to Rs 5 million penalty (rep 16/05/2019)

Devghat master plan in limbo: Only 25 percent work completed in 10 years, by Sabita Shrestha (rep 16/05/2019)

Slow capital expenditure continues to bedevil development projects, by Rajesh Khanal (kp 14/05/2019)

Average daily capital spending at Rs 41 million: Experts say withholding payments may be an indication of corrupt motives (rep 13/05/2019)

Planning In Federal Set Up, by Mukti Rijal (rn 09/05/2019)

Govt’s Priority To Development Projects, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 09/05/2019)

Migration for development: Advance policy, institutional coherence, by Jhabindra Bhandari (ht 06/05/2019)

Planning for development: Nepal’s development plan is built around theme of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.’ This vision should be elaborated with specific measurable indicators, by Kedar Neupane (rep 01/05/2019)

15th five-year plan to help reduce absolute poverty (ht 29/04/2019), NPC approves concept paper of 15th plan (rep 29/04/2019)

Accurate data needed: It is unfortunate that in this information age, the country lacks vital data in practically all sectors, preventing one from taking informed decision (ht 24/04/2019)

The fallacy of false precision: Govt using obsolete investment, growth model, by Rupak D Sharma (ht 23/04/2019)

Why development efforts in the country go down the drain—almost always? There’s a serious lack of coordination among government agencies, officials say, byArjun Poudel (kp 21/04/2019)

Prosperity from below: Policy makers and politicians are reluctant to recognize, expand and lead the country toward prosperity in a socially and ecologically sustainable manner, by Khem Lal Bishwakarma (rep 18/04/2019)

Work for social good: Social workers have a great role to play in making CSR the footprint of an organization so that it enhances its value and impacts the community at a far-reaching level, by Pratikshya Sharma (rep 15/04/2019)

Promises of prosperity from Rara Lake last year look elusive, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 14/04/2019)

After promises failed, secretaries told to focus on ‘flagship’ projects: It is implementation, not the addition of loaded phrases  in policies and programmes, that matters, officials say, by Anil Giri (kp 11/04/2019)

The 15th Plan And Implementation, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 11/04/2019)

Three projects in limbo after losing funding from financer, by Amrita Anmol (kp 09/04/2019)

NDC meeting to finalise concept paper of 15th periodic plan (ht 03/04/2019), Approach paper draft of 15th five-year plan okayed (ht 05/04/2019), NPC estimates Rs 9.25 trillion investment for implementation of 15th plan (rep 06/04/2019), Fifteenth Fiver Year Plan: Reality Check, by Siddhi B Ranjitkar (km 08/04/2019), Govt to spend Rs 9.96 trillion in next five years: NPC projects nearly equal amount of capital and recurrent expenditures (rep 10/04/2019)

The megaprojects conundrum: Improving performance requires serious introspection and understanding of the reasons for the delay at the highest political level, by Naresh Koirala (kp 19/03/2019)

Energy tops governments FDI priority for investment summit: Transport and aviation are second and third priorities in terms of project costs (rep 17/03/2019

Lumbini Development Masterplan: 35 years on, large projects yet to be implemented (ht 23/02/2019)

Development Governance, by Mukti Rijal (rn 21/02/2019)

Sick projects put government’s billions at risk: 1,848 projects with contract amount of Rs118 billion are incomplete, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 21/02/2019), Bridge project by Pappu Construction moving at snail’s pace, by Shiva Puri (kp 21/02/2019)

Nominated lawmakers angry as they are not allowed to spend Rs 40m, by Binod Ghimire (kp 21/02/2019) [This once again means that the option is predominantly for male Tagadhari leaders only, expecially male Bahuns! Nevertheless, development investment is not the task of elected legislators, it only helps to promote corruption!]

Nepal on the right path to development: Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough; World Bank country director for Nepal says the group will continue extending its support to Nepal to propel growth (kp 18/02/2019), ‘Historic time for Nepal as political, economic, social factors fall into place’ (kp 18/02/2019)

Experts question rationale behind new government think tank: Analysts concerned about a turf war between old and new institutions, by Anil Giri (rep 08/02/2019)

Development dreams: Still a far-fetched reality, by Madhavi Singh Shah (ht 08/02/2019)

In the name of development, by Gunjan Upadhyay (rep 01/02/2019)

Planning Things in Perspective, by Prem Khatry (rn 29/01/2019)

A game of limbo: More thoughtful deliberation must factor into procurement and bidding (kp 23/01/2019)

Participatory Development: Enhancing Equity and Sustainability, by Jhabindra Bhandari (rn 19/01/2019)

Progress of many national pride projects dismal (ht 18/01/2019)

Govt’s capital expenditure still sluggish: Only 17.68pc of Rs 313.9 billion allocated spent in first half of fiscal (ht 16/01/2019)

Plan to punish contractors dropped after pressure from higher-ups: Some companies with political connections were under scrutiny, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 14/01/2019)

Fighting inequality in Nepal: The road to prosperity (OXFAM report, 11 January 2019), Costs of inequality: Key among the development challenges facing Nepal is the ever-widening income and wealth gap between the haves and have-nots, by Cecilia Keizer (rep 13/01/2019)

Give fairness a chance: Conflict is caused by inequality, so inclusive development is needed to sustain peace, by Prakash Paudel (kp 07/01/2019)

Tourism, aviation minister rues poor implementation of projects (rep 22/12/2018)

Reforming Planning Commission: Development planning is a political process. National Planning Commission, as part of that machinery, belongs in the Prime Minister’s Office, by Bishal Thapa (rep 18/12/2018)

Marginal Utility of State for the Deprived, by Kiran Dahal (rn 15/12/2018)

Looking inward: Nepal needs home-grown economic models for development, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (kp 13/12/2018)

None of the national pride road projects set to meet deadline: Citing slow works in the past decade, ministry sets new time frame, by Binod Ghimire (kp 07/12/2018)

Auditing Development Projects, by Hari Bahadur Thapa (rn 03/12/2018)

NPC coming up with ‘Nepal’s Long Term Vision, 2043’, by Bishnu Tamang (rep 13/11/2018)

Mega infrastructure projects: Government drafts law to facilitate swift implementation, by Roshan S Nepal (ht 05/11/2018)

Wrong model: Development model pursued by the government is perpetuating inequality bias, by Khilendra Basnyat (kp 04/11/2018)

Bridging the gap: Public construction projects in Nepal have long been bearing the brunt of politicisation, corruption and systemic problems (ht 24/10/2018)

25-year vision to transform nation in sight: Nepal hopes to graduate to a middle-income economy by 2030 and take another leap to a developed country  in the next 13 years, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 17/10/2018)

Nepal’s human capital index laudable: Much better than India, second only to Sri Lanka in SAsia (ht 13/10/2018)

Only 7 national pride projects minimum 50 pc complete, by Ashok Dahal (rep 13/10/2018), Expedite national pride projects (rep 15/10/2018)

Pathway to prosperity: In the 1980s, an average Chinese or Indian was as poor as an average Nepali. Today, an average Chinese is six-times richer and average Indian is two and half times richer than a Nepali, by Ram C Acharya (rep 10/10/2018)

NPI to unveil its strategic plan (ht 10/10/2018)

‘Project deal without funds delays works’, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 08/10/2018)

Developers to be allowed to build infra at project sites on their own: Government to share cost of such investments (rep 20/09/2018)

New laws to push projects (kp 19/09/2018)

Human Devlopment Index: Nepal still trails most of South Asian countries (kp 16/09/2018) [See values for Nepal and corresponding notes], Human development ‘medium’ in Nepal, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 16/09/2018)

Oli slams national planners for delays and lousy results (kp 16/09/2018), PM Oli, ministers question NPC’s role (ht 16/09/2018)

Costs shoot up as major projects miss deadlines, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 14/09/2018)

NPC tables impressive progress report of national pride projects (rep 12/09/2018)

Investment essentials: Despite the progress, a number of challenges remain on our way to sustainable development, by Mina Aryal (kp 04/09/2018)

Lackluster progress in mega infra projects in Province 5 (rep 04/09/2018)

Learn from China: China is rising to superpower status in 40 years after Deng Xiaoping initiated reforms. We have lost 30 years of post-1990 doing nothing, by Kaushal Pant (rep 02/09/2018)

Blacklist lacks erring big contractors: Delays in construction works are blamed on a single firm grabbing many contracts and then sitting idle, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 26/08/2018)

NPC gearing up to establish project bank (ht 24/08/2018)

Development Goals And Experiences, by Mukti Rijal (rn 23/08/2018)

Global citizens Nepalis need to tell the world that things have changed, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 14/08/2018)

Dangerous development: As long as our development activities endanger lives, we cannot call it progress (kp 08/08/2018)

First things first: Basics like transportation system and drainage needs to be fixed before we talk about smart cities, by Dinesh Malla (kp 03/08/2018)

ADB-financed projects continue to move at sluggish pace: Less than one-third of contract, disbursement of annual targets achieved (rep 03/08/2018)

Transformative reforms: The Nepali people have to move from being transactional to transformative, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 31/07/2018)

Path to prosperity: Nepal should play an effective role in regional and multilateral development forums, by Balkrishna Bhandari (kp 31/07/2018)

Don’t repeat the past: Infrastructural projects have been stalled since long. It’s time to change that, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (kp 26/07/2018)

Final Hour Rush, or The Asare Bikash, by Nandalal Tiwari (rn 16/07/2018)

Development or dependency: Urbanisation and destruction of farmland is taking its toll on the Valley’s landscapes, by Swetaa Amatya Shrestha (kp 10/07/2018)

Learning from Bihar: Madesh can takeaway from Bihar’s higher growth rate with a policy shift, by Binay K. Mishra (kp 06/07/2018)

Coordination needed for mega projects, says Pun (kp 06/07/2018)

Is globalization working? Has the globalization been really working out? Have the least developed countries (LDCs) like Nepal been at the benefitting end?, by Ajaya Kusum Adhikari (rep 05/07/2018)

Laws to make contractors accountable on the anvil, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht 01/07/2018)

Open data for transparency: Key to economic development, by Nayan Krishna Joshi, Bishnu Dev Pant, Sadichchha Shrestha and Prabin Dongol (ht 29/06/2018)

Of mountains and imaginations: Nepal and Bhutan could build mountain ports to make it a global hub for highlands around the world, by Mahendra P. Lama (kp 27/06/2018)

Ban on construction materials stalls Udayapur projects, by Maheshwar Chamling Rai (rep 27/06/2018)

Subcontracting major problem in project progress, say officials: Practice of construction firms grabbing as many contracts as possible and subcontracting them has created a mess, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 23/06/2018)

No clear strategy in big infrastructure projects: Experts; Lack of proper utilization of limited resources a big worry, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 20/06/2018)

The new opium of Nepalis: It’s much easier to bind the minds of the middle class with the imagery of a giant ship, by Sabin Ninglekhu (kp 19/06/2018)

Communist government moves to curtail civil liberties: Two new policies look set to curb dissent, by Supriya Manandhar (The Record 15/06/2018)

Nepal pledges $30,000 to think tank (kp 13/06/2018)

Hold fast to reality: What kind of prosperity and development are we aiming for? Where do quality infrastructure and efficient human resources feature in this development narrative?, by Meena Bhatta (rep 11/06/2018)

Over 50pc projects delayed in Capital, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 02/06/2018)

Government restores practice of 3-year expenditure plans: MTEF makes budget cycle more dynamic and aligned with periodic plans (rep 02/06/2018)

A story called bikas: Nepal’s narratives on development should encompass much more than just economic growth, by Amish Raj Mulmi (kp 01/06/2018)

DAO Kathmandu submits details of 596 ‘unsatisfactory’ projects, contractors, by Umesh Poudel (ht 29/05/2018)

The prosperity agenda: Global partnership will not materialise without our conscious and consistent efforts, by Gyan Chandra Acharya (kp 28/05/2018)

‘Govt should ramp up development spending for economic prosperity’ (ht 27/05/2018)

Big contractors lambasted for non-performance and syndicates, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 27/05/2018)

Govt mulls ‘war room’ idea for big projects (kp 22/05/2018)

Contractors face govt action, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 19/05/2018)

A wealth of meaning: How to make money in an unequal world, by Anil Chitrakar (nt 18/05/2018)

Annual policies, plans to have five-year vision (kp 15/05/2018)

Road to prosperity: Why is Nepal adamant on adopting western-style development that has already resulted in colonialism and two world wars?, by Sandesh Ghimire (kp 13/05/2018)

Time To Change: Focus For Development, by Balmukunda Regmi (rn 07/05/2018)

IBN begins exploring new projects (rep 30/04/2018)

Fiscal consolidation: Addressing policy dilemma, by Krishna Sharma (ht 26/04/2018)

Sovereign credit rating: Why is it important for Nepal?, by Joseph Silvanus (ht 13/04/2018)

‘Govt’s prime focus will be to graduate Nepal from LDC status by 2022’ (ht 12/04/2018)

Development blues: Our development initiative is creating more dependency and pushing for urbanization rather than developing rural areas, by Jagat Basnet (rep 10/04/2018)

Pancheswar project: Locals hoping PM's visit to kick start it (rep 05/04/2018)

Human resource matters: Educated and talented young people are fundamental to the country’s development, by Lok Raj Baral (kp 03/04/2018)

Planning for Prosperity, by Mukti Rijal (rn 29/03/2018), Bringing Development on Track, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 29/03/2018)

Be bold, Nepal: Nepal has a clear and straightforward path to greater prosperity but achieving its full potential requires deeper connectivity with the dynamic South Asian economy, by Alaina B. Teplitz (rep 28/03/2018)

CDP meeting approves Nepal’s call to withhold LDC graduation (ht 17/03/2018), Nepal’s bid to remain among the poorest succeeds (rep 17/03/2018), Nepal’s Upgrading From LDC Status, by Hira Bahadur Thapa (rn 23/03/2018)

Regional conference on ecosystem services stresses poverty alleviation (ht 15/03/2018)

World Bank report calls for change in Nepal’s development model (rep 14/03/2018) [see World Bank report]

No progress in Pancheshwar project in two decades, by Rajebndra Bhatta (rep 12/03/2018)

Progress of national pride projects remains sluggish (ht 09/03/2018)

Good Governance and Development, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 08/03/2018)

District HQ looks deserted as quake victims return home, by Himnath Devkota (rep 08/03/2018)

A return to self-sufficiency: Allure of special treatment creates protracted dependency; it shouldn’t incentivise a country to remain in LDC comfort zone, by Subhash Wostey (kp 07/03/2018)

High development trajectory: Implementation of bold reforms backed by Nepali industriousness would bring social, economic transformation to proximity, by Bishow Parajuli (kp 05/03/2018)

Project cost escalation bane of country’s development (kp 02/03/2018)

Nepal puts LDC graduation plan on holds (ht 28/02/2018), Cabinet puts on hold Nepal’s status upgradation in UN (kp 01/03/2018), Govt wants Nepal to remain LDC: To request UN not to upgrade it to developing country (ht 01/03/2018), Backward move: The arguments put forward to keep the country as an LDC sound plainly absurd, devoid of any ambition to move forward (ht 01/03/2018), Smart move: Stimulated economic growth required for Nepal to sustainably graduate from LDC status (kp 02/03/2018), High annual growth needed to graduate to league of middle-income countries by 2030 (ht 04/03/2018)

Development projects suffer from negligence of contractors, by Sher Bahadur KC (rep 27/02/2018)

Bam Dev-led authority mooted in govt’s CMP, by Rewati Sapkota (kp 22/02/2018)

Nepal abandons LDC graduation plan (kp 19/02/2018), Between rock & hard place: Nepal has no choice but to put LDC graduation plan on backburner for now (kp 20/02/2018)

Rethinking settlement: Were some well-placed schemes for drinking water and irrigation initiated, the exodus from  the hills - and its seen and unforeseen effects on the fertile Tarai - might be plugged yet, by Mohan Guragain (kp 17/02/2018)

Withering development: Economic development packages of goods and services that became prerequisites of prosperity and affluence have ravaged our shared social, cultural and ecological ties, by Pranab Kharel and Gaurab KC (rep 13/02/2018)

Contractors demand immediate release of outstanding payments: Say the delay is hampering construction works of different projects (ht 26/01/2018)

Stone smuggling affecting development projects in Kailali, by Yogesh Rawal (rep 24/01/2018)

Agenda for prosperity: The nation’s future in terms of prosperity and development will depend on the proper execution of economic decentralisation, by Hari Prasad Shrestha (kp 23/01/2018)

Nepal tops South Asia in inclusive development (ht 23/01/2018), Nepal jumps 5 notches to 22nd position in inclusive development index (rep 23/01/2018), Development for all: The improvement in inclusive development index just as Nepal aims desired economic growth is a positive sign (ht 24/01/2018)

Are we there yet? If Nepal takes decision for graduation, it will change trade partnerships and fiscal financing facilities enjoyed by the country, by Kartika Yadav (rep 10/01/2018)

The Age of MPI and SDGs, by Lok Nath Bhusal (rn 06/01/2018)

Few pride projects make desired progress (ht 06/01/2018)

‘CIAA against politicisation of dev projects’ (kp 31/12/2017)

Low investment in infrastructure will impede growth (ht 30/12/2017)

‘Procurement related laws should be amended timely’ (ht 30/12/2017)

Safe migration: Harnessing development potential, by Jhabindra Bhandari (ht 27/12/2017)

Youth in data: Only by providing adequate opportunities to the youths, can Nepal realize its dream of transitioning into the middle-income country by 2030, by Bijay K. Shahi (rep 25/12/2017)

Cringed CapEx: Low capital spending affects the quality of our vital energy, road and telecom infrastructures, by Kartika Yadav (rep 20/12/2017)

Cementocracy: Development as a political good has resulted in an alliance between business leaders and the political establishment, by Dan Hirslund and Prem Phyak (kp 18/12/2017)

Ministries fail to submit project proposals for BRI (kp 11/12/2017)

Guidelines for declaring NPPs in offing (ht 05/12/2017)

IFC sees $46 billion investment potential in Nepal by 2030, by Sagar Ghimire (rep 05/12/2017) [see "Climate Investment Opportunities in  South AsiaAn IFC Analysis"]

Political Interferences In Development, by Siddhi B Ranjitkar (km 15/11/2017)

‘Progress in LDCs hinges on access to modern energy’ (kp 24/11/2017)

Government fails to properly implement ADB-funded projects (kp 01/11/2017)

Understanding resilience: Mountain communities need to practise resilience to cope with changes for future well-being, by Sakhie Pant (kp 29/10/2017)

It’s getting better: Nepal may not become a developed country soon, but many things have improved, by Dwaipayan Regmi (kp 25/10/2017)

‘Country has ample untapped potentials to prosper rapidly’ (kp 17/10/2017)

Bheri-Babai project provides job to 500 Nepalis (rep 17/10/2017)

Chure conservation project seeking funds from non-govt donors: The government has allocated Rs 1.91 billion to  Chure conservation programme this year, which is just 20pc of the projected annual budget, by Chandan Kumar Mandal (kp 14/10/2017)

‘Speed up progress of pride projects’ (ht 13/10/2017)

Learning from Singapore: Change has to start within the Nepali people themselves before it can influence larger society, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 10/10/2017)

Govt to conduct feasibility study of nine projects (ht 07/10/2017)

Stuck in the past: The concept of development has become a ‘social organizing force’ in the Nepali socio-political context, by Deepak Thapa (kp 05/10/2017)

Conditioned happiness: Nepal’s economic, social and human development has been constrained by a lack of basic, adequate infrastructure, by Achyut Wagle (kp 26/09/2017)

Looking out: With the end of transition, Nepal needs to be able to assert its position on the global stage, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 26/09/2017)

Nepal And Development Perspective, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 21/09/2017)

Experts call for integrated policy (ht 21/09/2017)

Capital expenditure stands at 1.27pc of total allocation (ht 18/09/2017)

HIDCL to invest Rs 36 billion in five years: Plans to mobilise LoC from development partners (ht 17/09/2017)

Trenches to tunnels: Nepal Army needs to pay attention to planning, accountability and transparency in infrastructure building projects, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 12/09/2017)

Performance of P1 projects improves, but still not satisfactory (kp 09/09/2017)

Political instability thwarts Nepal’s development goals, by Prashanna Chitrakar (ht 08/09/2017)

NPC decides to list all hydels under national priority projects, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 20/08/2017)

LDC graduation a milestone, not a goal: Political and intellectual discourse needed so we don’t regress after graduating to developing country status, by Mina Aryal (kp 16/08/2017)

Ministry of Human Capital: The next decade should focus on managing the human side of issues, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 15/08/2017)

Political And Bureaucratic Hurdles To Development, by Siddhi B Ranjitkar (km 14/08/2017)

Central level project implementation units: NRA plan falls through as line ministries baulk, by Sanjeev Giri (kp 08/08/2017)

Gender-aware policies needed: Nepal can’t hope to graduate from its LDC status without reaching out to the poor, by Subhash Nepali (kp 06/08/2017)

Govt appoints Wagle as NPC vice-chair (ht 04/08/2017)

NPPs recorded dismal progress last fiscal (ht 02/08/2017)

FCAN asks govt to ensure involvement of Nepali contractors in mega projects (rep 02/08/2017)

Sikta irrigation project: 13 years on, nat’l pride project still incomplete, by Krishna Prasad Gautam (kp 01/08/2017)

Fighting poverty: Challenge is to deliver ‘bikas’ at the doorsteps of extremely poor communities like Chepangs and help transform their lives by involving them at every level, by Bhagirath Yogi (rep 01/08/2017)

NPC vice-chairman quits (kp 01/08/2017)

Cutting Paths Of Prosperity, by Narad Bharadwaj (rn 28/07/2017)

‘Govt projects must finalise contracts in 1st three months’ (kp 20/07/2017), Time-bound action plan to ramp up capex, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 20/07/2017)

NPC recommends formulation of Act to define nat’l pride projects, by Rupak D. Sharma (kp 16/07/2017)

Leapfrogging poverty, by Vidyadhar Mallik (nt 14/07/2017)

No progress on road projects financed by Indian soft loan (rep 09/07/2017)

Data for development: Only disaggregated and publicly available data will help us realize our dream of inclusive development, by Hum Bhandari (rep 05/07/2017)

PM asks for progress report on projects every fortnight (kp 04/07/2017) [As a consequence, this will put him under high pressure if he does not immediately react on slow progress reports!]

‘Mainstream DRR into development planning’ (ht 29/06/2017)

Nepal ranks 91st in Social Progress Index-2017 (kp 24/06/2017)

‘Over 300,000 households poor in 25 districts’: 18 indicators including ownership of the house, its structure, types of cooking fuel, water and sanitation facilities, household size and ethnicity used to calculate poverty level , by Manish Gautam (kp 16/06/2017)

Town development committees redundant, scrap them: House panel, by Gyan P. Neupane (rep 13/06/2017)

Projects financed by Indian LoC: Nepali firms should be allowed to bid, say stakeholders, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 13/06/2017)

PAF concerned as World Bank funding nears end (kp 07/06/2017), No specific program for poverty alleviation in new budget: PAF (rep 07/06/2017)

Government to set up Rs 500bn fund: Aims to generfate necessary capital for mega development projects  (ht 03/06/2017)

Lawmakers press govt to continue constituency dev funds (rep 27/05/2017) [a source for endless corruption on a failed way to development!!]

Elusive decentralisation: Instead of turning Kathmandu into a mega city, we should develop cities elsewhere, by Prashanta Khanal (kp 25/05/2017)

‘Reforms necessary to address tepid growth’ (ht 24/05/2017)

NPC prepares formula for fund distribution: A ‘scientific formula’ will allocate budget to local bodies automatically, by Rupak D. Sharma (kp 21/05/2017)

Low spending: It is the government which needs to make massive investment in infrastructure development in targeted areas. No growth is possible unless the government increases its spending capacity (ht 18/05/2017)

Reaping Demographic Dividends, by Ratna Prajapati (rn 06/05/2017)

Whither pride project laws? Myriads of structural problems have caused almost all of our big projects to fall behind schedule, by Naresh Koirala (kp 01/05/2017)

Rs233.6b sits idle in state coffers: Slow capital spending blamed for excessive collection of funds (kp 28/04/2017)

Think twice before preparing project reports, says panel (kp 14/04/2017)

Nordic development model: Implications for Nepal, by Santosh Gautam (ht 10/04/2017)

Govt disregards NPC VC advice, prepares to give expressway contract to army (rep 01/04/2017)

Cleaning the drainage: Nepal’s development bottleneck is largely due to the behavioural problems plaguing our leaders, bureaucrats and general citizens, by Bhoj Raj Poudel (kp 24/03/2017)

Nepal graduates to medium human development grouping (kp 23/03/2017) [?; see indicators]

Law on national pride projects sought (kp 16/02/2017)

Submit evaluation report within six months: Development committee to NPC (rep 16/03/2017)

NPC seeks revision in PPP Policy to pave way for PPP Center (rep 14/03/2017)

Home coming: Retired international civil servants return to a Nepal that isn’t too keen on taking advantage of their experience, by Smriti Basnet (nt 10/03/2017)

‘Manpower crunch halting development’ (ht 07/03/2017)

Poor performances: The government usually announces a multi-billion rupee project without making any real assessment about the problem of land acquisition from individuals (ht 06/03/2017)

Progress of NP, P1 projects dismal (ht 05/03/2017)

Spending on infra lowest among strategic sectors: Only 15.56pc of allocation for infrastructure development spent (ht 05/03/2017)

Private investments and our duties: Nepal needs to create an investment-friendly environment in order to prosper, by Ghanashyam Ojha (kp 02/03/2017), Investment Summit from today: To be attended by around 300 foreign delegates, including India’s finance minister and AIIB president, by Rupak D. Sharma (kp 02/03/2017), Investment climate in Nepal improving: Government organizing Investment Summit after a gap of 25 years, by Kuvera Chalise (rep 02/03/2017), Making case for investing in Nepal: Prime Minister Dahal, ministers and top NC, UML leaders commit to promoting a good business environment, by Bibek Subedi (kp 03/03/2017), ), AIIB committed to investing in Nepal’s infra: Chief (kp 03/03/2017), ‘Nepal will receive loan assistance from Asian Infra Bank by 2018’, interview with Jin Liqun, AiiB president (kp 03/03/2017)

Stop meddling: The practice of wielding influence to grab a stake in infrastructure projects should end (kp 28/02/2017)

Nepal Investment Summit from Thursday: AIIB President, Indian Finance Minister keynote speakers (rep 27/02/2017)

Soldier to shoulder: The Nepal Army is a close partner in the development efforts of the Nepali people, by Suresh Sharma (kp 24/02/2017)

Govt to cut short budget implementation process: To end practice of seeking NPC’s permission to implement development projects (kp 21/02/2017)

Locals unsatisfied with pace of construction projects (ht 20/02/2017)

Nepal investment summit: IBN to show 8 projects as potential ventures; The board has selected four railway projects,  a hydropower project, a tunnel highway, an international airport and a chemical fertilizer plant (kp 17/02/2017)

Preparation of NVC laboratory hits a snag (kp 15/02/2017)

Govt appoints seven experts to NPC (kp 15/02/2017)

Deterrent to investment: Policy stability is key to attracting private investment, both foreign and domestic (kp 14/02/2017)

Development budget being misused, by Laxmi Gautam (ht 11/02/2017)

Rs 14.86 billion dev budget spent in last 25 days (rep 09/02/2017)

Govt bodies at a loss for lack of right to spend: On average, each ministry has extended spending authority to about 80pc projects and programmes, by Rupak D. Sharma (kp 01/02/2017)

Portal offering official government data launched: www.nepalindata.com offers more than  400 datasets spread  over 12 sections (kp 28/01/217) [see website]

Growth and prosperity: Nepal should enforce economic reforms and spend the capital budget (kp 25/01/2017)

Lawmakers slam government for sluggish development works (ht 24/01/2017)

Amlekhgunj oil pipeline named priority project (kp 19/01/2017) [This means absolutely nothing!]

Govt unveils Immediate Implementation Action Plan (rep 19/01/2017)

Inclusive Growth and Development Report-2017: Nepal tops regional ranking in inclusive development index, by Kuvera Chalise (rep 18/01/2017)

NRA to monitor I/NGO activities from next week, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 16/01/2017)

Clarion call for incorporating GHT as nat’l pride project (kp 16/01/2017)

Quake-hit in Ramechhap demand 2nd tranche of aid, by Tika Prasad Bhatta (kp 16/01/2017)

Timber shortage in Gorkha hits reconstruction progress, by Sudip Kaini (kp 16/01/2017)

47.9 million cu ft timber needed for reconstruction (rep 16/01/2017)

Longer the delay in spending available funds, harder it will be to secure new funds, interview with Govind Raj Pokharel, new CEO of NRA (kp 16/01/2017), Ramp up spending: That govt hasn’t acted, despite knowing pitfalls of low capital expenditure, is embarrassing (kp 17/01/2017), Low capital expenditure: Begging for money but not having a plan to spend it is an age-old problem in Nepal, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 17/01/2017), Govt to unveil action plan to ramp up capital expenditure, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 18/01/2017)

NRA bid to issue rebuilding grants before monsoon (kp 15/01/2017)

Reconstruction chipping away Bhaktapur’s heritage (ht 15/01/2017)

Nepal 8th largest LIDC to attract investment in PPP projects (kp 14/01/2017)

Quake survivors unhappy with government grant (ht 14/01/2017)

NRA starts data collection in Bhojpur, Khotang districts (kp 13/01/2017)

Reconstruction Works: Moving At A Snail’s Pace, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 12/01/2017)

Leadership change in NRA: Govt dismisses Gyewali, brings Pokharel back, by Pragati Shahi (kp 12/01/2017)

Localisation of humanitarian response: A lesson from Nepal’s earthquake is that INGOs need to strengthen local actors instead of themselves, by Subindra Bogati and Andy Featherstone (kp 12/01/2017)

NRNA begins construction of housing facility in Laprak, by Sudip Kaini (kp 12/01/2017)

Over 19,000 Bhaktapur quake-hit awaiting aid (kp 12/01/2017)

Priority project: Nepal needs to remove legal barriers such as difficult taxation and unclear policies in order to encourage foreign investment, by Binod Atreya (rep 11/01/2017)

NPC panel to standardise national pride project selection process (kp 10/01/2017)

Planning Commission endorses 14th 3-yr plan (kp 10/01/2017)

Continued aftershocks: Govt has to seriously look into how it is handling post-disaster reconstruction (kp 09/01/2017)

Govt nod for cost participatory projects (ht 09/01/2017)

Shortage of skilled workers affects reconstruction work (ht 07/01/2017)

Tired of the cold wait, quake survivors rebuild on their own (kp 06/01/2017)

Getting the facts straight: It’s high time the government and donors made an honest assessment of reconstruction and resettlement works in earthquake-affected areas, by Navin Singh Khadka (kp 06/01/2017), Learning to reconstruct: Volunteers from around the world are filling the gap left by the government in helping rebuild quake-damaged schools, by Shreejana Shrestha (nt 06/01/2017) [Be sure, NRA and govt will be looking for ways how to criticise and punish these voluteers!], Owning up to our past: Bureaucratic insensitivities worry local communities working to rebuild heritage sites, by Sahina Shrestha (nt 06/01/2017)

NRA chief furnishes clarification: Gyewali points finger of blame at govt agencies; Says he has fulfilled his duty within the given jurisdiction, by Pragati Shahi (kp 05/01/2017), No sight of solution to thousands of landless Kavre quake victims’ problem, by Raj Kumar Parajuli (ht 05/01/2017), NRA chief Gyewali blames govt for the delay, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 05/01/2017), Govt ‘decides’ to sack NRA chief Gyewali, by Praveen Dhakal (rep 05/01/2017), Govt prepares ground for giving NRA chief executive officer boot: Asks Sushil Gyewali to clarify why he should not be relieved of dutiesn CEO says he is yet to receive any letter seeking fresh clarification (kp 06/01/2017), Gyewali to furnish clarification tomorrow (ht 07/01/2017), Gyewali gets letter that seeks to send him packing (kp 07/01/2017), No justifiable ground to sack me: NRA CEO Gyewali defends, by Samipa Khanal (kp 09/01/2017), Gyewali moves court: Gyewali demands an interim order seeking his reinstatement as the chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction Authority (kp 17/01/2019)

Govt savings soar to Rs207b (kp 05/01/2017)

Female contractor busy building quake-hit village, by Harihar Singh Rathour (kp 05/01/2017)

Engineers reach Lamjung villages to collect data of quake survivors (kp 05/01/2017)

Tripartite pact signed with 87pc of registered families: NRA (kp 04/01/2017)

PM orders shot in the arm for national pride projects: More than half of the schemes fail to meet 50 percent performance target (kp 03/01/2017), PM directs ministries to regularly monitor P1 projects (ht 03/01/2017), Sluggish development: Govt should accord high priority  to national pride projects (kp 04/01/2017)

Survey for housing grant to be complete only by February (rep 03/01/2017), Data collection of quake victims in limbo (ht 03/01/2017)

Quake-hit families crushing pebbles for living, by Harihar Singh Rathour (kp 01/01/2017)

Govt seeks clarification from NRA chief exec: PM’s core team is learnt to have the perception that  Gyewali subtly defied the government’s instructions on the pretext of legal hurdles and donor sensitivity, by Tika R. Pradhan (kp 30/12/2016), Government seeks clarification from NRA chief over ‘lacklustre’ performance, by Lekhanath Pandey (ht 30/12/2016), Govt seeks clarification from NRA CEO again, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 30/12/2016)

Of overhead costs and underhand expenses, by Gunjan Upadhyay (rep 30/12/2016)

NRA mobilises teams to find out vulnerable settlements (kp 28/12/2016) [Please take time! It's only 20 months since these settlements have been destroyed!], Technical teams to collect data on quake victims (ht 29/12/2016)

The Siraha model: In all future national budgets at least half the development expenditure should be earmarked for quick-yielding projects, by Sukhdev Shah (28/12/2016)

NRA staff agree to return to work (kp 27/12/2016), Govt increases allowances for rebuilding technicians (kp 30/12/2016)

Yes, we can! We need urgent structural reforms in order to encourage investments from the general public in productive sector, by Jaleshowar Pandey and Dinkar Nepal (rep 27/12/2016)

One year of reconstruction: Staff crunch dogs NRA since birth (kp 26/12/2016)

House panel directs govt to expedite IBN projects (ht 26/12/2016)

Quake victims’ data collection begins in Khotang (ht 25/12/2016)

Return to work within two days, govt tells engineers: Challenged to hand in  individual resignations  at concerned offices (kp 23/12/2016)

Govt to collect data of quake-hit households in Lamjung: An official at the Central Bureau of Statistics says engineers will start digital data compilation from December 30, by Aash Gurung (kp 22/12/2016) [Which engineers? Those who have resigned??]

Reconstruction woes: Providing succour to earthquake survivors is a national priority as well as a humanitarian imperative, by Maina Dhital (kp 22/12/2016)

Bitter winter looms: Govt’s handling of reconstruction has been slow and irresponsible (kp 21/12/2016), Construction of quake victims’ houses stops, by Arjun Poudel (ht 21/12/2016)

Reimagining development: The gap between NPC planning and implementation is rather big. So millions of Nepalis have been denied the right to participate in the shared national prosperity, by Simone Galimberti (rep 21/12/2016)

NRA engineers, technicians resign en masse, by Pragati Shahi (kp 21/12/2016), NRA upset by engineers’ unsporting action (kp 22/12/2016)

Post-quake rebuilding: Ministry okays distribution of second tranche of aid, by Pragati Shahi (kp 20/12/2016)

On the brink: One and a half years is a really long time for rebuilding. No wonder earthquake survivors feel like it’s been ages, by Ravi Lochan Paudyal (rep 20/12/2016)

Council of ministers to discuss Kavre quake victims’ issues (ht 20/12/2016) [??]

NRA’s amendment proposal okayed (ht 19/12/2016)

Only 3637 quake victims of 94072 in Valley get first tranche, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 19/12/2016)

Poverty alleviation: Thani seeks more teeth for ministry (kp 17/12/2016)

Rural reconstruction: Hope amid ruins; Government needs to ensure that reconstruction carried on individual basis or through I/NGOs meets safety standards, by Sandesh Paudyal (rep 17/12/2016)

Rebuilding staff on warpath (kp 17/12/2016), NRA forwards proposal to revise technicians’ incentives: The frequent strikes by the technical staff mobilised in quake-affected districts have affected the reconstruction works in rural districts (kp 18/12/2016)

Political stalemate ‘stalled’ reconstruction process (kp 16/12/2016), Political stalemate ‘stalled’ reconstruction process (kp 16/12/2016)

‘Govt ready to partner with private sector’ (ht 16/12/2016)

800 earthquake victims start rebuilding in Kavre (ht 15/12/2016)

Quake victims request second batch of aid, by Nagendra Adhikari (kp 13/12/2016)

Over 445k families received first tranche of housing aid (kp 10/12/2016)

INGOs unable to fund Rs 300,000 quake grants for all, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 10/12/2016)

House panel tells govt to rise development expenditure (kp 09/12/2016), Actual budget spending reaches 6.5pc in first four months of FY: House panel criticises  the government for not being able to spend the money set aside for  development projects (kp 09/12/2016), House panel instructs NPC to shorten project approval process (ht 09/12/2016), Punish heads of projects that fail to spend: Development committee (rep 10/12/2016)

Promises to keep: The pledged assistance and the need for reconstruction should receive high priority of the government and the political parties (ht 09/12/2016)

Building back Bungamati: Earthquake survivors of historic town find that preserving heritage is expensive business, by Astha Joshi (nt 09/12/2016)

NRA lacks fund to distribute second tranche of housing grant (ht 08/12/2016)

NRA coordination committee urges acceleration in reconstruction works (ht 08/12/2016)

Most I/NGOs behind on monthly reports: NRA (ht 08/12/2016) [Deeds are more important than reports! What are you doing, NRA?]

Reconstruction of health post buildings delayed, by Sudip Kaini (kp 07/12/2016)

Unstable policies, standards, procedures hindering reconstruction, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 07/12/2016)

NRA-hired engineers start protest (kp 07/12/2016), Engineers’ strike hits reconstruciton, by Sudip Kaini and Anish Tiwari (kp 09/12/2016)

Red Cross unhappy with govt's NGO policy on reconstruction (rep 07/12/2016)

Crucial investment-related decisions put on hold: Fate of mega projects in limbo as IBN noard meeting has not been held for many months, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 07/12/2016)

Government overlooks directives of Parliament’s Development Committee (ht 06/12/2016)

Sluggish construction affects reconstruction: In lack of building, a school operates from toilet, by Narahari Sapkota (rep 06/12/2016)

NRA misses its self-set deadlines again: The NRA has signed grant agreements with only 58,405 of the total 94,072 eligible victims, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 06/12/2016)

Always the same: The budget spent on the development projects at the last moment makes no sense as it compromises on the quality of work (ht 06/12/2016)

‘Nepal hasn’t done all that it should have done for growth’, interview with Jeffrey D Sachs (kp 05/12/2016), Country has strategic opportunities, says Sachs (ht 05/12/2016), Economist Sachs stresses hydropower development: Says Nepal must generate 10 GW in next 15 years for S Asia (rep 05/12/2016)

Survivors of quake-hit districts still waiting: Large number of affected households in Dhading, Makawanpur, Nuwakot yet to get housing aid, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 04/12/2016)

Quake victims demand inclusion of genuine victims for grants: Only 57 percent victims sign agreement due to obstruction so far; NRA shows indifference about the problem, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 03/12/2016)

10,600 quake-affected deprived of housing aid (kp 02/12/2016) [related to Makwanpur district only]

Reasons Behind Underdevelopment, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 01/12/2016)

Needs of the poor: Implement findings; The poor families should be provided identity cards that will enable them to receive ‘social security allowance’ and ‘compulsory health insurance’. This allowance can be used by the poor for total health care, by Vikash Raj Satyal (ht 01/12/2016)

Quake victims yet to recieve house construction grants, by Madhusudhan Guragain (rep 01/12/2016)

Govt seeks to boost capital expenditure, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 29/11/2016)

NPC to finalise 3-year plan within December: The three-year plan has envisaged attaining economic growth of 6.5 percent in the current fiscal year; 7.2 percent in fiscal year 2017-18; and 7.9 percent in 2018-19 (kp 27/11/2016), Beyond rituals: Govt should depart from ritualistic practice of framing short-term plans (kp 01/12/2016)

Reconstruction of govt buildings begins (ht 27/11/2016)

NRA picks BFIs to distribute aid inside Valley (kp 26/11/2016), 5 days left for signing agreement with Valley quake victims (rep 26/11/2016)

300 schools without classrooms in Sindhupalchok, by Anish Tiwari (kp 26/11/2016)

17,000 cu ft timber distributed in Sindhupalchok: Few families have started building homes due to ‘insufficient’ fundNepal receives around  Rs 70 billion every year  in remittances from migrant workers who are based in India, by Anish Tiwari (kp 25/11/2016) [!!]

PM's promise delays second tranche of quake grant: 1,114 victims apply for second tranche, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 24/11/2016)

Quake victims in despair as harsh winter looms, by Dhruba Dangal (rep 24/11/2016)

Quake victims left to shiver under temporary tents: How can we construct quake-resistant house with Rs 50,000?: Quake victims, by Narahari Sapkota (rep 23/11/2016)

Rebuilding ongoing for 12k houses: 3162 houses being  reconstructed in Nuwakot, 2143 in Dhading, 1583 in Sindhupalchok, 1214 in Dolakha and 994 in Kavre (kp 23/11/2016), Reconstruction of around 12,000 homes begins (ht 23/11/2016)

53 homes built in two months: Earthquake survivors were provided construction materials instead of cash, by Nagendra Adhikari (kp 23/11/2016)

Timely release of funds crucial to implement projects: NRA; The NRA has estimated a budget of Rs 120.75 billion alone for the housing aid—for the first and second phase of aid distribution to around 7.5m households (kp 22/11/2016), Now for action: The NRA has spent a lot of time and energy just in preparing the action plan. Now, it is time to put the plan into action (ht 22/11/2016)

As winter looms Sankhu quake victims start rebuilding without aid, by Gyan P. Neupane and Sangeet Sangroula (rep 22/11/2016)

NRNA to rebuild houses in Laprak (ht 22/11/2016) [Why has NRNA not been allowed to do so before?]

‘Nepal yet to localise SDGs’: government insists works to achieve sustainable development goals have been initiated; Countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan  have moved way ahead in terms of localising SDGs; Among the least developed countries, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Laos are ahead of Nepal (kp 22/11/2016), Need for localising, institutionalising SDGs at national level stressed (ht 22/11/2016)

NRA unveils time-bound action plan: The NRA says it will deploy 100 volunteers to each of the affected VDCs; sign agreements with quake victims in Kathmandu Valley within 10 days (kp 21/11/2016), NRA to settle complaints by Jan (ht 21/11/2016), Quake survivors in Gulmi sans housing aid, by Ghanshyam Gautam (kp 21/11/2016)

Govt preparing to show NRA chief door? Rift between Dahal, Gyewali has widened of late, by John Narayan Parajuli (kp 18/11/2016)

6,000 quake victims living around BP Highway not granted permits for house reconstruction (ht 18/11/2016)

Post-earthquake response: The way forward, by Kedar Neupane (ht 18/11/2016)

Project doldrums: Many of the instructions are simply ignored; most of the rest are implemented half-heartedly, leading to their very slow pace (ht 18/11/2016)

Recovery is still a far cry in Barpak, by Sudip Kaini (kp 18/11/2016), Quake-destroyed homestays reopen after reconstruction, by Sudip Kaini (kp 18/11/2016)

Quake victims in trouble as houses under construction fail to meet standard, by Madhusudhan Guragain (rep 17/11/2016)

PM Dahal talks to NRA chair about reconstruction delays: The directive committee of National Reconstruction Authority will discuss a time-bound action plan on Sunday (kp 16/11/2016), PM dissatisfied with NRA’s work (ht 16/11/2016), Approaching winter concerns quake victims, by Anish Tiwari (kp 16/11/2016), Community school students still studying in temporary classrooms, by Pratap Bista (kp 16/11/2016), Reconstruction grant agreement signing resumes at Raksirang (ht 16/11/2016)

Rising recurrent spending poses fiscal risk: ADB (kp 16/11/2016) [see ADB report, pp. 70-73]

Housing aid yet to reach needy in remote VDCs, by Kumbha Raj Rai (kp 15/11/2016)

‘More women needed in all sectors for development’ (ht 15/11/2016)

Dozens of projects left incomplete in Rolpa, by Kashiram Dangi (kp 14/11/2016)

A little politics: Over-politicization of society has hindered development initiatives in Nepal’s countryside, by Dinkar Nepal (rep)

NRA teams to monitor housing aid utilisation (kp 12/11/2016)

Reduced poverty: Much neglected; A progressive distributional policy together with the suitable institutional setups and arrangements at the grassroots for ensuring exclusively the access of poor to social and physical infrastructure as well as financial services is also a necessity, by Dilli Raj Khanal (ht 11/11/2016)

Locals rue govt delay in signing grant agreement (ht 10/11/2016)

NRA mobilises Rs 3.57billion for housing grant in Valley: The fund will be used to provide first tranche of Rs 50,000 to the beneficiaries (kp 10/11/2016)

Work delayed: Coordination among all agencies are vital is to complete projects on time. But this coordination in Nepal has always been elusive (ht 10/11/2016)

Learn From Delhi, by Shyam KC (kp 09/11/2016)

It'll take over 3 months to address quake victims' complaints: NRA, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 08/11/2016)

IB mulls household insurance for quake grant beneficiaries (kp 06/11/2016)

Housing aid signing process begins in Valley (kp 05/11/2016), Govt to sign grant deal with quake survivors (ht 06/11/2016)

Langtang folk step up rebuilding efforts, by Prakash Adhikari (kp 30/10/2016)

NRA aid panel meet to raise recovery funds (kp 29/10/2016) [?? You're not even able to distribute the huge amount of money you already have at hand!!]

Making plans credible: In spite of a long history of development planning, results have consistently fallen short of forecasts, by Tula Raj Basyal (kp 28/10/2016)

Dhurmus-Suntali to hand over model settlement to quake victims today, by Dhurba Dangal (rep 28/10/2016)

The long wait: People displaced by the earthquakes cannot be left in limbo for much longer (kp 27/10/2016), PM tells NRA to pick up pace (kp 27/10/2016) [Yes, please take govt and parties as example!]

Sindhuli quake victims yet to get grant (ht 25/10/2016), Shindhu quake victims wait for 2nd batch of aid, by Anish Tiwari (kp 26/10/2016)

Dissected development: Post-earthquake recovery efforts need to be consolidated for greater effectiveness, by Sudeep Uprety (kp 25/10/2016)

Crucial projects in limbo as IBN board meeting stalled, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 25/10/2016)

Common goals: We urge every Nepali to know the SDGs and engage in their achievement, by Valerie Julliand (rep 24/10/2016)

Timber crisis affecting housing reconstruction, by Tika Prasad Bhatta (kp 23/10/2016)

At least 900 people in Kavre yet to receive aid for rebuilding (kp 23/10/2016)

Slow progress in development works criticised (ht 21/10/2016)

Quake victims in Valley to get first tranche before Tihar: Ministry; Around 100,000 victims in Valley may qualify for house reconstruction grant: NRA, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 20/10/2016) [And what about the victims in the so far untouched rural districts?], Work begins to release housing aid in Valley (kp 26/10/2016)

350,000 families still without aid (kp 19/10/2016) [Besides, victims in many districts have not been included at all!]

Treasury surplus soars to Rs191b as capital spending slacks (kp 18/10/2016), Govt expenditure at 12.37pc: Only 3.42 per cent of total allocated budget of Rs 311.95 billion for development works spent in the first quarter of current fiscal year (ht 18/10/2016), ), Spend timely and wisely: For Nepal, lack of money is not as big problem as is the failure to use it (kp 19/10/2016)

'Construction materials banks' to open in quake-hit areas, by Gyan P. Neupane (rep 18/10/2016)

Understanding resilience: Simply incorporating the term in the local lexicon without unpacking its tenets could render the concept meaningless, by Ajaya Dixt, Kanmani Venkasteswaran and Ashutosh Shukla (kp 17/10/2016)

CBS concludes beneficiary survey in Valley, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 17/10/2016)

School reconstruction yet to gather pace, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 16/10/2016)

Quake victims yet to receive govt grant (ht 15/10/2016)

Not working: Constraints on effective development planning are pretty much the same now as they were in the 1960s, by Chandan Sapkota (kp 14/10/2016)

Post-quake reconstruction: 100,000 homeless families without aid, by Sarin Ghimire (kp 08/10/2016)

Integrated settlement for quake survivors: PM Dahal lays foundation stone, by Sudip Kaini (kp 08/10/2016)

Fair disbursement: Govt needs to make sure quake victims can access aid even without political connections (kp 06/10/2016), Slow progress: It is still not clear when the NRA will conclude agreements with the development partners for the financial assistance they had pledged (ht 06/10/2016), Landless earthquake victims deprived of grants, by Dhruba Dangal (rep 06/10/2016)

Nepal stares at funding gap of Rs 600 billion, by Pragati Shahi (kp 05/10/2016), NRA has signed up only Rs 272b so far out of 938b needed: Less than half the signed-up amount received, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 05/10/2016)

NRA gears up to form a panel for aid management (kp 04/10/2016)

Contractors abandoning fully-paid-for projects, officials remain mum, by Raju Adhikari (rep 03/10/2016)

Development policy credit: Negotiations stall for lack of meeting preconditions; Delay in passing Bank and Financial Institution Act and anti-money laundering regulations hampers negotiations, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 02/10/2016)

Engineers to distribute grant: Government has decided to authorise engineers to distribute housing aid in those districts which lack local bodies (kp 30/09/2016)

Cashing in on politics: For the moment there is only Rs 343 billion in the kitty for reconstruction, by Shreejana Shrestha (nt 30/09/2016), Reconstruction grant is Dasain allowance: Earthquake survivors are using the first tranche of their home reconstruction grant for everything but reconstruction, by Shreejana Shrestha (nt 30/09/2016), NRA warns against spending reconstruction money on Dashain (rep 01/10/2016)

Post-quake rebuilding: With few takers, timbers start to decay, by Anish Tiwari (kp 30/09/2016)

NRA fails to provide first instalment of grant to quake survivors (ht 29/09/2016)

Filling the gap: In the absence of men it’s the women who are taking up the responsibility of rebuilding houses in rural areas, by Ishwar Rauniyar (rep 28/09/2016)

Implementing new announcements: PM asks secretaries for action plan (kp 26/09/2016), PM not dissatisfied with NRA, says Gyawali (ht 26/09/2016), NRA may decide on additional grant today, by Sarin Ghimire (kp 26/09/2016), PM gives NRA until Oct 6 to issue first housing grants (kp 27/09/2016)

Capital expenditure fails to pick up pace: Only 0.9 per cent of Rs 311.9 billion spent so far this fiscal year, by Rupak D. Sharma (kp 25/09/2016)

Hope against hope: Nepal’s dream of development may materialise if major parties agree on national goals and priorities, by Khagendra Nath Sharma (kp 25/09/2016)

A sustainable Nepal: nstead of relying too much on other countries, Nepal should devise policies to foster self-reliance, by Niranjan Mani Dixit (kp 25/09/2016)

Engineers call off strike (kp 25/09/2016)

Aid distribution: Over Rs18b mobilised for first tranche of cash: NRA; Of an estimated 800,000 homes damaged in 14 districts, NRA listed 533,182 as true beneficiaries (kp 21/09/2016), Housing grant distribution: Local bodies told to distribute first tranche before Dashain; he local bodies have so far signed grant agreements only with 450,032 of house owners (rep 22/09/2016)

Over 70 per cent quake-hit households get first instalment (ht 19/09/2016) [But only in 11 districts and almost one and a half year after the earthquake!], Over 150k needy yet to get first trance of aid (kp 20/09/2016), 25 per cent quake victims receive grant amount in Kavre (ht 20/09/2016)

Handing over contracts of up to Rs 1 billion to Nepalis:Provision draws flak; Government, however, says measure will enhance skills of Nepali contractors (kp 18/09/2016)

Lack of relocation plan puts victims on a slippery slope: Some families have already started rebuilding on the same spot where their previous houses once stood, by Pragati Shahi (kp 18/09/2016)

Preparations underway to decommission Nepal Peace Trust Fund (kp 18/09/2016)

Call to use single women’s fund in rebuilding homes: The fund, set up by the Women’s Ministry, has Rs40 million lying unused for the past three years (kp 17/09/2016)

Victims put off by red tape in grant distribution, by Ramesh Khatiwada (rep 16/09/2016)

Rebuilding aid: Deals with households in Valley from next week; The NRA says distribution of housing aid will start immediately after the completion of verification of quake-hit households (kp 15/09/2016)

Quake victims spend housing Aid on clothes, electronics (kp 14/09/2016) [This should not be generalised! Top mobiles can hardly be financed by the small amount of "housing aid" some of the victims have got so far!]

Almost half of national pride projects fail to meet target (kp 13/09/2016), Full steam ahead: PM Dahal should keep his word about implementing national pride projects (kp 14/09/2016)

Rebuilding in Okhaldhunga: Engineers go on strike; Engineer Rajendra Dhamala says they have started the protest to mount pressure on the NRA for appointment letter and salary (kp 13/09/2016)

Main contractor to be held liable for timely implementation of projects: NDAC (ht 13/09/2016)

Planning body gets full shape (kp 12/09/2016)

Earthquake survivors still await govt grant (ht 10/09/2016)

PM offers Rs 700k succour to kins of deceased migrants: Pledges to set up seed fund for blood money and start work permit renewal service from embassies (kp 09/09/2016), PM’s extra assistance promise hard to keep: There is a funding gap of Rs488 billion, excluding the Rs80 billion required to provide the additional Rs100,000 per household (kp 09/09/2016) [Call it populist propaganda!]

Nat’l pride projects fall short on quality compliance: NVC (kp 09/09/2016)

Govt prepares to up housing grant: PM Dahal reiterates government’s commitment to help the quake-affected by increasing the grant by an additional Rs100,000 (kp 06/09/2016), Rs 50k cannot build a house: Quake victims, by Anish Tiwari (kp 06/09/2016)

More than half of listed households get rebuilding aid (kp 04/09/2016) [one and a half year after the earthquake some pocket money for half of the households in a handful of districts only!]

PAF launches training scheme for urban poor (kp 02/09/2016)

From un-uniform development ...: We know what needs to be done to raise Nepal’s Human Development Index, we just need to do it, by Manish Jha (nt 02/09/2016)

Inconsistent policy: Providing Rs. 50,000 to those whose houses were not damaged so badly and an additional Rs. 400,000 for purchasing land at safer places on top of Rs. 200,000 is good (ht) [Even more important would be to include the people in all the affected rural districts and not only a few of them including the KTM valley!]

Crafting a revolution: Mahabir Pun’s idea of a 50-crore hydro fund and allocating a portion of generated revenue to an innovation center is logical, by Raju Adhikari (rep 30/08/2016)

Quake-hit villages of Sindhupalchowk finally start receiving grants, by Dhurba Dangal (rep 30/08/2016)

Sindhuli quake victims complain against NRA (ht 29/08/2016)

Over 31 pc earthquake victims receive first tranche (rep 29/08/2016)

Reconstruction resource centres scrapped (kp 18/08/2016) [??]

NRA completes assessment of 50,000 Valley households: The NRA says it aims to complete assessment of all affected households in Kathmandu Valley by mid-September (kp 24/08/2016)

Grant distribution gathers pace (ht 22/08/2016)

Survey in remaining 17 quake-hit districts only after a month (rep 20/08/2016)

Building back better: Strengthen local efforts, by Valerie Julliand (ht 19/08/2016)

PM for increasing reconstruction grant to Rs 300,000, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 17/08/2016)

PM urged to crack the whip over development projects, by Kuvera Chalise (rep 17/08/2016)

Signing of housing grant agreements in limbo in Kavre (ht 13/08/2016)

Not the fairest of them all: For all the expenses on reconstruction, an investment of a few million rupees more is worth the aesthetic value, by Deepak Thapa (kp 11/08/2016)

Housing aid distribution: PM asks authorities to release first tranche by mid-Sept (kp 11/08/2016), ‘Sindhu survivors to get aid in a month’ (kp 11/08/2016)

Planning Commission VC Khatiwada quits (kp 09/08/2016)

300 quake-hit families get animal sheds (kp 06/08/2016)

Close to 300k families sign housing aid deal (kp 05/08/2016))

Ministries asked to submit programmes for approval (kp 02/08/2016)

Nuwakot folk uphold tradition while building quake-resistant houses, by Krishna Thapa (kp 31/07/2016)

Necessity of culture: The impact of the earthquake cannot and should not be measured in physical terms only, by Umesh Pokharel (kp 31/07/2016)

Nepal And SDGs, by Kushal Pokharel (rn 30/07/2016)

Builders of Barpak: With electrification, Barpak is back in business, by Manisha Aryal (nt 29/07/2016)

Engineers decry lack of pay and work in Dolakha: Engineers deployed to the district say that they have been without work and pay from the day they arrived two months ago (kp 27/07/2016)

Speed it up: It is over a year and still many earthquake victims are without shelters. The grant should be provided without delay so that the homeless people can build permanent houses (ht 27/07/2016)

CLPIU gets nod from NRA to utilise Rs 20 billion (ht 27/07/2016)

Housing grant distribution on hold since July 16, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 26/07/2016)

Quake victims’ data collection begins in Bhaktapur (ht 25/07/2016) [??]

NRA gets finance ministry’s go-ahead to spend Rs 84bn (ht 24/07/2016)

In northern Dhading, elderly face daunting task of rebuilding, by Harihar Singh Rathour (kp 20/07/2016)

Nepal 2030: It’s possible for the country to become a $100 billion economy and graduate to a middle-income country by 2030; In villages, people who buy motorcycles, smartphones and lots of alcohol with their own money, wait for the assistance of some government  body or NGO to build a toilet  in their house, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 19/07/2016)

Financing infrastructure: Being ambitious about it is okay, but it should not be used  to score political points founded on misplaced nationalism, by Chandan Sapkota (kp 19/07/2016)

Quake victims’ data to be collected again Bhaktapur (ht 19/07/2016)

Kavre tremor victims get first instalment of grant amount (ht 19/07/2016)

Post-earthquake reconstruction: Directive to promote local participation (kp 18/07/2016)

NRA signs aid agreements with 248,559 families (kp 16/07/2016)

Only 2 out of 17 ADB-funded projects making progress: Only Melamchi Water Supply Project and South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation power system  expansion project have achieved good performance (kp 15/07/2016)

Plans That Look Awesome On the Drawing Board, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 14/07/2016)

Nearly 100,000 households claim to be excluded from NRA’s beneficiary list (ht 14/07/2016) [not to talk about the completely excluded districts!]

Villagers building quake-resilient homes in Gorkha (kp 13/07/2016)

NRA wants more staff to expedite rebuilding: The NRA has so far signed housing aid agreements with 223,830 families (kp 09/07/2016)

Lengthy grants process a big hassle for quake victims, by Dhruba Dangal (rep 09/07/2016)

The black roofs of Gatlang: Once lauded as the ‘gem’ of the Tamang Heritage Trail, Gatlang is now  scrambling to salvage what the earthquakes ruined, by Umesh Pokharel (kp 09/07/2016)

Post-quake reconstruction: Banks to disburse aid to cluster settlements (kp 08/07/2016)

Quake-hit abandon shelters, return to whence they came, by Bimal Khatiwada (kp 04/07/2016)

NRA endorses complaint redressal guideline (ht 03/07/2016)

Donors warn of pulling plug on support programme: Express serious concerns about quality of construction, by John Narayan Parajuli (kp 30/06/2016), NRA signs aid deal with over 180k families (kp 30/06/2016), WB brings housing aid deal home to govt: Reiterates grant in three tranches after achieving ‘defined milestones’ (kp 01/07/2016) [?? Nobody can start reconstruction of sustainable houses with 415€, not even in rural areas of Nepal! Even 1660€ are only an assist-starting for families that have lost everything!], Congress calls for holding talks with donors, by Sarin Ghimire (kp 01/07/2016)

Dilemma of LDCs: Nepal should have graduated in 2001; It did not; Now the target year is 2022, but Nepal won’t be able to graduate in that year either, by Mahabir Paudyal (rep 29/06/2016)

NRA sub-regional offices authorised for rebuilding (kp 28/06/2016)

Army starts handover of community homes (kp 25/06/2016)

Nepal's development black hole: Why large energy and infrastructure projects never seem to get off the ground, by Lokmani Rai (nt 24/06/2016)

NRA flooded with 73,187 complaints, by Pushpa Raj Acharya (ht 23/06/2016)

Subsidised credit for rebuilding homes: Loans worth Rs 16.5m extended as of mid-May (kp 19/06/2016)

Govt treasury surplus reaches all-time high: Sluggish capital expenditure leaves over Rs 200 billion in state coffers, by Mukul Humagain and Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 18/06/2016) [Against the background of the people's sufferings and urgend needs, this is a fundamental humanitarian crime for which the irresponsible politicians and administrators should stand trial!], House reconstruction programme: Guthi land dwellers could miss out on aid; The National Reconstruction Authority has announced  to distribute house reconstruction aid to only those quake survivors who have land deeds (kp 18/06/2016)

NA building safe community homes in quake-hit areas (kp 16/06/2016)

Misplaced charity: NC’s criticism of government irregularities in reconstruction needs serious attention (kp 16/06/2016)

Reconstruction aid list: 14,000 quake-displaced in Dolakha lodge complaints, by Rajendra Manandhar (kp 14/06/2016)

Local elections must to speed up reconstruction work, say experts (ht 14/06/2016)

2,004 beneficiaries get housing grant (ht 13/06/2016)

The waiting game: At Siru Bari, a quaint hamlet in Nuwakot ravaged by last year’s quakes, patience is wearing thin, by Dibesh Karmacharya (kp 11/06/2016)

Government plans to implement 484 projects next fiscal: Average spending on each development project jumps by 33 per cent to Rs 1.3 billion (ht 11/06/2016)

Over 171k households to get first tranche of housing grant (ht 10/06/2016), NRA orders release of first tranche to 171,677 victims (rep 10/06/2016)

944 families get rebuilding aid in Gorkha, by Sudip Kaini (kp 07/06/2016)

NRA signs pact to rebuild 8,100 houses (ht 07/06/2016)

Ministries bypassing NPC in project selection process, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 06/06/2016)

Earthquake resilient construction: Masons, carpenters hone skills, by Anup Ojha (kp 05/06/2016)

Leave no child behind: We should always ask whether any legal, policy or program choice will benefit all children regardless of who they are and where they come from, by Dilli Guragai (rep 04/06/2016)

Plan Performance In Nepal: Effective Implementation Needed, by Mukti Rijal (rn 02/06/2016)

NRA fails to include all affected households: Lawmakers point out discrepancies in the beneficiary survey conducted by the authority (ht 02/06/2016), NRA survey left out many quake victims: Lawmakers, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 02/06/2016)

Development Works At The Eleventh Hour, by Uttam Maharjan (rn 02/06/2016)

NRA signs pact to distribute relief funds (kp 01/06/2016), Grant for victims: Besides providing the grant assistance to the victims the NRA should also provide tents and tarpaulins to the victims so that they protect themselves from the rains till they build their permanent shelters (kp 01/06/2016), Empty VDC secretary posts in quake districts slow grant pay outs, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 01/06/2016)

36,287 quake grants inked, 1,000 victims get 1st tranche so far, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 30/05/2016)

Harnessing people’s power: Nepal could have a National Volunteering Week to remind ourselves what citizens can do if they unite, by Simone Galimberti (kp 29/05/2016)

NRA, bankers’ associations agree on housing grant disbursement (kp 28/05/2016), Distribution of housing grant to earthquake survivors to start soon (ht 28/05/2016)

Post-quake reconstruction: Engineers idle for want of rebuilding aid agreement (kp 27/05/2016)

Flawed category: Can the state have two definitions of family, one for imposing tax and another for providing compensation?, by Lokranjan Parajuli (kp 26/05/2016)

Govt directs local bodies to take lead: Local development officers, chief and executive officers of municipalities and VDC secretaries of 14 districts to take lead in data collection, identification of victims, expert coordination and information dissemination, by Gaurav Thapa (kp 25/05/2016) [Why only 14 districts? Solukhumbu, for example, has been heavily affected by the earthquakes with many houses being uninhabitable as officially recognised by the government!]

There is hope: Cities and towns that have a large number of development organisations have created great rent-seeking models, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 24/05/2016)

Woe is us: Nepal is stuck in poverty while the rest of the world has taken a great leap forward, by Shree Prasad Devkota, Shiba Bagale and Shreeya Devkota (kp 24/05/2016)

Unspent budget: Political instability and interference both at the planning and operational levels hinder timely completion of projects, by Chandan Sapkota (kp 23/05/2016)

Govt plans to significantly raise public spending, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 22/05/2016)

House rebuilding aid delayed in Dolakha district, by Rajendra Manandhar (kp 18/05/2016), ‘Vulnerable groups at exclusion risk’ (kp 18/05/2016)

Rs 410 billion to come from donors: Besides Rs91b for 2015-16, NRA plans an additional on-budget expenditure of Rs450b over the next three fiscal years (kp 18/05/2016)

Rs 11b aid for 11 districts (kp 17/05/2016)

Capital spending at 22 percent till mid-May: Govt spending on development work equal to  about 50% of what it spent on its employees' salary, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 17/05/2016) [!!]

13th three-year plan: Most of goals unachieved (kp 16/05/2016), 13th periodic plan more misses than hits, by Kuvera Chalise (rep 16/05/2016)

Signing of grant agreement halted in Kavre villages (ht 16/05/2016)

NRA issues guidelines for volunteer mobilization, by Gyan P. Neupane (rep 16/05/2016)

CPIU releases Rs 11bn for reconstruction purposes (ht 16/05/2016)

1,040 engineers in quake-hit districts (kp 14/05/2016)

Post-disaster recovery framework: Rs 838b five-yr reconstruction plan unveiled; ‘Private houses to be constructed within two years’; According to the Post-Disaster Recovery Framework, 500,000 households, 7,000 educational institutions, 446 health posts, 2,900 heritage sites were damaged by last year’s quakes (kp 13/05/2016)

Shortage of forms halts aid agreement process (kp 12/05/2016)

Long hibernation: Many things to do, by Dipendra Gautam (ht 11/05/2016)

Majority of P1 projects likely to miss targets (ht 08/05/2016)

Engineers reach Gorkha to help people rebuild, by Sudip Kaini (kp 06/05/2016)

Contracts for development projects delayed (ht 06/05/2016)

Khumbu locals build houses on their owns, by Kumbharaj Rai (kp 05/05/2016)

Govt sitting on Rs 100 billion, unable to spend: 21 national pride projects and 326 under priority one suffer, by Laxman Biyogi (rep 05/05/2016)

Govt to form labor pool to facilitate reconstruction, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 05/05/2016)

NRNA asked to build model settlement in 2 years (ht 03/05/2016)

Parties ask cadres to help in house reconstruction  (kp 29/04/2016) [Without any money from reconstruction funds??]

Poor show: Nepal has not been able to make sustained progress in bringing down the poverty rate, by Nav Raj Simkhada (kp 29/04/2016)

Over 1,300 engineers deployed in 11 districts (kp 28/04/2016)

Quake survivors urge govt to rope in development partners, by Pratichya Dulal (kp 28/04/2016)

Govt in dark about work of most aid agencies in quake-hit districts, by Narhari Sapkota, Nirajan Paudel, Ramesh Khatiwada and Dhruba Dangal (rep 28/04/2016) [The government is in the dark because it left the suffering people alone for one year! NGOs do the work that should have been done by government agencies!]

Dream project limited in paper since three decades, by Raju Adhikari (rep 27/04/2016)

Donors need to reduce areas of operation: MoF (ht 25/04/2016)

Improving the lives of children: The year to come will be critical as UNICEF wants to build back better and reduce disaster risks for children, by Karin Hulshof (kp 24/04/2016)

Building back better? Lack proper risk assessments of settlements in many of the worst affected areas are adding to vulnerability of the population, not lessening it, by Pragati Shahi (kp 24/04/2016)

Building better: We should improve rehabilitation services and build accessible infrastructures, by Phillip Sheppard (kp 24/04/2016)

Year of inaction: The performance of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), which was established with much fan-fare, has been disappointing, by David Kainee (rep 23/04/2016), Virtually no gov’t rebuilding a year after Nepal quake, by Binaj Gurubacharya (kp 23/04/2016), Forget them not: On first anniversary quake victims are waiting for government support and donors are frustrated, by Giri Bahadur Sunar (rep 23/04/2016), NRA fails to introduce PDRF on time (ht 23/04/2016), Landless quake victims missing out as Nepal rebuilds: Oxfam (ht 23/04/2016), Dolakha locals reconstruct quake-damaged houses with locally-available resources, by Ramesh Khatiwada (rep 23/04/2016), 319,912 households ‘real beneficiaries’: Rebuilding authority to start signing aid agreements from tomorrow (kp 23/04/2016)

Restructuring The National Planning Commission, by Kushal Pokharel (rn 23/04/2016)

Loans issued to quake survivors in Hetauda, by Pratap Bista (kp 22/04/2016)

Barpak born again: The epicentre of destruction has also become the epicentre of reconstruction, by Santa Gaha Magar (nt 22/04/2016)

Govt forms panel to find new IBN CEO: Is in bid to remove Radhes Pant as the head of Investment Board Nepal in volte-face on its four-month-old decision to let him continue in office (kp 21/04/2016) [Another decision mere party political reasons!], Government announces vacancy for IBN’s CEO (kp 24/04/2016)

Grant distribution to begin in 11 quake-hit districts, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 21/04/2016)

Rebuilding works set for expansion in 11 districts (kp 20/04/2016), Langtang locals unhappy with NRA, by Krishna Thapa (kp 20/04/2016)

New law to crack down on slow project developers, by Bibek Subedi (kp 20/04/2016)

Go local: The NRA has proposed 17 different residential building models for post-quake rebuilding. Most of these models are defective, by Keshab Sharma (rep 19/04/2016)

Govt plans to invest Rs 816bn to develop transport sector (ht 18/04/2016)

Govt unveils ambitious plan to build roads, railways: Spending platform for transport infrastructure (rep 18/04/2016) [Dream, dream, dream... Ten years ago, they also promised promised an inclusive federal republic within 2 or 3 years and now they have reiterated the non-inclusive state!!]

Projects stuck midway due to lazy contractors: Emboldened by government’s reluctance to take action for falling behind schedule, the slowpoke contractors have been showing little interest in completing the projects, by Madhav Aryal (kp 16/04/2016)

Laying Foundation Of Airport In Pokhara, by Siddhi B Ranjitkar (km 16/04/2016)

NRA allows NGOs, INGOs to extend grants to earthquake survivors (ht 16/04/2016) [Govt and NRA are still trying to make help for last year's earthquake victims as complicated as possible instead of finally distributing the international aid money to the suffering people and hindering NGO#s to fill the gap!!]

Housing aid too little, too late? Gorkha tremor survivors say Rs 200,000 not enough to build homes, by Sudip Kaini (kp 15/04/2016)

NRA to get budget of around Rs 150bn next fiscal year: Authority unlikely to introduce post-disaster recovery framework for reconstruction within April 24 deadline, by Rupak D. Sharma (ht 14/04/2016)

2,400 engineers in all districts soon (kp 14/04/2016)

Central bank’s loan scheme for quake survivors falls flat, by Bibek Subedi (kp 14/04/2016)

Politically possessed: Political instability and excessive politicisation are taking a toll on Nepal’s development, by Ram Sharan Mahat (kp 13/04/2016)

Progress of national pride projects poor: OAG (ht 12/04/2016)

NRA to allow NGOs in rebuilding homes: Extra rules for mobilisation via one door; 3-side deal for reconstruction, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 11/04/2016), NRA guideline on mobilisation of NGOs in offing (ht 12/04/2016)

Reconstruction authority begins work in Kavre (ht 11/04/2016)

NRA: Grant distribution through banks difficult in remote areas, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 07/04/2016)

Little Things Making Big Impacts, by Prem Khatry (rn 05/04/2016)

Plans approved sans public deliberations (ht 05/04/2016)

Govt’s direct payment method to ease hassles (kp 04/04/2016)

Without support of the victims the TRC will not succeed, interview with Surya Kiran Gurung,  Chairperson of the TRC (kp 04/04/2016)

NRA eschews its decision on aid distribution (kp 04/04/2016)

Development versus environment: PM’s directive to bypass EIA draws flak; Oli concerned over delay caused by environment assessment in development activities (kp 03/04/2016)

Against all odds: One man’s struggle to preserve his family home tugs at a larger struggle to conserve privately-owned traditional homes of Kathmandu, by Chandni KC (kp 02/04/2016)

NRA extends first instalment of grant (ht 02/04/2016)

Post-quake reconstruction: Over half a million damaged houses surveyed so far, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 01/04/2016), Re-verification delays timber distribution (kp 01/04/2016)

Govt aims at reducing poverty to below 5pc (kp 01/04/2016)

NPC prepares concept note on country’s 14th periodic plan, by Rupak D. Sharma (ht 01/04/2016), NPC targets $2,500 per capita GNI in next 15 years, by Kuvera Chalise (rep 01/04/2016)

Nepal seeks easier access to funds, technology to attain SDGs (ht 01/04/2016)

Contract period for ongoing projects will be extended: PM (ht 31/03/2016)

Ramp up investment in human capital development: ADB (ht 31/03/2016)

Ensure HR during post-quake recovery’ (kp 30/03/2016), Rights-based reconstruction: The National Reconstruction Authority should treat the earthquake victims as rights holders and empower them, by Madhab Regmi (kp 30/03/2016), PM censures NRA, and by extension, own govt: NC leader Mahat accuses government of viewing reconstruction through partisan lense, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 30/03/2016) [Oli forgot to mention himself and the other so-called leaders as the most responsible persons!!], Markhu survivors take out loans for rebuilding, by Pratap Bista (kp 30/03/2016)

Ruined reconstruction: Works held hostage by disputes, red tape, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 28/03/2016)

10 more rebuilding resource centres to be established (kp 27/03/2016)

Pace of post-quake reconstruction too slow, say German MPs (ht 27/03/2016)

Govt has to spend Rs 1.66b daily to use up development budget, by Kuvera Chalise (rep 26/03/2016)

NRA issues rebuilding funds to ministries, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 26/03/2016)

Slow pace of aid signing irks NRA (kp 25/03/2016)

MoF not reporting on spending by development projects, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 25/03/2016)

First office set up outside Capital (kp 24/03/2016), NRA’s first sub-regional office opens (ht 24/03/2016)

Uphill task for NRA: to put together team: Some argue mobilising civil servants will be easier than hiring new staff, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 23/03/2016)

Public entities to be held liable for project implementation delay, by Rupak D. Sharma (kp 23/03/2016)

Reconstruction and its elusive grand narrative: The government has boxed itself into an impossible situation of trying to control everything, something it doesn’t have the required resources or capabilities to do, by John Narayan Parajuli (kp 19/03/2016)

More problems likely to rain down on quake survivors this monsoon: NRA mulling ‘transitional shelters’ as rebuilding work fails to take off, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 18/03/2016), Complaints outnumber aid deals (kp 18/03/2016)

Delay in budget authorization, lack of coordination, affecting development projects: Khatiwada (rep 17/03/2016)

78 Singati families receive letters for housing grant, by Rajendra Manandhar (kp 15/03/2016) [??]

Plan distributed substandard zinc sheets: Quake victims, by Ramesh Khatiwada (rep 15/03/2016)

To self-sufficiency: Our average annual growth since 1990 has been a miserly four percent, by Kamal Raj Dhungel (rep 15/03/2016)

Himalayan consensus: It is essential to think of alternative development paradigms, by Sujeev Shakya (kp 15/03/2016)

Diesel shortage hits development projects (rep 15/03/2016)

Govt unveils 10-yr action plan to eliminate hunger (kp 14/03/2016), Poverty will be history in 10 years, says PM (ht 14/03/2016) [Flathead!], Country prepares national action plan to reduce poverty (ht 14/03/2016)

Government set to miss target of key indicators: Review of 13th periodic plan, by Rudra Pangeni (rep 14/03/2016)

First grants to be issued from Singati centre: Two banks are  scheduled to sign grant contracts with displaced families today, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 13/03/2016) [Please not mere show but effective relief and reconstruction aid for quake effected families without further delay!!], Banks find few takers for loans to rebuild quake-hit houses: Bankers attribute the low demand for  the credit to ‘complicated procedure’ (kp 13/03/2016), Housing aid distribution from Singati deferred: Leaders of some parties demand cash for all at once (kp 14/03/2016), Local protests mar quake grant distribution: NRA accused of mobilizing NGOs only, bypassing local leaders, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 14/03/2016)

‘Govt should identify areas to ensure success of PPP projects’ (ht 13/03/2016)

NPC intensifies consultations to devise periodic plan for federal Nepal (rep 12/03/2016)

Deconstruction authority: The government should stop trying to be a control freak, and open up the space for earthquake survivors to easily rebuild their homes (nt 11/03/2016)

Quake victims rebuilding on their own worry about reconstruction grant, by Narhari Sapkota (rep 11/03/2016)

Rules in place to supply timber for quake-hit (kp 11/03/2016) [11 months after the earthquake!!], No relief: 2.5 million earthquake survivors have waited one year for help while the Reconstruction Authority discusses procedures and guidelines, by Sahina Shrestha (nt 11/03/2016)

Agreements on housing reconstruction signed (ht 11/03/2016)

Hunger and poverty: Top national agenda, by José Graziano da Silva (ht 11/03/2016)

Talk of quick survey for aid hollow: House assessment aimed to be completed by mid-April but, as of yesterday, only 46 percent work over: NRA, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 10/03/2016), Call to involve women in rebuilding process (kp 10/03/2016), Ensure safety before rebuilding: Singati folk, by Rajendra Manandhar (kp 10/03/2016)

Earthquake victims: Banks seek permission to disburse grants, by Bibek Subedi (kp 09/03/2016)

With will and strong backs, a quake-hit village rebuilds without waiting for govt: What kept them from giving up was a decision that the village has capacity to recover (ht 09/03/2016)

National Pride Projects: Only 8 percent of budget utilised (kp 08/03/2016)

NRA shifts goalpost as victims wait: While the Post Disaster Needs Assessment has put the number  of earthquake-affected houses at 498,852, the Nepal Reconstruction Authority has surveyed only 150,000 households so far, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 07/03/2016), NAR to distribute first installment of grant: The authority will soon provide 25pc of total amount to quake-affected households (ht 07/03/2016) [???], Homes for earthquake victims unlikely before monsoon: NRA (kp 08/03/2016), Reconstruction body preparing framework (kp 09/03/2016)

1,300 get accounts as NRA gears up for rebuilding aid: Cash distribution to be delayed due to NC convention (kp 04/03/2016)

Earthquake Response: One-Door Policy and Multi-Door Expectations, by Prabin Manandhar (sp 04/03/2016)

Making Development Sustainable, by Basu Uprety (sp 04/03/2016)

Govt mandates NRA to disburse rebuilding aid: Families rendered  homeless will get  Rs 200,000 each and house loan of up to  Rs 2.5 million (kp 03/03/2016)

Call for gender-friendly programmes (kp 03/03/2016)

NRA fails to set up regional offices: Staff shortage blamed; Planned reconstruction from Singati, Dolakha uncertain; No decision on hiring , by Bhadra Sharma (kp 01/03/2016

NRA tightens noose around I/NGOs: Nonprofits barred from engaging in reconstruction work without prior approval (rep 29/02/2016) [?? This reminds of the government statements shortly after the earthquakes! The affected people are still waiting in vain!!], Victims remain in dark about govt reconstruction program, by Narahari Sapkota (rep 29/02/2016)

Govt needs to spend Rs 1.39 billion development expenditure every day, by Kuvera Chalise (rep 29/02/2016)

‘Do not build houses without govt assistance’: The request from the authority comes at a time when the quake victims have begun to reconstruct houses on their own (kp 28/02/2016) [After almost one year of government non-action??]

NRA starts drafting INGO Mobilisation Directive (ht 27/02/2016)

Up to Rs 2.5m loan for rebuilding homes: NRA: NRA to provide subsidised loan of up to Rs 2.5 for  reubilding in cities and  Rs 1.5 in rural areas (kp 26/02/2016), Reconstruction grant distribution to begin March 3, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 26/02/2016)

NRA forms committee to simplify process of extending grant, loans (ht 26/02/2016)

A greener world: The ‘Make Nepal Green’ conference highlights the importance of self-reliance and renewable energy development, by Yu Wei Liew (nt 26/02/2016)

Financing a bright future: A successful replenishment of the ADF will help low-income countries to expand on their progress, by Indu Bhushan and Kenichi Yokoyama (kp 25/02/2016)

Learning from others: Often the question is whether villages should be rebuilt in their original locations or relocated to less disaster-prone areas, by Keshab Sharma (rep 25/02/2016)

‘Geological study before rebuilding’: A preliminary study identifies 143 settlements in need of immediate attention in 14 most affected districts, by Pragati Shahi (kp 24/02/2016)

School reconstruction set to begin from Lalitpur (kp 23/02/2016)

NRA calls for Nepal-India mechanism: Seeks to ensure smooth supply of construction materials during post-quake reconstruction phase (ht 23/02/2016)

Spending on priority projects down: The government spent 22.37 percent of the  allocated budget for first priority projects in the  first half of the fiscal year (rep 23/02/2016)

Post-quake reconstruction: Government to use banking channel for aid distribution (kp 22/02/2016)

Endless disputes delay infrastructure projects, by Amrita Anmol (kp 22/02/2016)

Ministry's delay hampers reconstruction works: NRA, by Sangeet Sangroula (rep 22/02/2016)

Tendering versus conservation: Local community members have already raised their voices to stop the construction through tendering, by Kai Weise (ht 20/02/2016)

Fake earthquake victims disrupt data collection, by Harihar Singh Rathaur (kp 18/02/2016)

Govt to appoint section officers as VDC secretaries in quake-affected districts, by Bhadra Sharma (kp 17/02/2016)

Chand-led Maoists hinder data collection of quake victims in Kavre (ht 16/02/2016)

Language barrier causing hassles in quake data collection, by Narahari Sapkota (rep 15/02/2016)

Govt to shorten EIA from 120 to 39 days, by Prithvi Man Shrestha (kp 15/02/2016)

Aiming high: As for the realization of SDGs, there are a number of big ifs and buts which have to be resolved to achieve them (ht 15/02/2016)

Local obstructions take toll on development process (ht 15/02/2016)