Mowhs NEWSLETTER
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NEWSLETTER MoWHS Volume: I Issue No: I www.mowhs.gov.bt Date: July – September 2011 INSIDE INAUGURATION OF BRIDGES Three Bridges were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Zhabtog Lyonpo and the Resident Representative Coordinator of JICA Bhutan Office on Wangdi- Inauguration of Bridges: Tsirang (Page: 1-2) Tsirang Highway on 8th September 2011. In his opening remarks Director General of the DoR, said the Government of Japan has been very supportive in the reconstruction of bridges in Bhutan. During the first phase which began in 2003, the Japanese government had spent 1.6B Yen to reconstruct several bridges in Mongar, Bumthang, Trongsa, Zhemgang and Wangduephodrang Dzongkhags. Earthquake Damages (page: 2-4) In the second phase, 1.3B Yen was spent to reconstruct bridges in Tsirang, Mongar and Dagana Dzongkhags. Status of Shingkhar–Gorgoan Road (Page: 4-5) He also informed that in the Phase III, which began in November 2009, six bridges are Hon’ble Zhabtog Lyonpo and Tomoki Nitta Inaugurating Chachey Bridge Supreme Court of Bhutan (Page: 5-6) to be constructed. Two of the Bridges were inaugurated in early July at BUIDP 2011 (Page: 6-7) Waklaytar and Basochu. Chanchey Bridge was the third bridge to be Guru Trendrel Thongdrel (Page: 8-9) RNP II, DoR (Page: 10-11) inaugurated. Three more bridges are yet to be completed, which will be Progress of Local Area Plan 2010 (Page: 12) done by end of this year and early next year. He expressed appreciation Success Story of Tintaley (Page:13- 17) and gratitude from the Ministry of Works & Human Settlement (MoWHS) Water Safety Plan (Page: 17) MTR (Page: 18-19) and Department of Road (DoR) to the Government of Japan for the kind TFP (Page: 19-20) CAO – MoWHS (Page: 20) assistance. Tour Report of Hon’ble Secretary, MoWHS (Page: 20-22) NHDC & BSB – Delinked (Page: 22) Hon’ble Zhabtog Lyonpo said that the quality of bridges constructed by engineers from Japan is Lyonpo Yeshi Zimba at the Inauguration Quarterly Newsletter Page 1 exemplary. The Bhutanese engineers should take them as examples to follow. He also said that the bridges will benefit all the people and especially the on-going Punatshangchu Hydro Power Project. He mentioned the bridge at Chanchey would not only facilitate in diverting heavy vehicles used for carrying machineries for the hydro project at Punatsangchu but facilitate the transportation of goods between the northern and the southern parts of the country as well as transportation of goods to India. Hon’ble Lyonpo also said that the Engineers from Japan have set a high work standard for the engineers in the country. He said that engineers in the country should learn from them and use the knowledge gained in building new bridges in the country. “The Government of Bhutan has requested the Japan Government to consider the financing of Mao-Khola Bridge at Gelephu because there is no better partner than Japan on bridge technology” he said. Mr. Tomoki Nitta, the Resident Representative of JICA Bhutan, in his speech said that the bridges were completed smoothly and on time without any causality. He shared that the completion of the Chanchey Bridge is another milestone in the history Tomoki Nitta, in his inaugural speech of friendship between Bhutan and Japan. He also said that Royal Government of Bhutan has requested for the construction of Mao Khola Bridge at Gelephu which shows the faith and trust that the Government of Bhutan has in the technology of Japan. On the later part of the day, Kamichu and Baychu Bridges were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Zhabtog Lyonpo and Tomoki Nitta, Resident Representative, JICA Bhutan office. Inauguration of Basochu Bridge by Hon'ble Zhabtog Inauguration of Kamichu Bridge by Hon'ble Zhabtog Lyonpo and Tomoki Nitta, RR, JICA Bhutan Lyonpo and Tomoki Nitta, RR, JICA Bhutan Assessment Report of damages to the Old Building, MoWHS post 18th September 2011 Earthquake An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Ritcher Scale shook Bhutan especially the western region at around 6:41 PM, BST. The epicenter was located at 27.723oN, 88.064oE at distance of 64 Km northeast of Gangtok, Sikkim. Quarterly Newsletter Page 2 As per preliminary assessment of overall damages and people’s perception of the movement, the intensity was believed to have been in the range of V-VI scale (Strong intensity to Very Strong Intensity) on the modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. Intensity in terms of Peak Ground Acceleration has not been determined as yet. Observation of the building The building is a Re-enforced Cement Concrete (RCC) frame structure with concrete hollow block infill. This building was designed and built around 1978-1979. There are no existing drawings of the building showing structural details of columns, beams and foundation. It is therefore not known whether the building is engineered or not. Even if it was designed, it is quite clear that earthquake resistant design was not considered and instead only designs for gravity loading was taken into account. Old MoWHS Building which was designed & build in 1978-79 Site Observation It was found that there has been a significant undulation of exterior column surface indicating non-uniform column section along the height. Workmanship therefore is questionable. Cement concrete plaster of walls were also observed to be of very low quality. There are extensive cracks in walls on the first and second floor. These cracks were either horizontal along the bed joints or diagonal shear cracks. Either way, some of these walls have now detached from the frame. There is a real risk of these walls failing both in in-plane and out- plane movement in another similar earthquake. Cracks over the wall of the old building (Pic: 1) The RCC frames themselves have suffered some structural damages to the extent of some cracks in few columns. There are otherwise no major visible cracks in beams and slabs. Risk Assessment There is no eminent risk of the building collapse or threat to its inhabitants due to Cracks over the wall in the old building (Pic: 2) gravity loading. However in the event of a Cracks over the beam of the old building Quarterly Newsletter Page 3 similar or larger earthquake, there is a real risk of the already detached walls to dislodge themselves from the frame and cause death and injuries to the building inhabitants. Bhutan is classified to be located in Zone V of the Indian Seismic Map and is therefore expected to experience seismic intensity of IX and above. At this intensity there would be widespread damage to both structural and non-structural elements of an RCC building. However buildings that have been designed for a ductile failure whereby inhabitants have a chance to safely exit the building. The old building, MoWHS however has not incorporated Earthquake Resistant Design (ERD) features in its design and is therefore likely to suffer sudden and total collapse at these seismic zone V intensities. Recommendations The old MoWHS building is deemed deficient mainly due to the fact that earthquake resistant features were not incorporated in its design. Therefore there is a need to do a detailed assessment of its deficiencies. Status of Shingkhar – Gorgan Road Construction The survey of Singkhar-Gorgan Road has been started from two sides, from September 2011. One side is from Selibi, Gorgan, Lhuentse side and the other from Shingkhar, Bumthang side. The progress of the survey of the road as of 3rd Week of September 2011 is as follows in two sections; (I) Status of Road Construction from Selibi side (Gorgan) As of now approximately 11 km of alignment fixing from Selibi to Pephu has been completed. A detailed survey of 1 km has been completed and the survey is still ongoing for the rest of the length. Regarding the construction of the road, the construction will be taken up departmentally for the FY 2011-2012, due to time constraint for outsourcing of the work. The construction of road is expected to start either by second or third week of October 2011. The outsourcing of construction machineries for the purpose of road construction has been completed. Google Earth View of Shingkhar-Gorgoan Road Quarterly Newsletter Page 4 In case of forestry and environment, clearances are being processed for Selibe-Pephu stretch (12 Km approximately). As of date forest clearance is expected to be received within the next few days, since all the required field reports have been submitted. Department of Road has put requisition of Nu. 30 million for the construction of the road for the financial year 2011-2012. Presently, the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) has requested Ministry of Finance (MoF) to release one third of the requisitioned proposed, i.e. Nu. 10m and the rest is expected to be released depending on the physical and financial progress. (II) Status of Road Construction from Shingkhar Site (Bumthang) Alignment fixing of 10 Km has been completed from Shingkhar – Singmala stretch. However, explorations of other construction alternatives are underway. In order to explore other alternatives, a team of surveyor is at the Shingkhar Village which will benefit from the Shingkhar-Gorgoan Road site. Supreme Court Start of the Construction: The construction of the Supreme Court was segregated into many packages and it was being implemented in a phase wise manner. The actual ground work construction began towards the end of 2007 and to begin with works like Setting –out, Earth Excavation, Retaining Wall & Site Periphery Protection was started and completed during mid 2008. Construction Components:- Main structure of the Supreme Court Construction consists of the following buildings: 1. Chief Justice Court 2. Four Justice Courts 3. Registrar Block 4.