The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The National Reading Year initiative received a rude jolt when book stores in Thimphu and across Bhutan started getting charged with an additional 20 percent customs tax in addition to the five percent sales tax they were already paying for importing books from India. In response 11 bookstores in Thimphu …
Read More »BCCI to put up proposal on liberalizing tourism tariff
The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is drafting a proposal to liberalize the tourism tariff structure. The final report is expected to be submitted by BCCI to the cabinet by next month. A senior BCCI official said that the ‘Thai Offer’ of discounted tariff rates made to tourists …
Read More »Nu 1.4 bn in wastage, irregularities and overpayment for P 1: RAA Report
For a project whose costs escalated from the estimated Nu 35 bn at 2006 price levels to around Nu 97 bn today, one would have expected the Punatsangchu Hydroelectric Project Authority Management (PHPA) -I to be more thrifty but an audit report shows otherwise. A joint audit report of the …
Read More »Govt will pay Nu 99.3 mn reimbursement to Infinity/ILFS to terminate Concession Agreement of BEC
Infinity and ILFS will however have to show bills to claim the above In a final step to bring closure to the Bhutan Education City (BEC) project, the government has agreed to pay Nu 99.38 mn to the BEC project developers Infinity and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (ILFS) to …
Read More »NPPF and Yangphel’s Nu 554 mn apartment project finds few takers
Yangphel CEO confident of a turnaround with improved approach road In 2011 the National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF) and Yangphel Housing partnered together on a ‘Home Ownership Project’ designed especially for NPPF members by starting the construction of 136 apartments in a three acre land in Kabesa, Thimphu. However, …
Read More »OAG to let ACC take final call on appealing Lhakhang Karpo verdict
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has said that it would go by the Anti Corruption Commission’s (ACC) decision on the issue of appealing the Lhakhang Karpo case to the High Court. Attorney General (AG) Shera Lhendup said, “As justice should not only be done but must seen to …
Read More »Govt to reassess all 2,674 glacial lakes and install additional early warning systems
Govt also assures that both P I and P II are flood proof and insured After the Lemthang Glacial Lake Overflow Flood (GLOF) that occurred on the Mochhu river on 28th June, the government has decided to go for a reassessment of all 2,674 glacial lakes in Bhutan’s highlands and …
Read More »RAA review of 10th plan Dzongkhag activities show waste, non-execution and delays
The Royal Audit Authority (RAA) in its 2014 Annual report has carried out a limited review of 10th plan activities covering 14 Dzongkhags and found wasteful expenditure, planned activities not being carried out and delays in various projects like farm roads, BHUs, school, irrigation canals, local government offices etc. Waste …
Read More »RAA Annual report says Nu 634 mn in irregularities and issues in 2014
The Royal Audit Authority (RAA) Annual report says the compared to Nu 261.46 mn in 2013 the irregularities in 2014 has increased by 142 percent at Nu 634 mn. In a comparative analysis for the last five years since 2010 this is the third highest figure. In 2010 there was …
Read More »PM says economy recovering and bouncing back
The main focus of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay’s annual report titled ‘State of the Tsa-Wa-Sum’ focused on the economy. Lyonchhen said that the economy was recovering along with which he laid out various economic activities, plans and priorities. Lyonchhen reminded the nation that two years ago the country faced unprecedented …
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