2018-19 budget also being prepared for 1st session of the Third Parliament The new cabinet is in a very busy mode, working overtime attending a week long National Assembly orientation session, getting briefed at their respective ministries and also attending detailed sessions with the GNHC to incorporate the ruling …
Read More »Hydropower Committee recommends going slow and smart on hydro projects
It recommends completing the current projects, going for Sunkosh and Kuri Gongri in a phase wise manner and doing one JV project for now On 15th May 2017 the former Cabinet issued an executive order appointing a ‘Hydropower Committee,’ to develop a ‘Hydropower Development Strategy.’ This would be used to …
Read More »CBTE will have major impact on hydro development: Hydro Committee
The Cross Border Trade of Electricity Guidelines (CBTE) issued by the Government of India (GoI)India on 5th December 2016 was meant to govern cross border electricity trade between India and all its neighbors. However, Bhutan objected to certain provisions of the CBTE as it felt was not in the interest …
Read More »Hydro Committee recommends leaving Chamkarchu and Amochu basins hydro free
Report also recommends it is better to do a few mega projects than many small and medium project to lessen environmental and social impact The much anticipated Hydropower Committee report has not only recommended slowing down hydro development and going for lesser but more viable projects (see main story), …
Read More »His Majesty The King conferred Dakyen to the new PM and cabinet ministers
His Majesty The King conferred Dakyen to the new Prime Minister, Dr. Lotey Tshering, and formally appointed the new cabinet ministers at the Tashichhodzong on 7 November. His Majesty also granted Orange Kabney to the Speaker, Wangchuk Namgyal, and the Leader of Opposition, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho. While the Speaker and …
Read More »DNT’s pledge of 2 pay hikes & uniform DSA Vs Limited resources
One of the main pledges adopted by all four parties in various forms in the 2018 polls was on a civil service pay hike and other benefits like equitable DSA etc. The Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), in its manifesto, had pledged two give two pay hikes to civil servants in …
Read More »DNT Pledges being incorporated into draft 12th plan
The DNT Spokesperson Dr Tandin Dorji said that the majority of the DNT’s pledges have already been incorporated into the 12th plan. The Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) recently did a presentation of the draft 12th plan to the Prime Minister and senior DNT leaders At the presentation GNHC informed …
Read More »Separate PM and Party President for DNT to prevent excessive concentration of power
A major difference between the current Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering and his two predecessors before him is that, unlike them, he will not be the DNT Party President. The origin of DNT’s decision to have a separate Prime Minister and President stems from its Party Charter under section 9.2 …
Read More »The nation will celebrate the Coronation Day of His Majesty The King on 1st November 2018
An April 2016 Kupar of His Majesty offering sandalwood boxes to the Chari monastery to house the relics of Zhabdrung which the monastery has possessed since the 17th century. The nation will celebrate the Coronation Day of His Majesty The King on 1st November 2018.
Read More »DPT’s declining vote share in the East
The strong performance of the DPT in the eastern Dzongkhags in 2008 and especially so in the 2013 and 2018 general elections has lead to the popular presumption that the east is a DPT stronghold for a long time to come. This apparent lack of anti-incumbency in the east has …
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The Bhutanese Leading the way.