Monthly Archives: December, 0

The Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives and SNV Bhutan launched the Guidelines for Facilitation of Contractual Supply of RNR Products by Farmers Groups to Institutes. Agriculture Minister Yeshey Dorji launched the document earlier today. It is expected to facilitate and further promote contract farming between farmers groups and institutions including schools.

His Majesty the King granted over 154 acres of land as Kidu to 233 thram holders in Trashi Yangtse yesterday. Following the second Cadastral resurvey last year, all those people who continued to have land issues after the first round were resolved.

His Majesty the King accompanied by Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen, visited Tsakaling and Chhaling Gewogs in Monggar last week. These far-flung gewogs are connected by farm roads.

The forest fire in Trongsa was finally contained yesterday. The fire, which burned for four and a half days, is said to have damaged acres of forest. The fire started from Yurmung village under Langthel Gewog on Tuesday. The fire is suspected to have been caused due to the blasting carried out at the Refey-Koshala bypass road construction.

The Annual Tshechu of Sarpang Dzongkhag concluded today. It ended with unfurling of Thongdrel and Guru Tshengay. Scores of people had come to witness the Tshechu which began on Friday.  It started with the Shinjey Yab-yum cham and Drametse Nga Cham. The three-day Tshechu is funded by the Dratshang, Thromde, Dzongkhag and the Business Community of Gelephu.

The Regional Custom Officials at Paro seized US$ 47,200 and around Rs. 1 million from Paro International Airport on Thursday. The amount was discovered from a Businessman travelling to Bangkok.

More than 150 people died of alcohol related diseases in the last three years in the National Referral Hospital of Thimphu. To enforce the rules and regulations on alcohol strictly, an advocacy and awareness programme on ill-effects of Alcohol was held in the capital. The theme of the advocacy programme was “Sell, Serve, Supply Alcoholic Beverages Responsibly”.

Since the Right to Information (RTI) Bill is coming, the only way forward, many say, is to have a good RTI in place. A good RTI they say should pave way for a smooth access to information rather than pose as hurdle.  Will the RTI bill live up to what it is expected of it? Are there any grey areas that need to be addressed?

The Wizards are the Champions of this years’ Winter Basketball tournament. The match was played yesterday between the Phojas and Wizards at the swimming pool complex in Thimphu. The winners and runner-ups were awarded a trophy each and butter lamps as individual prizes. Passang Dorji from Team Phojas was the most valuable player in the tournament. It was a match dominated by the Wizards who managed to lead most of the match. In the end, the Wizards won the match with 81 points against Phojas 68 points.

The government will receive an additional 450 million INR for the power exported to India from Chhukha Hydropower Project. The additional amount comes as a result of the recent power tariff revision. The rate was revised to Nu.2.25 per unit from Nu.2.