My Republica

Sangeet Sangroula

Sangeet Sangroula is a correspondent of Republica Daily. He has been reporting on earthquake reconstruction, bureaucracy, development issues, elections and various political issues since 2012.
news@myrepublica.com

Nepal's participation in Belt and Road forum to enhance ties: Envoy Paudyal

Published On: May 10, 2017 09:45 PM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

BEIJING, May 10: Nepali ambassador to China Leela Mani Paudyal said that Nepal's participation in China's ambitious One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative is going to add new momentum to Nepal-China relations.

Dahal visit improved relations: Chinese experts

Published On: March 30, 2017 05:30 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

BEIJING, March 30: Despite concerns to the contrary in Nepal, Chinese foreign policy experts  see Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's seven-day visit to China as a positive development in bilateral relations and in strengthening economic cooperation between the two neighbors.

China ready to build Nepal-China rail link: Xi

Published On: March 28, 2017 12:05 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

BEIJING, March 28: Chinese President Xi Jinping has informed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal that the Chinese government is ready to initiate construction work on the cross-border railway link between the two neighbors and boost trade and connectivity.

PM pushes for international investment

Published On: March 25, 2017 08:48 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

BOAO (HAINAN), March 17: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal took to the Boao Forum on Saturday to push for international investment in Nepal’s untapped sectors including hydropower, infrastructure development and tourism.

Nepal Red Cross probing leaks on funds misuse

Published On: February 16, 2017 01:40 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: Rather than investigating misuse of millions meant for earthquake victims, Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has formed a committee  to find out who was involved in leaking information to media about the funds misuse.

Govt decides to provide 50% incentive to VDC secretaries

Published On: February 14, 2017 08:30 PM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Feb 14:   The government has decided to provide village development committee (VDC) secretaries a monthly incentive of the 50 percent of their salary across the country.

Process to activate Rs 21b NRA fund starts

Published On: February 14, 2017 06:30 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Feb 14: In a bid to make the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) autonomous, the government has finally initiated the process to formulate modality to mobilize the money collected in the authority's reconstruction fund.

Distribute first and second tranches by next 3 months: House panel to NRA

Published On: February 9, 2017 01:20 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Feb 9: Concluding that the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts were not satisfactory, the Public Accounts Committee of parliament on Wednesday directed the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) to distribute the first installment of the housing grant within a month and the second installment of Rs 150,000 within the next three months to all the earthquake victims of the 31 earthquake-affected districts.

CEO Pokharel for greater autonomy to NRA

Published On: February 7, 2017 07:43 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Feb 7: Newly-reappointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Govinda Raj Pokharel has said that the authority is making preparations for internal  structural reforms in order to cut procedural delays in the decision-making process and make its work more result-oriented.

Full reconstruction grants for partially damaged houses also

Published On: February 6, 2017 12:30 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Feb 6: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has said that it will provide the total housing reconstruction grant of Rs 300,000 to earthquake victims whose houses were partially damaged by last year's earthquakes but are willing to go for full reconstruction rather than just repairs.

Govt writes to EC for local poll preparations

Published On: February 3, 2017 01:10 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Feb 3: The government has written formally to the Election Commission (EC) to make necessary preparations for holding local polls. However, it remains undecided over the poll date and whether the polls are to  be held under the existing structures or as per the new federal setup.

Experts at odds whether govt can tweak LLRC report

Published On: February 2, 2017 07:24 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Feb 2: Arguing that the local level restructuring commission (LLRC) only has the authority to make recommendations concerning new local units under the federal system, a group of constitutional lawyers has suggested to the government that it can make necessary changes to the report submitted by the commission and endorse it.

NRA planning to spend hefty amount for deploying volunteers

Published On: January 31, 2017 01:10 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Jan 31: At a time when around 2,600 engineers and technical staff deployed by the government have been forced to stay idle due to sluggish progress in reconstruction of private buildings in the 14 earthquake-affected districts, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) is making preparations to deploy around 3,500 final year civil engineering students as volunteers for 'facilitating the victims in constructing earthquake resilient houses'.

Failure to train masons on time slows reconstruction

Published On: January 30, 2017 07:26 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Jan 30: Top officials at the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) have said that the NRA's failure to hold trainings for masons and produce new masons while at the same time carrying out surveys for identifying the earthquake victims has led to a serious shortage of masons in the 14 worst quake-affected districts, further delaying the overall task of reconstruction.

Government puts local restructuring report on hold

Published On: January 28, 2017 07:26 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Jan 28: The government has decided put the commission report for the formation of 719 local units under the federal system on hold until there is political understanding among political parties on resolving a dispute that has surfaced over the number of local units.

Various I/NGOs building health posts flouting reconstruction guidelines

Published On: January 26, 2017 12:50 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Jan 26: Various international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and local NGOs involved in the reconstruction of health posts and other health institutions in the earthquake-affected districts are found constructing such structures without having their building designs approved from the government authorities. They have flouted the reconstruction guidelines even as the government has made it mandatory to have building designs approved prior to starting any kind of construction.

Ministry finalizes proposal on new local units

Published On: January 24, 2017 01:00 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Jan 24: The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) is making final preparations to submit a proposal to the cabinet for the formation of the 719 local units under the federal system as proposed by the commission formed to delineate new local units.

NRA to hire staffs on contract to resolve manpower crunch

Published On: January 23, 2017 01:00 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Jan 23: As civil servants continued to show reluctance to work for the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), the authority has initiated preparations to hire necessary staffers on a contract basis to resolve the problem.

NRA seeks army, police manpower for reconstruction

Published On: January 19, 2017 12:10 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Jan 19: Amid concerns that the post-quake reconstruction efforts failed to gain momentum due to lack of human resources, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has initiated discussion with Nepal Army (NA) and Armed Police Force (APF) to involve security personnel and expedite post-quake reconstruction efforts in various quake-hit districts.

NRA to monitor I/NGO activities from next week

Published On: January 16, 2017 07:50 AM NPT By: Sangeet Sangroula

KATHMANDU, Jan 16: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has made preparations to begin field-based monitoring of activities of international non-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations (I/NGOs) involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation in the 14 districts most affected by the 2015 earthquakes from next week.