Yangyel Lhaden

Wangdue—In just seven months since its launch, the 118 MW Nikachhu Hydropower Project (NHP) has earned around Nu 973 million by selling about 266 million units of electricity.

The NHP began exporting electricity to India on January 25 this year. The project aims to generate 491 million units of electricity, earning about Nu 1.6 billion annually.

By July, the project had reached about 50 percent of its energy generation goal and 61 percent of its revenue target.

The NHP supplies electricity to three key buyers: 80 percent to the Power Trading Corporation of India (PTC) while 20 percent is distributed between the Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC) and the Indian Energy Exchange.

The plant also supports the Mangdechhu Hydropower Project (MHP) by discharging water from its dam, benefiting MHP with increased flow for energy generation. Nikachhu and Mangdechhu dams are located in the same river basin, with Nikachhu situated upstream and Mangdechhu downstream. Revenue from this arrangement is split equally between the two projects.

Electricity tariffs are set at Nu 3.3 per unit for PTC, Nu 3.890 per unit for BPC, and to the highest bidder on the Indian Energy Exchange through competitive bids every 15 minutes.

As of July, NHP had sold 155.674 million units to PTC, generating Nu 513.725 million; 37.437 million units to BPC, amounting to Nu 146.927 million; and 26.372 million units on the Indian Energy Exchange, bringing in Nu 144.149 million.

The additional water supply to MHP contributed 46.326 million units with added revenue of Nu 168 million to NHP.

Funded primarily through loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Indian commercial banks, the NHP received USD 120.5M through Asian Development Bank.

The ADB provided USD 25.25M under concessional ordinary capital resources lending, which offers a 32-year repayment period with an eight-year grace period and a one percent interest rate.

Additionally, USD 70M was provided under ordinary capital resources lending, with a loan interest rate of 5.6 percent, and USD 25.25M was given as a grant.

Two Indian commercial banks—the State Bank of India and the Export-Import Bank of India—provided USD 58.821M loan for the project with a 15-year duration, including a five-year grace period and a 10-year repayment term, at an interest rate of 12.15 percent.

The completion of the project saw a 36 percent increase in its cost, with the final expenditure reaching about Nu 15.99M compared to the approved amount of about Nu 11.67M.

“The construction of NHP saw numerous challenges escalating the cost and delaying the completion date,” Sujan Rai, interim chief executive officer of Tangsibji Hydro Energy Limited said. “The three main drivers for cost escalation and delay were geological issues at the site, cash flow, and the pandemic.”

Originally scheduled for completion in 2019, the deadline was extended first to 2021 and then to 2023.

Sujan Rai said that during the monsoon season, energy generation had been high due to increased rainfall. “The annual target could be achieved if the remainder of the monsoon continues to bring more rainfall.”

In January, the power plant generated 3.8 million units of energy. This output increased steadily over the following months, reaching 12.2 million units in February and 14.2 million units in March. By April, energy production had risen to 18.3 million units and continued to grow to 24.9 million  units in May.

The plant experienced its highest production in June and July, with 52.9 million units in June and peaking at 93.4 million units in July.

According to the ADB’s April Outlook, NHP’s operation is poised to significantly boost economic growth, complementing a projected 6.5 percent growth in the services sector and a 2.5 percent rebound in industry, excluding construction.

A friend has been promoted to the post of a chief. Those who missed his promotion ceremony decided to visit him at his house in Babena, north Thimphu, to celebrate the achievement. Not being able to find his house nearly spoiled the party.

The friends had to first find a former minister’s house, a futsal ground and a building with pink walls.  A video call showing the landmarks and cars plying the route helped them reach on time.

This was on Thursday, soon after the Thimphu Thromde launched its City Addressing System (CAS). They were not aware of the system. It should have helped.

The CAS is a much-awaited development in navigating around the city that is expanding at an unprecedented rate. If it can live up to its promise of finding places a lot easier and straightforward, it is a welcome development.

While it may be a new system in the capital city, it is a basic requirement in almost all cities around the world. It is so useful that, for instance, many Bhutanese abroad could start working as soon as they arrive in a foreign country. 

We could be the only country without such a basic necessity.

Finding a place in the capital city is a nightmare even today. If the tall or the “yellow” building was a landmark before, it is not today. There are many tall and yellow buildings. The city has grown and expanded so much that landmarks have become irrelevant. We experienced this during the lockdown imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. With restrictions imposed on movement and essentials depending on deliveries by the de-suups, it was an eye opener. It is late, but like we say, better than never.

The system works on integration with Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, and Apple Maps. For that we need precise details like building number, street name, quadrants.

The success of CAS will depend on how recent and detailed the addresses are. The thromde still has a massive task at hand. The details, for instance, of building, name of roads are still not very clear.

It will take time for the people to get used to the system. We need to know the names of roads, streets, building numbers instead of the “pink building” or the tall tree or the monument to find the location.

What is more important is making the system reliable and letting people get used to it. It is a good start.

It is a little cumbersome, but it will improve and the benefits are many. Talk to the fast food outlets today. They know how difficult it is to deliver food on time and at the right place. It would be more useful during emergencies. If it can take on board other services of the thromde, it will ease service delivery and cut bureaucratic procedures.

YK Poudel

The government has allocated a budget of Nu 2.56 billion for disaster preparedness across various sectors in the 13th Plan to strengthen the disaster management framework and enhance the country’s resilience against increasingly severe weather events.

During the seventh Meet-The-Press, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay highlighted that His Majesty the King’s personal involvement in disaster response.

“His Majesty has visited areas affected by flash floods and has commanded all sectors to collaborate on comprehensive strategies to protect the public,” the Prime Minister stated.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Gem Tshering said that Bhutan, like much of the Himalayan region, was facing intensified climate challenges, including heatwaves, droughts, and floods, threatening the livelihood of the communities.

“Within this month, Bhutan experienced two major floods—on August 5 in Bumthang and on August 10 at Dechencholing in Thimphu which also claimed a life,” Lyonpo said.

The funding will be channeled through key departments under Ministry of Energy and Natural Resource (MoENR) including the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), the Department of Forest and Park Services (DoFPS), and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC).

The NCHM, with a budget Nu 1,704.6 million in the 13th Plan, will develop critical infrastructure, including a 24/7 national weather and flood warning centre at Yusipang, enhance hydromet observation networks, and strengthen early warning systems for hydrological and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

Lyonpo said that for the strategic and long-term development of hydromet sectors in Bhutan, the ‘Institutional Strengthening and Modernisation of Hydromet and Multi-Hazard early warning system’ – a roadmap between 2024 and 2034 has been launched.

“Institutional strengthening and capacity building, modernization of observation networks and forecasting infrastructures for service delivery are identified as priority areas,” Lyonpo said.

With a budget of Nu 835 million, the DoFPS will implement measures to improve forest health and resilience. Priority initiatives include forest fire management, including fire hotspot mapping and community-based fire management, with an allocation of Nu 16.29 million specifically for these interventions.

“Recognizing forest fire as a major disaster exacerbated by climate change, the DoFPS has prioritised interventions such as fire hotspot mapping, community-based forest fire management, fuel load reduction in wildland-urban interfaces and awareness campaigns, combating forest fires and capacity building of the officials,” Lyonpo said.

The DECC will focus on climate resilience and ecological diversity, including establishing a climate and environmental scientific museum, developing a natural capital accounting system, and implementing priority activities from the National Adaptation Plan.

“The DECC will also work on establishing a well co-ordinated Bhutan Carbon Market and Bhutan Climate fund,” Lyonpo said.

Thinley Namgay    

In a major development for Bhutan’s aviation and tourism sectors, Heli Bhutan—the country’s first private helicopter company—is all set to offer premium helicopter services, providing an alternative to the sole state-owned services.

As the Drukair struggles to meet growing demand, Heli Bhutan aims to bridge this gap with a range of high-quality services.

Heli Bhutan intends to enhance the country’s appeal to high-end travellers by offering services such as scenic tours, passenger transport, aerial work, rescue operations, among others.

The company also expects to help promote tourism in the country by providing reliable transportation options.   

Heli Bhutan has unveiled its website, providing detailed information about its services, which will commence with a single Airbus H-125 helicopter. This versatile, high-altitude model, known for its adaptability and capability to carry up to six passengers, is scheduled to arrive in Bhutan by January.

The company will begin accepting pre-bookings in October, and two experienced European pilots have been recruited to operate the aircraft.

The services, according to company officials, are designed to offer access to Bhutan’s stunning landscapes, and cultural heritage sites by prioritising utmost safety.

CEO Chencho Dorji said that he was inspired to start Heli Bhutan after a foreign friend’s suggestion following a visit to Bhutan. The company, which has been in development for nearly five years, is in the final stages of securing its Air Operator Certificate from the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority.

The rate for the services is yet to be fixed.

The official launch is set for February 21, 2025, coinciding with the birth anniversary of His Majesty The King.

Chencho Dorji said that Heli Bhutan aligns with His Majesty’s vision for Gelephu Mindfulness City, and aims to enhance connectivity, attract talent, and position Bhutan as a top destination for cultural, adventure, and spiritual tourism.

The company is formed through foreign direct investment, with a 70:30 percent investment model, involving investors from the United States and Canada.

One week after the inauguration of the Chang Yul Park, Kuensel interviewed Tashi Penjor, Director of Department of Human Settlement, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT)

With the inauguration of the Chang Yul Park in Thimphu, we see a third-world truck park transformed into a modern innovative space which includes a playground for children, social centres for people, gardens for nature lovers, lawns for picnickers, facilities for fitness enthusiasts, and much more. Where did all these concepts and ideas come from?

What you see is yet another step in realising His Majesty The King’s vision to transform Bhutan into a 21st-century blend of tradition and modernity. This seven-acre park helps our capital city grow into an inclusive, resilient, and culturally enriched urban landscape.

His Majesty entrusted globally renowned experts led by Jonathan F.P. Rose from the US and Jonathan Rose from the UK to help review and revise the Thimphu structure plan. As advised by them, the MoIT hired ARUP International to sketch a high-level concept which was then converted into a detailed design and implemented by the government. 

This was made possible with the blessings, continuous guidance and handholding of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Gyalyum Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck and generous support of more than 600 De-Suups who were assigned from February 2023.

The media described the Chang Yul Park as a Royal gift to the people of Thimphu. Isn’t it a gift for all the people of Bhutan?

Chang Yul Park is a hub for community engagement, and a beacon of sustainable urban development. This park not only enhances the quality of life for Thimphu’s residents but also sets a new standard for urban green spaces in Bhutan, reflecting a harmonious blend of tradition, innovation, and environmental stewardship.

It is an inspiration for all Bhutanese. It is a celebration of creativity of the environment, and the evolving Bhutanese identity. It embodies Thimphu’s Vision for an inclusive, resilient, and culturally enriched urban landscape.

Over the past months we saw the orange-clad De-Suups busy at work. Are they skilled to this level? Could it have been done without the De-Suups?

The park was built by a dedicated team of architects, urban planners, engineers, and a workforce of over 130 skilled and unskilled workers. More than 600 De-Suups did 60 percent of the work they were simultaneously trained and hired by construction companies. They certainly made it possible to transform a vacant parcel of land into a vibrant riverside destination for residents, tourists, and visitors alike.

What was the expenditure on the park? How will it be sustained?

The government spent Nu 140 million. The park will be sustained through entry fees as well as income from the facilities based on the five themes that define the park.

Some of our elders in the past would say that Bhutan itself is a huge park. We are rich in flora and fauna. So what makes the Chang Yul Park different?

Yes, we are proud of our pristine ecology, but the national landscape is changing with the growth of urbanisation. There are new ideas introduced in the park.

International experts and consultants brought new ideas technology, and expertise and these were cleverly merged with traditional Bhutanese icons like the Bazam, Talakha and Wangditse lhakhangs as strategic backdrops.

What could have deteriorated into a public open-air toilet is now a beautiful riverfront featuring an elevated, arc-shaped boardwalk with wavy railings and a jogging bridge that provides panoramic views of the Wangchhu (river). A floating bar and cafe is a highlight, all showcasing intricate timber construction techniques, modern interior lighting, and furnishings that create a cosy ambience perfect.

We have made sure that the functions are all nature-based solutions. For example, a French drainage system with underground pipes, borewells and rain gardens, asphalt paths and cushioned jogging tracks, park-edging using steel – automated popup sprinkler irrigation systems to ensure that it remains environmentally sustainable.

Most of these, including the uniquely designed lamp posts were made at the site.

Thimphu’s largest Rose Garden and other beautiful plantations, were initiated in the park by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Gyalyum Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck.

In Bhutan, sometimes things start with a bang and fizzle out. How will this be prevented?

The fees will meet the day to day expenditure but, in a way, this is just symbolic.

A management will also be instituted soon to manage and maintain the park. There are hardy low maintenance local flowers and plants and trees.

The real purpose and value of this Royal initiative is the sense of ownership that all of us must develop. Each one of us is equal owner of this beautiful park. We are talking about a new mindset, new knowledge, and expertise.

What have we, as Bhutanese decision-makers, planners, and citizens learnt from the creation of the Chang Yul Park?

The Chang Yul Park is itself very much an important feature of Thimphu’s and Bhutan’s transformation.

With the help of Jonathan F. P. Rose and Jonathan Rose, we have finalised the Thimphu structure plan as a city that is a fine example of modern, innovative, and progressive urban development.

It reflects the hierarchy of open spaces at the national, dzongkhag, and city levels. It provides the setting for our sacred heritage sites and structures. We are protecting the natural landscape. The Thimphu green belt will halt urban sprawl by restricting urban growth and protecting the unique setting of Thimphu, providing inclusive accessfor leisure and recreation, and improving climate resilience through mitigation of hazard risks. The Wang Chhu Corridor extending from Dodena in the North to Rama in the South (and eventually connecting Chuzom) is a visionary urban regeneration project that aims to establish an ecological, movement and recreational spine through the city. It will combine flood resilience with new and enhanced public open spaces and active travel routes that connect communities.

We are witnessing an urban transformation – the evolution of culture, nature, lifestyle, behavioural and mindset changes, the sense of ownership and preservation. This forward-looking approach to urban development conveys our cultural heritage yet with a modern appeal. We are defining and protecting Bhutan’s identity

What we see now is a dynamic Thimphu masterplan being achieved. This inspiration and energy in urban development is the essence of transformation that will define urbanisation for a new era.

Following the lifting of the import ban on cars, there was a sudden uproar when consumers realised a huge increase in taxes for new cars. While the taxes may be a cause, another reason for the cost escalation, in my view, is the ban itself. Simply put, if you ban, or limit something, the price of the commodity increases. This phenomenon is called artificial demand, or artificial scarcity – in microeconomics.

The concept of artificial demand is based on psychological human behaviour, whereby we place higher value on anything that is in short supply. The more the value we put on something, the higher the price. The entertainment industry and high fashion goods manufacturers practise this by issuing limited editions and selling the exclusivity narrative. Advertisements and commercials are solely based on creating artificial demand to stimulate sales.

Some large multinationals and unscrupulous corporations also practise artificial demand by manipulating the supply of goods into the market. Such wilful market distortions are illegal in countries like the US and the EU. In our case here in Bhutan, however, the artificial demand and price escalations may be unwittingly created through blanket bans and moratoriums.

Banning the ban

For quite some time now, I have been discouraging the practice of imposing blanket bans as a tool in governance. Bans, moratoriums, suspensions and changing policies have become a norm with democratically-elected governments after 2008. Blanket bans should be enforced only as the last resort and that too after thorough and independent research that factors in all short-term implications and long-term consequences, plus the collateral damages on other sectors. For instance, the “ban” on drones for private users has severely limited the filmmakers and the creative industry and its potential use in the delivery of goods to difficult locations and relief materials during disasters.

Bans may be effective as urgent short-term measures to stabilise a market or an emergency situation but are ineffective in the long run. Studies following the 2008 US financial crisis and the 2012 European debt crisis found that sporadic sales restrictions largely failed to support prices and reduced liquidity overall. Bans also skew long-term and larger opportunities for the overall economy and the employment market. Although it is hard to imagine something that has not happened before our eyes, researchers can mathematically model different options and possible outcomes, and do the cost-benefit analysis of any public policy. Bhutan aims to double its GDP by 2029 and become a high-income economy by 2034. If few things will thwart these achievable dreams, those will be unstable policies, unpredictable bans, subjective applications of “rules”, and the decline of the population.

Bans on car imports do not serve the desired purpose of limiting the numbers either. There have been several bans in the past 15 years. If you look at the data over the same period you can see that the upward trend has been the same. Instead, the bans have put our young people, who were working in the car dealerships, out of jobs.

Effects of bans and

artificial demand

Fear and FOMO. I am even inclined to think that bans drive up sales instead of reducing it. This is because unpredictability generates unfounded fears and suspense – plus market speculations. Fear emerges out of our reptilian brain, which produces the most primitive and illogical instincts in us. There is nothing worse than unpredictability to garner irrational behaviours. For instance, my Isuzu pick-up has almost hit 70,000 km. And at the rate I am using, it is safe to go on for two more years. However, what if there is another import ban and if this one becomes unreliable? With my wanderlust life, my skin and my work depend on it. It doesn’t matter that, as a teen, I survived on erstwhile BGTS trucks – some of which were falling apart when we were moving on the road. Like me, there might be many who will make premature purchases out of fear. One dealer told me they had several inquiries asking if there would be another ban because they wanted to wait for the current tax rates to be reduced.

Recovering lost sales. The management of STCB has clarified that it is also the manufacturers who have raised the prices. Of course, why wouldn’t they? The Bhutanese market may be small, but it still brings them an annual revenue of over Nu. 5 billion. They will try to make up for the zero sales in the last two years – and blame the price increase on technology, transport, steel prices, wages, crude oil and even their dogs and cats. I have also taken a “jab” at the dealers. They need to recover the overhead costs of the last two years. While the employees may have been laid off, they still had to pay the rent for the showroom, and utility bills such as electricity, water, and for the cleaners and watchmen. Ultimately, though, all these costs and expenditures will be passed down to the customers and it is the ordinary people who will bear the brunt of the ban eventually.

Revenge buying. We must also not be naive to think that foreign manufacturers and corporations are angels. They are aware of the artificial demand theory and they know they can cash in on it. They expect that our young salarymen, who have entered the job market in the last two years, will rush to buy no matter what. In sociology, this phenomenon is called revenge buying. The manufacturers also understand that unpredictable rules create unfounded fears in older people like me. Unlike us, their decisions are based on research and evidence.

The solutions

The State has two powerful mechanisms to regulate public finance: monetary and fiscal tools. These can be used strategically and tactfully to steer the economy. For example, if there is heavy public investment in mass transport, people won’t be compelled to buy private vehicles. If the government refrains from buying Prados and Landcruisers as pools, and instead goes for vehicles that are made in India, a lot of hard currency will be saved. There are many ideas as long as one is not stuck with old habits. No new solutions can be found for any issue with the same beliefs and behaviours that created the problem in the first place.

As for the rising number of cars in the streets of Thimphu and Phuntsholing (these are the only two places in Bhutan facing congestion), the long-term solution is developing public transportation, where everyone benefits. I would even go further by making it free, or heavily subsidised, like in some EU countries. Thimphu has about 70,000 vehicles in a population of little over 140,000, which is perhaps the highest car-person ratio in the world. There have been talks about electric trams and pedestrian streets. We should fish back those bold ideas. If pollution is the issue, this government initiated the idea of electric cars in 2014. I feel this can be reinvigorated through not only giving tax breaks but by making all government pool vehicles electric. There will be less misuse too and less dependency on fossil fuel.

Most importantly, the car import ban should not be nationwide. Thimphu’s municipal problem does not necessarily apply to other 19 urban centres. Good connectivity and seamless movements of goods, people and services are essential for an economy to grow. Beyond Thimphu, other places do not even have a reliable taxi service.

The lifting of the counterproductive ban itself was necessary, and I disagree with the school of thought that argues that we should have extended the ban. On the surface, it may look logical, but national monetary and fiscal policies are not like personal saving accounts and spending habits. Every action, big and small, by the central bank and the government, has huge implications on the economy, and ramifications on hundreds of thousands of businesses and people – most of which will never come to light.

While this current government may not be responsible for the increased tax rates, it has the power to review them without necessarily bringing them down drastically. It can also introduce some new innovative schemes. However, it cannot wash its hands off, because like anywhere else, and more so in Bhutan, we look up to the government for relief, guidance and leadership.

Contributed by

Dorji Wangchuk (PhD)

Professor, Engineer, Communication Scholar

Lhakpa Quendren

Phuentsholing—Bhutanese travel agents in Phuentsholing, who have been struggling since the pandemic, are facing growing competition from overseas travel agencies that offer tour packages to Bhutan at a much lower price, impacting their business and turnover.

For example, a travel agent in Jaigaon, India provides a seven-night, eight-day tour package to Bhutan at Nu 33,500, which includes travel insurance. In contrast, local agents charge around Nu 35,500 for a similar package without insurance.

Despite an increase in Indian tourists travelling through Phuentsholing, local travel agents are witnessing a decline in business.

This has hurt local agents, although it has benefited the government through Sustainable Development Fees (SDF), according to local tour operators.

“Overseas agents focus on volume, sending large groups to hotels and securing the best rates for their clients,” said a Phuentsholing tour operator. “An increase in tourists preferring to travel via Bagdogra due to high domestic airfare should ideally boost our business.”

Bhutanese tour operators in Phuentsholing also cite higher living costs and rental expenses in Bhutan as factors that make it difficult for them to offer competitive packages compared to those offered by overseas travel agents.

In addition, while local operators use three-star hotels, overseas agents often opt for budget or two-star accommodations, further driving down costs

The government’s post-pandemic tourism policy change, which allows anyone to participate in the tourism business, has hit licensed travel agents hard, forcing many to close shop, with only about five agents remaining in Phuentsholing today.

“Tourists can now apply for visas and permits online and arrange guides and vehicles upon arrival. Many overseas agents have their own transportation and direct contracts with Bhutanese guides,” another operator said.

The issue of Bhutanese tour guides picking up tourists directly from Jaigaon without involving local agents has been addressed in meetings, according to travel agents.

Local transportation costs present another challenge. While tourists driving their own vehicles face a fee of Nu 4,500 per vehicle per night, overseas agents offering their own transportation often provide lower rates. This discrepancy allows foreign packages to remain more attractive.

Local agents are also grappling with the impact of cheaper packages on hotel rates in Phuentsholing. Hotels are now offering discounts of Nu 100 to Nu 150 per room to remain competitive. “Many hotels are surviving on discounted rates post-pandemic,” said a local hotelier. “Overseas agents often direct tourists to hotels in Jaigaon, affecting our business.”

Despite local agents participating in travel fairs in India, they stress the need for collaboration with international counterparts, with Bhutanese agents managing travel arrangements within the country.

Some overseas operators promoting Bhutan since 2010 maintain that, even with SDF charges, their Bhutan travel packages remain competitive with other destinations like Sikkim and Nepal, and they deny underselling Bhutan.

The founder of Let’s See Tours and Travels, based in Guwahati and Siliguri, Lohit Sharma, said that his agency believes in quality tourism and always promotes high-quality packages. His company has sent more than 10,000 Indian tourists to Bhutan after the pandemic.

“We do not support the cheapest packages, as they do not lead to satisfied guests. We understand that cheap packages can also affect the sustainability of the hotel business,” he said.

Lohit Sharma said that they support Bhutan’s strict tourism policy. “Before the pandemic, Bhutan was accessible to everyone. Now, Bhutan will attract more high-quality tourists,” he said.

He added that his agency, in partnership with Veena World, will focus on promoting eastern dzongkhags as the Samdrupjongkhar border gate opens to international tourists.

However, he said there may also be tour operators offering cheap packages. “We cannot blame them as it is their marketing strategy. With many travel agents in Jaigaon, it is difficult to determine which ones are offering the lowest prices,” he said.

A tour operator in Jaigaon said that all hotels offer the same rates to everyone, though local tour operators occasionally provide better deals. “Our primary focus is to ensure a satisfying and comfortable experience for our guests in Bhutan. Lowering hotel rates would mean compromising on service,” he explained.

He said that his agency had sent about 400 to 500 tourists to Bhutan during March, April, and May. “We work with various partners and local collaborators to assist international guests,” he added.

Overseas tour operators said that Bhutan is gaining market traction and is expected to perform even better in the coming years. 

“Generally, we use digital marketing to attract Indian tourists and also participate in many travel fairs in major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and others, to promote destinations such as Bhutan, Nepal, and the Northeast,” the tour operator of RS Travels in Jaigaon said.

Overseas tour operators recommend utilising the SDF funds to develop additional tourist attractions and to enhance basic facilities, such as clean restrooms along highways and at sightseeing locations.

According to the Department of Tourism, Indian tourist arrivals increased from 11,153 in 2022 to 72,659 in 2023 and remained high at 54,618 through July 2024. Overall tourist arrivals climbed from 20,897 in 2022 to 103,066 in 2023, with 78,235 visitors in the first half of 2024.

Tourists from other top nationalities include those from Singapore, Germany, Vietnam, Thailand, the Republic of China, Canada, Italy, France, and Indonesia.

This will address meat self-sufficiency, trade deficit, and forex reserve

YK Poudel

Bhutan imports huge quantities of meat every year—particularly chicken, pork, and fish—which contributes to the country’s yawning trade deficit, depleting the country’s limited foreign currency reserve.

In recent years, the import of livestock commodities has significantly increased, touching Nu 3.691 billion in 2023 against exports of Nu 0.0429 billion the same year.

During the seventh Meet-the-Press yesterday, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Younten Phuntsho, said that the demand for and import of meat is expected to further increase with increasing population and expanding market in the country.

Lyonpo said that to tackle this issue, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock’s (MoAL) plan was to enhance domestic meat production through large-scale commercial farms.

“For a faster turnover, domestic production of meat through commercialisation of poultry, piggery and fishery farming will be prioritised in potential dzongkhags with high social acceptance,” Lyonpo said.

The MoAL aims to increase chicken production from 20 percent to 50 percent over the next five years, increasing production from 1,165 metric tonnes (MT) to 2,000 MT.

Three large broiler farms will be established in Tsirang, Samdrupjongkhar, and Samtse, each housing 10,000 birds and producing 260 MT of chicken annually.

Lyonpo said that the chicken processing plants in Samtse and Dagana will ensure seamless processing and distribution of chicken. “This will be supported through the price guarantee scheme (PGS) under the ESP programme, with Bhutan Livestock and Development Corporation Limited being the aggregator and distributor along with other private sector entities,” Lyonpo said.

For pork, the goal is to boost domestic production from 30 percent to 60 percent, with the aim to increase annual production to 1,845 MT from  1,590 MT.

The ministry plans to produce 1,228 breeding pigs annually for private contract breeders.

In addition, large-scale fattening farms will be set up in Dagana, Sarpang, Samtse, and Samdrupjongkhar.

Currently, there are over 400 private contract pig breeders.

The Swine Artificial Insemination programme will also be initiated to assist farmers.

Further, large-scale fattening farms with a capacity for 200 pigs each will be established in Dagana, Sarpang, Samtse, and Samdrupjongkhar, collectively producing 44.8 MT of pork annually. These operations will be supported by a high-tech pig breeding farm, with 240 sows, located in either Samtse or Samdrupjongkhar.

The ministry is also addressing the threat of African Swine Fever, a significant risk to the country’s pork production. Lyonpo said that efforts are underway to enhance farm biosecurity and implement robust disease control measures.

The MOAL has plans to enhance fish production, with a goal of 250 MT within five years, up from the current 43 MT.

“The government fishery farms will strive to produce 1.18 million fingerlings annually to meet this target,” Lyonpo said. “In the fiscal year 2024-25, a total of 1.71 million fingerlings will be supplied in 12 potential fishery dzongkhags.”

Challenges such as limited water resources and farm management issues will be addressed with innovative techniques like BioFloc fish culturing and recirculating aqua-culture systems.

Lyonpo said that 154 defunct fish farms in six dzongkhags will be revived. “Chirup commercial farms will be promoted in Dagana and Samdrupjongkhar with a capacity to produce 40 MT.”

However, Lyonpo said that safe and hygienic meat production will be prioritised with appropriate technical support and value chain development.

State-owned enterprises under the ESP will establish piggery cold chains and revitalise fish ponds, with the target to produce and supply 151.5 MT of pork, 112 MT of chicken, and 29.8 MT of fish.

To support these initiatives, the government has introduced a concessional credit line and a reinvigoration fund of Nu 5.3 billion, designed to enhance access to financial services and boost production capabilities.

Lhakpa Quendren

Samtse—Fronting, synonymous with businesses in border towns of Bhutan, has now penetrated the boulder export industry.

A Kuensel investigation has revealed a surge in fronting activities, with unreliable operators flooding the sector and distorting market dynamics.

Fronting—a practice where businesses from neighbouring countries use local licenses to operate while funneling revenue abroad—is affecting legitimate exporters, making it nearly impossible for them to compete.

Boulder export is a thriving business in Samtse, Phuentsholing, and Gelephu. Once bustling with authentic exporters, it is now inundated with questionable operators.

In Phuentsholing alone, of the 180 registered exporters, only about 15 are considered legitimate. Samtse faces a similar issue with just 15 out of 70 exporters being genuine.

These fronting operations, often run by foreigners through local fronts, manipulate market prices and evade taxes, leaving honest businesses at a disadvantage.

An exporter in Samtse said that the number of boulder exporters has sharply increased from 30 to 70 in the two locations of Samtse—Dhamdum and Satshamchhu—within a few years.

“Many of these operators do not have established offices. They remain operational during profitable periods but pull out when market conditions worsen,” he said, adding that such practices potentially risk the future of the boulder sector.

Despite a base price of USD 16 per metric tonnes (MT) set through export letters of credit (LC), the market price often falls below this threshold due to fronting practices.

In 2018, while Samtse accounted for 65 percent of the boulder exports and Phuentsholing 35 percent, the business income tax collected from Phuentsholing was significantly higher than Samtse’s collection—Nu 14.5 million.

Fronting operators exploit loopholes to avoid paying royalties, taxes, and other costs, selling boulders at reduced rates.  “They also use their own transportation, which gives them an advantage. Our revenue from boulders is only 30 percent, with 70 percent going to transportation.”

Recently, the price dropped to USD 14 per MT, and exporters say it is unlikely to rise.

Although the incoming hard currency for the government is protected by the base price of USD 16 per MT, even if the market price drops below this endorsed price, the exporters urge relevant agencies, including revenue and customs, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and Royal Bhutan Police to collaborate and investigate this issue thoroughly.

“Without concrete evidence, we cannot file a formal complaint,” one exporter said. “The issue can be traced through financial transactions. Authorities need to investigate the flow of funds and their uses.”

An exporter in Phuentsholing said that the government is not addressing the problems despite being aware of the situation. “Some have even anonymously lodged complaints with the regional trade office, but no action has been taken,” he said. “Even the documentation is being handled by the funding sources. The investigation should start by cracking down on larger companies.”

There are past incidents where local exporters engaged in fronting, working on commission and salary, were unable to pay business income tax because their revenue went to the funding sources, according to the exporters.

As payments are made in US dollars directly to banks in Bhutan and exchanged into Bhutanese currency for issuance to exporters, fronting practices result in Bhutanese currency remaining stockpiled in the Indian market.

Despite multiple consultations with government agencies and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, no concrete outcomes have been seen. Many exporters believe these consultations are merely a formality to justify budget expenditures without effecting real change.

“The issuance of licenses is not being scrutinised. There is a need to question the intention of the business and investigate whether the person is financially stable to operate the business, to avoid fronting practices,” an exporter said.

In July 2021, the erstwhile Ministry of Economic Affairs warned against fronting and threatened legal action under the Penal Code (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2021. However, enforcement has been lax, and fronting continues to thrive across various sectors.

During the fourth session of the third Parliament, fronting was classified as a criminal offense under the Penal Code (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2021.

Fronting practices are not the only factors influencing market prices. The declining demand in Bangladesh, exacerbated by the current political situation, has also raised concerns among boulder exporters. The rate has dropped from USD 19 per MT to USD 16 per MT since the pandemic.

“While we continue to export boulders to complete previous LCs, we are skeptical about payment for further exports. I am now sending only 10 truckloads a day, down from 20 or 30. We are exploring the Indian market, where exports have increased due to new road projects in Bihar,” said an exporter in Samtse.

Meanwhile, exporters in Satshamchhu, Samtse, are waiting for the new border gate at their location. “We have deployed about 10 excavators and other machines to maintain the road between the dry port and Satshamchhu. This season alone, we have maintained the road five times, incurring huge expenses,” said an exporter.

While the system in the country has improved, illegal fee collections along the border remain a major hurdle. Streamlining these protocols, exporters say, would greatly benefit both exporters and transporters.

YK Poudel

The two-day Agrifood Conference, which ends today in Thimphu, discussed the long-standing challenges in the sector, facilitated a buyer-seller networking programme, and addressed the demands of local farmers.

More than 80 participants attended the conference that aimed to meet the goals of the 13th Plan by integrating farmers, aggregators, government officials, and all relevant agencies.

Through a combination of strategic focus, flagship projects, and targeted financial investments, the conference aimed to advance the nation’s vision of achieving a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD five billion by 2029.

The director of the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Co-operatives (DAMC), Tashi Dorji, emphasised that the primary goal of the conference was to address the marketing challenges faced by farmers, a critical factor in realising the objectives of the 13th Plan.

He highlighted the importance of boosting GDP from the agriculture and livestock sectors, aiming to increase from Nu 31 billion in 2023 to Nu 50 billion by 2029, at current prices.

“With DAMC’s role being pivotal in marketing support, more conferences of this nature will be conducted in various locations,” he said.

From Pg 1

With a budget allocation of Nu 1,800 million dedicated to enhancing the business ecosystem, he noted that regulatory reforms and policies aimed at supporting the agri-food sector will be rolled out. “Access to finance, incentive mechanisms, and infrastructure development are among the top priorities.”

Around 15 economic development and marketing officers, along with dzongkhag agriculture officers, presented reports on the annual agricultural and livestock productions in their respective dzongkhags. They provided insights into the current market conditions, business strategies, and linkages, and outlined their plans for the 13th Plan.

These plans include extensive marketing and sales of agricultural and livestock products across various sectors such as hotels, tourism centers, hospitals, schools, and Gyalsung academies.

As part of the programme, a panel discussion was conducted where government officials from various sectors addressed queries from farmers and entrepreneurs.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock launched its 13th Plan document on August 28.

According to an official from the ministry, the plan includes a total indicative outlay of Nu 14,983.15 million. The plan prioritises five key projects: promoting large-scale commercial farming, supporting resilient smallholder farmers, advancing high-value product promotion, improving the business environment, and enhancing services.

Ensuring that these plans are met and better export assistance is rendered, the secretariat of the ministry would carry out initiatives in policy enhancement, governance infrastructure and frame guided procedures for access to finance and incentive mechanisms.

The conference was organized by DAMC in partnership with the World Bank’s ‘South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth’ project.

The chief trade officer at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment, Kinley Yangzom, said that Bhutan currently has 78 products under the ‘Made in Bhutan’ brand and nine products under the ‘Grown in Bhutan’ brand.

“Dry ports in Pasakha, Nganglam, Gelephu, and Samtse will be established within the 13th Plan or early in the 14th Plan,” she said.

The department has launched an online trading platform to facilitate traders across the country.

Last year, Bhutan exported agricultural products worth Nu 36 billion, while imports amounted to Nu 107 billion.

To ensure the success of these plans and to provide better export assistance, the ministry plans undertake initiatives focused on policy enhancement, governance infrastructure, and the development of guided procedures for access to finance and incentive mechanisms.

The conference was organised by the DAMC in partnership with the World Bank’s South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth project.

Clean Bhutan to partner with Indian company to recycle plastic bottles into fabrics

YK Poudel

Imagine wearing a gho or kira crafted from plastic bottles—durable, comfortable, and entirely eco-friendly. This might soon become a reality.

Clean Bhutan, a civil society organisation dedicated to environmental conservation and waste management, will partner with India’s Shree Renga Polyester Private Limited, renowned for its EcoLine Clothing brand. This collaboration will bring the ‘bottle-to-garment’ concept to Bhutan, converting used PET bottles into garments.

The executive director of Clean Bhutan, Nedup Tshering, said that the project is based on a circular economy model. “This approach involves recycling PET bottles into fabrics that can be used to create traditional Bhutanese garments, such as the gho and kira among others.”

Founded in 2008 in Karur, Tamil Nadu, EcoLine Clothing is a trailblazer in the bottle-to-garment industry. The founder of Shree Renga Polyester Private Limited, R. Sankar, and Managing Director Senthil Sankar visited Bhutan at the invitation of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.

The company garnered international attention after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a public appearance recently wearing a EcoLine Clothing brand.

“Our company uses recycled PET bottles to manufacture sustainable clothing, which has garnered widespread acclaim,” Senthil Sankar said.

Currently, EcoLine processes 30 tonnes of plastic flakes into fibres daily. “By next year, the company will have double the capacity,” Senthil Sankar said.

EcoLine produces sustainable fabrics with a wide range of colours—over 200 shades—using dope-dye technology. This method colors the fabric during production, eliminating the need for water in dyeing processes.

“Generally, textile dyeing requires 2.4 trillion gallons of water every year but the dope-dye technology EcoLine uses does not require a single drop of water. Besides, the water used for cleansing the PET bottles is treated and reused,” Senthil Sankar explained.

Since its inception, the company has recycled 1,64,250 tonnes of PET bottles, sequestering 10,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The partnership between Clean Bhutan and EcoLine is expected to unfold in two phases. Initially, Clean Bhutan will supply 20 tonnes of PET flakes per month to EcoLine, which will then convert these flakes into fabric for Bhutanese market. 

“These clothes will be used to produce gho and kira,” Senthil Sankar said. “It will also open new business opportunities for local women entrepreneurs.”

In the second phase, EcoLine will set up a plant in Bhutan.

Nedup Tshering expects the Memorandum of Understanding signing and processing of necessary approvals, including  license, to be completed within the next three months. “After that, business will be in full swing. We are ready to supply 20 tonnes of plastic flakes a month. In fact, the first truck load of plastic plakes will be sent within the next few weeks,” he said.

Clean Bhutan plans to collaborate with Greener Way, Bhutan Ecological Society, and various scrap dealers and waste handlers across the country to source PET bottles including interested individuals.

Clean Bhutan will purchase PET bottles at Nu 30 per kilogramme.

The project is also expected to balance carbon emissions through local production and contribute to Bhutan’s carbon trading market. “The carbon emissions produced during its transportation will be offset through production of raw materials for Bhutanese clothes and cost generated through its sale,” Nedup Tshering said.

With a team of 15, Clean Bhutan has already trained over 1,000 women in weaving plastic baskets and other materials at its Waste Academy in Changjiji, Thimphu.

Clean Bhutan has also received support from the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project, which has provided a grant to help expand employment opportunities for local women tailors and handicrafters.

Lhakpa Quendren

Phuentsholing—Following the watershed management survey in Phuentsholing Drungkhag, the Tarayana Foundation plans to implement nature-based solutions through Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES).

Phuentsholing was identified as one of the critical locations due to severe water contamination and the risk of natural disasters, such as landslides and flash floods, along the Omchhu.

The Technical Director of the Foundation, Sangay Dorji (PhD), said that the situation could lead to severe repercussions for downstream water users, including health risks and economic losses.

“The payments encourage sustainable practices that protect watersheds, conserve biodiversity, manage land, and capture carbon dioxide (carbon sequestration),” he said, adding that communities and the Thromde requested the introduction of the PES scheme during stakeholder consultations.

Under the PES scheme, upstream residents will receive economic incentives from Phuentsholing beneficiaries based on conservation outcomes, with expertise provided by the Watershed and Forest Departments and the College of Science and Technology.

Chukha’s field officer, Tashi Tshering Doya, said the programme would be implemented in consultation with the Forest and Watershed Departments.

“We visited every village in Phuentsholing to assess the situation following a week-long meeting,” he said. “The work will be carried out based on the outcomes of the survey.”

“Tarayana implemented a nature-based solution at Dawakha in Paro, which proved successful. The project not only addressed drinking water shortages but also benefited vegetable cultivation,” he said.

The project was also carried out in Tading and Dophuchen in Samtse, and also in Thimphu. Water pipes have been distributed to Haa, Dagana, Tsirang, and Sarpang, where further implementation of the project is planned.

The springshed intervention blends traditional knowledge and innovative practices, including traditional water filtration, to promote clean water, sustainable land management, and soil conservation, while also initiating PES to financially reward environmental stewardship.

The traditional watershed management approach, which focuses on broad catchment areas, fails to address the issue of drying springs. Although protective fencing and afforestation improve water quality and forest cover, they do not guarantee the replenishment of water sources.

Current temporary solutions, such as finding new water sources and building larger reservoirs, fail to address the root causes of water depletion and are unsustainable, according to the Foundation.

The Springshed Management Programme, part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) that started two years ago, is designed to identify recharge areas and restore and revive drying springs and lakes.

The project aims to combat the drying up of water sources and improve livelihoods, fostering peace and cooperation among communities that share these water resources, which are essential for their well-being.

In Chukha, 11 of the 471 water sources have dried up and 89 are drying, which is contributing to water shortages. Pemagatshel, Punakha, and Wangdue are also facing shortages due to sources that are drying up. Of the 7,399 water sources in the country, 0.9 percent (69) have dried up, and 25.1 percent (1,856) are drying.

“Recognising the severity of this issue, the Tarayana Foundation has stepped forward to support rural communities in their efforts to revive and restore their vital water sources, which are crucial for the sustainability of rural livelihoods,” said a Tarayana official.

As part of World Water Week 2024, themed “Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,” the Tarayana Foundation met with stakeholders in Phuentsholing on September 29 to sensitise them about the PES scheme and discuss the way forward.

As we step into the 13th Five-Year Plan, the largest and most ambitious plan yet, it is troubling to realise that we are still wrestling with the same fundamental issues that have haunted us since the 1960s. Food self-sufficiency has been a national priority from the start, yet here we are, decades later, still falling short. It’s time to ask: Why has so little changed?

Our focus seems to be on addressing the marketing challenges faced by farmers. Yes, marketing is an obstacle, but it pales in comparison to the real issues we should be tackling—production capacity and the sustainability of our farming practices. The question isn’t just how we sell what we grow, but why we aren’t growing enough to begin with.

Over the years, successive governments have rolled out various initiatives to boost agricultural productivity. But let’s face it, these efforts have often been half-measures, addressing symptoms rather than the disease. The reality is that our agricultural sector remains fragmented and inefficient, dominated by small-scale farms that lack the capacity to produce at levels that would meet our national demand, let alone allow us to export surplus. This structural inefficiency keeps us locked in a cycle of dependency on imported food, making the dream of self-sufficiency seem ever more elusive.

The time for superficial fixes is over. We need to think bigger, act bolder, and commit to a long-term vision that goes beyond subsidies and incentives. What our farmers need is not just financial support, but the infrastructure and technology that will enable them to scale up production. Imagine the impact of modern irrigation systems that maximise water use, or improved seed varieties that yield more with less land. Imagine a farming community empowered by easy access to affordable credit, able to invest in their future rather than just scraping by in the present.

Sustainability is another critical issue; one we can no longer afford to ignore. The overreliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides is not just unsustainable—it’s dangerous. These practices are eroding our soil and jeopardising public health, creating problems that will take generations to fix. There is an urgent  need to promote sustainable farming practices, like organic farming and crop rotation, which safeguard our environment while securing long-term agricultural productivity.

Our approach to agriculture must also be underpinned by serious investment in research and development. By harnessing the power of science and innovation, we can develop new technologies and practices that are better suited to Bhutan’s unique climate and topography. This is how we make farming more resilient to the growing threats of climate change and environmental degradation.

Education and training are indispensable. Farmers who are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills can become true stewards of the land, capable of driving not just their own prosperity, but also the food security of our entire nation.

The time for half-measures has passed.

If we are to achieve true food self-sufficiency, we must overhaul our approach to agriculture from the ground up. This means addressing the root causes of our challenges, rather than just the symptoms. It means embracing bold, transformative solutions that empower our farmers, protect our environment, and secure our nation’s future.

Chencho Dem

Punakha—Once a quiet roadside settlement, Changyuel in Punakha is undergoing major transformation, turning into a small town of sorts by the Mochhu (river).

It now boasts new restaurants, shops, and even a futsal ground. Some 15 new buildings have mushroomed along the banks of Mochhu. The ancestral home of Changyuel Bum Galem is also located here, drawing both local and tourists alike.

Amid this rapid development, a danger looms— the ever-present threat of flooding.

With their homes and businesses situated a few metres away from Mochhu, local residents live in constant fear of floods, especially during monsoon when the river swells to dangerous levels, surging close to the road’s edge.

A local resident of Changyuel, Kalu, 39, who has lived here for 15 years now, said that it has become a routine to flee in the middle of the night whenever they hear a flood warning.

“I had to flee from my house twice in the middle of the night when we heard a flood was coming,” she said.

She said that during monsoon, she and her family live in constant fear, especially when there is heavy rainfall. “These days, the weather is strange—one moment it’s sunny, and the next, it starts pouring heavily. We have to be constantly on our toes.”

Another resident, Namgay, said although the residents are aware of the danger they also do not have a choice. “We have no other place to go.”

The National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) has issued warnings about rising water levels.

On August 25 last year, early warnings indicated high water levels at Tashithang and Yebesa, prompting alerts for settlements along the Mochhu, including Changyuel. The water at Yebesa reached 3.5 metres, signaling a potential flood threat.

Settlements along the river banks like Changyuel, and Samdingkha in Toewdang gewog were alerted and residents were asked to be ready for evacuation if the water level rises.

On October 8 last year, flash floods were reported in Draagchhukha chiwog of Goenshari gewog at around 12:30am, prompting an evacuation alert for Changyuel residents.  Many fled their homes with only essential items, while others sought refuge in Khuruthang town.

NCHM officials have stated that August and September are still part of the monsoon season. They advise residents, particularly those living near riverbanks, to remain vigilant and keep a close watch on weather and flood warnings.

A study by NCHM also highlighted the potential for catastrophic flooding in Punakha due to Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). In a worst-case scenario, the collapse of the Thorthomi moraine dam could unleash 53 million cubic metres of water—the result of the combined GLOF from Thorthomi and Raphstreng Lakes—creating a flood three times more severe than the 1994 GLOF.

“Flood volume of 53 million cubic metres of water was the research result of a collaborative project with the experts from University of Austria in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This figure is the estimated volume obtained through various lake breaching and hydrological models,” an NCHM official said.

The official said that all the measures put in place along Phochhu and Punatsangchhu were based on such scientific information.

Following two smaller GLOF incidents from Thorthormi Lake in Lunana, both triggered by rising temperatures, the NCHM assessment team concluded that the GLOF hazard level from the lake has increased. “The relocation programme in Lunana was also based on the recommendation of the assessment team,” the NCHM official added. 

Despite past GLOF incidents from Thorthormi Lake, which were triggered by rising temperatures, no relocation plans are currently in place for Changyuel residents.

The Mochhu and Phochhu rivers, originating from glaciers and lakes in the region, pose ongoing threats. Mo Chu’s sources include Gangche Tag and Masagang, while Pho Chu originates from Tsendegang and Table Mountain.

There are two potentially dangerous glacial lakes identified in the headwaters of Mochhu and nine at the source of Phochhu.

Yangyel Lhaden

Wangdue—The country’s first utility-scale solar farm in Sephu, Wangdue, initially planned at 17.38 megawatts (MW), has increased its capacity to 22.38 MW.

The project is divided into two phases. The first phase, which involves constructing 17.38 MW, is scheduled for completion by March of next year. The additional 5 MW, part of the second phase, will be completed by September 2025. All the energy generated from the solar farm will be integrated into the national grid.

“Initially, the project was designed to use about 65 acres in Yongtru village but we were able to procure higher-wattage solar panels, significantly reducing both cost and area requirements,” Site Engineer Keshab Dhakal said. “We had money and land left, which is why we can now construct an additional 5 MW.”

The site for this solar project spans state land, previously used as pasture for grazing cattle in Yongtru and Longmaed villages. Initially planned to use about 65 acres, the project now occupies only 44 acres for the first phase and 19 acres for the second phase, leaving two acres from the original estimate.

The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which has contributed USD 10 million in grants and USD 8.26 million in loans. The government has also invested USD 0.99 million.

“The energy generated from this solar farm is primarily intended to complement hydropower during the lean season, reducing Bhutan’s reliance on energy imports from India,” ADB Project Officer Sonam Zam said. “The country has significant potential to harness solar energy, and this solar farm marks the first step toward diversifying energy sources.”

Despite Bhutan’s main energy source being hydropower, the country imports electricity during the winter and lean seasons. From December 2023 to May 13, 2024, Bhutan imported electricity worth Nu 6.07 billion, a significant increase from Nu 1.75 billion in the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, hydroelectricity exports have been declining, from Nu 24.2 billion in 2021 to Nu 16.67 billion last year.

The government has set ambitious goals to generate 500 MW of solar energy by 2025 and 1,000 MW by 2030.

According to the Renewable Energy Management Master Plan 2016, Bhutan has the potential to generate 12 gigawatts of solar power and 760 MW of wind energy.

The first phase of the Sephu solar farm is expected to produce 25 million units of energy, enough to power 3,476 households, assuming an average urban household consumes five kilowatts of energy.

In addition, this phase could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 24,495.5 tonnes if the generated energy is exported.

“We are yet to work out energy generation and reduction of carbon dioxide from the additional five MW,” Keshab Dhakal said.

For the 22 households affected by the project in Yongtru and Longmaed, the project has blacktopped about two-kilometre farm road. “We are engaging with the community to understand their current needs. We are making holistic arrangements with the public to ensure they are least affected,” Keshab Dhakal said.

༉ སྣུམ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་དེ་ རྣམ་རྟོག་ལང་སི་སི་སྦེ་ ཡར་སེང་སོང་མི་ལུ་ མི་སེར་ཚུ་ དབུགས་འགམ་ཡོད་མི་དང་འབྲེལ་ འདས་པའི་གཞུང་ འབྲུག་མཉམ་རུབ་ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ དེ་བསྒང་ གནད་དོན་ཚབས་ཆེན་ཅིག་ལུ་གྱུར་ཡོད་པའི་ ནམ་དུས་ལུ་ ཁྲལ་གཞི་སྒྱུར་དེ་ མེད་ཐབས་མེདཔ་ཅིག་སྦེ་ སྡོད་ཅི་ཟེར་ དོགས་སེལ་འབདཝ་ཨིན་པས།

སྣུམ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་ཡར་འཕར་དེ་ཡང་ ཁྲལ་གྱི་དཔྱད་ཡིག་༢༠༢༢ ཅན་མ་ འཕྲི་སྣོན་འབད་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ཨིནམ་བཞིན་དུ་ དེ་གིས་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ནང་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་ཚུ་ རྒྱ་ཆེ་དྲགས་སྦེ་ར་ ཡར་འཕར་སོང་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

དཔེར་ན་ ཡོངས་གྲགས་ཅན་གྱི་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་ཨཱོལ་ཊོ་ཀེ་༡༠ ཨེལ་ཨེསི་ཨའི་ཅིག་ལུ་ ད་རེས་ གོང་ཚད་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་ས་ཡ་༠.༧༦ གནས་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

ད་ལྟོའི་གཞུང་གིས་ ད་རེས་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་ཡར་སེང་སོང་མི་དེ་ཡང་ འདས་པའི་གཞུང་གིས་ ཁྲལ་ཡར་སེང་འབད་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ཨིན་ཟེར་ བཀོད་དེ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

དངུལ་རྩིས་བློན་པོ་ ལས་སྐྱིད་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ ད་ལྟོའི་གཞུང་གིས་ ཁྲལ་གསརཔ་ཆ་འཇོག་དང་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་ཚུ་ ག་ནི་ཡང་ ཡར་སེང་འབད་འབདཝ་མེདཔ་ལས་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་ཡར་སེང་སོང་མི་དེ་ གཞུང་༣ པ་གིས་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༢ ལུ་ ཁྲལ་ཡར་སེང་འབད་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཁ་ཙ་ འབྲུག་མཉམ་རུབ་ཚོགས་པ་གི་ གནས་ཚུལ་གསར་བཏོན་ འབད་མི་དང་འཁྲིལལཝ་ད་ ཁོང་ར་གཞུང་སྐྱོང་སྦེ་ སྡོད་པའི་སྐབས་ སྟབས་མ་བདེཝ་དང་ གདོང་ལེན་ཚུ་བྱུང་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ ཁྲལ་གཞི་སྒྱུར་དེ་ དགོས་མཁོ་ཅན་ཅིག་སྦེ་ བྱུང་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ ཁོང་རའི་གནས་ཡུན་སྐབས་ ཀོ་བིཌ་-༡༩ བརྩིས་ཏེ་ དེ་གིས་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ཀྱི་ དཔལ་འབྱོར་ལུ་ འབྱེམ་ཕོག་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ མི་གི་འཚོ་བའི་གནས་སྟངས་ལུ་ ཉེན་ཁ་བྱུང་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ གཞུང་གིས་ གྲོས་ཐག་བཅད་ནི་ལུ་ སྟབས་མ་བདེ་བའི་ གནས་སྟངས་བཟོ་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

སྲིད་དོན་ཉེན་ཁ་བཟོ་ནི་དེ་ ང་བཅས་རའི་ཚོགས་པའི་ གཞི་རྩ་མེནམ་ད་ སྲིད་དོན་གྱི་དམིགས་ཡུལ་མེན་པར་ གནས་སྟངས་དང་བསྟུན་པའི་ དགོས་མཁོ་བྱུང་མི་དང་འཁྲིལ་ཏེ་ ཐག་བཅད་ཅི་ཟེར་ འབྲུག་མཉམ་རུབ་ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ བཀོད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་སཔ།

ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ བཀོད་མིའི་ནང་ ནད་ཡམས་དང་ ཡུ་ཀེ་རན་-ར་ཤི་ཡ་དམག་འཁྲུགས་ལུ་ དཔལ་འབྱོར་གྱི་ འབྱེམ་ཕོག་པའི་ཁར་ ནང་འདྲེན་ལེ་ཤ་འབད་དགོཔ་ཐོན་ཡོདཔ་མ་ཚད་ ཕྱི་དངུལ་ཟུར་གསོག་ལུ་ཡང་ ཐོ་ཕོག་ཅི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཚོགས་པ་གིས་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ ཕྱོགས་གཅིག་ལས་ ཕྱི་དངུལ་ཟུར་གསོག་མར་བབས་དང་ ཕྱོགས་ཅིག་ལས་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་ཁྱད་པར་ སྦོམ་ཐོན་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ གནས་སྟངས་སྐྱོ་དྲགས་བཟོ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ གཞུང་གིས་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༢ ལུ་ ཁྲལ་གྱི་དཔྱད་ཡིག་དེ་ བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་དགོཔ་ བྱུང་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཁྲལ་བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་ཀྱིས་ འོང་འབབ་ཡར་སེང་གི་ མ་དོ་བར་ ཁྲལ་གྱི་ལམ་ལུགས་དེ་ དེང་སང་དང་ཆ་མཐུནམ་སྦེ་ བཟོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ དཔྱེ་ཅིག་བཟོ་བཀོད་མིའི་ནང་ ཉེར་མཁོའི་ཅ་ཆས་ཚུ་གི་ ཁྲལ་མར་ཕབ་དང་ སྔོ་ལྗང་རྩོལ་སྒྲུབ་ གློག་མེ་སྣུམ་འཁོར་དང་ བརྒྱུད་འཕྲིན་ དེ་ལས་ ནུས་ཤུགས་གསོག་འཇོག་འབད་ཚུགས་པའི་ ཅ་ཆས་ཚུ་ལུ་ ཁྲལ་མར་ཕབ་འབད་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཐབས་ལམ་དེ་ཚུ་ཡང་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ཀྱི་ སྔོ་ལྗང་ཡར་དྲག་དང་ ཌི་ཇི་ཊཱལ་དོ་འགྲན་འབད་ནི་གི་ དམིགས་དོན་དང་ རིམ་སྒྲིག་སྟེ་ཨིན་པས།

ཨིན་རུང་ འབྲུག་མཉམ་རུབ་ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་ཡར་སེང་སོང་མི་ལུ་ མི་ཚུ་གིས་ དབུགས་འགམ་མི་ལུ་ ངོས་ལེན་འབད་དེ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཁྲལ་བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་མི་ ཁ་སྐོང་ལུ་ ཐོན་སྐྱེད་དང་ སྐྱེལ་འདྲེན་ དེ་ལས་ ཕྱི་དངུལ་བརྗེ་སོར་གྱི་ ཚད་གཞི་ཡར་འཕར་སོང་མི་དེ་གིས་ཡང་ ལྷག་པར་དུ་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་ཡར་སེང་འགྱོ་ནི་ལུ་ ལྷན་ཐབས་འབད་ནུག་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ད་ལྟོའི་ གཞུང་གིས་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་གོང་ཚད་དང་ ཁྲལ་ཚུ་ལེགས་ཤོམ་སྦེ་ བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་མ་འབད་བར་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་བཀག་དམ་ཡངས་ཆག་བཏང་མི་ལུ་ འབྲུག་མཉམ་རུབ་ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ སྐྱོན་བརྗོད་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ བཀོད་མིའི་ནང་ དེ་བཟུམ་མའི་ གྲོས་ཐག་མ་བཅད་པའི་ཧེ་མར་ ལེགས་ཤོམ་སྦེ་ བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་དགོཔ་དེ་ གལ་ཅན་ཅིག་ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཁྲལ་གྱི་གྲུབ་འབྲས་དེ་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ཀྱི་ དཔལ་འབྱོར་ཡར་དྲག་ལུ་ ཉེར་མཁོ་ཅན་ཅིག་ཨིནམ་བཞིན་དུ་ རྒྱུ་དངོས་ཁྲལ་ཡང་ ཡར་སེང་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ དེ་གིས་ འོང་འབབ་ཡར་སེང་སོང་སྟེ་ ཡོད་ཟེར་ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།
ཨོ་རྒྱན་རྡོ་རྗེ།

༉ འབྲུག་དང་ ཨེ་ཤི་ཡེན་གོང་འཕེལ་དངུལ་ལཁང་ དཔལ་འབྱོར་མཉམ་འབྲེལ་དང་ གོང་འཕེལ་ལས་ཚོགས་ཚུ་གིས་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༤ གི་ ཨེ་ཤི་ཡ་དང་ པེ་སི་ཕིག་གི་ལུང་ཕྱོགས་ཀྱི་ ངན་ལྷད་བཀག་སྡོམ་རྩོལ་སྒྲུབ་ལས་རིམ་དེ་་སྤྱི་ཟླ་༩ པའི་ཚེས་༢༥ ལས་༢༧ ཚུན་འགོ་འདྲེན་འཐབ་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
འབྲུག་གིས་ འདི་བཟུམ་གྱི་གལ་གནད་ཆེ་བའི་ལུང་ཕྱོགས་གྲོས་འཛོམས་དེ་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༡༦ ལུ་འཚོགས་པའི་ཤུལ་ལུ་ ད་རེས་ཐེངས་༢ པ་འཚོགས་དོ་ཡདོཔ་ཨིན་པས།

དེ་ཡང་ གཞུང་གི་ངན་ལྷད་བཀག་སྡོམ་མཉམ་འབྲེལ་སེམས་ཤུགས་ཟེར་བའི་བརྗོད་དོན་ཐོག་ ལོ་བསྟར་ལུང་ཕྱོགས་གྲོས་འཛོམས་ནང་ འཐུས་མི་བརྒྱ་ལས་བཅད་དེ་འོང་ནི་ཨིན་མི་ཚུ་ཡང་ ངན་ལྷད་བཀག་སྡོམ་གྱི་མཁས་མཆོག་དང་ ལགལེན་པ་ཚུ་ འཐུས་མི་༣༤ ཡོད་མི་ཚུ་ནང་ལས་ཨིན་པས།
འཐུས་མི་ཚུ་ཡང་ མི་སྡེ་ཞི་བའི་ལས་ཚོགས་དང་ རྒྱལ་སྤྱི་ལས་ཚོགས་ དེ་ལས་ སྒེར་སྡེ་ཚུ་གིས་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

ངན་ལྷད་བཀག་སྡོམ་ལྷན་ཚོགས་ཀྱིས་ ད་ལྟོ་འཚོགས་ནི་ཨིན་མི་གྲོས་འཛོམས་དེ་ གལ་གནད་ཅན་ཅིག་ཨིནམ་ད་ དེ་ཡང་ ངན་ལྷད་དང་དོ་འགྲན་འབད་ཐོག་ལས་ གཅིག་སྒྲིལ་གནས་རིམ་ཚུ་ གོང་འཕེལ་བཏང་ཐབས་ལུ་ རྩ་འགེངས་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

འབྲུག་གིས་ ལོ་ལྔའི་རིང་ སྐུགས་༦༨ ཐོབ་བཞིན་དུ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ལོ་གཉིས་པའི་སྐབས་ལུ་ སྡེ་རིམ་༢༥ པའི་ནང་ལྷོད་མི་ཚུ་ཡང་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༣ ཟླ་༡ པའི་ཚེས་༣༡ ལུ་ དྭངས་གསལ་ཅན་གྱི་ རྒྱལ་སྤྱི་ངན་ལྷད་མངོན་རྟོགས་བརྡ་དོན་༢༠༢༢ གསར་བཏོན་འབད་མི་དང་བསྟུན་ཨིན་པས།

འབྲུག་དེ་རྒྱལ་ཁབ་༡༢༤ གི་གྲངས་སུ་ ཡོདཔ་ད་ འདས་པའི་ལོ་བཅུ་ཕྲག་ནང་ ཨེ་ཤི་ཡ་པེ་སི་ཕིག་རུང་ཕྱོགས་ནང་ལས་ ཨང་༦ པའི་གྲངས་སུ་ཚུད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

ངན་ལྷད་བཀག་སྡོམ་འགོ་དཔོན་གྱིས་ གསལ་བཤད་འབད་མིའི་ནང་ ད་ལྟོ་འཚོགས་ནི་ཨིན་མི་ གྲོས་འཛོམས་ནང་ སྒེར་སྡེ་ཚུ་གིས་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་པ་ཅིན་ འབྲུག་གི་ཚོང་འབྲེལ་གོང་འཕེལ་ལུ་ ཕན་ཐོགས་འབྱུང་ཚུགས་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༠ ལུ་་འཛམ་གླིང་དངུལ་ཁང་གིས་་འབྲུག་དེ་རྒྱལ་ཁབ་༡༩༠ ཡོད་པའི་གྲས་ལས་ ཨང་༨༩ པའི་ནང་ཚུད་ཡོདཔ་ད་ སྡེ་རིམ་ཡར་འཛེགས་མར་བབས་དེ་ལུ་ གདོང་ལེན་ཚུ་ སྦོམ་ར་བྱུང་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ དེ་ཁར་ བདག་སྐྱོང་མགོ་རྙོག་བྱ རིམ་ ཐོབ་དབང་ཚད་ཅིག་ལས་མེད་མི་ དངུལ་འབྲེལ་ནང་ཚད་ཅིག་ལས་མེད་མི་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་གྱི་ལམ་སྲོལ་དེ་ལུ་ བྱ་སྟབས་མ་བདེཝ་ཡོད་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་བརྟེན་ཨིན་པས།

འགོ་དཔོན་གྱིས་ དཔལ་འབྱོར་ནང་ སྒེར་སྡེ་ཚུ་གིས་་འགན་ཁུར་སྦོམ་འབག་དགོཔ་སྦེ་ཨིནམ་ད་ དེ་ཡང་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་ཚུ་ རྒྱལ་སྤྱིའི་ནང་ ག་ར་ལུ་ཤེས་རྟོགས་བྱུང་དགོཔ་འདུག་ཟེར་ཨིནམ་བཞིན་དུ་ འབྲུག་གི་སྒེར་སྡེ་ཚུ་གིས་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་ཚུ་ ཁེ་སང་ལུ་གཙོ་རིམ་སྒྲིག་པ་ཅིན་ དེ་གིས་ ཡུན་བརྟན་ལུ་ གནོད་ཉེན་ཡོདཔ་མ་ཚད་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་གྱི་གོ་སྐབས་ཡང་ ཉུང་སུ་འོང་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

རྒྱལ་ཁབ་གཞན་ཁ་བཟུམ་ཅིག་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ གལ་སྲིད་ཚོང་མགྲོན་པ་ཅིག་གིས་ ངོས་ལེན་ལེགས་ཤོམ་མེད་པའི་སྐོར་ལས་ ལོ་རྒྱུས་རེ་ཐོནམ་འདྲཝ་འབད་རུང་ དེ་འཕྲོ་ལས་ དེ་ཚུ་ལུ་ དང་ལེན་འབད་དེ་ ཡུན་བརྟན་ལུ་གཙོ་རིམ་སྒྲིགཔ་ཨིན་ཟེར་ ཁོོ་གིས་བཤདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

འབྲུག་པའི་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་པ་ཚུ་གིས་ འདི་བཟའུམ་གྱི་གནས་སྟངས་ཚུ་ལུ་ སྦྱང་བ་འབད་དགོཔ་ཡང་ གལ་ཆེ་བས་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

གྲོས་འཛོམས་ནང་ གསལ་བཤད་པ་༧༠ དགོ་མི་ལས་ ཁ་ཙ་ཚུན་ལུ་ ༣༥ དེ་བརྟན་འཁེལ་སོང་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

ཚེ་རིང་དབང་འདུས།

༉ པེ་རིསི་ལུ་སྦེ་ པེ་རི་ལིམ་པིག་རྩེད་རིགས་ཐེངས་༡༧ པའི་ནང་ འབྲུག་ལས་ པེ་ར་ཤུ་ཊར་ ཀུན་ལེགས་སྒྲོལམ་གིས་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་དོ་ ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ འབྲུག་གིས་ ལས་རིམ་ནང་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་མི་དེ་ ད་རེས་ ཐེངས་༢ པ་ཨིན་པས།
འབྲུག་ལས་ ལས་རིམ་ནང་ མི་ཕུད་རྡོག་གཅིག་ལས་བརྒལ་མེད་མི་ ཀུན་ལེགས་སྒྲོལམོ་གིས་ མི་ཊར་༡༠ འབད་མི་ ཀྲོབ་མདའ་ཚ་རྐྱབ་ནི་ འགྲན་བསྡུར་ནང་ དོ་འགྲན་འབད་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
མོ་གིས་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ ལས་རིམ་འགོ་འབྱེད་ནང་ འབྲུག་པའི་རྒྱལ་དར་འབག་ནི་ལུ་ དགའ་བ་དང་ དཔའ་ཉམས་ཚད་མེདཔ་ བྱུང་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཉིན་བསྟར་བཞིན་དུ་ དབང་པོ་སྐྱོན་ཅན་ཚུ་ལུ་ དཀའ་ངལ་ལེ་ཤ་བྱུང་ཡོད་རུང་ གལ་སྲིད་ ཁོང་ལུ་སེམས་ཤུགས་ཐོག་ལས་ བརྩོན་ཤུགས་བསྐྱེད་པ་ཅིན་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་དང་ དགའ་བ་ཚུ་ ཐོབ་ཚུགས་པས་ཟེར་ ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

༉ ཁ་ཙ་ མི་དབང་རྒྱལ་བཙུན་མཆོག་དང་ མི་དབང་རྒྱལ་སྲས་ ཨོ་རྒྱན་དབང་ཕྱུག་མཆོག་གིས་ ལྕེ་ལི་ལ་ལུ་ བྱང་ཆུབ་མཆོད་རྟེན་གསར་སྒྲུབ་ཀྱི་ རབ་གནས་གནང་སར་ དབུ་བཞུགས་མཛད་གནང་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

མཆོད་རྟེན་དེ་ཡང་ མི་དབང་མངའ་བདག་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་མཆོག་གིས་ བཀའ་གནངམ་བཞིན་དུ་ མི་དབང་རྒྱལ་སྲས་ཨོ་རྒྱན་དབང་ཕྱུག་ སྐུ་འཁྲུངས་པའི་ དུས་སྟོན་བརྩི་སྲུང་གི་དོན་ལུ་ བསྟན་པ་འཛིན་སྐྱོང་སྤེལ་གསུམ་གྱི་ མཛད་བྱ་ཅིག་སྦེ་ བཞེངས་བཞེངསམ་ཨིན་པས།

བྱང་ཆུབ་མཆོད་རྟེན་དེ་ འཁོར་ལམ་ཡོད་སའི་ མཐོ་ཤོས་ཅིག་ཨིན་མི་ ལྕེ་ལི་ལ་ལུ་ བཞེངས་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ས་གནས་དེ་ཁ་ལས་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ནང་འཁོད་ཀྱི་ གནས་རྩ་ཅན་ ལེ་ཤ་ཅིག་ར་ མཇལ་ཚུགས་དོ་ ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

མཆོད་རྟེན་རབ་གནས་གནངམ་དང་འབྲེལ་ གཏེར་སྟོན་འབྲུག་སྒྲ་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ ས་གནས་དེ་ཁར་ མཆོད་རྟེན་ཅིག་ བཞེངས་གནང་པ་ཅིན་ འབྲུག་ཡུལ་སྲུང་སྐྱོབ་འབད་ནི་ ཨིནམ་མ་ཚད་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་དང་ མི་སེར་ལུ་ ཕན་སྦོམ་སྦེ་ར་ ཐོགས་ཚུགས་ཟེར་བའི་ ལུང་བསྟན་གནང་ཡོད་མི་དེ་ཡང་ བསྒྲུབས་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

རབ་གནས་ཀྱི་ གསུང་ཆོ་དེ་ གཞུང་གྲྭ་ཚང་གི་ རྡོ་རྗེ་སློབ་དཔོན་མཆོག་ དབུ་བཞུགས་ཐོག་ལས་ གནང་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

རབ་གནས་རྟེན་འབྲེལ་ནང་ མི་དབང་རྒྱལ་ཡུམ་ཚེ་རིང་གཡང་སྒྲོན་དབང་ཕྱུག་དང་ མི་དབང་རྒྱལ་ཡུམ་སངས་རྒྱས་ཆོས་སྒྲོན་དབང་ཕྱུག་ དེ་ལས་ མི་དབང་རྒྱལ་པོའི་སྲསམོ་ བདེ་ཆེན་དབྱངས་འཛོམས་དབང་ཕྱུག་ དེ་ལས་ ཡུམ་བསོད་ནམས་ཆོས་སྐྱིད་ཚུ་གིས་ གྲལ་བཞུགས་གནང་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

མཆོད་རྟེན་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་འབད་མི་ ཚོགས་ཆུང་གི་འཐུས་མི་དང་ མཆོད་རྟེན་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་ནང་ གྲལ་གཏོགས་འབད་མི་ བདེ་སྲུངཔ་ཚུ་གིས་ཡང་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

མཆོད་རྟེན་བཞེངས་ནི་གི་ ལཱ་ཚུ་ཡང་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༡ ཟླ་༢ པའི་ནང་ལས་ འགོ་བཙུགས་ཏེ་ ད་ལྟོའི་ཟླཝ་ནང་ མཇུག་བསྡུ་ཡོད་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

ཨོ་རྒྱན་རྡོ་རྗེ།

KP Sharma

As public frustration grows over the sharp rise in vehicle prices, the former ruling party, Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), has defended its tax reforms, asserting that these measures were essential during a time of unprecedented crisis.

The spike in vehicle costs has been linked to the Tax Amendment Bill 2022, which  has significantly impacted the pricing of automobiles in the country. For instance, the popular Alto K10 LXI, with a cylinder capacity of 998cc, now costs a staggering Nu 0.76 million.

The current government has distanced itself from the controversy, attributing the increase in vehicle prices to the tax reforms initiated by the previous government.   

Finance Minister Lekey Dorji last week said that the current government did not endorse any new tax hikes and the increase in vehicle prices is due to the taxes raised by the third government in 2022.

In a press release yesterday, the DNT stated that the tax reforms were a necessary response to the severe challenges faced by the country during their tenure.

The party highlighted that Bhutan faced a series of crises during its tenure, including the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent economic fallout, which threatened both lives and livelihoods, forcing the DNT government to make difficult decisions.

“It is not in our principles to pull political stunts, let alone try during such adversities,” the DNT stated, adding that its decisions were driven by necessity rather than political motives.

DNT explained that the economic impact of the pandemic, compounded by the Russia-Ukraine war, significantly increased imports, severely straining the country’s foreign reserves. “Caught between the devil and the sea, we were left with fast depleting foreign reserves on one hand and ballooning trade deficit on the other,” the party stated. And faced with this dire situation, the DNT introduced the vehicle import embargo and revised the Tax Bill in 2022.

Defending its approach to taxation, DNT argued these steps were aimed not only at increasing revenue but also at modernising the tax system.

The party cited examples of tax reductions on essential items and green initiatives, such as cutting taxes on hybrid and electric vehicles and eliminating taxes on mobile phones and energy-saving devices.

These measures, the DNT stated, aligned with the country’s vision for green growth and digital competency.

However, DNT acknowledged the public’s frustration over rising vehicle costs. “With the tax revision playing up the cost of vehicles today, while increases in production, transportation, and foreign exchange rates have also added to the amount, we understand the prevailing public sentiments.”

The DNT also criticised the current government for lifting the vehicle import moratorium without conducting a thorough review of vehicle pricing and taxes. The party argued that such a review should have been conducted before lifting the moratorium.

The former ruling party also reiterated its belief in progressive taxation as essential for the country’s growth, pointing to the revision of property tax during their tenure, which resulted in increased revenue, much of which is being channeled into infrastructure and services in rural areas.

“We have also lost enough time in looking back and blaming the past. This was never a part of the DNT’s game,” the party said, urging the government to view the taxation system through the lens of nation-building rather than populism.