Monthly Archives: December, 0

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa's (DPT) candidate for the Chhoekhor_Tang bye-election, Tenzin Norbu launched his door-to-door election campaign today from lower Chhoekhor. Meeting with the voters and soliciting for their support, he, however, didn't share any pledges today.

Sixteen students of Losel Gaytsho Academy, a private school in Gelegphu, are undergoing treatment for peripheral neuropathy after they complained of swollen leg and joint pains last week. A medical team from the Central Regional Referral Hospital (CRRH) is monitoring the students. According to the team, the medical condition is nothing to be alarmed about.

Despite being rich in biodiversity, Bhutan has little or no information on plants and insects that play an essential role in supporting and strengthening the ecosystems. Apart from their names, the information of their distribution, habitat, use and roles are limited. According to the UN Biodiversity Report 2019, more than 40 per cent of the insect species are declining and the rapid loss of plant species is undermining the future.

His Majesty The King granted Dashain Tika to representatives of the Hindu Community of Bhutan at the Devi Panchayan Mandir in Thimphu, yesterday. Tika imbued with Royal blessings have been sent to other dzongkhags for the people across the country. His Majesty offered prayers to the goddess Durga at the Mandir.

The Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa’s Party (DNT) President Dr Lotay Tshering and its candidate for the Chhoekhor_Tang bye-election, Dawa, started the election campaign from Chhoekhor Gewog yesterday. Blacktopping farm roads and recruiting medical experts are some of their pledges.

Complaints about the delayed and poor production of hazelnut in Monggar have taken a back seat, perhaps for good. Since recently, the district’s hazelnut growers are experiencing an increase in yield.

To further improve health service delivery and develop a more resilient health system, the health ministry is currently working to introduce Electronic Patient Information System (ePIS) in the country. Health Minister Dechen Wangmo shared this during the health policy dialogue on Friday. ePIS is one of the projects to be implemented under the Digital Flagship programme of the government. The system will record information of a patient which can be accessed by a doctor in any part of the country.

The Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB) in Phuentshogling expects a further increase in the already high price of onions in the country. High onion prices in India and retailers charging beyond the margin set by the government are the reasons for the soaring price in the market. Today, onions are being sold at around Nu 180 to Nu 200 per kg across the country.

Paro, one of the largest rice producing districts in the country, expects a much higher production this year. This is being attributed to land development, timely abundant rainfall and cultivation in acres of fallow land. Last year, the district produced over 9,800 MT of rice. 

The much-awaited blacktopping works along the Punakha-Gasa highway is expected to begin in the coming months. The Department of Roads in Lobesa, Punakha has received a budget of more than Nu 35 M to carry out road maintenance and blacktopping in the current financial year. The poor condition of the road was a long standing issue for both Punakha and Gasa dzongkhags.