Province No. 1

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Province No. 1

प्रदेश नं० १
Province
Mount Everest as seen from Drukair2 PLW edit.jpg
Kanchenjunga Shines as it gets first sunrays (By Saroj Pandey).jpg
Gokyo Lakes 01.jpg
Stupa at Namche Bazaar.jpg
Repuk Makalu Barun Valley Nepal.jpg
Tea Estate near Ilam Bazar, Ilam. (By Saroj Pandey).jpg
Halesi Mahadev Temple.jpg
Tengboche monastery II.JPG
Location of Province No. 1 in Nepal
Location of Province No. 1 in Nepal
Province No. 1
Coordinates: 26°27′15″N 87°16′47″E / 26.45417°N 87.27972°E / 26.45417; 87.27972Coordinates: 26°27′15″N 87°16′47″E / 26.45417°N 87.27972°E / 26.45417; 87.27972
Country   Nepal
Formation20 September 2015
Capital cityBiratnagar [1]
Largest cityBiratnagar
Districts14
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Province No.1
 • GovernorSomnath Adhikari Pyasi
 • Chief MinisterSher Dhan Rai (NCP)
 • High CourtBiratnagar High Court
 • Provincial AssemblyUnicameral (93 seats)
 • Parliamentary constituency28
Area
 • Total25,905 km2 (10,002 sq mi)
Area rank2nd
Highest elevation
8,848 m (29,029 ft)
Lowest elevation
70 m (230 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total4,534,943
 • Rank3rd
 • Density180/km2 (450/sq mi)
 • Density rank4th
Demonym(s)Purbeli but Nepali
Time zoneUTC+5:45 (NPT)
GeocodeNP-ON
Main Official LanguageNepali (43.07%)
Other Official Language(s)1. Maithili (11.1%)
2. Limbu (7.3%)
HDI0.553 (medium)
Literacy73.68%
Sex ratio91.48 ♂ /100 ♀ (2011)
Websitep1.gov.np

Province No. 1 (proposed names: Koshi or Purbanchal)[2] is one of the seven provinces established by the new constitution of Nepal which was adopted on 20 September 2015.[2]

As per a CDC (Constituency Delimitation Commission) report, Province No. 1 has 28 parliamentary seats and 56 provincial seats under the first-past-the-post voting system.[3] As per a 17 January 2018 cabinet meeting, the city of Biratnagar was declared the interim capital of Province No. 1. It was declared as the permanent capital of Province No. 1 on 6 May 2019 when two-third of MLAs voted in favour of Biratnagar in provincial assembly of Province No. 1.[1] It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal to the east, Province No. 3 and Province No. 2 to the west, and Bihar of India to the south.[4][5][6]

According to the 2011 census, there are around 4.5 million people in the province, with a population density of 175.6 per square kilometer.[7]

Geography[edit]

Main article: Geography of Province No. 1
Topography of Province No. 1

Province No. 1 covers an area of 25,905 km2.[7] The Province has three-fold geographical division: Himalayan in the north, Hilly in the middle and Terai in the southern part of Nepal, varying between an altitude of 70 m and 8,848 m. Terai, extended from east to west, is made up of alluvial soil. To the west of Koshi River, in between Mahabharat Range and Churia Range, there elongates a valley called Inner Terai. Churai Range, Mahabharat Range and other hills of various height, basins, tars and valleys form the hilly region. Some parts of this region are favorable for agriculture but some other parts are not. Himalayan region, in the north, consists of many mountains ranges. Mahalangur, Kumbhakarna, Umvek, Lumba Sumba and Janak being some of them. The highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest (8848 m); and the third highest mountain, Kangchenjunga (8598 m) also lie in this Province.

Nepal's lowest point, Kechana Kawal at 70 m, is located in Jhapa district of this Province. There are many river basins and gentle slopes as well. Chure, Mahabharat, many basins, tars and valleys form the Terai region. Between the Churia and Mahabharat a low land of inner Terai exists. The Koshi river flows through the region with its seven tributaries; Indrawati, Likhu, Tamur, Dudh Kosi, Arun, Tamakoshi and Bhote Koshi (Sunkoshi). Tundra vegetables, coniferous forest, deciduous monsoon forests and sub-tropical evergreen woods are vegetations found here. Sub-tropical, temperate, sub-temperate, and alpine and tundra types of climates are found here.

Province No. 1 also includes the snow fall capped peaks including Mt. Everest, Kangchenjunga, Makalu with Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha, and Taplejung districts towards the north, the jungle clad hill tracts of Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Bhojpur, Tehrathum, Ilam and Panchthar in the middle and the alluvial fertile plains of Udayapur, Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa. Province 1 includes places like Haleshi Mahadev Temple, Pathivara Temple and Barahachhetra, which are the famous religious shrines for Hindus.

Climate[edit]

Climatic conditions of Nepal vary from one place to another in accordance with their geographical features. Province no. 1 has three geographical folds: The low-land of Terai, the hilly region and the highlands of the Himalayas. The low land altitude is 59 m. Whereas the highest point is 8848 m.

In the north summers are cool and winters severe, while in the south summers are tropical and winters are mild. Climatically, the southern belt of Province, the Terai, experiences warm and humid climate. Eastern Nepal receives approximately 2,500 millimeters of rain annually. Province no. 1 has five seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter.

Average temperatures and precipitation for selected communities in Province No. 1[8]
Location August

(°F)

August

(°C)

January

(°F)

January

(°C)

Annual

Precipitation (mm/in)

Damak 94 / 82 34 / 28 74 / 47 23 / 8 2618 /103.07
Dharan 85.1/72.3 29.5/22.4 68.4/44.4 20.2/6.9 1416/55.7
Biratnagar 83.1 28.4 60.8 16 1549.8/61
Bhadrapur 82.2 27.9 61.2 16.2 2351.9/92.6
Dhankuta 76.5 24.7 54.5 12.5 1809.5/71.2
Khandbari 74.8 23.8 52 11.1 2040.7/80.3
Ilam 71.8 22.1 50.9 10.5 2551.5/100.5
Bhojpur 69.1 20.6 46.8 8.2 2290.4/90.2
Khumbu Pasang Lhamu 56.1/38.3 13.4/3.5 33.8/-0.8 1/-18.2 645/25.4

Mountains[edit]

Everest and Lhotse from the south. In the foreground are Thamserku, Kantega, and Ama Dablam
South-west (Yalung) face of Kangchenjunga seen from Nepal

Northern part of Province No. 1 has the highest mountain of the world. Here is a list of mountains in Province No. 1.

Mountain/Peak metres feet Section Notes
Mount Everest 8,848 29,029 Khumbu Mahalangur   Earth's highest from sea level
Kanchenjunga 8,586 28,169 Northern Kangchenjunga   3rd highest on Earth
Lhotse 8,516 27,940 Everest Group   4th highest
Makalu 8,463 27,766 Makalu Mahalangur   5th highest
Cho Oyu 8,201 26,906 Khumbu Mahalangur   6th highest
Gyachung Kang 7,952 26,089 Khumbu Mahalangur   between Everest and Cho Oyu
Nuptse 7,861 25,791 Everest Group   319 metres prominence from Lhotse
Jannu 7,711 25,299 Kumbhakarna Kangchenjunga  
Kabru 7,412 24,318 Singalila Kangchenjunga  
Kirat Chuli 7,365 24,163 Kangchenjunga  
Nangpai Gosum 7,350 24,114 Khumbu Mahalangur  
Chamlang 7,321 24,019 Barun Mahalangur   #79 in the world
Pumori 7,161 23,494 Khumbu Mahalangur   First ascent 1962
Baruntse 7,129 23,389 Barun Mahalangur   First ascent 1954
Ama Dablam 6,812 22,349 Barun Mahalangur   "Mother and her necklace"
Kangtega 6,782 22,251 Barun Mahalangur   First ascent 1963
Cho Polu 6,735 22,096 Barun Mahalangur   First ascent 1999
Lingtren 6,714 22,028 Khumbu Mahalangur   First ascent 1935
Num Ri 6,677 21,906 Barun Mahalangur   First ascent 2002
Khumbutse 6,640 21,785 Khumbu Mahalangur   First mountain west of Everest
Thamserku 6,623 21,729 Barun Mahalangur   First ascent 1964
Pangboche 6,620 21,719 Kutang Himal  
Taboche 6,542 21,463 Khumbu Mahalangur   First ascent 1974
Mera Peak 6,476 21,247 Himalayas   Trekking peak
Cholatse 6,440 21,129 Khumbu Mahalangur   Connected to Taboche
Kusum Kangguru 6,367 20,889 Barun Mahalangur   Trekking peak (difficult)
Ombigaichan 6,340 20,801 Barun Mahalangur  
Kongde Ri 6,187 20,299 Barun Mahalangur   Trekking peak (difficult)
Imja Tse 6,160 20,210 Khumbu Mahalangur   Also known as Island Peak. Popular trekking peak.
Lobuche 6,145 20,161 Khumbu Mahalangur   Trekking peak
Nirekha 6,069 19,911 Khumbu Mahalangur   Trekking peak (difficult)
Pokalde 5,806 19,049 Khumbu Mahalangur   Trekking peak (moderate)
Mount Khumbila 5,761 18,901 Mahalangur   Unclimbed
Kala Patthar 5,545 18,192 Khumbu Mah   Popular hiking peak below Pumori
Gokyo Ri 5,357 17,575 Himalayas   Popular hiking peak
South Side: View from Mera Peak

Rivers[edit]

There are many rivers in the region which flow towards south from the Himalayas which are tributaries of other large rivers which joins Ganga River (in India). Sapt Koshi or the Koshi is the main river of the region. Seven tributaries join the Koshi so it called Saptkoshi.

The major rivers in the province are:

Protected Areas[edit]

Subdivisions[edit]

There are total 137 local administrative units in this province, in which there is 1 metropolitan city, 2 sub-metropolitan cities, 46 municipalities and 88 rural municipalities.

Districts[edit]

The province is made up of the 14 following districts:

Municipality[edit]

Province No. 1 (Province No. 1)

Cities and villages are governed by municipalities in Nepal. A district may have one or more municipalities. Province No. 1 has two types of municipalities.

  1. Urban Municipality (Urban Municipality has three levels):
    1. Metropolitan city
    2. Sub-metropolitan city and
    3. Municipality
  2. Rural Municipality (Gaunpalika)

The government of Nepal has set out a minimum criteria to meet city and towns. These criteria include a certain population, infrastructure and revenues.

 
Largest cities or towns in Province No. 1
Central Bureau of Statistics [1]
Rank District Pop. Rank District Pop.
Biratnagar
Biratnagar
Itahari
Itahari 		1 Biratnagar Morang 214,663 11 Bhadrapur Jhapa 65,543 Dharan
Dharan
Mechinagar
Mechinagar
2 Itahari Sunsari 140,517 12 Shivasataxi Jhapa 64,596
3 Dharan Sunsari 137,705 13 Inaruwa Sunsari 63,593
4 Mechinagar Jhapa 111,797 14 Pathari Sanischare Morang 62,440
5 Triyuga Udayapur 87,557 15 Arjundhara Jhapa 60,204
6 Birtamod Jhapa 81,878 16 Suryodaya Ilam 56,691
7 Sundar Haraincha Morang 80,518 17 Duhabi Sunsari 56,269
8 Barahachhetra Sunsari 77,408 18 Katari Udayapur 56,146
9 Damak Jhapa 75,102 19 Ratuwamai Morang 55,380
10 Belbari Morang 65,892 20 Urlabari Morang 54,696

Religion in Province No. 1

  Hinduism (66.63%)
  Kirat Mundhum (17.14%)
  Buddhism (9.20%)
  Islam (3.59%)
  Christianity (1.72%)
  Prakṛti (1.33%)
  Other or not religious (0.39%)

Administration[edit]

Further information: Administration in Province No. 1

The first provincial assembly elections in Nepal were held on 26 November and 7 December 2017.

After the results of the recent election in Province No. 1 the biggest party is CPN (UML) which wins 51 seats out of 93 seats and second biggest party is Nepali Congress which wins 21 seats and third biggest party is CPN (Maoist Center) which wins 15 seats in first Provincial Assembly election.[9]

There are 56 FPTP and 37 PR seats in the province.

In a meeting on 17 January 2018 government of Nepal finalized the temporary capital of Province No. 1, the meeting also appointed Govinda Subba as the Governor.[10]

Sher Dhan Rai was elected as Chief Minister of Province No. 1 on February 14, 2018.[11] He was a former Minister for Information and Communications. He was appointed as the chief minister, according to Article 168 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal.[11]

Provincial Assembly[edit]

Further information: Province No. 1 Legislative Assembly

The first meeting of the provincial assembly was held on 5 February 2018 in Biratnagar and was chaired by Om Prakash Sarbagi.[12] Pradeep Kumar Bhandari was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly on 11 February 2018.[13] Saraswoti Pokharel was also elected unopposed to the post of Deputy Speaker on 15 February 2018.[14]

Province 1 Assembly 2018.svg
Party FPTP PR Total
NCP 46 20 66
Nepali Congress 8 13 21
Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal 1 2 3
Rastriya Prajatantra Party 0 1 1
Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch 0 1 1
Independent 1 - 1
Total 56 37 93
Source: Election Commission of Nepal

Cabinet[edit]

Portfolio Name Party
Chief Minister Sher Dhan Rai[15] NCP
Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Hikmat Karki[15] NCP
Minister for Social Development Jivan Ghimire[15] NCP
Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Jagadish Kusiyat[15] NCP
Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Indra Bahadur Aangbo[15] NCP

Transportation[edit]

All provinces of Nepal except Province No. 2 have difficult geographic features. Only three districts out of fourteen of Province No. 1 falls in terai and one district falls in inner terai. Other all districts have difficult features, so road networks are not well developed. There is no train facility. Air services are available.

Roadways[edit]

Mechi Highway in Kanyam, Ilam

Almost all districts are connected by roads in Province No. 1, although some roads in high altitudes are not paved and conditions of the road worsen during rainy season. In the hills and mountains, the traffic can be very slow due to the difficult terrain and poor road conditions.

Main Highways of Province No. 1 which connects Terai to the high attitude regions.

  1. Mechi Highway: 2 lanes highway which is 268 km long connects Jhapa to Taplejung. The main destinations along the highway include Prithivinagar, Bhadrapur, Duhagadhi, Budhabare, Kanyam, and Phikkal.
  2. Koshi Highway: 2 lanes of road and 159 km long, starts from Biratnagar and connects Myanglung with it. Itahari, Dharan, Dhankuta, Bhedetar, Hile etc. are the destinations along with highway.
  3. Sagarmatha Highway: 2 lanes, 265 km long highway starts from Kadmaha of Province No. 2 and connects Solukhumbu with it. Gaighat, Saune etc. are the destinations along with highway.
  4. Mahendra Highway The longest road of nepal which begins in province no 1

Airways[edit]

Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla

Many domestic airports and air services are available in the region.

Airports in Provinc No. 1:

  1. Bhojpur Airport (Bhojpur)
  2. Biratnagar Airport (Biratnagar)
  3. Kangel Danda Airport (Kangel, Solukhumbu)
  4. Man Maya Airport (Khanidanda, Khotang)
  5. Thamkharka Airport (Khotang Bazar)
  6. Lamidanda Airport (Lamidanda, Khotang)
  7. Tenzing-Hillary Airport (Lukla, Solukhumbu)
  8. Phaplu Airport (Phaplu, Solukhumbu)
  9. Rumjatar Airport (Rumjatar, Okhladhunga)
  10. Syangboche Airport (Syangboche, Solukhumbu)
  11. Taplejung Airport (Taplejung)
  12. Tumlingtar Airport (Tumlingtar, Sankhuwasabha)
  13. Bhadrapur Airport (Bhadrapur, Jhapa)
  14. Dharan Airport (Dharan, Sunsari) (proposed)[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "प्रदेश १ राजधानी : विराटनगरको पक्षमा दुईतिहाई, नाम टुंगो लागेन" [Province No. 1 Capital: Two third of MLA voated in faviour of Biratnagar]. annapurnapost.com (in Nepali). Annapurna Post. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Nepal Provinces". statoids.com. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  3. ^ "EDITORIAL: Important step". The Himalayan Times. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Biratnagar celebrates its status of provincial capital". thehimalayantimes.com. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Locals intensify protest in Dhankuta after Biratnagar named as provincial HQ". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Nepal government announces Provincial Capitals and Chiefs". ddinews.gov.in. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Province 1: Call for opportunities in land of great promise". Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Nepal Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  9. ^ "Province No. 1". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Government finalises provinces' governors and temporary headquarters". nepalekhabar.com. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Sherdhan Rai elected CM of Province 1". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  12. ^ "First Province Assembly meeting of Province 1 today". Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  13. ^ "Pradeep Bhandari named Province 1 speaker". Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  14. ^ "Province 1 endorses Saraswoti Pokhrel's candidacy for deputy speaker". Kathmandu Tribune. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Rai sworn in as Province 1 chief minister". The Himalayan Times. 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  16. ^ "Feasibility report of larger Dharan Airport ready". Nagrik News. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
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