Bhutan Daily News 21-03-23

1. It came as a respite for the people of Jangphutse village in Trashiyangtse when the six-kilometer mule track was constructed some two years ago. While the distance has been shortened by about two hours, the narrow and steep track has become risky for the travelers. The mule track is the only route that connects them to other villages.

2. With the construction of the irrigation channel nearing completion, the Bhutan Livestock Development Corporation and the people of Samrang Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar are expected to get enough clean irrigation water within a few weeks. Until now, most of the farmland in the gewog were left fallow owing to water shortage, and some animals even died at the Bhutan Livestock Development Corporation’s farm due to water contamination.

3. To have a convenient motorable bridge over Punatshangchhu at Khuruthang in Punakha has remained a long-awaited dream for road users. Due to an increasing number of road users, the current single-lane bailey bridge over the river poses a high risk of accidents. However, the issue is expected to be addressed soon. The work to construct a concrete permanent bridge has been awarded to a contractor. If everything goes as planned, the bridge will be ready for use by the end of 2025. The bridge connects Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang.

4. If the country is hit by an earthquake, the houses in the south are at a higher risk of suffering more damage. This is according to the findings of a six-year project on the evaluation and mitigation of seismic risk for composite masonry buildings in Bhutan. The project is recommending households in the south to construct houses based on the newly developed construction manual.

5. Dragon boys had a light training session at ANFA complex ground. We will face Laos 🇱🇦 on 25th March.

6. The 118MW Nikachhu Hydro Energy Project in Trongsa crossed another milestone with the second stage of river diversion done on Sunday. With the diversion tunnel plugged in, the dam is now ready to store water.

7. Farmers in eastern dzongkhags relied on mediators and agents for seeds every year. However, the quality of seeds they were provided was not always up to their expectations.

8. Bhutan’s under (U)-17 national women’s football team lost to host Bangladesh 1-8 in the second game of the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship yesterday in Dhaka.

9. Bhutan’s first mega solar plant, which is planned for Sephu in Wangdue from March this year, awaits final approval from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).