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Residents in Bumthang say that the bad road condition in Bumthang town and those leading towards the town is affecting their daily commute. While the Nangar-Chamkhar road had been resurfaced, some stretches still remain damaged. Similarly, the road leading to the district court has been in dire condition for a couple of years now. Residents say that maintaining these roads would benefit them. The residents of Samchholing Khamaed in Dragteng Gewog and Kela village of Tangsibji Gewog in Trongsa are still awaiting the Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project Authority to begin construction of their staff quarters. Around five years ago, the residents of these two villages sold more than 25 acres of land to the project for a little over two million ngultrum anticipating developmental activities in return. But today, with the plan still on paper, the villagers are unsure if it will materialize at all. With no mobile voting booths available for National Council Elections and postal ballots for senior citizens and physically challenged individuals done away with, many individuals could have missed out on the chance to vote. In Samdrup Jongkhar, though some physically challenged individuals came forward to vote on their wheelchairs, people like Tobgay and his bedridden wife were not able to exercise the franchise this time. Age did not matter for the voters of Pemagatshel. They voted for the youngest candidate of the three to represent them in the House of Review. Jamyang Namgyal, 34, is the National Council (NC) elected from Pemagatshel. Against all odds, the 2023 National Council election was a surprise in many ways. First up, many thought and even concluded that the voter turnout would be the poorest this election year. This comes on the heels of the restrictions on postal ballot and doing away with postal ballot facilitation booths. Many concluded and some were even waiting to prove the Election Commission of Bhutan wrong in their decisions. Despite apprehensions that voter turnout would drop this election year, the turnout yesterday was the highest so far in the National Council elections. Around 30,000 more voters cast their votes in the fourth National Council elections yesterday compared with the third council elections. As per the Election Commission of Bhutan’s record, 265,465 voters cast their vote out of the 485,811 registered voters in the country. Sonam Tenzin wins Trashiyangtse’s National Council seat. In a dramatic turn of events, Sonam Tenzin, 36, was elected yesterday as the new National Council (NC) member for Trashiyangtse with a whopping 3,624 votes. Chukha re-elected the 42-year-old former school principal and incumbent NC member Sangay Dorji yesterday. He won with 7,958 votes out of the 15,176 votes cast. Sangay Dorji from Gedu village in Bongo beat his four opponents in both EVM votes and postal ballots. He secured 5,454 EVM votes and 2,504 postal ballots. Securing 24.83 percent of the total votes cast, Sonam Tobgyel from Phongmey Gewog is the National Council (NC) elected from Trashigang.

Elderly voters rest after voting in Paro. They said they are aware of the roles and responsibilities of the National Council and voted for the right candidate. BBS is all set to go live for the coverage of the National Council Elections 2023 poll day today. The live coverage starts at 9 AM. The United Nations in Bhutan launched its Annual Country Results Report for the year 2022 on 6 April. In 2022, the UN delivered in four outcome areas in Data and Policy outcome, Essential Social Services outcome, Governance outcome, and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction outcome. In the Annual Country Results, strengthening institutions under the Royal Government to become more capable in producing timely and reliable data and statistics is covered under the Data and Policy outcome. Ministry of Health will administer the fifth dose of Covid-19 vaccine for people aged 65 and above and those with commodities. The eligible cohorts are urged to register through Bhutan Vaccine System. Registration must be completed no later than April 20, according to the ministry. Border gates across the southern dzongkhags remain closed for 24 hours beginning at 6pm yesterday as the nation goes to the National Council polls today. An Alto toppled below the road going to Ruebisa gewog center. A witness said that there were two people in the car. A man and a woman were going to vote at the center. The witness said the woman who suffered head injuries was rushed to hospital. Towns across the country wear a deserted look as businesses, schools, and offices remain closed on poll day.The first heavy rain after months in Thimphu tested our drainage and sewerage systems. The result is obvious. The residents in the core city and thromde workers know best. It has become a norm that whenever there is heavy rain in the capital city, the sewer starts spilling onto the Norzin Lam or on other roads of Thimphu. The number of acute water shortage days for residents of Tsirangtoed Gewog are numbered. The survey for the drinking water project has been completed under the water flagship programme following a proposal from the Tsirangtoed Gewog administration through Tsirang dzongkhag administration. The first heavy rain after months in Thimphu tested our drainage and sewerage systems. The result is obvious. The residents in the core city and thromde workers know best. It has become a norm that whenever there is heavy rain in the capital city, the sewer starts spilling onto the Norzin Lam or on other roads of Thimphu.

The vegetable vendors in Gelephu have to wait for some more time to get the new integrated shed. It has been more than two years since the construction of the integrated vegetable shed in Gelephu began. The contractor has already missed three deadlines and the shed is supposed to be complete by next month. But according to Gelephu Thromde, the contractor might miss the fourth deadline as well. In an effort to produce highly skilled technical professionals, the Government Technology Agency or GovTech organized a three-month-long training about machine learning. ICT professionals from the corporate and private sectors attended the training which ended last week. Machine learning is a branch of Artificial Intelligence and computer science that builds computer systems which can imitate intelligent human behavior. Such training is expected to help Bhutan achieve its vision of digital transformation. Traveling in public buses is a lot safer now. All public buses are now equipped with Global Positioning System or GPS to ensure public safety. The system, used to track location, enables monitoring of the bus’s movement and speed limit. In the event of an accident involving a bus, the system can easily track the location of the vehicle. The people living in the peripheral area of Dramedtse town in Mongar will no longer have to worry about meeting their daily water needs. The old drinking water source which was left unused due to a damaged pipe was restored and maintained recently. People say the current water at Chhukhor is not enough for the increasing population. The country is all set to go to the polls tomorrow for the fourth National Council Elections. The Election Commission has deployed more than 6,000 officials in polling stations across the country. 89 candidates are going to contest for the 20 seats in the National Council. In Trashi Yangtse, land development works have not only made agricultural fields accessible to farm machinery but also improved crop yield. The work, which was initiated in 2019 has been successful according to the beneficiaries. After it was carried out in most of the gewogs, it is now being replicated in other gewogs as well. The work is done by respective gewog offices, free of charge. Kishuthara weavers of Khoma in Lhuentse will soon get their much-awaited showroom. The Gewog Administration in collaboration with the Department of Tourism will be starting works to construct the showroom latest by July this year. Khoma is known for its age-old tradition of weaving Kishuthara, an intricately patterned silk textile. Almost 80 per cent of the villagers continue to depend on weaving even today as their main source of income. However, without a showroom, marketing their prized handwoven textiles has remained a challenge for most weavers in the gewog. As I sat enthralled under the canopy of a moon-blessed evening-sky in the all-embracing courtyard of the Happy Bamboo Family home in TTG, I was face-to-face with the most sublime manifestation of Vietnamese grace and elegance. The four young ladies dressed in the royal regalia of ancient Vietnam performed what might have been the finest expression of the country’s rich musical heritage to the accompaniment of equally talented instrumentalists. The Muse herself sang in the haunting voice of the born-singers to the soft beat of an accomplished three-member band. Art and artists became one and the past returned to the present to honor the timeless culture of a great country that ought to be Vietnam. After 24 years of observing the World Trade Organization (WTO), Bhutan is studying its accession to joining the organization following its graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status by the end of this year.This move could open up new opportunities for Bhutan's economy but also comes with certain obligations and commitments.

Oyster mushroom farming, both for commercial and self-consumption, is becoming popular among the farmers in Tsirang. Encouraged by thriving businesses and marketing opportunities, many mushroom farms are mushrooming in the dzongkhag, besides agriculture and livestock production. With the lease term for old Chamkhar town set to expire in the next four months or so, the Bumthang District Administration is gearing up to relocate the town. As of now, the three Local Area Plans or LAPs of Dekiling, Jalikhar, and Chamkhar are being readied where the residents of the old town are expected to settle. 51 house construction works have been approved in the three new townships currently. Good news for sports enthusiasts in Haa. The much-awaited multi-sports hall in the district is expected to be completed by the end of this month. With the completion of the two-storey indoor multi-sports hall, the district expects to attract sports enthusiasts not only from the district but also from across the country. The Chubu Tshachu in Punakha does not have proper facilities like toilets, streetlights, and electricity in some areas. Visitors are lamenting the fact that they are made to pay rental charges despite the hot spring lacking basic amenities. With the number of customers declining, the business community of Dagapela Town in Dagana are worried. Shopkeepers say the opening of the Dalbari-Dagapela secondary national highway and a few other farm roads have made it easier for people to travel to other places. As the country prepares for the Fourth National Council elections on Thursday, polling officers are being trained and deployed to their stations. According to the ECB's Final Electoral Roll, there are a total of 485,811 voters in the country. Of which, 105,704 have registered as postal voters. Refresher course for polling officials underway in all the districts. His Majesty The King arrived in Phuentsholing this evening, travelling from Samdrup Jongkhar today during the ongoing Royal Tour of the southern dzongkhags. While in Samdrup Jongkhar, His Majesty granted Audiences to the 57th Batch Desuung training programme ongoing in Dewathang, and dzongkhag sector heads from Samdrup Jongkhar. The 57th Batch Desuung training programme is taking place simultaneously in Dewathang, Jigmeling (Sarpang), Tashigatshel (Chukha), Tendruk and Tashicholing (Samtse). On the Royal Tour which began on 15th April, His Majesty visited Punakha, Tsirang and Gelephu, granting Audiences to dzongkhag sector heads from Wangdue, Punakha, Dagana, Tsirang, and Sarpang. As Bhutan prepares to head to the polls to elect the 20 National Council (NC) representatives on April 20, preparations are happening at dizzying speed, but with utmost care. Polling officials are being trained and deployed to their stations. A total of 74 entries competed at the 21st annual National Design and Arts Competition (NDAC) held at the Royal Textile Academy (RTA) on April 16. Her Majesty the Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck was the chief guest at the event.

Residents in Trongsa town are still waiting for the district administration to construct the planned four-storeyed multi-level car parking in the town. With the construction works nowhere in sight, residents are still faced with acute parking congestion. However, it is now not known whether the much-awaited facility would be built at all. After a decade of using electric fencing and facing constant challenges in coexisting with wildlife, the residents of Tongling in Lhuentse’s Minjey Gewog have decided to switch to chain-link fencing. This village will be the first in the district to receive this type of fencing. The government has initiated multiple chain-link fencing projects across the country to enclose more than 3,000 acres of agricultural land and help nearly 1,000 households. Chain-link fencing is a type of fence made of galvanized or steel wire and has a zig-zag pattern of wires. As the country continues to face human resource shortage, four gewogs of Umling, Taraythang, Chhuzergang and Serzhong in Sarpang are grappling with inadequate land surveyors. The shortage has hampered the provision of quality and timely public service. The issue was raised in the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu. The Bhutan Transparency Initiative recommends the justice institutions in the country to establish Standard Operating Procedure or SOP, institute an independent grievance redressal organisation and improve access to justice among others. These were found out after the CSO studied the quality of services provided by various justice institutions in the country. The report called as the Citizen Report on Quality of Justice Services, a first of its kind was launched last week in Paro. In Trashigang, the COVID Hospital in Kanglung, which was purchased by the government for almost Nu 160 M, remains unused and is now covered in overgrown bushes. Originally Kelki High School, the infrastructure was converted into a 150-bed COVID Hospital during the pandemic, but it has yet to be utilized. Despite being completed for over a year, the hospital has remained idle. To enhance the health care system in Bhutan, the Ministry of Health (MoH) officially launched its Electronic Patient Information System (ePIS) on 14 April 2023. This comprehensive, integrated Electronic Health Record (EHR) system has been designed to streamline healthcare processes, reduce medical errors, and improve patient outcomes. The plan to construct the ground breaking 57-kilometer railway link connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan by 2026 has been shelved, at least for the time being. Contrary to reports in the Indian and local media, the completion date and funding of the railway project linking Kokrajhar and Gelephu in Bhutan cannot be confirmed at this time despite the initial enthusiasm for the railway project and the proposed stations. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources minister Loknath Sharma said that the commissioning and completion of the project, as well as the funding for it, are far from certain until a comprehensive and detailed project report (DPR) is formally established. As the first phase of chain-linked fencing projects worth Nu 174 million (M) is being implemented in all 20 dzongkhags, local wire mesh manufacturers find themselves at the losing end. An alarming trend of high attrition rates among health and education professionals in Bhutan has sparked concerns about the country’s ability to maintain essential services. Oyster mushroom farming, both for commercial and self-consumption, is becoming popular among the farmers in Tsirang. Encouraged by thriving businesses and marketing opportunities, many mushroom farms are mushrooming in the dzongkhag, besides agriculture and livestock production.

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.

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Fuel stations in Phuentshogling have been running short of diesel for the last few days. This has left several vehicles stranded and has also affected the construction works in the town. A few officials in the fuel depots said although they have been receiving fuel almost every day, shortage in other depots incurred more pressure on them. However, fuel depots started receiving trucks carrying diesel earlier this evening. A forest fire is raging at Chumeydrang in Gangzur Gewog in Lhuentse. The fire started around 2 PM today. Desuups, foresters and police are battling the forest fire. The cause has yet to be ascertained. Farmers of Yalang-Phuyang chiwog of Yalang Gewog in Trashi Yangtse cultivate chilli on a large scale. The spice is one of the main sources of income for them. The chilli from the area hit the market at this time of year. This year, farmers said, the production is good but they are not able to fetch a good price. Haa is among one of the smallest districts in the country. But the valley of close to 14 thousand inhabitants is dealing with a waste issue perhaps bigger than its size. The district is facing several waste-related issues such as waste reduction, segregation and poor awareness and monitoring. The district administration’s initiative to engage the civil servants and the residents in cleaning the town once every month is expected to bring about some positive changes in the way people manage their wastes. Equipping oneself with various life skills is necessary to navigate this fast-paced and ever-changing world. In an effort to help the support staff acquire life skills that will enhance their livelihoods, the Gasa District Administration has begun the ‘Skills for Life’ training from last week following directives from the Royal Civil Service Commission. In what is a huge shift from fetching water on their backs just a year ago, the villagers in Nyasikhar Chiwog in Pema Gatshel’s Chhimung Gewog are now harvesting rainwater and using water pumps to meet their daily water needs. With access to water aplenty, villagers in the Chiwog are now venturing into kitchen gardening as well. It has been almost seven years since the Nangar-Ura bypass in Bumthang was completed. The road which is expected to improve connectivity and economic opportunities has rather brought unforeseen challenges to businesses in Chamkhar town. Business owners in Chamkhar say they are facing a dearth of customers as most private vehicles and passenger buses travel along the bypass. Although it cannot be ascertained, if it is the lack of customers or the Bumthang District Administration’s plan to relocate Chamkhar town, a few shops in the town have been forced to shut down their businesses. Expect to be fined if you are caught disposing waste illegally while you are on the road in Punakha. The Punakha District Administration has completed works to install CCTV cameras along the highway between Punakha and Thimphu. The district started this initiative last month to address waste management issues along the highway. The Wangdue Phodrang District Court sentenced two men to life imprisonment in two separate cases of statutory rape. The court passed the judgements yesterday. Both incidents happened last year.

Bhutan is to soon graduate from the Least Developed Countries and the Prime Minister assured that it is a proud moment for the country. The Prime Minister also said that Bhutan is ready to graduate after two consecutive assessments and that graduation from LDC will not impact its relationship with the Government of India. His Royal Highness Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck graced the golden jubilee celebration of Muenselling Institute at Khaling in Trashigang yesterday. More than 200 visually impaired students have graduated from the institute since its inception. The institute was established in 1973 upon the command of His Royal Highness Prince Namgyal Wangchuck, with Einar Kippenes from Norway as the first Principal and three students. Healthcare service across the country is expected to become more efficient. The Health Ministry officially launched its electronic patient information system or e-PIS today at the National Referral Hospital. With the launch of the system, health centres across the country will soon start keeping track of medical records online. The system is a part of the Digital Drukyul Flagship Programme of the 12th Five Year Plan, which is expected to transform Bhutan into a smart and inclusive country by harnessing the potential of information and communications technology. People exiting the pedestrian terminal in Phuentshogling will no longer have to pay the user fee of Nu 10 starting today. This is in accordance with the Cabinet Secretary’s notification issued last month. However, people entering the terminal will have to continue paying the user fee. The Ambassadors of Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Egypt, Spain, Slovak Republic, Mongolia and Serbia, presented their credentials to His Majesty The King at the Tashichhodzong this morning. His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Those business entities that are not making use of current deposit or CD accounts are likely to be fined during Tax Assessment. The Department of Revenue and Customs will be checking both the CD and saving accounts of business entities in a move to address tax evasion. Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Dr Tandi Dorji said this during the Meet the Press session today. Gasa is determined to bring back the famous Gasa Tshachhu. Restoration works, landslide mitigation, and infrastructure development works among others are in full swing today. If everything goes as planned, people can expect to soak in the Tshachhu again by September this year. Bhutan Tendrel Party declared one more candidate today. 41-year-old Dorji from Nabji village in Korphu Gewog will represent the party from the Dragteng-Langthil constituency in Trongsa. He has masters in Instructional Leadership and Management from the Paro College of Education. He has worked as a teacher for 17 years and served as the Principal of Langthil Lower Secondary School before joining the party. BTP has announced 28 candidates so far. The ongoing work to lay water pipeline works in Samtse town has worsened the condition of roads along several stretches making life difficult for people residing in the area, especially near the main road. Residents claim the delay in the repair of the roads dug up for laying water pipelines has increased dust pollution and caused great inconveniences to motorists and pedestrians.

The Trans Bhutan Trail, a popular ancient route, has become a hub for adventurers and trekkers since its opening last year. Many have walked the trail for recreation and to immerse themselves in the stunning natural beauty of Bhutan. But for a group of tourists, this journey holds a deeper meaning. Teaming up with the staff and alumni of the Choki Traditional Art School in Thimphu, a group of tourists walked the Trans Bhutan Trail to raise funds for the school. Their aim is to support the school’s mission of providing free education, food, and lodging to its students. The country reopened its border gates for tourists in September last year after a gap of over two years. However, providing visitors with basic amenities such as clean environment and hygienic restrooms are still a concern as per the Department of Tourism. In order to ensure that the visitors have access to clean restrooms and other basic infrastructure, the department outsourced the management of the roadside amenities starting with restrooms to a private firm on a pilot basis beginning this year. The firm currently manages two restrooms along the Phajoding Trail in Thimphu. The locals of Tsephu-Khawakha Chiwog in Punakha’s Toewang Gewog are concerned about the preservation of their village’s tradition. They are afraid their one-day annual Tshechu at the Nya Lhakhang may not continue for much longer due to lack of funds to pay the mask dancers. The Nya Lhakhang hires mask dancers from Datong Goenpa in Shenga Bjemi Gewog for their private Tshechu. Trashi Yangtse will now have an advanced team for search and rescue in the event of any disaster in the district. The team will also include DeSuups. The District Disaster Management Committee conducted a week-long Search and Rescue refresher course for the police and DeSuups. The course ended yesterday. For about four years now, residents in Lhuentse have been dealing with clogged drains at Tongkongla, a place about a kilometre from Lhuentse town. The problem becomes worse during the summer. However, much to the relief of the people in Lhuentse, the Department of Surface Transport is planning to widen the highway and construct proper drains. Farmers across the country are often forced to sell their farm produce even when they cannot fetch a good price in the market. This is mainly due to the lack of facilities to store and dry the produce. Similarly, in Bidung Gewog of Trashigang, farmers sell garlic in a rush due to the fear of their crop getting damaged as they do not have facilities to cure and dry garlic. Garlic is one of the main sources of cash income for the farmers of Bidung. Fuel stations in Phuentshogling have been running short of diesel for the last few days. This has left several vehicles stranded and has also affected the construction works in the town. A few officials in the fuel depots said although they have been receiving fuel almost every day, shortage in other depots incurred more pressure on them. However, fuel depots started receiving trucks carrying diesel earlier this evening. "Government waiting for a report from the 6th Pay Commission on pay revision. Government doesn't have details as the commission is an entirely independent entity"- Prime Minister. In order to decongest the crowd at the National Referral Hospital, the health ministry has constructed four Thromde health centres in Thimphu. One such centre was inaugurated in Bebena today. The centre will provide a range of medical services to the community.

To promote football in the country, 29 coaches are undergoing a football coaching course at the Royal Thimphu College. The course is part of the Royal Netherlands Football Association’s project to help promote and develop football in Bhutan. The association which is back in the country after 20 years signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) today. The memorandum offers projects like coaching and referee courses in Bhutan, exchange programmes for women football teams, guidance of the national youth football teams and offering support to projects of the BFF. The people of Phuentshogling will miss the crocodiles that have been a part of their community for many years, as forest officials today successfully relocated the reptiles to Gelephu. The decision to relocate the crocodiles was made to provide them with a larger and more suitable habitat, given the limited space in Phuentshogling. Residents of Pelrithang Khatoed in Sarpang have been longing for a bridge over the Dawla stream for quite some time now. If constructed, the bridge will connect school-going children of Pelrithang Khatoed with the Pelrithang Higher Secondary School. The Gelephu Gup proposed the need for the suspension bridge during the recently held Dzongkhag Tshogdu. Villagers in five gewogs of Tsirang are now enjoying smooth rides on their farm roads. About 30 kilometers of farm roads in these gewogs have been blacktopped after they received a budget for laying Granular Sub-base. According to local leaders, some of the Gewogs financed the blacktopping works on their own. They added that blacktopping is more cost-effective and durable as it requires less maintenance compared to just laying the granular sub-base. The gewog offices initiated the blacktopping work about two years ago. In Trashi Yangtse, the Tsherzam Bailey Bridge which connects Yangtse town and Bumdeling Gewog is in dire need of maintenance. The bridge’s wooden deck has numerous holes. Commuters say the damaged and rotted planks are making it risky to travel on the bridge. In an effort to make public service efficient through the use of technology, most of the public offices have made their services accessible online. However, not every online system is bringing about the expected benefits to its users. For instance, the Department of Forests and Park Services’ online service to obtain forestry permits and clearances seems to be creating inconvenience for its users. Some people working in the construction sector said accessing the services using the online portal is time-consuming and inconvenient at the same time. The nine-day Ten-chi Kurim Jungwa Chidoe began today at the Pangrizampa College of Astrology in Thimphu. The former Tshog-gi Lopen of the Central Monastic Body is presiding over the prayer ceremony along with more than 250 monks.The annual ritual is performed for the well-being of the sentient beings and the peace and prosperity of the country. More than one hundred people came to receive blessings today. Today, the Bhutan Football Federation signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Netherlands Football Association. The Consulate for The Netherlands to Bhutan, Phuntshok Choden attended the press conference with the founder of World Coaches Johan van Geijn, Deepak from Acosa Sports, India, and the General Secretary of BFF Ugyen Wangchhuk.Some of the extremities from the MoU are: Technical Cooperation and Projects which includes bilateral cooperation of the KNVB with the BFF on creating projects for coach education, skill upgradation programs for coaches in Bhutan, women's football development, youth team development, referee education, and infrastructure guidelines and plannings. Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela joined officials of the RGoB, Royal University of Bhutan in the inauguration of Friendship Projects - Two Hostels and a Food Science & Technology Lab at Gawaling Campus of the prestigious College of Natural Resources, Punakha.

The lack of infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of students at Tareythang Primary School and Chhoekhorling Middle Secondary School in Sarpang is becoming a major concern. At Tareythang, the school is facing a shortage of classrooms, while Chhoekhorling is unable to host large events due to the absence of a multipurpose hall. The issue was recently discussed at the Dzongkhag Tshogdu. In a heartwarming display of loyalty and commitment, the Choki Traditional Arts School in Thimphu has found a reliable ally in its dedicated alumni network. The school, which has been fostering traditional art education since its inception, has been receiving a considerable amount of support from its vibrant alumni association. Established in 2015, the association is composed of accomplished individuals who graduated from the institution and are now returning the favor by actively contributing to the school’s progress and development. Lyonpo Karma Donnen Wangdi will be stepping down from the post of minister. The Prime Minister confirmed this earlier today. He was among the four members of the cabinet who had volunteered to step down in November last year after the Royal Civil Service Commission reduced the number of ministries as part of the Civil Service Reform. Lyonpo Karma Donnen Wangdi was the minister for the former Ministry of Information and Communications. BBS tried to get in touch with the minister but he couldn’t be reached. Four men have been killed in a motor vehicle accident in Wangdue Phodrang this afternoon. The bolero they were travelling in veered off the road about 50 metres and plunged into the Punatsangchhu. They were travelling towards the PHPA area from a workshop colony below Rinchengang. The Bhutanese women’s football team ended their Olympic Qualifiers campaign in some style as they defeated Timor Leste, 3-1, in the final group match played in Tashkent, Uzbekistan earlier this evening. Bhutan took the lead in the closing minutes of the first half through a well worked header from Namgyel Dema. In the 67th minute, captain Pema Choden doubled Bhutan’s lead with a simple tap-in. A goalkeeping howler from Uzbekistan led to an own goal in the 75th minute. Timor Leste pulled a goal back in the final minute of the match. Despite the victory, only Uzbekistan will go through to the second round of the qualifiers as the group winner. Timor Leste is ranked 25 places above Bhutan in the women’s FIFA rankings. Last Saturday, Bhutan defeated Jordan, ranked 110 places above Bhutan in the rankings. At 178, Bhutan is the lowest-ranked team in Asia. The ranking is expected to improve considerably when FIFA releases its latest ranking update in June. Police in Paro detained 11 people in connection with the Nu 38 million worth recent gold smuggling case at the Paro International Airport.Kuensel sources say that of the 11 people detained, two businesswomen in mid-thirties were arrested on April 9 following a confession by one of the suspects that the women funded the trip to bring in the gold from Bangkok, Thailand. Bhutanese drivers could expect better travelling experience on Indian highways once the measures to eliminate exploitation on toll fees materialise. In an effort to tackle waste problems and human-wildlife conflicts (HWC), the growing social concerns in Samtse,  the dzongkhag initiated zero waste mobile application, and vermicomposting to reduce bio-degradable waste. The Eco-Tech Bhutan Kraft Paper Industry Private Limited at Jigmeling Industrial Park in Sarpang is facing a critical shortage of raw materials. The recycling plant with the capacity to produce 50 metric tonnes of kraft paper a day is producing only about 25 metric tonnes depending on demand.