KATHMANDU, Jan 24: After the government six days ago declared several towns as capitals of the provinces, land prices in those capitals have skyrocketed within a short period of time. Surkhet, Dhangadhi and Janakpur among other towns have seen up to four-fold rise in the prices of land.

BHAIRAHAWA, July 16: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the country's monopoly dealing in petroleum trade, has been found to be indulged in financial irregularities worth multi-billion rupees while procuring land plots across the country.