Locals at Okharpauwa landfill site obstructed waste disposal again from Thursday, the 36th time since an agreement was signed between them and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) in June 2005.

A total solar eclipse on Wednesday swept across a narrow swathe of Asia, where hundreds of millions of people watched the skies darken, though in some places thick summer clouds blocked the sun.

Laxmi Khapangi in Patan Dhoka has to stand in a queue for hours at the nearby stone spouts for drinking water, as she doesn't get enough water at home. Sita Ghimire of Kupondol faces the same problem, and says she gets water only about once a week.

It stinks, it's dirty and many of Kathmandu's denizens have given up hope that Kathmandu's holy river, the Bagmati, can ever be salvaged. But two organizations want to give it a shot all the same.

Worried over encroachment of forest land and deforestation, experts have suggested a noble way to conserve the woods.

They said that the new constitution should incorporate a provision ensuring 40 percent forest cover in the country.

According to an estimate, forest land

The government has decided to formulate programmes to develop 25,000 MW in the next two decades. The previous government led by UCPN (Maoist) had projected development of 10,000 MW in the next ten years.

The allocated budget for hydropower is Rs. 14 billion 690 million for this fiscal year. This marks a 131 percent rise compared to the revised estimates of the previous fiscal year.

Prerana Marasini

KATHMANDU: Nepal and India have agreed to conduct round-the-clock patrolling of the embankments of the Koshi river during the flood season so that any repair needed is provided on time.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Thursday it will help 30 urban centres in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka to improve water management to enhance economic opportunities and reduce water-borne diseases.

A study has said that rapidly increasing urbanisation has seriously impacted groundwater sources inside the valley.

If the present rate of urbanisation is unchecked, all the rechargeable areas inside the capital will be sealed off and groundwater cannot be recharged underground within the next 35 years, said the study.

The death toll due to diarrhoea in Nepal