Kathmandu, Feb 18:  In a meeting of the House of Representatives today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Ishwar Pokhrel presented the 'Nepal Army (First Amendment) Bill, 2076 BS'. The bill proposed to further democratise the NA and establish a separate intelligence department in the NA.    

Presenting the bill, the Minister informed the session the bill would pave the way for further democratizing the NA and systematising it as per the constitution.    

Similarly, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ghanshyam Bhusal, introduced the 'Animal Health and Livestock Services Council Bill, 2076 BS' which aims to make animal health services more effective.    

The 'Media Council Bill, 2075 BS' and a bill relating to Palermo Protocols under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime were tabled in the meeting. Similarly, Public Account Committee president Bharat Kumar Shah presented the committee annual report for the year 2076 BS.    

The meeting endorsed a condolence motion on the demise of former lawmaker Bhagawat Gyawali who had been elected in the 2048 BS parliamentary election from the Gulmi 2, representing the Nepali Congress. He, also the first district president of NC, Gulmi passed away today in course of treatment for ulcer at the Lalitpur-based Alka Hospital today. He was 75. The House of Representatives shall meet again at 1:00 pm of February 20.    

Lawmakers ask Energy Minister about plans to replace wooden poles   

Meanwhile, the lawmakers have asked Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun about the plans that the ministry of energy has unveiled for complete electrification, modernization of the transmission system and other related issues.    

In today's question and answer session with the minister, the lawmakers put forth their questions while Minister Pun responded to them saying that the government is planning to replace all 300,000 wooden poles used for transmitting power. As per the scheme to replace all those wooden poles, 30,000 poles have been replaced in this year alone.    

Remaining other wooden poles would be replaced with the coordination of the state governments, Pun made it clear.    

Minister Pun was of the view that the process to make the electric wires underground in the town has already started while adding that 88 percent households have been electrified and the rate will reach 100 percent in coming two years.    

Lawmakers Khagaraj Adhikari, Pushpa Bhusal, Mahesh Basnet, Sarita Giri, Rangamati Shahi, Prem Suwal, Dila Sangraula (Panta) and others had thrown their questions at the House meeting.    

The other questions raised by the lawmakers were about the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, FDI in Budhi Gandaki Project, development of West Seti Project and others.    

On different note, Minister Pun sad that the government has targeted to ensure irrigation facility in 90 per cent arable land in the 15th periodic plan.