NTA writes to UTL requesting payment of the overdue amount of Rs 7.5 billion within 15 days

In a letter, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has demanded that United Telecom Limited (UTL), a private telecom service provider, pay the overdue balance of around Rs 7.5 billion immediately and within 15 days. The letter that conveyed the directive asked UTL to pay up its debts as soon as possible. The unpaid balance consists of different license renewal-related expenses, including installment payments, frequency charges, royalties, rural communications development funds, fines, etc.

On September 5, 2016, UTL was granted a basic telephone service license. NTA is prepared to cancel UTL’s mobile service license if the outstanding balance is not paid. UTL has already appealed to the Supreme Court the NTA’s decision to levy penalties and charges. On February 6, 2024, the supreme court, however, denied UTL’s writ suit against NTA’s determination to collect the arrears. In its initial Supreme Court case, UTL claimed that the NTA had not extended its license to install optical fibre as part of a project valued at Rs 2 billion. The NTA had difficulties collecting the arrears as a result of this case.

But all of UTL’s petitions were dismissed by a division bench of SC Justices Prakash Man Singh Raut and Abdul Aziz Musalman, who said the corporation didn’t have enough evidence to support its allegations. In spite of its financial struggles, UTL worked with the then-chairman of the NTA, Digambar Jha, to secure the project to lay the optical cable. Due to the contract’s impending termination for non-performance, UTL and Tele Infra Nepal entered into a new purchase agreement. The NTA then made the decision not to renew the project as a result of UTL’s lack of performance, but it was unable to carry out the decision because of the SC case. UTL has not returned the Rs 400 million mobilization amount that was received as an advance payment, notwithstanding the absence of work progress. The NTA has not yet made a decision about the unutilized funds.

Most districts report outbreaks of dengue

The period after monsoon is known as the dengue epidemic season. But even before the monsoon season arrived, the majority of the nation’s districts had already reported outbreaks of the fatal illness. Public health experts have cautioned that a widespread breakout of the possibly fatal virus is expected in the next few days due to the approaching monsoon and the lack of action being taken by the authorities to stop outbreaks. “Not much substantive work is being done other than tally the number of infected people and issuing statements,” public health specialist Dr. Baburam Gautam stated. “The public no longer takes these claims about dengue infection seriously.”

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus female mosquitoes are the carriers of the dengue virus. The World Health Organization claims that the Zika virus, yellow fever, and chikungunya are all spread by the same vectors. Since January of this year, at least 1,105 persons from 69 districts have had the dengue virus, according to data from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Of the 69 districts that have reported dengue outbreaks, 112. cases are the highest in Kathmandu. Chitwan (73), Sindhupalchok (44), Makwanpur (58), Tanahun (39), Doti (30), Okhaldhunga (38), Rupandehi (28), and Bhaktapur (27), were the next districts to register instances, with Jhapa recording 109. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur, the three districts that make up the Valley, reported a total of 157 instances of illnesses during this time.

There have been reports of dengue cases in several mountain districts, including Rasuwa, Kalikot, and Sindhupalchok. Approximately 80% of people infected are asymptomatic, thus documented cases may only represent the tip of the iceberg, according to public health experts. Many dengue patients have moderate symptoms that can be managed at home with paracetamol or do not require medical attention. In the previous year, the virus infected almost 52,000 people and claimed the lives of at least 20 people in all 77 districts. Around 54,000 people nationwide became sick with the virus in 2022, and 88 people lost their lives to it. At that time, the most common medication for treating fever, paracetamol, was running out of pharmacies in the Kathmandu valley, and hospitals were overflowing with dengue patients.

At least six people lost their lives to the illness in 2019, while more than 16,000 were admitted to hospitals nationwide. At that point, the virus had infected 68 districts. Dengue is thought to be most contagious during the post-monsoon season, however Nepal is endemic to the virus due to yearly outbreaks of the fatal illness. According to experts, now is the ideal moment to get ready for and stop any potential outbreaks. They claim that waiting for a significant epidemic would be a grave mistake. Authorities should start a public awareness campaign, increase vector surveillance, and take other actions to lessen the risk.

Officials from the health ministry stated that they had informed all relevant agencies about the possibility of a dengue outbreak. “Many districts have already reported dengue cases, even though there haven’t been any large-scale outbreaks anywhere,” said Gokarna Dahal, the division’s chief of the Vector Control Section. “Every agency that is involved has been informed that an outbreak may occur in the next days.” According to Dahal, we have urged all health agencies to take preventive measures, and authorities and agencies in certain local units have launched campaigns to inform the public about the risks.

According to virologists and epidemiologists, the dengue virus has become a significant public health concern in Nepal. They claim that the authorities do not take the sickness seriously, even though thousands of people have become afflicted and many have died from it. They recommended launching awareness campaigns and search-and-destroy operations to stop the proliferation of virus-spreading vectors. Mosquitoes that spread dengue thrive in clear water and bite humans during the day. These mosquitoes may find refuge in exposed water tanks and abandoned items like plastic bottles and cups. Mild to high temperature, excruciating muscle pain, rashes, excruciating headache, and eye pain are among the symptoms. It is recommended that patients with these symptoms get medical attention very away. Early discovery and appropriate medical care can avoid death from the condition, even though there is no specific cure.