Bhutan Daily News 16-04-23

Art is a significant part of Bhutan’s unique and rich cultural identity which has been part of our heritage for many years. In order to display the vibrant nature of traditional arts, the Royal Textile Academy organised the opening of the 21st National Design and Art Competition. The event was graced by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck. Artists and artisans from across the country will be displaying their art and design which will showcase six categories; weaving gho and kira, embroidery, traditional painting, sculpture and wood carving. The winners of the competition were also announced at the event. The exhibition will be open to the public following the inauguration.

The multi-level car parking in Thimphu was constructed to ease parking issues in the capital. But of late, the place seems to have become a hideout for youth to engage in unhealthy activities such as substance abuse and fighting. According to KCR, a private firm that operates the parking, if left unattended, the increasing incidents may lead to unforeseen and potentially dangerous situations. The company says schools, police and parents need to work together to address the issue.

Residents of Dagana town and the nearby areas are still awaiting the State Trading Corporation of Bhutan to start the construction of a new fuel depot. The Dagana District Administration has allotted 40 decimals of land in Tsanglekha in Tseza Gewog to the STCBL for the cause. And the work, according to the STCBL, will start in August this year.

To promote healthy lifestyle and learning for the growing youth population in Gelephu, the Youth Development Fund has opened its Nazhoen Pelri Hub in the bordering town. The facility which comes with a new 7-sided futsal court, the largest of its kind in the town was launched today. It is located at Trashiling Demkhong of Gelephu Thromde near Gelephu Higher Secondary School.

A fire which started at Tsangkhar of Drepung Gewog in Monggar has destroyed more than a thousand acres of forest. The fire erupted on Thursday and has yet to be contained. Meanwhile, the forest fires at Kalapang-Risa Chiwog in Saling Gewog and Sungkara village in Kengkhar Gewog were contained.

The pedestrian terminal in Phuentshogling will soon have waiting sheds and canopies for pedestrians at the exit point. With the monsoon season approaching, the Phuentshogling Thromde is constructing these amenities. Almost 70 per cent of the works are complete as of now.

Residents of Wangringmo and Doksum town in Trashi Yangtse are struggling with waste management issues after the district’s lone waste collector truck broke down earlier this month. Without any other alternatives, they are forced to pile their wastes in sacks near their homes for days and weeks.

Residents of Khothangkha Chiwog at Ruebisa Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang are seeing what they call some unprecedented developmental activities. They attribute this to the start of one of the Gyalsung Infra Projects in their community. The residents say the project is helping them improve their living standard with better infrastructure. The village which once was on the verge of disappearance is gradually seeing some of its people return home to start their lives all over again with renewed hopes.

A forest fire which started at around 2 PM in Thasa Chiwog of Laja Gewog in Dagana is still raging. Around 10 acres of Chirpine forest were lost to the fire.Firefighters including Gewog officials, foresters and villagers are at the site to contain the fire. According to sources, thick Chirpine leaves and strong wind at the site are hampering their effort. The cause of the fire has yet to be officially ascertained.However, according to an eyewitness, the fire started from a transmission line.