Monthly Archives: December, 0

The community quarantine of Tshongdzom village in Samtse Gewog has been lifted this afternoon.

Turning disaster into an opportunity amid the global pandemic, three carpenters from Nanong Gewog in Pema Gatshel are minting cash with the skills that were otherwise limited to the demands within their community. The carpenters, now in Samdrup Jongkhar, are fully engaged since the pandemic forced the closure of border and restriction on entry of foreign workers.

The irrigation canal that has long served the people of Thanggoo and Wangjokha under Thedtsho Gewog of Wangdue Phodrang will be renovated if things go as planned. With complaints that have come along with the facility coming of age and, in need of repair and more sustainable options, the gewog administration is considering replacing the facility’s drains with pipes. 

Mangdechhu hydroelectric project and Punatsangchhu 1 hydroelectric project recorded unresolved irregularities amounting to around Nu 380.6 M in 2019. The Royal Audit Authority carried out a joint audit of the two hydroelectric projects as per Standard Operating Procedures signed between the Authority and the Controller and Auditor General of India, and projects agreement signed between the governments of Bhutan and India.

Five financial institutions in the country recorded unresolved irregularities amounting to more than Nu 294 M in 2019. The financial institutions are Bank of Bhutan (BoB), Bhutan Development Bank Limited (BDBL), Bhutan National Bank (BNB), National Provident and Pension Fund (NPPF) and Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Limited (RICBL).

The country is in need of a hospitality and entertainment guidelines specifying the principles, scope, and purpose of such expenditure. In its absence, the annual audit report 2019 reveals various inconsistent practices adopted in the use of the budget.

Cataract patients who underwent surgery during the annual eye-camp in Trongsa doubled this time. Excluding other eye disorders and diseases, the week-long programme treated 42 cataract cases. The camp ended yesterday.

Local governments will pursue the Agriculture Economic Contingency Plan. According to the ECP document released earlier this month, local governments will get a total budgetary grant of Nu 200 M on top of the 12th Five Year Plan allocation.

Two families living in a two-storied traditional house in Ngangmalang_Zorjoog chiwog under Zobel Gewog in Pema Gatshel lost everything to a fire that broke out at around 7.00 in the morning today.

Against the backdrop of a pandemic that has changed the course of daily life and economy of the country at large, it has also witnessed people and businesses embrace the unexpected in creative ways. New opportunities and business models are emerging in the wake of COVID-19 for those that are ready. Highland dairy products is one such example that is positive of tackling inconveniences caused by this pandemic.