Quake-hit local levels declared crisis-affected zone

The government has declared crisis-affected zone to the local levels hit from the earthquake happened in November 3, 2023 with its epicenter in Jajarkot district.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday took a decision to declare the quake-battered sites as the crisis-affected zone, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma shared on Tuesday by organizing a news conference at the Ministry of Communications and Information.

Likewise, the cabinet meeting decided to provide Rs 1 million in economic assistance to the family of Jay Shankar Sah of Barhathawa Municipality-6 in Sarlahi district, who was killed in a police firing following a demonstration over the upgradation of primary health centre to the province hospital.

Likewise, the meeting approved the visit of Finance Minister and Finance Secretary to the United States of America to take part in the Second Meeting of the International Development Association (IDA) and at a meeting on Upper Arun Hydropower Project to take place in Washington DC from March 14 to March 22.

Similarly, the Council of Ministers approved the visit of Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari to Russia to monitor the presidential election there scheduled for March 17 and attend the 'Electoral Sovereignty and International Standard Conference' being held on March 15 and 16.

Minister Sharma said that an approval has been given to the Foreign Secretary-led Nepali delegation to take part in the Asia Economic Dialogue 2024 to be held on February 28 and 29 at Pune of India and hold bilateral meeting with Indian External Secretary.

The cabinet meeting also approved the visit of Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Sarat Singh Bhandari-led Nepali delegation to take part in the Career Fair to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 2.

Likewise, the Council of Ministers approved the UK visit of Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City Renu Dahal from March 3 to March 12 to receive the Political and Public Life Award.

According to Minister Sharma, who is also the government spokesperson, the cabinet meeting also approved the US visit of Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chiribabu Maharjan to take part in the 21st Annual Transforming Transportation Conference to be held on March 19 and 20 in Washington DC.

Furthermore, the cabinet meeting appointed Dr Satis Kumar Dev as the Registrar of Nepal Medical Council and extended the timeline of High-Level Probe Commission on Gold Smuggling till March 13.