Govt formally opens Chulu West peak for climbing

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Aug. 6:  The government has officially opened the Chulu West Peak, a 6,419-metre mountain located in the Annapurna region of Manang village for mountaineering expeditions. 

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on August 3 took decision to this effect. Chulu peak lies in a part of the Damodar Mountain range which offers views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu ranges. 

Announcing the Cabinet decisions, Minister for Communication and Information Technology and the government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung on Tuesday said that the decision includes approval for the publication of the formal expedition of the Chulu peak in the Nepal Gazette, making the peak accessible to both national and international climbers.

According to Minister Gurung, the Cabinet has made several other major decisions. It endorsed key national policies, including the approval of the National Strategy and Implementation Plan-2025 for Ending Child Marriage, and the National Labour Migration Policy-2025.

In the area of infrastructure and development, the Cabinet approved the formation of a Project Review Panel (PRP) for the Arun III Hydropower Project. This panel will include Dr. Pawan Kumar Shrestha, Dr. Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, and Dr. Ganesh Prasad Neupane, in accordance with the development agreement between the project developer and the Nepal Investment Board. Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Board has been authorised to sign the PRP agreement on behalf of the government, according to the Minister.

Regarding tax exemptions and implementation, the Cabinet approved exemptions on incomes generated from Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)-funded construction and services provided by MCA-Nepal registered firms for the fiscal year 2082/83 B.S., in line with Section 18(1) of the Financial Act-2082. It also authorised the publication of the tax exemption in the Nepal Gazette and ratified the Implementation Letter concerning the MCC funding tax exemption as stipulated in Sub-Clause 3.5 of Article 3 of the 2017 MCC Compact between Nepal and the United States.

In terms of appointments and promotions, the Cabinet finalised the terms of service and benefits for the chairs and members of the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). It also promoted Joint Secretaries Nirmala Adhikari Bhattarai and Indira Dahal Bhattarai to the rank of Secretary, deputing them to the TRC and the Nepal Law Commission, respectively.

For international representation and training, the Cabinet approved the Secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply to participate in the Menté Visit to Spain and Malaysia on Regulatory Reform in Nepal, scheduled from August 26 to 28, 2025. It also authorised Additional Inspector Generals Rajan Adhikari from Nepal Police and Banshiraj Dahal from the Armed Police Force Nepal to attend the UN Senior National Planners Course in Copenhagen, Denmark, from September 22 to October 3, 2025. 

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the participation of State Minister for Forest and Environment, Rupa B.K., in the Ewha International Workshop on Climate-Induced Landslides and Sustainable Recovery in South Korea from August 10 to 11, 2025. The Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is also authorised to attend the 28th UPU Congress in Dubai from September 8 to 14, 2025.

On legal and administrative matters, the Cabinet approved the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (Fifth Amendment) Regulations-2082. 

It issued a directive prohibiting strikes in essential services under Clause 3(1) of the Essential Services Operation Act, 2014, and authorised its publication in the Nepal Gazette. 

Moreover, the Cabinet approved the Exchange Letters for establishing the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Nepal, delegating signing authority to the Foreign Secretary, according to Minister Gurung.

For land use and local infrastructure, the Cabinet granted approval to Chandragiri Municipality in Kathmandu to use three ropanis of government land in the then Thankot Mahadevasthan VDC (Wards 7 and 5) for constructing administrative buildings. It also allowed United Mewa Khola Hydropower Limited to use 3.37 hectares of national forest land in Meringden Rural Municipality-3, Taplejung, for building a 132 kV transmission line. 

Similarly, Jalashakti Hydro Company Ltd. received approval to use 3.632 hectares of national forest land in Rubi Valley Rural Municipality-4, Dhading, for the construction of the Ilep (Tatopani) Khola Hydropower Project.

The Cabinet meeting also appointed Anil Raj Paudel from Chitwan as the Vice-Chairperson of the Youth and Small Entrepreneurs Self-Employment Fund.

Meanwhile, in another context, Minister Gurung clarified that Prime Minister's visit to Turkmenistan and the release of Durga Prasai from prison are completely unrelated matters. He stated that attributing the government's actions to these events would be baseless, as it falls entirely under the jurisdiction and decision of an independent judiciary.

Similarly, he clarified that he has not taken any side in the internal factions or groups within his own CPN-UML party. Regarding former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, he mentioned that she has already held the country’s highest office twice, and since the party's central committee has already deemed her return to active politics inappropriate, there is no need to comment further on the matter.