There was negative growth in the last quarter of 2019-20 and first quarter of 2020-21. In the final analysis year-on-year growth in the last fiscal year was -1.99 percent.

Different agencies have different quarantine rules. The beleaguered tourism industry worries the season may be over before the government gets its act together.

The diversion tunnel will redirect part of the flow of the Sunkoshi River to irrigate farmlands in the Tarai.

Supplies won’t be affected as shipments are already on their way, officials say. Annual demand for chemical fertilisers is 700,000 tonnes but imports are just around 300,000 tonnes.

Travel trade organisations warn of street protests if officials fail to take immediate measures to revive tourism sector which was hit the hardest by Covid-19 last year.

The government has been placing barriers in the name of opening the country to tourists, insiders say.

Stalled installation of communication, navigation and surveillance, air traffic management and meteorological equipment will now resume, officials say.

Crucial bills to split the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, a key to the reform of the sector, are in limbo. The audit was originally scheduled for 2019 but was continuously deferred.

Their high-altitude guide has been fined Rs10,000 for making a false report but the liaison officer, a bureaucrat, is left off with a reprimand.

The cut back is based on slowed economic activities and consequent plunge in revenues due to Covid-19.

The deal will ensure regular supply of plant nourishers which often runs short during critical times, officials say.

Without the two laws, Nepal will remain on the European Union blacklist, officials say.

The use of technology is aimed at preventing fake summit claims and stopping liaison officers from pocketing money from climbers while staying home.

The $3.45 billion airport project in Bara, planned to be funded with Nepal’s own resources, has been stuck in the planning stage for decades.

The move is intended to boost the morale of the moribund tourism industry ahead of the spring peak season.