By Our Reporter New land management commission in the offing Government plans to constitute another commission to distribute land in the name of squatters. Photo: Internet The government has said that it was committed to resolving the problems of the landless people. While furnishing queries of lawmakers in the parliament, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khandwhile addressing a meeting in parliament hinted at the formation of a new land commission. The government drew criticism from the CPN-UML for scraping the land commission led by Devi Gyawali. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) issued a provisional interim order directing the government not to implement its decision to dissolve the Land-related Problem Resolution Commission. In response to writ petitions filed by Devi Gyawali, Chairman of the Commission, and Prabesh KC, a single-bench of Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada on Monday stayed the government's move to scrap the Commission. "Considering the sensitivity of the decision, it is essential to discuss with both the parties before determining whether interim order should be issued or not," read the SC's order. The Top Court also ordered the parties to be present on August 17 for discussion and maintain the status quo of the Commission without any change in the records. The new government had decided to scrap the Commission on Tuesday, August 3. The land commission was formed by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led government on March 22, 2020. Nepal welcomes another wave of Covid-19 keeping its border opened At a time when the health experts have warned of the beginning of the third wave of COVID-19 in Nepal, the government seems to be least bothered about taking preventive measures. While the southern border has remained open and thousands of Nepali workers are returning home without following any health protocol, the continuity of the public transportation services within the country has only increased the further risk of the new wave of the pandemic. The country time and again witnessed lockdown for months. Presently too, lockdowns are on in different districts but due to the cross border movement of the people, such lockdowns could not control the transmission of the pandemic. The government that halted the grade 12 exams has not taken any measure to control the crowd in Kathmandu and other cities. As a result, daily cases surged to nearly 5,000 on Tuesday. The crowded marketplaces, overcrowded buses and microbuses in Kathmandu could serve as breeding grounds for the third wave of COVID-19. Meanwhile, almost five months after they received the first jab of Covishield, senior citizens of five of the seven provinces are now getting the second jab. But it is not Covishield but AstraZeveca provided by Japan. It is also reported that the vaccines provided by Japan are expiring in the next two weeks, and the government is planning to administer that before their date expires. Administering the second dose of vaccine for citizens aged above 65 years with the AstraZeneca vaccine has started from Monday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), initially, the campaign will be conducted at vaccination sites in Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces followed by Provinces 1 and 2. Earlier, the elderlies were inoculated with the Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India over March 7-23. Upendra Yadav captures JSP-N Upendra Yadav has now become the sole chairman of the JanataSamajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N). The Election Commission (EC) Monday updated the details of the new executive committee of the party, registering it as having 35 members and Yadav as the sole chair. Earlier, the executive committee had 51 members and Mahantha Thakur was the co-chair of the party. With this, Thakur has been officially relieved of his position in the party. Yadav and Thakur’s faction had fallen out after the latter’s decision to join the KP Sharma Oli-led government. Meanwhile, JSP-N party leader Manish Suman said that the 16 members of the party’s executive members were not ousted but they quitted the party on the very day they denied to stand in favour of the official party during the identification of the party by the Election Commission on July 26. He said that a meeting of the executive committee of the party held on July 26, 27 and 28 decided to have only the 35 members, who signed for the official party, in the committee. He however said that the ousted central members would not be expelled from their position as lawmakers. Meanwhile, Mahnatha Thakur and Rajendra Mahato have been visiting districts to meet the party activists and take a decision regarding the future of their political careers. Maybe by the time of the next elections, they will form a new party. If they form a new party now, they will lose their position as lawmakers, hence they are in a difficult position. Ambassador Berry meets Minister Bhusal, discusses MCC US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry has started lobbying for the endorsement of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. In this course, he paid a courtesy call to Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal on Monday. His meeting with Minister Bhusal, who is also a Maoist leader is looked like an attempt to convince the Maoists on MCC as the Maoists have been opposing some provisions of the MCC. During the meeting at the Ministry, they discussed the issues of mutual interest. On the occasion, Ambassador Berry said that the United States has been active in human resource development and multilateral cooperation, Ambassador Berry said that the US government was willing to cooperate in the issue of climate change. Ambassador Berry said the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project was important for energy development in Nepal and called for initiatives to move it forward. Stating that the MCC is not a new programme and they are ready to clarify further on the issue, Berry said, "We are ready to clarify anything about MCC, its purpose is to transfer skills and knowledge." In response, Minister Bhusal thanked the US Government and people for their support during Nepal's development and disaster relief efforts. Minister Bhusal thanked the US government for providing the vaccines against COVID-19 pandemic. On the Ambassador's request for MCC, Minister Bhusal said that Nepal would accept assistance in the interest of the people and the nation. She said, "The MCC will be decided by the party, the government and the parliament. The issue will be discussed at an appropriate time."