KUENSELTHAT THE PEOPLE SHALL BE INFORMED FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020

NPL incurs Druk Gyalpo’s big loss to RICBL, 1188 no salary revision for Briefly employees Jomotshangkha update Major reforms The person from initiated under Jomotshangkha who was earlier suspected new CEO of Covid-19 completed quarantine yesterday. MB Subba He tested negative three times on the RT-PCR. The Royal Insurance Cor- He tested negative on poration of Limited the rapid test yesterday (RICBL), one of the oldest following which he was financial institutions, had suf- released. fered such a huge loss in 2018 that it was not able to afford a pay raise to its employees. Inside In 2018, the RICBL suffered a whopping loss of Nu 1.2 bil- lion (B) pertaining mainly to Amphan non-performing loans (NPL). Irrigation canal According to company restored, farmers officials, the overall financial look forward to performance in 2019 was not Changla season satisfactory despite a series of spares Bhutan Pg 7 reforms. The annual financial statements for the year are still No major damages reported being prepared. Kuensel reporters the detailed project report pro- cliffs, it would be challenging and The company’s CEO, Weather jections for January to April this also risky for labourers at the site Karma, said that the company he heavy down- year and generated about 51.46 because of the continuous falling did not revise the salary due pour that cy- million units. boulders. to the huge financial loss. But clone Amphan Meanwhile, the Nganglam- he added that the lack of a pay triggered didn’t Amphan impact Pemagatshel and Samdrup- raise was a “non-issue”, saying cause major Meanwhile, there were several jongkhar-Trashigang highway that he had explained his posi- Tdamages in the country, but roadblocks along the Gyalpoizh- remain open to traffic. 17 12 tion to the employees. MAX MIN helped Mangdechhu hydroelec- ing- Nganglam highway between DoR officials said a few road- Other reasons for the poor tric plant (MHEP) to generate 38km and 44km. Department of blocks on the Nganglam-Pema- performance were interest more than its capacity yesterday. Road (DoR) said that the road- gatshel highway were cleared expenses on borrowings and The plant started generating blocks could be cleared by today immediately. “But it would be non-essential expenses. electricity more than its capacity if the weather improves. better if commuters avoid travel- But the CEO said that the from yesterday with 791.39 Meg- If the weather does not per- ling along the highway as boul- company saved about Nu awatt (MW) of power generation mit, it could take more than a ders are falling continuously.” 100M by cutting non-essential achieved yesterday afternoon. week to clear the blocks. This is A fully loaded oil tanker has 20 13 expenses. The company also This was 10 percent more than the third time the highway has been struck since morning at MAX MIN did well on the insurance front its capacity of 720MW. been blocked this year. Reotala slide point on the Gel- and made a profit of Nu 600M. The plant generated a rev- DoR Assistant engineer in ephu-Trongsa highway causing With a series of reforms, the enue of about Nu 7.47 billion to Nganglam, Jai Kumar, said they traffic jam from both sides. DOR company’s performance had the nation since its commercial could not visit the site because of Regional Office in Trongsa is ar- significantly improved except operation in July last year. falling boulders. Excavators are ranging additional machines to in NPL. But the CEO said the MHEP managing director, ready at the site. clear the road. It is expected to Covid-19 pandemic had further AK Mishra said that the actual Jai Kumar said since it is lo- open to traffic towards the even- complicated the NPL issue. generation exceeded beyond cated at a rocky area with steep ing today. Pg 2 www.kuenselonline.com Pg 2 HOME PAGE 2 Friday, May 22, 2020| KUENSEL Cyclone Amphan disrupts internet connectivity BT restores its data services after almost 17 hours of blackout

Younten Tshedup 1:45am on Wednesday. tablished by 4pm yesterday. took out the internet connectivity the Indian partners have said BT’s chief executive officer, TashiCell suffered some which included the two links in that there would be some sort of While cyclone Amphan passed Karma Jurme said that both the glitches in its data service as two Gelephu and Phuentsholing that “good connectivity” by the end without much destruction, the Phuentsholing and Gelephu of its three internet links were runs on the power grid, he said, of the day. past two days has exposed how links were down after fibre ca- also damaged in Kolkata. How- adding that unlike the two links, Meanwhile, BT’s CEO said vulnerable the country’s com- bles in Kolkata were damaged ever, there was no complete in- the Airtel link in Phuentsholing that the long awaited third in- munication network is during due to the impact of the cyclone. ternet outage for TashiCell users. was running on its on fibre and ternational internet gateway times of disasters. He said that while BT tried TashiCell’s general manager was not affected by the forced from Bangladesh would provide Among others, a major dis- to establish a network redun- with the network and carrier shutdown. Bhutan a better geographical re- ruption resulting from the cy- dancy by having two internet services department, Ganga R “Although we did not suffer dundancy in an event of similar clone in the neighbouring West providers – Tata and Airtel, the Sharma said that the two links a total blackout, we were af- emergencies. Bengal was on the country’s two links had a convergence from Tata entering from Gelephu fected. Since we have only one However, Ganga R Sharma internet connectivity. point in Kolkata. “We are work- and Phuentsholing were dam- functional link for now, we are said that the impact of the cy- Bhutan Telecom’s (BT) data ing with our partners in India aged by cyclone Amphan. The operating at 40 percent of our clone would have been there service suffered a complete out- to restore the network as soon Airtel link in Phuentsholing was total capacity,” he said. “The link even if the Bangladesh internet age towards the evening on May as possible. We are hopeful to still functional as of yesterday. is congested and therefore, users link was in place. “The current 20, until late afternoon yester- have the services back online He said that given the ex- will experience a slower internet cyclone is affecting all West Ben- day. BT managed to reestablish by afternoon today.” treme weather condition in Kol- connectivity.” gal and Guwahati areas includ- the link between 11pm and The data service was rees- kata, to prevent further damage Ganga R Sharma said that ing Bangladesh.” to the distribution equipment, while they are working with He said that given Bhutan’s the Power Grid Corporation of their partners to restore the links, geographical location, it has no Amphan spares India decided that all the power given the extensive damage and other option but to depend on grids (power transmission tow- the risks from the proceeding the Indian partners. “While we Bhutan ers) through which the internet cyclone, immediate restoration have control over things within fibre runs, were to be shutdown. was difficult. the country, when it comes to From Pg 1 ing after finding the faults. What When the forced shutdown Whole restoration would internet, we have to depend on Trashigang-Samdrupjong- caused the outage is unknown. was carried out in Kolkata, it take a few days, but he said that our partners outside.” khar highway is blocked at 69km Meanwhile in Tsirang, heavy from Samdrupjongkhar towards rain and windstorm early morn- Tsheringkhor. ing yesterday flattened about 80 The Tsirang-Sarpang was decimal maize field belonging to NPL incurs big loss to RICBL, no salary temporarily blocked at Darachhu six households in Rangthangling revision for employees for two hours. It opened by 5pm gewog. yesterday. DoR officials said Similar damages were re- From Pg 1 and policy parts so that each management officer in every machinery is stationed at the ported in Patshaling gewog but According to the CEO, the would have specific functions. department. site since there is landslide from gup Chabi Kumar Rai said dam- transformation process in RICBL “Now we have branches that The RICBL has been re- continuous rain in the area. ages would be assessed once the would take some years. “In the focus on business. The corpo- cording consistent growth in weather improves. next five years or so, RICBL will rate office will do product and insurance business account- East Bhutan Burichhu-Sergithang bypass be the most profitable and pro- scheme designing and risk man- ing for 12.47 percent growth in In Mongar, three households in road is partially blocked by land- fessional institution in the coun- agement, monitoring, auditing premium income in 2018. The Thangrong gewog were moved to slide and boulders. Sergithang try,” he said. and reconciliation,” he said. deterioration of the financial per- a safer location yesterday. gup Man Bir Rai said that the road The 44-year-old insurance The RICBL, he said, was the formance is mainly attributed to Mongar dzongkhag disaster could be cleared manually once company’s losses pertain to most complicated among the fi- the increase in the impairment management officer, Karma, said the rain subsides. loans and advances to custom- nancial institutions as it provides of loans and advances. the families were shifted into the Most of the dzongkhags did ers, which for 2018 was Nu all types of insurances, includ- As part of its revival and re- temporary shelter made out of not report any damages. Dzong- 18.97B. The NPL constituted ing re-insurance, which is highly form process, RICBL will stress tarpaulin sheet. khag and gewog leaders said they more than 50 percent of the total specialised. on providing services through In Kengkhar gewog, a house- remain vigilant and are monitor- lending. In other countries, insurance digital platforms. “We want to hold lost around a 60-decimal ing all the risky areas. The CEO acknowledged companies do not provide mul- take services to the people using maize field to the windstorm Meanwhile, cyclone Amphan lapses in the loan appraisal tiple schemes, according to him. information technology,” Karma yesterday afternoon. The dam- has weakened into the Cyclonic process for the high NPL among “Nowhere else in the world there said. age is yet to be assessed. Storm yesterday over Bangladesh, other problems that are being is another RICBL,” he said. The company is also train- Five gewogs of Silambi, according to the National Centre corrected. But the CEO added the com- ing its people on insurance and Gongdu, Kengkhar, Jurmey and for Hydrology and Meteorology The reforms initiated under pany’s diversified business lines other skills development pro- parts of Drepong had a power (NCHM). It is likely to continue the new CEO include organisa- put RICBL in a better position gramme. blackout since 4:30am yesterday. to move north-northeast and tional development exercise and than other financial institutions From being an entity largely Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC) weaken further into a depression. inter-departmental transfer of like banks, which depends on owned by the government ear- restored electricity for Kengkhar, NCHM forecast says north- employees. He said the company loans and deposits. lier, today public and private Jurmey and Drepong gewogs by ern, western and central parts of did away with five non-essential The insurance company an- organisations own 61 percent 10am. Maintenance for Silambi the country during the next 48 branch offices while retain- nually receives about Nu 1.5B as of the company, 18 percent by and Gondu gewogs are under- hours would be mostly cloudy ing those that offered business life insurance premium, which is Druk Holding and Investments way. with light to moderate rain. prospects. not likely to be affected by Covid- Limited, and the remaining 21 The in-charge of Gyalpoizh- Southern and eastern parts of The company is also focus- 19 pandemic. percent by His Majesty’s Welfare ing electricity service sub-divi- the country can expect moderate ing on improving its functioning The CEO said he is also Fund. sion (ESSD), associate engineer, to heavy rainfall during the next and risk management system. continuously assessing whether Both the authorised capital Karma Gyeltshen, said a five- 24 hours. Thunderstorms and CEO Karma said that the com- the company is headed in the and the paid-up capital of RICBL member operations and mainte- gusty winds are likely at isolated pany has separated the business, right direction through vari- rose to Nu 5B and Nu 1.2B re- nance team is doing line-by-line places over the country during operations, risk management ous means. According to him, spectively as of December 31, patrolling and part-by-part charg- the next two days. the company has placed a risk 2015. HOME Friday, May 22, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 3 PHPA employs 24 drayang workers Phurpa Lhamo | Wangdue “We called PHPA who were willing to help. We found out The two mega hydroelectric that the work would include projects, Punatsangchhu I and physical work and called in II may have their own prob- only interested people.” lems in the wake of the Covid- Wangdue dzongkhag was 19 pandemic, but it has come also willing to provide jobs to to the rescue of 24 people who the remaining employees who lost their source of livelihood. were not taken in at PHPA. The two projects in Wang- said that duephodrang employed the dzongkhag planned to engage 24 drayang workers who lost those who lost their jobs in their jobs after the closure of dzongkhag’s beautification entertainment centres in Bajo activities. “However, they were town. PHPA I employed 14 not interested.” and PHPA II took in 10 upon Kinley Wangmo, 26, a request from the dzongkhag beneficiary, said the tempo- administration office. rary employment has come According to PHPA man- as a great help. Being the eld- agement officials, the 24 for- est in the family and with the mer draying workers would be rent due, she said that find- paid Nu 7,500 a month, which ing a job was necessary. “My is a little more than the na- younger sister who also works tional minimum wage rate of at a drayang and her husband Nu 234 per day. The employ- working in a bar both lost ees also avail the projects’ bus PHPA I employed 14 former drayang workers their job,” Kinley said. services to drop and pick them The employees will work for work. works for the dzongkhag for The employees are en- employees of entertainment at PHPA for three months. An ex-employee of a dray- helping us,” he said. gaged in housekeeping and in centres were affected the most “As referred by dzongkhag ang in Wangdue, Namgang The employees had also lighter works of preservation due to Covid-19. administration, PHPA has Tshering said they requested requested the PHPA manage- activities of the electro-me- He added that immedi- engaged them based on the dzongkhag to engage them ment to increase the pay to Nu chanical works at the projects. ately after the entertainment greater social considerations in some kind of jobs. “I have 300 per day, which was likely Dzongkhag senior plan- centres were closed, the especially during such a dif- a family and this income has to be approved. All the 24 em- ning officer, Passang Dorji said dzongkhag took initiative to ficult time being faced by our helped me a lot. We are also ployees are recipients of the a random survey conducted find out people who had lost people,” an official from the planning to do volunteer Nu 12,000 monthly relief kidu. in the dzongkhag found that their jobs. PHPA II management said.

OCP and BSB collaborates to improve business practices Thinley Namgay fied the areas of collaboration commercial purposes. Based and agreed to work together on requirements, BSB will en- Those using a packet of sugar after considering the legal ob- sure product testing to protect or salt, soap bar and stones as ligations of both the agencies, economic interests and safety weight stones should watch cross-sectoral matters, vulner- of the consumers and provide out for the officials of the Of- abilities of consumers, prevail- appropriate remedies to the fice of Consumer Protection ing unethical trade practices aggrieved consumers. (OCP). The office will clamp and the need of market stand- Where there is a require- down on violators after putting ardisation. ment of national standards some measures in place. The OCP will ask busi- for promoting competition, To promote fair trade and ness entities to calibrate the protecting consumer rights ethical business practices, weights and measures used and ensuring their safety, OCP safeguard economic inter- for commercial purposes. BSB will request BSB and partici- ests and consumers, the OCP will carry out the calibration pate as a technical committee. and Bhutan Standard Bureau activities in the market places, The two agencies also agreed (BSB) signed a memorandum certify calibrated weights to exchange information, pro- of understanding (MoU) yes- and measures with validity vide expert views and techni- terday in Thimphu. and prohibit the use of faulty cal assistance with relation to Lyonpo at the MoU signing The MoU would help pro- weights and measures for consumer protection. mote healthy competition and commercial purposes. A press release from the tecting consumer interests and forward to establishing insti- consumer protection affairs OCP will regularly moni- OCP stated that the agreement promoting fair trade practices tutional linkage and working by providing efficient quality tor weights and measures used would enhance performance in the market which merit lev- relationship with these stake- infrastructure services such by the business entities in the of both the agencies. “There eraging on their functions and holders for collaborating, co- as testing, calibration, certi- market places, check their cali- are also other government building institutional linkage ordinating and complement- fication of products and legal bration status, restrict the use agencies and stakeholders car- with them to strengthen con- ing each other for enhancing metrology. of faulty and non-calibrated rying out the activities directly sumer protection affairs.” consumer protection affairs,” The two agencies identi- weights and measures for or indirectly in relation to pro- “The OCP is also looking the press release stated. PERSPECTIVES PAGE 4 Friday, May 22, 2020 | KUENSEL As the world MY COUNTRY, MY TOWN looks to Bhutan he world beyond is increasingly noticing how Bhutan is handling Covid-19. This week, many international media carried stories of how Bhutan has been successful in keeping the virus at bay. On Monday, Tin the House of Lords in the UK, Baroness Buscombe paid tribute to His Majesty The King and congratulated Bhutan’s effort to control the Covid-19 pandemic. "My Lords, I pay tribute to the King of Bhutan and his people for their amazing fortitude and smart re- sponse to the virus,” said Baroness Buscombe, before inviting the members to wish the people of Bhutan "safe and well for the future.” While such recognitions make us feel good we can- not bask on them and forget the challenges before us. In fact, we have all the more reason to march ahead with renewed focus and drive because the battle is Giant vegetables : not over yet. Agricultural produce What we must understand is that the world this that appears to have day is looking to Bhutan because many countries have been grown with faltered and the virus has begun to take a dangerous the plant equivalent toll. We are fortunate that we have His Majesty The of human steroids King at the helm who is leading the battle against one Photo: Yangyel of the deadliest pandemics in recent memory. Lhaden, Kuensel At a time when world leaders are busy politicising the virus and making light of the dangers associated with the failure to deal with the mounting challenges, Send in your pictures to: [email protected] the discerning many are looking for leadership. That's why they are looking to Bhutan. Some wonder how a resource-strapped country MY SAY like Bhutan can be so successful in dealing with the pandemic and its effects. This has been possible in Bhutan because in the face of adversity we always come together as a nation, as one big family. In the A WOW template for coming days the challenges facing us will grow as more and more Bhutanese from abroad—mostly from Covid-19-affected countries—come home. But we 21st Century Bhutan? must face the challenge with the same spirit. The post-Covid-19 South Asia. the social institutions of The biggest risk facing us today is the chances of agricultural initiatives and More importantly, the Bhutan. We hope that the case importation from the porous border in the south. images from Wobthang project portrays all the Wobthang Organic Wonders We have a strong surveillance system, yes, we cannot in Bumthang provide a pillars of Gross National (WOW) will provide a much fully rely on it. Honesty and integrity on the part of harbinger of hope for a food Happiness in all aspects. needed template for modern sovereign Bhutan in the 21st It is not surprising that Bhutan and GNH. We also individuals is therefore critically important. century. agriculture and not the hope that the price of the If you have travelled to the border and beyond, go The team of the former foreign aid or sectors that products from Wobthang to the first test centre and make your travel history Agriculture Minister and the depend on foreign aid such and its management will live known. That will make tracing easier and thus help Leader of the Opposition as hydropower or tourism up to its acronym and be contain the virus from spreading. working and complementing that provided the avenue for affordable to a common man. initiatives of the current the opportunity. We have a manageable number of positives cases government and the Centuries ago, the Dhrubaraj Sharma today. And so we must keep it because we cannot risk Agriculture Minister are cultural events, and the Design Lab overwhelming our health system. symbolic to Bhutan’s image institutions in the holy QUT Australia to be a model democracy for land of Bumthang shaped

FOR FEEDBACK Make your opinions known. Send your letters to Call 324684 or email [email protected] [email protected] Letters are edited for space and clarity

MANAGING DIRECTOR - Bachu Phub Dorji, MANAGING EDITOR - Ugyen Penjor, PRINTING GM - Karma Nima, MARKETING & SALES GM - Karma J Yangzom, KANGLUNG REGIONAL MANAGER - ADVERTISEMENT Friday, May 22, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 5

Call for appliCations – tEndEr EssEntial sErvicEs schEmE Bhutan fErro alloys limitEd. ministry of Economic affairs RMP/C&F/2020/ Department of Cotage and Small Industry Sealed item rate bids are invited from Bhutanese licensed clearing & forwarding and transportaton frms for the following works: The Department of Cotage and Small Industry Package i (imPort) (DCSI), Ministry of Economic Afairs invites applicatons/business proposals from the 1. Clearing and forwarding of electrode carbon pastes bulk in 1MT jumbo bags in interested entrepreneurs wishing to establish 20’ containers and semi coke loose in 20’ containers, plant & machinery spares cotage or small- scale service industry in the rural at Kolkata Port. It also includes completng all customs formalites pertaining areas to apply for the Essental Services Scheme to the shipment at the port. (ESS). 2. Transportaton of 20’ containers, plant & machinery cargo and LCL consignments from Kolkata to Phuentsholing and to Pasakha including completng all customs This partcular scheme will help to develop basic formalites at the Indian land customs ofce in Jaigaon and in Bhutan. service industries in places where essental services 3. De-stufng of items from containers in Phuentsholing. are lacking such as haircutng, tailoring, photo studio, repair of electrical and electronic items, Package ii (EXPort) plumbing, mobile phone repair services, shoe 1. Transportaton of Ferro Silicon consignments from Pasakha to Kolkata Port by repair services in most of the Gewogs, Dungkhags trucks including carrying out all customs formalites in Bhutan and at Jaigaon and Dzongkhags. land customs. Materials will be packed either in 40 Kgs bags or 1 MT bags. The applicatons/business proposals should be 2. Clearing & forwarding of ferro silicon consignments at Kolkata Port. This job submited to the DCSI on or before June 5, 2020 includes booking of containers, unloading of cargo from trucks and stufng during ofce hours. You can also apply online into containers either in 1 MT bags or bulk in containers, container weighment, applicaton from the website www.moea.gov.bt complete all customs formalites and loading containers on to the ship. MoEA ONE STOP INFO CENTER (MOSIC)- 3. Ocean freight from Kolkata to major ports in Japan and Europe Applicaton Services-Essental Services Scheme • Cost of tender document : Nu. 500/- for both documents to be (ESS)-Applicaton. deposited with Finance division, Head ofce, P/ling. For queries, please contact Phone # 77645388 or • Sale of tender documents : From 25/5/20 from the purchase division [email protected] during ofce hours. on producton of money receipt and original Chief Industries Ofcer copy of clearing & forwarding and transportaton license(Import & Export) • Last date of submission : 10/6/2020 tll 5:00 PM. • Date of opening : 11th June, 2020 at 3:30 PM at Head ofce. Please contact # 77191015/77602437 should you need any assistance/ clarifcatons. Dy. General Manager (Purchase)

vacancy announcEmEnt m/s PEma JunEy construction PrivatE limitEd M/s Pema Juney Constructon Private Limited requires interested Bhutanese candidates for the following felds. Interested candidates are requested to submit their CVs and academic documents through email to sherabcabofcial@gmail. com or sms at 77722222 within may 30, 2020. Qualifcaton slot salary allowance (fooding) Diploma (Civil/Rod binder) 12 Nu. 15,000/ month Nu. 3,000/ month TVET (Civil/Rod Binder) 15 Nu. 12,000/ month Nu. 3,000/ month General 15 Nu. 11,000/ month Nu. 3,000/ month The selected candidates will be deployed in the constructon of building and bridges at Lhuntse and Samdrup Jongkhar. This is to encourage employment of Bhutanese youth in the constructon sector and develop relevant skills to ensure labour self-reliance.

to advErtisE in KuEnsEl Call 326191 or fax 322975; Email: [email protected] to subscribe contact 332845/ 17728174. ADVERTISEMENT PAGE 6 Friday, May 22, 2020| KUENSEL

impoRtant puBliC notifiCation puBliC notifiCation ministRy of Home and CultuRal affaiRs ministRy of WoRks & Human 1. The CoVID-19 pandemic is a grave threat and the risk of transmission and settlement spread of the disease remains high. To mitgate risks, many restrictons have Department of Roads been imposed and measures put in place. Among others, the internatonal Regional ofce, Sarpang border was sealed on 23 March 2020. DoR/RoS/2019-2020/Const-7/1384 2. Import and export of goods and commodites are being facilitated in a regulated manner in accordance with strict containment protocols as the The strengthening of Taklai Bridge on umling internatonal border remains sealed. Regulated movement of vehicles bringing Gewog Centre Road is ongoing. The movement of goods and commodites is imperatve to prevent the transmission and spread trafc will be partally closed during strengthening of CoVID-19. of the bridge. Therefore general public and 3. This requirement is necessary to ensure that the number of vehicles bringing road user are requested to take note of this and in goods and commodites do not overwhelm the capacity of transshipment refrain from travelling tll completon of the bridge facilites such as the Mini Dry Port in Phuentsholing and compromise strengthening work. containment protocols. Accordingly, all importers are required to register Inconvenience caused is highly regreted. their vehicles prior to bringing in goods and commodites with the Regional Chief Engineer Trade and Industry ofce (RTIo) or the Regional Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) without fail between 9 am to 3 pm on weekdays and 1 pm to 3 pm on weekends. announCement 4. Vehicles that are not registered shall not be permited entry into Bhutan. 5. All concerned are requested to take note of this requirement and ensure full kuenselClassifieds CoRpoRation limited compliance with immediate efect. The contact details for registraton and tHimpHu clarifcaton are as follows: Kuensel would like to request all our valued clients (i) Ms. ugyen Norzin Wangmo and Ms. Sonam Yangki, RSTA: (05) 251039 to menton the bill number against which you are and email: [email protected] and [email protected] making the payments in the partculars column in (ii) Mr. Yeshey Wangchuk and Mr. Tashi Dorji, RTIo: (05) 251867 and email: your e-payment instructon voucher and similarly [email protected] and [email protected] in the deposit slip for over the counter deposits, All exporters shall also be required to comply with the same procedure for and kindly mail the payment instructons/deposit registraton of vehicles. Home Secretary slip to [email protected] C19TF, Phuentsholing Classifieds

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for news: Call 324684 (English) / 333563 (Dzongkha) DZONGKHAG Friday, May 22, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 7 Irrigation canal restored, farmers look forward to Changla season Neten Dorji | Trashiyangtse

The wait was long. But it was The project worth it. Farmers of Melongkhar, made positive Yalang gewog in Trashigang changes and waited for five years to see their irrigation canal renovat- improved the ed, but they are already reap- irrigation water ing the benefits of a simple, yet important infrastructure. system. Now The 8.2 kilometre long canal its condition is going to change the way farmers work and the yield is much better they reap. than in the past.” It is the paddy transplan- tation season and water is important for the cereal that can only grow with plenty of Ugyen Tshering prepares land for paddy cultivation at Melongkhar by working in the fields and water. All in a cheerful mood, keeping livestock. They sell 53-year-old farmer Karsang rice and buy essential items and his friends are preparing for their families. the fields. The canal that runs “The villagers are already above his fields has water. seeing an improvement in “We can cultivate more,” said their farming since the reha- Karsang who lost a good por- bilitation of irrigation canal,” tion of his crop last year be- said Mangmi Tshering Tob- cause of water shortage. gay. “The project made posi- The canal, the lifeline of tive changes and improved the village with 353 house- the irrigation water system. holds was renovated with Now its condition is much support from the agriculture better than in the past.” department, dzongkhag and Yallang gewog has total of gewog administration. It was 244.07 acres of wetland that completed in mid 2019. produces 2,170 Metric tone Karsang said it took more of rice annually. Farmers are than two hours for water in Newly built irrigation canal at Melongkhar in Trashiyangtse expecting more this autumn. the canal to reach his fields and at least 50 percent is lost was allocated. The entire ir- from seepages. “We are re- rigation scheme, including lieved now. Whenever water smaller internal canal that is needed, we can irrigate and take water from Chokpogang direct the water to others if we to irrigate 953.89 acres of have excess.” farmland in five villages in- The rehabilitation and cluding Melongkhar. improvement of the 8.2 kilo- Most of the households in metres section of the canal Yallag gewog cultivate paddy, took five year to complete. where over 90 percent of the A budget of Nu 45.7 million families earn their livelihood

Application of HAND SANITIZER

1. STOP

Rub palm to palm Palm to back of hand and wrists and interlock fngers 2. CLEAN

. GO 3 Rub fngertips and Rub thumbs and back of fngers palms

» Ensure hands are clean before using hand sanitizer. » Rub hand for 30 seconds until sanitizer evaporates DIVER SION PAGE 8 Friday, May 22, 2020 | KUENSEL Everything is constantly changing and will one day come to an end

Shenphen Zangpo was born in Hi Lam, I work in the hospitality industry and so have been half empty, see it as half full is experienced as fresh and Swansea, UK, but spent more than without work since the borders closed to tourists. At frst, and recognize that you now alive. If you like to write, you 28 years practicing and studying I was confused and angry, because one day I was expect- have the time to engage in can capture these moments 1 Buddhism in Taiwan and Japan. ing guests and then the next everything was cancelled activities that you couldn’t in poetry called haiku or Currently, he works with the youth and my world turned upside down. Now, I’m feeling really do previously. Also, I believe otherwise through the lens it would really help your of camera.2 So, rather than and substance abusers in Bhutan, bored and frustrated and I don’t know what to do with my teaching meditation and organizing outlook if you could develop mope around, try to inspire drug outreach programmes. time. As it seems that there will be no tourists arriving for mindfulness as a lifestyle and a yourself and use your free some time, what can I do to keep my sanity? meditation practice. Basically, time to explore new ideas Lost boy, Thimphu when we are aware of each and concepts. While the virus moment, every situation is has created much suffering experienced as raw and new, and chaos, it has also given WELL, lost boy, you are not a virus emerging. If we reject the other, but accept and so we are less likely to feel us many opportunities to alone in your dilemma, and continuously familiarize that both will come and bored, even if we repeat the change the planet for the most of the people who work ourselves with this concept, go. It is the same with jobs, same activity many times. In better and to explore new in the tourist sector anywhere then we will be more economies etc, and expecting reality, most of the time when ideas. I hope we can embrace in the world are currently in a accepting of change. Of everything to remain we do something, our minds them and not just be stuck similar position. course, it is not easy to just constant and last forever is are somewhere else and so waiting for the past to return Anyway, it may help with let things go, especially the unrealistic. we never fully experience the or spending our entire days your anger and confusion if things we love and cherish, With regard your present moment. In contrast, browsing FB. you can see the situation in and in some cases it would situation, you didn’t mention when our minds are relaxed terms of the bigger picture – be heartless to do so. In whether you are struggling but undistracted, we enjoy the 1 Haiku: https://www. that everything in the universe reality, who would leave the financially due to the loss magic of the moment. As a wikihow.com/Write-a-Haiku- is constantly changing and hospital after the death of of your guests or whether result, for the first time maybe, Poem (Haiku of Santoka: will one day come to an end. a loved one and just shrug you are just bored with no we may feel the breeze on our https://mypoeticside.com/ Even though this truth was their shoulders and say job. If the former, then the faces and notice the sounds poets/tanned-santoka-poems) discovered by the Buddha “impermanence.” Likewise, government has developed around us. In addition, we are under the Bodh Tree in Bodh who would coldly dismiss the schemes where you can aware of the clouds, the colour 2 Contemplative Gaya more than 2,500 years suffering of a family made engage in construction of the buildings, and truly photography: https://www. ago, it is a fact that we still homeless due an earthquake work. This is actually a really savour the taste and aroma miksang.nl/?lang=en struggle to accept. As a result, as just the result of change. good programme as it not of a cup of coffee. In this way, we get disturbed when we Of course, any person with only provides employment each day and each moment lose our job, our relationship a heart would empathize for those currently without collapses, or when we fall with those who have been work, but also helps break into ill health. To remind mentally or physically hurt some very old fashioned us of this reality, Dzongsar and will feel sadness at the ideas about blue collar work. Khyentse Rinpoche taught loss of a loved one. At the In fact, it always amazes Sudoku the following: “We usually same time, however, we me how many rap fans look appreciate only half of the will not be shocked by such down on blue collar work, cycle of impermanence. We occurrences. Similarly, as while, at the same time, can accept birth but not death, we get older we will become idolizing artists like Eminem, accept gain but not loss, or sick and weak. And, while who prior to becoming the end of exams but not the this is a natural occurrence, famous worked in factory beginning. True liberation if we lack understanding of as a labourer. In fact, many comes from appreciating the impermanence, we are likely rappers worked as blue collar whole cycle and not grasping to be disturbed and wonder workers, and, in reality, it is onto those things that we find why this is happening. In their tough lives that gives agreeable. By remembering contrast, when we recognize strength to their songs. the changeability and that old age sickness and Without such experiences, impermanence of causes and death are inevitable results it is very unlikely that their conditions, both positive and of impermanence, we will music would be so powerful negative, we can use them to accept these situations more and pack such a strong our advantage. Wealth, health, rationality and calmly. In punch. peace, and fame are just as this respect, perhaps it is If you are just bored temporary as their opposites.” helpful to understand life’s but financially secure, then So, in your case, it will changes as similar to those you need to find ways to help you to be less confused associated with weather: inspire yourself and keep and angry if you can recognize One day the sun might yourself engaged. If you that change is part of life shine while on the next don’t have the habit to read, and that no-body can avoid there is heavy rain. We react perhaps now is the time to it. Sometimes the changes appropriately to the change – discover the joys of a good are slow, like aging or the we put up an umbrella when book. Otherwise, if you are How to play movement of the seasons, it rains and fold it when an energetic type, you can Fill in the grid so that while other times they are it stops – but, at the same consider going for early every row, every column, sudden, like an earthquake, time, we recognize that both morning jogs, or otherwise and every 3 X 3 box the sun breaking through conditions are expressions you can go on hikes or take contains the numbers 1

the clouds, or, as we are of impermanence and so up cycling. Basically, rather through 9. experiencing at the moment, we neither cling to one nor than seeing the glass as Answer ASIA Friday, May 22, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 9 Cyclone Amphan hits Bengal, Kolkata and nearby areas witness high-speed winds Kolkata and nearby areas in the two states, its chief SN witnessed high-speed winds Pradhan said in New Delhi. exceeding 100 km/ph accom- Due to social-distancing panied by heavy rains as the protocols in the wake of severe cyclonic storm Amphan Coronavirus, the cyclone made a landfall in West Bengal rescue centres having a ca- on Wednesday afternoon. pacity to hold about 1,000 Cyclonic storm Amphan is people will have only 400-500 said to be one of the worst to people, Pradhan said adding form over the Bay of Bengal in that Cabinet Secretary Rajiv many years. Gauba chaired a meeting of Mrityunjay Mohapatra, the the national crisis manage- Director-General of the India ment committee (NCMC) on Meteorological Department Tuesday to take stock of the (IMD) said that the eye of the situation. cyclone, which is 30 km in di- Union Home Minister ameter, has touched the land. Amit Shah also spoke to Odi- “Amphan is the most in- sha Chief Minister Naveen tense and the first super cy- Patnaik and his West Bengal clone since the 1999 Odisha counterpart Mamata Banerjee cyclone. We are dealing with to review the situation. a multi-hazard scenario as Regional Director of the the devastating winds are Meteorological Department expected to cause extensive GK Das said, “Storm surge damage to structures, houses areas. “I am at the TMC control submitted by the state gov- of 4 to 5 metres above astro- and trees,” said Mohapatra. Areas such as Sagar Is- room and supervising the ernments, the National Dis- nomical tide is likely to inun- Sanjib Bandyopadhyay, land, Kakdwip and Diamond overall situation in Kolkata. aster Response Force said on date low lying areas of South Alipore Met Department, Harbour in South 24 Parganas Chief Minister Mamata Ba- Wednesday. and North 24 Parganas and (Eastern region) said the cir- and Digha and Haldia in East nerjee is reviewing the situa- Apart from West Bengal, about 3 to 4 metres over low cular structure of the cyclone Midnapore were battered by tion from the Nabanna con- Odisha is also hit by Amphan lying areas of East Midnapore started making landfall in Ben- the storm, uprooting trees and trol room. She will be there as several parts of the state re- district of West Bengal during gal on Wednesday afternoon. electric poles and destroying at the state secretariat for ceived heavy rainfall and saw the time of landfall.” “The process started many shacks. the whole night. A task force strong winds and high tides. These districts had suf- around 2.30 p.m. with the Mayor of Kolkata and Min- spearheaded by State Chief The wind speed is expected to fered the most during cyclone forward sector boundary of ister in Charge Urban Devel- Secretary Rajib Sinha is look- be at a minimum of 155-165 ‘Bulbul’ and ‘Fani’ last year. the cyclonic circle making the opment & Municipal Affairs ing after the relief and rescue km/hour and a maximum of In neighbouring Bangla- landfall in the coastal districts Govt of West Bengal Firhad operations. The police are on 185 km/hour. desh, over two million people of Bengal. As per our records at Hakim said, “We are keeping high alert.” This is the second pre- have been evacuated to safety 4 p.m. the wind speed was 105 a close watch on the situation. All flyovers and elevated monsoon cyclone to hit India to 12,078 cyclone shelters. km/hr in Kolkata which can The storm has caused some corridors were closed to vehic- in two years and has been an- According to US space go up to 130 km,” said Sanjib trees getting uprooted and ular traffic in Kolkata. Police ticipated as one of the worst agency NASA, Amphan is the Bandyopadhyay adding that power failure in various parts sources said all flyovers have storm over the Bay of Bengal equivalent of a Category-5 three coastal districts, South of the city. We have shifted a been barricaded and move- in decades. Odisha was sav- hurricane on the Saffir-Simp- and North 24 Parganas and number of people from old di- ment of vehicles suspended aged by a super cyclone in son Hurricane Wind Scale. East Midnapore will be the lapidated buildings in Kolkata at various flyovers in the state 1999 that had claimed around “It was designated Tropical worst affected, besides, vast to temporary rescue centres. capital. 10,000 lives. Cyclone 01B. Overnight, it swathes of South Bengal dis- Some of them have, however, Meanwhile, as many as Forty-one teams of the Na- quickly strengthened to hur- tricts such as Kolkata, Howrah, refused to get relocated. Our five lakh people in West Ben- tional Disaster Response Force ricane force,” NASA has said. Hooghly, West Midnapore will officials are monitoring the gal and 1.5 lakh in Odisha have (NDRF), including seven re- The Statesman be among the most affected situation on an hourly basis. been evacuated as per the data serves, have been deployed ANN

Thai prototype vaccine to be tested on monkeys next week Suvit Maesincee, Minister of nary screening results from the team has joined hands with Thai ayut Chan-o-cha has ordered Countries around the world Higher Education Science Re- University of Pennsylvania. firm Bionet Asia, which will help an urgent acceleration of work are currently testing Covid-19 search and Innovation, revealed The prototype vaccine manufacture the vaccine after on the vaccine, which is being prototype vaccines on more progress in the development of would be tested on monkeys transfer of production technol- developed by the Chula centre than 150 species of animals. a vaccine against Covid-19 yes- next week, said Suvit. ogy from the overseas facilities. in collaboration with the Na- Ten vaccine prototypes are al- terday (May 19). Mice injected Preparations are now un- At this stage, Thailand tional Institute of Vaccines and ready being tested on human with a prototype mRNA vaccine derway for manufacture of the would be able to produce a the Department of Medical Sci- volunteers in at least five coun- at the Chulalongkorn University vaccine at production facilities Covid-19 vaccine with the new- ences. If the research is success- tries – China, the United States, Vaccine Centre had produced in the US and Canada, ahead of est mRNA technology to help ful, Thailand will be one of the Britain, Germany and Canada. antibody levels as high as human trials. citizens fight the outbreak. first countries to have enough The Nation 1:3,000, according to prelimi- Meanwhile, the research Prime Minister General Pr- vaccines for its citizens. ANN HOME PAGE 10 Friday, May 22, 2020| KUENSEL UK Baroness lauds Bhutan’s effort in fighting Covid-19

Ugyen Penjore In her statement, the Bar- try. “Philanthropic hoteliers late February, and that both oness said that on March 6, and businessmen supported the Prime Minister and Health Bhutan’s successful handling she had witnessed the gov- their efforts and, in stark con- Minister were formerly public of the novel coronavirus has ernment’s decisive action fol- trast to our Commons col- health officials. caught the attention of many lowing one suspected case: a leagues, all MPs (member of “Following an evidence- countries and leaders with all tourist who had travelled from parliament) donated a month’s based approach of testing, praising the initiatives led by India. salary to the cause,” she in- effective quarantines, and His Majesty The King. “Within 24 hours, every formed the House. border control, Bhutan has The latest was in the House tourist was traced and tracked, “The king immediately been able to avoid overloading of Lords debates on Monday, and we were contacted daily rolled up his sleeves, working its limited healthcare system. May 18, where Baroness Bus- thereafter. All citizens were with doctors and encourag- The under-resourced nation’s combe, the Under-Secretary of asked to socially distance ing anyone feeling unwell to response, led by science and State for Work and Pensions, themselves, while trucks trav- attend clinics. He continues quick preventative action, has United Kingdom, paid tribute elled across the land distribut- to work tirelessly across the been fortified by its traditional to His Majesty The King and ing sanitiser,” she stated. country.” communal values, which has congratulated Bhutan’s effort Peta Jane Buscombe Referring to the prepar- Highlighting the national seen its king, citizens, and gov- to control the Covid-19 pan- edness, the Baroness stated preparedness in the wake of ernment work in lockstep to demic in a statement. Lords are an opportunity for that a quarantine period of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bar- support the nation,” she stated. “My Lords, I pay tribute Peers from all parties to scru- 14 days kicked in for arrivals oness Buscome stated that a “I hope my noble friend to the King of Bhutan and tinise government legislation across the borders and all in- national preparedness and the Minister will join me in his people for their amazing and raise important local, na- coming tourist flights ceased, response plan, together with congratulating the people of fortitude and smart response tional or topical issues. thereby avoiding a wide-scale an emergency committee, Bhutan and wishing them safe to the virus,” said the Baron- On Monday, one session lockdown across the coun- had already been devised in and well for the future.” ess, Peta Jane Buscombe, a or debate was on the motion Conservative member of the to consider the international House of Lords. response on Covid-19, “Covid- Debates in the House of 19: International Response.” CSI Bank to own CCs from July Centres renamed as Community Service Centres

TOMORROW Yangchen C Rinzin that the ministry had stud- “The third unit will focus ied CC issue thoroughly and on the day to day public ser- Good Day The Community Centres (CC) found that there was no legal vice through integrated pack- will be transferred to National problem. aging service meaning other Cottage and Small Industries “In fact, the CCs would be financial institutions or agen- Development Bank Limited renamed as Community Ser- cies can avail their service in Bad Day (CSI Bank) from July, finance vice Centres,” Lyonpo said. rural through them,” Lyonpo minister Namgay Tshering “Their core mandate will be said. “However, they will have said. to provide integrated bank- to pay a minimum fee.” The CCs are under Bhu- ing services including com- Lyonpo said that it was de- A good day for rituals (laza): tan Development Bank Lim- munity services.” cided to institute under the those born in the dragon year. ited (BDBL) with about 200 Lyonpo said that a new CSI bank, as the bank’s core operators located in various department called Commu- mandate is to provide service gewogs. The operators oper- nity Finance Service would in rural and the operators lo- ate under BDBL as contract be structured under the CSI cated in the gewogs can easily Time of issue: 04:00 PM, employees since 2015. bank that would solely look help access bank’s services. SUNRISE : 5:10 am |SUNSET : 6:46 pm 21 May 2020 With this change, the CC after the CSCs. “The operators could also operators’ post would be now “The department will help in physical verifications re-designed as Community be headed by a director and for those availing the bank Centres Executive and the the department will consist services. In the process of reg- Gasa Trongsa Bumthang Sarpang Phuentsholing services would be also regu- of ICT unit, CSC unit and ularisation, the current oper- larlised on the date of transfer. Corporate and Commercial ators would be incorporated 14 18 16 26 29 This comes following CC Service Unit,” Lyonpo added. with the bank’s organisational 8 14 12 22 19 operators appeal submitted “The CSEs Terms of reference structure and be entitled to all to Prime Minister last year to would be revised to suit their the allowances.” requesting the government to Source: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology. new role in providing efficient The operators would be For any weather information: Call hotline 335578 regularlise their services with a community-based services.” provided training at Finan- particular parent organisation. Lyonpo said that the ICT cial Institutions Training Lyonchhen in an earlier unit will ensure services are Institutes Limited from June interview told Kuensel that provided through digitalisa- with the support from RMA To adverTise iN KueNsel: although it was decided to tion, while the CSC unit will and financial institutions. induct CCs with CSI bank, ensure it does not compro- The CSI bank is also ex- Call 326191 or fax 326638; the finance ministry was still mise the initial CCs’ objective pected to come up with strat- e-mail us at: [email protected] looking into the legal provi- to provide dedicated com- egies for revenue generation sion. munity services to the public for sustainability in the long The finance minister said through G2C. run.

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