The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, inaugurated the Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute (JWPTI), a government of India assisted project, at Hotel Taj Tashi in Thimphu yesterday. A report from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, states that JWPTI was proposed for capacity building, and for the …
Read More »Ministry of Railways of India looking at feasibility of doing an additional railway route to connect Bhutan
The first-ever railway link connecting India and Bhutan, the Golden Jubilee Railway, was established to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s historic visit to Bhutan in 1958. During a press conference in Thimphu yesterday, the Foreign Secretary of India, Sujatha Singh, said that Ministry of Railways is looking …
Read More »Alstom in 2 letters to GoI alleged that BHEL overcharged by up to 30% for P II and Mangdechu
Letters from Alstom and Andritz also complain of being left out of P II and Mangdechu even though they were capable In two letters sent in 2013, one to the then Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid, and another to the then Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh …
Read More »RAA report highlights risk of increasing debt in hydro projects
The Royal Audit Authority (RAA) report on Public Debt Management from 2008-2013 while acknowledging the benefit of the hydro projects in Bhutan has also pointed out several risks posed with the huge debt concentrated in this single economic activity. The report says that the debt structure of last five years …
Read More »Bhutan gets best ever 16th position in Global Peace Index for 2014
In what will strengthen Brand Bhutan and add another feather to the country’s cap Bhutan has been declared the 16th most peaceful country in the world sharing space with some of the most peaceful countries in the world. This is also Bhutan’s highest even rank on the index which measures …
Read More »10,000 MW by 2020 target to be reviewed by government
An open secret of the Bhutan’s hydropower sector is finally out, as it is increasingly unlikely that Bhutan will be unable to achieve the ambitious target of 10,000 MW by 2020. According to a reliable and senior source, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) is in the process of developing …
Read More »Former Gup Naku and Bhutan Telecom CEO Tshewang Gyeltshen detained in connection with land transactions
The detention of former Gup Naku, on 16th October at around 2 am and the detention of Bhutan Telecom CEO Tshewang Gyeltshen early morning on the 18th October are related to land transaction cases involving the two in Thimphu Dzongkhag. Tshewang Gyeltshen who had recently taken over the new CEO …
Read More »India’s President Pranab Mukherjee to visit bhutan in november
The President of India Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to visit Bhutan on the 7th of November 2014 on a state visit. It has been learnt that it will be a day’s visit and the President will be leaving for India the next day on the 8th of November. Preparations are …
Read More »BHEL mentioned BVT as commission agent in 2012 Mangdechu bid document but senior officials and former MoEA Minister deny any knowledge
When the Bhutan Venture Trading’s (BVT) letter to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) agreeing to a commission for Punatsangchu II (P II) and Mangdechu came out, virtually all senior officials associated with the process denied having any knowledge of it. Although no allegation was made by this paper, even then …
Read More »ACC’s final Lhakhang Karpo report has abuse of function, bribery, embezzlement and misuse
The Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) final report submitted to the Office of the Attorney General has a host of charges against those involved in the Lhakhang Karpo construction. ACC had done a two-year investigation from October 2012 to April 2014 after receiving an anonymous complaint. The former Haa Dzongda, and now …
Read More »