January 4: The Government has set the minimum retail price of sugarcane at Rs 536.56 per quintal for the fiscal year 2018/19.

Sharing the decision taken by the cabinet on December 28 and 31, government spokesperson Gokul Banskota said on Thursday that the government has also decided to give a grant of Rs 65.28 per quintal to the sugarcane farmers. Hence, the sugar industries need to pay the sugarcane farmers Rs 471 per quintal, according to a news report published by Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS).

According to Spokesperson Banskota, the government has decided to upgrade five hospitals including the Koshi Zonal Hospital in Biratnagar, Narayani Sub-regional Hospital in Birgunj, Bharatpur Hospital in Chitwan, Bheri Zonal Hospital in Nepalgunj and Dadeldhura Sub-regional Hospital in Dadeldhura.

Spokesperson Banskota, who is also the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, shared that the government has directed Nepal Telecom to operate the 4G project within 12 months. Likewise, 5G service will also be piloted in Biratnagar, Kathmandu, Nepalgunj and Pokhara.