Two safes that were not opened on June 27 were opened on July 8 after keeping them under the protection of Nepal Army posted at the Basantapur Durbar Square for 11 days. Two “mysterious” safes were opened only after a committee formed under the Ministry of Culture (MoC) decided to unbolt them.
Three safes and a tank were found on June 27 during the renovation at Gaddi Baithak (kings’ living room) of the Hanuman Dhoka palace. One safe and a tank have been already opened on the same day.
The treasures found are gold jewellery used on antique idols of deities and sacred plates used while worshipping, five pairs of bows and arrows made of silver, eight gold masks of several Hindu gods and goddesses and wires and threads made of gold, bowls and glasses of silver and gold.
The team of representatives from the Department of Archaeology (DoA), the MoC, the Hanumandhoka Herchaha Adda, District Administration Office Kathmandu and people of Basantapur were present while opening.
The decision of giving this treasure’s ownership to which authority has not been made yet by the committee led by DoA Director General Bishnu Raj Karki. Karki said. “Until any decision is made, the property will be kept at the palace under the army’s security.”
The Guthi Sansthan, a government body that looks after all national religious affairs, has been claiming ownership of the treasure on the ground that the property is related to religion.

The Government of Nepal is receiving US$ 75 million (approximately Rs 5.36 billion) for the implementation of two projects – the Enhanced Vocational Education and Training Project and the Urban Governance and Development Program: Emerging Towns Project.

Thursday, the World Bank (WB) has agreed to grant and loan assistance of such huge amount. Finance Secretary, Krishna Hari Baskota and World Bank Country Director for Nepal, Susan G Goldmark, signed two separate financing agreements at the Ministry of Finance, Kathmandu.

• A total of 50 million US Dollars (20.25 million Dollars in grant and 29.75 million Dollars in loan) for the Enhanced Vocational Education and Training Project and

• A total of US dollars 25 million (11.25 million US Dollars in grant and 13.75 million US dollars in loan) for the Urban Governance and Development Programme.

According to WB, loan carries a 0.75% service charge, a 10 year grace period and a maturity of 40 years.

The statement of WB reads the Enhanced Vocational Education and Training (EVENT) project will help improve access to Technical Education and Vocational Training (TEVT) programmes for disadvantaged youth.

About 75,000 Nepali youth are expected to benefited this project and will have access to short-term skills training, technical education, and opportunities for certifying their existing skills, paying special attention to lagging regions, poor youth, women, and youth belonging to Dalit, Janajati and other marginalized communities, as well as persons with disability. This project will remain until October 2015.

Similarly, the Urban Governance and Development Program: Emerging Towns Project is expected to improve delivery and sustainable provisions of basic services and priority infrastructure in six municipalities- Dhankuta, Mechinagar, Itahari, Lekhnath, Baglung and Tansen. WB further added, the project will also support three key central agencies – the Ministry of Local Development, the Town Development Fund and the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction. Additional municipalities may be added at a later stage with the expansion of the project.