KATHMANDU: The Parliamentary Development Committee on Thursday directed the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) to complete the ongoing road expansion project at the earliest. The committee has also directed the Ministry of Urban Development to coordinate with the authority in the process. Sluggish pace of the work has created problem in traffic management and caused pollution in the valley, the committee said, urging the KVDA to speed up the road expansion project. So far, only 55 percent of the road expansion task has been completed. (PR)

360 people penalised for littering

LALITPUR: Lalitpur Sub- metropolitan City has penalised 360 people for disposing of garbage in non-designated areas in three months. They were fined between Rs 500 and Rs 50,000, the metropolis spokesman, Rudra Gautam, said. We will continue the ongoing campaign against littering in the coming days as well, he added.  The Solid Waste Management Act 2011 states that, people throwing garbage in non-designated areas and public places could face a fine up to Rs 100,000 and three months 

imprisonment. (PR)

Chand’s activists detained, freed

BUTWAL: Police briefly detained 21 activists of the Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist from Butwal for trying to enforce a vehicular strike on Thursday. Police said the party activists were held as they started to obstruct the traffic. They were freed a few hours later. (PR)

Wild elephants plunder village

MAHOTTARI: A herd of wild elephants have been wreaking destruction at Rajbas village in Bardibash VDC-6, Mahottari. Local Dev Kumar Shrestha said the wild elephants from Chure forest have knocked down three homes, damaged local drinking water pipelines and plundered crops since Tuesday. The villagers are staying awake at night to protect their homes and farms. Police have failed to drive away the elephants. (PR)

Fire destroys 22 shops

POKHARA: A fire destroyed 22 shops in Hong Kong Bazaar in Pokhara on Wednesday night. The fire also damaged eight other shops, said police. Properties worth nearly Rs 35 million were destroyed. (PR)