One in three Bhutanese overweight, finds study
The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on health facilities demands greater multi-sectoral actions for the implementation of NCD prevention activities. NCDs are a major public
Kuensel (Bhutan)
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India lifts rice ban on Bhutan
The government of India has lifted the March 17 ban on the import of rice by Bhutan with immediate effect. "This special gesture is being considered only to Bhutan, in view of the cordial relations between the countries,' said agriculture ministry officials. The ban is still on for other countries in the region. The March 17 ban had halted the import of popular rice brands, including BN20, Basmati and boiled rice. Bhutan imported about 50,000 metric tonnes of rice, that cost about Nu 420 million in 2005, up from 40,000 metric tonnes worth Nu 318 million in 2004.
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Cattle rearing versus city rules
When urbanization spreads its wings, villagers thus overshadowed find it difficult to get their heads around developments. A recent incident, where a group of farmers from south Thimphu met to discuss the Thimphu city corporation's rule, which bans rearing livestock in the capital city's jurisdiction, bears witness to the growing conflict between planners and farmers. On Monday, after a farmer from Tshalimarphey found her two missing cows in the, as she put it, "central jail for cattle' in lower Mothithang, farmers appealed to the city to bend the rule.
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The unemployment and HIV challenge
Addressing unemployment and creating awareness on adolescent health issues has always been a challenge for the government. It becomes even more of a challenge with unemployment at 3.7 percent and a majority of HIV infected persons aged between 25-29 years. Creating jobs and training programs and educating the youth on issues like unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections were the focus of a two-day workshop organized by the Youth Centre in the capital.
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Forests falling fast
Thimphu dzongkhag felled about 29,000 trees last year, or about 80 trees daily, to meet timber and firewood demand, a consumption rate that could leave Bhutan bald by deforestation in two decades. The figure excludes thousands of trees destroyed by forest fires and pest outbreak. "If the trend continues, there will be no question of maintaining the 60 percent forest coverage for all times to come,' said Thimphu divisional forest officer (DFO), Lobzang Dorji. At this rate, our forests will be gone in 20 years.' Types of tree cut For construction Blue Pine 30% Spruce 70%
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Sanitation = Safety
Climbing up and down 40 steps ten times a day is not an easy exercise, but for 28-year-old Dil Maya, it has been a daily routine since she moved into a hut near the IMTRAT hospital in Thimphu. The hut, she lives in with her family, does not have water supply, her family share a toilet with two others, and her hut is surrounded by garbage. "We have to walk down every day to fetch water,' said Dil Maya.
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Workshop on poverty-environment relationship
Although Bhutan is still clean and intact, a growing population and the increasing development activities are putting the pressure on the fragile Himalayan environment. The majority of Bhutanese live in rural areas and rely on natural resources to earn income in sectors such as agriculture, fishing, and forestry. Natural resources also provide food and shelter for the poor.
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Phuentsholing clamps down on poultry import
More than 12,000 eggs, 42.5 kg of dressed chicken, three live birds and 61 feather brooms were seized and destroyed by Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) since the ban on the import of poultry and related products from India was imposed on January 16 this year. All the seizures were done at the Phuentsholing border gate, which is a main entry point for trade with India. BAFRA officials also imposed fines totalling Nu 30,000.
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Pneumonia heads child morbidity list
Although it's not considered the number one cause of child mortality, pneumonia tops the morbidity list among children between one month and one year in Thimphu, according to pediatricians at the T
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Baker breaks the egg ban
The Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) slapped a fine of Nu 25,000 on a baker for attempting to illegally import 50 cartons of eggs through Bhutan Gate in Phuentsholing.
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Hydropower - 6,000 MW by 2020
If Bhutan were to generate 6,000 MW by 2020 it would require adding, every year, a Chukha project to generate 346 MW of power, for the next 12 years, according to the draft 10th Plan document. The projections, the draft document states, are realistically based and anchored by the Indo-Bhutan agreement on the long term cooperation in the field of hydropower development signed in July 2006. Under the umbrella agreement, that is valid for 60 years, India will import a minimum of 5,000 MW of power from Bhutan by 2020. Considering domestic consumption, Bhutan will be required to develop hydropower capacity of around 6,000 MW, which means an additional capacity of 4,500 MW. It already has a generation of 1,489 MW in 2007 with the commissioning of the Tala project. To reach these generation targets, several hydropower projects have been planned for implementation in the 10th and 11th Five Year Plans (see table). According to the draft document, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Punatshangchhu I has been completed and pre construction activities have already started. The agreement to prepare the DPR for Punatshangchu II and the DPR for Mangdechu was signed in September 2006. Both DPR will take two years to be completed. The pre construction activities for construction of the 114 MW Dagachu project has also begun and is in the process of exploring various options to finalise the final financing structure, which could be by raising capital within the country and soft loans from Austria and the Asian Development Bank. The government of India has indicated financing 40 percent of Punatshangchhu I as grant and 60 percent as loan. The construction of Punatshangchhu II and Madechhu projects is expected through joint ventures in which nominated agencies of the two governments could form JV companies to develop these projects with a debt equity of 70:30. The energy sector is therefore poised to continue leading and boosting growth in the future economic scenario and raising living standards and reducing poverty levels. The draft document estimates an investment of Nu 500.00 billion over the next 20 years to accelerate hydropower development through 15 mega projects. These projects are outside the Five Year plan outlays. Hydropower projects for construction in the Tenth and Eleventh Plan periods