Air quality in the capital remained well within prescribed national environmental standards throughout the month of August, according to data released by the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC). Monitoring records from the Thimphu Air Quality Monitoring Station show that 24-hour average concentrations for both fine particulate matter () …
Read More »Tackling open burning in Thimphu and monitoring industries in the South
As winter approaches, there are also concerns about pollution from waste burning and the compounding effects of vehicular emission in the city. However, according to the Chief Environment Officer (CEO) of Thimphu Thromde, the issue of waste burning is very minimal in Thimphu as the Thromde receives as little as …
Read More »Where FIFA’s annual budget for Bhutan goes and a possible hike coming
The Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) says its FIFA funding is tied to specific projects, with the federation required to submit proposals and meet FIFA’s requirements before funds are released. According to BFF, the budget allocation is spread across operations, national teams, women’s football, infrastructure and talent development. From the FIFA …
Read More »The growing dilemma for air quality in Norbugang’s Industrial Hub
A growing cloud of concern hangs over the settlements near Samtse’s Norbugang Industrial Park and the Daina area, as residents and local observers flag periodic, heavy plumes of smoke billowing from newly established factories. What began as a viral social media warning about an area “grappling with severe air pollution” …
Read More »Grassroots conservation and tech redefining human-wildlife coexistence
In the remote highlands of Nubri, when a Himalayan wolf preys on a livestock calf, 24-year-old Ugyen Lham no longer waits weeks to report it. With a quick tap on her phone using the NoteCam application, coordinates and time-stamped images of the incident are sent directly to the Paro Divisional …
Read More »Paro’s shrinking springs and MoENR’s mitigation strategies
Recent data from the National Water Resources Inventory Report has laid bare a growing environmental challenge in Western Bhutan, revealing that multiple surface-water sources in Paro and Thimphu are either drying up or showing severe signs of depletion. During the 31st Meet-the-Press session, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources …
Read More »Are Bhutan’s hydropower giants ready for the next big flood? MoENR answers
As climate change accelerates the melting of Himalayan glaciers and extreme weather across the region, Bhutan is facing heightened scrutiny over the vulnerability of its mega hydropower projects situated along hazard-prone river basins. With memories of catastrophic glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in neighboring countries underscoring the stakes, the Ministry …
Read More »Country might experience fluctuating rainfall and temperature swings this month amid El Niño
As global climate models project a near 100 percent certainty that a super El Niño phenomenon will persist until February 2027, Bhutan is bracing for a volatile stretch of weather for the rest of the month. According to the latest El Niño updates from the National Center for Hydrology and …
Read More »Government to review weighbridge system amid concerns over aggregate export monitoring
Government will review the existing weighbridge system and cross-verification arrangements for aggregate exports following concerns over alleged manipulation of weighbridge slips and inaccurate reporting of export consignments in Phuentsholing. The issue was raised during the 31st Meet-the-Press, after concerns were raised about some aggregate exporters allegedly not taking vehicles to …
Read More »GLOF risks and EWS monitoring ongoing for years: PM
During the 31st Meet-the-Press session, Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay reiterated that the government has been monitoring high-risk river basins and potentially dangerous lakes for years, long before recent regional disasters, and continues to do so with new investment and contingency plans. These efforts aim to establish Early Warning Systems …
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The Bhutanese Leading the way.