The government has decided to allocate Rs 4.43 billion for the Pokhara Water Supply Improvement Project for an early implementation.

A Cabinet meeting on Thursday also approved Rs 2.12 billion assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) and the overall education. 

Government Spokesman and Minister for Information and Communications Surendra Kumar Karki said the Cabinet meeting also decided to allocate Rs611.8 million for the repair of the Upper Trishuli III ‘A’ Hydroelectricity Project’s dam site which was damaged by the Gorkha Earthquake last year. 

The meeting also approved a proposal to include chemical engineering and polymer science, bio-medical engineering and bio-technology, among others under the engineering service and to maintain the sound and light level at workplace for workers and labourers on par with the international standards. 

Among other decisions, the government decided to appoint journalists Nabal Kishor Yadav and Sangeeta Khadka as members on the Press Council Nepal Board of Directors, promote Lieutenant Colonel of the Nepal Army Rabindra KC to Colonel.

It also decided to provide 50 percent allowances to the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) engineers working in the district headquarters and 75 percent to those working in remote areas. 

The government spokesman said that the Cabinet meeting also decided to pay $63,400 to the ITU in fines on dues for using its satellite. 

He also stated that the government is running the campaign ‘Nepali Satellite in Nepal’s Sky, Nepali Flag in Nepali Land’.

During the meeting, Minister for Urban Development Arjun Narsingh KC proposed a public holiday on Push 27, with support from fellow NC ministers. The day that marks the birth anniversary of king Prithivi Narayan Shah used to be celebrated as National Unity Day until the country was declared a republic in 2008.