While Layaps are hopeful that all their homes will be electrified in another seven to eight months if the climate bodes well, an official from the Rural Electrification Department (RED) under Bhutan Power Corporation limited stated that the project would meet its deadline only by June 2013. “Unfavorable climate and …

Over 70% of the country’s population would be residing in urban areas by 2020, according to Bhutan national urbanization strategy 2008 hence the government’s major focus in the 11th five year plan would be urban development. “The government is highly alarmed with the increasing rate of urban population,” said an …

National Land Commission (NLC) is in the process of revising the land tax rates in both rural and urban areas with the aim of generating revenue, preventing speculation over land, and also concentration of land holdings in a few hands. The rates are yet to be finalized and will have …

On 16th March, 2012 I submitted the draft bill on Right to Information to the Honorable Chairperson of the National Council with the objective of fulfilling a constitutional provision articulated under article 7 which states right to information as a fundamental right of every Bhutanese citizen. While the constitution provides …

Although Bhutan lies on a high seismic zone there is yet to be a concrete policy on retrofitting. This has resulted in many existing buildings being unsafe for habitation. Jojo’s building in Thimphu was the only building which was retrofitted with the help of Bhutan standard bureau (BSB), then called …

Two introductions in the construction sector – the new point based system (NPBS) evaluation for contractors and modified contractor classification system aim to generate more employment opportunities in the industry while laying the field for fairer play. As of   February 1, there was 209% increase in employment in construction industry …

Forty-five gewogs have been surveyed for road feasibility under the gewog connectivity (GC) road project 2011 including two remote gewogs – Soe and Naro under Thimphu dzongkhag, and Merak and Sakteng under Trashigang dzongkhag. “The survey has already been completed,” said chief engineer under survey and design division Tshering Wangdi …

  layaps will be connected by a road till Trongshu drak, a three-hour walk from Laya by next year, but the nomad community is not exactly jubilant. “We would be happy, if the road to connect Laya community would start from Gasa Hot spring (Tsachhu),” said Laya Gup Kinley Dorji …

  By August this year, the Department of Human Resources under Labor ministry will phase out Light Vehicle training from Samthang Technical Training Institute (Automobile Engineering) in Wangduephodrang. According to Chief Program Officer Karma, many private light vehicle driving training institutes are coming up across the country and ministry’s mandate …

Roping in enough applicants especially classes X and XII pass-outs for in-country training programs is always a herculean task for the labor ministry. In-country training programs provided by the ministry  almost all the time remain under capacity. “Tourism, hospitality and the construction sectors are the priority sectors where employment opportunities …