The Punakha Dzong will be completely re-electrified within the next four months. Initiated by Her Majesty the Royal Grand Mother Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck, the project commenced yesterday. The department of culture is executing the work with a group of Swiss experts and Bhutanese technicians.
The Gyalyum’s initiative is to fulfil His Majesty The Druk Gyalpo and His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s wishes to protect all dzongs and Lhakhang in the country and Her Majesty’s own wishes to protect heritage sites with safe electrical systems.
A technical team with six experts from the Swiss Theatre Lighting Company will lead the project along with more than 25 trainees of the Khuruthang Technical Training Institute.
Twenty other electricians of whom half are Desuups are also involved in the re-electrification work.
“With time, things get old and are gradually damaged. The dzong is big with tall structures and we always worry about electrical failures or mishaps in between. Of course, we did not face any such problem so far but we have to keep repairing the lines,” said Ugyen Tshering, the Punakha Dzongrab.
The current power cables were laid during the dzong’s renovation in 2004. According to one of the experts, there is no earthing in the existing electrical system. It also has only a two-step safety measure, which will be levelled up to a five-step during the re-electrification.
“The old wiring or electrification are from 2003 and lots of wires are gone or not in a good condition anymore. That’s mean we take all wires out to all new. There are lots of places there really risky. It means lots of safety issues. We do everything new,” said Emanuel Fluckiger of Swiss Theatre Lighting Company.
Punakha Dzong is the second oldest dzong in the country which was built in 1637.
One of the Swiss experts says there is no earthing in the existing electrical system in Punakha Dzong. He also added that the existing electrical system has only two steps of safety measures. However, re-electrification will increase with a high level of up to five steps.
“It’s a big honour to do this project. This Punakha Dzong is a holy place and it’s really important for the country, and with the knowledge from the Swiss team we can help Bhutanese technicians to get knowledge and also make this dzong safe,” said Emanuel Fluckiger.
The overall cost of the Royal Project is almost Nu 53 M. Of this, Her Majesty the Gyalyum granted a seed fund of Nu 10 M. Emanuel Fluckiger, one of the Swiss experts involved in the project, and the government are contributing the remaining amount.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
