My Republica

Rudra Pangeni

Pangeni is an investigative journalist currently with CIJ Nepal.
news@myrepublica.com

Help the farmers or brace for massive protests

Published On: May 2, 2020 01:19 PM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed our vulnerabilities. During these difficult times, we have been threatened in many ways. One mighty question that many people have on their mind is: Who are the most resilient people? The answer is obviously farmers in rural areas. Their life is always in a prescribed format of social distancing, not by any force of law, but by their lifestyle. Unlike the households in cities and urban centers, settlements in villages are scattered.

How hydro companies are cheating shareholders

Published On: February 17, 2020 07:59 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

BHATTEDANDA, LALITPUR, Feb 17: Anil Syangten, a farmer of Bhattedanda village in Lalitpur district, borrowed Rs 100,000 at 24 percent interest from a local moneylender three years ago and invested in shares of Khanikhola Hydropower Co Ltd (KKHC). He was one of the hundreds of investors who believed that investment in initial public offering (IPO) of a hydropower project was like buying gold.

How cooperatives made billions embezzling collateral land

Published On: October 24, 2019 07:36 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

CHAPAKOT (Kaski), Oct 24: When Balaram Adhikari, a farmer in a village by the Phewa Lake, toyed with the idea of setting up a grocery store some 18 years ago, he had very few options. He is 61. He didn’t have enough funds. His village also lacked any bank or cooperative that could have supported him. His neighbors had taken loan to raise cattle from a cooperative called Nepal Sahakari Sanstha Limited.

Bowing to contractors lobby, govt revises Public Procurement Rules

Published On: June 11, 2019 08:11 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, June 10: Bowing to construction entrepreneurs, the government has revised Public Procurement Rules (seventh amendment), less than a month after it was introduced. The fresh revision has addressed most of the demands placed by the construction entrepreneurs.

Govt plan to be self-reliant in agriculture by July 2021 disappears in budget

Published On: June 2, 2019 10:49 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, June 2: In last year’s budget and programs, Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada had made an ambitious announcement that the country will be self-reliant in agricultural production by Fiscal Year 2020/2021. He had further announced that the country will double agro produce by the end of Fiscal Year 2022/23.

Growth of real sector remains unchanged under strong government

Published On: May 25, 2019 08:37 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, May 25: Like his predecessors, Minister for Finance Yuba Raj Khatiwada said he had focused on ‘growth of real sector including manufacturing’ and ‘high priority on production’ when he unveiled the budget for the current fiscal year in May last year.

Leaving out practical projects and tasks, govt talks up fancy ideas

Published On: May 5, 2019 08:36 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, May 5: Kathmandu denizens were hoping that the government’s policies and programs announced on Friday would speak at least about two development projects that have long been in their wish list -- the construction of bad roads in the Kathmandu Valley and completion of Melamchi Water Project.

Promises of prosperity from Rara Lake last year look elusive

Published On: April 14, 2019 04:30 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, April 14: On Baishak 1 last year, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had addressed the citizens with a New Year message from Rara Lake in western Nepal.

Restriction on contract manufacturing draws flak

Published On: March 19, 2019 07:13 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, March 19: As the parliament meeting on Monday endorsed a bill that bars foreign firms from contracting out the manufacturing of their primary products to Nepali firms, experts and some lawmakers have said the provision will discourage foreign investors.

Energy minister has little to show after a year in office

Published On: March 18, 2019 09:55 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, March 18: The Ministry of Energy has failed to achieve most of the targets that it had set when incumbent Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Barsaman Pun assumed office a year ago.

Who is behind the poor economic performance?

Published On: March 7, 2019 10:33 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, March 7: ‘Economic revolution’ and ‘economic transformation’ were buzzwords when a rare two-third majority was achieved in the parliament by the country’s left alliance. The people expected to see a stronger government that could deliver them from the problems in the economy and unlock constrains to accelerate the economy.

Promises of Oli govt fall flat as economy shows no sign of improving

Published On: March 6, 2019 09:23 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, March 6: If the proverb ‘morning shows the day’ is anything to go by, Nepal’s economic performance will remain average over next four years as there was no sign of improvement in key economic indicators over the first year of the incumbent government.

Govt spent more on security for Asia Pacific Summit than for BIMSTEC Summit

Published On: March 5, 2019 09:08 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, March 5: It has been revealed that the government spent more funds to make security arrangements for Asia Pacific Summit compared to Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit held in August last year.

Noted tourism entrepreneur dead in Taplejung chopper crash

Published On: February 28, 2019 11:03 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, Feb 28: Noted tourism entrepreneur Ang Tshering Sherpa died in a helicopter crash in Taplejung district on Wednesday afternoon.

Public not getting promised returns from hydropower companies, say investors

Published On: February 22, 2019 07:20 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: Work at the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project (UTHP) remained standstill for about a year due to non-performance of an Indian contractor. The mega infrastructure project, which is being built by mobilizing domestic resources, is in the last leg of construction now.

Parliamentary supremacy in govt spending under serious question

Published On: February 17, 2019 07:37 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHAMNDU, Feb 17: Over Rs 800 billion has been spent out of budget endorsed by parliament over the last three years, putting under question the notion of parliamentary supremacy over government spending, according to a report prepared by the Public Expenditure Review Commission (PERC).

How much does a train cost?

Published On: February 6, 2019 10:54 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, Feb 6: How much does a train set for the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway cost? The answer is tricky as the unit cost stated by officials of the Government of Nepal and the unit cost figure forwarded by the Government of India differ hugely.

SEZ firms not getting promised tax rebates

Published On: February 5, 2019 09:20 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Industrial enterprises established in Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Bhairahawa, are entitled to a tax rebate on import of equipment and machineries as per the SEZ Act, 2016. However, the Ministry of Finance is not providing the promised tax incentives to industrialists setting up their plants in SEZ.

Lowering foreign currency payment ratio could avoid fiascos like Melamchi

Published On: January 30, 2019 09:56 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, Jan 30: It turns out that the cash flow problem, which the Italian contractor Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti (CMC) di Ravenna claimed to be the prime reason behind the delay in tunnel works and head works of Melamchi Water Supply project, was its own creation.

Officials mull special contract to bring Melamchi water to Valley by mid-April

Published On: January 21, 2019 07:37 AM NPT By: Rudra Pangeni

KATHMANDU, Jan 21: Officials have vowed to complete the remaining work of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) by awarding a new contract through a fast-track process. The decision to award the contract will be made through a cabinet decision as a special arrangement allowed by the Public Procurement Act.