Safe disposal of COVID-19 related waste challenging

With the surge of COVID-19 cases across the nation, waste management and sanitation at the healthcare institutions have become a new challenge to the government. The hospitals, quarantine centres, healthcare facilities and individuals are producing more waste, including masks, gloves, gowns and other protective personal equipment. In order to contain the transmission of the virus, safety management and safe disposal of such wastes are vital.

Cremation of virus victims emerging as a big challenge

With the escalating COVID-19 pandemic in the recent days in Nepal, death toll from the coronavirus is also increasing gradually. The infection rate is going higher day by day with the detection of over 400 new cases every other day. Nepal continues to witness resurgence in the number of cases of COVID-19 over the recent days, including increasing trend of infection in the capital.

Teenage girl volunteers to cremate unclaimed bodies at Aryaghat

Sapana Roka Magar, an 18-year-old girl, is found visiting mortuaries of the Kathmandu Valley hospitals inquiring about the unidentified bodies and volunteering to perform their last rites at the Pashupati Aryaghat as per the Hindu tradition. A teenage girl, she should be enjoying her days in college, but she is found cremating unidentified bodies accumulated in mortuaries of hospitals.

Questionable construction mars Swyambhu Stupa’s majesty

The extensive urbanization and haphazard development are posing a threat to the traditional urban houses of World Heritage Sites of the Kathmandu Valley. The new concrete buildings are often taller than the historic counterparts. The construction of new urban infrastructure has not only affected most of the monument zones, it has also reduced their aesthetic value with the haphazard construction of multi-storey buildings in their surroundings.

Pashupati master plan draws flak

The fourth phase master plan of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has become a subject of controversy. Various stakeholders, cultural experts and locals have criticised the PADT’s plan and programme stating it was brought without any consultation and discussion with them and the plan was brought destroying the antiquity of Pashupatinath, the holiest site of the nation.

NRA faces flak for attempts to fill Ranipokhari with underground water

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has drawn widespread criticism over its plan to replenish the water in Ranipokhari from deep boring. Heritage conservationists have criticized the concept of deep boring to refill the water in this historic pond citing that the extraction of water from deep aquifers well will deplete the underground reservoirs and affect water cycles for a long time.

Nyatapole renovation completes in less budget

When renovation and reconstruction of several cultural heritages and monuments of the nation have been moving by hiring contractors through tender process and foreign aid, Bhaktapur municipality has completed reconstruction of around 100 small and big heritages and monuments in volunteer support of locals and donation. The reconstruction completed spending less than the estimated budget and without receiving any foreign aid.

KMC, campaigners team up to revive stone spouts in capital

The stone spouts or dhunge dhara, which are called hiti in Newari, were major sources of water in the Kathmandu Valley in the past. But over time most of them have either vanished or are in miserable condition, while others have dried up. Safely managed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are an essential part for preventing the spread of COVID-19. But many Kathmanduites face shortage of water even to wash hands frequently.

Govt decision big relief for National Archives, Archaeology Dept.

The issue of relocating the offices of the National Archives (NA) and Department of Archeology (DoA) from their present location at Ram Shah Path has now been resolved after a Cabinet meeting on June 16 decided not to shift them from the present location.

Monkeys go berserk in Patan Durbar Square, assault men

For about a year now, monkeys have been posing a threat to Patan Durbar Square of Lalitpur. Monkeys rampage across the square, damaging the monuments and throwing bricks at the people passing by, increasing the risk of injury.