Infrastructure Development in Bhutan a Journey Through Time
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Monpas of Black Mountain Forest of Bhutan: a Study of Socio-Cultural Sensibility and Transition
The Himalayan Review 37 (2006) 39-52 39 Monpas of Black Mountain Forest of Bhutan: A Study of Socio-Cultural Sensibility and Transition Raghubir Chand, Ph.D. [email protected] Abstract One small, isolated and less assimilated tribal stock inhabited at the Black Mountain forest of central Bhutan is identifi ed as Monpas. These people are certainly different than the Mon race that is spread out in various parts of the Himalaya. The Monpas of Bhutan possess their distinct identity with pre- Buddhist ethnic beliefs and often described as the aboriginal indigenous inhabitants of the country. A sharper focus on the internal life of Monpas, however, reveals that they have an integral social relation with mountains and the forests. They are not yet properly explored and there exists an urgent quest to bring them to national mainstream in on going development context of Bhutan. This fascinating fi eld based investigation being fi rst research attempt in Monpas of Bhutan so far, has a direct relevance to the basic objective of promoting the understanding of society and environmental interaction of mountain communities of this very less known part of the Himalaya. Key words: Tribal, indigenous, mountains, society, environment, interaction, relevance The Monpas and Monyul The history of Monpas is deeply wrapped in the mystery of the past because of the number of reasons. Before the advent of the Drukpa school of Buddhism founded in the 12th century A.D. in Bhutan, the Tibetans called Bhutan as the Lhomon or Monyul. In the Tibetan dictionaries, the word Mon is defi ned as the general name for different nations and tribes living between Tibet and Indian plains who from remote antiquity have lived by hunting. -
Current Status of Road Transport Policies, Systems and Projects in Bhutan
CURRENT STATUS OF ROAD TRANSPORT POLICIES, SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS IN BHUTAN Jangchuk Yeshi Chief Engineer (Design Division) Department of Roads Ministry of Works & Human Settlement Royal Government of Bhutan Brief background of road transport in Bhutan Being a landlocked mountainous country, road is the primary mode of transport in Bhutan and therefore the life line of country’s economy. Royal Government has accorded top priority to the development of the road network in the country since the start of the 1st Five Year Plan in 1961. The country’s first mororable road , Thimphu – Phuentsholing Highway, was completed in 1961. Expansion of road network over the years 10578 km today ~2300 km in late 1980s ~1500 km in mid 1970s Classifications of roads National Highways; International/Asian Highways Primary National Highways (PNH) DoR’s jurisdiction Secondary National Highways (SNH) Dzongkhag Roads; Thromde (Urban) Roads – Respective Municipalities Farm Roads – MoA and Dzongkhags Access Roads – Beneficiaries/DoR Motorization level and trend Motorization trend in the past decade The motorization level in the 80000 • country has been increasing 70000 rapidly 60000 50000 • In the past decade, the vehicle 40000 ownership has increased by 30000 137% - from 29,941 in 2005 to Vehicle Ownership 20000 70,805 as of Feb. 2015. 10000 0 • The vehicle per 1000 population 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 in the country has increased from Year Source: RSTA) about 45 in 2005 to about 100 in 2014 Motorization level – comparison with other countries in the region Source: Word bank development indicators (Internet) • Bhutan has the highest vehicle ownership per 1000 population among the SARRC countries • The vehicle ownership in Asia is typically in the range of 10 to 30 per 1000 population and between 600 and 800 in advanced countries Projected motorization trend Source: Bhutan Transport 2040, ADB • As per “Bhutan Transport 2040” document developed by ADB, the motorization per 1000 population is expected touch 400 by 2040. -
The World Bank IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETION and RESULTS
Document of The World Bank FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No: ICR00004941 IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETION AND RESULTS REPORT IDA 47440 and 54310 (AF) ON A CREDIT IN THE AMOUNT OF SDR7.75 MILLION (US$12.0 MILLION EQUIVALENT) AND AN ADDITIONAL CREDIT IN THE AMOUNT OF SDR11.3 MILLION (US$17.4 MILLION EQUIVALENT) TO THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN FOR THE SECOND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DECEMBER 27, 2019 Urban, Resilience And Land Global Practice Sustainable Development South Asia Region CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective November 27, 2019) Bhutanese Currency Unit = Ngultrum (BTN) BTN71.31 = US$1 US$1.37 = SDR 1 FISCAL YEAR July 1 - June 30 Regional Vice President: Hartwig Schafer Country Director: Mercy Miyang Tembon Regional Director: John A. Roome Practice Manager: Catalina Marulanda Task Team Leader(s): David Mason ICR Main Contributor: David Mason ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ADB Asian Development Bank AF Additional Financing AHP Affected Households and Persons APA Alternative Procurement Arrangement BLSS Bhutan Living Standards Survey BTN Bhutanese Ngultrum BUDP-1 Bhutan Urban Development Project (Cr. 3310) BUDP-2 Second Bhutan Urban Development Project CAS Country Assistance Strategy CNDP Comprehensive National Development Plan CPF Country Partnership Framework CPLC Cash Payment in Lieu of Land Compensation CWSS Central Water Supply Scheme DAR Digital Asset Registry EMP Environmental Management Plan FM Financial Management FYP Five Year Plan GNHC Gross National Happiness Commission GRC Grievance Redress Committee GRM Grievance Redressal Mechanism -
The Kingdom of Bhutan
Updated March 23, 2020 The Kingdom of Bhutan Background were best served by elected leaders. The first election went The Kingdom of Bhutan, also known as the Land of the smoothly in 2008, and the second, in 2013, brought a Thunder Dragon, is a small, landlocked Himalayan country situated between India and China. The mountainous Figure 1.Bhutan in Brief kingdom is about half the size of Indiana, with an estimated population of 782,000, approximately 115,000 of them in and around the capital city, Thimphu. Bhutan’s economy has grown primarily as a result of hydropower, agriculture, and forestry development. The United States has no significant trade relations with Bhutan, and its foreign aid mission and bilateral consular affairs are handled by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan visited Bhutan in August, 2019. Bhutan has participated in a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) regional program for South Asia directed at developing power infrastructure, and it has implemented programs intended to help mitigate some of the effects of climate change. With 70% forest cover and extensive hydropower, Bhutan is a carbon negative country. The Constitution, Elections, and the King The constitution of Bhutan establishes three branches of Source: CIA World Factbook, Economist Intelligence Unit, Media government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The bicameral legislature, or Chi Tshog, includes the National Assembly (Tshogdu), with 47 elected representatives, and peaceful transition of power in which the opposition the National Council (Gyelyong Tshongde), with 25 People’s Democratic Party won 32 of the 42 elected members, 5 of which are selected by the king. -
Pdf Banco Mundial
Estudios de Asia y África ISSN: 0185-0164 ISSN: 2448-654X El Colegio de México A.C. Rodríguez-Calles, Luis Breve historia de Bután. Una identidad y un horizonte común en torno a la felicidad como objetivo político Estudios de Asia y África, vol. 54, núm. 2, Mayo-Agosto, 2019, pp. 373-390 El Colegio de México A.C. DOI: 10.24201/eaa.v54i2.2434 Disponible en: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=58660239007 Cómo citar el artículo Número completo Sistema de Información Científica Redalyc Más información del artículo Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina y el Caribe, España y Portugal Página de la revista en redalyc.org Proyecto académico sin fines de lucro, desarrollado bajo la iniciativa de acceso abierto ESTUDIOS DE ASIA Y ÁFRICA, VOL. 54, NÚM. 2 (169), 2019, PP. 373-390 ISSN 0185-0164 e-ISSN 2448-654X CULTURA Y SOCIEDAD https://dx.doi.org/10.24201/eaa.v54i2.2434 Breve historia de Bután. Una identidad y un horizonte común en torno a la felicidad como objetivo político A brief history of Bhutan. An identity and a common horizon around happiness as a political objective LUIS RODRÍGUEZ-CALLES* Resumen: Se hace un repaso histórico de los acontecimientos más re- levantes ocurridos en el territorio que ahora pertenece a Bután, en el periodo que llega a la instauración de una monarquía hereditaria a principios de siglo XX. En un cuadro se resumen esos acontecimien- tos. Así se pretende dar luz al periodo histórico más desconocido del país con objeto de complementar otros análisis académicos sobre la felicidad, el budismo y las particularidades del modelo de desarrollo en Bután. -
Annual Report (July 2018- June 2019)
ANNUAL REPORT (JULY 2018- JUNE 2019) Department of Labour Ministry of Labour and Human Resources Department of Labour | 1 Prepare by Phuntsho Dendup, Labour Off cer, Department of Labour Department of Labour | i 4 | Department of Labour TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword i Table of Contents iii List of Tables iv List of Figures vi Abbreviation vii Executive Summary 1 Chapter 1: Labour Protection 5 1.1 Inspection 5 1.2 Notices 12 1.3 Working conditions 16 1.4 Provident Fund 20 Chapter 2: Occupational Health and safety 22 2.1 Workplace Accident 22 2.2 Occupational Health and Safety Committee 26 2.3 Occupational Health and Safety Policy Statement 28 2.4 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment 31 2.5 Comparative statement on Occupational Health and Safety Assessment 36 2.6 Debriefing on Occupational Health and Safety Assessment 37 Chapter 3: Labour Relation 41 3.1 Labour Dispute 41 3.2 Internal Service Rules (ISR) 45 Chapter 4: Foreign Workers 49 4.1 Foreign Workers 49 4.2 Foreign Workers Recruitment Agent 54 Chapter 5: Awarness and training program AND OTHER activities 58 5.1 Awareness and Training Program 58 5.3 Achievements 63 5.4 Shortcomings 63 5.5 Classification of economic sectors 64 Department of Labour | iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Number of Inspection by Region 5 Table 2: Number of inspections by Region in two Fiscal Year 6 Table 3: Number of Inspection by Major Sector 7 Table 4: Number of Inspection by Major Sector in two Fiscal Year 8 Table 5: Number of Inspection by Dzongkhag 9 Table 6: Number of Inspection by Dzongkhag in two Fiscal -
Additional Financing of Phuentsholing Township Development Project (RRP BHU 50165)
Additional Financing of Phuentsholing Township Development Project (RRP BHU 50165) SECTOR ASSESSMENT (SUMMARY): MULTISECTOR (AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT; AND WATER AND OTHER URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES)1 A. Sector Road Map 1. Sector Performance, Problems, and Opportunities 1. Bhutan, a mountainous country with a population of 757,042, is one of the fastest urbanizing economies in South Asia.2 The country’s urbanization rate has increased from 23% in 1998 to 41% in 2018. In addition to their natural growth, Bhutanese cities are also experiencing heavy inwards migration because of availability of economic opportunities and access to facilities and education systems. The urban population is expected to reach 56.8% by 2047. This growth has mainly occurred in Thimphu, the capital, and Phuentsholing, Bhutan’s second largest city.3 Rapid urbanization coupled with a lack of comprehensive planning has left urban areas with inadequate and unsustainable infrastructure. Further, poor spatial planning and development controls have led to urban overcrowding, environmental degradation, and encroachment into unsafe environments. Flood risk, water shortages, and pollution are key challenges facing many of Bhutan’s towns. 2. Rural and urban flood protection. Towns in Bhutan experience flooding and riverbank erosion each year during the monsoon season. Phuentsholing, which is located on the banks of the Amochhu River, a major Himalayan river, has suffered significantly from flood damage and riverbank erosion from seven notable events between 1993 to 2015. Monsoon-triggered flash floods are also becoming more frequent because of dense development, the loss of natural ground cover, and climate change. In 2009, Cyclone Alia, the most devastating event in Bhutan’s recent history, caused significant loss of land and infrastructure. -
Bhutan's Political Transition –
Spotlight South Asia Paper Nr. 2: Bhutan’s Political Transition – Between Ethnic Conflict and Democracy Author: Dr. Siegried Wolf (Heidelberg) ISSN 2195-2787 1 SSA ist eine regelmäßig erscheinende Analyse- Reihe mit einem Fokus auf aktuelle politische Ereignisse und Situationen Südasien betreffend. Die Reihe soll Einblicke schaffen, Situationen erklären und Politikempfehlungen geben. SSA is a frequently published analysis series with a focus on current political events and situations concerning South Asia. The series should present insights, explain situations and give policy recommendations. APSA (Angewandte Politikwissenschaft Südasiens) ist ein auf Forschungsförderung und wissenschaftliche Beratung ausgelegter Stiftungsfonds im Bereich der Politikwissenschaft Südasiens. APSA (Applied Political Science of South Asia) is a foundation aiming at promoting science and scientific consultancy in the realm of political science of South Asia. Die Meinungen in dieser Ausgabe sind einzig die der Autoren und werden sich nicht von APSA zu eigen gemacht. The views expressed in this paper are solely the views of the authors and are not in any way owned by APSA. Impressum: APSA Im Neuehnheimer Feld 330 D-69120 Heidelberg [email protected] www.apsa.info 2 Acknowledgment: The author is grateful to the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), Brussels for the extended support on this report. 3 Bhutan ’ s Political Transition – Between Ethnic Conflict and Democracy Until recently Bhutan (Drukyul - Land of the Thunder Dragon) did not fit into the story of the global triumph of democracy. Not only the way it came into existence but also the manner in which it was interpreted made the process of democratization exceptional. As a land- locked country which is bordered on the north by Tibet in China and on the south by the Indian states Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, it was a late starter in the process of state-building. -
Technical Summary Report: FAO-BAFRA National Seminar and Workshop on Food Safety Culture and Food Safety Indicators Pilot Project in Bhutan
Technical summary report: FAO-BAFRA National seminar and workshop on food safety culture and food safety indicators pilot project in Bhutan 19-23 August 2019 Thimphu and Gelephu, Bhutan ©Tandin Norbu, 2019 Norbu, ©Tandin ©FAO, 2019 Technical summary report: FAO-BAFRA National seminar and workshop on food safety culture and food safety indicators pilot project in Bhutan 19-23 August 2019 Thimphu and Gelephu, Bhutan Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Bangkok, 2019 Abstract The report presents the proceedings of 1) a high level advocacy seminar on food safety culture for policy decision makers, heads of the technical departments and institutions and food business owners to introduce the concept and garner support for food safety culture; 2) a technical workshop on food safety culture for food professionals aimed at instituting a deeper understanding of food safety culture; and 3) a field trip to the south of Bhutan to understand the current progress with the food safety indicators and traceability work that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have implemented in Bhutan in collaboration with Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority and Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB). FAO, in collaboration with Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF), Royal Government of Bhutan organized it from 19 August to 23 August 2019. Approximately 50 participants comprising senior government officials, top management of various stakeholder organizations, heads of international agencies and development partners attended the high- level seminar, while 60 technical officers working on food production, safety and regulation from government, private food businesses and relevant stakeholders attended the training workshop. -
Mass Media: Its Consumption and Impact on Residents of Thimphu and Rural Areas
MASS MEDIA: ITS CONSUMPTION AND IMPACT ON RESIDENTS OF THIMPHU AND RURAL AREAS Phuntsho Rapten∗ Introduction Mass Media in Bhutan primarily refers to the radio, Kuensel (the national newspaper), cinema halls, television and Internet. These are the main media disseminating information and serving as sources of entertainment. Although different forms of media were introduced since the launching of socio-economic development in the 1960s, television and Internet services were introduced only in June 1999. While television, newspapers, cinemas and Internet services are largely confined to the urban areas radio is the only effective communication medium in the rural areas. A 1998 listener survey1 of five Dzongkhags (Thimphu, Paro, Chukha, Punakha and Wangdue) gives an idea of the penetration of the media in Bhutan. Taking an example of all the households in five Dzongkhags on average, 63.1% own at least one radio receiver, 22.6% own a tape recorder, 6.9 % own a TV screen, 8.4% own a video player or recorder, and 6.5% own a telephone. Although Kuensel is also widely circulated in the country, its readership in the villages is very limited due to a low literacy level. The media in Bhutan have progressively enhanced individual awareness by widening the scope of information transmission beyond the traditional face- to-face oral interaction to literacy-oriented communication and now to an electronic media. They have helped to share information about the past and present, depict social, cultural and historical aspects of Bhutan that helped to create a common culture, tradition and system of values. However, the mass media and information technology are increasingly becoming powerful instruments for the penetration of global culture and the values of a global market into Bhutan. -
Data Collection Survey on Road Connectivity in the Kingdom of Bhutan Final Report
DEPARTMENT OF ROADS MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HUMAN SETTLEMENT THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN DATA COLLECTION SURVEY ON ROAD CONNECTIVITY IN THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN FINAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 2014 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY ORIENTAL CONSULTANTS CO., LTD. 4R INGÉROSEC CORPORATION JR 14-037 DEPARTMENT OF ROADS MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HUMAN SETTLEMENT THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN DATA COLLECTION SURVEY ON ROAD CONNECTIVITY IN THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN FINAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 2014 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY ORIENTAL CONSULTANTS CO., LTD. -
Bhutan Center for Media and Democracy with the United Nations Democracy Fund And
Bhutan Center for Media and Democracy with The United Nations Democracy Fund and United Nations Development Programme “Strengthening Media and Civic Education to Enhance Democracy in Bhutan” FINAL EXTERNAL PROJECT EVALUATION Conducted by Ms. Chimmi Dolkar for UNDP Bhutan, July 2013 Table of Contents Acronyms .................................................................................................................. 3 Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Democratic transition in Bhutan .............................................................. 9 1.2 Importance of CSOs in the democratic transition ............................... 10 2. The Project and its Developmental Context .............................................. 11 2.1 Project Initiation ...................................................................................... 11 2.2 What the project sought to achieve ........................................................ 12 2.3 Purpose of the Evaluation Study ............................................................ 12 3. Evaluation Methodology................................................................................ 13 3.1 Project Monitoring & Evaluation ..........................................................